text: The shed was lit by a single candle on the table. Around the table there were four men, one of whom had the tallest shadow on the wooden wall. The tallest man's name was Gribb. A skilled mercenary, he was there in the service of the castle's lord. Although he did dress like one, Gribb did not have the intimidating looks of a mercenary for he was rather skinny - nor did he have the mercenary charm that the ballads always spoke of. His long hair was falling out and there was a hideous scar that split his lips in two which was barely hidden by his grey scruffy beard. He was the tallest man in the shed not because he was actually tall but because he was accompanied by three dwarves. The dwarves; named Dobber, Baldric and Whoredoom, were appointed by their lord to control the main gate. They were drinking beer and playing dice when Gribb arrived to deliver the bandit's head. Dobber, undoubtedly the dumbest of the three, had taken the head - because the lord was asleep - and paid the mercenary for his service. When the mercenary requested to join their game he could not say no; for the game was more fun with four people. Baldric did not like that the mercenary was with them and did not trust him. But he was too drunk to even care. "So," Whoredoom shouted, after taking a huge sip. "Why do they call you The Vulture? Because you look like one?" He laughed and spewed his drink on the table. Gribb grinned. "Why do they call you Whoredoom?" Baldric responded with a hiccup: "Because wherever he goes, the whores run away." The men laughed as Whoredoom groaned. "You know why they call me that," he shrugged. "I bring their doom by fucking them senselessly." "Sure," Baldric said and stood up to refill his cup. Dobber looked at Gribb's daggers and the long bow on the ground besides him. The mercenary also had a rusty sword which he allegedly never used. "I know why they call you The Vulture," the bald dwarf finally said, still looking at the weapons. "You loot your enemies. You never pay for anything, do you? Not even your clothes?" Gribb took a sip from his cup and smirked. He liked the dwarves. "I must pay for something. I am a mercenary, am I not? I kill for money." He looked down at his clothes and added: "Even so, I must admit I did not pay for these." Whoredoom and Dobber laughed loudly. Baldric was just watching the mercenary with a solemn look. "How do you sleep at night, Vulture? I heard you murdered those farmers up the hill." Gribb chuckled . "I am a weapon, good dwarf. Does your axe have feelings? Does it cry at night when you smash it on someone's head?" Baldric played with his beard. He had contempt in his eyes. The mercenary should not have been welcomed. He took a sip and replied: "My axe does not swing itself. It is I, who swings it." Gribb raised his cup and smiled. It was not a pretty smile. "Then consider me as an axe. An expensive one, of course." He finished his drink and continued: "It is the man who pays me, that swings it. If someone pays me enough, I can kill your entire family, then come here and drink with you. Because it is not personal. Did I murder those farmers? Sure, I did. Did I feel bad about it? Maybe a little bit. But only when it is night and I put my daggers beside my bed. Because only then, I am not on duty. I only take responsibility for my actions when I am doing it for myself and so far, not even once, have I murdered someone for myself." Dobber moved on his chair uncomfortably. "What if someone asks you to kill a baby?" Gribb shrugged. "Then I would kill it. For the right price." There was a silence in the shed. Even Whoredoom did not have anything to say. When the silence was interrupted by a whoot of an owl, Dobber asked: "Would you feel bad about it?" Gribb replied by sighing: "Sure I would..." He stood up and stretched his arms. "Only at night, in my bed." Whoredoom laughed and Baldric cursed. When another whoot was heard Gribb smiled sadly. "I shall also feel bad tonight. Thank you for the beer." The mercenary drew his two daggers and stabbed Dobber and Whoredoom in their necks. Baldric jumped to get his axe but the mercenary pulled another dagger and threw it at the dwarf's back. Finally, he walked towards a lever and pulled it down. The gate was open and hundreds of bandits rushed to the castle from the forest. As the night was about to be filled by screams and agony, the mercenary walked towards Baldric's lifeless body and took his axe. It was a little heavy for him but it did not matter.