The sword pierced through the Kieran's chest and emerged from its back. Akel pulled the blade free in a single motion, causing the creature to collapse into the dark water at his feet. The impact sent a thin wave across the surface before the body partially sank into the mud; its fingers twitched one last time against the water, then went still. Akel didn't remain there watching. Another sound came from the forest, muffled by the swamp's humidity: a heavy step through the water, followed by the crack of a branch bending under some weight.
He turned just as the Kieran emerged from between the trees. The creature lunged with its claws raised, moving far too quickly for its hunched body, and Akel shifted his weight to the side, letting it pass through the spot where he had been a moment earlier. Its claws cut through the empty air beside his face. He spun around, and the sword struck the monster's side before it could turn. The Kieran staggered, tried to regain its balance, and fell heavily into the shallow water. Akel approached and delivered a single blow to end its movement.
The swamp fell silent again.
Akel remained still for a few seconds, his sword hanging at his side. The air was heavy with moisture, and a pale mist spread between the trees, following the surface of the water and winding around the roots emerging from the mud. The trunks were old and twisted, covered in thick layers of moss that concealed parts of their bark. Some had grown at such strange angles that their branches formed natural arches over the swamp, blocking what little light managed to pass through the dense canopy.
Near the ground, the smell was even stronger. Rotting leaves, stagnant water, and wet earth blended into a heavy odor that clung to his clothes, while small insects hovered over the puddles. Somewhere in the distance, a bird gave a single call before disappearing into the silence again. Akel wiped the blade on the creature's clothes and raised his eyes toward the forest. Nothing moved.
His red eyes slowly scanned the trees. His black hair was tied back, though a few strands had come loose and fallen across his pale forehead. There was mud on his boots and the lower part of his clothes, along with a few superficial marks left during the fight, but nothing that hindered his movements. His pupils, still slightly vertical, remained narrow for a few moments before returning to their usual shape.
Akel sheathed his sword.
Eight bodies were scattered throughout the swamp. That was the number specified in the contract.
He walked toward his horse, which was waiting on a firmer patch of ground beneath a broad tree. The animal watched him approach and let out a low breath. Akel placed a hand on its neck and remained silent for a few seconds, feeling the animal's warmth against the damp cold that still covered his own body.
"Let's go."
The horse lowered its head but didn't move.
Akel closed his eyes for a moment and took a small leather pouch from the saddle.
"I know."
The animal finally turned its attention toward him. Akel let his hand slide along its neck before stepping away and returning to the bodies.
The Guild didn't require entire corpses as proof. A few identifiable parts were enough to confirm a kill, provided the mercenary could indicate the location of the contract and the number of creatures slain. Akel collected what was necessary without hurrying and without looking at the bodies any longer than he needed to. The smell of blood remained on his fingers, mixed with the stench of the swamp, and for a moment he had the impression that he wouldn't be able to get rid of it anytime soon. He wiped his hands on the inside of his cloak and continued working.
When he finished, he tied the pouch to the saddle and remained there for a few seconds, looking out over the swamp. Nothing had changed. The mist continued moving across the water, the insects continued flying, and the wind passed through the trees as if nothing had happened.
Akel mounted.
The journey out of the swamp was slow. The puddles became smaller as he advanced until they disappeared completely. The mud gave way to damp earth, and the vegetation began to open, revealing a narrow trail between the trees. The horse walked carefully, choosing where to place its hooves, while Akel kept his eyes fixed on the path.
The forest remained closed around them. Only when he reached the edge of the woods did Akel see the sky again.
Dark clouds covered the horizon.
A drop fell onto his forehead, followed by another.
Akel raised his eyes and watched the sky for a few seconds. The rain would probably arrive before nightfall. The wind already carried its scent, cold and damp, and he had no intention of spending another night on the road.
He lowered his gaze and led the horse onward.
The road beyond the forest was little more than packed earth. Deep wagon tracks cut through the mud, while large puddles reflected the gray sky. There were no stone roads in this region, and during the rainy season some paths simply stopped being used. Akel wasn't in a hurry. The horse had already worked enough, and pushing it now would only mean reaching the city earlier with an exhausted animal waiting for him.
For several hours, the two traveled almost in silence. Fields appeared from time to time between groups of trees, and small properties were scattered throughout the region, many surrounded by old, uneven wooden fences. Smoke rose from distant chimneys, carried away by the cold wind, while some farmers returned from the fields before the rain arrived. Akel saw a man close the doors of a barn, a woman collect clothes from a clothesline, and a child carrying a bucket larger than he should have been able to lift, following the steps of a man leading two animals.
No one seemed to have time to look at the road.
It was the kind of place where people learned early to finish their work before something went wrong.
As he continued, the properties became more numerous. Fences appeared along the road, followed by small houses and sheds built close to one another. A group of children ran between two buildings until an older woman shouted for them; they disappeared almost immediately, leaving behind only the sound of footsteps on the wet earth.
It was only after reaching a small rise in the road that Mirior came into view.
The city was small compared to the great cities of Arkham. A low stone wall surrounded much of the settlement, darkened by time and rain, while two watchtowers guarded the main gate. The wooden roofs had been repaired so many times that it was difficult to tell which parts were still original. Beyond the walls, dozens of chimneys sent smoke into the heavy sky.
Mirior belonged to the kingdom of the same name and was far from the great political centers and major trade routes. The forest began only a few kilometers from the walls, while the swamps occupied much of the land to the south. There, the boundary between inhabited territory and the wilderness was too narrow for its inhabitants to forget.
Because of this, some professions were more common there than in other parts of Arkham: hunters, adventurers, and mercenaries. Men and women who made a living by entering places where most people preferred not to go.
Akel joined the line at the gate.
There were only a few travelers ahead of him. A wagon loaded with sacks occupied almost the entire passage, while two guards inspected the cargo. One of the merchants was arguing with them, visibly irritated by the delay.
"You've already checked half those sacks."
The guard remained impassive.
"And the other half is still waiting."
"It's grain."
"Then it shouldn't be difficult to open."
The merchant pressed his lips together, clearly thinking about what to say. In the end, he merely let out an irritated sigh and opened another sack.
Akel watched in silence as the inspection continued. His horse shifted beneath him, and Akel loosened the reins slightly to calm it.
Beside the line, a woman looked at his mud-covered boots and then at the pouch attached to his saddle.
"Swamp?"
Akel turned his head.
"Yes."
She looked at the pouch again.
"Kierans?"
Akel nodded.
The woman turned her eyes toward the road.
"My husband found one near the farm last winter."
Akel remained silent.
She seemed to expect something, but continued when she realized he wasn't going to answer.
"He survived. Lost two fingers."
Akel looked at her hand. There was no wedding ring.
The woman noticed his gaze.
"That was the first thing he lost."
She walked away before Akel could respond.
The line moved forward.
When he reached the gate, one of the guards raised his hand.
"Name?"
"Akel."
The guard prepared his pen.
"Surname?"
Akel hesitated for a moment.
"Levis."
The pen stopped above the paper.
The guard raised his eyes.
"Levis?"
"Yes."
He wrote down the name.
"Reason for entry?"
"Returning from a contract."
The guard's gaze dropped to the pouch attached to the saddle.
"What's in there?"
"Proof of the kills."
"Of what?"
"Kierans."
The man extended his hand.
"Document."
Akel took the contract from inside his coat and handed it over. The guard checked the Guild's seal, then looked back at the pouch.
"Eight."
Akel nodded.
"You killed all eight?"
"Yes."
The guard looked at him again. This time, he took longer. His eyes passed over Akel's face, stopped at his red eyes, and then returned to the pouch.
"Alone?"
"Yes."
The man remained silent for a few seconds. Around them, the line continued moving, a wagon passed through the gate, and a horse whinnied somewhere behind the wall.
Finally, the guard returned the document.
"You can enter."
Akel put the paper away.
"Thank you."
He passed through the gate.
The inside of the city was louder than the road. Merchants called out their wares from stalls, wagons moved through the narrow streets, and people carried baskets, tools, and sacks of goods. The buildings stood close together, made mostly of dark wood and uneven stone, while rainwater flowed through shallow channels along the sides of the streets, carrying leaves, mud, and small stones toward the lower parts of the city.
Near the gate stood a small bakery, and the smell of fresh bread escaped through its open windows.
The horse slowed down.
Akel noticed and kept walking.
The animal stopped.
Akel closed his eyes for a moment, then looked at the bakery and finally at the horse.
"No."
The animal remained still.
Akel sighed and took a small piece of dried fruit from his pocket. He held out his hand, and the horse ate it before he could say anything.
"That's all."
The animal started walking again.
Akel continued with it.
The Guild was near the center of Mirior. He had been there a few times before, although he had never stayed in the city for long. The streets in that area were busier, lined with workshops, larger stores, and two-story buildings. The sound of a hammer striking metal echoed from somewhere nearby, followed by the noise of a wagon wheel rolling over uneven stones.
Some people looked at Akel as he passed. First at the sword, then at the pouch, and finally at his face. He continued walking without returning their looks. He had already learned that people's curiosity lasted less when it received no response.
The Guild building appeared after a turn. It had two floors, stone walls, and a wooden sign hanging above the entrance, marked with the symbol of the Adventurers.
Akel dismounted and tied the horse outside the building. He removed the pouch from the saddle and remained still for a few seconds, watching the sky grow darker.
The first rain began to fall.
Akel looked at his hands. The smell of the swamp still lingered on them, despite everything he had done to clean them. He slowly closed his fingers and then opened them again before pushing the door open.
The warmth came first.
Then the smell of old wood, food, alcohol, and wet clothes.
Akel stepped inside.
Behind him, the rain began to grow heavier.
The contract was over.
Now he only needed to collect the payment.