Chapter 1 The Tavern

He shivered to shake away some of the cold and walked up to the first non-residential building he could see.

"A tavern by my guess,"  The Traveler said even though no one was around to hear nodding to himself.

He pushed the door open to find that the small room was surprisingly warm, and filled with the hardy people of North Wind Daile. While he walked to the bar, everyone stared at the new visitor.  He either pretended not to notice or he enjoyed all the attention.

"Barkeep, your strongest ale please."

He grunted, "Ya think ya kin handle that?"

"You accept coin, right?"

"Two silver for dragon's tongue, but I've seen bigger men downed with just one sip of that. Ya'd better watch yerself, kid"

"Will do, thanks." he casually says while dropping two silver coins on the table and stuffing the bottle in his coat. He sat at the empty table and listened to any information he could gather.

"The king's forces never cross here, the taxes are merely a suggestion," a buff guy in the corner said.

"... And shatsss howwwss I beseat-edessss the dragooons with *hick* myz bars hands," some drunk slobbered out at the table in front of him.

"Did you hear of the demon kin living in the forest near the Village? I'd seen it with me own two eyes, I tell ye. It be known if you seen one, there be hundreds to follow," a tall man told his three companions

"That's impossible they'd never go anywhere this cold, it'll kill them heck it almost kills me "

The other two burst out in a hardy laugh, but that's all The Traveler needed to hear as he pushed back into the cold. Demon kin, that sounds problematic, he thought to himself, It's definitely worth a look.

Not long after searching the frozen wilds, The Traveler noticed some fresh footprints. Three separate sets, and large ones at that, probably men. He followed the footprints till they led to their makers, who are gathered around something and yelling.

"Where's ya base, daemon?" a short but extremely buff man yells.

"We should kill her now, in case backup is close behind."  

The third one just grunted in approval.

When The Traveler gets near, he saw a humanoid lave colored rock skinned girl, well more of a woman. She looks at him with eyes not of a demon, but of someone with a soul. One filled with a lot of fear wallowed in sadness.

"Gentleman, Gentleman. Let's not do anything brash. Most problems can be solved with words instead of fists."

"How do yee think you are?"

"Good... and you?" The Traveler said knowing that's not what he meant.

"Don't twoy with me boy! Do ya even know how long we've surched for this monster?"

"I do not know how long but I hope it wasn't long, it took me only a few hours. don't worry tho I will take it from here. As a paladin dealing with demons, monsters and the undead is something I can handle." He said trying his best not to sound arrogant.

They all look at him with surprised faces not knowing what to say till the one whose input was only grunts speaks up

"Are ya just to trust this stranger's word from one looking nothing like a paladin to me, he could be controlled by this monster." He gestured to the girl.

The Traveler cups his hands together then opens them slowly revealing a light that feels warm and melts the nearby snow.

"Is that enough proof or do I need to slay a lich." He said mockingly

All of their mouths drop.

They whisper, but not quite quiet enough for The Traveler to miss, "How did he do that? It took him no more than two seconds to gather enough energy to melt the snow. How powerful is he?"

"Well if we're fine here I'll just leave with her, and you guys can go back to town, sound good."

"No I want to see a lich slain. Some silly light won't convince me," the third man spoke.

The other two paid no attention to his words and dragged him away not wanting to anger the paladin.

"Lets just go. It's out of our hands now and besides I can feel my toes again lets leave before that changes." The first one said to the others.

"Are you alright?" The Traveler said to the Girl while offering a hand.

"I'm alright." She said with a voice riddled with fear mixed with deep sadness.

"What's your name?"

"My name is Reeya."

"Okay Reeya, do you live around here because I am freezing out here."

She remained silent.

"Look, I don't know about you, but I don't want to go back to that town. So either we go to your place or we both go to town. But, I don't think they want to see you."

Reeya remained silent got up and started walking.