Novel-novel oleh Classic ese

It was a pup.It lay in a basket. Small. Woven. The basket had been pushed into the corner of the wardrobe, as though someone wanted it hidden.Aria stared at it.The pup was tiny. Grey. Its eyes were closed. Its ribs pressed against its fur like fingers beneath cloth. A shiver ran through its body. A weak whimper escaped its throat.It will not survive.The thought settled over her like a weight.A knot tightened in her chest. Her hands trembled as she reached for the basket.Who would leave a pup here?She lifted the basket out of the wardrobe. The room was empty. Silent. No answer came.Days. It must have been here for days.The pup whimpered again. Its tiny nose twitched. Something inside Aria cracked open."You are just like me," she whispered.Tears burned her eyes. She wiped them away with the back of her hand.Then she remembered.The emergency kit. Under the bed.She had seen it earlier—a small wooden box with bandages, salves, and dried herbs. Mira had taught her how to use

The Queen stormed out of her chamber and went straight to the King's chamber.She stopped before the doors and lifted her chin."Announce my presence."The guard bowed and turned toward the doors. He knocked twice, then spoke loudly."Your majesty, Her Highness, the Queen, requests an audience."Silence. Then, from inside:"Let her in."The guard opened the doors. The Queen swept inside.The King was seated at his desk. Papers were spread before him—reports from the villages, requests from the packs. He looked tired. He always looked tired now."What was that about, your majesty?""Calm down."He rose and walked toward her, reaching for her hair. She stepped back. His hands fell to his sides."Do not tell me to calm down. This is not necessary." Her voice was sharp. Then it softened, turning sweet like honey. "If you keep doing this, you will start making the people think you are desperate for a child, and they will start mocking me for not giving you one."Her eyes filled with tears.

The maid led Aria through the palace corridors until they reached the Queen's courtyard. Then she left, and Aria was alone.Her legs gave way beneath her. She fell to the ground, her wet clothes dripping rainwater onto the marble floor. Her hair clung to her face. Her hands trembled.She stared at the floor.She did not know what to feel. Anger. Grief. Guilt. They swirled inside her, tangling together until she could not tell them apart.If I had not gone out that day, they would still be here.The thought repeated itself like a wound that would not close.She remembered begging her parents never to abandon her. She remembered their arms around her. She remembered their promises to always be together.Now she was alone.The tears came before she could stop them. They poured down her cheeks, hot against her cold skin. She wiped them away with shaking hands, but they kept coming."Young girl. What is your name?"The voice pulled her back to reality.Aria recognised it instantly.Queen S

The tracker emerged from the trees with Aria in his grip.She was already in tears, struggling to free herself."Let me go!" she screamed, dragging her feet against the ground. "Is it by force to be registered? Let me go!""Shut up."Officer Voss slapped her.The sound echoed through the forest."No!"Mira screamed and lunged forward, but Voss's men held her back."Voss!" Thomas shouted, his voice raw with fury. "Don't you dare lay another finger on my child!"Voss turned slowly. His eyes were cold."If you call me Voss one last time," he said sharply, "I will cut your tongue out."Thomas glared at him but said nothing.Voss turned to his men."Take them to the palace. Now."---The palace dungeons were dark and cold.Aria sat in the corner of the cell, her knees pulled to her chest. She had not stopped crying since they arrived. Her wrists were raw from the rope they had used to bind her. Her cheek still stung from Voss's slap.Mira crawled toward her and wrapped her arms around her.

The next morning came quietly.Birds chirped in the trees as the first rays of sunlight crept through the window. It was six in the morning when Aria sat on the edge of her bed, preparing to go and take her bath.As she stood up, she looked down at her arms.She froze.The bruises were gone.Aria quickly examined her arms and legs. There wasn't even a mark left behind."How did I heal so fast?" she muttered. "There isn't even a scar."She touched her skin, confused. For a moment, she stood there wondering what had happened. Then she shook the thought away."I don't have time for this."She grabbed her clothes and went to take her bath.A few minutes later, Mira entered her room and helped her pack the remaining things into her bag."Here, eat this so you'll have enough strength for the journey."She handed Aria her favorite cheese."Thank you, Mummy," Aria said quietly.By seven o'clock, they were ready.Thomas looked around the cottage one last time."Are we ready?""Yes," Mira answe

The village was chaotic. Flames devoured the huts one by one, and thick black smoke filled the air. Villagers ran in every direction, screaming and crying."Call the village elder!" one woman screamed."People are still inside!" another woman cried. "Who will save them before the elder gets here?""All the men have gone to the royal palace for a meeting," another woman said. "I will go and check if the village elder is still at home."Aria stood among the frightened villagers, listening to everyone talk, but no one was doing anything.Her heart raced.The screams coming from inside the burning huts were becoming louder.She couldn't just stand there.Someone had to help them.Without wasting another second, Aria ran toward the edge of the forest. Her axe swung through the air, cutting down small trees and thick branches. Her arms burned, but she didn't stop. She gathered as much as she could carry and threw them around the burning area, creating a small opening through the flames.The