Loot the bodies. It was my mentor’s first rule, and I hated him for it at first. The old man explained that we weren’t soldiers, and we weren’t heroes. We were adventurers. We solved problems that the other guilds wouldn’t.
Sometimes, the only path forward was with the key in a dead foreman’s pocket, or the only clue was the scrap of paper clutched in a dead assassin’s hand.
And the rings and gold pouches didn’t hurt either. It got easier every time.
But I was unprepared when the corpse’s hand grasped my wrist and dead eyes reopened glaring red.

“Wandering Sashiko Bag Set (2)” by Saké Puppets is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!

Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 

Have a fabulous day!