Chapter 13

The next morning Emir woke up, he looked at Benett who looked deep in thought. “What’s on your mind?”

            “Nothing.” Benett said, looking over at him. “We should probably wake her up.” Emir nodded and attempted to do so.

            “I’m already awake…I just don’t want to get up.” Emma said.  Emir laughed and poked her.

            “Up lazy bones.”

            “I don’t want to.” She said. “You can’t make me.”

            “Is that what you think? Benett where’s my canteen?”

            “Don’t you dare…” she snapped, sitting up.

            “Now, was that so hard?” Emir asked, grinning a bit. Benett watched, laughing slightly.

            “We should get moving.” Benett said, standing up. “The weather cleared up and we should be able to make some good progress.”

            “Great!” Emma said, standing up. “I’m anxious to arrive!”

            “We still have at least another day of traveling.” Emir reminded her.

            “I know.” She said, “I remember.”

            “Well, let’s get moving.” Emir said, heading out of the cave after grabbing his few things. Benett grabbed his own items and followed. Emma brought up the rear of the group, looking up at the sky.

            “It’s a nice day out.” She commented.

            “Yeah, let’s hope it stays that way.”

            “Why wouldn’t it?”

            “Remember how I told you about the meteors and volcanic activity?”

            “Yeah, but what’s the likelihood something will happen?”

            “Low, but we still need to be prepared.” Emir said, looking over his shoulder at her.

            “How do you prepare for something like that?”

            “She actually has a good point Emir.”

            “You can prepare by knowing how to react.”

            “Then why don’t you inform us?”

            “To put it simply, don’t panic.” He said, looking forward.

            “Oh, that was helpful.” Emma said sarcastically. He didn’t respond, he just kept moving forward. Benett looked back at her and smiled. She smiled back at him. “So, how far do you think we’ll get tonight?”

            “Well, I’m hoping to get out of the forest before nightfall.” He said. “There’s another entrance to the city there.”

            “I was wondering about that. When I was banished, I was sent to the entrance on the outskirts of the desert.”

            “The other entrance is used mostly for military movement. Not a lot of people know about it. If we have to sneak in, that might be the best place to do it.” Emir said.

            “So, you two are really going to sneak into the city if they won’t listen?”

            “Yes.” Emma said strong-mindedly.

            “Well, good luck I guess.” Benett said. “I just don’t see how you’re going to pull it off.”

            “Carefully.” Emir said, “Very carefully.”

            “Well, you can count me out on that one.”

            “What are you going to do?” Emma asked Benett. “I mean, won’t Caleb be looking for you too?”

            “I don’t know. I doubt it; I was never one of his best soldiers.”

            “That’s not true and you know it.” Emir said, looking at him. “Caleb doesn’t respond well to people backing out…no matter whom it is.”

            “I was trying to ignore that.” Benett said with a sigh. “You’ve gone and dampened the mood.”

            “He does that.” Emma said with a slight grin on her face.

            “I do NOT dampen the mood. I simply state how things are.”

            “Same thing.” She said, shrugging her shoulders.

            “It is not!”

            “Might as well be.”

            “You two argue a lot, don’t you?” Benett asked.

            “It isn’t my fault! She’s so…obnoxious!”

            “Me!?”

            “Yes, you!” he exclaimed, turning around and stopping. “You are obnoxious and…well…you’re aggravating and stubborn, and on top of all of that, you don’t listen!”

She harrumphed. “You aren’t any better!” She snapped at him, crossing her arms. Benett started laughing, being highly amused at their antics. They both stopped and looked at him.

“What are you laughing at?” She snapped. At the same time Emir had spoken.

“What’s so funny?”

“You two! They way you fight, you’d think you were an old married couple!”

“Take that back.” Emir said.

“I don’t think so!” Emma said, “There’s no way in hell that would ever happen.”

“What she said.”

“Oh, is there something wrong with me?”

“What? No! I was agreeing with you!” Emir said defensively.

“Oh really?” She asked arms crossed once more.

“Yes really! Gods! Why are you so confusing!?”

“I am not confusing.”

“Okay, can we move on you two? Your arguing is going to get us found.” Benett asked, grinning slightly. Emir nodded, walking once more. Emma rolled her eyes, following.  “Oh, I still think you sound like an old married couple.” Benett said, being rewarded with a punch in each arm from both of them. 

Reviews

[NoelHC]

I am having a problem understanding how Emma got so far away from the city, in chapter 2 " Much to her relief, it wasn’t long before she spotted what looked like a tent city " the next morning she was captured by Emir, there.
I can't recall Caleb's tent city moving further away during the subsequent chapters, yet Emma and Emir have such a long journey back to the city, maybe three days, but both trips are on foot.
It might require some adjustment in the narrative to explain that.
Great work so far.

[KMC]

I noticed that after I had posted it, but it was too late to add anything as I needed sleep. I made some adjustments in Chapter five that explain that better!

[NoelHC]

I hope me being detail oriented isn't ticking you off. I really think you have something really good here, might as well get it right before trying to market it. I will go check Chapter 5 now.

[KMC]

Trust me, if you were ticking me off I would let you know! I actually appreciate the detail orientation! It is helping me have a better story in the end, so thank you!

[NoelHC]

Hey, maybe I should be an editor instead of a writer. : )
A good friend of mine from Germany has self published two books, in German, a quirky view of life in one, the other a humorous guide to New York City. Both are sold on the Kindle store. She has decided to publish the NYC book in English. she has done the translation into English. I am doing the editing, making sure the usage of the words is correct, that the punctuation is right, and most importantly keeping the original, sassy, fresh point of view that she has intact.
It has been a big challenge, but it is a lot of fun as well.
At least looking through your work I don't have to think in German also.
Have a nice day, TTYL.

[KMC]

Very cool! I was interested in self-publishing, once I have to funding to do so!