Job Offers

Tarick pushed his pillow into the rucksack, it barely fitting with all the provisions and additional weapons already contained within. Whilst he could sleep wherever he was told to, he always had to have his pillow. It made the nights more comfortable. Just as he managed to squeeze it in, the sound of someone approaching made him look up.

The Marauder at the entrance to his tent motioned toward the officer's camp with his hand. "Don't forget to collect your pay from Lord Adun before you go." Its voice was full of disgust for the human mercenary.

Tarick simply nodded as he pulled the cables on the rucksack, closing it up. He swung it over his shoulder then headed out of the tent. The Marauder didn't move out of the way fully, so Tarick simply pushed him clear of the entrance with his shoulder as he passed.

Despite the fact he didn't trust the Shadow army; he had to admit Ter Adun ran a tidy operation. Most other generals would be happy to 'forget' to pay their mercenaries if they had the chance. However in ensuring everyone got their wages, Ter Adun was ensuring that any mercenaries would be more trusting and willing to work in the future, which showed he was thinking ahead.

Walking past the four Minotaurs at the entrance to the Officer's camp, Tarick paused for a moment. There were only two guards a week ago. He mused. Obviously an uninvited guest had stuck his nose where it wasn't wanted, and security had been improved as a result. He carried on toward Ter Adun's tent.

Reaching the tent, he frowned. It looked like every other human mercenary in the army had also been given his marching orders. Seems the intruder was an insider and Ter isn't taking any more chances. Sighing, Tarick resigned himself to a long wait.

"Get out, traitor." Gunther stated, his voice filled with threats of retribution. "Before I have you executed as a Shadow spy."

Traitor? Tarick rankled slightly at that. He'd travelled for days and that was the response he got? "I'm not a traitor my Lord. I'm merely a soldier trying to survive. As you well know, war is a lucrative business, and ultimately I have to look after my own interests."

"If we lose this war your own interests mean squat." Gunther growled. "You think the Shadow give a damn about you should they win this? You need to pull your head out of the sand and realise that the only way you're going to protect your interests is through fighting for a cause, not money."

"Did you ever consider that me being in the Shadow camp could help you? I might have valuable intelligence." Tarick retorted.

"I'm more inclined to think the Shadow sent you to carry out their agenda. I've seen what they can do, seen how they can manipulate people. No mercenary that's worked for them will ever fight in my army. Now get out."

Tarick opened his mouth to retort but realised it was ultimately worthless. So instead he simply nodded and left the camp. How dare Gunther treat me like that? Well, there are plenty of other Generals on both sides that will gladly accept my help. He mounted his steed and angrily kicked it in the side to get it moving and away from the camp as quickly as possible.

It was a good few hours before he finally stopped. He was still a couple of hours from the nearest town, and while he was desperate for a good mead and a busty wench, it was getting dark and riding alone along these roads was a dangerous affair. So instead of pressing on, he decided to bed down for the night. Heading off the beaten path, Tarick found a nice clearing big enough for a camp.

Tarick was no fool however; even though he was off the road he was far from safe, especially in these uncertain times. And while he was a light sleeper he didn't want to be surprised by bandits or a hungry Wulven pack, so the first order of business was preparing the area with traps. While he was no master trapsetter he had picked up a few tricks during his career, and before long the immediate vicinity was littered with pit, snare and net traps.

The tent was erected just in time to see the sun setting on the horizon, giving the forest a reddish hue before it finally dipped below the distant mountains. Tying his horse to a nearby tree, Tarick pulled out his pillow and retired for the night.

The familiar twang of a trap going off startled Tarick awake. Not wasting any time, he grabbed his hammer and listened intently. There was no scream of agony and no cursing, so it wasn't bandits. And it wasn't an animal, as they'd be making a lot of noise either due to their wounds or their effort in trying to escape. Making his way out of the tent, he was interested to find out exactly what was out there waiting for him. What he found surprised him. Outside and barely visible in the dark stood Kairos, with a snare trap wrapped around his leg that had failed to lift his massive bulk. In fact it looked like he'd just walked through it and tore off the branch it was attached to.

"Hello." Tarick said quizzically. "Can I help you Kairos?"

"I wish to enlist your services." He replied in that cold, quiet voice of his. Even in the still air of the forest he was hard to understand, but was no less menacing for it.

"Striking out on our own are we?" Tarick asked with a hint of sarcasm. "I thought you worked exclusively for Ter."

"I still do. This is by his request." Kairos replied. "He wishes for me to build a small task force to do tasks that can't be achieved by a large army."

"No offense, but you're not built for commando work."

"I trailed you without you noticing." Kairos retorted, and Tarick had to concede that point. Despite his skills, Kairos had tracked him easily. "Regardless, a small trusted team of a dozen should be enough."

"Interesting I would be considered trusted, especially as Ter just sacked all his mercenaries." Tarick replied, crossing his arms. He didn't want to reveal just yet that he had figured out why they'd all been sacked.

"The mercenaries were simply not needed. However I convinced Lord Adun that it was worth retaining your services, having seen you in battle." Kairos explained. "This would also be worth double your usual price."

Tarick was taken aback by that. Double? He was not cheap by any means, and if Ter was willing to pay double, then…..

Tarick extended his hand. "Deal."