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Aerona stirred herself up from her sleep and found herself on a bed. 'How did I-?' she mumbled to herself when the door opened and came in the elf she had encountered.

And now was she able to properly see the face of the elf who had taken her in.

A truly handsome face to behold. His thin blue lips parted to say 'How do you do?' to which she replied 'Will do quite well when I know where I am and who you are'.

'Certainly young miss. I'm Tyrill and as you had guessed before, an elf of the Mardork Woods of the North at your humblest service' he said bowing. 'I found you in great peril and couldn't stay back watching so I helped you'.

'Helped me from what?' she asked clueless.

He raised his eyebrows.

Aerona swiftly remembered the incident that happened in Rudark and how the men were about to kill her.

'Did you kill them?' she asked looking up at him. 'No my dear lady' he replied 'Why do you ask?'.

'I wanted to kill them...' she murmured. 'So you are telling me that it was a mistake saving you?' he replied taken aback.

'No Tyrill. Thank you for saving me. The problem is I wanted to kill them because they had killed my family' she replied biting down her pain.

'You mean your family of Almeris?' he asked

'My family of what?' she asked bewildered.

'Almeris. Human beings born with wings' he said calmly.

She gaped at him.

'So you didn't know you were an Almeris?' he asked to which she shook her head confused.

Tyrill stared at her bewildered.

But later he pulled a chair and sat down and began 'You are a being gifted with wings. They are called Almeris. You most likely come from the then Kingdom of Almeria land of the Almeris. But what I do not understand is why you would live in a horrid village as that of Rudark who kills every beings that are different from them'.

'I- ah hid my identity. My adoptive parent who were- um humans hid me from them' she replied 'How did you save me?' she asked.

'I was on a journey back to my Kingdom of Mardork when I had reached the village and saw you about to get killed. I recognized you as an Almeris and was quite taken aback' he said looking straight at her.

'Why?' she asked feeling red. 'Because King Agarius never allowed an Almeris to fly away or escape from his clutches so it was very odd seeing an Almeri among the human kind' replied Tyrill.

Aerona looked down the wooden boards thoughtfully.

'Why did you save me?' she asked finally.

'I cannot let you die by those crazy men' he replied pointing at the window.

'Why did they not kill you if they hated beings outside their own blood race?' she asked raising her eyebrows.

'They would never dare touch a hair of an elf. Elves are strong and cunning. If they had killed me, war would have erupted in that village, as I am- uhh well a traveller of...the great king' he said with a hint of pride.

'I see...' trying to swallow the whole truth.

'So what happens to me?' she asked remembering of her delimma.

'Pardon my lady?' he asked getting slowly. Aerona slowly noticed how tall he was and his skin illuminating a beautiful blue glow.

'I don't have a family. I have no where else to go' she said.

'Do you have a quest?' he asked.

'A quest? No I do not' she replied.

'My lady I saved you from harm but I do not know what your destiny seeks from you next' he replies with a slight frown. She clenched her jaw in rising tension.

She pulled her fingers in anticipation.

Tyrill sighed and said 'Rise. Come to the tavern down below the room. I had asked for a tray of breakfast for you'. Saying so he left the room.

Aerona leaned against the pillar of the bed. She has no where to go. No place to call home. No family to care for her.

She pulled herself from the comforting force of the bed and drag to the door.

When she open the creaky battered door of her room, a wafting smell of the morning breakfast wafted to her face. A grumble in reply.

There were noices of chairs creaking, people buzzing around, ordering for food and beer. Women in frocks frolicking like birds, entertaining the customers.

Aerona slowly walked down the tavern from her room.

'How may I help you my dear?' someone asked behind Aerona, making her jump.

She whirled around to see a woman with a maternal aura surrounding her vicinity. Aerona calmed down seeing her. 'I was just looking for some-' she began when she was suddenly cut short by the familiar whimsical hoarse voice saying 'She's with me my lady'.

Tyrill stridded towards them, Aerona noticed many woman behind him looking at him with desire and longing.

The glow of the warm candles reflected his blue skin in mesmerising beauty, Aerona felt soothed by the warm colours. 

'A friend?' asked a lady eyeing her. 'Yes. But a mere acquaintance' he said extending the tray of food to Aerona.

Aerona took I from him and sat down. She pulled the bread and devoured it, relishing the sweet nectar that felt like manna from heaven. She gulped down the milk that came with her food. She was starving. Her conscious blurred by hunger. She looked up and saw the woman who she had met wiping her mouth in her apron.

'Crumbs' she said and poured a glass of milk to her empty one. Aerona smiled at her. She had tied down her wings so none would know about her wings. She slowly thought how'd they react with they had witnessed it.

'So you will be leaving the girl here?' asked a man walking forward to Tyrill.

'I-' Tyrill began when a woman, younger than the man, jumped and said 'Bill here is finding a woman to be his bride. The girl could be made his betrothed'.

Many woman found this as an opportunity to pull Aerona from Tyrill so all of them giggles and applauded at the idea.

Bill bowed, giving a crooked smile at Aerona.

Tyrill looked down at Aerona. Her face filled with fright.

'Does the lady agree to it?' he began when the man said 'Woman don't have a choice here. If a man loves her evn without her consent, she will be his no matter'.

'I do not want to be your wife...' Aerona said, trying to hold her trembling voice strong. Her headstrong attitude got various ugly contempt looks from men around.

'That is out question girl. You and will be married in a few days time. You mark my words' he said walking towards. Aerona backed away. But Tyrill stood in front of them blocking the man's path.

'I have changed my mind. The lady is to accompany me' Tyrill said giving the motherly woman eight silver coins for the food.

'But I have decided to marry her' the man grumbled and the men and women around her nodded.

'She has a quest and I am lending my hand as support to her. Take one more step towards the lady and you won't have another day to talk to your progeny' Tyrill said touching his hilt warningly.

The tavern went silent.

Tyrill pulled at Aerona's arm, taking her with him outside.

He helped her onto his carriage and they rode off from the outrageous village.

'Tyrill... I do not have a quest' she whimpered.

'You may not. But I could take you to my Kingdom' he said

'How about you take me to mine' she said pulling her face up to face him. Tyrill noticed the tears. 'I cannot my lady' he replied looking back to the road.

Tyrill continued seeing her confused face.

'Almeria was a land of Almeris. Now it is ruled by-' Tyrill began when Aerona completed 'Agarius'.

'Yes' he said.

'So what?' she asked.

'Agarius is the king of Dunderwall. King of Dragon-Shifters. He killed the heirs of Almeria so he could rule them. The living Almeris are treated like vermins. It's very likely you would be killed' he said

'Oh' replied Aerona.

'So what shall I do in your Kingdom?' she asked

'Well...my lady. You shall meet the acquaintances of the king of Murdark' he said turning the reins of his horse