Chapter Three

Sorry, I was interrupted there, that's why I was cut off so short. I was just writing along when all of the sudden a heard a voice…his voice.

"Hello? Hello? Where am I? What's going on?" I heard his voice saying that. That deep voice which made me feel funny all over. I answered him with a simple.

"Hello." I just sat there waiting for him to reply again after that. I'm just such a smart one aren't I? Ha! I wish.

"Er-yeah…Where are we?" He asked again clearly put back by my vague reply to his questions.

"We are in a wagon." Was my answer, amazing how dumb I was being! But by then I realized that he was waiting for something more so I added "My name is Amera, I'm of the Hulta people. You came riding out to warn us of some evil attacking Peshamba. You were hurt so we took you in here…" My voice trailed off, I didn't know what else to say! I felt awed by his presence. Later I would kick myself for not being…I don't know, charming or something.

My explanation seemed to be fine for him, though, and he replied, "I am Remel Dellen. Thank you for helping me…but tell me, were there any other survivors?"

I did not know what to say to this…no one else had come out from what was left of the city, but who could be positive if there was no one left in there… "No one followed you." I eventually spoke. "We're assuming that you're the only survivor, but who can be sure?" My words greeted silence. It seemed that this mysterious stranger did not feel the need to talk again.

Despite myself I was somewhat proud that I hadn't messed up the conversation worse. Then I remembered something. "If you want to know, my friend Kendai helped to care for you too." I said. "It is she that is asleep right next to me." I yawned and then realized that he, Remel, was not going to respond again.

Just before I dozed off into a sound sleep I heard him say quietly. "You can call me Reme." I was barely aware of it was when I awoke the next day I was sure that it hadn't been a dream. He pronounced it 'rem' but I think that to write like 'reme' makes it look more powerful and mighty…like the man himself.

Oh Kendai is calling me again! Making fun of this book, no doubt. Oh and I forgot to say that Mother is well again! She refuses to stay in the wagon but instead rides up front with Father. I admire her. And so I write again. I have to admit that this whole writing thing gets rather addictive…

Anyway I had quite an eventful day. Kendai woke me up pretty early, earlier than normal anyway, and since I hadn't gotten to sleep till late I wasn't in the best of moods.

"Kendai! Why did you wake me up?" I half shouted. I would have shouted if we had been in our own wagon, but since he was there I felt it would be only polite to only half shout it.

"Amera!" Kendai half shouted back. "We have chores to do, more than usual today and so I thought it only appropriate to wake up earlier so we could take care of it all!" I must admit, what Kendai said made a lot of sense. Damn her and her sense!

I groaned and stood. I was quite good at standing in a moving vehicle by then, we woman had been forced to stay in the wagons day and night except for meal times. I remember when I was young and I enjoyed riding my horse, Reena had been her name. I don't know what happened to her. All I know is that I no longer have the privilege of riding, the wind in my hair, the wind everywhere! I made one feel so alive! But dreaming is something that people who are unhappy tend to do, and I am mostly happy and so I shall stop telling you my dreams…for now.

Apparently all of Kendai and mine's half shouting had been a little louder than we intended. "Hey! What's going on?" We heard him say. Him. Reme. Kendai and I slowly turned. It seemed that we both had a slight crush…

"Nothing," Kendai said sweet as sugar. "You should probably be getting back to sleep."

"Um, I'm not tired though." Reme said. "What was your name again? I know Amera told me what it was last night but for the life of me I can't remember…" Kendai looked a bit put out at that. I had talked to him first; I therefore had the upper hand.

"My name is Kendai." She said, put out. Later after changing Reme's bandages (he was hit on his side by some falling debris as he left the city) and talking to him for a bit more, Kendai and I went out for a breath of fresh air and a long talk.

Since we talked about so many things, I won't write all of what we said here, I can't even remember all of it! But either way the most interesting part of the conversation was doubtless this;

"So it seems you have all of the luck with the men." Kendai sighed as we walked along side of our own wagon, careful not to let anyone see us.

"All the luck with men?" I replied. "Just because Reme remembered my name and not yours?"

"Well, Reme obviously likes you," Kendai said. "And what about Sheath!"

Sheath. I had forgotten about him. Sheath was the only child of Dagger who had long been a friend of Claidi, my mother. For some reason or another, when Sheath and I were young we were friends and once we got to the age when we realized that we had cooties or the like we went our separate ways. But it seemed that Sheath still harbored feelings for me…feelings which weren't returned!

After the long walk with Kendai, her mother called to her from her wagon and I decided to go and see how Reme was doing. All during my talk to Kendai that Reme hadn't strayed too far from my thoughts. I still am pondering this. Why? Anyway, when I got to the wagon, Reme was already up and sitting in the chair where I had slept the night before! It seemed that he had decided that he was well.

"Apparently you're feeling better." I said. That was one of my bolder moments. As you can tell I'm a bit timid. I guess it comes from having a mother who always was bold for you, oh well.

"Yes." Reme replied. "Your father visited me while you were gone." My father? I still wonder why he was there but that doesn't matter. All that matters is what was said after that. "Argul told me that once we get to Hultas, there is going to be a dance or festival of some sort…" His voice trailed off much like mine had the night before. "I was wondering…could you teach me how to dance like a Hulta? I know no dances whatsoever and I thought that I'd ask you before Kendai because…"

My heat was thumping in my chest. Go on, my very being urged, why did you pick me over Kendai?

"Because I did." He finished. How sweet, I thought.

"Yes, of course I can teach you to dance." I said. "If you're feeling up to it I'll teach you tomorrow…we'll probably reach Hultas shortly after that so any later than tomorrow will probably just be a waste of time."

"Tomorrow it is!" Reme looked pleased. "I can't wait."

Why is the morning coming so slowly? Here I am, wide awake in bed and the sun hasn't even come up over the horizon! There is definitely something about that Reme that makes me open my eyes a little further, my step bounce a little higher, but I must keep my mind off of that if I ever wish to fall back to sleep.

Kendai is jealous, I think, of me. Perhaps it's not so that she likes Reme, but that she likes Sheath! Maybe she doesn't know that I detest him? No, detest is too strong a word…strong dislike though! And it's definitely not my fault if he likes me! Oh well.