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. He dutifully makes his way to the Faire. He is terrible at wife wooing. The only girl he can talk to is Ayperi, a fruit seller from a distant land. He sees her hag-like employer beating her. Why not ask her to be his wife?

Ayperi fears her owner and son have wicked plans for her. They reek of dark magic. But she barely understands the language and doesn't even own shoes. When Adler, an intriguing customer with golden wings, rescues her from a beating and asks her to marry him, she jumps at the chance to get away from evil Changa and her son. Surely marriage to this stranger will be a better life?