Many myths revolve around the camp of the thieves' gang led by Morlo. Some were too fantastic, yet within them, Alina and Ero discovered true sparks. For a long time, they silently followed the couple, guided by the woman and under the watchful eye of the man. Any false move would have been welcomed by him.
A favor neither of them wanted him to do. Therefore, they both remained quiet and eagerly awaited the thieves' camp. The woman often turned to them, smiling kindly at both, but also seeming internally restless. Alina couldn't pinpoint the reason for it. Since her main interest lay elsewhere, that could be a clue.
Then, before them, a hillock emerged. A mound overgrown with vegetation, dominated by stones. Nothing conspicuous or false about this place. Massive roots traversed the earth, and Alina wondered where a robber's hideout could be here. She scanned the horizon for structures, perhaps even a castle, and the treetops for signs of human life. All without success.
They took the first steps upward. The ground felt soft and damp. Last night, there had been a summer storm. Where the sunlight illuminated the ground, delicate green sprouted. But still, nothing unusual could be discovered. Armed men approached them from the left and right. Guards, as was clear.
Alina glanced to the sides. She couldn't identify any possible hiding places, which didn't surprise her. For years, the robbers had hidden from bounty hunters or the king's warriors. Even the attack of the army would fail here, due to traps and natural obstacles, much like in the days of the Amazons; the robbers lived with the forest. They knew the safe paths as well as those for supplies.
One of the men eyed Alina with interest. "Ooh la la!" he exclaimed joyfully. "Dugol, what have you brought us, handsome?" Alina passed by Ero, finding herself in the other man's gaze. She wasn't fearful but also not foolish enough to confront these guys. "A guest, so open the main gate!" The woman stopped and instructed the two younger ones to do the same. What Alina saw now left her astonished.
The two men operated machinery in a hidden place within two dead trees. They weren't facing each other but simultaneously set something enormous in motion. A click, followed by a rattling. Gears interlocked and set in motion. The ground trembled, and then the massive wings of a gate rose before them.
"Didn't I say I'd get us in?" the girl teased but chose the ideal moment when the apparatus was so loud that only Ero could hear her. In a different situation, Alina would have valued his gaze as gold. Are you kidding me?! his shocked expression conveyed.
Behind the gate, more robbers waited. They emerged and also showed interest in the two guests, especially the young girl. "A gift?" one of them ventured. "That wasn't necessary."
"None of that!" Dugol intervened sternly. "The girl drove her cart into the river."
"And now our future leader is playing the gentleman to rescue the fair lady," one of his comrades interrupted.
Laughter rippled through the gang. Alina counted ten; more waited inside. "No," said Dugol. He stepped forward. Before Alina or Ero could do anything, the man firmly grabbed the girl's arm. His body formed a barrier between them.
Her heart began to flutter even before a malicious grin formed on his face. "We're not inhuman and would have surely helped you," he said with his cool demeanor, now tinged with eerie delight. "If it weren't for the origin and name of this pretty girl."
The Hangman of Ylora, it always boiled down to hatred towards this seemingly good-natured man. Many wished for his death or wanted to destroy him differently, like with Jos, who had suffered terribly before his death.
Dugol pushed the girl away into the arms of one of the robbers. "Go with a few others and pull the cart out. Let's see what they have with them. One of their horses might provide a warm meal, the other is a noble steed. We'll surely find a use for it."
Ero pushed past Dugol toward Alina but was grabbed and restrained by other robbers. A blade pressed against the boy's throat. They all saw him as a greater threat, not Alina.
What had she done to hand him over to the robbers like this? In this situation, the girl doubted whether it was really wise to have him come along.
The redhead looked pleadingly at her lover. In her arms, she held the sword, now pressing it tremblingly against her chest. For some reason, she didn't want anyone to harm them. Was it because she still saw them as children, or was there another reason?
In his hatred, Dugol's gaze regained its chill, even directed it towards his wife as a form of punishment. Then he said something that didn't bode well for Alina and contained pure malice.
"Before you stands the future daughter-in-law of the Hangman of Ylora. Show her your hospitality, but be careful, perhaps the princess has claws."
In a touch, he ran his fingers over her cheek. Alina pulled her face away.
"Be kind to her, we all want the bride to be delivered untouched to the groom."
A direct invitation to his comrades. They were allowed to do as they pleased with her.
Before his wife could say anything, Dugol grabbed her and disappeared into the interior of this underground hideout.
Both young people resisted being taken inside the hideout, but they couldn't resist the gang. Behind them, the gate closed. In the dim light, Alina caught one of Ero's looks.
How's your plan going? he silently asked.
Don't worry! she signaled with a smile. I'll think of something!
With this mission, she stirred up a hornet's nest. She should have known, but they were both long past being children.
A single step proved that the kitten possessed more than just claws.