The least traveled road can be the safest?

You walk down the NE road, because if someone from the village were to chase after you for taking your father's gold then they would be unlikely to follow you. You walk down the dirt path over and around rolling hills. The bugs and insects that keep biting your hands and neck make you wish you had gloves and a higher neckline. After a few more hours, your feet tire as you've never traveled this far before and you stop along the side of the road to take a breather and grab a drink of water.

You put a dab of water on your palm and wipe your face clean of sweat. So far, it seems, you were correct in taking this route. You've yet to see a soul. You pull out a bit of salted mutton from your pack and start biting down. But... wait. you hear a sound behind you. You hurry off the the dirt road and get down in the tall grass. You lift your head ever so slightly to see the source of the noise and it is a deer. It looks at you curiously and tilts its doe head ever so slightly at you. Then it runs off as you stand up and brush away some dirt.

Wow, you were scared by a deer. Being out of the village and out in the world can make one very paranoid indeed. Still, it was a beautiful sight. If your brother saw it he likely would've killed it for food.

"Tat was a might fine animal," you hear a voice say say as if right in front of you.

You jump, and look around, but you don't see anyone.

"Calm down girlie, here," then right in front of you a man appears. His face is unshaven and the bottom of his chin looks as if it was burnt off some time ago. His eyes are a mismatched pair of blue and green while his ragged clothes are covered in dirt. The only sign of wealth on the man is a shining blue stone tied around his neck with a leather cord.

Your curiosity getting the better of you, you ask, "Who are you?"

The man smiles and says, "As of few nights past, I was prisoner #18972-A7 in a goblin mine hidden deep in the forest. Damn elf-folk hire them to take some rare gems under us mens noses. I don't remember my name, so, I suppose you can call me 'Number' since I like the sound of it."

You don't know if you should feel terrified or sad for the man. To survive in a goblin mine for such a long time, he must've been quite hardy beforehand and to escape he must've done..

"How did you escape?"

"Well, 'parently, this here gem they had us mining has special properties once it's cut. I was bored once so I was just playin round with two gems and after i cut this here one" he points to the gem round his neck, "It made me invisible so long as I let it touch my skin. So, me and a few others broke out. Unfortunately for them, they got eaten by spiders so here I am all tired and starvin."

The man's not lying. You see how haggard and gaunt he looks and realize he must've gone at least 5 or more days without food.

"Which remins me, could you help me out? I don't member my name, but I do member that my friends were camped out at the edge of the Eastern side of the forest. I meant to go that way, but I couldn't see the sun so I went south instead."

You raise an eyebrow at the tought of walking into stranger's camps carrying your goods.

"But, you wouldn' have to take me all the way there. A bit of food and rest to get my strength up would be much appreciated too."

You owe nothing to this random man with his invisibility gem. You can walk away and you're pretty sure he won't be able to catch you. Yet, maybe he'll give you something in return for your help?