She wouldn't call the thing she was wearing, a dress. It was just a flimsy piece of cloth that only covered her vital parts. The shimmery strips of the lower part were of the color of lemongrass, which revealed the parts of her thighs much more than her comfort. While, the upper part was golden, wrapped around her breasts. The rest of the dress consisted of thin gossamer strips around her arms and shoulders that fluttered with the slightest of wind.
Trinkets and charms hugged around her waist and limbs chimed with every move she made, and her hair swung loose with only a cheap green gem-like rose-shaped buckle that held them from cascading off everywhere.
The lady that was appointed to help her get dressed said that men wouldn't be able to their eyes off her, and now that Inara saw their reaction, she wouldn't dare doubt her words at all. Even Kais' usual laid-back face looked dumbfounded as he gawked shamelessly at her.
She didn't find such kind of attention amusing one bit. It was not like she always wore modest clothes like a widow, but this really made her feel exposed in front of everyone's eyes. And she knew that the worst part was yet to come. The part for which she had to dress so scandalously.
Wasn't it just a few days ago when she criticized Leila for her filthy job? And here she was, dressed like a tramp, ready to seduce almost an army of men. Fate had never been kind to her. It always teased and tormented her in every way possible, and who knew what other dirty things it had stored in for her.
If fate were a person, it'd be the greatest criminal in the entire world.
"I think this is a bad idea," Kais mumbled.
A small frown creased her eyebrows, "Why so?"
I'm enduring so much for this and you say this is a bad idea?
"Because there's a high chance that I might forget our plan and just stare at you,"
"Damn right," Sadeq agreed, wiping his face with his palm.
Oh, that better not happen in reality!
"In that case," Baha spoke, throwing the hook attached at the end of a rope towards the roof of the inn they had rented for the night. "I'll remind you of your plans up from there," flashing them her catapult, she climbed up to the roof like a cat, swift and sleek.
"Did I forget to tell you that she never misses her target?" Sadeq asked Inara, pointing his thumb in Baha's direction amusedly.
With a small sigh, Inara muttered, "I'm glad that she's here."
"So are we," Kais chuckled.
"And by the way," Inara chipped taking out the veil she had tucked under her waistband, "I'm putting this on." Because she'd be risking too much if she wouldn't cover her face with the veil.
Kais gave a curt nod, "you should." She was surprised by the seriousness with which he said those words.
"Then let's get over with this,"
As everyone took their planned positions, she turned around to face Aydin.
"You know what to do, right Aydin?"
Contrary to her expectations, Aydin didn't reply with a yes, or a nod like he usually did. Instead, he stood still, all taut and distressed, gazing at her intently.
She asked again with disbelief, "Aydin?!"
No! He knew what to do! He should know it! They had gone over this again and again and there was no way he'd not know it. She was not going to remind him of everything once again, not when their baits were just a door away from them.
Pinching her brows with her finger and thumb, she pointed her other hand towards the backside of the inn, to the place where the others will be doing their job. "Go with them." She ordered sternly.
"I'll go with you," was all he said, looking displeased and concerned.
He was ready to do it up until now, then what suddenly happened to him?!!
Stomping up to him, she pressed her palms at his toned stomach, pushing him with all her might. "Go... with them..." Everything will be jeopardized if things wouldn't go according to the original plan. There shouldn't be any mistakes, not from Spada's side and especially not from her side.
Who will listen to her if her bodyguard will go against her words?
A hand grabbed her elbow and pulled her behind gently. She turned back to find Kais looking down at her softly.
"He's not going to budge as long as you are in front of his eyes," Kais whispered, tugging her with him. "Let's go in first,"
That sounded plausible and the right thing to do. So, she complied with a small nod, sparing Aydin one last look of warning and request. Her eyes then went to Sadeq for reassurance.
"Don't worry," Sadeq grinned. "I've got his back," he ensured, gaping at Aydin from head to toe, "...even though it's a large back."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The night was at its peak, enchanting and scandalous. Under the stretch of starry sky and warmth of the burning fire, men lost their sense as a nymph appeared before their eyes, a nymph who glowed brighter than the enrapturing moon.
The refreshments and wine were served, the excitement at its highest, everyone looked forward to the temptress of the night with bated breath. Who wouldn't lose themselves at a night like this?
"This... my friends... is my most precious asset," Kais sang with a drunk smile, "the one who steals every man's heart with a single glance, whose voice is more musical the sound of gold coins clinking together, whose smile is more beautiful than the mirage amidst the burning sands, whose dance is more satisfying than the pay at the end of a hard labor and who is more desirable than your greatest dream."
The goblets were clinked at his preposterous poetry, the ringing of which mingled with the men's laughter.
"Are you going to just boast or are you going to show us the real deal?" their leader jeered followed by the hooting of his subordinates.
Kais stretched his palm out to silence them. And then with his cue, the music started, flowing gently and settling among them like a breeze.
The nymph perked up her waist, her slender hands raised above her hands and long legs bent into a beautiful pose. While the other girls around her had already started moving, like the butterflies fluttering around a flower.
The gentle music gradually picked up the pace, growing more spirited and feistier. The nymph finally raised her head and twerked her lean belly, syncopating with the enthralling music floating in the air.
Cheers erupted in the inn and the scene couldn't have been more perfect for a night of revelry, and a night for plotting a heist.
Inara smirked, watching the men enjoying themselves like fools. If everything went perfectly, her putting up with all this humiliation would be worth it. Her gaze carefully shot up to the roof, to where Reza and Baha took their positions, assessing for any danger or misconduct. On the other hand, Kais like he said, now seemed really immersed in the merriment, intoxicated like the other lots. She hoped that he really wouldn't forget their purpose for orchestrating all this.
