The Desert of Time

Prologue

Ashton sat with his back against a half-broken barrel inside the abandoned warehouse. His tan duster cloak giving him some extra cushion. After taking a puff from his cigarette, he counted the remaining bolts on his bandolier that belonged to his hand crossbow, “Sidewinder”

"Three left? Damn." he said.

Wiping sweat off his forehead, the dirt and grime remained on his forearm. He poked his above the barrel to see 4 more heads staring back at him hiding behind various crates and barrels. A 5th man was standing, aiming his crossbow in his direction. He immediately ducked as the whip of the crossbow unleashed its bolt. Ashton’s unkempt flowing brown hair moved with he breeze of the bolt overhead. Okay now he must reload. He quickly stood up and fired two of his bolts into a barrel one of the men was hiding behind. Gunpowder started to spill out onto the floor in front of it. The man stood up from behind that barrel and looked down. “I thought you were supposed to be a good shot?” the man said while laughing. Ashton stood there pretending to be surprised by his poor aim, his cigarette hanging from his mouth. The remaining men stood up and looked at each other in amusement. “Well, it looks like you got me,” Ashton said, his cigarette bounced around his words. He reached in his coat pocket and tapped a few times. Then pulled his empty pocket sleeve out. I'm out of cigarettes too?! Sighing, Ashton took another puff of his cigarette, pulled it from his lips, and flicked it toward the newly created pile of gunpowder.

To Ashton's it flew in slow motion, his last cigarette leaving him like a loved one going on a long trip, he missed it already. He jumped back behind the barrel he was hiding behind, as he heard the other men scramble for cover. It was too late. The explosion rocked Ashton's barrel, bits of it breaking of into splinters. It left a ringing in his ears, but he was otherwise unhurt. The room was a mess, shattered wood strewn about covering the bodies of 4 men. Where's Davie at? Davie, the man Ashton had been hunting, Davie’s bounty would be more than enough for a nice hotel room, a strong drink, and of course more cigarettes.

From the corner of his eye, he saw movement through the smoke. It was unmistakably Davie his right eye covered in a black patch, his red plaid shirt and dark trousers. Davie got up from a crawl, struggling to stand. Ashton let him stand, Davie dusted himself off

“That Ashton always was a dangerous fool. Good riddance,” Davie said.

“Oh, am I? seems like your men are dead. It’s just you and me now,” Ashton said

Davie turned around and yelped. He turned back around and started to bolt towards the end of a hallway.

“Oh, I don't think so Davie. You've escaped me for far too long now,” said Ashton, firing his remaining bolt into Davie's leg. Davie yelled and fell to the ground. Ashton walked over and tied his hands together.

“you're lucky you’re worth more alive, I took a chance on killing you, you made me waste a cigarette. I'm getting my dues,” said Ashton. He lifted Davie to his feet and pushed him out the warehouse door where his coachmen, and longtime friend, Kossar, a middle aged man, with dark skin, a green coat, and tan pants sat and waited on the horse drawn wagon whittling a small stick.

“Well, it's about time Ashton, I thought I was going to get a tan,” kossar said. Asthon gave Kossar a sideways look.

“Kossar is that even possible? you could make alligators find shade before you,” said Ashton

“Exactly my point!”

Asthon groaned.

“Just help me get Davie in the wagon,” said Ashton

Kossar jumped down and helped his friend get their bounty inside.

“Speaking of shade, it looks like you'll be spending a lot of time in some shade Davie.” Davie glared at Asthon. Asthon smiled, and sat up front with Kossar, who got the horses moving toward Sandvale city to turn in their payday

Ashton and Kossar rode silently toward Sandvale city. Davie however was not silent.

“They're gonna come lookin' for me, and when they find out about what you did, they’re gonna come for you. You don't know who I know!” Davie shouted. He would repeat the same thing to a certain degree, leaving out some, and adding more. He kept struggling with his bonds. Ashton was kind enough to at least get his crossbow bolt out of his leg, cleaning, and wrapping his wound.

He's going to prison, no need for him to be hindered in a place like that. I’ll give him a chance there at least.

Killing people didn't really bother Ashton, especially if they tried killing him. It was part of the job after all. However, unnecessary pain on someone who was already down, did bother him.

Davie started his rant again; Ashton was getting annoyed now. He cut him off.

“Look, if I had gold piece for everyone, I brought in who said the same things you are, Kossar and I could retire. I'm still bitter about my cigarette, and if you don't stop with your nonsense, I just may put that bolt back in your leg. understand?” Ashton said.

Davie struggled to get on his knees; when he did, he walked over to the window that separated the 3 men.

“I work for the Curators. If I don’t pay my dues to them, they’ll kill me. Then they’ll come after whoever else is involved. That includes you two. Don’t you understand? They’re everywhere and nowhere! They have eyes, where most cannot see! You have to let me go!” Davie said in a desperate tone.

Ashton sighed and stuffed Davie's open mouth with a rag subduing whatever he was about to say next.

The Curators was just a tale to scare children into being good. Though in the back of Ashton’s mind, he knew that wasn’t the case. There may be some truth behind it. He wanted no part of it. So, the less Davie talked about them, the less he had to think about them.