Cooperate for Now

As the bandits approached, Vrasha could see that there were three of them. Her gut clenched, realising that her chances of victory were slim. She could make a mad charge, and maybe she would be able to break through, but considering how tired her horse was, could she even keep the lead if she took it? Unlikely, in her considered opinion.

So what did you do in that situation? Well, frankly, she saw nothing else but to wait for her chance. Her inner self rebelled at this, realising that it essentially meant a surrender now in the hopes that she would be able to escape later, but the logic was sound. They didn't know who she was, just that she was a travelling woman. Vrasha was no helpless damsel, all of her life, she'd looked up to the great heroes and adventurers who had peopled the stories that made up the culture of her home. From the very moment she was old enough, she'd pushed herself to be one of them, learning to ride, to shoot, to wield the blade... so long as they thought she was just some helpless noble, they would underestimate her and she would have her chance more likely than not.

However...there was a problem with that plan. One that made her squirm with indignation. If she were to cooperate, then she would have to do as she was told, and bluntly, that probably would mean she would be humiliated by them at least. Vrasha gulped, her skin tingled. She knew that she would most likely be taken prisoner, but what alarmed her was what would be done to her after that. Especially if she didn't get a chance to escape quickly...

She clenched her fists, her sense of modesty warring with her desire for survival. But the latter one, and she held her place as the three bandits drew nearer. One of them was dark haired, one of them was blond. The black haired one was big and muscular, the blond slim and wiry. The third was red-haired, and as she approached. Vrasha realised she was female.