Isabella

The warm scent of hay and the soft sounds of animals filled the barn as Isabella moved gracefully among the stalls, her practiced hands tending to the animals. She hummed a gentle tune under her breath, a habit that soothed both her and the creatures under her care. With a patient smile, she brushed the old mare's coat, her motions steady and deliberate, shaped by years of experience. The world outside was quiet, save for the occasional chirp of birds and the rustling of the trees in the breeze. A sudden creak of the barn door startled her, and she turned sharply, her hazel eyes landing on the figure of a man she didn't recognize. Dressed in travel-worn clothes, his expression was sharp and cold, an air of menace clinging to him. Isabella's lips parted, about to call out for her husband or any nearby villagers, but the glint of steel silenced her. The stranger raised a dagger, his gaze locking onto hers with chilling intent. "Not a word" he hissed, stepping closer, the blade catching the faint light streaming through the barn's slats. "Do as I say, or your family will pay the price." Isabella froze, her mind racing as fear gripped her heart. Her instincts screamed to flee, but her thoughts were consumed by her daughters and husband, the threat to their safety holding her in place. Her trembling hands clutched the brush she still held, her soft voice barely above a whisper as she pleaded. "Please... don't hurt them. Tell me what you want."