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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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One thing was certain. The man before her, just slightly older than her comrade, possessed manners lacking in her society. One would think a boy from a better home would present himself as such. If he did, it wasn't in front of Alina. Perhaps he could learn something from the gentleman who was currently tying the two leaders of the robbers together with a rope in front of her blade.
"You truly are a beautiful woman," he complimented her, one of many. "One could almost forgive you anything." Her swords lowered towards the ground. Again, she wondered who this handsome man with these wonderful words could possibly be. Did she have to know him? Was she allowed to get to know him better? Her lips gifted him with an enchanted smile, which he promptly returned.
"Put down the sword," she suggested. "It's easier to talk without it."
"There's only one problem," he said with his charming smile, causing Alina to look at him bewilderedly. He didn't intend to set aside his sword. "Even though you're a lovely figure, one can't excuse everything, can they?"
"What?" it escaped her throat. Wasn't he siding with her?
"You killed a merchant a few years ago, the one you were supposed to dance for," Mos reported with a now less friendly tone that she knew how to charm. Everything in him showed with the quietly simmering fire of his hot anger. "He was an upright citizen, not such scum like these filthy thieves."
Alina went through in her mind everything she had done or had to do. Some merchants were among them. Mostly thieving scum that liked to sell forgeries or for some other reason found themselves listed in the bounties.
They had one thing in common... None of them were innocent!
"No one has ever said a bad word about him!" In his rage, Mos took a step towards the girl.
Alina recoiled. She didn't want to take up the swords. Not if it was a case of mistaken identity. That made her speak out loud too.
"Everyone loved him, and he just wanted to watch your performance."
"When?" demanded the girl to know. "When was that supposed to happen? I didn't make any mistake!"
Most of their assignments were sent by Beldor. Just like today, when she was supposed to track down these two thieves for one of his friends.
"He was my brother!"
Those were the last words before Mos raised his sword and rushed at Alina.
Skillfully, she parried the blow.
"You'll regret what you did to my brother two years ago!" he spat wildly at her.
Alina ducked past him.
There were a few encounters with her audience that ended fatally for them. But they weren't good people.
Most of them tried to attack her. Probably his brother too. For Alina, it always meant. Either her, or them! Just like now.
Except her opponent this time wasn't a drunken groper, but a good fighter with a clear mind. Far too good for the untrained bounty hunter.
If a miracle didn't happen soon, she would go under.
"Ero!" Alina shouted in a last desperate act as she defended against the blows.
Her cries went unheard.
"No one will help you, little angel!" mocked the enemy, unaware of how true his words were.
Her comrade usually didn't care when she was attacked. He preferred to engage in some other occupation until it was time to collect the loot.
Despite her inferior skills, she used everything available to her.
With both swords, she defended against his blows and attacked in return. Nothing impressed the skilled fighter. He even managed to snatch one of Alina's swords from her hands.
The beautiful ruby-encrusted one landed in a high arc far away from her, on the ground.
"I thought the bloody angel would fight better." Mos sounded dismayed by this realization. To which Alina let out another scream.
"Ero, damn it! Help me already, you lazy bastard!"
Not very friendly words to her only ally. He must be nearby. Maybe even very close.
He should hope that she would go under, otherwise, these would be his last minutes!
For a moment, she turned her gaze to the open tent entrance. A negligence that her opponent shamelessly exploited.
He didn't wound her. No, his sword slid under the thin fabric of her sleeve. A single cut, and it slid down the right side, revealing not only her shoulder but also part of her breast.
A sight that visibly amused him.
"Maybe the idea of the robbers isn't that bad after all," mused Mos. "You're good for more than just piercing someone's heart." He laughed. "Alina, I'll make sure you kneel before me in the dust. And when I'm done with you, you bitch, no one will be able to lure anyone to their death with you anymore. Then no one will want to look at you."
As a warning, his blade brushed over her cheek. Leaving behind a thin streak of red blood. Not hers. The touch was too gentle for that.
"When I'm done with you, you'll beg me to kill you!"
"Ero!" Once again, she called out to her friend. Again, it went unanswered.
And again, Mos attacked her. Now she even recognized his game.
He was better than Alina but wanted to corner her.
"A pretty girl like you should leave things alone that she doesn't know how to handle!"
His mockery sounded biting in her ears. She reached the end of her path.
Behind her, she felt the cool wall of the tent.
Again, the sword slipped under the fabric of her dress. The sleeve tore, forcing Alina to catch it to avoid standing naked in front of this young man, as he wished.
"Drop the sword, little girl," commanded Mos in his mocking, sweet tone.
Alina bit her lower lip in anger.
She was at the end. He knew it, she knew it, and if she wanted to get out of here alive, she had to obey him.
Obediently, she lowered her head in front of him, just like the sword whose blade rested on the ground. Her hand still tightly gripped the hilt.
"Smart girl!" praised Mos. His finger toyed with the neckline of her dress, which now lay even lower than before. "You're at your end, little angel, so give up!"
His eyes widened in fulfillment of his desire.
Alina's dress slid down her body, into the churned and blood-moistened earth.
Mos might be an excellent swordsman. But he was just a man who already thought he had won.
Under coercion, Alina lifted her head and parted her lips, even before his touched hers.
"Oh yes, I'm a poor, helpless woman!" Her blue eyes sparkled with fighting spirit, at the same moment her hand painfully tightened around the sword.
In her years of work, she had learned a lot. Including that sometimes it was better to apply fairness in training fights, but not here, where every mistake left a bitter taste.
With all her strength, Alina thrust the sword blade into her opponent's heart.
He groaned once more. His blood flowed over the blade, down to the hilt and over Alina's small hands.
Thick drops wetted the dress at her feet.
This may not have been a pleasant task, like some dances before a grateful audience. But she had to do it. Regret and pity for her victims she had long since discarded. She preferred to reserve those things for other people. Simple farmers or her friends.
Her hands let go of the sword. The dead body of the man sank to the ground beside her.
Wordlessly, she lifted her dress to cover her naked body from the gaze of the only two living beings. Only her fingers held it up.
She left the tent and with it the horror within.