**Chapter 13: A Desperate Encounter**

As the bandit rode his horse through the rolling hills and dense forests that surrounded the village, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He had been scouting the area for days, searching for any signs of potential targets or threats to his gang's operations. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the landscape, as he crested a small hill and spotted a small cottage in the distance. The cottage was situated on a small clearing, surrounded by a patchwork of overgrown gardens and a rickety wooden fence. Smoke drifted lazily from the chimney, and the bandit could see a figure moving about inside. His curiosity piqued, he guided his horse down the hill and towards the cottage. As he approached, a young woman emerged from the doorway, her eyes scanning the surrounding area with a mixture of caution and desperation. The bandit couldn't help but notice the way she moved, her body swaying gently in the breeze as she worked to repair a broken fence post. She was a petite thing, with long, dark hair and piercing green eyes that seemed to bore into his very soul. But it was her body that truly caught his attention. Despite her threadbare clothing, it was clear that she had a buxom figure, her breasts straining against the fabric of her shirt. Her hips were wide and curved, a breedable shape that seemed to scream of fertility and potential. The bandit felt a spark of interest ignite within him, and he dismounted his horse, approaching her with a calculated swagger. The young woman's eyes flicked to him, and she froze, her hands still grasping the fence post. For a moment, they simply stared at one another, the air thick with tension. Then, in a voice that was barely above a whisper, she spoke. "Can I help you?" she asked, her eyes darting towards the surrounding area, as if searching for an escape route. The bandit smiled, his eyes roving over her body. "I'm just passing through," he said, his voice low and husky. "I saw your cottage and thought I'd stop to ask if you needed any help. You look like you could use a hand." The young woman's eyes narrowed, her gaze lingering on the bandit's face before dropping to his groin. For a moment, she seemed to be sizing him up, weighing her options. Then, in a movement that was almost imperceptible, she nodded. "I could use some help," she said, her voice laced with a quiet desperation. "I've been struggling to make ends meet. My name is Aria, by the way. I'm...I'm the village pariah." The bandit's eyes raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "The village pariah?" he repeated, his voice laced with curiosity. Aria nodded, a hint of bitterness in her voice. "Yeah. I injured the chief's son when he tried to...when he tried to take advantage of me. Now, I'm on my own. I have to sell my body to survive." The bandit's eyes locked onto hers, a spark of interest igniting within them. He could see the pain and desperation in her eyes, and he knew that she was a woman who had been broken by the cruel hand of fate. "I'm willing to help you," he said, his voice low and husky. "But it won't be cheap. I'm not made of money, and I expect value for my...generosity." Aria's eyes dropped, her voice barely above a whisper. "I understand. I'm willing to offer my body to you, in exchange for money. I need it to survive." The bandit's smile grew wider, his eyes roving over her body once more. He could see the desperation in her eyes, the quiet resignation that seemed to cling to her like a shroud. And he knew that he had her right where he wanted her. "Let's talk," he said, his voice dripping with suggestion. "I'm willing to listen to your proposal."