It's been 2 days since that spirit attacked me. During this time, I met only a couple of peasants who went to a neighboring village on business and returned. Few people go alone, everyone prefers to go in a group. Today I met merchants with a carriage and mules. But even they go in a group with mercenaries for protection. It would be necessary to devour the mule somehow later.

We have been walking in the same direction for several hours. Finally, the mercenary could not stand it and ask

-Hey, man. Where are you going?

-To the city Demike.

-Why do you want to go there? You don't look like the rich hunter.

- I want to find a job there.

- Hm. Are you good at bow shooting?

- Quite.

- Can you show me?

- Of course.

-Can you hit that apple with 3 attempts? -The mercenary pointed at the apple at a distance of 50 meters. That Volunteer was a fairly experienced shooter and had been studying shooting for more than 10 years. On the second attempt, my arrow hit the apple

- Impressive. Listen, don't you want to join us? Although we won't get much money from such work, I assure you, it won't last long. We are planning to go to the Kuday Theocracy in a couple of months. Rumors say they want to finally regain control under the Blix. Although most likely we will not play a big role there, we will get good pay.

- Hm?

Kudai theocracy? Blix? From whom did I learn these names? That's right, hunter number 4. The Kudai theocracy is located in the southeast of the Monhimouerian Empire. There are no common borders with the empire because the Blokinia is located between them, it is also known as the Republic of Blokinia. His relative served there as a mercenary in the holy war to protect the borders from barbarians. His words about it:

«I have never seen a more brutal battle in my life. The nomads almost filled the sky with arrows, our troops can not hit them in any way, their curved swords cut my comrades like cabbage. At the moment when they released teyram, I was already preparing to die, but fortunately, the priests saved me from this creature, otherwise, I would have been killed with a curse. Here's my advice to you, never go to war with them. That's where our troop of mercenaries disappeared. Though our leader was a warrior of the 3rd level!»

«The theocracy sometimes attacks the Bostyk Khanate, but in most cases, they are just protecting. If the theocracy attacks at best once every 20 years, the nomads can attack at any time. Sometimes next year, sometimes in 10 years. I have no idea on what principle they do it. Perhaps they are making a sacrifice to the underworld. »

I will have to go to the nomad lands one day.

-Hey, something wrong? Why are you so quiet?

-I was just thinking.

-Okay. So, would you like to join us? I'll talk to the leader about it. If he agrees, I will be happy to become your brother in arms.

-A brother-in-arms?

- Those with whom you survive I the difficulties of the battlefield. Who we trust with our lives. Those with whom they united for a common purpose.

- Like the family?

- Yes. But the family in which you are not sure who will die next. Your brother is on the left, on the right, or you, but despite this, they are ready to boldly go into battle at the first order of the leader.

-Hm...- United for a common purpose. Which purpose?

.You said... -When I wanted to ask him about it, he interrupted me

-I know what you want to ask. If you can show yourself well, then we are ready to invest up to 5 drachmas!

A drachma? Hm... drachma... I find! The average coin. One drachma is equal to 24 dinars. There is also the kroon, the largest currency in the country. One kroon is equal to 240 dinars. Everything seems to be clear. If you count it, it is equal to ... 120 dinars. A quiver of iron arrows costs 6 dinars. Wheat for a month is equal to 2 dinars. Chain mail armor of 80 dinars... If I give this money to others, it will be very useful.

- If you agree to accept me.

- Of course! I'll call the leader right away when he wakes up.

-When he wakes up?

-Our group recently took a mission to kill a dangerous gang of robbers. Ahem, anyway, we are not enough people right now. Even the former leader... No, forget it. Wait until tonight, okay?

- Ok.

...

PoV Tornhelm

When I woke up in the evening, I left the wagon. Today I will be the first to guard, then I can get a good night's sleep. If no one would attack.

-Leader. -Seems like Lucas wants to say something.

-What's the matter?

-We have a wanderer here. He is a quite capable archer.

-I'll take a look at him myself. He must be quite capable since you recommend him. Where is he?

-He went to get some firewood. He should be back soon.

At the same time, someone came out of the forest with an armful of firewood. He came up to us and said.

-There's a pack of wolves. Of 6 individuals. It doesn't look like they're interested in attacking, but it's better to be on your guard.

-How did you know that?

-I noticed the tracks, so I decided to send my bird to investigate.

Nonsense. But he says it with such a serious face. Stifling a laugh I said

- Well, where's your bird?

- There. -He raised his hand and waved weakly. A small bird came out of the forest. It looks like a simple nightingale. - Here he is. My bird.

-Uh. And how could it tell how many wolves?

-I have my ways of understanding him.

- Ok. I'll take your word for it. But if it turns out that you lied, wait for trouble.

- Of course. By the way, are you the leader?

-Yes, I'm the leader of our little mercenary group. Do you want to join?

-To begin with, I want to ask…

- The salary will be high, don't worry. If you fight well, we can also increase... - Without letting me finish, he interrupted me

-No. Not that. And what will I do as a mercenary?

-Well, isn't it obvious? We will sell our swords for coins. Protect the land from robbers, suppress peasant uprisings, accompany caravans, sometimes participate in wars and sometimes fight with spirits. But the latter is only in extreme cases. They're too dangerous. But we are far from participating in wars. We don't even have a one warrior. But be sure, everything will be soon. Then the noble families will be happy to buy our services.

-Okay. And if we become brothers in arms, then for what purpose.

-All is simple. For the sake of money, fame, and famous. You will be in our group for a while, when we reach the city, we will all decide together whether you are worthy to become our brother in arms or not.

-I don't mind

-By the way, what is your name?

-Murad. And you?

-Nice to meet you. Tornhelm. His name is Lucas.

…

By late afternoon, all my brothers had already met the newcomer. Everyone accepted him calmly, he has good skills, it's clear that he has been practicing for many years. He says he was a hunter. Depending on the clothes, it looks like the truth.

- Hey merchant! The horses have already rested, isn't it time for us to continue the road? - I turned to the merchant. He looks 30 years old, with a cunning face. Children were sitting next to him. A boy and a girl. The boy seems to be 9 years old, and the girl is 6.

- Let them rest more. Tomorrow they will have to walk for a long time.

- Well, we are not experts in that. I'll trust you.

- Dad! I want to look around. -The boy said and was about to get up when the merchant grabbed him by the shoulder. He looked at me. Nodding silently, I took the boy and told him.

-We are going but not far. There are wolves here. If you leave me, they will find you and eat you. Do you still want to go?

- Y-yes... - the boy answered already not so energetically.

-And there may also be gangs of bandits here. They can grab and kill for fun. - The boy fell silent at this. Then he looked at me and said

-But you will protect me, won't you? It's a part of your work and you have to do it, isn't it?

-Hahaha! - The merchant laughed -Immediately obvious, my son!

- Tch. - He wanted to intimidate so that he would not go, but he was too brave, or maybe too stupid. -You will give a couple of dinars for this on top of the promised payment.

- Of course. If you come back alive and with all your limbs.

-Got it. Larry! Look after the camp without me! I'll be back soon!

...

There are a couple of hours left before sunset. I haven't noticed any tracks in the forest yet. But we must be careful. The boy runs around and collects all sorts of small mushrooms, berries, and much more.

-Boy! Come here!

He looked at me reluctantly and slowly approached me. I hate looking after children, dogs are even more careful than children.

-My name is Zach.

- I don't care. What have you gathered here?

He showed a mushroom with a large umbrella.

- I think it will make a delicious meal! - When I heard his comment, I smiled at him

-Сan you let me see it?

-Yes! Take. -He carefully handed me the mushroom. Having examined and identified Grie, I swung and threw him away with all my might.

-What are you doing!

-It's poisonous. Of course, it is not life-threatening, but diarrhea is guaranteed. Do you still want to eat it? -I said with a smile.

-...

- Well, then let's get out of here. The sun is setting.

-Fine…

…

Meanwhile PoV Murad

- Hello, my friend! -A merchant came up to me -I just heard from the mercenaries that you tamed a bird. How did you manage it?

- Well... a secret.

-I understand. That's not why I came there. Can you tame even more birds?

- I suppose so.

-Great! Don't you want to make a deal with me?

-A deal? What's it?

- Are you serious? Okay. A transaction is an equivalent exchange between two people, organizations, or countries. We give what we have in exchange for what we need in the long run. I want to buy birds from you, in exchange for dinars.

-What are you going to do with them?

- I'll sell them to different people. Young ladies will be happy to have a little bird.

Hmm... this is a very good offer. I will transfer my clone and he will give me coins in exchange for this, and then I will be able to receive information from different places.

-How much are you willing to pay for a bird?

-I believe that our cooperation will be long and fruitful. Therefore, I will offer a drachma from each bird.

The drachma ... coins of the empire are rarely used in other countries. They can only be useful within the country. But given the size of the empire, this is not a problem.

- I agree. I will give you this bird as a start.

- Really? You are very generous. Can I ask you a few questions?

- Of course

-First, how did you call it?

Hmm, let's it be

-I called him Nick.

- *Tweet*.

- I'll remember. By the way, I don't have a cage. Do I need to take special care of him?

-There was no need in the cage, he won't run. Just feed when he asks, if there is no possibility, you can let him go, he will eat and come back.

-Is he that smart? Is he able to understand commands?

-You can give him easy commands, something like check the area. He will remember the number of animals that he sees and you will be able to find out everything.

-And how can a bird transmit information? He can't talk.

The vocal cords of a bird are unable to make human sounds. Connection to the nest? It's too risky.

- You'll figure it out yourself. He is smart and able to learn. -Due to the limited size of the brain, the speed of thought slows down, even if you completely focus on processing information for a while, it will take much more time than for example a wolf. They can be useful only in collecting information, it will take at least 20 minutes for the concept of a minute of conversation.

- Incredible! - The merchant looked surprised -Tell me honestly. I certainly don't mind that you are lying a little, but can you show how he will go and find out where the people are? My son just went with a mercenary to the forest.

-Ok.

*Find two people in the forest*

*Accepted. *

The bird flapped its wings and went into the forest. I connected with him and started looking through his eyes. A few minutes later, I found out where they were. After waiting for the bird to return, I said

-They are deep in the forest, but it looks like they are coming back, they will be in 10 minutes.

-I won't even ask how you figured it out from the bird. I will ask only one thing, is all this not related to the fact that the bird is controlled by shamans?

- Of course not. I have never seen a single shaman in my entire life.

- I hope so. When we get to the city, we will fix everything on paper.

-Why?

-Because an oral contract is unreliable, you need something with which you can punish the one who violated the terms. Preferably only for another person, but not for you.

- I will remember this.

-Don't worry, we will make the contract profitable for both of us

...

PoV Tornhel

When I returned to the camp, I frowned. It's foggy.

- Larry!

- What's the matter Leader?

- When did the fog appear?

- About 5 minutes ago.

-Ok -I grabbed the boy by the scruff of the neck and went to his father. He was chatting with his daughter about something. - Hey Merchant! There are no large reservoirs nearby here?

- You really came. Seems like he really

- What?

- Don't pay attention to it. Did something happen?

- Yes. The fog has appeared, in case you haven't noticed.

-And? It's just a fog.

-Hide in the carriage. This is a bad sign.

The merchant did not doubt my decision and took his family to the carriage.

- Larry. Wake up the others. Tell them to come here as fast as they can. Also, tell them to keep their weapons with them. Do it fast

-I will be right back

Five minutes later, everyone gathered, weapons at the ready. There were 5 of us in total, not counting the newcomer. Larry, Lucas, Gunther the Slow-Witted, Zack One-Eye, and Harry.

-Anything wrong leader?

- It's foggy here. I have only a guess who it might be. Murad

- Yes?

-Have you ever come across a woman in luxurious clothes with silver and gold jewelry?

-Yes. She attacked me at night.

-Damn it! -The fact that he is standing in front of me speaks for himself. My brothers also understood what was going on (all except Gunther) and their faces became gloomy-Get ready for battle.

- Yes!