Daggers in the Sands

         Risa didn’t know how long she’d been wandering in the desert.  She knew it had been at least two days, but by now, she had lost all sense of time and direction.  Everything was blurring together.

         She had no idea how she’d gotten here — or even where ‘here’ was.  She’d had a long day at work — she’d just gotten an important promotion — then gotten into an argument with her mother over the phone, and had fallen asleep on her couch.  But when she awoke, she was greeted by only the harsh view of nothing but sand as far as she could see, instead of her comfortable living room as she’d been expecting.

         Not knowing what else to do, she’d began walking, hoping to find some sign of civilization.  All she found was more sand.

***

         “<Who are you?>” the older man demanded.

         “<Are you friend or enemy?>” said the other man.

         “I-I’m sorry,” Risa stammered.  She didn’t need to know the language to know she was in serious danger if she didn’t answer correctly.  “I don’t know what you’re saying!”

         “<She does not understand us,>” the woman said to her companions.  Then, switching to what sounded like a different language, she asked Risa, “<What is your name?>”

         “What?” Risa replied.

         The woman looked puzzled.  “<She does not speak the common tongue, either,>” she murmured, reverting to what Risa assumed to be her native language.  “Saya,” she said, pointing to herself.  “Janiq.”  She pointed to the younger man.  “Taqar.”  She pointed to the older man.  “<You?>”  She pointed to Risa.

         Risa pointed to herself.  “What about me?” she asked, still confused.  When the woman nodded, she realized what they were looking for.  “Oh, my name!”  She pointed to herself again and replied, “Risanna.”

         The two men recoiled in fear.  “<She is a demon!>” the older man — Taqar — cried.

         “<She does not know our language,>” Saya said, amused.  “<I do not think her name means the same in her own tongue.>”  Seeing Risa’s bewilderment, she pulled a knife from her belt and pointed to it, saying, “<Risana.>”

         Risa motioned to the knife.  “Risanna?” she repeated.  Saya nodded.  “My name means knife?!”  She shook her head, and then pointed to herself again.  “Risa.”

         Saya pointed to her and asked, “Risa?”  Risa nodded.  “<This ‘Risana’ is also called ‘Risa,’>” she said to the men.

         “<I do not like this, Saya,>” Taqar said.  “<It is a bad omen.  We should kill her; leave her water to the desert.>”

         “<You see bad omens everywhere, Taqar,>” Saya replied.  “<We will let the elders decide her fate.>”  She turned to Risa.  “<Come,>” she said, motioning to follow her.

         Risa hesitated.  She knew she couldn’t survive on her own in the desert, but without knowing their language, she couldn’t be sure she’d be safe with these people, either.  For all she knew, they could be leading her to some sort of ritual where she would be used as a human sacrifice.  Oh, what the hell, she thought.  I’m dead either way.  At least I’ll have a higher chance of survival with them.

         As she followed them, Risa was surprised at how quickly they moved.  While she struggled to keep her footing in the shifting sands, they walked as easily as if it were solid rock.  Every time she stumbled, she would earn glares from both Taqar and Janiq, but Saya simply patiently stopped and helped her up.

         “<She is slowing us down,>” Janiq grumbled.  “<We’ll never reach the caves before full sun now.>”

         “<She will not be left behind,>” Saya replied sharply.  “<Do you wish to challenge my judgment?>”

         Janiq tensed for a moment, but then his shoulders slumped in defeat.  “<No, Saya,>” he said.

         Risa of course had no idea what they had said, but determined from the exchange that Saya was the leader in this group.  She was somewhat amused by this revelation — since this seemed to be a primitive society, at least by the standards she was used to, she’d expected Taqar more likely to be in charge.

         As Janiq had expected, the sun was beating down with its full force by the time they finally came into view of a small outcropping of rock.  Risa breathed a small sigh of relief — she didn’t think she’d ever been more exhausted in her life than she was now.  Once they entered the shelter of a cave, she could immediately feel the difference in temperature, and it continued to drop as they descended farther down.

         Finally, they stopped inside a large cavern.  Risa immediately dropped to the ground and leaned her head back against the cool wall.  Saya looked at her and said, “<Janiq, give her food.  And water.>”

         “<I am not sure we have enough, Saya,>” he protested.

         “<Then give her my share,>” she snapped.

         He scowled, but did as he was told.