• Bucco had a lean and muscular build that made her look deceptively weak. Still, she gave off an energy that told everybody “My balls are the biggest and anybody who wants to challenge it will be fed theirs.” Nobody challenged her leadership; that's not to say that they wouldn't have replaced her if they felt her incapable.
    Control of the pack gradually shifted to her after they set out from Midian to make a living in the modern world. It was an unconscious nomination that she knew what was best for the pack.
    Unfortunately they got roped into service with a private army funded by a self proclaimed philanthropist named Lars. Lars was working for a baron that was part of a coup against the kingdom ruling the province. They chose the contract based on the training potential of the fighting involved; they planned to leave after the worst of the initial fighting was over and be on their way before everybody on the continent took interest.
    The pay was better than anything they had received in their aimless travels through this chaotic continent. They had crossed the Iberian Channel to get here and would most likely have continued across the Zarra Sea to the eastern continents where war was truly perpetual. They instead ended up part of a seemingly disorganized plan to control the town of Evora.
    Bucco was here to take this town by way of terror to reduce the odds of an actual shooting war. She had set up their contract to end once the town was taken. She knew that even though this town had no official government outside the archaic ruling family (which was far away and occupied), Midland Railway would be the first to hire an army to liberate the town. Hopefully they would be long gone in search of better work by then.
    Aulus would serve her dutifully until he died or they fulfilled their contract. He wanted his own fighting school in a foreign land and had invited Bucco to work with him as an instructor. He doubted Ipito and Lurco would care to come and if the group ever split up, they would be the first to head to the holy land to seek their fortune and glory.
    Ipito was recovering fairly quickly. He was a huge man who loved to play the roll of the wrecking ball. He wasn't dumb by any measure either. He studied constantly and had even developed his own poisons and custom weapons to deliver them. He wore simple body armor that could stop pistol caliber bullets like the one that had barely saved him a week ago.
    The woman Ipito fought was most likely dead from infection. She had almost hit an artery in his thigh with a trench knife and made her escape, putting a wall of bullets into his chest. He heard some whiz past his ear when she fired the last few at his head; one had taken off a part of his ear lobe. The target she was escorting had escaped as well.
    He killed a group of volunteer militia the next day to make a point that he was still alive. They were easier prey than that single person.
    Lurco was a smaller savage fighter with unusual stamina and quick legs. He was sitting at a table sharpening two short handled axes. He was preparing for a day hunt.
    There was a forming government when they had gotten to the town. Some of the people in the town had formed an underground government with their own fighters in a feeble attempt to resist their attacks.
    On several occasions, people have tried to organize the town for their own purposes or for the benefit of the town only to be killed by somebody else wanting control. They had come in at an ideal time to keep the town in chaos.
    Midland just unloaded three trains of mercenaries into this town. At the least, they would be going up against a quality group of professionals. There was the threat of a rival clan in Midian forming a contract in the town and sending somebody after them. All three train loads of mercenaries might be directed at them.
    Lurco rolled over the possibilities and how they could affect his mission. He grabbed a smoother stone and continued sharpening his ax. He considered the possibility that this town would be the end of them; they had all agreed that this was a fair risk given their profession and the benefits they received.
    The owner of the navigation supply shop was his prey today. There was a belief that he was working for an underground resistance group.
    Lurco oiled his axes and set them on the table. He got dressed and tied his boots, ready to step out into the day to pick from the herd.