Troubles Confirmed [Profession - solo]

Assignment Name: Tracking Traders, Pt II
Assignment Rank: D
Assignment Location: Plains
Assignment Rewards: 50 XP/3,000 Huang
Profession Prerequisites: Pt I
Assignment Overview: Lexiara has confirmed the man as a slave trader, but she wants to make sure the slaves are free before taking any other action. Infiltrate the man’s camp again and find where the slaves are being kept!

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By the time Lexi made it back to the settlement, she had formulated a plan. As she ducked into the hut she shared with Shana, she could see the relief on the woman’s face. She motioned the other woman over, her tones hushed as she spoke.

“He is a slave trader. He has children with him, but apparently, he has others. In the morning, I want you to tell everyone to be on high alert, organize a scout system. I want someone keeping an eye out at all times, in case he comes close. We will not be caught by surprise again.”

“And Nymeria?”

“Nymeria will go with me. It will be easier if you all don’t have an extra child to worry about defending. I will lay down my life before anyone touches her. If you see him come anywhere near this settlement, I want you all to pack up and leave, immediately. I will find you once I have dealt with this man.”

Shana wanted to object, to tell her friend that it was too dangerous, especially with a child, but something dark had been growing in Lexi since the attack. She knew she would not be able to stop the young woman from seeking out her revenge, Shana wanted some of her own for the loss of her mate. She worried about Lexi taking Nymeria with her, but at her mother’s side was the safest place for the child. Lexiara would not let anything touch the last of her family. She gave Lexi a solemn nod, knowing she would have her own things to worry about, helping the settlement prepare in case Lexi failed.

Lexi waited until Nymeria woke naturally for her midnight feeding, letting the infant fill her belly before strapping her to her back. Lexi had not even made it out of the settlement before Nymeria was sleeping soundly again. Lexi knew she needed to make it back to the trader’s camp before morning if she hoped to follow him to find the other slaves. It was a grueling pace, especially with the weight of her growing daughter on her back, but she was able to make it back to the trader’s camp before he woke up. Lexi sent up a silent prayer of thanks for how quiet her daughter was as she settled in to wait for the trader to break camp.

Within a couple of hours, the trader had broken camp and was on the road with his cargo. Lexi kept a hefty distance, avoiding the eyes of the guard with ease. Nymeria woke while she was trailing after the noisy wagon but remained silent, playing with her mother’s blonde locks of hair as they followed the trader. Lexi had to take breaks to feed and change Nymeria, but the wagon was not moving especially fast, so it was not difficult to catch up. By the end of the day, she could see the mouth of a cave approaching. By the time the sun had begun to set, the wagon had arrived at the cave and the trader and the guard made quick work of unloading the children from the back of the wagon and moving them into the cave. Lexi waited until all of the children and supplies had been unloaded, the men finally coming back out and setting up camp outside of the cave.

It did not take long for the trader to once again fall into slumber, the guard joining him. It was foolish to have only one guard, a man had to rest at some point. She could hear them both snoring as she crept closer, Nymeria happily chewing on a piece of leather in her sling. Lexi ruffled her daughter’s red hair with a smile before she slipped past the slumbering guard and made her way into the cave. She had to be sure this was where the man was keeping his ‘stock’ or else she might be dooming others to death. As she made her way into the cave, she could hear the frightened whimpers of children followed by the soothing sounds of adult voices.

She edged her way around a turn only to swallow thickly at what she found. The cave was lined with cages, each cage filled with three to four people, adults and children alike. There were over 20 people here, in various states of health. Some looked fairly clean and fit, obviously freshly taken, while others were covered in rags and dirt, their faces looking hollow and emaciated. The man had apparently been gathering small numbers at a time and bringing them back here, perhaps to take to an auction, or a larger buyer. She scowled but stayed in the shadow of the cave. She would need to free the slaves and find out where the man intended to take them.

[808/500]