Pyp was crouched behind a small brick wall eyes on the column of possessed which walked by in the distance. They were marching down a main street, there were hundreds of them.

"Erit has led us into a death trap," snarled Garth who was crouched next to Pyp, "How in the hell are we supposed to get through that."

"He's bringing the whole company through that in a few hours," said Pyp voice trembling.

He could see huge bonemen towering over the possessed. Pyp and Garth had been ordered to scout out this area but there was no way past the solid wall of bodies.

"We have to break up that column," said Garth.

"You jest! Break up that you must be mad," hissed Pyp. "Look at those beasts they the size of three men."

They both stared at the small army of possessed, Pyp saw that the men, or what were men, stared into the distance with glassy unfocused eyes. They marched in perfect unison like Fathers guard on parade, their unnatural coordination sent chills down Pyp's spine. He could see no leaders, no banners, Pyp wondered who led the possessed and for a moment felt foolish. Why were they here? What did they want? There were so many questions but Pyp would get no answers here, still he could not stop imagining some evil cabal of warlocks infecting the soldiers of Finepoint.

"If we don't then they will kill the entire company, we have to stop them here," said Garth eyes scanning the area.

"Why does it have to be us, Erit has plenty of fighting men he can deal with the possessed," replied Pyp.

"The company can't stand against that, they will be slaughtered to a man."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," muttered Pyp under his breath.

Garth glared at Pyp. "Don't forget our contract lordling, you disobey me and Erit throws you in the square with Griv," his face was devoid of the usual smug smile Garth wore when he reminded Pyp of his servitude.

Pyp knew Garth's mind was made up and he trembled at the prospect of getting close to the army of possessed. Garth said nothing else and just stared out into the distance, Pyp could see that Garth was angry but he wasn't sure if it was with him or the possessed.

Pyp silently followed Garth through cluttered streets, they moved quickly dashing to piles of rubble to stay hidden from prying eyes. He tried to copy Garth's athletic movements but he had never had to move in such a way and made more than enough noise for the two of them. "Why Erit made you a scout is beyond me," Garth lamented as Pyp knocked over a stack of pots which shattered on the ground.

"I'm trying," hissed Pyp.

"Well try harder, it would be a shame to die after we came all this way. Come on let's get on that roof, we need to get a better look at the column".

They forced their way into a small house set on a bank over-looking the highway of possessed. The house was clearly abandoned but it had not been a peaceful departure, half-written letters were strewn around on the floor and the furniture had been thrown around the room. Pyp could almost feel the desperation and fear of the previous occupants, the rooms told a story and Pyp was busy picturing it in his mind.

"Pyp get up here."

The scene from the attic window was grim, the column of the possessed had stopped and stood still in the streets.

"What are they doing."

"I don't know."

Pyp could see a number of horses stood at the head of the marching rows of possessed.

"Horses?" said Pyp confused.

The horses were saddled but there was no riders, not that Pyp could see. "Where" asked Garth.

"Down there" Pyp indicated to a small alcove along the side of the motionless possessed.

"Ever seen one of them ride a horse."

"No" said Pyp thinking back to his frantic experiences.

"It might be their leader, that could be our chance," said Garth.

"For what, we can't fight our way through that," said Pyp, the leader of this horrific group would be well protected. They could see figures approaching the horses, and Pyp wondered what the leaders would look like. He conjured images of spike-covered daemons wreathed in flame and he waited to be horrified by it. When they finally saw them all he felt was confusion, a possessed walked alongside two men, it seemed more human than the others its eyes were focused and its hands gestured toward his guests. He was richly garbed with a thick gold chain hanging around his neck.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"What the hell is going on here," said Garth with surprise.

Pyp saw Erit and Griv stood chatting to the well-dressed possessed. Griv stood close by guarding his boss as Erit talked to the possessed noble.

"So this is how he planned to deal with it," said Pyp, Garth spat out the window and muttered a curse.

Pyp was less surprised, he remembered Prewyn and his desperate escape from her. Garth kept glaring at Erit clearly boiling with anger, "I suppose we don't need to break up the column now," said Pyp the relief was plain in his voice.

"Hide your cowardice for a moment Pyp and let me think," Garth spat.

What was there to think about thought Pyp, Erit would strike a deal with the possessed and they would escape unmolested.

"That bastard made a deal with the scum that killed this city" Garth said voice full of malice.

Pyp was surprised at the venom in Garth, the thief had a conscious he thought. Pyp felt impotent rage at the fate of the people of Finepoint but he was far more concerned with his own fate at the moment.

They sat there silent for a long time, the sun burning bright in the sky as the column of possessed moved off further into the city the possessed nobleman following from behind. Erit and Griv rode back toward the company, Pyp was sure he saw shadows moving through the abandoned streets.

"Garth, come on we need to move," Pyp reached over to pull him away from the window, he stiffened upon Pyp's touch.

"Lets go get some answers," said Garth as he rose to storm out of the house.

Pyp blocked Garth from leaving the room, "Think about this Garth, we can't confront Erit about this he will kill us!"

"Once the company finds out about this they will turn on him like that," he snapped his fingers for effect.

"You don't know that, they are a group of amoral thieves who won't care about how Erit makes them rich," said Pyp beginning to get desperate.

Garth shot him a hard look as he said "What do you know about those men? you're just a cowardly son of a noblemen who has never had to struggle. Do not think you can judge those men" Pyp quaked under Garth's intense gaze.

He had to defend himself thought Pyp he was the son of the High Prince. He tried to stand straighter and readied a lengthy retort, all that came out of Pyp quivering lips was.

"I'm no coward," the words quietly slipped out and Pyp felt numb.

Garth looked up at him eyes plain with pity, he pushed past Pyp and left the house in silence. Pyp stood rooted in the spot, shame burned in his chest. In that moment he didn't want to leave that room, he wanted to curl up into a small ball and wait to be rescued. The shame got him moving, he could picture his father's face peering down on him with disgust. Slowly he made his way downstairs after Garth, dreading what he was getting into.

Garth was not interested in further scouting, he stormed through the streets ignoring his surroundings. Pyp struggled to keep up with him, scrabbling over brick walls and across small bridges.

"Slow down!" Said Pyp "Garth!".

"We have to get back to the company" snarled Garth not looking over at Pyp. They approached the camp and saw the whole company gathered around Erit who stood on top of an empty wagon. He was in the middle of a speech when Garth and Pyp joined the crowd.

"And so the road to the bank is wide open men, the entire wealth of Finepoint is in our hands," the entire crowd erupted into a cheer. Pyp was terrified that Garth would speak up after the crowd went quiet, Pyp saw Erit staring in their direction.

What is he looking at thought Pyp a glance over at Garth told him everything he needed to know. They were staring at each other, Garth had a grim expression on his face Pyp could see a flash of understanding pass across Erit's gnarled features. He knows. He knows Garths found out about the deal with the possessed. Pyp fought the urge to flee in panic, Erit had looked away and began talking to a knot of men who stood around the cart.

"He knows," hissed Pyp.

"What? he was too far away to see us," replied Garth peeling his eyes off Erit to look at Pyp.

"No you fool, it was written plainly on your face, he knows," said Pyp, he felt his frustration rise at Garth's lack of understanding.

Garth's eyes went wide with fear, "How can you know," asked Garth, Pyp heard a slight quiver in his voice.

"It was clear on his face when you were glaring at him you donkey," Pyp spat, it felt good to be the one insulting for a change.

"Shut it Pyp," said Garth as he turned to move away from the men who remained in the crowd.

Pyp hurried to follow him, he considered going to Erit and promising his silence but he remembered the two men killing each other on Erit's orders. Pyp would not share their fate.

The wind knifed Pyp with a deep chill as he followed Garth out of camp, the sun seemed less bright and he could feel none of its heat. Garth barely spared him a glance as he quickly gathered his belongings, "What happens next, do we get the chest and leave the city" asked Pyp wondering what would happen to Arthur if he left the city. Knowing Arthur he wouldn't leave until he had checked every building in Finepoint.

"No, That possessed I recognise him and I need to know more about him," said Garth "I can't leave yet".

He stopped in his tracks and turned to face Pyp, "Pyp you don't need to follow me anymore all I wanted you for was help with looting mansions. Now I have to throw myself into danger and I don't think you can handle it," said Garth.

"What am I suppose to do then, go back to Erit and get split in half by Griv, " said Pyp he was surprise to hear a hard edge in his voice.

"Erit won't kill you, he already has the company on his side he won't care what you say," replied Garth. Pyp stopped in his tracks, of course he wouldn't care thought Pyp why hadn't he thought of that, Garth continued walking away. Pyp's feet automatically pushed him forward, he realised he didn't want to stay with the company; he never intended to stay with those cutthroats but he had become to enjoy the thrill of living this way.

"I know I'm not like you but I don't want to stay here, I want to be better" said Pyp, strangely enough he had enjoyed his time with Garth, the breaking into mansions and sneaking through the streets. It felt like he had been living in a story, the sheer terror Pyp always felt was invigorating, it made him realise that his life before had been dull. Pyp always knew he was a disappointment to his father, he had never been like his brothers eager to practice their swordsmanship, telling each other how one day they would be great warriors some day. All Pyp wanted to do was play the flute and run with the servants children, but his father was strict he was a prince and he had to do his duty. For the first time in his life he felt free.

Garth looked back and nodded, "You can come with me lordling, only if you can keep up," he grinned as he took off into a run.