Chapter 3

Emma woke up the next morning, hearing a commotion outside of her tent. She was scared to death, and didn’t move, listening.

            “I don’t get it…this tent wasn’t here yesterday.” A male voice said.

            “The camp must have banished someone yesterday…” another male voice said.

            “Do they do that?”

            “They must have.”

            “I wonder why…” the first voice said. “Well, should we see who’s in there? The captain might be interested in recruiting them.” Emma listened but didn’t hear anyone else speak. The next thing she knew a man close to her age, with a scarred face entered her tent and raised an eyebrow. “Well, would you look at that…” he said, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her out.

 “We have a royal family member here…what’d you do to get banished?”

            “I…I….I blasphemed…” She said, looking up at him. He was a great deal taller than her, although, with her petite and short stature, that wasn’t all that uncommon.

            “Blasphemed huh? No wonder the others kicked you out…” He said.

            The other man looked over, “we should take her back to the captain.” He too was young, and had a scar on his face as well.

            “What’s your name?” he asked, ignoring his companion.

            “Emma.”

            “Well, Emma, you’ve just been given an invitation to come meet our leader.”

            “I think I’ll decline.” She said, icily.

            “Ah, let me rephrase that, it wasn’t exactly an invitation, you’re coming with us, if we have to drag you along.” He said. She narrowed her eyes at him, and yanked her wrist away.  He sighed, “Look, are you going to come easily or not?”

            “I’m not going at all!” she exclaimed.

            “The hard way it is.” He said, picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder. “Benett, go ahead and tell the captain we have a guest.” Benett nodded and took off.

            “PUT ME DOWN!” she demanded, hitting at his back.

            “Since you asked so nicely…no.” He said, walking with her. She snarled and kicked her legs. “That’s not going to change my mind.” He said as he continued walking until another camp came in sight. “Captain!” he called out.

            Another man came out and looked at him. Emma studied his features. His face was scarred, and his white hair was cut short. She estimated that he was older than her by a few years. “Emir…what are you doing?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

            “Captain, this is a member of the royal family, she’s been banished and the others won’t let her stay in their camp…I thought she could be useful.”

            “Put the girl down Emir.” He said. Emir set Emma down. The moment she was down she slapped him hard across the face. Emir growled at her.

            “That wasn’t nice!” he snapped.

            “Then you shouldn’t have hoisted me over your shoulder!” She snapped back. The captain walked over, separating the two of them.

            “My apologies for Emir’s behavior…what’s your name?” He asked her.

            “Emma.” She said, crossing her arms.

            “Emma, I’m Caleb.” He said, holding his hand out to shake. She ignored it, still rather annoyed. He lowered his hand and looked at her. “So, what did you do to get banished?”

            “I blasphemed against the gods.” She answered, short and to the point. She didn’t trust him or his men, and she wasn’t going to tell them anything more.

            “Blasphemy huh?” He asked, “Now I find that interesting…so…what did you say?”

            “I hardly think that matters, now, if you would be so kind, I’d like to leave.” She said to him.

            “Well, I don’t think I’m going to be able to let you leave, see, I think I could have a use for you…whether or not things go smoothly is going to depend on you…”

            “What do you mean?” She asked, narrowing her eyes.

            “Well, we’re rouges, have you heard of us?”

            “Everyone has…” she said, “You’re cutthroats who want to overthrow the kingdom.”

            “Cutthroats is a bit harsh don’t you think?” He said, raising an eyebrow.

            “No, I don’t.” She said, “I’ve heard about what you do to people who don’t join you or who get in your way, and I have no interest in joining you.”

            “Now, that is a shame…I still can’t let you go though, you have knowledge that could be very valuable to my cause…” he said, trailing off. He took her chin in his hand, “such a shame…Emir!” He called.

            Emir came over, a curious expression on his face. “Yes sir?”

            “Take her to the prisoner’s tent. I’ll question her later…” Caleb said, letting go of her. Emir took a hold of her and started taking her towards the prisoner’s tent.

            She snarled and started struggling against him. “Let go of me right now!”

            “Can’t do that your highness…” he said, adding sarcasm to the title. He got her to the tent and bound her hands behind her back, securing her to a tent post so she couldn’t leave. “If I were you, I’d answer his questions when he comes back…you don’t want to know what he does to people who don’t answer.” He said, before walking out.

            Emma sighed; this was not what she had expected when she had been banished. She just wanted freedom from the tradition that ruled her life as a princess. Now she was a prisoner…and she didn’t see any way out of it. 

Reviews

[NoelHC]

I am getting into this tale, I can see the afternoon may well be time well wasted reading your story.

The sentence “Everyone has…” she said, “You’re cutthroats who want to overthrow the government.” I wonder if you may want to say kingdom instead of government, just a random thought, and near the end of the chapter when Emir is taking her away to the prisoner tent, we have another You"re highness instead of Your. Minor detail, but easily repaired.

[KMC]

^_^ that is a good point...and yes! I keep doing the you're rather than your! Thank you for your input! It is a big help!

[jjwilbourne]

Now this has become far more interesting.
How do these rogues want to use Emma? What exactly do they do to prisoners who don't answer the Captain's questions? Will Emma be able to escape?
It would be cool if you added a little more description where you think it might be interesting. You leave lot up to my imagination which I don't mind, but I also wouldn't mind knowing how big the camp was. Maybe how it differs from the tent city.
Onward!

[KMC]

Another good suggestion! At the time I wasn't really sure how I wanted their camp to look, but I think I might have an idea now! I will work it in.

[NoelHC]

I missed a typo on the eighth line from the top
might be interested in recruiting them.” Emma listened but didn’t head anyone else speak.

head should be hear.

[KMC]

Woops! Thanks for catching that!