Apondra entered Aremina’s pub to see that apart from Mina and Beren’s voices carrying over from the kitchen, there were no customers in the pub. She shifted her cloak on her shoulders, making sure her dagger was well hidden from where she placed it in the pocket of her cloak and called out a greeting to them both. She smiled when they both returned her greeting and Mina called that she was already cooking up dinner for her.

“Just make yourself at home kid!” came Beren’s voice, “Be out in just a second!”

Apondra laughed, “Music it is then!” she could barely catch Beren’s chuckle as she sat before the keys, wondering how long it would be until Elwe and the others would arrive. At first her playing was silly and whimsical, reflecting her excitement of the day, but as she lost herself in the music, it was all she could hear, and the tone of it changed with her. The tone of the songs reflected the passion she felt, as the notes of the children’s songs in the streets echoed over the empty pub, then the sorrow she hid as the notes of her mother’s songs rang out and she began to silently sing, She did not realize her repetition nor the tears that landed on the keys as she played, stuck in a grief stricken trance. Over and over, the loop of sorrow continued with shaking hands, so lost in the memories of the cabin she called her home, and the images of her mother preparing food for her, or bringing flowers to brighten their dank home. The gentle smile on her mother’s face that never truly met her crimson eyes. Apondra did not notice the drink that was set before her, or the quiet prince who had entered moments ago, sitting silently on the corner of the bench as he watched her play, while Colin and Dreco took seats nearby.

Apondra played through the song, and though her eyes met the small audience she had gathered of her newfound friends, she did not truly see them until her hands slowly moved away from the keys and she rested her weary head in them, wiping the trails of tears from her cheeks. She reached for her drink and took a long swig to ebb away the pain in her heart,

“You play beautifully, Apondra,” Elwe sounded almost breathless, as if he did not want to ruin the piece that had just ended by speaking loudly, “May I ask, who taught you to play so well?”

Apondra did not turn to face him, but let out a sigh to relax her shoulders, “I taught myself, it took nine months, after Dryn became my home,” her answer was so desensitized that would she have been in any other mood, she would have worried about the prince’s response. But the numbness had taken hold again.

Even with the memory being so long ago, she could still remember how the fear gripped her, fear of the people she did not know, the feel of her body trembling at the thought of being tossed out because of her age, or worse yet, someone discovering her best kept secret. Apondra was still wary of the prince, no manner of his charm or status could change the fact that he knew her, at least in part, for what she truly was. Could he be trusted to hold his tongue with Beren and Mina? Or would he take this opportunity to expose her? No. Not now, and certainly not here.

Apondra tensed for a moment and stood from the bench quickly, with almost enough force to topple it with the prince still seated upon it.

“What is it?” Elwe’s startled voice rang in her ears as she moved towards Colin and Dreco.

Dreco frowned at her and stood with Colin.

“Get them out of here,” she whispered, darting her eyes towards the kitchen, “Now,”

Dreco and Colin both exchanged a look and nodded. Dreco grabbed her arm and pulled her in, “You keep him safe. Understood?”

Apondra nodded, “There is a backdoor through that way. Beren will show you. Now get them out of here!” her voice raised with the urgency and both guards ran to complete her request.

Elwe shrugged off his cloak, revealing his glorious muscled arms, and a scabbard at his waist, a shortsword lying in wait.

“You knew they were coming…” Apondra addressed the prince directly, bringing her dagger to her side.

Elwe nodded, “The Mother granted me another vision this morning,” his eyes flicked to the door, “They come to avenge their friend,”

Avenge? Did I? Her thoughts raced for a moment, remembering how the man had fallen so heavy when she struck his neck.

The prince seemed to notice her panic right away and shook his head, “No, he did not perish. But a man’s ego is so easily bruised, and they come to right what they see as wrong,”

A loud bang jolted Apondra’s focus to the door as it swung back from where it struck the wall, three large men stormed in, eyes blazing with anger, each a blade in hand.

“So this is the kid who did it?” a blonde man with a thick beard crossed his arms over his puffed chest, looking Apondra up and down.

The man to his right nodded, “Yup, Erit painted ‘er clear as day. Red ‘air, small young girl, always seen at the pub. That’s ‘er… the elfling… who knows what ‘e’s doin’ ‘ere,”

Elwe stepped forward, putting himself between her and the men, “This ‘elfling’ is here to see that she is safe. Though I have no doubt that she could take you herself,”

Apondra blinked from behind the prince, who kept himself between her and the men trying to size her up.

The men all laughed and Apondra saw their blades flash in the torchlight. The blonde man spoke again in a gruff tone, “We’ll see about tha’. Bloody ‘em up boys,”

The men charged Elwe, and Apondra quickly grabbed the nearest chair and threw it in the man’s path, watching the man move to the side, glaring at her.

Apondra jumped atop a table, her dagger in hand, watching Elwe quickly dart to the side to avoid the swinging dagger of one of the charging men. That sweet smell hung in the air and burned Apondra’s throat like a hot iron. The man’s aim had been true enough.

She growled as one of the men went to dive at the table, and tried to leap over his flying body but he caught her ankles and pulled her tumbling with him into a booth. She cried out as his dagger came down, ripping a gash into her arm.

As the man prepared his next blow, Apondra watched one of the men struggle with Elwe and toss the prince over the tables, right into the man on top of her. She quickly righted herself and charged at the man’s back, her dagger swinging wildly as she tore into his skin, sending blood spattering over them, buying the prince time to right himself and… the man threw a backhand, catching the prince off guard and putting him right back to the ground.

Apondra growled and leapt on top of the man, only for one of the men to strike her across the back, narrowly avoiding her wrap, and sending warm blood spilling onto her torn dress, before a set of hands snatched her and slammed her down, shattering a table and making her world spin.

“We cannot just leave them!” Beren protested as Dreco ushered him by the arm through the streets with his sister kept in tow by Colin, the man pulling and struggling with him the whole way down the street, “She needs our help! I cannot just leave her there!”

Dreco sympathized, but his orders had come from her, and though his training and discipline screamed that it was not her choice to make and for them to turn back for the prince, he felt trust in Apondra’s ability. If at least to get these two to safety before returning to the pub to survey what help was needed from them. This man was devoted to the girl, by more than just a customer standpoint.

“Please!” the woman, Mina, cried out, “we need to help her! She needs us!”

Dreco turned, so suddenly that the woman became silent, “What is she to you?”

The woman looked at him through her disheveled locks with pleading eyes.

Beren spoke up, the voice of a protector, “She is our charge while her father is gone,”

The guards looked at them both for a moment, weighing their options. Did he dare allow them to turn back?

Elwe’s eyes locked with Apondra’s for a moment as he watched the brute use her body to splinter the table in half. She was still conscious, but hurt, badly enough to hinder her from standing for the moment.

The men turned their attention to him now, backing him into a corner, each trading blows that clapped like thunder in his head. He raised his hands to protect himself, trying his best to catch the men with his shortsword, but the blows were coming too quickly. The largest sent the wind out of him with a well placed fist, reducing the prince to the ground as two of the men continued to slash, stomp and kick his body, the other returning to Apondra and berating her with the same onslaught. Her weak cries shattered Elwe as he watched her arms raise to protect her from their blades and blows, while he fought to protect his own head and body.

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It was only when they both were too weak to resist the blows that the men stopped, uttering some foul words and sending spittle to the blood spattered floor, before the trio fled for the exit.

Apondra grit her teeth as she rolled onto her side, splinters of wood dug into her arms as she struggled onto her hands and knees, her body shaking violently from the pain throbbing with every move. Her wings had taken the brunt of the force to the table and as the weight of them pulled at the bindings, pain shot through them with even the slightest touch causing her to choke out a cry when she pushed herself up to sit on her knees before the all but destroyed tavern. The broken chair she had used, the splintered table beneath her, even the front door had been all but torn out of place, hanging askew by one corner beam.

She breathed heavily at the blood that dripped from her mouth, her lip had been reopened, her gums stinging, bloody from the blows. Her arms were covered in cuts from defending herself. Apondra sat in silence, looking herself over, her stomach pained and her ribs aching. A dirty fight to say the least. But what did she expect other than what it was?

Movement out of the corner of her eye and another pained groan split the silence, as Elwe pulled himself carefully to his feet, staggering slightly before leaning heavily on the nearest wall.

Apondra forced herself to her feet, her stomach reeling as she nearly emptied her stomach on the floor from the pain, “Elwe?” she choked out his name.

The pain in his face was clear, as he staggered towards her, a noticeable limp in his gait. Despite his pain he slung his arm under her and guided them both to a set of chairs untouched by the skirmish.

There in the silence of their defeat, the prince and the butcher's daughter did not speak a word as they tried their best to tend to each other's wounds with whatever they could find in the destroyed tavern.

Dreco and Colin arrived soon after, Beren and Mina safely stowed away at Apondra’s home, the only place that Dreco could convince them to stay until things were settled, though Dreco knew that as much as Berendur did not object, the scowl and rage in his eyes were enough to tell what the man truly thought of them. But that did not matter, as Dreco surveyed the damages to the tavern, and spied the bloody and bruised pair, gently tending to each other's wounds.

The look on Colin’s face was all too familiar to Dreco, the boy had not yet truly witnessed more than a street brawl, this was the carnage that blades could provide, he would either accept it and continue his training or buckle under this sight. There were far worse sights than this… Colin needed to make a choice.

Dreco and Colin quietly separated the prince and Apondra, the battered pair almost inseparable as Dreco guided Apondra to sit with him, and Colin tending the prince, her hands trailed along his skin, and his to her own, until they were out of arm's reach.

After a long silence, Apondra managed a few words, “It was a mistake coming here…” Apondra's voice was almost childlike as Dreco carefully assessed her wounds, reaching into his cloak for the few bottled salves he carried on his person.

“You lost this fight, better this than a full scale battle,” Dreco remarked, focused on applying a soothing salve to the wounds the prince had not yet bandaged, “outnumbered and outbrawned, you stayed your ground, even the toughest of us find that hard sometimes,” he hushed his voice, “even me,”

Apondra sighed and spoke confidently, “I will join the ranks, on one condition,”

Dreco continued his work, entertaining her, “and what condition is that?”

“I want you to train me Dreco,” her voice was matter of fact to the point of almost being demanding, “No one else. Just you,”

As he finished wrapping the last of her wounds that did not require more intricate healing, he would need proper thread and needle to stitch them, Dreco began thinking of just what she was giving up living here. It appeared that apart from Aremina, Berendur, and her “father” Barri, she did not have any friends, none her own age at all. What kind of life had she been living here that she was not able to socialize freely? Even being vampiric… that should not have stood in her way, most of vampiric descent were thought of at least in good favor, only the exiles who lived among the trees were thought of harshly.

He helped her to her feet and extended his hand to her, “Welcome to the ranks, Apondra,”

She smiled and clasped his arm as he did so, mindful of her wounds.

With the prince’s wounds tended as well, Apondra looked to Dreco with worry on her brow, “some may need stitching to heal proper,” she remarked, looking her own arms over as well as the prince’s.

Dreco nodded, “Colin, see to finding a healer for Elwe and have them meet you at the inn. I will escort Apondra home,“

Elwe and Colin both nodded, and the four took their separate ways.

Apondra pushed the door to the shop open and held it for Dreco to enter. She could hear Beren, Mina and… “Father? You are home?!” she could not hide her excitement as she rushed into the dining room, forcing the pain out of her mind as she went to see Barri seated with Beren and Mina, sharing tea and sweets with them.

Barri’s smile as she came to him slowly faded as he looked her over, “Who does Barri need to hunt down?!” he growled as he stood and held her face in his hands, no doubt seeing the still wet blood on her face and her busted lip.

“It is alright Sir,” Dreco emerged, giving Beren and Mina a nod, “I did what I could to wrap what wounds needed it, but she will need stitches on a few of them,”

Barri glanced at Dreco for a moment and nodded, “Thank you for looking after Barri’s daughter,” Dreco gave a small nod back, “She got into some trouble a little while back, but I have to say, Apondra holds herself well in a fight,” Apondra mouthed a thank you, “I only stepped in when the fight was finished because she made a small mistake and needed a safe place to recover from her fall,”

Barri shot Apondra a look, but his eyes were not angry, they showed hints of pride, “Just like my Pondie,” he remarked with a slight smile.

“Do you mind if I join you? There is something I would like to discuss with the two of you,” Dreco asked, his gruff voice negating any subtly if he tried to display any at all.

Beren and Mina stood together, “We should be going back now. How bad was the damage kid?” Beren asked, his eyes trailing the numerous wounds she had endured for them, worry settling deep within him.

Apondra felt guilty at the question, if it was not for her there would be no damage at all, but they deserved the truth, “a couple of tables need replacing, chairs too… but the bar and kitchen were not damaged,”

Barri sighed, almost as if he had expected worse.

“The floors will need a scrubbing as well,” Dreco said, taking a seat where Beren had been. He reached into his cloak and produced a sack of coin, tossing it to Beren, “this should cover the repairs,”

Beren caught the parcel and nodded appreciatively, “Well Barri, we will be seeing you. Apondra, mind yourself next time alright?”

“I will Beren,” Apondra gathered up the crumb speckled plates and unfinished tea for washing.

She went to the back garden to see that the chickens were well, leaving Dreco and Barri to discuss her enrollment in the guard. She would give them their privacy until they called on her, for now, Apondra sat in the wind’s chill, her wings screaming in pain, but wounds no longer leaking crimson.

“I understand there may be some concerns you have with Apondra leaving home, but I can assure you she will be under my care for the duration of her training,” Dreco had been deep in discussion about what Apondra's father could expect while she was training, the lands they would visit, and the types of dangers that they would come across, but this discussion seemed very one sided. Barri had yet to speak a word of objection, concern, acceptance or really anything at all besides his stoic, watchful eyes following him, so Dreco continued to provide what details he could divulge.

“She will be safe?” Barri finally spoke after a long silence, “You will train her well?”

Dreco nodded, leaning back in the chair, “I cannot swear that she will not become injured or fall ill as we train and travel, but I have enough experience in my travels to classify as a healer, I will keep her as well as I am able. You have my word,”

Barri glanced down and grabbed Dreco's wrist to have a closer look. Dreco fought his training to twist Barri’s wrist with his free hand, and watched the man inspect the wound closely. Dreco knew his concerns before he spoke them aloud, “You know what Pondie is. She ran out?”

Dreco nodded, “Four days without it, the prince offered her but she refused.. So I-”

“Smart girl,” Barri remarked, releasing Dreco’s wrist.

“So I offered a bit of my own in his stead,”

Barri leaned forward, his tone shifted to a seriousness that screamed with urgency, “If she goes, she hunts free. She knows rules. No royals, none who cannot speak for themself, and no kind man who speak like us, unless offer is made,” Barri glanced to Dreco’s wrist once again.

“I know the hunting grounds and safe paths where she will be able to hunt without being disturbed,”

A slight smile turned Barri’s lips, and he called loudly, “Apondra! Come see us!”

Apondra quietly crossed the threshold into the dining room, her arms wrapped around herself to comfort the rising anxiety roiling in her gut, ready to sit at the table for what she expected to be a long and arduous discussion filled with objections and dismissals from Barri, when Barri shook his head.

“No need Pondie, we have decided,” Barri said, his face unreadable. What was happening? They decided very quickly. Did Barri already deny Dreco?

Dreco could see her worry plainly she knew, as he eyed Barri and nodded to her.

Apondra looked between them, confusion twisting her stomach in countless knots, “Would someone say something! Stop looking at me like that,” she raised her voice slightly, and regretted her tone as soon as it came.

Dreco and Barri both started chuckling to themselves and Dreco’s hand came down hard on her shoulder, sending pain ringing through her wounds that she fought to ignore.

“Father?” Apondra looked at him, his expression soft, if a bit sad.

Barri stood and took her in his arms and whispered, “Start packing your things baby bird,”

She held Barri by the shoulders and stared at him, dumbfounded and in shock. Did he just say what she thought he said? His nod confirmed her thoughts and she pulled him into a tight embrace, “I am sorry for what I said, Barri, I did not mean it!” her elation turned to sorrow filled regret, but Barri only kissed her forehead gently.

“Barri knows,” he spoke gently, wiping a single stray tear with his thumb, “Now, go pack, adventure calls you,”

She leaned into his hand and nodded, slipping away to go pack her things, while Barri bid Dreco farewell.