After begging pitifully and making a scene the entire morning, Hazel had finally managed to get herself a job. The merciless man at the counter hadn't shown any bit of emotion as she wailed and cried her eyes out, and it was only after the owner of the tavern luckily came by. He was quite surprised by the scene, then annoyed because Hazel's scandal was attracting the wrong kind of attention and he ended up submitting to her.
She really should thank her rough years in prison because if it was her before the arrest, she would have never begged like she did. Back then she was too prideful.
Because the Koza tavern/inn was always full of customers, Hazel got straight to work and didn't even have the time to discuss her work conditions with the owner. She was just handed a dirty apron and her job was to mop and sweep the floors, and if the place got too busy she could wait tables. The payment was two silver coins and Hazel was content with that. If she worked for three days only, she could have enough to pay for her dagger and keep some change.
But luck was not on her side because the customers at the tavern were as perverted as those filthy criminals she had encountered in prison.
Apart from her, there were two other female workers but none of them was as reserved as Hazel. Quite the opposite actually. Their dresses had very low necklines that almost pushed their breasts out, and Hazel wasn't even sure how they could breathe in the tight corsets crushing their ribs.
And it seemed like the choice of clothing was deliberate because the men shamelessly ogled at the skin shoved in their faces, and even went as far as passing not-too-light touches on their bottoms.
"Outrageous," Hazel mumbled under her breath as she watched one drunken man grab one of the female server's bottom. In return, the woman gave a sultry smile and winked at the bearded man, making Hazel's lips twist upwards in disdain.
If she were in her place, the man would be lying on the floor with a broken nose.
"Oy!" Another server's voice snapped her back from her thoughts and she turned to the man who beckoned her to the counter. Hazel placed the long handled broom against the wall and rushed to the counter.
"This goes…" the server looked around as he handed the tray to Hazel."... to the two men over there."
Hazel followed his line of sight and carefully walked to the table, holding the tray with both hands. The order was coincidentally from the table next to the shameless pervert who had been shamelessly touching the other woman just minutes ago.
As Hazel passed his table, the man gave her a playful wink, his beard barely concealing the dirty smile on his face.
Hazel's hands tightened around the tray as she tried to stop herself from punching him right in the face.
"Here you go," she placed the tray on the table and gave a small smile to the two men before starting to unpack the plates.
"You must be new here, aren't you?" One of the men asked with a heavy accent, his eyes raking over Hazel's slender form.
"You're right," Hazel responded curtly, giving a tight-lipped smile.
"But why you dressing like that. Look at Lydia and the other girl. That's the kind of dress to wear in a place like this," the beard man leaned over from his table, smiling up at Hazel. "It's part of the job to entertain the customers," he added with a drawl and the men around cracked up in laughter.
Hazel's hands clenched around the tray again as she glared at the man. In the end, she took a deep breath and decided to ignore them and walk away.
'Get yourself together Hazel. You're here to work and you need that money. You need that money.' she chanted inwardly.
While passing by the other tables about to return the tray to the counter, she felt the man's hand travel over her lower back and as quick as lightning, she turned around and slammed the tray on the man's head. The action was quicker than her mind could register, and it was as if her body reacted instinctively, almost subconsciously.
"Argh! Bloody bitch!" The man cursed loudly, standing up to slap Hazel on the face. Hazel evaded the slap but the next minute her hair was grabbed from behind, making her scalp tingle in pain. The man yanked her head back and Hazel gritted her teeth.
"Hah! Just another little feisty one, huh?" The man wheezed in her face, making Hazel recoil in disgust.
The other customers were now up on their feet ready to watch Hazel being taught a lesson. It was rare to see a server react like that to a customer, especially women. It was rare enough to see women working in taverns and to them, the man's behaviour was completely normal.
Hazel's hand wandered around her, trying to find something to defend herself with, but all she grabbed were chairs and tables. The tray had already slipped from her fingers and the only thing she could result to was using her combat knives. She didn't want to because she really needed this job and she knew it would be hard to get another one, but the man wouldn't just let go.
"Should've learned how things work here little lady. Now I'll pay for you and see how feisty you can get in bed," the man continued talking in her face and the other men cheered and whistled, making Hazel more disgusted. His hand was now grabbing her jaw and her face started turning red from all the muscle strain.
With no other option, Hazel reached for one of her knives and deftly swung her hand, stabbing the man on the side of his neck.
The tavern turned dead silent as the wide-eyed man's hands flew to his wound where blood gushed out like a river. He wasn't even able to scream and only scrambled to hold on to something as his body collapsed on the floor.
Hazel panted for air as she watched the man's shocked eyes.
After a moment of silence, the entire tavern was now in an uproar as all the men started shouting this and yelling that, fingers pointed at Hazel.
It was only when the men around her threw themselves at her that Hazel realized the intensity of her actions. But she knew she hadn't killed the man so why were they overreacting?
In an attempt to flee, Hazel jumped on the nearest table and started running towards the exit. But before she could make it far, her foot was grabbed and she fell on the floor with a loud thud. The angry mob was ready to pounce on her but the owner arrived just in time to stop the commotion.
"Quiet! What is happening here?" He bellowed, his face a furious shade of red.
The men drew back a little bit and Hazel struggled to stand up.
"Reed! What. Is. Happening here!?" The owner demanded again and Reed, the man at the counter, slowly sauntered into the room as if he'd just heard the commotion.
"She killed him. Your server killed him and she must die for that," someone in the crowd yelled before Reed could start explaining.
"Yes! She can't be new here and already killed a man!"
"Kill by the blade and die by the blade!"
What followed were drunken cheers and Hazel stood there with a cold glint in her eyes, like a criminal waiting for his execution.
"Quiet!" The owner demanded again and the noises subsided. He walked towards Hazel and grabbed her hair forcefully, earning a yelp from her as he dragged her outside.
"You good for nothing. You're trying to ruin my business on your first day!" He cursed loudly as he dragged her out by the hair, leading her to the back exit.
The customers cheered after her, but it was clear they weren't satisfied.
"But he started it. I was just defending myself," Hazel pleaded as she grabbed the man's strong hands.
Her pleas fell on deaf ears and the man forcefully shoved her forward once they were out through the back door which was used by the servers. Hazel cried out as she landed on the floor. The man bent to her position and landed a blinding slap on her left cheek, whipping her face to the other side.
Hazel heard the ringing in her ears as her vision blurred for a second, followed by the stinging pain and the metallic taste of blood in her mouth.
Blood rushing to her head, she looked up at the man with a cold glare, but she was met with eyes as crazed as hers as his blue eyes bore into hers. Hazel's hands clenched as she tried to control herself, but all her mind could think of was driving a blade through the man's skull.
"You better not show your face here again!" The man spat out then turned and walked back into the tavern, slamming the door loudly.