Treasures beyond the stars

Chapter 1

I stared at my empty glass blankly, getting drowsier every passing minute, with a burning taste of whisky in my throat. The tavern was warm, loud and smelled of alcohol, compared to the cold, dark and silent world outside. Through the half-drunk crowd I got a glimpse of a hunched, cloaked person walking around people like fog in a forest. He appeared as if he was looking for something, or someone. I look back down at my hands and took off my leather gloves showing cold, pale hands that where covered in scars and cuts. I used to be in the medical field, Now I'm a bounty hunter on the run. I get out of my thinking session and returned to reality when I hear a coughed up whisper "pssst hey bounty hunter".

I turn around and see the slumped over, shadowed man making a beckoning hand motion while staring at me with his bright crimson eyes peering out of the corner. I knew it was me he was talking to. I stand up and look at him wondering whether I should go to him. He had a sketchy and uncertain feel about him. I had a small mental argument with myself before walking over to him.

As I walked up to him I obtained a better view at what he looked like. Under his big old brimmed hat was a face covered in old bandages. The only thing that was visible was his ruby colored eyes that where scanning me and a moustache of straw-like whiskers. He wore a thin tattered cloak that covered his legs, he had a belt that held pouches and he had a wooden cane. The man looked up at me and said with a croaky voice,

"Well you've gotten taller." Did he know me? I've never seen this person before. "You were one of the Medics for the vulture army weren't you?" he hissed, how does he know my past?

"If you came here to try to kill me for quick buck, get it over with." I tried to sound intimidating despite the alcohol drowning my thoughts and slurring my words.

The man stared at me and chuckled through wheezes. "I'm not the killer you think I am. I just know you and know you can find what I need...so relax." I started to pay attention.

"What objects?" I asked interested, the man replied. "This is no simple game of fetch, You and other bounty hunters I know will have to face a lot of dangers, there is no payment at the moment. But I promise you I can share a piece of the object you will find on this mission, it is something that can make anybody more powerful and more wealthy.

"Why don't you do it yourself then. Why do you need me?", I asked. I noticing that his boney hand held a map of some sort.

"That's simple. Because I'm not a physical fighting person like your bounty hunters. Your adventure is the path and I'm just the sign." He answered ambiguously while giving me the map and a strange metal sphere looking object.

"What's this?" The sphere started beeping witch startled me.

"That will help you find the object, it's a little bit damaged, but it works. Consider it a gift. Oh and by the way, just call me The Merchant of the Sand," he said with a wheezy chuckle. I was intrigued so I kept listening. ''Go to the dock down at Frostin Lake, a friend of mine will be there. His name is Rover and he will be there to help you, oh and by the way Rover tends to sometimes be a bit hand hungry, meaning he steals things sometimes just to let you know" I made a mental note and I paid the bartender. I fixed up my scarf so it was just under my nose covering my mouth, put the metal sphere in my carrier bag then walked out of the bar.

As I was heading off, I turned around to see that he had completely vanished in a small puff of sand.

I turned back around and opened the map. It showed a vast island that looked familiar. On the south eastern side there was a small marker showing that what I had to find, it was in a mountainous area.