“Speak,” Laura ordered the little weasel of a man. He was responsible for communication between her people and ‘Hatchet’s’.

Laura’s eyes kept shifting from one possible hiding place to another. From time to time, she spotted a spy or two - not the worrying ones like the one she had killed on the roof.

Nor were these people dangerous. No. Those spies Laura could not detect were better left alone. And they were there, in the shadows. She felt in her bones.

But Laura didn’t feel like searching for them with more prudence. Aggravating them served no purpose for her. After she and her people were done with this contract, they would leave Stilag. There was no need to poke more nests than necessary.

If only Laura hadn’t gambled all that money away. Then they wouldn’t have to take that deal from a scumbag. She even suspected ‘Hatchet’ had cheated her somehow. No one was as unlucky with cards as she had been that evening. That man was capable of eschewing the odds in his favour through any means necessary.

“Well, they are dead.” The weasel by the name of Burt finally spoke. “I guess both groups are. But definitely, the one with Paula leading them is. A little birdy ran straight to us to tattle about it.”

“Where is that birdy of yours?” Laura felt her headache worsen. Paula hadn’t been with them for long. But it was enough for her to become part of their little family. She wanted to know more about those who had done it. Right from the source.

And if Grant was dead as well… Laura felt a pang of guilt in her stomach. That had been her order. She had sent them to die. But she didn’t delve into it for long. That was her life. She had chosen to run this small company. And often, people died. Sometimes, her people.

Burt led a sickly woman towards Laura. The poor thing looked so scared. But not terrified enough. “I-I will get compensation for this, right?” She trembled to the point her teeth were chattering.

Laura found a few coins under her armour and tossed them to the woman. The malnourished refugee probably had come to report out of hunger more than any loyalty towards ‘Hatchet’. “Tell me everything you saw.”

The woman started to speak. While stuttering, she recounted a tale about two local legends tearing her people apart. When the woman was done, she quickly escaped while guarding the acquired coins as if her life depended on them. Perhaps it did. This was Stilag, after all.

“Your opinion?” Laura looked at Burt.

The weasel rubbed his chin. “I don’t know. Those two popped up a few days ago. Killed a bunch of people like us when they did.”

“I see.” Laura signalled for her second-in-command to come closer. When Verte did, she gave instructions. “Prepare our people. There are a couple of vigilantes prowling around. We are likely the targets. Don’t let them wander around. Be ready to retreat on a moment's notice.”

“That’s not-” Burt blurted out.

“Shut up. Those two were not in my agreement. All I have to do is to secure an entrance into Naran’s tunnels. The rest is up to you.”

And Burt did wisely not continue. Laura knew ‘Hatchet’ was gathering more forces and everything he considered valuable. Laura’s ‘Iron Swords’ were here to test the waters. It was a good thing she had never revealed how capable she was.

The night at the gambling house had done much to leave a terrible first impression. She had wrecked the place and established herself as good enough to hire. Her people had left a better impression than she had.

And while ‘Iron Swords’ couldn’t get the best-paying jobs, they also weren’t trusted enough to be hired for high-importance needs. Which had been a blessing in disguise ever since Stilag went to shit. Well, more than usual, anyway.

That was until now. Who knew some vigilantes would pick up a fight with them? And it had cost them two lives. Laura returned to watching the shadows. They suddenly appeared much more looming and dark. Despite the bright sun illuminating everything, she felt like a predator was stalking them.

“Verte!” Laura called out. “How is the entrance looking?”

Verte shook his head. “We are pushing them back, but I think the tunnels can be collapsed at any moment they choose.”

It meant Laura would have to make a move to ensure it didn’t happen. She bit inside of her cheek while thinking. That would be too dangerous. She didn’t know how strong her opponents were. It would be hard to escape from the tunnels.

After thinking some more, Laura decided to make sacrifices. Not from her people, naturally. “Burt, do you have someone disposable?”

The weasel looked at her as if Lura was stupid. Then turned towards where ‘Hatchet’s’ goons were mingling. He furrowed her brows.

Laura contemplated why she was the stupid one when Burt clearly had sacrifices in mind. Was it because he thought it was natural? Whatever it was, she quickly dismissed the annoyance and returned to studying shadows.

“Laura?” Burt suddenly interrupted her.

“What?” Laura looked back at the weasel.

“Some of my men are missing.”

“That-” Laura stopped herself from making a mocking jab. “How many and from where?” She heightened her senses. Burt was right. There were less of them now. How had she missed it?

“Four? No five? Six?” Burt did a headcount. “They were looting that shop over there.” He pointed at a building full of ruined carpets.

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“You fucking fool!” Laura hissed. She once more looked around. This was why she hated working with petty criminals. They couldn’t keep their little grubby fingers from anything valuable.

With the latest bunch lost, they were down to thirty-nine people. Laura winced. And two of the people had been hers. That hurt. She was an upstart and had wanted to start small and with quality. The people working under her were much stronger than your regular back-water mercenary.

And ten had seemed like the right number to stop and consolidate. Now it was eight. Seven were here, with one prodding the tunnel. “Verte,” Laura walked closer to her trusted aide. “Gather ours. Go get Virr out of that hole.” She whispered.

The man nodded and left. Verte would be fine. He was strong. Laura trusted him not to fuck up. The same could not be said about Burt’s people. There was another missing. “What the fuck, Burt? Get those shitheads in order!”

Laura felt anger spike. These idiots were doing everything to ruin her contract. At least she would have someone to blame. Not that it made her any happier.

And Burt tried. His shouting grew more insistent and rageful. It didn’t do much good. In return for his orders, he received jeers and rude gestures. Some of the thugs even welcomed the challenge.

Before Laura could intervene, six of the more rowdy ones left to search for the so-called danger. She wrote them off as dead. Her eyes returned to scanning the surroundings.

“What’s up, Chief? Are we in danger?” Raran, a muscular man covered in furs, joined her side, as did the rest of the team.

“Yes.” Laura looked at where the six fools had vanished. She thought there was noise, but it was too quiet. “Stick together. Verte went to get Virr. Don’t wander around. If you spot…” She couldn’t believe she was saying this. “A woman dressed as a demon or a girl with a mask, notify me immediately.”

“Is that a joke?” Ugum found his way towards Raran. Their familiarity was no coincidence. Both were brothers. Thought Ugum was leaner and preferred to study instead of wandering the wilds. He was a decent healer who could patch up them when needed.

“No.” Laura sighed. She waited for everyone to gather. When Verte returned with Virr in tow, she explained the situation. “...There you have it.” She finished.

Laura’s comrades looked at her in surprise. She allowed them to think. The group of six who left earlier didn’t return. She wrote them off as dead.

“So, they got Laura and Grant?” Virr nervously cleaned his leather armour from the dirt he had gotten on it in the tunnel. “Do we try to get revenge?”

“Do we?” Raran and Ugum asked at the same time. They exchanged looks. “So, do we?” Raran spoke again while the rest of the group waited.

“I-” Laura began speaking. It was hard to not raise her voice to be heard when Burt kept yelling at the top of his lungs. He still hadn’t gotten his people in order.

And Laura didn’t manage to finish her sentence anyway before their enemy showed. A woman in a deep blue cloak and the mask of a demon held a shield high above her head. She whacked the shield against the wall, gathering everyone's attention with the resulting noise.

It resulted in Burt’s voice being drowned by the angry roars of the thugs. The fools still believed they had the upper hand. Laura was more cautious. The feeling she got from the masked woman wasn’t too intense. She was confident she could deal with her. “Virr, what about the people below?”

“Dead. Probably. Naran’s people were cautious and didn’t attack. But without me, ‘Hatchet’s’ trash have no chance.” Virr gave his prediction.

“She is taunting us.” Agata, their scout, observed. Her eyes also swam from spot to spot. She was clearly unsettled by the inability to find the other girl. “I see only the usual vermin snooping around otherwise. I don’t like this. It’s a trap.”

“What about Paula and Grant?” Virr returned to the issue. “They were new recruits-”

“Virr!” Jyna interrupted. Her ponytail swayed as she pointed in anger at the man. “I don’t like what you are trying to imply-”

“But I am right. It’s why Laura sent them. They were-”

“That wasn’t the reason.” Laura stopped the quarrel. “It… It was a mistake on my part.” She regretted sending those two. They have been the newest additions after their loss a couple months ago. She had wanted them to gain some experience without her looking over their shoulders.

“Pah!” Virr threw his hands in the air. “All I am saying is we don’t have to die for them! We are sell-swords, remember?”

But while ‘Iron Swords’ were undecided on how to proceed, the same couldn’t be said for the rabble under Burt.

Their jeers grew louder. They brandished their weapons and puffed their chests. They exchanged lewd jokes and spoke about their prowess. Not for long.

The woman picked up something from the ground. A simple stone. She shortly played with it between her fingers and then…

Laura’s short call returned her company to senses. The supposed Paladin threw the stone with much strength. It hit one of Burt’s men right in the eye, blinding him forever.

And with that, Burt’s orders were forgotten entirely. Laura watched dispassionately as men and the few women lost their facade of calm.

When the next rock arrived, they were too far gone from anger. Most of them roared, not used to be defied. They did not understand they were not the predators this time.

Then, they charged the woman.

“Do we join?” Amy asked. She was checking her armour while leaning on the large shield she liked to use.

Laura looked at her frontline. “Was that in our contract?” She looked at the last two remaining members of her company. They barely, if ever, spoke. “And you two?”

The brother and sister exchanged glances. They both were lanky and no matter what they wore, it always looked one size too large.

“We hunt,” Litan whispered. The man had a habit of trying to look mysterious and secretive. Even now, he was covered in a cloak, and the hood made his face hard to see.

“Our God decrees they are worthy prey!” Liton nodded along with her brother. “We can grow stronger if our hunt is successful.”

And there it was. Laura didn’t believe in their God. She had never even heard of him and suspected the pair of siblings had made him up. Then again, the world was boundless, and these two were not from around here.

Litan whispered again. “We shall fight on our own. No need for your assistance.”

Liton adjusted her leather armour and picked up her oversized hammer. “To battle.” Her brother nodded, and they were gone.

“What now?” Verte asked while the area emptied.

“We have a task.” Laura finally decided. “We clean that one tunnel, then go back.”

Verte hummed in agreement. “What about Litan and Liton?”

“If they succeed, good.” Laura had also made a decision regarding that trouble. She wasn’t tied down like in the past. There was no need to pretend they had some noble goals. “If not, we talk and hope the other party is open to negotiation. In the end, Virr is right. We do what we are paid for.”

The Iron Swords followed Laura by jumping down the bridge. They walked towards the tunnel, ready to force it open.