Ridahne figured that Darin would want to see Harai. It's what she would want to do if someone were tracking her; Ridahne liked to know her enemies personally and see their faces. But even more so when it was a complicated case of figuring out what to do with someone who was just a pawn in a bigger game. Ridahne had gathered Harai was a small fish and no one of great import to the Red Hand. In a way, she pitied him. What lies had he been told to coerce him into the life he was now part of?

Ridahne led Darin to the holding room. The Taja at the door belonged to Hanasa-Sol, and the majority of her Taja had once belonged to Khaltira. Ridahne wasn't sure she liked that idea, but Taja were hard to come by and took a long time to train, so it only made sense to keep a few of the good ones. Ridahne was keenly aware, though, that she was the person who killed their Sol. Not just a Sol, [I]their[/I] Sol. She was surprised by how willing they were to follow her direction and how little animosity they felt towards her. Perhaps word had gone around about the full story of Khaltira's death, and perhaps these men had seen some of the same things in their Sol that had alarmed Ridahne. 

They found Harai looking exhausted and still stained with sweat, though the rope around his neck was kept slack so that the man could easily sit on the floor. Ridahne guessed he'd even been fed to some degree. The room was still hot and dark, though it was no longer the unbearable inferno it had been when Ridahne had broken Harai. Ridahne let Darin do the talking, though she stood tall as an imposing figure looming above where Darin knelt, a grim reminder that Darin was not alone, and she was not defenseless should Harai decide to try anything. Occasionally, as they spoke together, Ridahne would circle behind Harai like a cat deciding how and when to pounce on wounded prey. Ridahne did not need to speak to be a heavy presence in the room. 

When Harai accused Darin of only benefiting the upper crust of society and knowing nothing of hardship, Ridahne actually barked a laugh. She couldn't help it. Clearly, he did not know Darin. Nor did he know herself. Despite Ridahne's rich black and yellow outfit, complete with a Taja's sash and a new uri pin that showed her new sigil, Ridahne had spent the majority of her life in poverty, scraping by for a living for her and her family. This man could not be more wrong about both of them.

They left, though Ridahne lingered behind Darin for just a moment to stare down Harai as a reminder to not get too comfortable in dealing with them. Her eyes echoed her first words to the man that she'd spoken in the marketplace. [I]I am the ghost in the sands. I am the shadow behind every door. I am the chill of a moonless night. I am the blade, and I am death.[/I] 

Back in the palace, Darin requested a meeting with the Sota-Sol, and Ridahne promised she'd make it happen. She led Darin to a small room with cushions on the floor around a low table and asked her to wait there. Not long after Ridahne left, a young girl who couldn't have been older than sixteen, though by human standards looked to be about twelve, came in bearing a silver tray with four small silver cups filled with a chilled milky tea that was both sweet and spicy with heavy cinnamon flavors. She set the tray down and stole a glance at Darin, nearly choked in surprise when she saw her green eyes and knew at once who she was serving tea for, and gave a quick bow. "This drink is a custom of our people during meetings such as this. M-meetings are best conducted with tea..." she felt like she needed to explain, realizing that this revered person was not of Azurei and did not know its ways. "B-but I can bring you anything else you wish," she remembered she was supposed to say.

__

Ridahne knew where to find the Sota-Sol at this hour. She made her way to the woman's personal quarters and her way was barred by three Taja bearing spears, though each of them also carried a sword. This was expected, they were only doing their job. "The Sota-Sol is not taking visitors..." the man looked Ridahne up and down and added, "Taja Torzinei." 
"Astra-Sol seeks a meeting with the Sota-Sol of Azurei. It is not a casual visit she seeks. Tell her Astra-Sol awaits her, and that she asks that she bring only one Taja, as Astra-Sol will also have only one." 

One of the Taja broke away to go inside the rooms they were guarding, and a few moments later the Sota-Sol herself emerged, dismissing all but one of the Taja. When Ridahne did not bow to her, she quirked an eyebrow and asked, "You do not bow before your Sota-Sol?"
"With all respect, Sota-Sol, I do not belong to any Sol anymore, not after I was cast away."
The Sota-Sol actually smiled a little. "But you do now, Taja Torzinei. Don't you?"
Ridahne realized with a shock she was right. But she sensed the informality in Amaiera-Sol's tone and allowed herself a little candor. "I...suppose I do. But it's different..." 
"I'm certain it is." Ridahne had always known Amaiera-Sol to be aloof and proud, commanding respect from all around her without needing to ask. But since they'd spoken privately in the gardens the night before, she'd been almost...grandmotherly to her, at least in private. It was as if Amaiera-Sol regretted the way she'd handled things in the past and sought to mend the damage she'd done. It made Ridahne respect her even more, though she still had a lot of other feelings towards the woman that would need time to work through. 

"Thank you for taking the time to speak with us," Ridahne said as she led her and her Taja to the room where Darin was waiting. Amaiera-Sol noted she said "us" and not "her", meaning Darin. Indeed, when it came to official matters, Ridahne did not consider Darin a separate entity, but they were a bonded pair. Quite literally in Ridahne's case as Seed-Chained. "There is a matter that Darin would like to discuss with you."
"You call your Sol by her name only?" There was not condescension in her tone, but perhaps some level of surprise.
"Always," came Ridahne's firm reply. She'd use Darin's title when speaking to others when required during formal interactions, but never outside of that. "I might belong to my Sol, but I will never again be owned. I will never again be a tool in the hand of another. I am Ridahne. And I serve because I choose to." She kept he voice low, but her tone was adamant and some of her usual fire showed through even her quietly spoken words.
Amaiera-Sol thought on this for a moment, then slowly nodded. "This is as it should be," she agreed. "Privately, I am unused to your methods. You buck tradition in many ways, Taja Torzinei. But I am beginning to see more clearly each time I speak with you that you are indeed doing Azurei proud. Your Sol is fortunate to have you." 
Ridahne nearly choked and bit her lip hard to keep from suddenly bursting into tears. She WOULD NOT lose composure in a moment like this, but she was sure that Amaiera-Sol could not have known just what those words would mean to Ridahne. She held her head a little higher after that.

Ridahne opened the door to the room Darin was waiting in and waited until Amaiera-Sol and her Taja were seated before taking a cushion herself beside Darin.
"Greetings, Astra-Sol. Your Taja informs me you wish to speak with me about something. Azurei is pleased to offer service to Astra-Sol. How may I help you?" Amaiera-Sol spoke with high dignity, but as someone speaking to an equal. She considered Darin to be a Sota-Sol herself, just of a different province, and spoke to her as if she were speaking to a human queen or king.