Blackfridayrule

In Dark Seas We Sail

Rohaan enjoyed that joke and openly giggled. He looked over at the lower deck where they were all gathered around a downed Wheel and an absolutely manic Uban. Rohaan hooked a thumb over at them. "But I mean, looks like Uban just did. I think that's the first time anyone ever got him." He seemed to puff out his chest a little as he said, "I probably could but Berlin won't let us really spar. Like, we do with knives and stuff but like, not really for real. He says we're too...vol...volalol? Kikhira. Like a fire with too much wood." He shrugged and played with the chunks of ice floating in his barrel, dragging them under and watching them pop back to the surface, or squeezing them and watching them shrink. "But like, let's say you did take the warm out of me. Would I be crunchy too? Can people get crunchy?" He thought this idea was fascinating. He didn't know that things could change shape too, just like him. "Can other things get crunchy just from cold?"

All his curiosity and playfulness vaporized the moment she held out the soap. His face soured instantly. This stuff smelled better than the usual garbage Berlin made him scrub with, but that didn't necessarily improve his mood at seeing it. What was wrong with sand? Or a smooth stone? Those scrubbed just fine and the skin always felt smooth and clean afterward. He thought soap gave his skin an almost...oily feel. Quickly and with a heavy plop, Rohaan plunged underneath the water and his form changed back into the octopus. He lurked at the bottom, staring up at her with his still blue but oddly shaped eyes, and showed no sign of coming back up.

--

Uban was trying to contain himself, but he found the more he used his ability, the more...hyper it made him. That wasn't quite the word. Euphoric? Energized? It was adrenaline in a pure form. He bit his lip to try and hide his grin but it didn't work. As he ran a hand over his tied-back hair, a couple small arcs sprang up at the passing of his hand. "Oh man, I'm sorry mate." He might not have looked sorry, but he was. He honestly hadn't thought it would hit Wheel that hard. Sure, he had the sense not to do that to someone un-cursed, or at least not that strong. But he hadn't been sure what it would actually do or what the limits of his powers really were. He thought he'd known, but Hana had recently challenged his perception and her ideas had pushed him to explore new limits. Just how far could he go? "I mean, I knew I had to try it on you since it wouldn't kill you but like...I didn't know I could do...that."

Berlin frowned, but there was a twinkle of amusement in his eye. His priority had been to see that everyone was alive and undamaged (mostly) and seeing that done, he could allow himself a little mirth. "I always thought it would be Rheoaan that caught this ship on fire someday, but now I think I have to worry about you..."
Uban snorted in laughter. "Hey, c'mon, don't put me up there with the half-pint arsonist...I'm not that bad."
Berlin looked him over. "For the sake of science, how are you feeling after that?"
Uban beamed at him like he had some truly incredible, amazing news but then said "I'm going to crash in an hour," he said brightly.
Berlin gave a dry chuckle. "Right. Keep you out of the rigging today then. Wheel, I think you've earned yourself an extra ration of rum for enduring that."

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

No worries! Sometimes a short post is all that’s needed

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

They moved as silently as they could through the underbrush but Ridahne, both elvish and trained in stealth, felt like each of Darin's footfalls was a crashing sound and she couldn't help but cringe. That couldn't be helped though...except maybe Ridahne might have to give sneaking lessons in the future. It would have all kinds of uses and appli--

SNAP.

Ridahne whirled, her amber eyes catching a glimmer of light as they peered out from under her dark hood. Her glare was sharper than broken glass but it was short-lived; their quarry had noticed and there was no use berating the human for her misstep.

"Ey, James!" Came a hoarse whisper, though Ridahne's sharp ears could still hear him. "Didja hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"Whoever put out this fire's still here I think..."
Both men halted, listening, but Ridahne and Darin had halted for a moment. The elf was waiting for the right moment to 'strike' and she might learn something from their talk. The second man stirred first. "Forget that, Dax. Look at this horse! And that saddle...bet they're worth a penny!"
Dax stared out into the gloom but he saw nothing. "James I think we should go..."
"It looks elvish...blimey James, this might be one of them desert horses. Pull yourself together and get your axe out while I grab 'em." James reached for Tsura's reins and the horse neighed and snorted and pulled away. He cooed softly to the animal in hopes of calming it, but Tsura was better trained than that.

Ridahne gave the tiniest breath of a sigh and shook her head like she had expected better of them. One of them at least had the sense to be concerned and the other one knew nothing of Azurei horses. Well, it seemed her moment had come. The elf held up a finger and told Darin to wait a moment while she crept forward and around a bit. Behind her, Mitaja circled the other direction and together they flanked the two bandits. This seemed like they'd done it a thousand times, though usually the target was a deer or the spry goats that lived near sheer walls and cliffs. They moved as one, not in sync but in harmony.

James figured if he couldn't get the horse to come willingly, he'd at least get that saddle. It was well made and the bags were packed full of who knew what. He bent down and hefted it up, though as he straightened and looked up to what was just moments before empty forest, he saw a dark shape rimmed in moonlight.
"Take that saddle and I'll take a hand." As if to punctuate this sentiment, she tilted her knife so it caught the dim light and flashed white against the blackness.
James stumbled back, wondering where on earth she had come from. He might have thought her some kind of forest sprite or something if it weren't for the very corporeal horse and saddle and the remains of the fire, which all seemed too...mundane for a sprite.

Dax whirled and charged at her with the butt of his axe; he didn't really want to kill anyone if he could help it, but he wasn't above knocking someone about. His brave charge backfired however, as Ridahne kicked backward at just the right moment to send her foot into the man's stomach. He dropped, gasping. Ridahne looked back to James. "I said drop that saddle or you'll taste steel. I won't ask again." He did, immediately. "On the ground next to your friend. Any sudden move and I'll liberate one of your fingers. And you won't like which one I take. Clear?" He nodded fearfully and hunched beside a groaning Dax.

One of the first things Ridahne had learned was that sometimes a fight could be altogether avoided if the right manipulation was used. Make the opponent feel outclassed and they usually surrendered either more quickly or right away. Fear and a little dose of mysticism went a long way in deescalating conflict. At home she was taught to use the warping of light from heat waves, dust storms, and the glare of the sun to make a dramatic appearance or exit, or to confuse the target. Here, she had darkness. Her performance finished, she signaled Darin to join them. Mitaja stepped into the light, her greenish gold eyes glittering dangerously. The men gasped, and were even more astounded to see that this creature answered to the shadowy woman.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

I figured they would be but didn’t have any specific plans if you wanna do something else with it.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Ajoran lingered in the shadows, hesitating. “I can’t , Ridahne. Can’t you just go?”
“I’m sorry Ajoran. You have to do this. It’s the best hope you have at staying out of this. Please. If you won’t do it for yourself then do it for me.”
He didn't want to, but he knew she was right. If they even suspected that he was in any way involved, he might end up dead too. He sighed, steeling himself, then cried, “Here! I have the traitor! I have her!” Two Taja and an Eija swarmed In immediately and Ridahne allowed herself to be bound and carried away into the cold stone of the palace, where she was thrown roughly at the feet of the Sota-Sol and the four remaining Sols. They all were seated in thrones, one higher than the rest where the Sota-Sol sat. The one directly to her left was empty. Amaiera, the queen of Azurei, rose slowly, her elegant white and blue robes rippling like falling water. She recognized the woman kneeling before her, though she did not know all the names of all the Eija. “The Atakharan girl? She belonged to Khaltira, did she not?”
The other Sols nodded, and Ailinde added, “She is called Torzinei. Ridahne. She and my Taja Ajoran have courted for years.” They were all irate, though they did not expect to see the likes of Ridahne there before them. She was one of their number, a trusted servant. Ailinde looked to Ajoran, one of her Taja, her personal guards. She liked him, he was good at his job and had an easy temperament. But if he was involved... "Did you have a hand in this, Taja Ajoran?"
"No, Sol," he answered quickly.
"Did you know of her plans?"
"No, Sol. Not until after they were--" he was about to say executed, but then realized the double meaning that had and the word choked in his throat. The thought of it all was horrible. But deep down Ajoran knew. Ridahne had confided to him in tears her realization that Khaltira-Sol had been lying to her to destroy people that offended her yet did not deserve death. He had even tried to come up with a way to deal with the problem, though in the end he knew that his word against a Sol's meant very little.

Amaiera looked between the young Taja, who stood tall at attention before his matriarchs, and the prisoner. “And you believe she is a murderer?”
Ajoran swallowed and tried to look at Ridahne, at the woman he loved, but she would not meet his eye. She only stared at the floor. He knew that expression. Dire focus, like all of Astra depended on her composure, which was like iron. Beautiful iron. “She told me so, Sota-Sol. She came to me tonight and confessed to the murder of Khaltira-Sol. My honor demanded I bring her to justice.”
Amaiera nodded. “Thank you, loyal servant Taja Ajoran. Your actions tonight are honorable. I know what she once meant to you.” Ajoran did not miss the ‘once’, and it stung. He loved her still, but they could no longer be. It didn't matter anyway. He knew the punishment for regicide. “Ridahne Torzinei, you were one of Khaltira’s Eija?”
Ridahne did not look up from the floor. “Eija-Alihn, Sol.”
“And you murdered her and her successor. Do you deny these accusations?”
“You’ll also find the body of my partner, Takhun Venari in the gardens, Sol. I have no apologies to offer you. What I did was wrong, yes. But I’d do it a hundred times over. I did only as I was trained to do. To seek out those who have done great evil and bring them a final justice. I have, Sol. The three of them were responsible for the deaths of innocent people. Death given by Takhun’s and my hand from orders given on false pretenses. Your Sol lied, and your people are dead because of it. I have brought her justice. I will make no apology.”

She had gotten a stir at the mention of Takhun--they did not know about him yet, it seemed. But none so great as the uproar her final statement brought about. There was a great deal of shouting from many sides, save from Ajoran, Ridahne, and Amaiera. At last the Sota-Sol raised her hand and the room fell echoing and silent. Ridahne did not look up from the floor.

"That is a bold accusation, Torzinei. Explain." Amaiera was seething, barely keeping her rage in check.
Ridahne spoke in a calm, almost flat voice as she continued to look only at the floor. "I sought out Azurei's worst. I brought them to swift justice. That was my duty. Until I learned Khaltira-Sol was fabricating crimes to pin against people who wronged her somehow. Trade agreements, tribute and tax disputes..."
"You have no proof, Torzinei."
"Takhun knew it too. We both did."
"And you murdered him too. Not a point in your favor."
"Two nights ago, a woman came to Khaltira-Sol," Ridahne began. "She had a baby boy in his first year. She came asking for aid, as her family's shop burned down with her husband inside. He lived, but was grievously injured. They discussed terms and had some kind of disagreement and in the end the woman spoke too boldly, insulting her Sol. She was sent away. Takhun and I were both there and as soon as the woman was gone, she ordered her death. The boy was to be brought to her until the father could come claim him. She claimed the woman murdered her husband. When I questioned her, she struck me and told me to follow orders. I spoke to Takhun and he was determined to see the woman dead.
'But the charge was a lie,' I said.
'Not my problem,' says he.
'You will kill an innocent woman, then?' And he shrugged. He was willing to let Khaltira-Sol continue. I was not, Sol. So I did what I was trained to do and I executed a criminal, Sol."

The chamber was silent. The silence bounced off the stone walls until it became solid, until it slammed into each one of them with the force of a great wind. Then Amaiera lifted her chin and said coldly, "Bring the ink." Ridahne's stomach churned. She had known this would come, yet seeing the bowl of black ink and the bone needle brought to her on a silver tray made even her iron resolve quail. Silent tears streaked her cheeks. She was about to die, yes, but this final shame would follow her even after death. "Condemned," Amaiera said in a tone that spoke of ritual. "You have the right to either a master artist, or to mark your ojih yourself. Which do you choose?"
Ridahne took a breath, tasting salt as the tears fell over her lips. Her cheeks burned. "It will be done by my own hand, Sol."
"Very well."

Ridahne was brought a mirror, and despite her shame and disgrace, a young serving boy knelt and held it for her as if he were assisting the Sota-Sol herself, for the marking of the ojih was a sacred ritual. She prepared the materials and took a good look at her face as it was, for it would never be that way again, and tearfully said, "Ai jane'ta jane'ta. What's done is done."

Slowly, Ridahne began.


Something woke her. She didn't recall falling asleep but she had and the fire now burned low in dark embers. She was cold and wrapped her cloak tighter around her, pulling up the hood. She had an uneasy feeling, but whether it was from her dream or something else she couldn't--

A distant voice, male, made her sit bolt upright. She listened for a moment, realizing there were multiple, and kicked out what was left of the fire. She had no way to confirm it but she guessed those were highwaymen. Darin. Where was Darin? A sudden panic filled her, made her move in the direction the girl had gone. She was an excellent tracker in the sands but in the forest? She knew some things. Focus. Ridahne moved swiftly but with absolute stealth, something she was extremely good at. Elves were naturally disposed to stealth, but she had been trained specifically for it.

Ridahne searched, all the while keeping an ear out for the nearby highwaymen. It did not appear that they had noticed anything yet. She eventually came upon Mitaja first, who sat in the shadows not far from Talbot.

"Darin..." Ridahne whispered. There was no way to mistake who it was--her accent was distinct enough. Ridahne couldn't express the relief she felt at seeing her alone with the animals and not under scrutiny of highwaymen. Ridahne herself looked otherworldly and ethereal as she stood crouched with her black cloak about her. She would have melted into the darkness completely if it were not for an errant moonbeam that caught her from behind and have her a faint silvery silhouette. There was no questioning how she had gained her reputation as a 'Ghost of the Sands', for she appeared almost incorporeal in the darkness.

The elf shadow moved closer, her feet barely making a sound on the soft forest floor. "Bandits," she whispered, barely above a breath. "Stay quiet, we might avoid them."

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

"Look here," Ridahne said sharply, a sudden fire within her burning away any tears or shame she had left. She stood then, pointing an accusing finger at her young companion. "You can say what you like about my former work. You can say what you like about Khaltira-Sol and what I did to her. But do not for one moment pretend to understand Ajoran and I, and the complicated situation we have found ourselves in." Her tone was low and harsh like a warning growl. "I may not be bound by Azurei law anymore, and though I have broken them I still have respect for them. But remember there are two of us. And Ajoran IS bound by the law, and for it he cares deeply. What's more, if us being together was against the law, who would marry us? You know nothing of Azurei, Darin. And you know nothing of us," she said, meaning her and Ajoran. "Do not scorn me for things you do not understand." She huffed, looking every bit like a dog with bristling fur.

Ridahne would accept being chastised for the things she had done wrong. She would have even accepted if Darin loathed her for them. But Darin knew nothing of the relationship between her and Ajoran, of the decades they had spent together, of the trials they had faced and overcome. She knew nothing of how deeply it pained her to walk away. Darin knew only of her father, who disappeared without an explanation to abandon her mother to struggle and toil on her own. That wasn't what happened between her and Ajoran, not by a mile. She had to go and he let her. And it was the most excruciating, most soul-tearing thing she'd ever had to do. What she'd done for him, she did out of nothing but love. If she could not be prosperous and well, then she would see to it that he was--no matter the cost.

Darin went off into the darkness--again--and left her sitting alone by the fire. Darin was angry with her, and though Ridahne had been expecting that, she had expected it for different reasons. She had come clean about all the horrible things she'd done. She had laid bare the pitiful waste that was her life and had expected to be scorned for it. Darin hadn't said much about what she'd done and instead was angry with her for all the wrong reasons. Ridahne had tried to explain but it didn't seem that Darin understood. Was it a language issue? Ridahne didn't know, but it made one thing abundantly clear: every time Ridahne tried to do the right thing, life came back and bit her for it. Was she always doing the right thing in the wrong way? Did she simply have a terrible sense of what the right thing actually was? Or was fate just cruel to her? Likely the latter, she thought bitterly.

"I would like, for ONCE to just do something RIGHT!" she snarled to the sky and the glittering stars overhead. She scooped up a rock and threw it at a tree; it bounced off and landed in nearby ferns with a soft rustle. But then she deflated and said more softly, "Please, ancestors...let me complete this task. Let it be the one thing I do right in life." And as if in answer, she felt like she needed to start by making Darin didn't get into trouble by herself. Ridahne sighed. Talbot had gone with her and that was good, but if trouble did happen, Talbot would likely stand his ground and stay with her, not come running back to find Ridahne. So the elf looked to her feline companion. "Go follow and keep an eye on her, but keep your distance. Find me if anything goes wrong." The cat trotted off into the night like a shadow, and once more Ridahne was left alone.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Oh my gracious go to bed!!!!

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Nah no rules with naming. And ojih.....I’d say generally no. They might know enough to distinguish high rank or something (they would probably know how to spot a Sol, Taja, and Eija. If they were the sort to spend time learning the marks they might know Ridahne’s treason mark. The mark itself is nonspecific, so they wouldn’t know she killed the equivalent of a princess, but they would know she has committed some form of high treason if they knew the mark at all. Those that deal with the Azurei more directly (royalty, merchants, or people that often hired Eija guards) would be more likely to know tidbits about the Ojih. They do know it’s significance and they know it is extremely rude to touch an Azurei’s face without permission.

Also yeah, Ridahne definitely knows, though she’s more stunned by the fact that Darin would keep her, as she assumed above all else she wouldn’t.

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Ridahne genuinely could not believe her ears. Darin was mistaken. It wasn’t that Ridahne desired to leave her and abandon her quest, no, quite the opposite. Ridahne had only falsely preempted Darin’s reaction to hearing the news. The elf thought for SURE that the moment she knew, Darin would demand that she leave, that she would WANT a new guardian. And she had merely tried to accept this decision with dignity. But she’d been wrong.

She stared at the young woman, mouth open. “You...mean you still....want me?” She shook her head firmly as if shaking aside something heavy or bothersome. She looked visibly relieved. “You mistake me, Darin. I did not mean to say I want to leave I only thought you would send me away. No! If you would have me I would fulfil every promise I made to you. I meant every word and still do. I just thought for sure that you would be angry with me and wouldn’t want to keep me as your guardian. Forgive me! I misunderstood you and your heart. To think that you would still have me after all I have done is an honor. I swear to you I won’t let you down. But you are mistaken about me and my past as well.”

Her gaze, though still sparkling with tears, became hard and resolute. “I did not run. I have never run. I have always done my duty no matter how hard it is, no matter what I would lose. I made the mistake of trusting Khaltira-Sol, yes, but when I knew the truth I stood my ground and did what no one else would. I did not run to death, it was only the price paid for my deeds and i was willing to give it if it meant doing what was right. I paid the ultimate price and I lost EVERYTHING. Never forget that. For the record, I didn’t ask for this journey, I was sent. And I’m still trying to sort out why. But I did not run. And Ajoran....you would not understand. I am not your father,” she said, tone edging on cold. “I did not abandon him. I did not leave him on a cold night with no explanation. We have known each other longer than your parents have been alive. He knows my heart. Better than most. He understands what I had to do. ALL of what I had to do. He knows I put distance between us for his sake. In doing so I kept him from my own sins. And I...I haven’t forsaken him. Not wholly. Like I said. Love is complicated.” She clutched the carnelian spiral. He had carved it himself, thinking of her as he did. The Azurei did not exchange rings like some humans, and instead they exchanged Ali’i, or the large earrings worn in the stretched lobes of their right ears. Based on design and material they conveyed one’s family and region of origin, and for her to remove her bone one and replace it with the carnelian would show publicly that she had become one of his family. Betrothed often wore them as pendants before the ceremony. She felt with a fingernail the individual cut marks where he had shaped the stone. And In that moment she missed him horribly.

Her hard, icy tone dissolved. “As long as he is Taja and I am disgraced, we cannot be. Not by law. There is...some chance that may change because of this quest. But you must understand, this is unprecedented. No one in the history of Azurei has ever murdered their Sol and then the next day been sent off to aid in the most important quest in all of Astra. I very well could be pardoned of my crimes but no one but maybe the Eluri can guess what the implications and specifics of that could be. I don’t even know if I’ll make it back. I can’t have him wither away while he waits for a false hope. We will see what the future holds but until then we cannot be.”

By the Tree, it felt so much easier to have all of that out in the open. She had been carrying that weight in silence for four months and to speak it aloud now was more of a relief than she ever imagined. And Darin still wanted her by her side. Ridahne did her best attempt at a seated bow. “Ri’atal, you have shown me kindness I do not deserve. I am yours. If you want me by your side then I WILL see this through. And I swear by blood and bone and by the Tree itself that only death will keep me from this task. You won’t regret this night I promise you!”

Ridahne meant it. It felt like the night she’d received her vision all over again, with hope bubbling inside her. The guilt and anxiety and wretchedness seemed to fade before it. Ridahne Torzinei, Seed-Chained, guardian of the Seed-Bearer, redeemed daughter of the Night Sky, would at last get the second chance she had so longed for.

Something about her whole demeanor seemed less closed off than before. Her deepest darkest secrets had been unveiled and there was nothing left for her to fear

The Tree of Astra (LadyAnnaLee and Blackfridayrule)

Ridahne nodded tearfully. “I knew it couldn’t go on. And if I only walked away I would be replaced. It would continue. So I did the only thing I knew. I killed my partner. He and I had known for a while and he didn’t seem to care. I killed Inaeris, the young successor to Khaltira-Sol’s throne, because she was influenced by her and was learning her ways. And I killed Khaltira-Sol, princess of Azurei. I killed my own Sol that I swore oaths to. Oh, Great Tree, I killed them all!” She was struck with a new wave of tears. Doubled over, she did sob then.

“I am what they made me!” She cried in anguish. “They trained me to bring justice and so I did! They trained me to kill, they trained me to do what had to be done! What choice did I have? This wasn’t what I wanted when I became an Eija! I wanted to make something of myself, to do something right for once!” She was shouting now, not at Darin but up at the sky. “I didn’t want it to end up like that! I was supposed to be put to death for what I’d done. I deserved to be put to death. I should have been but I...”

Ridahne cut off, at a loss for words. Instead she clung to Mitaja until she got her breathing under control. She still had no idea why she was here with the Seed Bearer Of all people. It didn’t really make sense and yet there she was. Steadier now, she said softly, “I was supposed to marry Ajoran.” She touched the carnelian necklace around her neck. “But he is a Taja—a great honor. To associate himself with me would be social death and I couldn’t bring him down with me. I made him turn me in. I tried to give this back to him,” she said about the spiral pendant. “He wouldn’t take it. Damn him, he wanted to wait for me to finish this task. He’d do it, too. He would have stood by me at my execution too, even if I demanded he leave. But I can’t...I can’t destroy his career. He’s a good person...I can’t tie him down to my own burning ship. I’m sorry, this isn’t even important I don’t know why I’m telling you any of this. I will see you through to Eluri and you can find someone more worthy of this task there. I will go home.”

The weight of that implication sat among them like a stone giant. Ridahne could not fathom a world in which Darin would still want her by her side, and she didn’t blame her. When she spoke of going home and ultimately her own death, she was coldly resolute. Resigned, but she would go with dignity. The guilt did not overshadow the feeling that in the end, she’d done what needed to be done. Ajoran knew it. Hadian knew it. She was just the only one permitted to say it out loud. Ridahne sagged, feeling like all her emotional and physical energy had been squeezed out of her, but she no longer felt an exploding kind of anxiety and guilt. Just a deep ache for all she had done.

She sat with her legs criss-crossed and her head hung low so a curtain of wavy black hair shadowed her tattooed face. She exuded defeat in body and voice. But even in such utter defeat she held a kind of grace, a dignity that gave her peace. “I am Ridahne Torzinei, breaker of oaths and traitor to my people, murderer of royalty, betrayer of bond and kin, killer of those I swore to protect. I will go. I will accept my fate.”