Ridahne nearly lost her composure at 'Taja Torzinei'. They'd sort of discussed how she more or less was one before, so it wasn't completely out of the blue. But to hear her called that in public was a real shock. It was to the sailors, too, who looked to Ajoran, who seemed quite obviously to be an off-duty taja anyway. But when Darin clearly addressed the tall, sharp-edged woman, their mouths opened a little. Was such a thing possible...? And then the realization dawned on them that Darin, this young human woman was the Seed Bearer of Astra, and their mouths hung open even more. 

"Yes," Ridahne said after a brief hitch as she regained her composure. "This is Captain Rheisun and his first mate. He's so kindly agreed to brave the waters for us. Don't stare, and you'll fill your mouths with dust if you keep them open like that," she said to the sailors. "Step lively, sailors," she admonished, and the men jumped up and out of their stupor to get the boat ready.

It was a small vessel, and while it was a handful to manage with three people (Ridahne offered help manning the vessel) it was doable. The water was rough and turbulent, and the sailors remarked that there were currents where there ought not to be, and they swirled together in a spiraling confluence to create little whirlpools. they were too small to be treacherous, but the sailors avoided them all the same. 

Darin called for a halt and the two men lowered the anchor. Out here, the waters were relatively shallow in comparison to the long, deep abyss of the open ocean. 
"Now uh, Astra-Sol, what would you like us to--" Both men gasped in slight confusion as Darin leaped overboard.
Ridahne, however, was not in the least bit surprised and simply and dutifully shouted, "Man o'erboard!" as she was trained to do from a young age whenever a seaman got in the water. 
The men looked at her. "Torzinei...?"
"Astra has her. She has no more reason to fear the ocean than you do on a flat, waveless day."
"Ain't you worried?" 
"No. Not in the slightest." She spoke with an authority that made the men believe her. That is, until time passed, and the men knew not even Azurei free-divers could hold their breath that long. 
"Torzinei...with all due respect...I think she..." they didn't even want to say it, considering who she was. 
"No. She's fine, I know it. Trust me." she could sense the sailor were on edge, so she leaned against the railing and said, "So, Rheisun, what are you called?"
"Edal. Edal Rheisun. You?"
"Ridahne. This is my [I]fiance[/I]" she said with some glee, "Taja Ajoran Teleisun-Torzinei." 
"Ah, so he'll be taking your name. If I'm honest, that might have perplexed me until..." he looked over the edge toward where Darin had jumped in. To Ajoran, he said, "I suppose she's got more prestige now, considering. Quite the lofty pair you are." 
"Not that lofty," Ridahne laughed. "I grew up in Atakhara. My brother's boat is the [I]Tempest[/I]." 
"Under captain Helark? Erm...that'd make him...Hadian, eh? Damn, you're Hadian's little sister?? Don't know the lad well, but I know him. Never thought..."

It got quiet among them as the subject of Ridahne's betrayal was danced around once more. The captain could not hold back his curiosity any longer. "What happened, exactly? Gotta be quite the story if you're..."
"Taja," Ajoran cut in, and Ridahne blushed sharply. 
"It is quite the story..." she said softly. "The..." she tripped over  the missing name, "Former Sol was more corrupt than people ever knew. I knew. I did only my job. Exceptionally well. And saved lives in the process."
"You were eija-alihn?"
"...once." Ridahne had mixed feelings about her past job. On one hand, it was supposed to be good. It was a high honor, and a testament to her skill. She was supposed to keep the people safe, and she had no doubt that many times she did. But the position had been twisted by the former Sol, and it felt ruined and tainted now. 
Both sailors whistled in appreciation. The story was more complicated than they knew, after all. "Y'know, I heard some story on the wharf once. 'Bout a woman who claimed a rogue eija killed the disgraced Sol before the Sol could kill the woman. Said the rogue saved her life. Thought it was just a rumor--you know how it is. But ah...that you?"
"Aye. The Tree spoke, and I listened. I was rewarded accordingly." She let a little smile through. "Ajoran, you asked me that night if I regretted what I did. I still don't." 
"Knew you'd say that." It was the same thing he'd said to her then. The two stole a quick but quite passionate kiss before remembering their present company and pulling away. 

It was a long time before there was any sign of Darin, but when the sea launched her back out, Ridahne only laughed. The other three jumped at the sudden noise and movement, but she could almost...feel something would happen before it did. She couldn't have identified what, but she could feel a confluence and flex of Astra's power, and Darin's. The human landed gracefully on the deck as the wind whipped their hair about, and then stilled. The sea had a pent energy but was still. Ridahne seemed to freeze for a moment.

"That's the second time you've called me Taja Torzinei...it's not something you say if you don't mean it...do you...do you mean it? Are you giving this title to me?"
Ajoran smiled. "I think she's pretty set on it, Rhi."
Ridahne dropped to her knees. "I know you aren't one for formality, Darin, but you'll have to humor me this once. For me." With an air of ritual, she said, "If this is your will, Sol, then I accept. From this day forth, I will be Taja Torzinei until my Sol release me. This, I willingly give." Ridahne stood and wiped a few tears from her face, then added, "I'll ah...have to make a few changes to the uniform..."
Ajoran chuckled low and wickedly. "I think the current one would be [I]great[/I] on you..." 
Ridahne slapped his chest hard enough to make an audible crack. "Ajoran! We're in public..." Ridahne cleared her throat. "What more did you have in mind for today, dear sister?"