Red Hawk

Chapter Seven: Rimstein

The following morning, Kai arrived at the small town of Rimstein, a farming town that had gone out of contact around a month ago. People from the neighboring town hired Red Hawk to investigate the issue. Rimstein seemed like a simple town, small shops shuffled in with housing, every building built in similar fashion. If it weren't for the signs outfront, you'd have a hard time knowing what was business, and what was residential.

Kai casually walked through the streets, gentle winds scattering dust across the paved streets. No one was in sight, as if the entire town had been abandoned. Clattering filled the air, Kai turning towards the sound in a defensive stance. It was just a cat, having knocked over bottles in an alley. Sighing in relief, Kai continued to walk the streets. Looking into shop windows, and even homes, he still couldn't find a soul.

They might all be at the farms Kai thought to himself, remembering how busy the farms in his hometown could be. The only issue here, the farms weren't as openly visible here. They must have been set up a few miles outside of town.

Trotting. Kai could hear the steady trot of a horse coming up behind him. Silence befell the air, and in that quick moment, a net was cast over Kai. Before he could react, the rope was tugged on, causing the net to close in around him. Knowing full well he was capable of escaping the net, Kai wasn't worried about this.

"Looks like we missed one," Kai heard voice speak out. It was rough like sandpaper, a woman's voice. He turned to see a well toned woman in maroon and gold armor. A cigar dangled from the corner of her mouth, "Thought you could escape the labor camps?"

Labor camps?! That was it, that was why the town had lost contact. Since it was his job to help Rimstein, Kai thought it a good idea to let himself be dragged into one of these labor camps. He could use this time to figure out who attacked the town, and the best way to free everyone. To Kai's annoyance, the woman began to return towards the labor camps, him still laying on the ground.

For what felt like hours, Kai was dragged in silence all the way to a towering steel wall. He could hear the sound of metal slamming upon metal as the front gate was unlocked, the eerie creaking of hinges creeping open. It was laid out before him, the citizens of Rimstein chained together as they were forced to work their own farms.

Man, woman, and child alike all forced into labor. Age rarely mattered, only children under five and nursing or pregnant women weren't forced to do labor. A couple dozen men and women in matching armor watching over the citizens as they slaved away. Kai was tossed before a man in fine maroon robes, he seemed to be in charge of this entire operation. He was well aged, his dried skin hugging his hands tight.

He had a thick accent, probably coming from the eastern country, "My, what a fine specimen." He licked his lips as the word fine rolled off his lips. Sending a chill down Kai's spine. Kai had to endure whatever happened for now, the elderly man running his fingers across his arms. Not a religious person, Kai started to pray to whatever deity there was that this man was only inspecting him for farming reasons.

"He looks like he could be of great use to us," laughed the elderly man. He gave a snap, the woman now removing the net from Kai. Roughly handling him, the woman pulled Kai to his feet, pushing him off towards a row of makeshift housing. Rusted sheets of metal had been erected into huts, a dozen beds crammed into each one.

She placed a set of rags into Kai's hands before shoving him into a hut, "Change into your work clothes now." When she slammed the door shut, the entire hut rattled. He was surprised the entire thing didn't collapse. Kai was unsure if they were going to steal his regular clothes while he was working, so he needed to find a good place to hide his guild badge.