Secrets of Ramlat al-Sab'atayn

Chapter 4

Raysa couldn't sleep that night, the insignia she saw was disturbing her.It wasn't that it was a scorpion... it was the symbol that the scorpion had on its back.

Earlier today when Raysa decided to confess what she saw, there was a gut-feeling telling her not to tell them about the symbol.She didn't know why but she felt as if she had seen it before...

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The markets were hustling with people - merchants screaming, customers pushing, children whining, women demanding, men complaining, space non-existing , trading, selling, buying....

"Eurgh!!!"

Tasmiya put her hands on her head as if she was going to rip it apart,

" I.can't.take it anymore!!"

"You're always like this in the markets" , Raysa said annoyed. "What? You have crowdaphobia?"

"Look at my abaya, it's covered with footprints." ,Tasmiya exaggerated. "Can't I sit this one out"

"We can't separate from Jiddu, the guards are still out there",Mariam tried to reason.

"I'll be fine, they can't see what they can't find.Just don't forget to buy me thread for my carpet ;)"

After some "excuse me's" and "sorry's" ,Tasmiya finally broke free.She decided to go to the poles where all the animals were kept.As far as the eye could see there were camels, horses and mules of different colours and different breeds.But none like the old, frail, glittering-eyed donkey  of Faisal bin Abbas.It was easy to spot their little herd.

Layla, was the only horse sitting down, so Tasmiya leaned against her.It was a magnificent day, scorching as always but still magnificent.The sky was too bright to look at so she closed her eyes but still faced it anyways and dozed off to sleep...

Until she saw a silhouette of an angry girl with her sandal , trying to kill Tasmiya ,"Tasmeow you stupid gurl, you pledged your allegiance to the creed, they'll kill you when they find out you leaving them!"

And with that , Tasmiya woke up blinded by darkness, shocked and trying to breathe.When she finally realised that a piece of paper clung onto her face.

She pulled the paper down from her face,"Who was that girl? What was she even talking about?...Oh,nevermind, it was just a dream".She looked down at the paper she held in her hands..

                                                           WANTED

                                              SCORPION ASSASSINS

                                           REWARD: 100 0000 DINARS

Just then, her market buddies arrived.

"Wipe that drool off your face",Raysa exclaimed."And stop leaning on my horse."

"Raysa, didn't it occur to you that maybe that it could be horse spit on her face",laughed Mariam.

Tasmiya just threw the nearest water flask at their faces.Which they dramatically dodged.

"Faisal Jiddu, look, we can travel the world with this much money",Tasmiya glowed with joy without realising the fear on their faces.

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Translations :)

Abaya : (Usually black) dress-like Islamic clothing; traditionally worn by Muslim women and girls.

Dinar : Arab currency