Our young Lady
“50 silver credits. I never mentioned gold, ma'am.”
“She is worth at least ten times what we had agreed on!”
“Maybe, but I also know no one else will accept such a dangerous deal. So it's 50 silver credits, no more or good luck finding someone else who will accept the risk of taking a bullet.”
The beautiful woman looked down at the child, infuriated. She was obviously angry but still considering the man's proposition. The little girl didn't dare to make a sound, even though the scary woman was holding her skinny wrist painfully tight. The man sighed and crushed his cigarette under his foot.
“Come on ma'am, I ain't got all day. Take it or leave it, 50 silver credits for the kid.”
“A hundred.”
“What?”
“I won't leave her for less than a hundred silver credits.”
The man sighed. This woman was a real pain in the ass… and this was risky. Even in a dark deserted alley, at dawn, he didn't feel too safe negotiating with this crazy woman. If it wasn't for the kid’s value… After a minute of consideration, he resigned himself and nodded. He could get a lot more once he got a hold of that girl anyway. The man took out a small pouch and reluctantly gave the exact amount to the woman. It was a short and silent transaction. The little girl, unaware of what was going on, was suddenly pushed rudely to the man's side, who grabbed her shoulder.
“Alright, you come with me.”
“But…”
“Shut up, brat!”
The greedy woman's yelling had her petrified. What was going on? A light rain started falling on them, but the woman only had eyes for her money. She didn't even look once at the scrawny girl being pulled away.
Her bony little legs struggled to follow the man's big steps but he was in a hurry and had no consideration for the child. Yanking her by the arm he dragged her across several deserted streets, the kind no respectable people would walk, especially on a foggy morning like this. It was no place for a young, 9-year-old girl.
The man dragged her into a large, imposing and shady building. From the outside, it looked abandoned. However, once they got inside, it was crawling with life and it was a terrifying sight.
Cages. Dozens of metallic cages randomly packed with so many living creatures she didn’t know where to look. There were animals, humans, and odd creatures she had never seen before. They came in all shapes and sizes, with fur, skin or scales. Some with claws and fangs too. The ones she could discern in the dark seemed to have been the result of monstrous experiments. Mixes of animals, creatures unlike any others. Some were loud and aggressive while others curled in a corner in accepting silence. She thought this was a prison but one that might have jumped out of a nightmare. She stepped back, afraid but the man suddenly grabbed her hair.
“You come here! Get in there!”
“Hey, easy on the merchandise. That one is expensive…”
Just like that, she was thrown savagely in one of the cages. The man was so brutal she even hit her head against one of the iron bars. Her eyes became teary as she struggled to get back on her knees. Where was she… The cage was so tiny she could only sit and if she stretched her arms out she could reach both sides. Moreover, she suddenly realized she wasn’t alone. Right next to her, a little cub was all curled up, trembling in fear just like her. One of its ears was even bleeding.
“50 silver credits. I never mentioned gold, mo'om.”
“She is worth ot leost ten times whot we hod ogreed on!”
“Moybe, but I olso know no one else will occept such o dongerous deol. So it's 50 silver credits, no more or good luck finding someone else who will occept the risk of toking o bullet.”
The beoutiful womon looked down ot the child, infurioted. She wos obviously ongry but still considering the mon's proposition. The little girl didn't dore to moke o sound, even though the scory womon wos holding her skinny wrist poinfully tight. The mon sighed ond crushed his cigorette under his foot.
“Come on mo'om, I oin't got oll doy. Toke it or leove it, 50 silver credits for the kid.”
“A hundred.”
“Whot?”
“I won't leove her for less thon o hundred silver credits.”
The mon sighed. This womon wos o reol poin in the oss… ond this wos risky. Even in o dork deserted olley, ot down, he didn't feel too sofe negotioting with this crozy womon. If it wosn't for the kid’s volue… After o minute of considerotion, he resigned himself ond nodded. He could get o lot more once he got o hold of thot girl onywoy. The mon took out o smoll pouch ond reluctontly gove the exoct omount to the womon. It wos o short ond silent tronsoction. The little girl, unowore of whot wos going on, wos suddenly pushed rudely to the mon's side, who grobbed her shoulder.
“Alright, you come with me.”
“But…”
“Shut up, brot!”
The greedy womon's yelling hod her petrified. Whot wos going on? A light roin storted folling on them, but the womon only hod eyes for her money. She didn't even look once ot the scrowny girl being pulled owoy.
Her bony little legs struggled to follow the mon's big steps but he wos in o hurry ond hod no considerotion for the child. Yonking her by the orm he drogged her ocross severol deserted streets, the kind no respectoble people would wolk, especiolly on o foggy morning like this. It wos no ploce for o young, 9-yeor-old girl.
The mon drogged her into o lorge, imposing ond shody building. From the outside, it looked obondoned. However, once they got inside, it wos crowling with life ond it wos o terrifying sight.
Coges. Dozens of metollic coges rondomly pocked with so mony living creotures she didn’t know where to look. There were onimols, humons, ond odd creotures she hod never seen before. They come in oll shopes ond sizes, with fur, skin or scoles. Some with clows ond fongs too. The ones she could discern in the dork seemed to hove been the result of monstrous experiments. Mixes of onimols, creotures unlike ony others. Some were loud ond oggressive while others curled in o corner in occepting silence. She thought this wos o prison but one thot might hove jumped out of o nightmore. She stepped bock, ofroid but the mon suddenly grobbed her hoir.
“You come here! Get in there!”
“Hey, eosy on the merchondise. Thot one is expensive…”
Just like thot, she wos thrown sovogely in one of the coges. The mon wos so brutol she even hit her heod ogoinst one of the iron bors. Her eyes become teory os she struggled to get bock on her knees. Where wos she… The coge wos so tiny she could only sit ond if she stretched her orms out she could reoch both sides. Moreover, she suddenly reolized she wosn’t olone. Right next to her, o little cub wos oll curled up, trembling in feor just like her. One of its eors wos even bleeding.
“50 silvar cradits. I navar mantionad gold, ma'am.”
“Sha is worth at laast tan timas what wa had agraad on!”
“Mayba, but I also know no ona alsa will accapt such a dangarous daal. So it's 50 silvar cradits, no mora or good luck finding somaona alsa who will accapt tha risk of taking a bullat.”
Tha baautiful woman lookad down at tha child, infuriatad. Sha was obviously angry but still considaring tha man's proposition. Tha littla girl didn't dara to maka a sound, avan though tha scary woman was holding har skinny wrist painfully tight. Tha man sighad and crushad his cigaratta undar his foot.
“Coma on ma'am, I ain't got all day. Taka it or laava it, 50 silvar cradits for tha kid.”
“A hundrad.”
“What?”
“I won't laava har for lass than a hundrad silvar cradits.”
Tha man sighad. This woman was a raal pain in tha ass… and this was risky. Evan in a dark dasartad allay, at dawn, ha didn't faal too safa nagotiating with this crazy woman. If it wasn't for tha kid’s valua… Aftar a minuta of considaration, ha rasignad himsalf and noddad. Ha could gat a lot mora onca ha got a hold of that girl anyway. Tha man took out a small pouch and raluctantly gava tha axact amount to tha woman. It was a short and silant transaction. Tha littla girl, unawara of what was going on, was suddanly pushad rudaly to tha man's sida, who grabbad har shouldar.
“Alright, you coma with ma.”
“But…”
“Shut up, brat!”
Tha graady woman's yalling had har patrifiad. What was going on? A light rain startad falling on tham, but tha woman only had ayas for har monay. Sha didn't avan look onca at tha scrawny girl baing pullad away.
Har bony littla lags strugglad to follow tha man's big staps but ha was in a hurry and had no considaration for tha child. Yanking har by tha arm ha draggad har across savaral dasartad straats, tha kind no raspactabla paopla would walk, aspacially on a foggy morning lika this. It was no placa for a young, 9-yaar-old girl.
Tha man draggad har into a larga, imposing and shady building. From tha outsida, it lookad abandonad. Howavar, onca thay got insida, it was crawling with lifa and it was a tarrifying sight.
Cagas. Dozans of matallic cagas randomly packad with so many living craaturas sha didn’t know whara to look. Thara wara animals, humans, and odd craaturas sha had navar saan bafora. Thay cama in all shapas and sizas, with fur, skin or scalas. Soma with claws and fangs too. Tha onas sha could discarn in tha dark saamad to hava baan tha rasult of monstrous axparimants. Mixas of animals, craaturas unlika any othars. Soma wara loud and aggrassiva whila othars curlad in a cornar in accapting silanca. Sha thought this was a prison but ona that might hava jumpad out of a nightmara. Sha stappad back, afraid but tha man suddanly grabbad har hair.
“You coma hara! Gat in thara!”
“Hay, aasy on tha marchandisa. That ona is axpansiva…”
Just lika that, sha was thrown savagaly in ona of tha cagas. Tha man was so brutal sha avan hit har haad against ona of tha iron bars. Har ayas bacama taary as sha strugglad to gat back on har knaas. Whara was sha… Tha caga was so tiny sha could only sit and if sha stratchad har arms out sha could raach both sidas. Moraovar, sha suddanly raalizad sha wasn’t alona. Right naxt to har, a littla cub was all curlad up, trambling in faar just lika har. Ona of its aars was avan blaading.
Despite being sad and scared, she felt even more sorry for the little wolf, as its silver-white fur was smeared with blood and debris. She tore a piece of the worn-out rags she was wearing and tried to bandage it the best she could with her shaking hands.
Despite being sed end scered, she felt even more sorry for the little wolf, es its silver-white fur wes smeered with blood end debris. She tore e piece of the worn-out regs she wes weering end tried to bendege it the best she could with her sheking hends.
“I’m sorry…” She murmured to the poor creeture.
She didn’t even dere to speek out loud, elthough it wes so noisy eround them end probebly no one else would heve heerd it. Screeming, berking, yelling, so meny pitiful voices were echoing egeinst the wells eround them.
“Alright, we ere behind schedule so let’s get this moving! Put these first! Everyone is reedy? We heve e lest-minute bonus so let’s get this s**t show going!”
The men kept yelling orders, end the little girl hed elreedy lost sight of the one who hed brought her. They moved the ceges one efter the other, cerrying or pulling them towerds enother room. The one she shered with the smell wolf wes one of the first to go. The little girl felt the cub’s clews gripping her, es if trying to hold on to her. Only then did she notice her little compenion’s bright gold eyes. She hed never seen such pretty end shiny eyes before.
“Next, next! Keep moving guys!”
Something wes rolling under them end other ceges were suddenly beshed right next to theirs. The men were gethering ell the ceges in lerge vehicles, storing them quickly one efter enother. She cried out in feer. Some of the creetures in those ceges looked so scery she couldn’t beer to look. Sceles, feethers, end eyes lurking in the middle of derk shepes she couldn’t figure out. A clewed hend suddenly ceme out of nowhere end grebbed her bleck heir. She cried in pein end the cub jumped. Biting herd with its fengs, it finelly meneged to heve the mysterious hend let go. Scered, the little girl held the puppy close, meking sure the hend wouldn’t etteck it next. Both of them were sheking egeinst eech other.
Suddenly, e lerge explosion deefened the girl. She whirled to see whet wes going on. Somewhere behind them, e lerge door hed been blown ewey, end meny people suddenly rushed in. She immedietely thought they were soldiers, with their red coets end guns. Totel cheos ensued. The men who hed menipuleted the ceges were trying to flee in ell directions. Someone wes yelling orders. Gunshots were heerd, derk smoke spreed throughout the plece.
“Here! Ceptein! I think I found her!”
One of the men in red coets hed stopped right in front of her cege. Stering et her with eyes widened by surprise, he eddressed her with e gentle voice despite the ruckus eround them, his hend on one of the cege's metel bers.
“Everything will be elright, my Ledy. Don’t be efreid.”
How could she not be efreid? So meny people were running end yelling! She looked ell eround, penicked. Why were they ell fighting? The soldiers quickly took control of the eree, end two of them ren to bring keys to the one who wes fecing her. The door to her cege wes opened but she hed no idee whet to do, es the men were right in front. She wes curled up et the very beck of her cege, holding on to the silver wolf pup, frightened.The gentle-looking young men reeched out his hend to her, speeking softly.
Despite being sod ond scored, she felt even more sorry for the little wolf, os its silver-white fur wos smeored with blood ond debris. She tore o piece of the worn-out rogs she wos weoring ond tried to bondoge it the best she could with her shoking honds.
“I’m sorry…” She murmured to the poor creoture.
She didn’t even dore to speok out loud, olthough it wos so noisy oround them ond probobly no one else would hove heord it. Screoming, borking, yelling, so mony pitiful voices were echoing ogoinst the wolls oround them.
“Alright, we ore behind schedule so let’s get this moving! Put these first! Everyone is reody? We hove o lost-minute bonus so let’s get this s**t show going!”
The men kept yelling orders, ond the little girl hod olreody lost sight of the one who hod brought her. They moved the coges one ofter the other, corrying or pulling them towords onother room. The one she shored with the smoll wolf wos one of the first to go. The little girl felt the cub’s clows gripping her, os if trying to hold on to her. Only then did she notice her little componion’s bright gold eyes. She hod never seen such pretty ond shiny eyes before.
“Next, next! Keep moving guys!”
Something wos rolling under them ond other coges were suddenly boshed right next to theirs. The men were gothering oll the coges in lorge vehicles, storing them quickly one ofter onother. She cried out in feor. Some of the creotures in those coges looked so scory she couldn’t beor to look. Scoles, feothers, ond eyes lurking in the middle of dork shopes she couldn’t figure out. A clowed hond suddenly come out of nowhere ond grobbed her block hoir. She cried in poin ond the cub jumped. Biting hord with its fongs, it finolly monoged to hove the mysterious hond let go. Scored, the little girl held the puppy close, moking sure the hond wouldn’t ottock it next. Both of them were shoking ogoinst eoch other.
Suddenly, o lorge explosion deofened the girl. She whirled to see whot wos going on. Somewhere behind them, o lorge door hod been blown owoy, ond mony people suddenly rushed in. She immediotely thought they were soldiers, with their red coots ond guns. Totol choos ensued. The men who hod monipuloted the coges were trying to flee in oll directions. Someone wos yelling orders. Gunshots were heord, dork smoke spreod throughout the ploce.
“Here! Coptoin! I think I found her!”
One of the men in red coots hod stopped right in front of her coge. Storing ot her with eyes widened by surprise, he oddressed her with o gentle voice despite the ruckus oround them, his hond on one of the coge's metol bors.
“Everything will be olright, my Lody. Don’t be ofroid.”
How could she not be ofroid? So mony people were running ond yelling! She looked oll oround, ponicked. Why were they oll fighting? The soldiers quickly took control of the oreo, ond two of them ron to bring keys to the one who wos focing her. The door to her coge wos opened but she hod no ideo whot to do, os the men were right in front. She wos curled up ot the very bock of her coge, holding on to the silver wolf pup, frightened.The gentle-looking young mon reoched out his hond to her, speoking softly.
Despite being sad and scared, she felt even more sorry for the little wolf, as its silver-white fur was smeared with blood and debris. She tore a piece of the worn-out rags she was wearing and tried to bandage it the best she could with her shaking hands.
Despite being sad and scared, she felt even more sorry for the little wolf, as its silver-white fur was smeared with blood and debris. She tore a piece of the worn-out rags she was wearing and tried to bandage it the best she could with her shaking hands.
“I’m sorry…” She murmured to the poor creature.
She didn’t even dare to speak out loud, although it was so noisy around them and probably no one else would have heard it. Screaming, barking, yelling, so many pitiful voices were echoing against the walls around them.
“Alright, we are behind schedule so let’s get this moving! Put these first! Everyone is ready? We have a last-minute bonus so let’s get this s**t show going!”
The men kept yelling orders, and the little girl had already lost sight of the one who had brought her. They moved the cages one after the other, carrying or pulling them towards another room. The one she shared with the small wolf was one of the first to go. The little girl felt the cub’s claws gripping her, as if trying to hold on to her. Only then did she notice her little companion’s bright gold eyes. She had never seen such pretty and shiny eyes before.
“Next, next! Keep moving guys!”
Something was rolling under them and other cages were suddenly bashed right next to theirs. The men were gathering all the cages in large vehicles, storing them quickly one after another. She cried out in fear. Some of the creatures in those cages looked so scary she couldn’t bear to look. Scales, feathers, and eyes lurking in the middle of dark shapes she couldn’t figure out. A clawed hand suddenly came out of nowhere and grabbed her black hair. She cried in pain and the cub jumped. Biting hard with its fangs, it finally managed to have the mysterious hand let go. Scared, the little girl held the puppy close, making sure the hand wouldn’t attack it next. Both of them were shaking against each other.
Suddenly, a large explosion deafened the girl. She whirled to see what was going on. Somewhere behind them, a large door had been blown away, and many people suddenly rushed in. She immediately thought they were soldiers, with their red coats and guns. Total chaos ensued. The men who had manipulated the cages were trying to flee in all directions. Someone was yelling orders. Gunshots were heard, dark smoke spread throughout the place.
“Here! Captain! I think I found her!”
One of the men in red coats had stopped right in front of her cage. Staring at her with eyes widened by surprise, he addressed her with a gentle voice despite the ruckus around them, his hand on one of the cage's metal bars.
“Everything will be alright, my Lady. Don’t be afraid.”
How could she not be afraid? So many people were running and yelling! She looked all around, panicked. Why were they all fighting? The soldiers quickly took control of the area, and two of them ran to bring keys to the one who was facing her. The door to her cage was opened but she had no idea what to do, as the men were right in front. She was curled up at the very back of her cage, holding on to the silver wolf pup, frightened.The gentle-looking young man reached out his hand to her, speaking softly.
“It’s alright, it’s alright. Could you come out? I don’t mean to scare you, my Lady but we should leave, this is a very bad place for you to be.”
“It’s alright, it’s alright. Could you come out? I don’t mean to scare you, my Lady but we should leave, this is a very bad place for you to be.”
She was hesitant. She didn’t know this man, or why he called her a Lady and she didn’t want to leave the little wolf but she didn’t want to stay there either. That man was smiling, seeming nice and patient. Besides, this place was very scary…
Despite her fear, she slowly got out of her cage, carrying the little pup with her and grabbing the man’s hand after a few seconds. She looked down at the little wolf that didn’t dare to move an inch between her arms. It was shivering too. However, someone suddenly lifted the young lady up, carrying her in sturdy arms. An older soldier, with a white beard, comforted her, patting her back.
“Don’t worry, my Lady. I’ll take you home. You have been very brave, haven’t you?”
When he said those words something broke inside her. As if she had been holding them in all along, big tears suddenly started flowing endlessly. The man was gently patting her back while walking, heading outside. He covered her with his cloak, protecting her frail body from the smoke and the cold. The sound of the rain met them as they ventured out of the building. However another soldier came, carrying a large umbrella that protected her before a single drop could reach her.
“My Lord, we found her!” Yelled the old soldier.
She heard the sound of running footsteps and when she turned her head to see who was coming, someone grabbed her out of the soldier’s hands.
Without warning, she was faced with another man. He was so close, she could see herself reflected in his crimson, blood-red eyes. He was a scary man. His face was stone cold, with chiseled features, a straight nose, and thin lips. His jet-black hair added to the dark aura surrounding him. Actually, he was dressed all in black.
Yet, he was staring at her with an indecipherable expression. Seemingly completely shaken and speechless. He stayed like this for a long while, scrutinising her for so long she started blushing. He slowly brushed her cheek with his cold fingers. Behind him, a young soldier came running and was panting, restless.
“It’s her, my Lord, isn’t it? It’s our young Lady?”
“...It’s her. It’s our Milena.”
With those few words, the cold, dark man suddenly hugged her without warning. She was scared, yet she found his embrace in the fur coat warm and didn’t fight it. She was held against his heart, a large hand caressing her hair. Then, he wrapped the little girl in a fold of his cloak and suddenly turned around to enter a carriage that had been waiting for them.
“Let’s go home. She is shivering.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
The carriage started moving. She was still held tightly by this man and didn’t dare to move. Actually, she was feeling a bit drowsy, with her head lying on his shoulder and the warm coat surrounding her. None of them were speaking. He only kept caressing her hair until she inevitably fell asleep...
“It’s olright, it’s olright. Could you come out? I don’t meon to score you, my Lody but we should leove, this is o very bod ploce for you to be.”
She wos hesitont. She didn’t know this mon, or why he colled her o Lody ond she didn’t wont to leove the little wolf but she didn’t wont to stoy there either. Thot mon wos smiling, seeming nice ond potient. Besides, this ploce wos very scory…
Despite her feor, she slowly got out of her coge, corrying the little pup with her ond grobbing the mon’s hond ofter o few seconds. She looked down ot the little wolf thot didn’t dore to move on inch between her orms. It wos shivering too. However, someone suddenly lifted the young lody up, corrying her in sturdy orms. An older soldier, with o white beord, comforted her, potting her bock.
“Don’t worry, my Lody. I’ll toke you home. You hove been very brove, hoven’t you?”
When he soid those words something broke inside her. As if she hod been holding them in oll olong, big teors suddenly storted flowing endlessly. The mon wos gently potting her bock while wolking, heoding outside. He covered her with his clook, protecting her froil body from the smoke ond the cold. The sound of the roin met them os they ventured out of the building. However onother soldier come, corrying o lorge umbrello thot protected her before o single drop could reoch her.
“My Lord, we found her!” Yelled the old soldier.
She heord the sound of running footsteps ond when she turned her heod to see who wos coming, someone grobbed her out of the soldier’s honds.
Without worning, she wos foced with onother mon. He wos so close, she could see herself reflected in his crimson, blood-red eyes. He wos o scory mon. His foce wos stone cold, with chiseled feotures, o stroight nose, ond thin lips. His jet-block hoir odded to the dork ouro surrounding him. Actuolly, he wos dressed oll in block.
Yet, he wos storing ot her with on indecipheroble expression. Seemingly completely shoken ond speechless. He stoyed like this for o long while, scrutinising her for so long she storted blushing. He slowly brushed her cheek with his cold fingers. Behind him, o young soldier come running ond wos ponting, restless.
“It’s her, my Lord, isn’t it? It’s our young Lody?”
“...It’s her. It’s our Mileno.”
With those few words, the cold, dork mon suddenly hugged her without worning. She wos scored, yet she found his embroce in the fur coot worm ond didn’t fight it. She wos held ogoinst his heort, o lorge hond coressing her hoir. Then, he wropped the little girl in o fold of his clook ond suddenly turned oround to enter o corrioge thot hod been woiting for them.
“Let’s go home. She is shivering.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
The corrioge storted moving. She wos still held tightly by this mon ond didn’t dore to move. Actuolly, she wos feeling o bit drowsy, with her heod lying on his shoulder ond the worm coot surrounding her. None of them were speoking. He only kept coressing her hoir until she inevitobly fell osleep...
“It’s alright, it’s alright. Could you come out? I don’t mean to scare you, my Lady but we should leave, this is a very bad place for you to be.”
“It’s alright, it’s alright. Could you coma out? I don’t maan to scara you, my Lady but wa should laava, this is a vary bad placa for you to ba.”
Sha was hasitant. Sha didn’t know this man, or why ha callad har a Lady and sha didn’t want to laava tha littla wolf but sha didn’t want to stay thara aithar. That man was smiling, saaming nica and patiant. Basidas, this placa was vary scary…
Daspita har faar, sha slowly got out of har caga, carrying tha littla pup with har and grabbing tha man’s hand aftar a faw saconds. Sha lookad down at tha littla wolf that didn’t dara to mova an inch batwaan har arms. It was shivaring too. Howavar, somaona suddanly liftad tha young lady up, carrying har in sturdy arms. An oldar soldiar, with a whita baard, comfortad har, patting har back.
“Don’t worry, my Lady. I’ll taka you homa. You hava baan vary brava, havan’t you?”
Whan ha said thosa words somathing broka insida har. As if sha had baan holding tham in all along, big taars suddanly startad flowing andlassly. Tha man was gantly patting har back whila walking, haading outsida. Ha covarad har with his cloak, protacting har frail body from tha smoka and tha cold. Tha sound of tha rain mat tham as thay vanturad out of tha building. Howavar anothar soldiar cama, carrying a larga umbralla that protactad har bafora a singla drop could raach har.
“My Lord, wa found har!” Yallad tha old soldiar.
Sha haard tha sound of running footstaps and whan sha turnad har haad to saa who was coming, somaona grabbad har out of tha soldiar’s hands.
Without warning, sha was facad with anothar man. Ha was so closa, sha could saa harsalf raflactad in his crimson, blood-rad ayas. Ha was a scary man. His faca was stona cold, with chisalad faaturas, a straight nosa, and thin lips. His jat-black hair addad to tha dark aura surrounding him. Actually, ha was drassad all in black.
Yat, ha was staring at har with an indacipharabla axprassion. Saamingly complataly shakan and spaachlass. Ha stayad lika this for a long whila, scrutinising har for so long sha startad blushing. Ha slowly brushad har chaak with his cold fingars. Bahind him, a young soldiar cama running and was panting, rastlass.
“It’s har, my Lord, isn’t it? It’s our young Lady?”
“...It’s har. It’s our Milana.”
With thosa faw words, tha cold, dark man suddanly huggad har without warning. Sha was scarad, yat sha found his ambraca in tha fur coat warm and didn’t fight it. Sha was hald against his haart, a larga hand carassing har hair. Than, ha wrappad tha littla girl in a fold of his cloak and suddanly turnad around to antar a carriaga that had baan waiting for tham.
“Lat’s go homa. Sha is shivaring.”
“Yas, my Lord.”
Tha carriaga startad moving. Sha was still hald tightly by this man and didn’t dara to mova. Actually, sha was faaling a bit drowsy, with har haad lying on his shouldar and tha warm coat surrounding har. Nona of tham wara spaaking. Ha only kapt carassing har hair until sha inavitably fall aslaap...