Through deserts and jungle part 1

Rufus, Bouzid and the rest left the village right away. They packed water and other essential supplies.

They were given six camels to be used to move water with them.

"Take care Aesians. I hope you will be able to plead your case to the queen," the clan leader said.

"Have you ever met queen Satifa?" Doreen asked.

"The queen lives in Kairouan, a beautiful city that is located on a large lake. A city built against a side of a mountain. I have only once visited this place, but I didn't have a chance to meet the queen," the old clan leader said.

"So the queen is an old lady to be at least as old as you?" Edward said.

"Oh no, she is over two hundred years old, but is as beautiful as the desert flower, but deadly as the most poisonous spider," the clan leader explained.

~~

The entourage of Rufus had been traveling for two days now. They moved only during the night and early in the morning and rested during the day when the sun was at its hottest. They made small tents to hide from the sun and rested during that time.

On the third day inside the tents, Rufus got out of his tent. He saw Bouzid who was hitting on the sand with her scythe. The tapping called two large ants who were carrying captured lizards and water.

Bouzid drank the water and was going to go back to her tent.

"So are your ants following us below the sand?" Rufus asked her, trying to have a conversation.

Bouzid nodded and went inside her own tent, not saying a word back, as usual.

"She could try at least to converse with sign language," Joan said who saw what happened.

"Get inside Rufus, Don't waste water by sweating," Amala yelled who was doing her best to keep out of the sunlight.

~~

After ten days of walking, they saw mountains ahead of them and large sways of green underneath them. A town was located near the edge of the mountains. It was built from mud and clay, with houses being built over top of one another.

A small pond was located nearby where the people gathered water. As they were about to head towards the town, Bouzid stopped them.

"I guess only the people living in the village hidden in the rocks are friendly enough not to attack outsiders," Doreen said.

They saw many caravans entering the town and making camp outside before they entered the heavily forested mountain range. It was clear that the town was an entry point before they headed forward to the city of Kairouan.

They circled far from the town to avoid the Saracen guards from spotting them. They then entered the mountain range with trees creating pleasant shades.

They made camp around three kilometers away from the town.

~~

During the day, Edward woke up and sneaked out of the tent.

"Where are you going?" Amala asked.

"I am tired of eating grilled lizards. I am going to sneak into that town and get some food," Edward said and kept sneaking away.

"Wait?"

"Don't try and stop me," Edward said back.

"No, let me go too. I am also tired of lizard meat," Amala said and woke up.

"I am going too....." Gwon said who also woke up.

The three looked at each other and then left.

~~

The three of them dressed up like the Saracens and covered their faces. Inside the town, they walked around trying not to garner too much attention.

They headed to the markets where people sold real food like lamb and rice that was flavored will all kinds of spices to be colorful.

"Oh lord....everything smells so good after eating days only lizards and insects," Edward said as they were walking through the market.

"I know, but let's find a stall and try to buy some food with some gold we have," Amala said.

"And not go and just grab some food," Edward asked.

"Of course not. That goes without saying."

Edward then pointed at Gwon who had gone calmly to a stall and just grabbed a grilled lamb's leg.

"Hey, kid you have to pay for that!" the stall owner yelled.

He pulled the scarf around the face of Gwon and the people saw the grey-skinned being. The people started to yell terrified with Gwon casually just eating the grilled lamb leg.

"Fuck....." Amala said and went to pull him away.

They started running through the streets getting a lot of attention while running. Soon Saracen warriors caught on to the commotion and yelled to them, " Hey you over there. Stop!"

"Shit, RUN!" Amala yelled.

They started running with the guards giving chase. Soon some visiting Saracen warriors on their horses decided to help their brethren and joined the chase.

They were not faster than the dashing Saracen horses, so Amala was forced to take out her bow and shoot a large arrow to block the way of the riders. A stone arrow was shot into the ground that exploded into a larger rock that blocked the way.

"Next time no kids along with us," Edward yelled annoyed as they got away.