Darin was just as joyful on the docks as she had been in the marketplace. She lost more games than she won so, it was insanely lucky that they were not playing with real coins. She politely said no thank you to the sailor offering her tattoos. Afterall, she explained, she still hadn’t gathered her courage enough to face the needle and when she did Taja Ridahne Torzinei, her sister would of course have the honor of placing the first picture of ink. Besides, the human wasn’t even sure what picture she would get. She listened to lessons of waves and sailing with rapt attention and didn’t notice that Ajoran was not with them.

She noticed when he got back though as he made to call Ridahne away. Darin stood up from looking at the tide pool she and a sailor had moved to as her smile, which was almost permanently etched to her face fell for the first time that day. She didn’t want Ridahne to leave. Why would Ridahne leave, but Ajoran stay? She looked at her sister’s stern face and suddenly knew. Her fingers move to touch the cuff on her ear without even thinking about it. The man from the Red Hand, had she been wrong? She had thought he wouldn’t have tried anything while still in Tasen. Had he? Darin wasn’t sure, and neither of the Taja’s face gave any hints.

Darin looked towards the water and the horizon as she spoke slowly, “I know that sometimes people say that mercy is foolish. Others say that justice can be cruel. And I’m not sure where the balance is.” She looked back towards Ridahne, “And I’m not asking you to sacrifice justice for mercy even though I know Azurei justice can be harsh. I just need to make sure that we are punishing crimes that have happened, not crimes that might could happen. Otherwise, where does it stop?” She forced herself to smile as she gently pressed her lips to Ridahne’s cheek, “Hurry back to me sister. Today is supposed to be more play than work.”

Then she pulled away and watched Ridahne head off to wherever it was that she was going. She was left with Ajoran. She looked at the man. Her emotions regrading her sister’s fiancé were complicated, but that was hardly his fault. It wouldn’t do to spurn him, just because she was jealous of the attention, he was getting Ridahne. She knew that wasn’t fair of her, even if that was what she wanted to do. After all, Ridahne had know Ajoran far longer. If anyone was the interloper, it was her. Still, her good mood was practically gone. Swiftly she told Astra that she would be alright, that the Sea, Sky, and Stone should keep playing. She just needed time to think. That was what she did as she walked along the beach and way from people. Finally, it was just her and Ajoran.

Darin found herself asking as she stared at the horizon pass the waves, “Tell me about marriage. Ridahne had been excited about the chance to marry you practically the entire time we’ve been traveling together, but I’ll confess that I don’t understand it. It’s not something we really have where I’m from. So, what does it mean to you? And what will it mean when the two of you are tied that way?”