The carriage was silent after that save for some snoring and light chatter with no meaning.
Four days passed in the carriage. At night Shakyleg would cry. Others would have nightmares and wake up screaming.
Some would relapse thinking they were still starving and go ravenously searching for food only to be stopped by Gerrod who calmed them down with a swift strike to the neck.
For four days Gerrod hardly slept. He knew if he didn't stop them then they would be all out of food before they could help anyone.
During the day some animal tracks were found but they were huge. Gerrod didn't investigate. Instead he focused on the road ahead.
"The nearest village should be just ahead. We passed it on our march down the mountains." Redhead calmly said.
Gerrod nodded and stopped the carriage.
Going into the woods nearby he got out of their sight and transformed. With his speed and powerful nose he found exactly the village Redhead was talking about within a few minutes.
He looked around and found a few restless souls. People lying face down in the dirt. Sickly and weak people.
He rushed back to the carriage and transformed twenty feet away. Jumping he cleared the distance and flawlessly landed in his seat without making hardly a noise.
No one looked astonished since they were already used to it.
"Get ready. Your job starts soon." Gerrod said coldly.
"Yes, Master." Redhead replied calmly.
The others all began to move around gathering their packs and equipment.
They wrapped their hands and shins with silk-like wraps which were made of the same material Gerrod's suit is made of making it much stronger.
As they arrived at the village a vicious aura rushed them. The desperate villagers mobbed the carriage.
"Go." Gerrod waved and his nightmarish aura exploded to life forcing everyone back and letting his own crew quickly get off the carriage and setup.
Within a few seconds, they had all gotten off the carriage and began shouting.
"Line up! Line up! We have food for you! Line up! Benevolence of Shokan! Gerrod Thom Dradir wishes for your good health!" Redhead shouted.
The people immediately mobbed forward once more but Gerrod's aura scared them more than the food lured them.
They understood on an instinctual level that if they passed his aura. Food would be the last thing on their mind since even with nine lives they wouldn't be able to escape his wrath.
The people stood just outside the aura and stared longingly at the crew's packs. They knew the food was there.
"Swear loyalty to Shokan and we will give you food and protection!" Blackhair raised his arm with a small pack of food in his hand.
Like flies, their eyes followed the food.
"I- I swear loyalty to Shokan! Please! My family is starving!" A woman shambled forward desperately.
Blackhair smiled and passed the food over to her while glaring at everyone around her, "If anyone tries to steal, it is death."
They all stared at the food pass the aura barrier and into her hands.
She bowed profusely, "Thank you thank you!!"
Her tears stained the packet of food as she spoke.
Once she opened and ate the food the other people started shouting as well.
'Checking to see if it was poisoned? What kind of people...' Gerrod thought silently, 'Haaa... at least if the villages are this small than we should have enough food for a few more.'
"I swear loyalty to Shokan!" Another shouted cutting out his thoughts.
He smiled sadly, 'The desperate will cling to whatever they are given regardless of who gives it to them, this fact does not change even across times and worlds.'
Once everyone had gotten their fair share of food along with their allegiances, Gerrod glanced at Redhead who nodded, "Who will lead us to the lord's estate? We wish for an audience to help save the rest of the territory."
They looked from one to the other nervously, 'The threat of the lord is still strong even though they've so openly thrown away their loyalty to Tenli already?'
Redhead peeked at Gerrod who nodded, "We will give an extra ration to the one who leads us!"
"I'll do it!!" Instantly a hand went up and everyone looked over angrily.
Not in anger because of the betrayal to the land. But because they took their chance for extra food.
"Good. What's your name?" Gerrod said coldly. His eyes shone with an ungodly light as he stared at him.
"Ja-jamis, lord, my name is Jamis the farmer..." Jamis said meekly.
"Get in." He jabbed a finger behind him.
Jamis immediately went into the barrier and past the crew. He didn't feel shameful at all getting in.
"You all better hope your lord agrees to our offer." Gerrod glanced back, "Since, if he doesn't, it would become harder to bring you all supplies."
Gerrod whipped the horses and the crew immediately hopped back in to the carriage taking their seats without a second thought nor a second look.
"I- let me go with you!" A villager came in behind the carriage, "Come on everyone! If we go with them we can- we can force the lord to accept. We can't keep starving! Our families can't keep dying like this!"
The man's anguished shout roused the people into sluggishly following behind the carriage.
Jamis who sat in the carriage got some nasty looks from the other villagers who had to walk around or behind but he ignored them entirely. Instead, he focused on Gerrod and giving him directions.
An idea entered Gerrods' mind though and their destination changed.
He headed to the next nearest village.
Repeating what he did before he got a new mob to follow with the old one.
Men. Women. Children. A large mob started following.
With every village, it grew until it had swelled to a hundred people and they had run out of food to give.
Only then did they head to the lord's estate.
It was night time when they arrived. Many of the mob held torches.
They arrived at the front palisade within a half-hour of the last village.
The palisade looked beaten and battered. Much worse off than the one at the Shokan camp during the fighting with Tenli, 'Burn marks...?'
"Halt! Who comes to Count Locosts estate?" A fully armored guard with a haggard voice took to the walls.
"Gerrod Thom Dradir has come bearing the peoples will." Redhead's voice exploded through the darkness like a raid siren.
The man atop the palisade looked relieved, "A moment."
He rushed off the palisade and soon the gate opened.
Gerrod lead the carriage inside, the mob followed as well. Inside was a massive courtyard albeit dilapidated its once grand air still told the tale of times past.
The guards looked emaciated but not to the degree of the people. If not for their armor it would have been obvious for everyone else.
"This way please." A butler came forward, his outfit torn ragged.
Gerrod nodded and followed with his hands behind his back.
His aura was sharp and noble yet terrifying as he entered the estate.
Outside, Redhead and the crew set themselves up at a spacing of two meters from each other scattering around and mixing with the mob while still protecting the carriage.
Gerrod was lead into a conference room deep in the estate where a man getting along in years sat drinking tea.
His body looked more emaciated than the average old person. He looked worse off than his guards.
"Count Locost welcomes Gerrod Thom Dradir messenger of the peoples will." Count Locost rose to his feet shakily but Gerrod waved his arm.
"No need." He didn't sit down.
"What is the will of the people you've come to proclaim, young one." Count Locost hunched using his crutch to stand.
His pride shone through his figure in his defiance to look away nor sit back down.
He held Gerrod's eye.
"Once more, I am Gerrod Thom Dradir, I come from Shokan with an offer to solve your food problems. The people outside have all sworn loyalty to Shokan and wish for you to do the same so the region may receive aid in these hard times." Gerrod calmly spoke.
"Haa... You know, young one, in my many years as Count, I have seen much and heard of many things, so don't try and swindle me. The king is dead and you're using the people's hunger as blackmail." Count Locost did not mince words his aura restless, "For the people, I will accept your offer, but I must ask, no, I must beg-"
"Lord!" The butler tried to stop him, but Count Locost had already dropped to his knees.
"Pleases save my grandson."