CHAPTER 11

“…97, 98, 99 and 100. There you go, bro”, Rakeh said as he poured a hundred golden coins into a small bag and passed it to Tydeus.

“Are you sure this is complete?” Tydeus asked Rakeh, smiling as he picked up his cup to sip some of his fresh wine.

“Of course, you want to count it again?” Rakeh asked curiously.

“Nah, never mind. I'm just joking”, Tydeus said as packed his bag of money off the table.

“Don't worry; when Sakoh comes back with the balance payment, the calculation will be straightforward”, Rakeh said to Tydeus.

“But why is he taking so long?” Tydeus asked Rakeh.

“I don't know, he only has one job there, to just collect the balance payment and meet us in this bar. Maybe he's busy playing hide and seek with his little bird again.” Rakeh replied to Tydeus as he gulped some wine off his cup, too.

“Or maybe those people are just delaying him”, Tydeus intercepted.

“Delaying him? Under this hot sun? They better not. I told you those people don't look like they have our price. Something tells me they're not going to pay us in full”, Rakeh said to Tydeus.

“But we needed the job; saving an old man from some useless pirate looks easier than killing a beast like Apophis, you know?” Tydeus said again to Rakeh as he poured some wine into his cup.

“Yeah, killing that crazy beast was hell, but we got paid well. Don't be surprised if Sakoh comes back here with half the money or no money at all…”

“I warned you that those people don't have our price; I don't know why you insisted that we take the job and save the old man”, Rakeh said to Tydeus.

“Well, let's wait and see. Hopefully, Sakoh would come back with our full payment”, Tydeus said as he relaxed his back to his chair to sit comfortably.

Rakeh drew his plate of food closer to him as he took out a chicken and tore it with his teeth.

He looked around the bar where they were staying and saw other bar attendees at their table, some female dancers who were performing on the small stage in the bar and the old bartender serving drinks to his customers.

“Oh boy, I'm tired of Egypt”, Rakeh said as he turned back to Tydeus, who was sitting in front of him at the same table.

“Not only you man. All we need is just one more payday. Just one more big pay and we are out of this trash country”, Tydeus replied as he sipped his wine again.

“This damn country has been battling with civil war for decades. If we are going to make bigger money as hitmen, we have to move to a better country”, Rakeh said again to Tydeus.

“True, but where do you think we could go?” Tydeus asked.

“Cana, Cana obviously. Haven't you heard?”

“The land flowing with milk and honey isn't it?” Tydeus intercepted Rakeh and almost burst into laughter. 

“Exactly, That is my dream home. We could go there and just start a new life. No more fighting, no more killing demons and monsters. Just peace.” Rakeh replied as he bit another part of his roasted chicken to eat.

“You're right. We have been fighting since we were kids. I mean, we were born into a country that has been suffering from civil war. The only way to survive and earn a living is by fighting.” Tydeus replied to Rakeh.

“One more pay day right? And we are done with Egypt for good?” Rakeh asked Tydeus curiously.

“Yes man, I say we take just one more job, and we head to Cana and start a new life”. Tydeus replied.

“Cana? Did you just say Cana?” A voice came from behind Tydeus.

“This is something you must know if you're going to Cana…” A young man kept talking as he walked from the bartender's area towards Tydeus's table.

As the young man kept walking without watching his way, he mistakenly hit the cup of a hefty barbarian in the bar and spilt his wine on his clothes.

“Oh my goodness!” The young man shouted in fear. 

He has just spilt wine on the body of one of the notorious gang leaders of the city.