The woman pointed to a place quite far northwest on the map, though not impossible to get to. "This is a village I was staying in, it was somewhere around here." The place she pointed to was unmarked on the map, just north of the border of this kingdom.

"I've been staying in that village since I was younger, as well as a few other non-humans. Not everyone is all that accepting of other races, but they allowed us to stay there. But slavers raided the village and took us."

"Sounds like someone might've sold you out."

She looks down and pauses for a moment. "Yes, but it's the safest location I can think of to bring so many races, especially on foot. Most won't take kindly to escaped slaves."

"If you think that's the best choice, we can start making our way, I don't know much about this kingdom. Have the people gather everything from the slavers and we'll begin making our way there. We shouldn't stay here too much longer."

"Yes ser, I will have them ready soon." She walks off with the others and they bring the rest behind the stage where the carts and supplies are. They have wagons pulled by oxen, as well as many mules for carrying supplies.

After everyone gathers the supplies, leaving the cages and chains behind of course, we make our way northwest. The woman briefs me on what they have. Tents, though not enough for everyone, there were only enough for the slavers. Supllies, but not much, as they were only meant to have enough to last on the way here. They were presumably going to enjoy the city once they got paid, and would only resupply when they were going to leave.

When she's done telling me about this, she goes quiet for a bit before speaking again. "What's your name ser? I would've asked sooner, but I thought it best to start walking before asking."

"David. David Alexander." I say, there's no reason to make up a name.

"Should I call you ser Alexander?"

"David is fine."

"Ser David, you said you were not familiar with this kingdom, from where do you hail?" I hadn't meant that, but I do enjoy the elequent way she speaks. She's addressing me in the other language as well rather than her native tongue, she must've put a lot of effort into learning to speak so well in a small village. The other leaders and guards near us seem to have piqued interest as well, though they haven't joined in yet. Instead letting the woman speak.

"I'm from another world, I only came to this place a few days ago. My body was recreated, a sort of reincarnation, just south of here, deep in a forest near the ocean." There's no reason to keep it a secret, I've already killed nearly a hundred people in front of her, and I doubt that's enough information to assume I was sent here by Alachia.

She smiles at me for a bit, as if she's waiting for me to explain the joke. I just look into her eyes and wait to see if she accepts the truth. Eventually she seems to, or at least her expression changes to one I haven't seen on her face.

There's no response, we just keep walking for a while as she looks ahead, only occasionally glancing at me. I might as well ask her something then. "What's your name?"

She brightens a bit, having something more reasonable to respond to. "My name's Taratha, but you can call me Tara if you'd like Ser David."

"Alright, so how did you end up in the village we're headed to Tara? From what you've said it sounds like it's mostly a human village."

"Well.... I'm not sure how much you know, but most orcs serve an evil goddess, it's part of why we're so.... Disliked by many other races. A few do break out of the hold of this cult, but most are zealous followers. I don't know what it's like really. My parents left my tribe before I was born. Aparently the tribe hadn't raided enough, so they needed to start sacrificing their young as tribute to the dark goddess. That was enough to break the hold she had over them, and they left."

"So they took you to this village and raised you there?"

She shook her head. "No, they raised me far from the tribe, out in the wilderness, but not far enough. The tribe found us when I was twelve, and my father fought them off while my mother and I fled. But she was shot with many arrows. She protected me too, and told me to run west before she.... bled out."

"Eventually I came upon this village, after briefly staying near a few others and being kicked out. I started to pick up a few words, but once I came to this village, I was able to interact with enough people often enough that I really learned the language."

She's really telling me everything, but then I guess I told her everything as well. "How long did you live in the village?"

"Eight years, though I lived on the outskirts of the village, as did the few others of various races. I spent a lot of time around the village, in the wilderness, hunting, and exploring as well. I think we can set up a camp far enough away from the village that they won't be attacked again for us, but close enough to trade with them when needed."

"That's good, you can show us where and the people can set up a camp." After I say this, she looks at me, a bit unsure, then finally responds.

"Ser David, you've done so much for us, it's dangerous, and it would make the journey a bit longer, but there's a camp the slavers use nearly halfway between where we are now and our destination. It's only a bit more west from our course near a village."

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I see what she's hinting at. "Are there more people being kept there?"

"There were ser, at least when I was last there. And moreover, some of the raiders may be there, the ones who know where the village is located. If you could bring justice to them, we would be safer in the long run. And you'd save so many more of us."

It sounds fine. If anything, it should be even more souls to take, so I have no qualms. "Would there be supplies as well?"

"Yes ser, the slavers keep their camp supplied well enough, surely it would help feed everyone, and there would be many more tents for the camp we plan on making, until we can make more permanent shelter."

"Then there's no reason not to do it. How long until we reach this place?"

"It will be several days, shouldn't be much longer than a week if we can keep this pace. We'll need to anyway in case the kingdom sends a militia to collect us. I don't wish to stay here longer than I have to."

"We'll alter the route then and head for the slavers camp." I'm glad I'll be able to kill more of these people, though it's too bad it'll take a bit more than a week to get there. But I guess they can't all run there, especially not through a forest, and they need time to sleep and eat. We'll likely have to stop at a stream for water too. This company is at least one hundred, maybe close to two hundred, there were more slaves than customers at the auction of course. I guess they'll get more free euipment when I'm done with the camp too.

"When we get there, just near the camp, I'll have you lead me close, but I'd like the others to stay back. I'll kill them all myself."

--------

Tara

Tara had been stunned into silence. At first she thought he was joking, despite looking like a very serious man. His expression never changed, and he looked as if he'd just stated something very plain.

She had no idea how to respond. Had a god sent this man to save them? But which god would send a crusader to save only a few hundred slaves? And why now, when so many have suffered? She couldn't be that important, and from what she'd seen, none of the other freed slaves had been either.

Was it just chance, or is this only the beginning of his crusade? Either way, she was glad to finally see hope after the last bit of a life she had was taken away.

As they continued talking, not only had he accepted to free more slaves, he refused to even use their forces to overwhelm the slavers at their camp. She knew at least a few dozen would be slain if they were to attack the camp with such poorly equipped forces, but it should've been a sure thing with such numbers backing up ser David.

Instead, he said he'd kill them all himself. This man wearing only plain clothes from what she could see. Though the way he moved with that weapon, the longsword conjured and dismissed through some strange magic she'd never seen, she supposed he didn't need any.

Though of course, despite having a bag of holding as well, something she'd only ever heard of, she doubted he could be especially wealthy yet, if he really did only come to this world a few days ago. Perhaps that's why he'd not yet been wearing fine armor and vestments fitting one of his position.

They walked far off from the road through the plains, they got far from the city and went near a forest, just inside a clearing. They were exhausted, and they needed to set up camp away from the prying eyes of any potential scout sent after them. Though hopefully they hadn't acted yet.

They had marched all day through the blazing sun, at a pace just short of a jog, as quickly as they could, only slowing down when they neared the forest as the sun set. Yet david never seemed to tire, he never breathed more heavily, or even broke a sweat as they marched throughout the day. It was as if he were a supernatural being rather than a just a man.

Later, when they'd set up camp, she asked him how he'd learned so many languages, seemingly able to communicate with any of the various species in their caravan.

"I didn't learn any languages on this world, It's a blessing, an innate ability I was given when I came to this world."

Another ability, like something out of an old story you could only wish were true, yet he states it like it's uninteresting. Those around her seem as surprised as surprised as she was. She woulnd't believe it if she hadn't heard him speak so many languages, and seen how well everyone understands what he says. Even when he spoke orcish, it was as clear as what she could remember from her parents.

Unless this man had learned nearly every non-human language, then she could only assume what he was saying was true. Though either option seemed unbelievable. Until today.

They'd offered him the largest tent, but he only took one of the smaller tents, long enough for him, but only wide enough for one or two people. He took the tent and the bedroll and went to bed just after most of the others. She'd set up her tent near his, and he hadn't said anything about it. She'd feel safer near his tent. Though she's not sure if you could really be safe anywhere in the world.

When she laid down on the bedroll inside her small tent, she immediatly fell asleep. They'd eaten the rest of the supplies that night, but david refused, not even taking a drink of water. Instead he'd offered his travel supplies to them, barely touched, saying he'd wait until they found a better source of food. She'd told them they could get more to eat and drink when they arrived near a stream later tommorrow, they would follow this most of the way toward the slaver's camp, and then the village.

In the morning, everyone still seemed sore from the long walk, and hungry, as there wasn't much to give out between all of these people. After a long walk at a slower pace than yesterday, they made it to the stream, continued on it until they neared a somewhat large lake that was marked on the map. They had refilled their waterskins along the way, and had plenty to drink, but it didn't stave off their hunger. They were hoping to catch some fish, or game animals that may be near the lake.

Before they got there however, they saw a camp, what looked to be several dozen men gathered at the edge, all armed. A few walked out to approach them, and the freed slaves sent a few of their own out to meet them as well. David leading them, and tara with a few guards going out with him.

"Hello stranger." One of the men said. "We happen to run this territory, so we'll have to ask that you pay the toll. We'll take whatever money and supplies you have."

The men far back behind him have their hands on their weapons, many with bows, ready to attack if given a signal.

"So you're bandits." David says bluntly, as if only to confirm it.

"Everyone is." Said the leader of the bandits. "Now will you play along, or will this have to get ugly?"

Before anyone else can speak, David responds with a calm tone. "Don't worry. Tara, you and the guards will go back to the others. Tell them not to worry. I'd like to talk with these men privately for a bit."

Tara didn't wait, she grabbed the others and pulled them toward the group by the arms, making sure they understood.

Behind her, the bandit continued speaking. "Hold on, we're not letting you get away while your-" That was the last thing he said, before his throat was carved open. David had summoned his sword and begun cutting down the men before him. Tara started running and pulling the others along. They would need to get out of range from the archers and let David focus on fighting the rest. The way he moved was supernatural, maybe he can dodge them, but she knew the others couldn't. She wouldn't let anyone else get hurt.