The next morning dawned gray and overcast, the air thick with the promise of rain. Ayla could still feel the weight of Kai's words, even as she went about her chores.
The day passed as usual—feeding the animals, tending the garden, helping her mother with the market stall. But as dusk fell, a distant rumble of hooves shattered the calm. The villagers gathered, anxious whispers breaking out as a band of cloaked riders appeared on the horizon.
Their leader, a stern-faced woman with eyes as cold as iron, raised her hand to silence the crowd. "We come on behalf of the kingdom," she announced. "Your village is hereby under royal protection. Do not resist."
Ayla's heart raced as the soldiers fanned out, their sharp eyes scanning every face. In the crowd, she caught sight of Kai, his expression unreadable. He tilted his head slightly, a silent warning.
But before Ayla could move, the leader's gaze fell on her, pinning her in place. "You," she said, her voice slicing through the air. "Step forward."