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Content warning:
The following episode includes violence, blood, sexism and misogyny which some viewers may find troubling. Reader discretion is advised.
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Harmonious sounds emerged from the musical instruments of the five traveling musicians. In just a few moments, a wilder sound unleashed itself. It was precisely this that the girl used to stretch and extend her body in dance.
During the dance, a light blue, transparent piece of fabric played around her body. It hugged her arms and legs, enticingly presenting her exposed skin to the men. She didn't rely solely on her ears. She had to fully absorb the music within herself to stay in rhythm, often drowned out by the loud shouts of the men.
Above them, a tent was pitched. On the pale, trampled grass, the men sat amidst an endless abundance of wine and beer. Thus, the girl didn't even need to intervene. They were already halfway to a coma before her performance even began.
Only the two leaders refrained from indulging themselves during their chat. While their subordinates indulged in food and drink, they needed to keep a clear head. Yet, nothing could stop them from casting a few glances at the pretty dancer. And even now, it was clear where the men saw her at the end of the dance. Not on her horse with the agreed-upon sum. That wasn't on anyone's mind, and even the musicians would be in danger.
The girl tilted her head back. Blonde curls fell over her shoulder, not part of the braided wreath around her forehead. There were 25 armed men, most of whom, stupefied by alcohol, could no longer walk straight. A few days ago, they must have raided a wine merchant.
Their eyes watched every lascivious movement, trying to catch more glimpses of the 18-year-old's body. To their disappointment, the girl skillfully moved to avoid revealing too much under her rather scanty, light blue dress.
Some of the men even tried to touch her velvety skin whenever she approached them. Yet she playfully eluded them, without destroying the enticing promise of their leaders.
The veil momentarily concealed her elven-like face in the dance. Slowly, it descended, and her radiant blue eyes focused solely on the two leaders, whom she slowly approached in her dance.
She preferred not to use this cloth for dancing but her daggers instead.
Impressive, curved blades engraved with the image of an angry dragon. A picture that hardly seemed to fit the delicate creature but captivated many onlookers nonetheless.
These were taken from her so that the kitten wouldn't resist during the later plan.
That didn't deter her. Alina was too skilled at charming many. She always found a way to maneuver out of such situations. And so far, she hadn't encountered any serious opponents among the robbers.
Her dance gracefully led her between the robbers, all the way to their leaders.
One of them had a tall stature. His powerful shoulders felt stiff under her touch. The muscles tightened under the skin.
At first, they eyed his brown eyes suspiciously. He wasn't the one promising a wonderful evening to all of them. But even he now gazed at the young girl before him, fascinated, silently imagining how he could spend time with her.
He could pose a problem for her. Especially in his still somewhat sober state and because he didn't let his subordinates fight alone.
Alina's delicate hands reached for the wine carafe. The smell of strong alcohol alone made her sway. Immediately, she regained her composure and poured wine first for the big robber leader, then for the man by his side.
Barely had she placed the carafe back in its place when the other man roughly pulled her onto his lap.
For a moment, her true feelings were revealed in her expression. Anger at this humiliation, dancing here in front of these despicable men. Presenting herself to them like a piece of meat in barely anything, to be unwrapped by them later like the packaging of a gift. She despised these orders and especially the man whose lap she now sat on and whose flabby body she was pressed against.
It disgusted her!
But she couldn't just jump up yet and possibly lure the wolf onto her trail. She had to continue playing the seductive dancer.
And just as the piece of fabric from her long cloth wrapped enticingly around the almost bald head of the robber leader, her smile also took on such seduction.
One could call the other robber attractive despite his large scars, some of which disfigured his face. This fat lump with his bloated face and bulging eyes, which scrutinized every part of her pretty body, was simply repulsive.
His grin revealed two rows of decayed teeth, just waiting to press his mouth onto her body.
Alina had to suppress a shudder.
She wondered how he managed to get his subordinates to fulfill every wish. He didn't even go on raids with them.
Whatever he expected from this meeting wouldn't bode well for the other. Perhaps he hoped to make a hefty profit by merging both groups of robbers.
"Come, my sweet little doll!" whispered the robber with his foul breath in her ear. "Let's forget all this! I have a special gift for you."
Alina didn't want to know what he imagined under that.
Her finger pressed against his thick lips.
"Just a moment!" she purred with a seductively sweet voice. "Let me finish my dance first. I have a very special finale prepared for you!"
As she rose in a graceful movement, she took the second sword with her. The light swords were good for fighting with both hands. Or as props in dance, as she demonstrated immediately.
"That damned wench!" growled the big man. "She can't just take our swords."
He was about to get up, which the fat one prevented with a gesture.
"Don't you know the rumors? This bounty hunter is said to have it out for us."
"That little thing is just a cheap dancer!" shouted the fat one, revealing his rotten teeth. "Nothing more, nothing less! Just rumors! Who knows if this angel even exists. No one knows what she looks like."
Alina smiled.
This time out of pure joy.
These two would get to know the infamous angel. Even if in a way no one wished for.
With weapons in both hands, she danced past the robbers into the middle of the room, where she crossed the swords in front of her. She performed a dance that fascinated the robbers.
Among them was a young robber who, unlike his comrades, knew how to behave well. He didn't offer her any crude remarks, only perhaps a pretty smile, which she gladly returned.
If he continued to behave, she might spare him.
Alina danced sensually with both swords, bending her body seductively to the music. At times, she let the blunt sides of the blades glide over her skin on her arms, belly, and legs.
Swords weren't her weapons. Not anymore. Years ago, her father taught her sword fighting. Now she fought with her daggers, which hardly stood out as dance props.
For this assignment, it would have to do.
In her dance, Alina approached the robbers furthest from their leaders. There she paused in a position that signaled to the minstrels that the performance was only just beginning.