Chapter 9

They had walked for an hour before the rain started falling. Emir looked around for a shelter they could hide in, both from the rain and the rogues. He finally found a small cave system and headed for it.

            Emma was a little hesitant. “I hate caves….”

            “Why?” he asked. “We’ll be dry, and if we can find dry wood we can have a fire.”

            “There are bats.” she said. “I hate bats.”

            “Bats are mostly harmless.” he told her, peeking into the first cave. “This one looks relatively safe, and even bat free.” he teased.

            “It’s not funny!” she exclaimed, putting her hands on her hips.

            “Actually, it is.” he said, a smirk tugging on the corner of his lips. She narrowed her eyes at him.

            “Sometimes I think I might hate you.” she snapped.  He raised an eyebrow.

            “Oh really?” he asked, crossing his arms.

            “Really!” she said, not telling him that other times she really liked him. However, she didn’t need to say it for him to read it on her face.

            “What about the times when you don’t think you hate me?”

            “I…I tolerate you during those times!” she said, rather defensively.

            He laughed at that, “Aww, I’m tolerable? That’s good to know.” She growled at him and picked up a small rock, throwing it at him.  He just laughed more when she missed him. “Let’s hope your aim is better with a dagger!” he said.

            She growled again. “I think I’ve decided…I definitely hate you!”

            “I don’t really care.” He replied. “Now, are you ready to learn how to defend yourself?”

            “Yes,” she snapped, “I am.” He nodded, and took out a small dagger. He handed it to her. She took it from him, and looked at it. She had never held a weapon before. She’d never had a reason to before. Now that she had it, she wasn’t sure she could use against another person.

            “Learning how to use that is going to be important if you plan on surviving, especially if Caleb gets a hold of you.”

            “He has a sword though…how am I supposed to win against him with a small dagger?”

            “Well, I’m not going to say you can, he’s a skilled fighter, but at least you’ll have a chance.” he said, showing her how to hold it properly.  “You’ll have to get up close, which will be dangerous if you’re in a fight. However, you can conceal the dagger. If he doesn’t know you have it, you have an advantage.”

            “How?”

            “If he grabs you, you can reach for the dagger and cut his hand or arm.” he said. “That might give you a chance to escape.”

            “So…I’m not supposed to fight him?”

            “Not if you want to live.” he said. “I can’t even win against him.”

            “Okay…so…teach me what I need to know to live.” she said.

            “First, hide the dagger somewhere where it’s easily accessible, but also unseen.” he said. “I’ll turn around and you hide it…then we practice.” She did as he said, hiding it in her belt.

            “Ready.” she said. Before she knew what had happened he had grabbed her, arm around her throat. She reached for the dagger, grabbing it. She tried pulling it out, but it got caught.

            “Find a better place to hide it.” He said as he released her. He turned around again so she could try again. She frowned, thinking of where she could find it. She decided to try putting it in a different spot on her belt, testing it to make sure it wouldn’t get stuck this time. “Ready?” he asked.

            “Yes.” she said. He grabbed her once more, and this time she was able to grab the dagger with ease. She put it to his hand, but didn’t cut.

            “I recommend cutting the arm, not the hand. You can do more damage to the arm.” he said, letting her go once more. “Now, in case he does have his sword, I’m going to teach you the best thing you can do in case he comes after you.”

            “What is that?”

            “You’re going to learn how to throw the dagger and hit your target.” he said, taking it from her and throwing it into a nearby tree. She watched with her eyes wide.

            “You want me to learn to do that?” she asked. “I don’t think I can do that.”

            “You won’t know unless you try.” he said. “Now, get the dagger and try it.” She did as he told her. She struggled to get it out of the tree, but when she finally did she walked back to where he was and threw it, missing the tree completely. He went to retrieve the knife without a word. He came back and showed her what she had done wrong and gave her some advice.

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            Caleb and his men were on the move, they had found the remains of the campsite despite Emir and Emma’s best efforts to hide their camp. Caleb sent his best trackers ahead of the rest of the group to scout ahead. The look on his face was emotionless, but inside he was a storm of emotions raging from anger to blood-lust.

            Not only was he furious that the girl had gotten away, he was furious that his best friend and soldier had betrayed him to help her. He had plans for both of them, plans that could only be described as unpleasant.

            “Benett,” he said, “come here.” Benett walked over.

            “Yes sir?”

            “I have a task for you.” He said with a slight smirk on his face.

            “What is it sir?”

            “You are going to go ahead, once the trackers come back. You are going to find the girl and Emir, and win their trust. I don’t care how you do it, but you are going to find out what their plans are.”

            “Yes sir. How shall I get the information I learn to you?”

            “We will attack the group, after you’ve been there a while. You will be ‘captured’ and the other two left alone.” he said, “Then you will tell us everything.”

            “Yes sir.” He said. “What makes you think they will trust me?”

            “Nothing,” he said, “in fact, Emir probably won’t…he’ll probably try to kill you. What I’m hoping is that the princess will take pity and stop him.”

            He said nothing, even though he worried that the girl wouldn’t stop Emir. “Yes sir.” He said, not stupid enough to argue against Caleb.

Reviews

[NoelHC]

Edit the He said She said things, otherwise I didn't notice anything else I would change here.
I am wondering what Caleb has in mind with his plan for Benett to befriend Emir and Emma, and then attack the camp and let those two get away. Why not just capture them? Hmmm, is this a thickening plot I am sensing? If so, there may be a good twist coming up, well played, KMC.

[KMC]

Thanks! I wasn't sure either, but I think I have quite the plot twist in store! ^_^