Chapter One

The Mercenary of Death

The air filled with the sound of steel clashing steel followed by the sounds of flesh being rended and the screams followed. A figure stood in front of twenty men he was surrounded by corpses and his blade was on his right shoulder he was in black crude armor and covered in blood his hair was cut short and wet with blood and his eyes were cold blue and calculative.

"You brat is this how you repay us we allowed you to join our knights and you go and kill us like this!"

The boy smiled a cold sadistic smile and pointed towards the corpse with gray armor.

"I needed you to get what I wanted and this idiot happened to be perfect."

The twenty men glared at him and charged the boy smiled and began to swing. They fell his long powerful sword cutting through their armor and flesh he smiled as he went through them. Until they were all dead he smiled and turned towards the cloudy sky a huge amount of ravens flew in the air then decended each taking a corpse. The boy yawned and sat atop a corpse and glanced to see a small fledgeling raven near his side trying to peck out a mans eye. Jake reached down and pulled it out and handed it to the bird.

"After this damn fiasco I doubt Chuda will be so liable to let me back in I need something to cover this up..."

He turned and saw the knights riding towards him, they wore the armor of Midland Jake sighed and quickly removed his Chuda emblem and threw it onto the man he was sitting on. The lead knight looked him over his disdane evident the boy merely looked at him with his cold eyes then an idea formed in his mind and he smiled.

"This will do nicely."

The knight looked at the dead Chuda knights then back to the boy.

"Who are you boy?"

The boy looked at him and stood then with a slight bow.

"I am Jake Carter a mercenary who ran into trouble and solved it."

The man looked at him and smiled Jake also smiled the man saw only a mercenary who happened to be skilled just what Jake wanted.

"I see then I would like you to accompany me to my lords castle I beleive he'd be thrilled to meet you."

Jake bowed again hiding the smile of triumph.

"I would be honored to meet the lord."

They allowed him a horse and as Jake mounted he felt something fly and land on his shoulder he turned to see the small raven on it. The men whispered behind him but Jake ignored it and rode on. He saw the castle and quietly counted the guard he was dissappointed he only counted seventy hardly a garrison. He dismounted and was led by two servent girls to a huge banquet hall. He was required to leave his sword and daggers at the door. Jake complied and placed the weapons on the side his sword last. He entered the room and glanced around noticeing five men in hiding and another group at the door. He smiled to himself he would have to work for this one.

"Ahh you must be the Mercenary Johnathan told me about."

Jake saw the noble and felt himself get sick the man was a fat noble who only knew how to eat and nothing of battle or war a piece of worthless garbage. Jake couldn't use this man for anything except a way back to Chuda. He looked at the meal and couldn't help laughing at it the man was greedy Jake merely had a piece of bread and hunk of meat while he dined on huge quantities.

"Shit I planned on eatting first then doing this."

The noble looked at Jake with confusion until Jake flicked his wrist and sharp skicks slammed into four of the five. The noble screamed and the doors burst open men poured in and the fifth guard attacked Jake slid to the side and dodged the mans blade then he grabbed the man snapped his neck and then took the mans blade and with deadly persision slayed man after man. He was quick quiet and deadly twenty men laid dead and Jake stood near them. He walked forward and smiled at the cowering fat noble.

"Shit what a mess I planned to eat a little better then make my move and instead I was forced to kill on an empty stomach. But I can't help but thank you see thanks to you I will return to Chuda a hero and my plans can be complete."

He smiled and moved in close and smiled at the noble and placed his sword at the mans throat.

"Now I know I may feel a bit like a bandit but you see I never do anything for free. So I'll let you live if..."

The man looked up and saw the bright kind smile.

"Where are your funds."

The man smiled his fat greasy smile and pointed towards a huge chest with a lock. Jake looked at the lock and then smiled.

"Do you have the key?"

The man shock his head and Jake smiled and stabbed the man in the throat the man's eyes widened and he gasped for air he tried to scream and tears fell down his face.

"Damn you should've had the key fat man."

he let the blade go and turned towards the chest the servents looked at him with fear. He pointed towards his things and the servents scrambled and handed them to him Jake smiled and quickly slipped the knives and sword on his back. Jake turned and with a smile cut the lock on the chest with his dagger. Then with a flick opened the chest and was annoyed at the lack of gold he quickly took to bags full.

"You can have the rest if you don't raise the alarm and let me leave."

They smiled and Jake walked out his cold eyes on the door the guards glanced at him but ignored the blood and kept walking they had no courage Jake had gathered they didn't care for their lord. He smiled and turned towards the castle which burst into flames the screams of men and women filled the air. Jake laughed and noticed the other men walking towards him.

"You did well heres your pay."

The three men walked closer for the bags then as Jake dropped the bag he drew his sword and cut through all three of the men and quickly caught the bag.

"I told you I'd pay you...Didn't say with what."

With that he turned and grabbed one of their horses and rode towards the closest Chuda fort. He had alot of info to give and other things to deal out.

"Ha soon enough my dream will become a reality. The Mercenaries Paradice."

The raven landed on his shoulder and Jake smiled. Then with a smile he rode off not seeing the Midland soldier.

"So that was him the Mercenary Of Death... As ruthless as the spy said."