The human of the Dragon Prince

The door shuddered under the weight of frantic knocking in the dead of night. Dominico Cruz, with hastening steps, made for the entrance, his eldest son Lotha at his heels. Upon flinging open the door, they were met by the terror-stricken visage of his lifelong comrade, Aldus, who cried out in alarm:

"They're coming, they're coming!"

"Who is coming?" demanded Dominico, his pulse racing.

"Florian and his men! His desire for your daughter Esthela has turned to fixation. They are on their way to take her! We must flee; their numbers of men are too great!"

With a voice laced with trepidation, Dominico issued commands to his kin: "Lotha, find Esthela. Escort her to your grandparents' dwelling and ensure her safety!"

Dominico shouts, his voice filled with desperation."Esthela, run! Daughter, you must escape!" "Maurin, Dustin, help her! Anora, aid her!"

In a maelstrom of panic, the family is galvanised into action. Esthela's mother, Anora, swathes her in layers of shawls and ushers her into the courtyard where Lotha is waiting astride his horse. With eyes brimming with tears, Anora embraces Esthela fervently and hands her a satchel packed with hastily chosen essentials. With one final effort, she boosts Esthela onto the horse. The trio of horses bolts, thundering into the night, away from the looming peril.

"You can't stay here," Aldus declared, his voice imbued with determination. "We shall repair to my abode. We'll give them the impression you've departed on one of your customary trading journeys."

Dominico makes sure to place the family sign they employ whenever they set forth on those ventures, and they withdraw to conceal themselves amidst the shrubbery on the far side of their abode. They had barely ensconced themselves when they espied a contingent of knights arriving. These knights, with a heedless vigour, splintered the door as they issued their clamorous edicts.

Foremost among them was Florian, the scion of a knight whose name invoked dread throughout the shire. His eyes had once tarried on Esthela's comeliness during a church service, kindling an inexorable yearning to possess her.

"They must be nearby! They cannot have gone far!" Florian exclaimed, his ire palpable as he cast aside the sign that suggested their absence. "They haven't departed; I am certain! Seek them out! Esthela will be mine!"

"They are wont to do this, Florian," one of the knights tried to assure him. "They abscond for days seeking wares and are oft delayed in their return. Upon their homecoming, the maiden shall be yours."

"They have not left! We've been betrayed," Florian insisted, gesturing towards a servant roused by the tumult. "Where are your masters and Miss Esthela? Speak truthfully, lest you desire to be beheaded."

"They embarked on a journey, sir," the elderly servant responded, his understanding of the peril clear upon sight of the toppled sign.

"On a trip? When? I saw them at Mass not long ago; they cannot possibly have left!"

Florian was beside himself with fury, struggling to come to terms with the fact that Esthela's visage was unmarred, contrary to the disfigurement he had imagined for so many years. The old servant, fully cognisant of the grim fate that would befall Esthela should he disclose her location, steadfastly maintained his invented account.

"They departed this very night, as is their wont when embarking on their trading ventures. They attend Mass to beseech the Lord's safeguarding before setting forth."

"And whither are they bound?" Florian pressed.

"To the kingdom," the servant answered. "As for Esthela, whispers abound that she is to be betrothed to a duchess as a lady-in-waiting."

"A duchess? Which duchess?" The question erupted from Florian, his rage reaching a fever pitch. "No, this shall not pass! Esthela is mine by right! We must give chase; they will not have travelled far! Set everything ablaze!"

"Pray, sir, show mercy!" the servant implored, his plea falling on deaf ears as Florian summarily executed him with a swift, brutal arc of his sword.

Florian's men, having set Esthela's house ablaze, galloped away at breakneck speed. As Esthela's parents dashed outside in a futile attempt to salvage their possessions, they were seemingly slain by Florian's guards who were in fervent pursuit along the same route that Esthela and her siblings had taken. The clamour of their pursuers intensified.

"Lotha, we cannot leave her with our grandparents; they will find her. They have hounds," Maurin implored with urgency.

"They are drawing nearer; their steeds outpace ours," Dustin chimed in, his voice laden with fear as he spurred his mount onwards. "What shall we do, Lotha?"

Lotha, the eldest sibling, renowned for his gravity and sense of duty, was also blessed with exceptional acumen. He ruminated briefly before steering his horse down a trail leading to a secluded cabin.

"Lotha?" Maurin's voice rose in a plea for direction.

"It is our sole option. I am aware of an isolated cabin, ensconced deep within the wilderness. It is beyond discovery. We shall rotate in attending to her needs. Esthela, harbour no fear. I shall not permit Florian to apprehend you, that merciless enchanter. At the earliest opportunity, I vow to end him!"

The pursuers were drawing nearer, and though they were reluctant to enter the foreboding, narrow path shrouded in darkness and whispered fears, they pressed on into the virgin, dense forest. Few had the temerity to tread such grounds, deterred by harrowing tales of creatures that feasted on human flesh, but they chose that path nonetheless.

"Do not fear, brothers," Esthela's voice emerged clear and resolute. "I would confront those fabled beasts a thousandfold rather than succumb to Florian's clutches. I am convinced they are naught but legends."

With no trace of hesitation, even as their horses balked and recoiled from the forest's threshold, they urged their mounts forward with unwavering resolve. The hounds of their pursuers, keen and unrelenting, picked up their scent and narrowed the gap.

"We shall lead them astray, sister. Make your escape and follow this track until you reach a river. Proceed northwards, and you will find a cabin. It is a relic of a hunter long since passed. He was the one who introduced me to this place in my youth; hence my knowledge of it. Therein lies your sanctuary. Refrain from venturing out or roaming the woods until we can return for you, understood?"

"Let us not part ways!" Esthela implored. "Florian will not spare any of you, my brothers! He is a brute!"

"No, we cannot. Their steeds outmatch ours. We must endeavour to elude them whilst you seek refuge," her elder brother Lotha stated with unwavering resolve. "Flee, Esthela. Do not render our sacrifices futile. Go! Never allow Florian to ensnare you. You are well aware of his capabilities and the fate that awaits you at his hands!"

Without a moment's delay, he struck Esthela's horse, prompting it to bolt as they veered the pursuers onto a divergent trail, striving to shield their cherished sister from peril. Esthela pressed on, her grip tight on the saddle amidst the enveloping gloom, when suddenly, harrowing screams rent the air, as though a savage beast had launched an attack. Seized by dread, she cast a fleeting glance over her shoulder, her verdant eyes slicing through the night's veil, only to be met with the sinister gleam of crimson eyes.

Consumed by terror, she resisted the urge to investigate and persisted through the darkness, emerging unharmed at the hut come dawn. Situated atop a rise with a commanding view of a river below, she forded the stream and alighted from her steed, her gaze darting anxiously about to discern whether her brothers might yet appear.

The cabin, constructed from robust logs, comprised a solitary chamber. A grand fireplace held court in the centre, while a substantial bed claimed one corner. A shiver coursed down Esthela's spine as her gaze fell upon a pair of boots tucked away in another corner. Her fear was nigh on paralysing, yet she stemmed the tide of tears, realising with a sinking heart that her brothers were absent. What fate had befallen them? Were they ensnared by Florian's grasp? The village was rife with ominous whispers of his and his father's deeds. And her parents – had they eluded his fury, or had they succumbed?

These thoughts plagued Esthela as she lingered in the threshold of the cabin, when abruptly, a vast shadow, akin to an immense bird, flitted across the floor before her. She cast her eyes skyward but discerned nothing. What manner of creature could cast such a silhouette? Besieged by dread, she stepped within and fastened the door with a robust timber reserved for dire contingencies. Huddled in the corner nearest the hearth, she waited with bated breath, hoping against hope for her brothers' return.

Could the myriad tales and legends that abounded in the village hold a kernel of truth? They spoke of this realm as one inhabited by colossal dragons and sundry otherworldly entities that preyed upon humankind. What recourse would she have if such tales bore fruit, here in her solitary refuge?

The Prince of Dragons, Erick, was perched upon the railing of the grand imperial palace in the Dragon Kingdom. His father, Emperor Kendrick, had expressly forbidden him from crossing the palace boundaries due to turmoil stirring in the lowlands. Animosity festered in the heart of Erick's uncle, Baduf, who coveted the throne for his offspring, Torsten. Baduf was of the firm belief that Erick was ill-suited to inherit the mantle of leadership, for he seemed more enchanted by the realm of humans than that of dragons.

"My prince, upon what do your thoughts so intently dwell?" Oryun, not only Erick's confidant but also his prospective advisor, posed the question. "You appear rather detached. Is there a matter that troubles you?"

"I have been subjected to an entire morning of tedious lectures delivered by your father, the esteemed counsellor," Prince Erick retorted. "And now my own sire has decreed that he should school me in the laws of our dominion and the obligations that befit a prince."

"Ah, I see," Oryun replied. "That would elucidate why he was probing about our excursions amongst the humans."

"And what did you impart to him?" the prince inquired with alacrity.

"I was forthright," Oryun affirmed. "I divulged that we merely engage in feasting, dancing, imbibing, and then we return. What more could I have conveyed?"

"You must never reveal that we approach the border to survey their skirmishes and don human guise to render them aid," the prince admonished Oryun.

"Do you take me for a fool? Were my father to unearth our deeds, he'd surely mete out stringent punishment and sequester me in the tower," Oryun retorted hastily. "Now that you're at liberty, why don't we repair to the forest and linger in the hut? It's devoid of humans, and our progenitors would not demur. I am wearied by tedium!"

"Do you reckon the emperor would accord his assent? I've scant desire to be subjected to prolonged chastisement anew," the prince mused.

"Behold, your mother, the empress, approaches. Perhaps you might petition her leave?" Oryun proposed.

Erick swivelled to observe the approach of a regal, silver-hued dragon, her wings folding with grace upon alighting. Standing, Erick's formidable dragon form eclipsed his mother's stature as he advanced towards her, inclining his head in deference. The empress surveyed him with an inquisitive mien before she spoke.

"Very well, you have my permission to venture into the forest. However, remember that there must be no contact with humans," she stated firmly.

"Mother, please refrain from reading my thoughts!" the prince protested, his discomfort palpable.

"Why can't I do it?" Zelda asked, her voice carrying a mix of mirth and maternal concern. "You are my only son, and we share a special connection. I hear your thoughts and sense your emotions. When you learn to detach yourself from me, I shall cease to do so."

"And why do you not detach yourself from me?" the prince inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"Because I wish to remain connected to my only son. It allows me to be cognisant of any potential danger that may befall you," the empress explained affectionately. "I can sense your ennui and your yearning to visit the human world. You may go, but only to our forest. Humans fear it and seldom enter; the last one who dared was dealt with by your grandfather long ago." She paused before adding, "I urge you both to practice transforming into various animals. Please come closer," she beckoned to the two dragons.

"What are your intentions?" Prince Erick asked anxiously. He was acutely aware of his mother, Empress Zelda's immense power and extraordinary abilities. Two radiant beams of light emanated from Zelda's eyes, striking Erick and Oryun's foreheads and gradually rendering them invisible.

"Why have you done this, Mother?" the prince questioned, his tone laced with annoyance.

"I wish to ensure that no human can lay eyes on you," the empress responded. "Henceforth, whenever you venture into the human world, you shall be rendered invisible. I am prepared to lift your father's imposed punishment, but only on the condition that you accept this arrangement. Should you decline, then the punishment shall persist."

"This is not fair, Mum!" Erick protested.

"Very well, then you shall continue to bear your father's punishment, and you will be barred from visiting the enchanted forest in the human world," the empress declared with austerity.

"No, that's not what I intended!" Prince Erick hastily interjected. Whilst he relished being seen by humans, the prospect of invisibility was preferable to enduring ennui. He acquiesced with reluctance. "It's all right, Mum. Thank you. I believe it's a sensible precaution."

Erick nestled his neck against his mother's, seeking comfort in her embrace as she folded him within her wings. They lingered in that tender communion until she slowly withdrew.

"Erick, my son, exercise the greatest caution," she implored with solemnity. "Humans have an unquenchable zeal for hunting dragons. Should their eyes fall upon you, they will pursue you relentlessly until they have claimed your life. And trust me, despite your considerable might, they possess weapons that can inflict harm upon us."

"Don't worry, Mum. We shall only venture to the forest and practise transforming into different animals," Erick reassured her, discerning the apprehension in her eyes.

"Exercise caution, for invisibility only applies when you are in your dragon form," the empress cautioned them.

"What do you mean by that, Mum?" Erick inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"If you transform into any creature other than a dragon, you will become visible to humans," the empress elucidated before she turned to leave. "Now, I must attend to the palace to ascertain what your father is about. Farewell for now, my son, and endeavour not to linger too long in the human world."

They watched as she made her way to the colossal palace, an edifice wrought from precious stones that glistened in consort with the clouds above. The draconian empire was among the most ancient of the godly dominions. Erick's father had ascended the throne millennia prior. Yet, Prince Erick harboured no immediate ambitions to inherit the imperial mantle.

The crown prince's dragon, and his friend Oryun's spread their wings and descended with elegance, cognisant of the nocturnal cloak enveloping the human realm. The obscurity of night posed no hindrance to them; their vision in darkness was unerring. Nearing the enchanted forest, their senses were abruptly engaged by a discordant symphony of barking and shouting.

"Are those humans trespassing into our forest?" Prince Eric enquired, his gaze fixed on a group of young men on horseback who were hastily racing through the forest's solitary path. Shortly thereafter, a procession of over twenty humans on horseback emerged, a pack of dogs in fervent pursuit at their heels.

"We have two options," the prince proposed. "We could turn them into stone, but that would prove counterproductive, as other humans would surely find them. Alternatively, we could eat them."

"We don't eat humans!" Oryun exclaimed.

"Why not? My cousin Trosten claims they are delectable," Eric teased.

"Erick, should your father, the emperor, overhear us, he would mete out severe punishment," Oryun replied with gravity.

"Ha! I was merely jesting, you silly dragon." the prince clarified with a chuckle. "Oh, look! The ones at the forefront have left a decoy and fled like cowards."

"They have done no such thing," Oryun corrected him. "Notice how those who have split from the group are striving to draw the pursuers away, though I doubt their success. Their intent is to safeguard the female."

"You proceed and monitor their manoeuvres, while I ascertain whom they endeavour to protect. Today, I am feeling magnanimous; perhaps I shall lend my aid."

Oryun heeded the prince's bidding and set about his delegated task. Upon reaching a clearing, he was met with a harrowing tableau. Three humans were bound and gagged, suspended in mid-air, while they endured relentless torture at the hands of their captors. The assailants were adamant in their demands for information concerning the location of a female, yet the captives remained resolutely silent. Oryun could not suppress a burgeoning respect for the young men's valour.

Seized by indignation, he mounted an assault on the aggressors. Stricken with terror and unable to discern the source of their onslaught, the torturers scattered. The three young men remained, grievously wounded. Oryun endeavoured to minister to them by anointing their wounds with his dragon saliva, in hopes that it would hasten their convalescence. Alas, his efforts were in vain; the saliva bore no curative properties for humans.

Assuming responsibility for the trio's welfare, Oryun conveyed them to a proximate cave and fortified the entrance with an enchantment for their protection. He harboured doubts regarding their prospects for survival, but at the very least, they would be shielded from the predations of wild beasts. With this measure of solace, Oryun set off posthaste to rejoin the perturbed prince.

"What ails you, my prince? You seem fraught with unease. Moreover, who was the person those young humans endeavoured to safeguard?" Oryun queried, his solicitude palpable.

"She's the most beautiful human I've seen in a thousand years, and I believe she caught a glimpse of me," the prince exclaimedt.

"How is that possible? We are invisible!" Oryun reminded him, perplexed.

"You're right, I'd forgotten. Nevertheless, we cannot permit any creature to harm such an exquisite human," the prince declared with conviction.

Without awaiting his companion's reply, the prince took to the skies and rapidly closed the distance to Esthela, who was fleeing and casting frequent anxious looks behind her, her long black hair streaming in the wind. Oryun had to concede that the human was indeed strikingly beautiful. They spent the night vigilantly circling above her, warding off wolves, hyenas, lions, and various other predators that ventured too close. Yet, upon detecting their presence, these beasts promptly retreated.

The break of dawn found them still aloft, with Esthela now clearly wearied by her ordeal. They even shepherded the horse back onto the trail leading to the cabin-a structure erected by his grandfather millennia past and now his cherished retreat. It was, without question, his favoured haunt in the human realm. At last, upon ascertaining the river's shallowness, he watched with a sense of relief as Esthela made her way into the cabin.

"What do we do now? I'm weary of this incessant flight at such a sluggish pace. We could have conveyed her back in an instant," Oryun grumbled, his restless flying casting an ominous shadow upon the ground that did not go unnoticed by the prince, nor by Esthela who recoiled in fear at the sight. "Moreover, these humans are so merciless. The effort to restore her companions has sapped my strength considerably, yet to no avail. Their injuries were too severe, and our salve lacks the power to mend their flesh."

"What do you mean?" the prince enquired, his curiosity piqued.

"The pursuers ensnared the young men who had abandoned her and subjected them to excruciating torment. They were resolute in their quest to extract her location, but the men withstood their barbarity! That's why I endeavoured to aid them, but my efforts were futile," Oryun recounted.

"Are you certain that our magical saliva wrought no healing?" the prince asked, taken aback.

"Quite certain. I anointed them thoroughly, yet they lingered in unconsciousness. Their survival seems unlikely. I've sequestered them within a cave for safety. They are unlike the others; those other humans are truly malevolent. I should have dispatched them all!" Oryun declared vehemently.

"Yes, they are the selfsame ones committed to our pursuit and extermination," the prince mused. "Should you desire, you may return to the palace. I shall remain here to tend to my beautiful human."

"Your human?"

The Cruz family was well-known in Bisuldun as the town's sole textile merchants, situated near Count Wilfrido Cantanés' fortress, nestled between two rivers. Beyond the town stretched vast, untouched forests known as no man's land, reputed to be the nesting grounds and lairs of dragons and various mythological creatures. Hunters preferred to venture into the other forests that ringed the county rather than risk entering no man's land, for those who dared never returned.

Bisuldun itself was akin to any other country town, boasting a grand fortress in the guise of a castle perched atop a hill. The abodes of the lord's retainers nestled below, forming a tight cluster. In time, the town regained its prominence, owing chiefly to its strategic location. Flanked by two rivers, it was well-fortified against potential raiders. This security enticed families from lesser hamlets to settle in Bisuldun, prompting the county to flourish and prosper. The Cruz family was one such family who had fled from the capital and established themselves as prosperous merchants in Bisuldun.

They were scions of a noble lineage, one they dared not speak of, for they had fallen from grace following the demise of their patriarch at the hands of invaders. In search of sanctuary far from the capital, Dominico Cruz found solace in this remote country where his true lineage could remain concealed.

The city and its denizens were not intrinsically malevolent. Nevertheless, they all served under the dominion of Count Wilfrido Cantanés. Whilst the Count endeavoured to secure the county's economic prosperity, he afforded his knights a certain latitude that frequently resulted in dubious deeds.

Whispers abounded that his counsellor wielded formidable sorcerous abilities. Amongst the traditions embraced by the soldiers upon their return from campaigns against the neighbouring fiefs, which incessantly assailed the county's frontiers, was the custom of claiming mistresses from the pool of eligible maidens within the city.

The knights maintained their principal spouses, yet they were sanctioned to keep numerous mistresses who attended upon their chief wives. These secondary partners were oftentimes coerced into the arrangement, wrested from their kin. To circumvent such a destiny, numerous parents hastened to wed their daughters as soon as they attained twelve years of age-the juncture at which the knights typically selected them.

The city's populace had submitted manifold grievances to the Count concerning this savage tradition, yet he persistently disregarded them. His apathy merely incited the knights' progeny to perpetuate this convention, which was regarded as a recompense for their valour in combat. Among these was Florian, offspring of the Count's adviser.

It was rumoured that Florian possessed formidable sorcery skills, a legacy inherited from his father. The mere invocation of his name instilled dread in the hearts of maidens, for he was known to abduct them and, once his desires were sated, either consign them to a life of prostitution or sell them into bondage. Helpless parents stood bereft of power to intervene. The sole exceptions to his predations were those wed to gentlemen, as the law held them sacrosanct. Any breach of this statute was adjudged treasonous and bore the penalty of death.

Esthela seldom ventured beyond the confines of her domicile, and when necessity dictated, she shrouded her visage beneath a shawl, ever escorted by her mother or brothers. They had adeptly concealed her from predatory scrutiny until she attained her eighteenth year. The local populace swallowed the fiction of her disfigurement, which accounted for her perpetual veiling. Unbeknownst to them, she was precluded from betrothal, for she had been claimed since birth, a truth sequestered from all.

Regrettably, on that ill-starred day at church, the vicar implored Esthela to bare her countenance, asserting that she ought not to hide her God-given features in shame. With an abrupt gesture, he divested her of the shawl that had served as her shield, prompting a collective intake of breath from the assembly as Esthela's true aspect was laid bare before all.

To the collective astonishment of those present, she was of breathtaking beauty, impeccable in every conceivable manner. Her hair, a torrent of midnight black, cascaded in abundant waves, glistening beneath the church's light. Her eyes, an uncommon striking shade of green for the region, were framed by long and luscious lashes. Her lips, perhaps the most astonishing feature, were incredibly full and sensuous, adorned with a captivating shade of red. Even the vicar himself momentarily lapsed into an appreciative pause to admire the exquisite beauty of this young woman before, with a hint of regret, urging her to veil herself once more, cognisant that he had inadvertently drawn Florian's attention.

Florian's eyes widened with disbelief as he beheld Esthela; his yearning to claim her surged at that very instant. As the mass concluded, he readied himself to wrest her from her parents by force. His intentions were, however, thwarted by the formidable presence of Lotha, Esthela's elder brother, who enfolded her within his protective embrace. Florian, finding himself unaccompanied save for his wife, was compelled to halt his advance.

The girl trembled in fear under the watchful gaze of her mother, Anora, and her ageing father, Dominico, who glared at the shepherd with a seething rage. Dominico swiftly left the enclosure, resolute in his mission to safeguard his precious daughter.

"This is not good. I warned you not to bring her here," Anora whispered fearfully, endeavouring to shield Esthela from view. "We must send her away forthwith."

"We shall," Dominico responded with unwavering determination. "She'll go to stay with your parents. Florian wouldn't dare come for her until his knights return."

"Are you certain of that?" Lotha questioned, scepticism lacing his tone. "That brute Florian is bound to summon his father's men and pursue her. Furthermore, who shall protect her at our grandparents' abode? And the peril of our foes discovering her retreat? We must secure a marriage for her on this very day, now that she's of age."

"I understand your concerns," Dominico conceded. "But you know as well as I do that I cannot simply bestow her upon just any suitor. She is already betrothed to another."

"My dear," Lady Anora interjected with solemnity, "I appreciate your desire to honour your father's pledge. However, that is no longer a tenable course of action. No one has come forward to claim Esthela. We must find her a suitable match."

"Why don't we seek a husband for her without revealing her true lineage?" Maurin, her brother, proposed.

"We might broker a union between her and Leoric, Aldus's son, who is due to return from the border today. He would cherish and protect her," Anora suggested, clutching her daughter Esthela close as she hearkened to the conversation. "We ought to have settled this matter sooner. I maintained that delay was imprudent. Should they seek her out now, it will be too late for any recourse against us. They neglected their obligation; they were to send for her upon her sixteenth year, yet none appeared."

"My love, you are aware of the consecuencias such a match would entail," Mr. Dominic remarked, his voice tinged with melancholy. "She cannot be wed to just any suitor; you are cognisant of this fact."

"We shall disclose all to Leoric. We will instruct him on how to navigate these tribulations, despite his humbler origins. Perhaps he possesses the fortitude to endure," Mrs. Anora implored, her eyes beseeching her husband. "We must act posthaste, my dear, lest Florian and his father unearth our secret after all these years!"

Esthela observed the exchange between her parents, endeavouring to grasp the significance of their discourse. The full scope of their plans eluded her understanding, yet the notion of marrying Leoric intruded upon her thoughts. He might lack conventional allure, but she pondered on his character and whether affection for him could blossom in time. Her beauty felt burdensome, an incessant reminder of an 'owner' whose identity was shrouded in secrecy.

In addition to not knowing the identity of her so-called 'owner', Esthela was equally uncertain about the true identities of her own parents. Her father had never imparted this information to her. Perhaps it was they who were meant to retrieve her upon reaching a certain age. She dimly remembered the trepidation she felt at the prospect of departure, yet no one had appeared, and now Florian had glimpsed her.

From her earliest recollections, Esthela's life had been markedly different from that of other girls. Her parents, considering her a priceless gem, sequestered her within their abode. Much like the ladies of the town, she donned a bonnet graced with a veil that obscured her countenance, rendering her features unknown to the world.

Her days unfolded in domesticity, aiding her mother with needlework or attending to duties within their shop. The sole individuals privy to her true appearance were Leoric and his kin. As for what manner of man he was, he endeared himself to her by bringing books each time he returned from his military duties, and she held him in an affection akin to that for a brother.

Leoric, the son of her father's close confidant, though of a lower social standing, bestowed upon Esthela the kindness and regard one might reserve for a sister. He was cognisant of her betrothal to a distinguished personage, whose identity remained a mystery even to him. In Esthela's estimation, Leoric was a more desirable match than Florian.

Upon their arrival at the residence, they hastened to make ready for their impending flight, anticipating Leoric's return to the kingdom. An urgent missive had been dispatched to him, imploring him to hasten his travel. When Aldus appeared, he bore grave tidings: the peril was imminent, and Leoric was yet several hours from sanctuary. Concealing Esthela until Leoric could claim her was their only hope for deliverance. Florian would have no authority over the spouse of another knight, irrespective of his inferior status.

"Why do we not present her directly to her intended?" posed Lotha. "Florian would not countenance defying him! He might well slay Leoric to possess her."

"Agreed!" the father exclaimed, hastening from the chamber only to re-emerge with a coffer. "Bestow this upon him. It will unmask his identity forthwith. Don this ring, my child Esthela; it shall serve as a sign of your lineage and afford you protection. I entreat your pardon, my dear. I ought to have acted sooner to spare you this peril."

"Don't worry, Daddy. Hide yourselves, or Florian will harm you," Esthela reassured him.

"Go, Lotha, go! Don't let them capture her. I would rather see you dead before your sister loses her honour! You know the path well. Take her and deliver her to the guardian. They will know what to do, and if possible, stay there too, my son. We will follow after. Remember the name of her fiancé; say it thrice, and the door shall open. Save yourselves, my children, and forgive us for not acting sooner!"

"I swear, Father, nothing will happen!" Lotha assured his father. "As soon as we can, we shall come to meet you or return for you once my sister is safe."

"Very well, my son, but now go quickly."

Having successfully escaped, Esthela found herself alone, seeking solace by the fireplace. Her brothers had yet to appear, and fear gripped her as she recalled the ominous shadow glimpsed earlier. Uncertain of where to find her unknown fiancé, the one who was meant to rescue her, she felt lost and vulnerable.

She spent almost the entire day in the same position, vigilant for any noise or sign that indicated danger. It was the first time in her life that she was completely alone! What should she do now? Wait for her brothers or go in search of them?