Chapter Nine
Our guests struggled the entire walk there, especially the barbarian. He all but howled into his gag. It took Doodh, Gwyllt, and Zaibas to keep him moving while the other three only took a monster girl each. Marwo took the lead, the wildhound scouting.
Mom led the donkey and the cart. It seemed that the food I had been buying just wasn't good enough. She was off to shop in Astovin, of course. She seemed to think we were going to the farmer's market or something.
This wasn't that sort of place. The villagers... tolerated me. They were nervous when I was around even after I had defended them and rescued their kidnapped women, stolen by that sick pervert Jindag. He had stolen a harem of women to rape and breed.
I didn't feel bad at all about killing him.
We passed the farmlands. People watched us. Farm wives called their children in from the field while their men held scythes or sickles or mattocks, watching us with fear in their eyes. I sighed. What would it take to show the villagers I was here to protect them?
I would defend Astovin and keep them all safe.
The villagers were gathering at the edge of the village, mostly a collection of men. Many of them held their improvised weapons. I groaned, hoping this wouldn't be a fight. I marched out in front of the prisoners, Garnet and Halia at my side.
The village leader, Mayor Bevlin, pushed out of the crowd. He was an older human, his hair going gray. He folded his arms as he stared at the sight of us. He swallowed despite his bravado of standing straight.
"Lord Leo," he said.
"I caught a group of trespassers," I said, motioning to my monster girls.
"I see," the village leader said. His face paled. "Do you wish me to assemble the entire village?"
"Assemble?" I frowned at him. "What do you mean, assemble?"
"For the execution."
A dark murmur ran through the crowd. More than a few of the young men gave me angry glares. They looked about to unleash a mob on us. My monster girls tensed. Lightning crackled between the golden strands of Lana's hair.
"Oh, my," Mom said in shock.
"No, no, I'm turning them over to you, Mayor Bevlin," I said.
"M-me." The older man swallowed. "I... see."
"Not to execute them," I hastily added, shaking my head. "Hold them prisoner until tomorrow then you can let them go. Make them pay a fine or something that goes to the village coffers."
The mayor blinked. Confused murmurs rippled through the assembled crowd.
"I am Leo Baldwin," I told them, "and I am not an enemy to your people. I am here to help you. Defend you. I want to live in harmony with you. Astovin is under
my
protection. Any adventurers who come through Astovin should be advised about the consequences of attacking me. I won't let them kill me. I will defend myself. I have no problem with them attacking
dangerous
dungeon builders, but that's not me. I am your friend. I want us all to prosper together."
My mother nodded.
"He speaks truly," Halia said. "After all, he returned your stolen daughters. He is Astovin's greatest ally."
The mayor motioned to some of the men. They rushed forward and took the bound adventurers. The barbarian was the most stunned. All the fight melted out of him. He glared at me with such accusation like I had broken the rules or something.
I didn't care. I just wanted to see everyone prosper. The rules were stupid. Dungeon builders didn't have to be the scourge of the world.
As the prisoners were led off, the remaining men began milling about. They looked so confused. They were terrified of me and hated me, and yet I wasn't doing anything to them. I wasn't attacking or threatening them. I wasn't enslaving them.
"Lord Shorvin is not happy that you are extending your influence to his lands," said the Mayor once the prisoners were gone. "We're his vassals. He will not take kindly to you holding his territory."
"Holding his territory?" I gave him a piercing look. "Wait, are you claiming I conquered you?"
He flicked his gaze to the monster girls and then back to me. "You did fight to defend us and now are declaring your domination of us."
"By saying I'm going to protect you?" I said, disbelief rippling through me.
"People do not protect what isn't theirs."
"Sure they do," I said. "You've never helped put out a fire in a neighbor's house?"
"That's to protect the village. Fires spread. My house could be burned."
"Never helped out in the harvest or something?" I said.
"Lord Shorvin is well aware that you have staked a claim to Astovin. He has put out the word, summoning every adventurer he can. He wants the dungeon builders in the area put down, especially you."
"For doing the right thing?" I demanded, anger rippling through me.
The mayor swallowed. "Please, do not punish me, Lord Leo. I am merely reporting what Lord Shorvin has declared."
"Jesus, I'm not going to punish you. I'm not a monster." I fumed. "So more adventurers are going to come."
"He has added a bounty." The mayor shifted. "I'm sorry. We are, of course, appreciative of you saving our daughters, but..."
"But this ass wipe who wasn't protecting you against Jindag is now butthurt that I'm doing his job?"
"Er, I suppose if I understand your words," the mayor said.
This just got better and better.
* * / *
Mrs. Zoe Baldwin had never had a more surreal shopping experience in her life. The dryad felt everyone's eyes on her naked form. The nudity didn't bother her--she was a dryad, a creature of nature and clothing seemed so silly to her now--but the suspicion disturbed her. She had never felt like people didn't trust her.