Adler, a griffintaur, with the wings and feet of a griffin, is a student wizard. His father demands he find a bride at the country's spring Bridal Faire. This comes as a surprise to Adler, who still has a year of school left. But he dutifully makes the journey to the Faire. He is terrible at wife wooing. The only girl he can talk to is the fruit seller, Ayperi. She is from a distant land, wears a turban and has a thick accent. Then he sees her hag-like employer beating her. Why not ask her to be his wife? Ayperi knows she must get away from the old woman and her evil son, who own her. They reek of dark magic, and she fears they have wicked plans for her. But she is a slave in a faraway land, working in an orchard and selling fruit in the city. She barely understands the language and has no resources or help to run away. She doesn't even own shoes. When the Bridal Faire brings young people from all over the country to town, Ayperi meets an intriguing young man with huge golden wings. His name is Adler, and he is in town to find a wife. When he rescues her during a beating from wicked Changa, she jumps at the chance to marry this stranger.