Dragon Realm Scorch

Guster exited the harsh desert winds and burning sun and stepped into the cool, dark ‘Spotted Jackle’ cantina. He wiped his brow making a beeline for the bar. Smacking his dried lips, he slid a sendetti coin to the barkeep.

“Ale… And Water.” His voice was hoarse like sandpaper, coming out more like a cough then his normal rugged sound that the barkeep was used to. “Make sure it has dat chilled rune on de mug dis time.”

“Well, well, Guster Laroux.”

Guster sneered, shaking his head in annoyance. He turned around finding his attention drawn to a woman tipping her cowboy hat. She was similarly dressed like Guster, sporting a long duster, but with white leather opposed to his brown. She grinned moving a strand of her auburn hair away from her face.

“What rock did you slither from underneath?” Her smile vanished “My, you stink. Why don’t you use that water to bathe with?”

Guster chuckled. He removed his hat and placed it innocently on his chest. “Siv, a pleasure to see you, too. It’s been a month now, right?”

“A month. Not long enough. Three months would be too short before seeing your dog face again.”

Guster paused. He hid his agitation with a sly grin. “I ought to be goin’. Network business awaits.” Guster reached for his glass of ale, leaving the water behind and strolled to the darker end of the bar. Pushing a door open, he swung a single gulp of his alcohol before smashing the rest against the neighboring wall.

Siv always got the best of him. Like a chigger under his skin. Itching, crawling, gnawing in his head. He couldn’t stand her.

Aw Siv, what happened to you, girl? You and I used to be best friends. Back when we ran together we were untouchable. How come you turned out to be such a bitch?

The hallway bent into a wrapping stairwell before ending at a thick steel door with a peak hole. Guster rapped three times, pausing before knocking a fourth. The peak hole slid open. A set of eyes took a short glimpse at Guster before a set of locks chinked behind the door and the entrance creaked open.

Inside Guster walked and sat down at a stool. A low table set between him with a lanky and scraggly man at the other end. He wore a leather skullcap, accented with a set of dingy, bronze goggles. His breath reeked of cigarettes and he wiggled his skinny fingers before tossing a copper chip to Guster. The coin bounced once before Guster slapped his hand down, catching it in mid motion.

“Lord Brinshaw’s brat ran away from home. Making a mess for the nobleman. He wants you to bring him home.”

Guster narrowed his eyes and slid the chip back to the man. “Chump change, Dozer. Rookie’s work,” he scoffed, “I want what Siv has. I know de Network has been treatin’ me like dirt since I left her partnership.”

Dozer sucked in deep through his yellow, stained teeth. “Well, Laroux, the truth is we feel you haven’t proved yourself as a solo act.”

“Proved myself!?” Guster kicked his stool from beneath him. “I ran with my ole’ man learnin’ de ropes years before I met Siv. And me and her were the legendary Knife and Needle crew. I got more experience in dis game then all your bounty hunters combined!”

“Well-”

“I ain’t finished yet!” raged Guster. His face fumed red as he paced around the room, rattling off his resume, “We took on de biggest bounties durin’ de War of Chains. White Cloaks! Gladiators! Even slavers! Ain’t no one gave us de slip!”

“Sit down.” Dozer waited for Guster to calm down before the bounty hunter once again took his seat. The director flipped him a different chip into Guster’s hands. This one was marked with a shallow groove signifying that a bounty hunter had taken the challenge already. It was not uncommon for multiple bounty hunters to be on the same job at once. Healthy competition was often encouraged within the Network. Although it also led to unwanted murders or career ending injuries.

“You want to compete with Siv? Don’t let it get out of hand,” warned Dozer, “Lady Sheena is looking to put Uther Ironsoul in her collection. Normally this would be a job for a slaver, but-”

Guster rolled the chip down his knuckles before squeezing it. “De Iron Soul? He’s dead

though.” He cocked his head with curiosity. “Saw him go down with my own eyes.”

“If you don’t want the job…” Dozer reached out his hand.

Guster pulled back the chip, “How much is de bounty?”

“Thirty thousand sendetti.”

Guster let out a long whistle. “And Siv is on dis one?” He caught the director’s nod. “Den I’m on dis one too.” Flicking the chip into the air, Guster snatched it on its way back down. “To prove myself and junk.”