The few adult men beside him also tightened their grip on their woodcutters and shovels. Though they didn't rush forward immediately, their positioning had subtly formed a semi-circular defensive formation.
The long-legged girl stood up from the ground, still clutching a handful of freshly picked herbs in her hand, and curiously but nervously gazed in Duke's direction.
Duke stopped about seven or eight steps away from them, not moving closer, and spread his hands in front of him to indicate he wasn't carrying any weapons.
Then he let out the most gentle smile possible, and asked a few simple words in the local language he had just learned. Clumsily, he explained his rough situation; that he was lost and wanted to leave the forest.
Though his pronunciation was not yet perfect, it was good enough for the people opposite him to understand his meaning.
