Authors note: Here's the next chapter for you guys and I must say, it was done way sooner than I expected it to be. Hope you like it and find the time to leave a review, they're my writing fuel.

One longwheel is 1 kilometer.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, this is meant merely for nonprofit entertainment.

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Chapter 2

Welcome, Sai Locksley from Sherwood

I

Desert Diliah was hot.

The sun was beating down mercilessly, unhindered by even the smallest of clouds. It had Robin Locksley sweating through his thin white blouse, turning the dirt stained fabric somewhat translucent. The simple cotton fabric was sticking to his upper body, fitting the expanse of his back and chest like a second skin.

Robin and his Ka-Tet of Junior Gunslingers had been riding through this same desert for the past two weeks now. Surviving only on the dry meat they'd packed on the beginning of their journey, and the juice they had managed to get out of the few cactuses they'd passed. There was absolutely nothing to see except the sand and an occasional rock from time to time. Nothing grew here, the ground too dry and hard to allow even the strongest of seeds to blossom. Not even Devil's Grass (the pesky, black weeds that grew right about everywhere in Mid-World) overpowered the tropical climate. In the fourteen days Robin had spent in Desert Diliah, he had seen no coyotes and no Billy-Bumblers, which was unusual.

Robin was softly swaying from left to right, in movement with the dark brown stallion between his legs. The horse was a purebred named Roland and by the look of it's beauty and health, probably worth a lot of money too. Roland had been a gift from Tuck, a High Breeder back in Sherwood. Tuck had been like a father to Robin ever since his own father, High Gunslinger Stephan Locksley, had been murdered.

Somewhere behind him Robin heard Killian whine, saying that they'd been riding for ages and still hadn't reached Cal El Durgis. And to be honest, Robin had to admit that he was right. Killian Jones had been the last one to join their Ka-Tet. He was young, almost eighteen, but he wasn't the youngest. That title had been reserved for Emma Swan, the seventeen year old had been the first woman to ever gain the title of Gunslinger. Last in his Ka-Tet was David Nolan. He was just two months younger than Robin himself and they'd been friends for as long as Robin could remember. David's father was one of the High Lords that stood by the High Gunslinger.

Robin sighed, but it quickly turned into a silent curse as he felt a droplet of sweat drip down the back of his neck, only to be absorbed in his already drenched shirt. Desert Diliah. It had certainly deserved it's name. The desert was named after the High Maiden Diliah, who lived many, many years ago. Some say she lived even before the Jesus man was born. Diliah had been a greedy girl, hair red as fire and eyes black as the night. The tale of the High Maiden Diliah had been told in many ways, but Robin only knew one of those. In the version Robin was familiar with, Diliah had been a girl that had sought out the help of Satan so she would be able to marry the richest man in town. But for that to happen, she had to give up her soul. To make a long story short, Diliah's plan eventually backfired and she was pulled back through the gates of Hell where she was doomed to burn for eternity.

Robin had never been one to believe in such stories, but he did think that the desert was named appropriately, with the sun beating down relentlessly and not even a small rock formation in sight. He blinked slowly, trying to rid himself of the sand in his eyes (though Robin was sure it had been bothering him since he first stepped foot in this bloody desert).

"What are you thinking about Robin?" David suddenly asked, snapping the Gunslinger out of his daze.

From the corner of his eyes, Robin could see that man riding up next to him. David's dark blue blouse was just as sweat drenched as his own.

"I'm thinking about how much I hate this bloody desert." Robin muttered, spitting to the right to get the sand out of his mouth.

David chuckled, shaking his head as a lock of salt-and-pepper colored hair freed itself from his hat. The smile on his face was warm, and Robin suddenly understood why all the girls back in Sherwood used to call him 'Charming'.

"You and me both, brother. You and me both." David grinned, gripping the leather of the reigns to slightly steer his horse - Snowflake, it was called - to the left. "Do you also feel like you have sand everywhere? And when I say everywhere, I mean everywhere." David shivered comically, using his free hand to tuck the strand of hair back in the confines of his hat.

Robin smiled, close-lipped to avoid more sand flying into his mouth, and said: "I thought that was just me."

David wanted to say something else, but the two men were cut off by the sound of Killian's voice, yelling behind them to stop and turn around!.

The handsome dark-haired man had gotten of his horse, crouching down next to something Robin couldn't quite make out from this far. He was using his hook (an accident four years ago had cost him his right hand, no one quite knew how it happened, but Killian didn't want to talk about it, so Robin never asked) to move away the sand that was covering the foreign object.

Emma steered her horse closer and then jumped off, crouching down next to Killian, the big revolvers that were tied to her hips clinking as she reached over to take a closer look.

"What do you think it is, Locksley?" He asked when both Robin and David were close enough to get a good look. He scraped some more dirt away with a flick of his wrist, the sharp hook scratching the metal, but never damaging it.

Robin frowned, blinking rapidly as the object seemed to reflect the blinding sunlight that was still beating down harshly even though the day was almost over. "I have no idea." The Gunslinger said softly. "It seems to be some kind of mask."

The strange object seemed to be made from some kind of strong metal, being unscratched while having been buried under a layer of hard dirt. From what Killian had uncovered, Robin thought he could make out two holes that could be for eyes or maybe a mouth and nose.

"Who would wear a mask made of metal, Locksley?" Emma asked, confusion pinching at the corners of her eyes, creating small wrinkles that seemed to make her look older than her seventeen years.

"I'd use the word 'what'." David said, narrowing his eyes. "What would wear a mask made of metal? I have a strong feeling that this has never been worn by any human."

Emma looked up, her blonde hair slightly moving as a small breeze (the first breeze they'd felt since entering this sandy hell, Robin realized) made its way through Desert Diliah. "What do you know, David?" She asked, wiping her hands clean on the fabric of her tight jeans. "There is something you aren't sharing with us, I can feel it."

David bit his bottom lip before slowly standing up. "I've heard some stories." He started, reaching for his saddlebag and pulling out the skin that was half full with cactus juice. "Back when we were traveling through Calla Bruyn Sturgis."

Robin scrunched his eyes, trying to recall Calla Bruyn Sturgis. This Calla had been the last town they'd passed before entering Desert Diliah. It had been a small town, only about two hundred inhabitants, one local store and three or four saloons. It hadn't been much, but it had been enough to lift up their spirits somewhat and build up new energy for the trek through the desert.

"I overheard a conversation when I was enjoying some drinks in Sandy's Saloon. Some men were talking about strange things that had been happening in a town not far from there. They had been worried about it coming to their town, Calla Bruyn Sturgis."

"What do you mean by 'strange things'?" Killian asked.

David sighed, putting the skin back in his saddlebag. "They were talking about an army of men, they called them Wolves, that were kidnapping children from that town. The Wolves would only take the twins and three days later the twins would be brought back by a train. Only, when the children arrived back in town, they weren't the same. They called them Broken."

"And what does that sad tale have to do with this strange mask?" Emma questioned, tucking her black blouse back in her jeans as she stood up.

David shook his head silently. "That's the thing. The men said the Wolves were dressed in gray clothes, always rode on pure white horses and wore masks that seemed to have been made of metal."

Robin furrowed his brows, looking slightly questioning. "And you believe this tale to be true, David? It could very well be nothing more than a drunken man's imagination."

David nodded. "I thought that too, Robin. But now that I see the same mask they've described with my very own eyes, laying here in the middle of this strange desert, I'm not so sure about that anymore."

"Well, then what should we do with it?" Emma asked, shifting from her left foot, to her right and back to her left again. "I don't know about you guys, but I don't think it's a good idea to dig it up." The corners of her lips tipped downwards in dismay. "I have a bad feeling about this all, Robin."

Gunslinger Jones nodded, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "I understand what you mean, Swan." He said in confirmation. His hand grabbed the border of his black hat and he tipped it slightly to the left, protecting his eyes from the burning sun. "There is a strange air hanging around this mask, and I would veto against digging it up." He looked to the right, staring in the distance where there was nothing to see except sand and, well, more sand. "I would say we leave it, get back on our horses and find a way out of this bloody desert. All this sand is making me crazy and I would literally kill for a cold beer right now."

"I second that, Jones." David mumbled, already putting his right foot in the stirrup. Snowflake shook its white head, snorting softly, making it seem like she was agreeing. "How many longwheels until Cal El Durgis, Robin? You're the boss, after all." It was said with a smile, voided of any jealousy.

"About sixty longwheels, I think." Robin said, grabbing the dark brown, leather reigns and jumping on Roland's back with the grace of a trained rider. "Calahan told us to go north, follow the path of the Line, and it would lead us to Cal El Durgis."

David sighed, shaking his head as he released a breathy chuckle. "Calahan with his vague directions, I swear the man is going bonkers."

Killian let out a hearty laugh as he got on his horse - the black beast stood tall and proud and Robin has always joked that Killian had something to make up for. "I wouldn't be surprised, he must be close to ninety."

Calahan had been their teacher, back when they were training to become Gunslingers. The old man had been the one to teach them to shoot, fight and use their brain. It was because of him that Robin had gotten this far, so he only listened as his friends made fun of the old man. He would never talk bad about the man who formed him into being the best man he could be. A man who would always put his honor before himself.

He smiled tightly, turning his horse around to follow the Line and listened to the sound of his Ka-Tet laughing and joking about the man who had sent them on their quest.

The quest to find the Dark Thirteen.

II

Since finding (and leaving behind) the strange mask David had said belonged to the Wolves, they had ridden three days and three nights. Now, in the early morning on the fourth day, the small town named Cal El Durgis finally started to appear in the distance. Desert Diliah seemed to come to an ending as small patches of Devil's Grass and even some dry grass started to break through the hard, sandy ground.

New energy, mixed with excitement started to fill the Ka-Tet of the Sixth Line as their destination finally made itself present. Even the horses seemed to gain fresh strength as the only sound that filled Robin's ears was the sound of sixteen hoofs beating down on the ground that was starting to become softer and more fertile looking.

The four people that formed the Ka-Tet slowed down their horses once they passed an old, wooden sign that looked like it was about to collapse. The wood was rotten and the Welcome to Cal El Durgis, may you receive long days and pleasant nights that was painted across it in white paint, was almost unreadable.

"We made it Robin." Emma smiled as she rode up next to him. "I can't believe it, but we actually made it. Turns out Calahan isn't that crazy after all."

"Yes." Robin allowed himself a smile, steering his horse slightly to the left. "We made it, Swan."

The Ka-Tet rode the last ten wheels in silence, looking around, scanning their new surroundings. There wasn't much to see, to be honest. The town consisted out of one main road and a couple of small streets and alleys. In the distance, Robin could make out nine hills, but it was very misty this early in the morning, so it was hard to see how far gone they were. A silhouette of what seemed to be a large ranch adorned the northern border of the town.

"It's very quiet, isn't it?" Killian noticed and Robin thought the same. There were only five or six people strolling through the main road, and every single one of them was looking at the Ka-Tet with a mix of fear and excitement.

Whispers of Look, Gunslingers! and Oh my, why are they here? reached Robin's ears he narrowed his eyes. Two women were standing in front of what seemed to be the local store in town, talking with each other, but keeping their eyes trained on the revolvers that were strapped to their waists. Robin shook his head, paying no mind to the women as he looked to the right instead and saw the building he had been looking for.

Town Hall.

The town's weapon was adorning the front of the building, it was a bow and arrow, and Cal El Durgis was written under it in curvy letters.

They rode further down the road and tied their horses to the wooden bar that was placed in front of the building. There was no one standing in front of it, but Robin knew it wouldn't be empty.

The wooden floorboards creaked under their weight as they stepped inside, and it made the bald man that was sitting behind the desk look up. He was looking at them with a bored expression, his dark gray mustache moving as he asked themif they'd made an appointment. But before Robin could tell him that, no they hadn't, the man's eyes went wide as he noticed the revolvers. "Oh my." He breathed, scrambling up from behind his desk and getting on his knees in front of Robin. "Gunslingers." He murmured silently, still sounding surprised. "Gunslingers in our small town." He looked up again, reaching for Robin's hand and grabbing it when the appendage wasn't pulled back. "Oh, what is the reason of your visit, Sai Gunslinger?" He asked, kissing the back of Robin's hand.

Robin shook his head, pulling his hand back. "Don't, Sai." He said, beckoning the man to stand straight again. "We need to speak to the Mayor of your town."

The bald man nodded furiously, spittle flying from his mouth as he said, "Of course, Gunslinger, of course. Most certainly." He bowed to them, then pointed at the single door, behind them. "That's Mayor White's office, Sai. It's not necessary to knock. Gunslingers don't have to knock."

Robin nodded his thanks and then turned around to open the old wooden door.

Mayor White was old, his eyes were a piercing gray as he looked up with a frown, wondering who had had the nerve to enter his office without knocking. The man was dressed in a dark blue suit, the fabric looking expensive and definitely not from here. Leo White had nowhere near the same reaction as the man outside the office had had. His eyes just narrowed, turning even colder than they already were as he noticed the big revolvers, two of them strapped to each of their hips.

"Gunslingers." He said simply, the name sounding like an insult as he said it. He closed the book he had been reading and instead leaned back in his chair as he stared at them with clear disdain. "What reason do you have to be here, Gunslingers?"

David cleared his throat, his eyes shooting daggers at the old man as he stood tall. "We were sent to follow the Sixth Line, Sai Mayor." His voice was tight, the corners of his lips turned downwards. "We have reason to believe the Dark Thirteen has been hidden here by the Red King and we were sent here to retrieve it."

The Mayor scoffed, crossing his arms and resting them on his bulging stomach. "The Dark Thirteen?" He asked, sarcasm resounding in his voice. He lifted one gray eyebrow and continued. "You think the Dark Thirteen has been hidden here by the Red King?" His chuckle was loud, breathy. "Oh, Gunslingers. Always thinking they're so entitled, always thinking they know best. Why would the Red King choose the small town of Cal El Durgis to hide his precious Dark Thirteen of all places?"

"For exactly the reason you would ask that question, Sai." Killian spat, his hook lifting dangerously high.

"I think as Mayor, I would've known if the Red King dropped of his precious crystal ball in my town."

"Who said you don't know about the Dark Thirteen, Sai White?"

It was the last thing said before the Ka-Tet turned around and left the office, passing the bald man who was still wondering why Gunslingers would come to his small town, on their way out.