"House Kleist. Rakt Muskan. Kill all.


    Kleist... Rakt... Kill.


    House...Muskan...all."


    These were the words I heard before waking up to cawing. Crows everywhere. Their cries sharp, and painful. But, their cries helped me pull out of my death. At least I thought I was dying.


    I don''t remember what happened after I fainted. The Lord was whispering words in my ear. Kleist. Rakt Muskan. I have to kill them all. I think that''s it.


    A cold wind brushed against my skin, the distant smoke of fire making my nose hairs burn. My fingers were trembling, twitching as I had no energy. I couldn''t stand. I was just laying on the road. With eyes open.


    The sky was grey. Dried leaves flying by. I could not figure out where I was. There was a distant noise. I knew a settlement was nearby.


    A shadow stood still near me.


    "You alive?"


    The voice had a hint of kindness. I turned by head, seeing a blurry man crouching near me. His clothes were ragged, beaten by his adventure.


    I saw his dark brown eyes as my vision cleared. His eyes were scanning me, figuring me out. His hand was resting on his dagger. His stubble was uneven, with a small scar on his neck.


    "Where?..." I couldn''t continue, my dry throat aching.


    "Middle of nowhere", he stood up. "Saw you lying like a corpse. Turns out, I''m your saviour of the day."


    He forwarded his hand to me, barely within my arm''s range. As I stood up, my legs shaking, I asked his name.


    "Steve. Steve Lowe. You?"


    "Alfred."


    Before I could state my full name, he asked me. "No wounds on you, no blood. Just dirt. You a beggar?" His face was hoping not to hear a yes.


    "Nope."


    "That''s rare." He scanned the area. "Most folk are beggars who had taken a hit to their head." He pointed his dagger to his temple. "Turns out, you are stupid."


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    "I need to go to Neopur. You know the way?" My questions brought a laughter to his stern face.


    "Neopur? Fuck off. You have no money. And, we are very far inland. In a..." He stopped momentarily, hoping to see a response. "...random town."


    "I need money. Quick job I can get?", my face a little sad at the thought of being lost in unknown lands.


    "I need an extra pair of hands. Can you swing a blade?" He pulled out a short sword from his backpack.


    I nodded and caught the sword he tossed to me. My swings were satisfactory to me.


    Steve turned and gestured down the trail. The dirt path stretched forward, hidden by small hills nearby. "There''s a town nearby. Hmm..." He thought for a while. " I can''t remember the name. There must be bounty posters at the tavern though." His brow frowned.


    "Can you take a bounty? First job, we''ll take easy."


    I nodded, a smile growing on my face.


    ----


    The town was dirty and looked like any urban settlement. Lots of people, lots of small houses and shops. Edges covered with farmhouses.


    We passed a farmer, pushing his large cart of hay. His old age catching up with all the hard work. A group of children chased each other near a well. That''s risky.


    Near the blacksmith''s, young men were waiting. All looked ready for their adventure.


    The square was busy. Many merchants calling out their products. Fresh bread, dried fish, cloths. The scent of roasted meat grew stronger as we passed the busy square.


    The tavern looked bigger, towering over the neighbouring houses.


    "Not bad, huh?" Steve said, glancing around. "I never knew there was a town this big around these places."


    The tavern''s sign swayed, carried by the breeze. I could not focus on my surroundings as my belly growled. The smell of food overpowered my nose.


    Before I could pull the door open, Steve tugged me. "Posters", he pointed to the board near the tavern''s sign.


    Dozens of papers were nailed to the board, most of them faded and tattered. Some were fresh.


    Steve''s eyes began scanning the papers. "Look at the fresh ones", his hand patting me to look at the board.


    Steve tapped at a paper. "There. Look at this."


    The paper was fresh, the ink dark and bold. A sketch of a woman stared at me-free hair and a smirk.


    Lissandra


    Reward: 17,000 silvers


    Wanted Dead or Alive


    I turned the poster, knowing there would be information behind.


    Wanted for assassination of The Crown''s slaves.


    She is a "Crow''s Covenant" member.


    Known to have fled to Sewon.


    "Wait. This town''s Sewon. She must be near here. And her bounty is very high for a slave killer", Steve looked at me with eagerness in his eyes.


    "Who are the Crow''s Covenants?", I asked. I knew who they were, scum killers in the capital.


    "They kill for money. Only in Razki though. They are not known to kill outside the capital", his voice was faint, almost as if he didn''t want people to hear him.


    "She may have been long gone from here", my face worrying.


    "Nah, this poster is fresh. Looks like it''s today''s", Steve said.


    "I''m hungry, though. Let''s go to the tavern", my stomach growled at the end of my sentence.


    "Okay, but I have just enough for bread and water", he began counting his bronze coins. His coins were few. I got worried as the coins counted to less than what I would expect for the cost of ''enough bread''.


    I entered the tavern, Steve right behind me.