Chapter 239 - Burning The Witch

They tossed the lit torch onto the wood beside my feet and it quickly went up in flames. I clenched my teeth as I felt the warmth of the fire much too close for comfort. I started blowing on it in an attempt to put out the flames... 

It didn't seem to help much.

Is this really the end? Am I really going to die by being burned at the stake?! I know I said I did not want to die by dehydration and starvation again but being burned alive doesn't sound much better...

Meanwhile, A woman had been doing laundry in a large basin on the top floor of the house close to the pyre. For some reason, she had not left when she heard the chanting nor was she curious enough to look out and see what was going on. She picked up the heavy basin filled with brown discolored water and walked to the side of the balcony. She dumped the water off the side of the railing with her muscular arms...

....The water landed directly on me, drenching me while simultaneously putting out the fire.

I spit out the water that smelled and tasted like something one should never put in their mouth. The crowd went silent seeing that the fire was put out by such an event. They murmured as they looked around in confusion. The woman leaned over the railing, "Oh. I'm sorry! I didn't know we were burning someone today."

One shouted back, "Woman! How did you not know!? We've been chanting and even the deer two mountains away had heard us!"

She shouted back waving her fist, "Enough with your rude tongue! Who cares about the deer two mountains away!? I will come down there and beat some sense into you! Let's see those deer defend you then!"

The man shut up immediately from her threat. The Chief scratched his head as he tried to think of what to do. It was strange that there was a woman who neither heard nor was participating in the witch burning. Furthermore, it was not even laundry day. So, what were the chances of this happening?! 

A citizen looked at him with large pitiful eyes, "Should we still burn the witch?"

The Chief spoke, "Of course we should. Replace the wood and set it on fire. This is just a minor setback."

And so they did. I spat off the water dripping down my face and onto my lips. Great. Now not only am I covered in sh*tty smelly water, but I'm also still going to be burned alive.

"LIGHT THE TORCH!"

They threw the torch again. The torch caught the other side on fire once more, slowly creeping up. I attempted to stomp it out in a panic. Weirdly enough, there was another woman that day who was also doing laundry in the house across the other one. She went to the balcony and-

*DUMP*

The water landed on me once more, drenching me while simultaneously putting out the fire. I shouted, "OH COME ON!"

Are you kidding me?! If you're going to kill me, could you at least do so without dumping such disgusting water on me?! If I do manage to survive, I'm pretty sure my wounds are going to get infected.

She shouted, "Oh! I didn't know we were burning a witch today! Sorry!"

The crowd murmured again. One turned to the chief, "Chief, once is an accident... But two times?"

He nodded seriously, "It seems that the gods are telling us we must not kill the witch."

I looked at him in disbelief. Gods now?! These bandits are rather a religious bunch.

He motioned, "Bring him down."

They quickly removed the wood and untied me. I looked down at my dirty clothes in disgust. I massaged my wrists still confused by the whole thing. Before I could figure it out, another shouted out. "Chief! We have a problem! The human traders kidnapped some of our villagers!"

"How did they kidnap them?!"

The man made a painful expression, "They were on the mountainside foraging for food! They must have heard us chanting, but they didn't follow the others to watch the witch burning. Banru started barking and that's when I realized that they were gone! I even saw one of the birds the human traders use flying around the sky. They had to have kidnaped them!"

The Chief's voice boomed, "GRAB THE WEAPONS! GET READY TO FIGHT!"

Everyone shouted in agreement and ran off to grab their weapons. Then, they all rushed out leaving me behind in confusion. I blinked as I looked around at the now abandoned village. One moment they were going to kill me, and the next moment they are just going to leave me by myself in their village?

Well, since I have nothing better to do I guess I should follow them.

I wrung the gross water from my clothes and started to follow the crowd of angry bandits. They stopped chanting and started the creep along the trees once they got closer. They stopped when they saw the Human Traders with a group of bandit women tied up in the center. A crow started crowing making me flinch.

F*cking birds.

The bird landed on the leader of the Human Traders who glared at our position, "I KNOW YOU ARE THERE YOU FILTHY BANDITS!"

He grabbed a young woman from the tied-up group and held a knife to her throat while he used her as a shield. She shrieked as she sobbed, "FATHER!"

The Chief stood up revealing his position amongst the trees, "RELEASE MY DAUGHTER!"

He laughed, "HAH! Why would I ever do that?! If you don't bring us the rest of your women and give back the land you stole from us, then you're going to watch your only daughter die before your very eyes!"

The Chief clenched his hands as he watched the other human traders arm themselves ready to fight or kill the hostages. I watched from behind them bored at the sudden change in storyline. I let out a sigh.

Did I just get involved in a turf war? I really don't have time for this. 

I grabbed a bow from a nearby bandit and counted enough arrows for each human trader below us. The bandit blinked in confusion as he saw me aim, "Wait-"

In a rapid succession, I sent the arrows flying with precision. The young woman being held hostage shrieked as she saw arrows flying towards her. She squeezed her eyes shut preparing to get hit. However, instead she heard one whiz past her and smack into the man behind her. Each one hit the human traders in the head with deadly accuracy. They all were dead before they hit the ground.

I gave the bow back to the bandit, "There." I looked around and saw them all staring at me in disbelief. I tilted my head, "What? I'm kind of in a hurry to speak to you about something. I don't have time to watch a turf war. Even if it seems a bit interesting."

A group of bandit men ran out to the captured women and began to cut off their ropes. Each one cheered in excitement and relief for being set free. I can only imagine how terrified they must have been.

Suddenly, I was hoisted in the air, "PRAISE BE THE GODS!"

What is it this time?

They all cheered and chanted as they carried me back to their village after having set the captured villagers free. Once I was brought back to the village, they put me down and circled around me. Some citizens pulled out instruments and began to play with large smiles. As they played vibrant music and shouted in excitement, it seemed like they were about to start a music festival or something.

"OUR SAVIOR!"

Savior?

The women who were now released all cheered and tossed flower petals on me. I spit out the flower petals that were thrown into my mouth. Okay, I'm all for a party but I'm completely covered in flowers right now. You would think that it would feel good being covered in flowers, but it's not as comfortable as it seems.

I feel like someone who is about to become a living sacrifice... I mean... They won't kill me right? They don't do that to saviors... Right?

Ugh. The fragrant smell is tickling my nose.

I swatted off the flower petals, "Okay, not to be a party-pooper, but I am in a hurry like I mentioned before. I want to see if you would help me-"

"FEAST! FEAST! FEAST!" The crowd cheered and started chanting once more.

Ugh. They are killing my ears with this constant chanting. However, this chant doesn't seem too bad compared to the earlier one's.

My face twitched, "A feast?"

The Chief gave a firm nod, "We must have a feast to celebrate the savior being sent from the Gods to come and set our people free!"

"Well... I guess I have time for a feast."