Blackrock Mercenaries

It was nearing evening by the time we broke the treeline. Penny and Sasha hadn't left my side, nor had they answered my questions. Both seemed tense, and their demeanor, combined with my flagging energy, didn't improve my mood. My legs ached as we made the last little way towards the hut.

Rita wasn't anywhere in sight, but I swore I could see someone inside. Penny drew to a stop, and I paused next to her. My jacket was gone, and so were my bullets. I hoped whatever this was wouldn't be a problem. On my other side, Sasha frowned and glanced toward her makeshift laboratory. It was obvious where she wanted to be, but neither left as I made my way to the door.

Two knocks got me nothing, so I did it again. Then again. I pounded my fist against the wood until Penny grabbed my arm. Sasha shook her head and moved forward, running her finger along the doorknob. It glowed, and soon it opened. For the first time, I saw the inside of the headquarters.

It wasn't a big space, though that wasn't surprising. A circular wooden room, with a small stove, and three bedrolls on the floor around a jade table. On the wall hung a sword, not Rita's, and that was it. The entire place reminded me of my coach. This was a place to take shelter and nothing else. Not a home, or even an office.

With her back to me stood Rita, still dressed in her leather armor. She didn't look at me, but I didn't let that stop me. My steps were silent as I walked into the room, followed by the others. As Sasha moved to sit on a bedroll, Penny posted herself by the door.

"Rita. Why am I here?" I asked again, cutting through the silence with little care.

"I told you. Money—"

"No." She didn't look at me, but I saw the way her tail twitched with nerves. "It's more than that. If you simply wanted me to make you money, fine. But they mentioned a bounty, and you brought up a time limit when we first talked. You're trying to buy your own contract before it goes public, aren't you?"

Behind me, Penny laughed, and Sasha snorted. "I told you he'd figure it out, eventually."

"Faster than I thought he would," Penny said. "Good job, Money Man."

I ignored them both, my focus on Rita, my current boss. She said nothing for several seconds and then gave a small nod. A sigh escaped me, and I balled my hands into a fist. Though I had no interest in taking a swing, the action felt good. My mind worked over the problem as I watched her.

Bounties were a strange thing in the kingdom. Most people didn't offer them, but when they did, the person being hunted was always given the chance to pay it off before the experts were called in. Almost like a fine. Unlike a fine, however, not paying it off came with a death sentence, not a jail term.

A death sentence I knew that could extend to associates if those who came for her didn't care about collateral. I remembered the two men who had shot Reeds. They hadn't acted like professional bounty hunters, but they clearly hadn't been worried about waiting for the time elapsing. The Jackal Headed man had been the same. He was clearly willing to kidnap her early.

"So your bounty is twenty-thousand gold?" I asked, my mind skipping over the fact I had potentially met a Shifter tonight.

"Yes," her words were soft.

"And you have a year to pay it off?"

"No.," She paused. "I had a year. It's more like seven months."

I wanted to laugh. If I was back home, I could have gotten the money out of the bank and paid it myself to solve the problem. Out here? They didn't have a bank. They barely used gold. My gaze roamed the house, and I glanced at the things on display. Penny had been adamant about not selling their weapons, which would have made this easier again.

"Why and who?" I asked quietly.

She turned away from the stove and looked at me. "What?"

"Why?" I repeated. "And who?"

"Just tell him. I don't want to have this be a big blowup. It's late, and we're all exhausted. Give him the simple version," Sasha said with a sigh.

Rita glanced at Sasha, and then at Penny, who gave an enthusiastic nod. "A man named Paulie Phillips. I don't know why. He's some minor noble in the capital. We've never met."

I racked my brains, but I couldn't think of a face to go along with the name. If I had met him, it clearly hadn't stuck. Not that I dealt much with the nobility. Seven months to earn twenty-thousands. There were ways to do it, I was sure. At least, there would be if I was working on a more normal assignment. Here? Maybe not.

My gaze fell to the desk. And the contract I had signed with her. I was an employee, and this was a financial matter. It was my job, and pride wanted me to fulfill it. A part of the contract was free body guarding services for life. That was something I couldn't collect on if Rita got killed for her bounty.

"We don't have to sort this out tonight—" Sasha started, but I cut her off.

"Twenty thousand. You're willing to do the work to make it happen?"

Rita nodded, and while Sasha looked irritated, Penny looked intrigued. I didn't wait for them to answer, instead I continued to speak, thoughts rushing out.

"That means we can't keep doing waste of time jobs for no pay. We have the job with Callahan at the end of the week. That should be a focus. Then we need to figure out how to do something big." I had some thoughts on that, but nothing concrete.

Rita turned fully towards me, and I saw a flash of anger in her eyes. "I can agree on that, on one condition."

"What?" I returned her glare, not backing down.

"You accept some training. We're not taking you into another battlefield without it. The stunt you pulled with the Varglatog could have killed someone." Her tone was reproachful, and I gestured to her.

It took effort not to scoff at her. "Why would I need training? I think we can both agree that sending me into monsters again is a waste of time. No. I'll be in Yuliosa trying to get us some proper contracts."

"So you can get jumped by Howlers again?" She folded her arms as she watched me. "No, you need to know how to be more aware of your surroundings and we can't spare anyone to babysit you if we're clearing the Lumber Camp. The training is non-negotiable."

"Such a thing isn't—"

"—Part of your contract?" She finished for me. "Tough. I need to know you have the skills to survive out here, Chad. That you won't cut and run. After what we saw out there? No. You need to look after yourself. Penny will make sure you can. Won't you?"

Penny beamed and tossed an arm around my shoulder, all but nuzzling her cheek against my own. When I tried to pull away, she tightened her grip. "He won't be the best hunter this side of the donut, but I can make sure he can not run away like a coward."

"He's in your hands, then. Now, Sasha's right. We should get some sleep."

"This discussion isn't over," I said, as I watched her. "You should have been upfront."

"You wouldn't have come if I had," she shot back.

"Exactly."

Before I could say more, Penny dragged me out as Rita turned back away from me. The night air was cool, but it did little against the anger filling me. She had tricked me, a fact that annoyed me. An annoyance that grew when I couldn't help but keep trying to come up with plans to get us out of it. If I could, it would be quite the achievement. Penny tugged on my arm to keep me moving, and together we walked back towards Jenkins' house. From the corner of my eye, I spotted Sasha watching us before she made her way to her makeshift lab.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

We spent most of the brief journey in silence until we reached the gate that led up to Jenkins' house. There Penny stopped, and I watched her smile fade away. Her attention shifted to me, and she leaned against the wooden fence post. Without thinking, I shifted into my own attentive stance. Feet shoulder width apart, and my hands behind my back. It was how my first boss had taught me to stand when in meetings with management, and I had the same feeling now.

"You cut and run." Her tone brooked no arguments, and I didn't bother responding. She had the look of someone who wanted to say more. "But I understand why."

That shocked me, and a small grin came to her face. "Rita forgets sometimes not everyone had her upbringing. I don't. Neither does Sasha. You grew up in the city. The worst you ever faced was a pickpocket, right? Instincts took over."

"Something like that. Mostly, I was afraid it was going to eat me." I didn't know why I told her the truth, but there was a feeling in my gut that lying wouldn't help me here. As much as lying during a negotiation could help, sometimes telling someone it was your way or they would lose everything could prove just as effective.

"It was."

"Oh."

I wasn't sure what else to say to that. For a moment, we stood in silence, and then she shifted her rifle on her shoulder. It was a slight movement, but it made me look around. There wasn't anything I could see, but the way she was peering off down the road made me think we were being watched.

"Problem?" I asked, dropping my voice low enough it felt more like a breath.

"No, I don't think so." She continued to stare over my shoulder as she spoke. "Rita is right. You'll need to get stronger out here. I don't know who those people were, or how they're related to The Howlers or the Bounty, but I don't like them. Bad vibes."

"Agreed. Though I am curious, did you know about the Bounty? All of this?"

Penny shrugged. "Yes. But it doesn't bother me. Don't let it bother you. Even if someone comes for us, they have to get us first."

"I suppose that's true."

As though someone flipped a switch, her smile came back, and she stood up straight and raised her arms above her head. "Excellent! Alright Money Man, let's tell Jenkins you're being trained by yours truly. He'll find ways to help, I'm sure."

"Do we have to tell him why you're training me?"

I tried to think of how the old man who had so readily stood on the roof of his home ready to shoot at mythical monsters would take the idea I had run away. None of it came up well for me. It wasn't his disappointment I was afraid of. But the horses were already settled in the stables, and I didn't relish the thought of trying to make them sleep outside again.

"He won't be any more angry than Rita." She looked at me as though she knew what I was thinking and shrugged. "You scared her today reeeaaallll bad, Money Man. She thought you had gotten eaten until we found you in that clearing. Was distraught. You should make it up to her."

"Any suggestions?" The idea of having to make up to her annoyed me, but I knew better than to have the boss upset with me for long.

I watched her as we made our way up to the house. Though she was back to her usual energetic self, I couldn't help but notice the way her left ear kept flicking about as though she was trying to sense something. She never looked in that direction, but even her tail would drift that way, as though expecting to bump it into something behind her.

"Sure do! You're going to enter the Flower Festival hunt and win." She beamed at me again before knocking quickly against the door.

"What? Why?" I looked at her. "How is bringing her flowers going to help? She doesn't seem the type."

Penny laughed. "That's not the point of the hunt. No, the point of the flower hunt is to avoid the gatherers looking for you. You're going to be playing the main role if I get my way. It'll be a safe, and simple, way to show you've taken your training seriously. It should make her relax a bit."

"Wait, hang on, I'm confused. Why is—"

The door swung open and cut me off. I saw Jenkins standing there. He had gotten changed in the time we were away. Now dressed in a simple brown shirt and pants. A smile crossed his face when he saw us, and he gestured at Penny even as he nodded at me.

"How did he do?"

Penny glanced at me, and then back to Jenkins. "Maybe you should sit down?"

"That bad?" He let his attention flick to me, and then grimaced. I knew the look in his eyes. It was the same one my father had worn anytime I had missed a speck of dirt when cleaning the coach. Disappointment, and a hint of disdain. "Come inside. You can tell me how you messed up."

With a nod, I followed him through the door, my head held high. We entered the living room, and he sat on his favourite chair. The house seemed darker now, and I looked around us. With no other sources, I moved to start the fireplace as Penny moved to the couch. It didn't take long to get a log burning, and I checked how much he had left.

Not much that would have to change. I wondered if the fact that Rita wasn't getting anything from the lumber camp had anything to do with it. A look at Penny got me a subtle nod. With a quick mental note, I deducted some home expenses from my theoretical paycheck.

When I was sure the fire would stay lit, I returned to the couch. I sat down with care and placed my gun on the table, making sure the barrel didn't point at anyone. That got me a look of approval from both Jenkins and Penny.

"Alright," he said, after he seemed content I wasn't going anywhere. "Tell me the story."

With the fire crackling behind me, I did. Jenkins didn't speak as I explained my side of it. How we had found the beast, how it had made itself immune, and then our flight through the woods. He stirred when I mentioned the Jackal headed man, and demanded more information. I spent minutes simply describing him, what he looked like, and how he moved. But eventually, he shook his head.

"Not the one I saw."

It was all I got out of him before he pressed me to continue. By the time I was done, my throat was dry, and I accepted the glass of water that Penny handed me gratefully.

"So you ran away."

His tone was flat, and his eyes hard. While it wasn't a question, a habit people here appeared to enjoy employing, it was obvious he wanted an answer. I didn't give him one, at least not right away. Instead, I continued to sip my water, until it was half full, and then I put it down.

"Yes." I didn't let a single ounce of apology enter my voice as I spoke. "And I would do it again."

"Good."

I blinked, and Penny looked like she was about to spit out her water, though a glare made her stop. She swallowed it and gave Jenkins an apologetic grin. He sunk back into his chair and gestured at me, and then to the crossbow he had propped up against the wall.

"Back before I met my darling Annabelle, I was a soldier. Not a good one. Didn't have the skills for it. But the kingdom needed someone who could shoot, and you don't need fancy system help to know which end of a bolt to point at the enemy."

His eyes grew a touch hazy as he spoke, and I watched as Penny slipped off the couch beside me and walked over to him. She perched on the armrest and took his hand. He smiled up at her and gave her fingers a swift squeeze.

"We fought proper warriors sometimes. System blessed combatants. You know what my sergeant told me? He said, Mirko, you see one of them and you don't have similar backing you up? Cut and run. No point you dying in a fight you can't win."

Once again, he shifted in his chair. "I don't like that you ran out on the girls. But strategically? You were right to do so. Rita should have had a plan, at least to get you and Sasha out. Did she?"

That last one he directed at Penny, who looked a touch guilty. "Not really? It was supposed to be a simple fight. Would have been until it made itself immune to physical blows. We would have needed an Enchanter. I've never heard of one gaining skills like that."

"Me either." Jenkins stroked his chin. "Still. You never know with the system. She should have had something in place. Though she is right. Running could have landed you in real trouble, and I agree with her you need training. But she's wrong that you didn't make the most logical choice. You couldn't help, but you could run. Sometimes that can save a life. I bet you would be surprised how someone fleeing to get word or help can change a situation."

"Thank you." I meant it too. It was nice to hear from someone who didn't think I was an idiot.

A small smile crossed his face. "Don't thank me yet. Penny, you'll be picking him up after breakfast, yes?"

"That's what Rita told me!" Penny said.

"Excellent. I'll make sure he's awake." He clapped his hands together and then pushed himself up from the chair. "Are you staying for dinner? I'm cooking, and I have some pie left for dessert."

With a shake of her head, Penny stood as well. "Sorry, I need to get back to check on Rita. I think Chad really left her shaken up. But I'll be by tomorrow. What time?"

"Oh, nice and early," Jenkins said with a laugh.

"You got it."

With a hug for Jenkins and a wink at me, Penny left. The moment she was gone, Jenkins let out a sigh and turned to the kitchen.

"Do you know how to cook?" he asked.

I followed him. "A little. Though I've bought more meals than I made recently. Why?"

"Because." He turned and waved to the kitchen. "It's going to be part of your rent. Come on."

The next hour was me following his directions as we worked the kitchen. It wasn't a difficult meal. A stew that used the various produce of the surrounding farms. Jenkins spoke almost constantly as the meal progressed, and well, until we were done. It was nice in a way, and I tried to think of the last time before today I had shared a meal with someone like this.

It didn't happen often. Mostly I ate in my office, or on work lunches where I had to woo a client. When we finished eating, he directed me to my room. It was simple, with a double bed and designed with things I suspected were his sons. One shelf even had a prize cup from a previous Flower Festival.

"Did he compete often?" I examined it, seeing it was for arrangements.

"Oh, yes." Jenkins remained at the door, his gaze locked on the trophy. "Every year. Until that trollop took him. But he only ever won the once."

I tried to think of what to say to that, but the only thing I could think of was something others said to my dad on the rare occasion. "You should be proud of him."

"Every day. Get some rest. You'll need it."

With that, he left, and I got ready for bed. I didn't have the energy to make my way to the river, and so I did what I could with the water on hand. That done, I checked over my weapon. It was empty, and I cursed the fact all my bullets remained in my jacket. A jacket whoever Mr. Jackal was now had possession of, along with my gold.

Unsettled, I did my best to sleep, already trying to figure out how to get us out of this situation.