Lance the city guard was on duty. He didn't mind the job, hardly anything happened in Liston. At the gates, anyway. The real action was always at the markets, the docks, or perhaps middle district if the guards bothered to go there. It wasn't a popular patrol spot. Lance leaned on his spear, watching his colleague wave carts through the gates, occasionally stopping one to ask what they were carrying.

  Routine stuff. So why were his senses tingling?

  Most fighters had it, whether it was an official skill or not. A sense for danger. A feeling for when you needed to be alert. A feeling that behind you... Lance whipped his head around, but nothing was there.

  "You ok, Lance?"

  "Yea, just felt... something weird."

  The guards shifted, looking around. It didn't take long for one of them to spot it.

  "There."

  Everybody looked in the direction the guard was pointing. Coming up over a hill was a horse. That wasn't too strange, although a horse without a rider was a bit odd. Had something happened to the rider? Lance squinted, trying to see more detail. The horse was carrying something in its mouth. Something huge. It was impressive, how much weight the horse was carrying.

  "Oh no, it's carrying a dead body. The horse's rider? Poor guy."

  Some of the shadier-looking people waiting in line to enter the city started to tiptoe in while all the guards were distracted looking at the horse.

  "Must have a strength skill to carry that weight in its jaws. Not a bad thing for a horse to have!"

  The horse kept walking forward at a leisurely pace. It dipped behind another slight hill, and the guards lost sight of it. Lance turned back to the line and started waving people forward. The horse came back into view, and the first person screamed. What was in its mouth?

  It was a dead body, indeed. But not a man's.

  Teeth had wandered back to where she'd been previously, and found the bodies of the three dead trolls. Actually, two dead trolls. The third had been slowly healing from half its brain being bashed in. He was still lying with the others, but in another day or two would be up and walking about. Teeth put a stop to that.

  She ate her fill, but there was plenty of troll left over. Perhaps her owner would like some? He pretended to only eat human food, but Teeth recognized a fellow omnivore when she saw one. She picked up the most intact troll and brought it back to Liston.

  Lance had fought a troll. Once. With a squad of 20 guards. It wasn't a pleasant experience, and even though he'd earned a skill from the encounter, he wouldn't sign up for a second round. He stared at how the horse's sharp teeth bit into the troll's corpse as she carried it past him. She didn't even look wounded. The horse walked with a smug swagger past the stunned guards.

  "Should... should we stop her?" One guard, Lev, asked with a slight tremble in his voice.

  "You first," Lance replied.

  Lev took a hesitant step toward the horse, who had already stepped past the gates. As soon as he moved, the horse stopped. She turned her head slightly to look Lev in the eye. Lev gulped, and stepped back. The horse snorted, and kept walking. She turned toward the warehouses, and went up to the super weird wagon that had been parked there for a few days now. She put the troll corpse down next to the wagon, then curled up on the ground and went to sleep.

  Zig had never raided a gang hideout before. None of them had.

  "Safest plan is to hole up in a little alley like before. Throw a rock at their door and let them come to us." Hepp suggested.

  Zig shook his head.

  "That'll just get the first few, and the rest will all run off. We need to get Beefcake. We have to go in so fast that there's no time for him to leave. Are there exits we can plug up?"

  "I can move something heavy in front of doors," Gretta said, "but if anyone in there has Strength, they'll be able to move the same weight I can."

  "Worth a try, I think."

  The doors to the building were shut. There was probably a big meeting going on as the survivors of the alley updated the rest of the gang. The Red Daggers crept around the back, and Gretta pulled chunks off a stone wall nearby. She brought them up to the door and started building a mound of heavy rocks to block the door. Zig, Hepp, and the others were hiding behind the wall that Gretta was dismantling.

  "Hey! What are you doing?"

  A man had turned onto the street, saw Gretta and started running toward her. He went down as five knives hit him at once.

  "You think anyone heard?" Zig whispered urgently to the others. There was a tension in the air as they waited for the door to burst open. It didn't. Gretta got back to moving rocks. When there was a sizable pile, they made their way back to the front of the building. Zig wished he had his goop on hand, to seal the windows shut, but there was no way he could go back to the inn now. His whole being was directed to a single thought.

  Find Beefcake Jones. Take his money pouch. Bring it to the healer.

  "Let's go."

  Zig threw a rock at the front door. It burst in with a crash, and the team went in. Gretta first. Hepp following close behind. There was no hesitation. Anybody they met got a shield to the face. Anybody the shield missed got a knife in the chest. Zig followed Hepp with his club in one hand and a few small rocks in the other. Even the Mutts followed, holding sticks that had been sharpened to a point.

  They crashed their way down a corridor. It was going well. There were shouts all throughout the building, but nobody could get past Gretta. Occasionally she was pushed back by a particularly heavy blow, but Gretta's strength, bashing skill, and the sheer weight of her shield made her a force to be reckoned with. At one stage a big man charged her shield, and to everyone's surprise didn't fall back when they collided. They stood, straining against each other.

  "Where's Beefcake?" Gretta shouted.

  "Wouldn't tell you if I knew!" The man snarled. Gretta dropped her shield, hard. The sharpened tip sliced deep into the man's foot and he howled. Gretta pushed again and this time he fell over. Zig gave him a tap with his club, making sure he wouldn't get up again. The team kept going.

  Their luck ran out, though, when the corridor opened up to to a huge room. One half of it was filled with tables holding alchemy equipment. Tubes and beakers and little burners putting a strange smell into the air. The other half was filled with Beefcake's gang. Dozens of them. Zig threw the rocks he still had, and it shredded through several men. They all charged and suddenly every member of the Red Daggers were fighting up close. There was no hiding behind Gretta in this open space.

  "Back! Back to the corridor!" Gretta shouted.

  The team tried to move back, but they were all engaged. Zig barely dodged a knife that slashed at him, then reached forward and returned the favor with his stone club. The spray of blood made the thugs pause, but didn't stop them. Another man swung a club at Zig, who parried desperately with his own. The wooden club smashed into splinters against the rock. The man went down. Zig had a legendary skill, but he was terrified. A single wrong move and he'd be the one on the floor.

  Hepp was doing worse. He slashed with his knives, but so did the gang members. He brought down one man, then another, but each time took a cut or two in the process. This wasn't sustainable, he edged toward the door, and saw Knob kneeling down. A thug had raised his club over Knob's head. Hepp threw his knife, peppering the man with blades, and ran to Knob, scooping up the boy and bringing him to the doorway of the corridor. Gretta was guarding the entrance, shouting at the Red Daggers to get behind her. Gutters was wailing in the corridor. Zig managed to get a well-placed swing in with his club, spraying a bunch of men with blood. Nothing like that to give them pause. The team finally got back in to the corridor with Gretta in front. The rest of the gang continued to fight, but it was much more under control now. Gretta stood her ground, not letting anyone past. When they got close, a knife, club, or shield put them down quickly. Zig looked back to check on the Mutts, and his heart sank.

  Oh no.

  Knob was there, more white than green in his face. Gutters was bawling. Sniffs... wasn't there. Zig looked back into the large room, and there were bodies and blood everywhere. He couldn't see the little gnoll boy. He didn't have time to look carefully, more thugs were still beating on Gretta's shield. Zig kept fighting. An arrow took Zig in the left shoulder and he screamed. Hepp threw his knife and the archer went down.

  "That's my last knife."

  Gretta handed her hammer to Hepp, and kept fighting with her shield. Zig had no more rocks to throw, but still had his club. He fought through the pain in his shoulder, and kept swinging. He hit one more thug and the body flipped backward, flying into the thugs behind him. It was the last straw for the thugs. There was a crashing sound as two windows broke and the remaining thugs all started fleeing the room. All except one who was cowering at the back, next to the door that was jammed shut from the pile of rocks outside.

  Knob and Gutters rushed to a small body lying in the midst of the carnage. Zig wanted to check on Sniffs, but couldn't bring himself to do it. The curse burning within him took away his own will. He stepped furiously toward the cowering man. He didn't seem as tough as the others, he was a thin man in a worn suit, wearing glasses. Zig brought up his club to rest on the man's shoulder.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  "Where's Beefcake," Zig growled.

  "I... can't say." The man cringed and whimpered.

  Zig didn't have patience for this. He lifted his club.

  "Wait! Wait! I really can't say." The man frantically waved his hands. He was covered in sweat.

  "I signed a blood contract. Please. I'll help you any way I can! I hate Beefcake! I hate h-him!"

  Zig look up at all the alchemy equipment scattered around the room. He remembered this gang sold grip, a sort of potion drug.

  "Are you the alchemist making all this crap?"

  "I... am. I don't want to. I'm stuck in this contract. Please. I don't want to die. Let me help. There must be something I can..."

  Zig saw in the man the exact same conflict he'd been experiencing the last few days. A man who was forced to act against his own will. A blood contract. Zig spat on the ground.

  "What a mess. Ok. Let's figure out this contract. Can you tell me who Beefcake is?"

  The man paused, trying something, but shook his head sadly.

  "Can you tell me where he lives?"

  Another pause, another shake of the head.

  "Can you guess where he is right now?"

  The alchemist thought about it, and a smile spread over his face.

  "I think I can say, that if you want to heal your wound," he nodded to Zig's shoulder, "you'd best head to the Water District."

  "Water District? Where the healers are?"

  The man was sweating even more, fighting through the blood contract.

  "Water District is indeed where healers are. Where they live, and where they... do business."

  Zig almost dropped his club.

  "Huh... Thank you. One more question. If Beefcake dies, are you freed from your contract?"

  "I'm, I'm not allowed to try break my contract. I can't say."

  Zig sighed.

  "I'll take that as a yes. Get out as soon as you can, my friend. If I ever hear you're making grip again..." Zig gestured at the piles of bodies on the floor.

  "I won't."

  Zig nodded and walked up to his team. They were standing around Sniffs. The boy wasn't moving. Zig wanted to stay there, to be with his people. To comfort Knob, who was staring numbly, and Gutters, who had tears streaming down his face. He couldn't. He hated his blood contract, that made him less than human. He hated the blood contract that forced the alchemist to make grip. Zig's hand tightened on his club.

  "I know where Beefcake is. I think we need to move quickly, before someone reaches her before we do."

  Hepp turned to look at Zig, confused.

  "Her?"

  The door to the healer's shop burst open. Zig, Hepp, and Gretta, all covered in drying blood, stepped through the doorway. The receptionist screamed and ran out a side door. Zig didn't need her for directions. He'd been here before. He marched down the hallway and up to the room they'd once carried Hepp. Zig smashed that door down, too. He could have just opened it, but he was in a smashing mood.

  The elderly woman looked up at the intruders and swore.

  "You're still alive?"

  She looked at all the blood, and misread the situation.

  "You need healing? It'll cost more than last time. And I'm charging you for that door. How dare you break—"

  She stopped talking when she saw Zig's expression, as he walked toward her.

  "Beefcake Jones." Zig spat. He reached down and took the money pouch off her belt. He looked at it, then offered it to her.

  "Money. For you." Zig growled.

  "Hmph. Who gave it away?"

  "The alchemist. Nobody else was in a state to talk."

  The old lady looked shocked, then furious.

  "You messed with the lab? How dare you? It took me years to set that up."

  "Before I kill you, will you tell me why you sent me on this wild goose chase?"

  The lady sniggered.

  "Because it's fun, because people are desperate when they want their friend healed. Because I level up from people signing my contracts. Especially if they die from it. And you won't kill me, boy. You think I didn't put a clause in your contract for that?"

  She looked with contempt at Zig, and Zig found she was speaking the truth. He felt the contract dissolving, since he'd fulfilled the requirements. But even so, there was a lingering feeling that he just could not lift his club. He wanted to, with all his being. Who was this person, who toyed with free will? Zig strained to move his hand, but he couldn't. The lady cackled.

  "Now get out of—"

  Beefcake Jones didn't finish her sentence, as five daggers hit her head in a tight cluster. Zig felt the final bands of his blood contract disappear completely. Hepp lowered his hand.

  "Really? She didn't think of that?" Hepp said in disbelief. "I didn't think that'd actually work."

  Gretta looked at the body slumping to the floor, money pouch in her hand.

  "Blood contract gone, Zig?"

  "It's gone, Gretta. I'm finally free."

  "So you don't mind if I...?"

  Gretta bent down and picked up the money pouch. It was quite a large one, and had a hefty weight to it. She started raiding the drawers, taking a stack of paper and other supplies. She stopped when she realized Zig and Hepp were looking at her.

  "What? Paper's damn expensive. Come on, let's get out of here before we have to explain everything to the guards."

  Zig, Hepp, and Gretta grabbed a bunch of towels to remove most of the blood from their faces, and walked out of the healer's store. Zig felt light. There was a skip in his step. The burden that had been dragging him down was finally lifted. He'd never sign a damn blood contract again.

  Now, to find his damn horse.

  Zig saw the wreckage of the stable door, and knew immediately that Teeth wouldn't be inside. To be honest, he was just glad that the stable wasn't covered in the remains of another horse. This was already an improvement.

  "I owe that horse a treat. This is good behavior."

  The adventurers went inside to ask what had happened to the stables. Gretta brought a sack full of alchemy equipment and gave it to the receptionist as proof they'd completed their quest. She pocketed the five gold reward, and joined the other two who were speaking with another adventurer.

  "Didn't really see much, just heard the explosion. Came outside to see a horse walking off, but didn't think much of it at the time. I was a bit fixated on the exploded door, you know?"

  Zig nodded and bought the man a drink. A woman saw that, and spoke up quickly.

  "I heard the horse left the city. I've got a friend in the guards, he said a big horse walked out of the gates. Sharp teeth. Triggered his danger sense like crazy."

  Zig brightened up at that, and bought her a drink too. A small crowd started gathering, offering little tidbits in hopes of free beer.

  "No, I heard the guards saw it walk into the city, not out of it."

  "I heard the horse was fighting a troll, one on one. Dragged the corpse back through the gates like he was some adventurer bringing a trophy home."

  "Ha, a horse, killing a troll? No no, it was a man the horse brought home. Died to some monster, but the horse stayed alive somehow. Brought the man's body back to his family. The horse is a damn hero."

  "Alright," Zig announced to the room at large, "let's just do a free round of drinks for everyone, and help me piece together where this horse is."

  The room cheered and more information started piling in. It wasn't one troll, it was two. No, three. No, two. The rider killed the troll. The rider was the troll, the first troll to ride a horse. The horse was part troll. The facts started to mush together, until the only certainty was that there was definitely a horse, probably a troll, and the guards had seen it.

  "Let's go talk to the guards," Zig said.

  Zig, Hepp, Gretta, and half the adventurers guild poured out onto the streets. Everyone was in a fine mood from the free drinks and the opportunity to add details to a fine story. They all wanted to meet this famous horse. It was the talk of the town, in certain circles.

  The group marched down the streets, nearing the gates. Gretta called out to one of the guards, and started talking to him, but Zig happened to glance down the side street, where the Nest was parked. He was happy to see it was in good shape. Nothing had happened to it. That was the advantage of parking something in view of the city guards.

  There, relaxing on the ground next to the food wagon, was Teeth. Zig sighed in relief.

  "There you are, girl."

  The horse whinnied and jumped to her feet, trotting over to Zig and nuzzling him in the chest.

  "It's been a while! I'm so sorry you had to wait so long. Are you ok?"

  Teeth seemed to be doing well. Very well. Zig narrowed his eyes.

  "Did you kill someone? Somebody's horse? Remember my talk about city behavior?"

  Teeth rolled her eyes and snorted. Then she clopped over to the other side of the wagon, and picked up something. She brought it over to Zig and dumped it at his feet. It was a troll's corpse.

  "So there was a troll. Is this one of the ones we killed, Teeth? Or did you get another?"

  Teeth looked at Zig with a cheeky "you'll never know" look in her eye. Zig looked at the corpse. It stank.

  "What am I supposed to do with this thing? It's huge, and falling apart."

  "Is that a troll's corpse?" Someone from the crowd stepped forward. "Cover me in feathers and call me a bird, that is a troll!"

  Money exchanged hands as people cashed in on bets that the troll story was real. Zig grimaced at the stinking meat and bones in front of him.

  "Anyone want a free troll corpse?" He joked.

  Everybody started talking at once, clamoring to be heard. Some of the guards came over to restore order.

  "Zig, this could be worth a lot of money." Gretta hissed.

  "Huh? How?"

  "Rare monster parts? Alchemy and stuff."

  "Oh! Um, ahem. I'm not giving the corpse away." Zig announced to the disappointed crowd.

  "I'll give you five gold pieces." One man called out. It triggered an instant auction, with another wave of voices all calling in prices.

  "Six gold!"

  "Seven gold!"

  "Seven gold and a cow!"

  "Eight gold, three silver, five copper!"

  Zig was stunned, so Gretta took over and got the thing sold for 12 gold pieces. She pocketed the money and clapped Zig on the back as the poor winner tried to drag the corpse away. A few others pocketed a copper coin each and joined in to lift the thing away.

  "Teeth, you just earned 12 gold. You are a very good girl indeed."

  Teeth harrumphed, pleased at the praise but also as if to say "Of course, I know that."

  Zig found the nearest stables and paid a stablehand to come and brush Teeth down. He had to double the money, when the stablehand saw the monster of a horse. Zig sternly told Teeth that she would get regular brushes, but only if she never ate the ones brushing her down. It seemed to work, and Teeth was actually quite happy to receive the brushing. Farmer Haggold hadn't quite been brave enough to try, so it was the first time she'd ever had the experience. City life wasn't so bad, she decided.

  Zig also bought a barrel of ale for the city guards, as an apology, thank you, and bribe all in one. It cost him a hefty 17 silver, but Teeth had more than made up for it.

  Seven members of the Red Daggers sat around a table in an inn. Zig, Hepp, and Gretta were all cleaned up from their battles. Jints had ordered some quality food. The cook must have some skills, because Zig's eyes widened as he took a bite.

  "This is duck?"

  Jints nodded.

  "With some local berries making the sauce. I'd heard it was quite the treat, that's why I bought us here."

  The crispy skin made a slight crunch as Zig bit into it. The meat underneath was soft, tender and juicy. They salty and savory meat mixed with a refreshingly sweet and tangy berry sauce in his mouth. Zig chewed, and nodded.

  "I can't believe just a couple months ago I was eating rabbit paste on a mountain."

  Zig took a sip of cider. It was like a carbonated juice, with a hint of something spicy. Zig sighed, and relaxed into his chair. Life was good. He glanced at Knob and Gutters, the newest members of the team. They looked overwhelmed. They seemed to alternate at wonder and awe at the plush inn with gourmet food, and grief at the loss of their friend. The people of Liston weren't too friendly toward the two boys, but Zig, Jints, and a few coins made sure the inn's staff at least were accommodating. Gretta on the other side of the table, lifted her mug.

  "I'd like to propose a toast. To our fallen member, Sniffs. He died with his family, fighting for his family. To a dwarf, there is no higher honor."

  The team silently bumped mugs and took a drink. Hepp lifted his mug.

  "To the Red Daggers, for being everything I'd ever wished for and more."

  Members smiled, and there was another round of bumping mugs and taking a drink.

  "To Zig, and to the Red Daggers, for rescuing me from that awful hell called Grimsby." Jane lifted her mug. The others cheered a little and bumped mugs again.

  "To Teeth, the finest horse to ever live!" Zig declared, holding his mug high in the air. Another bump. Another drink.

  "To getting out of middle district." Knob said with quiet determination. The team cheered that one, and drank again.

  "To friends..?" Gutters suggested. This cheer was the loudest. It was the first time Gutters had spoken since they'd stormed the hideout.

  "To beginnings," Jints said with a glint in his eye. "Yes, to beginnings."