“Isn’t it a little strange for King Gulk to ask us to bring these new prisoners to the pit? I get that they’re from Python and all but still…” Raegus asked hurriedly, trying to stay in step with the tall, buff mercenary leading the group.

“Don’t think about it too much, Raegus. If it helps the townsfolk feel more at ease that a mercenary group like us is taking care of people from the largest criminal organization in the world, then so be it. Those guards don’t seem to be up to the task these days either,” explained Boss.

“Besides,” Bade chimed in, “we’re getting paid to walk six tied up idiots into a swamp and just leave them there. We don’t have too many easy jobs like that anymore!” He laughed.

What his two friends said helped get rid of some of his unease, but Raegus couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong about the whole situation. He didn’t have any good memories of Deadman’s Swamp, and this job probably wasn’t going to improve that.

“Don’t fret, Raegus!” said Bade, “Worst comes to worst, I’ll put an arrow between each of their eyes before they can blink!” Bade chuckled, giving Raegus a slap on the back and flashing his contagious smile, washing away Raegus’s worries.

Raegus chuckled and turned back to look at the castle guards who protected the throne room. His smile quickly faded as he watched the two out of shape men lean against the polished limestone pillar, spears beside them and helmets on the floor, making small talk about women and alcohol, laughing drunkenly.

What a disgrace. It’s amazing they’re still employ- actually, it’s pretty believable. Raegus thought, remembering the King’s figure and attitude. Birds of a feather, huh?

The entire time King Gulk was explaining the mercenaries’ job, it took all of Raegus’s will power just to keep himself from grimacing at the bag of skin flopping back and forth under his highness’ maw. It wasn’t his first time meeting the King, but every time he wished it was his last.

Raegus shook his head in disgust as the small troop of mercenaries stopped in front of the prison. In front of them was a large wooden door, crosshatched with iron bars to fortify it. A small click sounded from the other side of the door, and it screeched open to reveal the six prisoners that the gang would soon escort to their death.

They all had on white wool shirts and pants, and wore no shoes. If anything, they looked like peasants. The only thing that set them apart from the common criminal was the small serpent that wrapped around each of their now exposed forearms, signifying allegiance to the crime syndicate.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

“You gave these guys a pat-down, right?” Boss asked the nearest guard.

The guard stared blankly back at Boss before replying, “Yes.”

Boss’s eyes narrowed, unconvinced by the guard. “Alright, I guess we’ll take these trouble-makers off your hands now.”

Boss grabbed the back of one’s neck and pulled him forward, gesturing for the rest of the group to take hold of a prisoner themselves.

“Hey Raegus, I’m going to go help Anna over there, I’m sure you can handle one yourself, right?” Bade asked as he took hold of the prisoner Anna was eying up.

“Oh. Yeah, I got it,” Raegus sighed, discontent with the partner arrangement. He had known Bade since before he could walk, since before his parents had left him in the swamp and fled overseas. He also knew that Bade has been trying to seal the deal with Anna ever since she had joined the ranks. He knew, but Raegus felt like his family was slipping away from him again.

He was always scared of the day when Bade and Anna would decide to have a family and leave the mercenary group. He was great friends with both of them, but lately it seemed to him as though he was just an obstacle preventing them from getting married and having kids.

Raegus stood there, absentmindedly holding onto the arm of the last prisoner, before Boss yelled at him.

“Come on, Raegus, pull that sucker over here with the rest of ‘em! Don’t want to get left behind again do ya?”

“Got it, Boss!” Raegus shouted back.

A large crowd gathered around the mercenaries as they headed toward the gate leading out of the Kingdom of Gulk. The prisoners were being shoved forward by the mercenaries, obviously trying to make it as difficult as possible for them.

This was a common occurrence for most of the town, and sometimes even a much welcomed one. They were a fresh batch of criminals, delivered from overseas to be dealt with, in order to avoid any judicial problems within a foreign government. Seeing as some of the criminals from Gulk were sent away just the same, most of the town shouldn’t have been surprised.

But today was different. The criminals brought here weren’t annoying drunkards who couldn’t pay off debts, or immature nobles who tried to have their way with a King’s wife. Today, the men being sent into the swamp were murderers, and everyone could feel it. Whispers of rumors floated among the normally rowdy village, accompanied by staring and pointing at the tattoos.

The two guards on either side of the large wooden doors quickly pushed them open, making sure to stand as far away from the criminals and the mercenaries. The gates gave way with a low creaking sound, echoing into the swamp and silencing the villager’s whispers.

The mercenaries slowly made their way through the doors and into the swamp. The gate doors creaked loudly once more, slamming shut with a bang and leaving the sixteen of them in silence. The only noise that remained was the insistent buzzing of insects and an occasional rustle through the bushes or trees.

Boss opened a small map that he got out of his satchel and stared at the kingdom walls for a few seconds. He then flipped the map upside-down and began wading through the swamp. After a few minutes, they were completely surrounded by the swamp, with the map as their only guide out.

“It shouldn’t be much farther, boys. Just drop them off in the pit and we head back to get the cash!”

A few whoops and hollers followed the short speech, and the group started the slow-going march through the slush.