Apondra kicked stones as she walked towards home, her mind wandering about the prince's words. She wondered how long he would be searching for recruits before he would return to his far off kingdom. Her heart sank as she wondered if he knew how she felt about him. He must think I am such a fool… why would he ever consider a butcher's daughter? Perhaps it was better this way, to let him return to his future kingdom, and her continue on as she always did, never spectacular, living an ordinary life.

Dark clouds gathered overhead, blocking out the moonlight, leaving Apondra to walk by the little light of the houses that still had candles lit. She sighed happily towards the sky as she felt the first few raindrops hit her skin, the smell of the dampening earth and grass was a welcome one, it almost made her forget about the refuse and waste in the streets. She could afford a moment of pleasure before going home. She twirled in the rain, letting her hair soak and not caring that her cloak was drenched and clinging to her back. But it was as she twirled she realized something, or rather someone… stalking towards her with an uneven gait, the loser of the King’s Head match. She halted as she watched him close the distance and back her against the wall of a home.

“Ahh.. li’l cheater. I have something for you,” his voice slurred with drink, he grabbed hold of her arm and pinned it above her head, “Seems you owe me some coin for the trouble you caused, eh?” Apondra could feel the prick of a blade at her side.

Her heart pounded, and she tried to search for a way out, but her back was to the wall, and with one arm pinned above her escape would not be a simple one. This would need some finesse with her blade… finesse she was not familiar with. She would need to think on her feet. No one was coming after her. Apondra was on her own.

She shuddered as the man came so close that she could smell the stale ale on his breath, fighting not to gag against the stench. Apondra swallowed as much fear as she could and mustered in a small voice, “If it is coin you are after, I have a pouch in my left boot,” when his eyes downcast to her boot she added, “It is all I have! I swear on the Mother! Just…”

Her next words were cut short as the pommel of his blade connected with the side of her face. Her eyes teared and she tasted her own blood. She coughed against it and felt a firm hand grasp her throat.

“I don' want excuses!” he growled, pressing her against the wall so hard her wings ached painfully. He flashed his dagger, "make with the coin!"

Her panic spread and she gasped, trying to wrestle herself away, but his blade appeared at her throat again and she stilled. She had to fight! But what could she do?

She felt her throat tighten as the blade bobbed at her throat, “If that is what you want, then at least let me take my cloak off… the rain has soiled it,”

He let out a frustrated growl as he took one step back, still brandishing the dagger, “You try anything girly, I’ll gut you where you stand,” he warned, rage darkening his eyes.

She nodded absently to him and struggled to undo the tie of her cloak. The relief that washed over her when she felt the cloak fall away to her ankles shocked her and she leaned against the wall to keep herself steady.

“I just need to put this to the side,” she murmured, turning her back to him, hoping that her dress covered the bindings just enough. Her heart pounded in her ears as Apondra bent down and picked up the cloak slowly, taking her dagger with her. Okay… now! She spun and threw the cloak over his head.

The man cursed colorfully and fought against the wet cloak that clung at him like a second skin, his dagger swinging wildly.

She growled and threw a hard kick between his legs, and when he hunched at the impact she leapt onto his back, his dagger lost to the mud she took her advantage, using the hilt of her own to assault his head as much as she could.

He regained footing quicker than she had expected and tried to claw her off of him through the cloak, and when this proved fruitless he spun and began slamming himself, and consequently her, into the wall.

Apondra’s ears rang with the impact and she fought to keep herself in the fight. This was not a fight to lose. This man would do much worse to her now if he got the upper hand. She took the hilt of her dagger and began slamming it down, trying to make contact anywhere. But with the cloak blocking much of her view and cushioning her strikes. It was only enraging the man more. He threw the cloak off of him, and Apondra leaned back, her legs gripping the man's body tightly to keep it from covering her head next. She pressed her dagger firmly to his throat and felt him finally be still.

“Okay! O-okay kid! Just let me be!” came his plea as he raised his hands.

But Apondra knew better from Barri’s teaching. Disarmed did not always mean the fight was over. She lifted herself up and slammed the hilt of her dagger hard into the back of the man’s neck.

His knees buckled and she felt the air rush at her face. She leapt off of the man, but lost her footing as her cloak tangled around her feet when she tried to pull it away with her. Apondra felt her tooth covers go flying from her mouth as her head struck the stone wall before blackness consumed her.

Dreco had watched the scene unfold in stunned silence. This girl was smarter on her feet than most of the men he had trained who had been thrown into battle headfirst. There were no more than a few moments of shock, and still he saw the way her body adapted; the shift of her feet, how quickly her breathing steadied, and how smoothly she pulled the man’s guard down. Granted the man was thick with drink, but that did not dim Dreco's impression much, if anything it boosted it. Drunks were an unpredictable sort, especially when they were after money. And she handled it beautifully, despite her current state, unconscious feet away from the man she subdued.

He would need to train her properly with weapons, yes, but she had potential with the right teacher. Dreco reminded himself that her trainer was probably a relative, which gave her just enough training to find opportunities to flee, not thrive, in a fight.

Dreco walked up to the unconscious brute that had struck her and grasped the man's throat for a moment. When a thrumming heartbeat met his fingers Dreco released and straightened himself, "Hmm.. good. She does not have that on her conscience," he stepped past the man to see the girl named Apondra still slumped against the wall, "though it would be no waste if she had sent you to meet Chellaintha and Sencheriak," he muttered bitterly at the sight of blood that had collected on her bottom lip, courtesy of the split lip he had given her. He fought the urge to spit on the man, remembering that he was wearing a kingdom’s colors and it could reflect on the royal family he served. as he carried the unconscious girl back to where his charge and prince would be waiting on him.

"You expect me to believe that little thing fought off a man twice her size alone?" Colin gawked, though he would do well to keep his thoughts to himself, he was barely out of his trainees armor and could easily be demoted for further training.

When Dreco had returned with Apondra in his arms, there was little debate on what to do next, as the three men walked with barely a word between them to their room at the local inn. The prince tossed the innkeep a bag of coins to leave them be for the night, and the man took it without argument, though any sane man would question why they carried a limp girl with them.

Elwe had taken it upon himself to clean the girl's bloodied lip and had been sitting in the same spot by the east facing window with Colin keeping watch at his side since they had laid the girl in bed, close enough that he hoped she would see him when she woke.

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"Are you sure that she took him down on her own Dreco?" came the prince's distant question.

"Yes, your highness. I saw with my own eyes. I was going to intervene as soon as the filth struck her, but…" he glanced at her peaceful form, still taken aback by what he has witnessed, "she had already thrown her cloak,"

Elwe nodded and stepped away from the window, bothered by the nightly chill, "She would do well to join the ranks, when she calms down we should discuss it,"

"Funny…" Colin spoke up, glancing at the girl for a moment, "I thought you said her father was elven. But look at her ears… and teeth,"

"Indeed… I suppose there is more to our guest than I suspected," the prince was quiet for a moment then continued, "But what matters right now is seeing that she is well,"

"She should wake soon, she took quite the hit, but besides a goose egg and a nasty headache she'll be fine," Dreco took a blanket from one of the beds and draped it over her body.

"It seems she is more than capable Sen," the gentle winged woman made a point of stretching her shimmering wings.

A laugh met her ears and she frowned as he came to watch across from her. He ran a hand through his short dark hair of browns and pitch. He said confidently, his pointed teeth shining like the armor he never took off, "Curious, not many heed your word so truly. It was a risky move to show him pieces, Chellie," her sharp glare did not sway him as he continued, "he may have ignored it, like he did with…"

"It is always a risk," Chellaintha sighed, pointing to the opening that she had called, "She is still young, Sen. Their paths, or… most of them, are still unknown! But in every iteration I see, every possible outcome, they are connected… as long as she…" she trailed off as she watched intently, perhaps the goddess was nervous?

Sencheriak, bored by his wife's riddles and unsurprised at her unblinking focus, turned his back on the gaping hole she had made by splitting the clouds, "As long as she does not kill him here. Do not worry Chellie, I will not meddle with her of my own hand. I am not so pushy,"

The Mother ignored his snide comment and turned back to watch when Sencheriak called through the void, "Mind that storm Chell! We do not want him dead! Just pushed back!"

She huffed at the comment and was left in peace, to watch over the girl and young princely elf, ever mindful of the fickleness of freewill and the haunting wrong that even the Mother herself could not fix.

Apondra groaned at the pounding in her head and slowly sat up, gingerly touching the lump on the back of her head that throbbed painfully in response. Her eyes were still adjusting to the poorly lit room, but she startled back at the sight of the three shadows in the room with her. What happened! Her panicked mind raced wildly, the last thing I remember was… oh Mother! Had the brute taken her somewhere after she fell unconscious?! Apondra slipped her hand carefully to her boot, faking a stretch and grasped her remaining dagger.

The tallest of the three began approaching her silently.

She stared at them and pushed herself away from the headboard quickly, yelping as a jolt of pain shot through her wings. When the tallest rushed towards her she raised her hand and clumsily let the dagger fly.

"Your Highness!" one of the men shouted.

The tallest, the prince, dove over the bed and landed crumpled between it and the wall with a groan. The dagger struck something solid and clattered to the floor. Something had slowed it down, it should have struck true into the wall if she had missed.

A harsh voice growled, "Colin! Get some damn torches lit in here! Now!" the two remaining figures split up, one headed for the prince, the other opening the door, letting a stream of light cast into the room.

"Dreco.. really I am alright," came the prince's voice from her immediate right.

No. no. no! Father help me… I just… her fractured thoughts whirled in a panic. She peeked over the bed to see Dreco pulling the prince to his feet, there was a small blood trail down his arm.

Her heart shot to her throat and she knelt next to the bed, her eyes fixed on the dark red that crawled down the prince's arm. The smell of it… Apondra clenched her jaw to keep from a hungry moan at the scent. Such a sweet scent, it was almost like her favorite blood orange and strawberry spirits at Mina's tavern that came in season in the summertime... but more tantalizing. We never go to royal places Pondie. Came Barri's voice in her head, palace guards hurting my Pondie, taking us to dungeon… never hurt Royal!

Apondra's hands shook with the realization of it, she tucked her hands in her lap, knelt on the ground and bowed her chin to her chest.

A hand touched her shoulder and she flinched.

Elwe could feel her trembling and drew his hand back carefully. She had flinched so abruptly under his touch that he worried that she was more injured than they had originally thought bringing her to the inn.

Dreco sighed as thundering footfalls pounded into the hall outside the room. He was understandably frustrated with his charge, they had been only acquainted briefly before this trip began.

"Please mage, light these torches for us?" Elwe spoke calmly as he took one knee next to the shaking girl.

As the torchlight began illuminating the sparsely furnished room, Elwe could see that Apondra had her head bowed, refusing to look at him. He raised a hand as the third torch lit and apologetically nodded to the mage as she too, as so many did in his presence, curtsied and took her leave.

"Apondra..?" Elwe softly spoke to her, barely loud enough for his comrades to hear.

Her lips moved with barely a sound, but Elwe could just make out her muttered apologies, let alone her begging of him to forgive her.

He gently guided her until she was facing him, yet she remained submitted to her knees before him, her head held low, most of her face hidden behind her disheveled hair.

"Colin? Dreco?" He turned to them, and watched Colin straighten himself ready for an order. So eager… "Would you both please take up watch outside the room for now? I would like to speak with Apondra alone,"

Dreco obediently bowed his head, "As you wish,"

Elwe watched Dreco nudge Colin to follow, and when the door closed behind them he turned back to Apondra.

She had finally lifted her head, and he could see from behind her hair that she was staring in silent horror at the cut across his arm.

He fixed himself so he was seated on the floor, his back leaning on the bed, "We should have kept the torches lit… I suggested we snuff them so you could rest easier,"

She blinked at him, as if she did not expect such kindness from him.

"I apologize for startling you," the prince continued from his place on the floor, "I only wanted to be sure you had not injured yourself any more,"

"I… Elwe, how did you find me?" Apondra rubbed the back of her head, and grimaced with discomfort.

"Actually…" Dreco came back into the room, one foot in the hall, "the prince asked that I make sure you were safe getting home. I must say, you are quick on your toes young lady," his smile revealed wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

"I only did what I had to…"

"And a fine job you did! With proper training you would be a fitting addition to the ranks," Dreco encouraged.

Elwe watched Apondra shrink back slightly at the proposition, “It is your choice Apondra, we only wanted to offer you some time to consider. For now,” he stood and offered his hand for her to do the same, she seemed to be lost in thought, so Elwe withdrew his hand, “do you want us to take you home?”

Apondra’s mind raced with the possibilities that came at a dizzying pace. Joining the ranks of the Etecian guard? She could finally see more of the world that she longed so desperately to explore, without worry of Barri getting too overprotective. If she had a seasoned warrior training her with other techniques she would be better prepared to take on Galoahar and even the world that lay beyond in the mainland. Barri seemed to dismiss the mainland as only a trade opportunity, and even then, he rarely delivered anything to the docks anymore, unless there were goods that were requested from far off in Etecia, or Aiyana on the other side of the continent that he could not make the trips himself. It was as if the mainland never existed at all.

Her head lowered with the conversation that played out in her head at the thought of asking Barri’s permission to travel to the elven lands to train. In every scenario, it turned into a fight, and Barri’s hypothetical answer always boiled down to the same disheartening word. No.

The prince was still waiting for her answer, his gentle smile negated any suspicion of impatience towards her and she took a steadying breath, “I only need to return to tend the chickens while Barri is gone,” she lingered on this for a moment and her heart ached for him to return home soon, “I would like to learn more from you,” she smiled at the concept and looked at the two of them, “all of you,”