"You my dear, are the last descendant of an ancient and well known, noble fae family that became the progenitors of the current blue horn tribe. The fae that joined afterwards were called the Am-nars or lowborn, however they eventually took over and pushed out the ruling caste. Eventually the Min-ari lineage eroded to the point where only a few members were still alive in the past thousand years. " Derek Moonspeak carefully elaborates before his audience.
They were hardly any different than the ruling families of Aldenburg, the Min-ari were beings of higher birth and obsessed with preserving their lineage, but their reign eventually fell as the Am-nar revolted and took over Mycean.
Nkiri added to his description. "From what I remember based on my travels in my youth, is that even back then the red-hairs were reduce to a pitiful group of less than ten individuals that refused to let their ancient blood be tainted. I heard through others that most of them died off to illness caused by inbreeding, in the last century there was only but a single male left of their kind I heard."
Kaida and Firion paused and glanced at each other in the moment when they realized what it could mean.
"The person they're describing, do you think its possible it could have been your father?" The forest elf echoed. "You mentioned that your mother told you he died before you were born?"
But then Derek appeared to be befuddled by their statement. "What exactly do you mean her father died? From what knowledge I collected in the last two hundred years was that he was imprisoned and exiled after having an illicit affair with a young woman. Specifically, he was exiled for eloping with your mother, Amara."
The red hair deva's eyes grew wider, she already understands that her mother held secrets from her, but could she have really lied to her daughter about what really happen to her father? But she also recalled the sadness in her mother's heart when she told her specifically that her father was killed, those emotions were genuine, but is it possible that maybe she thought he died?
"My mother...she told me that my father was killed when they fled the people that pursued them." She trembled as she replied to the duke.
Once more he pushed his monocles back as his wife shot him a particular glance, and what he needed to clarify with the young maiden.
"Kaida is your name? Pardon us, but allow for me to piece together your situation. Your mother was one of Mycean's forest priests and they were holy women who normally maintained sacred shrines dedicated to the mighty Azure Dragon your people revere. You see, she created an uproar by having a relationship out of wedlock and then becoming pregnant, because in the country of Mycean, unapproved unions and their offspring are often labeled and treated as outcasts for breaking tradition." The duke began to explain to her.
From here he described the harsh system imposed in their lands and how they revere approved marriages and despise unions that were not official, and how this animosity is even projected onto children. He believed that Amara purposely avoided telling Kaida about her history to discourage her from looking and seeking her father knowing what could happen if she returned to the country.
When Firion tried to mention what they overheard from Aldenburg soldiers the duke reminded him that hearsay may not always closely reflect the truth as they we sharing knowledge that could have been distorted.
Amara was not arranged to marry anyone, she was barred from getting married because of her birthright.
The air in the room suddenly became heavy as the young maiden began to understand why her mother avoided telling her about the ancestry of their people, it was out of her own safety and well being!
Tears began to fill Kaida's eyes..."Just because my father had red hair and loved my mother that its a terrible crime? And that my birth was something disgusting in their society? Did my mother just want to protect from the evils of this world?"
Carefully, Firion pulled her close as she trembled. "What matters Kaida, is that your here now, those who pursued your mother cannot do anything to you now. If any blue horn from Mycean tried to take you, I promise you I would paint this world with their blood if they dared touch you!"
Like always, his words made her feel safe as she snuggled warmly in his chest. Earning the smile of Derek, Nafula, and Nkiri.
It was then that the duke's wife joined the conversation and revealed what she actually.
"I came here as well to tell you I knew your mother briefly deary, for while, she lived with us at the monastery that raises deva women in the ways of elven life." The majestic lioness spoke. "She told me her beloved sacrificed himself so that she could get away, but she never described him getting killed, but rather she told me that it would be better if she raised her child without her ever knowing the truth."
Amara had actually escaped her pursuers thanks to her lover staying behind and drawing attention away from them, eventually she fled until she reached the boarder of Aldenburg where she apprehended. By this time, the 5 dukes had already begun claiming women, and they became interested in this "spare" woman and the child growing in her womb.
Then came the day of the baby's birth...and everyone was shocked to see a blue horn deva born with the brightest red hair that it caught the admiration of Archduke Cyrus Sunstriker who had always been obsessed with colors associated with red....