Chapter 1

This is a story I have recently considered writing. This is only the first chapter as I would like to see whether or not I should continue with it. The first chapter is very short I hope it is of good standard. The characters and creatures of this story have been fabricated from nothing but my imagination and in no way mimic other stories.

The foe was clearly a unique and elegant adversary not only in the arts of swordplay, but in the ways of understanding the motions of life and living things.

Only, this puzzled Averin to the extent of panic as his demeanour faltered every few minutes due to his weary mind and burning limbs. It was not until a final blow was struck. As he had lifted his rapier from the left side of his shoulder down towards the oncoming blow, he failed to notice how the enemy was in mid twist. The free arm thrust to his right side, a silver chain bound in the fist.

An unbearable pain lurched from his ribs. Lowering his sword, Averin provided the necessary opening for a hilt to strike him upon the temple of his head. Everything went black.

He winced the moment he opened his eyes, the lamp was situated above him and had reflected sharply into his sensitive pupils. After a minute he risked opening them again. He sat up, wincing again but from the pain in his ribs. He instinctively felt the wounded area and was surprised to find it bandaged. He looked around; the room was slightly small but well furnished and lit. The bed he lay upon was built into the wall that seemed at first to be clay, but was in fact a wood. More beds were built in the circular room and in the centre of it all was a crouched figure tending to a brass pot on a stove.

What struck Averin as odd was that the figure was covered only by a loincloth and covered completely in midnight blue fur. The head was also oddly shaped. It turned to him, blazing eyes of bright yellow. It was that of a wolf, but more so as the figure was completely human-like as it stood and spoke in an unmistakably male voice "you're up!"

Averin shuddered, it spoke! The creature curled its lips into a soft snarl he reckoned was a wolfish smile. Regaining his wits, though not enough, all he could blurt out was "What....?"

The wolf-like figure picked up a bowl from behind him and began to pour the substance of the brass pot into it, all the while he spoke "you're safe human, for now. You're in Tela'Vel a sanctuary for the feral kind your king threatens to invade.

"My king?"

The wolf nodded as he walked over to give Averin the bowl "its soup made form ink cap mushrooms and feldaberry roots"

Averin couldn't help but shy away from the unusual figure. He seemed rather hurt, his fur tipped ears drooped somewhat.

Averin felt guilty "sorry", he stretched out his hand for the bowl.

The wolf figure recovered a bit "can I ask you for a name?"

"Averin", he sipped the soup and pulled a face, it was quite sour at first but soothed out into a warm sweet taste that could be felt as it went down his throat. Like lemon and honey well warmed and spiced yet more exotic.

"Ah. My name is Bodemair"

Averin nodded and smiled politely at him. A moment later he summed up the nerve to ask "what are you?"

Bodemair's ears pricked to attention "I am a wolf-kin called Balerin"

Averin nodded. No more was said, Bodemair proceeded to fill a bowl of the soup for himself. Averin watched in curiosity at his movements and physique. Well built with rippling muscles and limbs he reckoned could snap a witch-wood branch in two.

He cocked his head to look around and felt a clear throb in his head, remembering the blow of a hilt "Bodemair, was it you who attacked me in the woods?"

Bodemair did not look up from his meal but chuckled softly "No. I am not one for such violence. I am the healer of Tela'Vel. The one you encountered is Felic, a kin of the dragons. She's what you call a Drak-kin"; he motioned at his body with his left hand to emphasize his words "she looks like me but slightly more-"

"Dragonish?" Averin added.

Bodemair looked up at him and grinned before returning to his food. Averin did the same, finishing the soup and handed the plate to his host.

He watched again as Bodemair stood and cleaned the cutlery "you're awfully well built for a healer"

He nodded "I was a trainer in the arts of combat for the guardians of this place. I only trained, never fought, war is not for me"

Averin nodded. He thus decided to attempt standing. Bodemair noted this and moved closer, pausing when the human gave him a nervous glance before proceeding to shuffle to the edge of the bed. He sighed softly the moment he stood upright, but felt immensely dizzy from the throb in his head. Ignoring his body, he took a step forward. His right foot failed to hold his weight. Bodemair thus caught him as he fell before helping him to the bed.

Averin laughed weakly "I actually cannot believe how quick your friend is"

Bodemair lauded as well "neither can I. Felic would be glad to hear that you are alive though"

Averin was surprised to hear that, "how so?"

"She watched you escape from the walls of your city last night."

"How do you know?"

"She told me. She also told me that when she tried to help you, you attacked her and she had no choice but to put you down"

"She tried to help me?"

Bodemair shrugged "She sees things in people. Maybe you are of some use to Tela'Vel"

Averin thought for a moment "what was it you mentioned about my king?

"Ah, it is known that your king has developed a secret campaign to seek our sanctuary and destroy it"

"Why?"

He sat beside him "Greed most probably. His terror has been amongst us since the beginning of his reign, the humans have been our enemies for forty seven years now"

"And yet you saved me?"

Bodemair laughed at him "come now Averin, I know why you ran from your people. You know how the elves have been slaughtered in the north. If I'm not mistaken you're the only human in the land who opposes your king Salimoor"

Averin flushed, they knew too much about him, he felt vulnerable.

Bodemair stood and heaved his great chest "I'm going out to meet Felic. Do you wish to join me?"

Averin shrugged "I can't walk"

"Then I'll carry you"

He considered it a moment, noticing how Bodemair's face contorted to that hurt expression thus decided that he would be carried.

"Great! I'm sure she would be pleased to see you in good health!" He looked Averin over a second, "You need to change into more fitting clothing, yours are ruined"

He hurriedly retrieved a bundle of moss green clothes from another bed and handed them to him, "try these"

Averin accepted them, waiting for Bodemair to look away so he could change. He realised the human's intentions "Oh! Sorry, I forget your ways", he turned to face the other way.

Averin proceeded to remove his shirt but suffered from the pain when he tried to remove his heavily buckled pants. He grunted in effort but eventually gave in "Um... Bodemair... I think I may need your help"

The Balerin turned round and looked down at him, "Can't remove your clothes?"

He nodded "It hurts too much"

Bodemair nodded and proceeded to unbuckle the pants and carefully remove them from Averins' limbs without causing any discomfort. He finally got them off and Averin was sitting completely unclothed and blushed. Bodemair looked him over which intensified his discomfort "You humans have the most strangest forms"

Averin nodded and tugged at his new pants, Bodemair reacted by helping them on along with his shirt.

He carefully picked him up and preceded across the room to the door that led into a world Averin both was exited and fearful of.