She tries seducing the guard

Lux quickly weighs her options. The other outcast was right: right now, without her magic, she doesn’t stand much chance of fighting her way free. The sword she’d stolen is nowhere to be seen, even if she had a hand free. And every second she waits, the chances of Atara being able to help her fade further away. She needs to do something.

She shifts her weight as much as she can in her cramped position, moving her legs apart and puffing her chest forward as far as she can. She waits for the lone guard to glance her way, catching his eye with what she hopes is a smouldering, defiant look. “Don’t even think about it,” she tells him.

“Eh?” The man looks confused. “What?”

“I know what you’re thinking about.” Lux tosses her head to the side without breaking eye contact. “Men are all the same.”

He shakes his head. “What are you muttering about, girl?”

“You have to be thinking it. That this is your chance, before someone else claims me. The boss of those bandits you’re working with? He thinks I’m going to be his. Like hell.”

The man’s eyes widen. “I’m not – ” he trails off.

“Why even pretend? We’re alone in here. Nobody could stop you. Nobody would hear me scream. And I know you’d make me scream.”

“Girl,” he says, his voice a low growl, “why would you even talk about this…?”

“I’m just accepting reality,” Lux says. “A naked girl, alone with a man, defenceless – I know how this goes.” She licks her lips and swallows. “Would you bend me over and fuck me like an animal? Put me on my back and spread my legs? You’re imagining it now, aren’t you? What kind of man wouldn’t?”

He leans closer, his breath on Lux’s face. “You twisted little minx,” he mutters, “you actually want this.”

Lux has to admit that she’s losing herself a little bit in the act, but outwardly she just smiles. “I have to think about my future down here,” she says. “Better to have a strong man who can protect me than have the others pass me around…”