Chapter 13: Chapter 13, in which we nearly die in a sandstorm

Slowly, throughout the day, the grass got drier and drier then around noon we finally stepped into the Desert territory. It was a struggle to keep the same pace up, as the sand under our feet shifted.

Sand kept getting into my shoes, and at first, I tried to get it out every so often, but eventually, I just learned to live with it.

“How much water do you have left?” Paige asked as she was putting her bottle back in her backpack.

“I little more than half, you?” I replied.

“Enough.”

***

It was getting darker outside when we first saw the high walls of the Desert City on the horizon. My feet were already killing me, but I was determined to get to a comfortable bed before I collapsed from exhaustion.

I was going to ask Paige to get us a horse or something, I knew there were horses in this world, I saw one in the town the other day. She said she had more than enough money, after all, so why must we walk places?!

We had made out way to the path once more and walking here was a lot easier than in the sand we had to get to here. I noticed Paige had slowed down her pace.

“Are you alright, Paige?” I asked, falling into step next to her. She wasn’t looking well, her eyes were sunken and she was walking somewhat sloppily.

“I’m exhausted,” she sighed. “The heat was more than unbearable but now that we’re so close, and it’s getting cold, and the wind starts picking up the sand, I’m scared a sandstorm is coming.”

“I don’t see many people, I thought we would see people rushing into the city if there was going to be a sandstorm,” I suggested.

“Exactly, Vik, I think we're running behind,” Paige clarified. “I think everyone is already behind the walls and is waiting out the storm.”

“They’ll let us in, right? No way they’ll leave us out here in a storm?!”

“We’ll see…”

***

We were at the closed gates of the Desert City and we could clearly see the sandstorm forming behind us. It was early in the evening still.

I woke up Asrin, who was surprised we had made it this far.

“I’ll fly over the wall, I’ll see if I can find someone to open the gate,” he said, stretching his black wings and ruffling his fur.

“Bribe them if you have to,” Paige shouted after him, then turned to me as she slid down the wall and sat on the ground, or rather sand. “I’m exhausted.”

“You want something to eat?” I offered, taking my bag off and sliding down to sit next to her.

“I don’t think so, I feel like if I eat something I’m going to be sick,” she shook her head.

“You’re sure you’re alright?” I asked, looking her up and down.

“I’ll be fine once we get inside,” she said, then got a serious look. “Actually, can I see the Logbook for a second?”

You are reading story The Logbook Quest at novel35.com

I wondered what she was going to do with it, but I fished it out of my backpack and gave it to her.

“I know we’ve read the passage about the Desert City already, but there must be something about this,” she muttered.

She then told me to turn toward the wall, so the sand wouldn’t hit my eyes and face and she did the same. She held the Logbook, while I read the pages over her shoulder, the wind started to pick up speed.

“What are the chances we survive the sandstorm if we stay here?” I asked.

“We’d probably survive the night, but we’ll die of lung infections after a few days of excruciating pain. The sand has salt in it,” Paige pointed out.

“How do you know that it isn’t in the Logbook?” I was absolutely impressed with all of these small things Paige seemed to know about the world.

“It’s not my first time, I nearly died of an infection like that as a child,” she said like it wasn’t a big deal, while she loosened her shirt and pulled its neckline over her nose and mouth.

I did the same thing with my shirt, praying that Asrin would be back soon.

My prayers were answered, when the door of the City wall cracked open right as we stood in front of it, and we hurriedly squeezed in as soon as the crack was big enough.

Paige ran straight for Asrin who was flying next to the guy opening the door and tackled him into a hug, while I was mesmerized by the city in front of me.

The pictures in the Logbook did not do the city justice. There were blocks upon blocks of bright white-colored houses and buildings. But at what looked like the center of the city, there was a tall temple, but it was whiter than the rest and it was glowing faintly in silver.

“Welcome to the Desert City,” Paige announced as she tackled me into a hug.

At first, I was taken aback, not because I didn’t like hugs, but because Paige isn’t a person who likes touching people, actually the opposite, she was very careful to keep her distance at all times. She’s even told me she likes her personal space a lot. Hugs weren’t an exception to this rule.

When I realized what was going on, I hugged her back. I understood the weight that must’ve been lifted off her once we got here safely.

“So, get this, Asrin had to fly all the way to the City Hall,” she said pulling back and pointing to the big white building I was examining right before, that I had labeled as a temple. “To get the guard on duty right now.”

“It’s a good thing we have Asrin,” I smiled and stroked the dragon, who was hovering next to me.

“Now, how much do I owe him? How much was the bribe?” Paige asked.

“Nothing, I didn’t have to bribe him,” Asrin answered and smiled. “If you are so generous though, I wouldn’t mind some dinner, I am starving.”

“We all are, let’s find a vendor, and an inn,” Paige smiled back and then looked at me. “We still have to celebrate your first demon kill.”

“It’s fine,” I insisted, but Paige wasn’t backing down as she stalked forward into the city.

I had no choice but to follow her.

That was until she suddenly toppled to the ground.

You can find story with these keywords: The Logbook Quest, Read The Logbook Quest, The Logbook Quest novel, The Logbook Quest book, The Logbook Quest story, The Logbook Quest full, The Logbook Quest Latest Chapter