Ridahne nodded, arm in arm with Darin as if she were escorting her own mother, both with a love and reverence and with a familiarity born of months spent together in close quarters. They really did look like sisters, like they'd grown up together their whole lives despite being of two different races. Ajoran followed, his heart full. He and Ridahne were both on alert, still, but not even that could dampen the joy he felt at watching his future wife and her adopted sister. She'd lived a complicated life, and it pleased him to see her finally gain some simple joys and stability in her life. And he thought he rather approved of this Darin person, coming into her life. He couldn't help a tiny smile.

Ridahne couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, all the way back to the palace. It was getting late, and the brutal sun had at last begun to slip below the distant mountains, allowing the arid land to cool. People, in response, were out in droves, and it was easy to see why the Azurei had been deemed Children of the Night Sky. In other places of Astra, people would be settling in this time of night. But Azurei simply came alive. 

"We can request food be sent to our rooms, or we can go to the common room with the rest of the staff. I'll leave the choice to you. I'm going to have a meeting tonight with the master archivist and get my new ojih marks recorded." That was a priority that had been weighing on her since they arrived. If her marks were deemed illegitimate in any way, it would be damning for her, though she had no reason to suspect that would happen. Still, she'd feel better when it was official and done. And anyway, she did feel a sense of pride in knowing she of all people contributed to the great tomes of ojih marks. "It's funny," she mused, "When I was young, I wanted to be a tattooer. I was scouting out masters to see if any might take me, but they all said I never had the required patience." Ridahne shrugged. "And here I am, adding marks of my own to the great tomes...Unbelievable to think about, really..." 

They arrived at the palace, and several eija nodded solemnly to the three of them, and otherwise stood as statues along the stairway to the entrance. As they passed, Ajoran hung back a moment to speak with one of them, his voice low. 
"Keep your eyes and your blades sharp tonight...I think we were followed today."
"You drew quite the crowd of onlookers, we hear.."
"Yes, all well-behaved. But there was something else...Ridahne and I both felt it. I've got a feeling we might be seeing the Red Hand soon..."
The eija nodded grimly, and Ajoran trotted off to catch up with Ridahne and Darin. 

"Also," Ridahne began, "Feel free to ask a member of the serving staff to draw a bath for you in your room again, as often as you like. Might as well take advantage of the luxury. And they'll bring you scented oils if you'd like, just ask."