First Prey

"Why do I feel that someone is following us?" The man looked around as he asked his friend who was following him while rambling about the daily affairs of the palace he had seen.

"We are in the middle of the market. There would be many who will be going in the same path. You are thinking too much.

Where was i.. Oh yes, the head maid was telling me that the lord had already shifted to the central palace. The rest of the staff was not killed but was sold as a slave so their life would be more miserable than death.

If only we could have found those two girls.. But I am sure they were burnt. Or else we would have surely found them. Tch.." the eyes of the other man widened as he covered the mouth of his friend and subordinate who forgot that they were surrounded by a crowd and that also a lot of it.

"Watch out. What if someone heard us. Master would kill us if someone knew that we had killed all of them. It was just an accident and they all ran away. No one knew where they were.

Master only filled the seat since it was empty and he would return it when the rightful owner would come back. After all, he loved princess Olivia a lot. Did you get that??" The man rolled his eyes at the level of lies that sounded cringe but nonetheless nodded his head as he wanted to breathe again.

"Alright, now keep your words in check, Alan." he let go of his friend as they both started to walk again.

"Let all of them go. I want to tell you about the girl I met in the brothel yesterday. She was such a meek girl, I tell you. I think she is new there since her face turned red and she looked so shy.

Do you want to come? I enjoy it when the girl suffers twice." he chuckled menacingly while his friend felt nauseated by the thought process of his friend. He was only there for money. He did not want to get entangled in women or other vices.

Killing and stealing for money was already too much for him. He looked back again since the thought of being followed did not leave him even once.

But no matter how many times he looked back, all he found was kids playing around and ladies enjoying shopping. A lot of traders looked back at him with hope that he had liked their merchandise and that was why he turned to look at them.

They start shouting enticing offers to bring him to their shop when he turns his head back towards the road awkwardly.

"Stop thinking too much. You are safe with me. Even if a pick pocketer is following us. He was going to die without hands. Why are you so afraid when you are a mercenary?" Alan snorted as he did not understand how the mind of his friend worked. Shouldn't he be a bit more reckless and confident. What was he even afraid of when he was such a good swordsman?

He was not exaggerating when he said that they both had killed more than a dozen of knights together.

They both stopped and brought a few more snacks but did not sit to eat them. They ate them while continuing to walk slowly towards the woods.

"So, we are going to tell the master that we have scanned the whole town for a week. There was no sign of the princesses there. And we are sure that they have already died in the fire. Right?" asked Alan while looking around to make sure that no one was there to listen to them when the other man just nodded his head with a sigh.

He knew no matter how many times he explained to his friend. He was overconfident to be careful enough.

"Good, then I am leaving for the brothel. You can go to the inn and take a rest. We will leave at midnight when the security between the borders is minimum." the man nodded and they both parted ways.

Alan continued to smile while his eyes filled with anticipation. He could already imagine the new girl squirming and crying below him while he would treat her roughly. The more she cried, the more he enjoyed and felt that money was worth spending.

He was so excited that he did not pass a glance to the other customers standing at the door. He walked past them arrogantly and stopped in front of the small table of a man who collected money for the night in exchange for a woman.

"I want the one with the last night.'' He took out a small bag of silver coins and threw it towards the man, arrogantly making him frown. But when the man noticed the amount of coins, he tried his best to calm himself and replied in a polite tone.

"I am sorry but we do not make records of the customers here. It is only for their safety. If you want to repeat the girl you have to tell us her working name." the mercenary frowned. Why in the world would he ask for the name of a prostitute.

It was only great that he remembered her face and the way she behaved. But then, he did not want to try any other girl and get disappointed later. She was worth the effort. But how would he find her without a name now.

"Tsk! I do not know her name but I am paying you double the amount for the same girl. Can you not arrange it for me?" The tone was high enough to get the attention of many who turned to their direction to see what the ruckus was about.

The man looked around with panic on his face.

"What are you shouting for? These kinds of tasks are done in a low voice or do you want authorities to know about us?"