----------- Edmurd of the noble family of Pranthean pov -----------

It’s been five days since me and my father came to Levylon, unlike our city this place has a lot of goods making it a trade heaven but unlike Cleaveton there are not many good brothels here. I am setting sail day after tomorrow as I have concluded all my part of transactions while my father’s ship will leave later. I am to be married to Cristina of the Fedrich family next month so my father wanted me to go ahead of him as to see to the wedding preparations, Cristina is as fat as a pig and I hate her but tying up with her family will make our position strong in Cleaveton so I am not against it. Father said I can have as many concubines as I want after the marriage so there is no issue in marry a fat pig in name.

Today I was having a chat with father and the captain of the guards of Levylon who is good friend of my father, the captain suggested that we go for hunting out in the forest outside Levylon. I and my father along with some of our guards and the captain set off on our horses to hunt. The forest was quite a distance from Levylon but I must say it was abundant in animals. I am quite skilled in the bow and I alone caught a fox and a two deers. We caught three deers, a fox and a bear in total. I saw the bushes shake in a distance and shot my arrow towards it. A small scream came from there and I bolted in the direction of the sound. What I saw was a beautiful girl with long brown hair and beautiful eyes she looked to be about fifteen years of age, yet she had a charm of a beauty. She had a little basket in her arm in which there were different types of leaves.

My arrow was struck in the hem of her dress and she was pulling it out without success. I went towards her and pulled the arrow effortlessly. She looked at me and then behind me where my father and the guards stood. She tried to leave immediately upon seeing the guards, I grabbed her hand. She struggled to pull her hand but I held it tightly.

“What’s your name and what are you doing in the forest?” I asked her.

“My name is Elena and I am gathering herbs in the forest” She said hurriedly.

I released her hand and she took off immediately. I started walking back towards my father.

“Looks like you let your prey run, my son” My father said.

I was contemplating whether to follow the girl to know where she lived when the Captain said “If you are interested in that girl, I can get her for you. See it as a token of appreciation and a gift for our future transactions”

He motioned one of my guards to go after her and find out where she lives. We decided to take rest for a bit and then follow the guard.

----------- Elena’s POV------------------

I ran as fast as my legs would take me. My mother always cautioned me to look out of guards and merchants from Levylon. Today I was very stupid, not only did I get spotted by some guards I even gave them my real name in fear. I was running so fast the herbs I collected dropped on the way, I didn’t care about it though as all I had in mind was that I had to get home as fast as possible and tell mom about it.

After half an hour I entered the village, I spotted my mom working in the field and immediately went to narrate the events. My mom had a horrified look on her face, she immediately led me to our home and started packing things. The old man and women came to us after hearing the ruckus and my mom explained them what I said. The old women went to get my little sister as we were packing things.

A few minutes later the guards approached our village. The old man went to great them.

“Bring out the girl who was in the forest” One of the guard said to the village chief.

“We don’t know which girl you are talking about, no one from this village goes alone to the forest as it is dangerous” the chief said to them.

“Bring the girl outside; she stole something from our young master who is on his way. If you don’t bring her out we will tore down the entire village in order to find her. The young master is a guest of Levylon and steeling things from him amounts to treason as it would dampen our trade relationship with other nation” he said threateningly.

“I still don’t know which girl you are talking about, this is nothing but a small village and there is no one here who would steal things belonging to others. We live happily and peacefully here. So please go back, if you want I can come along with you to talk to the lord of Levylon and then if the lord investigates and it is true then we will pay any compensation that you may require” the old man said with a cold voice.

“Too bad you are opting for violence, as a chief you know better than anyone that it is not worth to save a girl at the cost of entire village” the guard hissed.

Then he suddenly took his sword and put it at the neck of the chief and said “I give you thirty seconds and if the girl doesn't show up then we will consider that the whole village rebelled and take action”

Upon seeing that the chief was in danger my mother ran towards him and I followed her behind.

I stood besides the chief along with my mother when other guards and the guy I saw in the forest came riding in their horses. My mother suddenly stiffened her arms and looked agitated when I looked in her direction I spotted the man who was responsible for our misfortunes.

“Well well what do we have here? It’s no wonder the girl is a thief, her mother is a wanted criminal after all” the captain said with a smirk.

My mother’s eyes were filled with rage “It was you who killed him and framed me for the murder, you bastard” my mother yelled at him.

“Well, you see only those who are guilty run away. I have already got an execution order in your name as you have committed not one but three murder” the captain said calmly.

Tears were falling out of my mother’s eyes as she knew that there was no escape from this monster. He has already brought so many guards. If we tried to escape not only will we lose our life but many of the villagers will be slaughtered as well.

Just then the man who shot the arrow at me in the forest stepped out in the front “Now, now captain don’t be so harsh on the women after all she killed the old man in self defence otherwise she would have been defiled by the old man and other murders were to hide the witnesses. I understand her situation and empathies for her, after all she is a mother of two young daughters and it’s a lot of burden to carry for a single woman”

“If you say so young master, but surely you cannot let them be as we have to overlook not one but two crimes” The captain said pretending to be stern.

“People commit crime when they are desperate and want to survive, nevertheless you are correct captain. There should be some form of compensation so as to remind them not to go against law in the future” The man said nodding his head.

“I hear that your husband was a loyal guard, Freddie here is one of my loyal guards. I owe my life to him as he has saved me many times. Freddie was smitten with the beauty of your daughter and wants to marry her. I already promised him that I would convince you for the union and I don’t go back on my promises. If you agree to it we might overlook your situation as an act of mercy on our side” he said to my mother with a bright smile.

My mother stood there motionless, I knew there was no hope for our situation. These men were not giving us a choice. The young man then came towards me and grabbed my hand was dragging me with him. My mother grabbed my other hand pulling me towards her.

“Get you filthy hands off my daughter” She said with anger in her voice.

Suddenly the young man slapped my mother hard and as she fell he said “I am Edmurd, a noble of Pranthean family, I shall not stand any insolence towards me. Not from the whore who sells herself in the bars”

My mother was sobbing profusely where she fell. I also started crying along with my mother, anger, grief, disgust; fear all emotions going through my mind. He dragged me along with him and we took off from the village. I cried myself to unconsciousness in midway.

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Well here's an extra long chapter for the day. I stayed up quite a bit late to complete this chapter and my mother is practically screaming at me to go to sleep. She thinks I am possessed by the laptop I am using as I stay at it all day long. lol can't blame her though as her son is spending more time with a machine rather than her. Anyways if there is any mistake do let me know and your comments might motivate me put extra efforts in the story so yeh... tell me if you like it.