45: Mountain People

Arthur summoned Godwin, asking if there were any other places besides Red Maple Village nearby where the team could set up camp.

"There's a mountain folk settlement to the west of Howling Mountain," Godwin said. "We can go there."

Arthur turned his gaze to the family knight, Dylan, silently awaiting his opinion.

Dylan frowned slightly, his tone filled with doubt: "Young Master, do you really think there's a problem with Red Maple Village?"

"Jason's family stayed in Red Maple Village, that's correct, isn't it?" Arthur turned to ask Godwin.

Godwin nodded: "That's right. The child said they left Rotten Wood Village three days ago and rested in Red Maple Village last night."

"They weren't attacked on Frostmourn Mountain Road.

"After spending a night in Red Maple Village, they were killed on Rolling Stone Trail. Isn't that suspicious?" Arthur asked.

The family knight fell silent, his brows tightly furrowed.

Arthur continued to analyze: "I have reason to believe that Jason's family might have known something they shouldn't have, which led to their demise."

"What about that child?" Godwin raised a new concern. "I've read about shapeshifting monsters in books.

"Could that child be...?"

"No matter what he is, just don't let him out of our sight.

"Old man, how about you listen to me this once? Let's go to the mountain folk."

Dylan nodded: "As long as those mountain folk are not problematic, I have no objection."

"I've dealt with them quite a bit, there won't be any problems," Godwin assured him.

"But we still need to send someone to Red Maple Village to get information. The sooner we get it, the better," Dylan added.

Arthur agreed to the two-pronged approach.

Dylan immediately dispatched a knight to rendezvous with the scouts near Red Maple Village.

Arthur had Airo accompany him as well.

-----------------

In the evening, the team arrived in front of the mountain folk settlement.

"This place is well hidden; ordinary people wouldn't find it," Dylan couldn't help but exclaim.

The mountain folk of eastern Amn were aboriginal inhabitants remaining from the tribal period.

Over six hundred years ago, King Jonos II "the Elder" of Amn launched a war of conquest against the eastern regions.

He spent a long time, using diplomatic means such as granting fiefdoms, military force, and marriage alliances.

He successively conquered the eight strongest tribes in the east at that time.

These were the predecessors of the current eight great families of eastern Amn.

But there were always those unwilling to submit; they chose to retreat into the mountains and became the mountain folk of today.

For hundreds of years, they continued to live the same primitive life as their ancestors—living off the land.

Their reclusive life made them wary and exclusive of outsiders.

Dylan, who had participated in quelling mountain folk rebellions, had no fondness for these "savages."

He ordered two scouts to constantly reconnoiter ahead, remaining vigilant at all times.

Godwin suggested that he go first to negotiate with the settlement leader.

However, not long after, he rode back.

"My Lord," he said, "their leader wants to speak with you alone."

The family knight immediately objected: "That's absolutely not allowed!

"We know nothing about these wild people; it's too dangerous to let the Young Master go in alone."

"Sir Dylan," Godwin explained, "I will accompany Lord Arthur."

"I'll go too," the Orc beside him spoke. "Where the Lord is, I am."

Dylan couldn't help but glance at the tall Orc riding on horseback.

His massive physique, just standing, inspired fear, and now on horseback, his presence was even more formidable.

Having him along did reassure Dylan somewhat.

"Send five more soldiers to accompany them," Dylan said sternly. "With all due respect, Godwin.

"We only met today; I can't fully trust you yet."

As they argued, a group of people emerged from the nearby settlement.

The vigilant scouts blew their whistles, and the soldiers quickly dispersed, taking up defensive positions.

Godwin quickly shouted: "Don't be nervous, don't be nervous, they mean no harm."

Then, he pointed to the old woman among the group and introduced her: "That is their leader, Madam Kadan."

Arthur looked at the old woman and saw that she was also looking at him.

The mountain folk stopped a few meters away from Arthur's group.

Madam Kadan stepped forward and began to speak.

But she spoke in an obscure, difficult-to-understand mountain folk language.

This language, derived from Druidic, was rarely understood within Amn.

Godwin was about to translate, but Arthur responded to her in the mountain folk language first.

During the month since he transmigrated, Arthur, in addition to studying in the temple, also learned the mountain folk language.

Because many historical documents in the temple were written in this language, he had to force himself to learn it.

However, in just a short month, he had only learned the basics, barely enough for daily conversation.

But he still understood the meaning of Madam Kadan's previous sentence.

The gist was asking who the Son of the Wolf, Arthur, was.

Then, the old woman spoke a long passage again.

This time, Arthur only understood the general meaning.

The other party seemed to be inviting him somewhere.

"Madam Kadan wants to invite Lord Arthur to the earth mother's temple," Godwin explained to everyone.

"Ask her if we can bring people inside?" Dylan said.

After Godwin relayed the question, Madam Kadan waved her hand, signaling her attendants to withdraw, and then bowed respectfully to Arthur.

This left Arthur feeling confused.

However, he understood Madam Kadan's meaning: everyone was allowed to enter the settlement.

But the condition was that Arthur must accompany her to the earth mother's temple.

Seeing the mountain folk, who were usually exclusive of outsiders, being so accommodating this time, even Dylan was somewhat surprised.

He instructed his deputy to have the soldiers be extra vigilant, just in case.

This mountain folk settlement was not large, with only about twenty households.

The mountain folk appeared short, hunched, and their expressions were sorrowful.

Their dwellings were crude aspen wood huts.

Their clothes were mostly made of animal hides and linen, and most people wore bark shoes.

Madam Kadan arranged for the others to stay in the largest shed in the village, which looked like a communal warehouse.

Arthur, however, was invited into her tent.

Dylan and Drax, feeling uneasy, guarded outside the tent.

Godwin, on the other hand, was quite at ease and began acting as a translator for the soldiers and the mountain folk.

-----------------

A bonfire burned in the center of the tent, dispelling much of the chill.

Several linen rugs were laid out by the bonfire, serving as makeshift seats.

Madam Kadan sat on the rug opposite the entrance, gesturing for Arthur to sit.

Once Arthur was seated, the wizened old woman spoke: "I didn't expect you to arrive so soon."

"You speak Anmian?" Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"There's nothing to be surprised about, Son of the Wolf.

"We have to deal with the people outside, so we naturally have to learn your language."

Arthur nodded in agreement, unable to resist scrutinizing the old woman.

Madam Kadan had a reddish-brown, oval-shaped face.

Her coarse white hair was neatly parted in the middle and combed straight back, without a single curl.

She wore a crown woven from thorns and branches.

She was dressed in fur and linen clothing.

Unlike ordinary mountain folk, she wore many bone ornaments.

With every movement, these items would make a crisp sound.

"Why do you want me to go to the temple?"

"Because the oracle dictates it," Madam Kadan said, her voice like the rustling of dry grass.

"I don't understand."

"Son of the Wolf, the Forest Mother has chosen you; she wants to speak with you.

"She once gave me an oracle, commanding me to bring you to the temple when you arrive."

The Forest Mother is one of Shanteya's incarnations.

Few people still worship her today; only some mountain folk in Amn retain this faith.

Because during the transition from tribal to agricultural civilization, this goddess, symbolizing fertility, gradually appeared in the forms of the Grain Goddess and the Mother Earth.

Arthur frowned and asked: "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely certain, unless you are not Arthur Glamorgan, the Son of the Wolf."