Joan was a warrior now, the real deal. A few farmers with pitchforks should be no problem.
As for anyone stronger... they clearly hadn't heard who had her back.
Anyone who bullied her would have the "Evil Dragon" Illymoyas show up at their house in the middle of the night, kill their mother, and rob the whole family blind!
The only worry was Kilian coming after her. But she had run so far and left his territory behind. Surely he wouldn't keep chasing her?
The village at the foot of the mountain was plain and simple. A low earthen wall surrounded it, and militia stood watch from lookout posts—a necessity in the Broken Mountains, where raiding for captives was common.
Joan checked herself over. Once she was sure she didn't look too bedraggled, she headed for the Village and went in through the gate.
The village wasn't closed to outsiders, and word of the "Evil Dragon" hadn't spread yet. Plenty of merchants and mercenaries passed through the streets. Still, people kept staring at Joan—which was understandable.
Joan wasn't especially pretty, but her fair skin and expensive dress were enough to make her look like a young lady fallen on hard times.
Especially since she had nothing on her, not even a purse.
Joan wandered around, mostly checking the Bread shop and grain shop. Prices were higher than elsewhere, but that was only natural. The Broken Mountains didn't produce grain.
After leaving one of the shops, though, Joan noticed someone following her.
And the clerk had stared at her the whole time she was asking prices... This was clearly more than—
Could this be a Thieves' Guild disguised as a Village? But those people really did look like farmers. Had something happened that she didn't know about?
Joan pretended not to