"You better hurry up." With annoyance, I left him alone to enjoy the last bites.

The warmth of the late morning caressed my cheeks as I leaned against the pillar marking the outer door. I tried to push the nagging annoyance in the back of my mind and chose to focus on today's possible adventures. The fantasies of new encounters brought a light smile to my face.

Some people were busy doing their daily tasks and somewhere between the earth-colored buildings, I spotted Eilar. His confident walk could be recognized from far away as well as the bright red fox fur he had sawn in his usually normal winter wear.

As our commander, he was skillful, sharp-minded and somewhat brave, but none of these characteristics were able to overcome his arrogance and egoism, which was something that always annoyed me. Also, he claimed that I was his woman, bore gifts and tried so hard to win my heart, but for so long it had been reserved for someone else.

That man...

I sighed and swallowed the bitter reality that I might never see him, but no matter what I would not become Eilar's partner.

His light brown hair danced in the light breeze and grey eyes scanned the village. My heart jumped. I did not want him to notice me, I wished to spend this day without his presence. Almost immediately the deep breath was knocked out of my lungs as I turned to run back inside the house, just to meet my guard's hard chest.

Unfazed he stood firmly on his feet and I tried to get my composure back.

"Already changed your mind?"

"N...no. I... I just forgot something inside."

Gunnar observed me and before I could squeeze through the door he caught me by the arm.

"Are you running away from him?" I glanced over his shoulder. "I think it's too late to hide."

I saw Eilar marching our way and I on the inside wanted to churn so small and be invisible behind Gunnar's form. My guard smirked and revealed his white colored teeth.

"Where are you heading, my dear Freya?" Eilar held suspicion in his eyes all the while measuring up Gunnar in front of me.

Words seemed to be locked inside me.

"We are taking a small scouting trip around Wahrlenn." Gunnar responded.

"There are men already doing it. No need for more to go."

"An order from chief."

"Really?" Eilar didn't seem convinced.

Gunnar crossed his big arms and both had a serious stare down. Eventually, Eilar gave up but did not leave before giving me a light kiss on my cheek. Like a scared foal, I was pushed in the corner between him and Gunnar and there was not a moment I enjoyed the gesture.

"You better keep her out of trouble."

Eilar hesitated. I wanted him gone so much.

"That's why I am here, mate."

My guard's facial features softened and our commander relaxed as well and finally left.

"You have a really interesting relationship with him..."

"No one asked for your opinion." I glared annoyed at Gunnar, but could not hold on to his piercing stare. My gaze shifted to a different spot and I wiped the remnants of Eilar's kiss. "And... stop making fun of me!"

I moved forward to get out of the village and the unnerving situation, the feeling that crawled under my skin. Something exciting or different would clear my head.

"I am not..." Gunnar's voice followed me.

Upon reaching the meadow outside Wahrlenn I finally could relax. For some time we walked in silence, only whispers of wind glazed over our skin. The southern breezes made this more enjoyable, I could spend the endless time out of my home on days like this one.

"I want to go further..." I followed my feeling and said out loud.

"Only a tiny bit. I will not let you step in complete wilderness."

"Are you for real? What's the point to have you then? We are nowhere near the territory I want to explore. This is how far I go every night. I want to see more!"

Gunnar was annoyed, so did I. The spruce trees marked the thick forest beyond, the hills, cold streams from the distant mountains. The scenery invited me and whispered the taunting spells.

"It's not only the humans or animals that can endanger your life. The forest itself can lead you astray, play tricks on your mind, dull your senses... make you vulnerable..."

"You lived in there... your whole life?" I felt like Gunnar might be the one who could tell me about his experiences, show me the side of this world only he knew, a different perspective to that of my people. "Camp of Saber... It's isolated, isn't it... wasn't?"

"Yes, since I can remember. Mother taught me many things about the forest, my father - to fight and defend."

"What is the most dangerous thing you have encountered?"

He took a long time to think. "...cold... The chilling weather of the mountains, freezing nights..."

"You are telling lies. There must be an animal or a person more dangerous than that." I was sure, but his face kept the most serious expression.

"I lost my brother in a snowstorm. He was strong, could take down a bear, but did not get through the blizzard..."

For a second I felt the pain, I imagined the feeling he might have experienced. I lost my mother and sometimes my heart dwells in the pain of losing her.

"Who is that?" I stopped in my tracks when I noticed a tall, lean man quite a distance away from us.

His outfit was tight, black with accents of silvery metal. The face was hidden behind a mask, strange marks carved upon it and a dagger smeared in blood held in his hand. This man watched us from afar but did not move a step.

"Step aside, Freya." Gunnar said calmly all the while keeping his gaze peeled on a mysterious man.

"Who is he? Do you know him?" Slowly I felt fear crawl up my body.

"I don't know, but I have a feeling he might be an exile."

an exile...

This word sent chills down my spine and boiling anger through my blood at the same time. I wished for them not to exist in this world as most of the time these criminals were responsible for the most gruesome of murders. Their hearts were cold and cruel, they rivaled the most dangerous animals inhabiting the deep forests.

The man, with slow and calculating moves, picked up the kill from the mossy carpet of the forest - a lynx it was.

And with that, he left, not taking a second glance our way.

My heart was beating. My first encounter with a stranger, with an exile, with a murderer.