Dragon Realm Scorch

“De Irvine colony is a town at de border of de Desert of de Damned. Nomadic dune elf tribes used it as a tradin’ post for dere salt trade and medical supplies.” Explained Guster as he and Avalon set foot onto the long single street of the colony, “It’s also de only place we can escape dis heat for miles.”

Flanked on either side of the long strip were shops and taverns, as well as the occasional brothel and church. “First thing we need to do is find us some grub” he said, smacking his parched lips. A cool mug of frothy mead was exactly what he needed.

“The first thing we need to do is to set up an ambush,” corrected Avalon.

“We just fought off a monster river – I nearly died twice!” Guster waved his hands around, gesturing to the threat of their ordeal, “You can’t tell me you ain’t hungry, blue!”

Avalon heard her rumbling stomach, which had not kept quiet since her last meal before the bridge. She frowned but nodded, following Guster inside a nearby saloon.

“Listen,” said Avalon between slurps of a piping hot beef stew, “we can't deal with Siv and Uther at the same time. Uther fights like three men and Siv nearly killed us. We need to take down Siv before we leave Irvine.”

Guster let out a wretched burp before sloping down his own bowl of stew. He wiped a drip from the side of his mouth with his sleeve and grabbed a bread roll from Avalon's bowl. “You gonna eat dis, blue?”

Avalon pushed the scraps of her meal towards Guster. “I'm serious, we need to discuss our next course of action.”

Guster mopped the remains of gravy, soaking the bread and shoving it into his mouth. “Mrmm. Yeah, I got you, blue. I’ve been to dis town a few times in de past. I know where we can ambush ole’ Siv.”

“And?”

“De bank has de best vantage point to throw down a rain of knives, if you can keep her distracted with your sword,” said Guster, picking his teeth with his pinkie finger.

“I can-” Avalon’s eyes widened with surprise as a figure swung past the saloon doors. Avalon kicked her table forward, sliding it into Guster, pushing him against the wall. A flurry of needles flew into the space where Guster had sat at moments before. Tin dishes popped into the air with each needle crashing into them. “New plan! She’s here!” cried Avalon.

Guster dropped to the floor and dragged himself under a set of tables as a series of needles rippled across the wall above him.

Cattle wranglers and colonists funneled out of the saloon in fear for their lives. Siv leaped onto an adjacent table to search for the scampering Guster. Avalon twisted and spun her foot out across the table, tripping the bounty hunter. Siv bounced off the table and slammed to the ground.

“You deal with me, Siv!” Avalon drew her blade.

Siv pulled herself up, snatching a knife off the table. “Fine by me!”

Siv thrusted forward, her knife making contact with Avalon’s jacket before the Silent One blocked her hand. Siv reared back for another attack, slicing for Avalon’s stomach.

Avalon flipped backwards, realizing how fast Siv really was. Finding her footing, Avalon took hold of her hilt with both hands and dashed forward with a series of wild strikes.

Siv slid backwards, bailing her knife, favoring a fist full of needles instead. With a skillfully placed throw, she struck Avalon in the hand, making her drop her sword.

Avalon shook her hands, struggling to keep the feeling in her fingers as Siv’s poison coursed through her hand. She ducked behind a wooden beam and ripped out the needles stuck in her skin.

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She’s faster than me, being up close is no good and her needles are troublesome as well. She has me beat at a distance. So how can I defeat Siv?

“Hang on, blue!” from behind the bar counter, a number of daggers launched towards the needle armed bounty hunter. Siv heaved up a table and rolled behind it as Guster’s throwing knives splintered partially through the wood.

A low whistle sung from behind the table. “Looks like we have a regular dune elf standoff, eh Guster?”

Guster vaulted over the bar, a bottle of whiskey in hand. He took a swig, tossing the rest over his shoulder. “It don’t have to end like dis Siv. We outnumber you!”

Avalon punched a wooden beam with her right hand until she could feel pain again. She circled the other side of Siv’s table opposite Guster.

Siv loaded needles into both hands and took in a long breath. She popped into sight and flung a flock of darts at both of her enemies.

Guster turned to his side, raising his arm to shield himself as best as he could. The needles pelted down on him, sagging his arm like a rag doll.

Avalon flipped backwards, twisting in the air, dodging the majority save for two which stung her thigh and wrist. She landed with a thud on one knee.

“How much venom can you both take before you can take no more?” chuckled Siv as she closed onto Avalon. The Silent One’s breathing now labored, sweat streaked down her face. Siv yanked Avalon up by the collar. The bounty hunter slid a needle into her hand and pricked Avalon’s throat. “How ‘bout I finish this right now?”

Avalon looked away. Her blood flooded with the needle’s numbing agent. She couldn’t feel her arms or one of her legs. Once again, she was at Siv’s mercy. “Do what you must,” she sneered.

Siv reeled back her arm. “Just know, this ain’t personal-”

“Siv wait!” cried Guster. He raised his good hand and walked over to her, waiting for her to look at him before continuing. “Siv please, don’t kill her.”

Siv scowled down to Avalon, but lowered her hand. “Why? What does she really mean to you?”

“Sh-She-” stuttered Guster, jumbling his words.

“The truth this time, Guster.”

“She’s better than me,” surrendered Guster, “She’s everythin’ I’m not. A fighter in whatever she chooses to believe in.”

Siv glanced back at Avalon. The Silent One was also rendered silent.

“She’s a good person Siv. Someone I hoped to learn from…” he admitted, “...but never did.”

Siv released Avalon from her grip and dropped her needle. “Is that the truth, Gus?”

“Yeah, Siv,” he sighed, “dats de truth, honest to Thorton.”

Siv shuffled to the saloon doors and pushed one open. “Don’t make me regret this, Guster.”

“Siv?”

“I want you to go!”

Guster froze in confusion.

“Get out of here!” growled Siv.

Guster pulled Avalon against his shoulder. Both limped to the exit. “Siv, I’ll do right by you.

I promise,” thanked Guster.

“Be that man I always hoped you could be.” Siv grabbed Avalon by the shoulder. “Take care of him.”

***

The morning sun rose into the sky as Avalon and Guster trotted with their horses into the desert. Their bodies rested after their battle with Siv.

“Are you ready for dis, Avalon?”

Avalon smiled meekly. Her stomach churned and her legs twitched. She had never been more nervous in her life. Another encounter with Uther? Was she stronger now? Was he? Could she win? She swallowed hard. “There’s no turning back now.”

“No, I suppose dere ain’t.” Guster adjusted in his saddle. “All my life I’ve been garbage to anyone I worked with. My ole’ man, Siv, even de Network. I want dis bounty to be what changes me. Changes it all…”

Avalon nodded in understanding. “You and I are a lot alike in that regard, Guster.”

“How so, blue?”

“All my life I’ve run from my troubles. I buried everything in my past and never once asked for help to solve them on my own.” She looked at Guster and smiled. “I thought helping you might help me face the problems of my past to become stronger in the future.”

Guster beamed a smile back at Avalon. “Blue, we just had a tender moment, guess we a couple now?”

“Not in your life, swamp rat,” giggled Avalon.

Guster laughed back, “Can’t blame a man for tryin’.”