Glancing out at the blur of barren landscape passing by her, Etta struggled to make sense of what her rescuer/kidnapper was saying. He kept pointing ahead and saying “Holgen.”
When it became apparent that she still didn’t understand, Ryk looked as confused as she felt.
“Yi da ultenen?” He asked. “Riesta yi goern?
Etta could tell he was asking her questions but couldn’t guess at the meanings. Shaking her head she fought the urge to cry. “I don’t understand.” She kept shaking her head as he babbled off more incomprehensible questions.
Looking back, she stared at the billowing sand clouds caused by their rushing speeder. The heat was overwhelming as the suns crept further up into the sky. With no shade, there was no escaping the heat. Even the wind did nothing to cool her.
“Nish yi olnoi Etta. Etta.”
The repetition of her name drew her attention. Again, she shook her head. “Ryk. I don’t understand what you are saying.” She pointed to her mouth and shook her head.
“Da ultenen?” He nodded. “Da ultenen. Ryk tam yi holgen.”
Etta sighed. They may not know what the other was saying but now at least he wasn’t trying to continue asking questions. By the time they neared the rock he had pointed to earlier, Etta was struggling to breathe. The heat felt like it was searing her throat and nose as she drew in breath.
“Wees holeer.” Ryk’s voice was soft, almost fuzzy.
She could see him glance over at her but she lacked the strength to do more than breathe shallowly. She couldn’t even manage to choke out the words that she needed water. Her eyes could not summon the moisture to even cry.
“Ta illi holgen. Etta, wees nish holeer.”
With a tiny shake of her head she closed her eyes.
Seconds later a blast of cool air shot into her face and she bolted upright. “Ahhh.” She screamed hoarsely.
Ryk’s arm caught her before she could fall out of the still flying car. “Stul.” His sheepish grin caught her gaze and she was drawn in.
“What was that?” Etta asked in confusion.
“Ta illi holgen.” He repeated. He looked relieved.
She hadn’t realized how worried he had looked until now, when all the tension was gone. With a jolt, she realized that the overwhelming heat was gone and she was back to breathing normally. Looking around, she could see that the light surrounding her was coming from artificial light and she was completely surrounded by what looked like a gargantuan dome of rock.
Etta plunked down in her seat and gazed up at the gray rock ceiling.
Ryk pointed around him. “Holgen.”
Ryk’s flying car slowed down as they neared what looked like a house shaped like a natural rock formation, except for the door and a hole that could pass for a window.
Stepping out of the car, Ryk hauled her out after him, not even offering his hand first to see if she would come willingly. Etta growled and Ryk looked back at her in surprise. He swooped around and lifted her back off her feet as he had when he caught her.
“Put me down.” She shrieked, she could feel her hysteria bubbling out but couldn’t stop. When he didn’t loosen his hold and continued to walk to the rock house she began to squirm, then wiggled, then outright flailed. Somehow he managed to set her on her feet.
“Stul.” He commanded with a growl of his own. “Stul hak.”
Whatever he said didn’t matter because she could hear the threat in his tone. She quieted and stood still.
Once again he picked her up and carried her into the house and this time she didn’t protest, aside from quietly grinding her teeth. Once inside, he set her down again. This time however, she practically slid down his body until her feet touched the ground. He held her close, not giving her more than an inch to move. When she pulled back he tightened his grip and she found her face smashed into the fabric of his shirt.
Doing her best to look around from where she stood plastered to the man holding her, she took in what looked like odd, blue bubble stools.
A tall woman approached them with a bow. “Mylar Ryk. qua de ta?
Back and forth the woman and Ryk talked, speaking faster and faster. It was all noise to Etta as she tried to ease back from Ryk’s strong chest.
“Etta.” Ryk’s voice saying her name once again drew her attention to the pair. “Ta illi Etta. Etta illi Ryk madua.” His voice was stern.
With a long suffering sigh, the woman nodded. “Ti roste Meayan. Coll.”
Etta didn’t move, even though Ryk stepped away.
“Coll.” The woman beckoned. Ryk nudged her toward the woman. They stepped further into the house and into a room filled with ornate dresses. The woman stopped and pointed to Etta.
“Etta.” Then she pointed to herself “Meayan.”
“Meayan? Is that your name? Meayan?” Etta’s focus sharpened. At the woman’s nod, Etta felt relief. If the woman was nodding then she would at least be able to understand when someone was saying yes.
Meayan grabbed a beautiful rust colored dress that almost seemed bright compared to the grey of the rock surrounding them. “Dirfa.” She shook the dress at her. “Dirfa.”
Pointing to the dress, Etta guessed. “This is a dress? Dress? Dirfa?” At Meayan’s delighted nod, Etta felt less on edge. Maybe she would eventually understand enough to figure out where she was and how to get home.
Meayan held the dirfa up against Etta. “Etta marr Ryk. Yi nish Ryk madua.”
“Madua?”
The word seemed important to both Meayan and Ryk but she couldn’t figure out its meaning. After trying on several dirfas, Meayan set one aside and pulled Etta out of the room. Ryk and two other people were standing there, an older man and woman.
Ryk stepped forward. His smile was broad as he opened his arms to her. “Etta. Etta illi madua.”
At that, the older woman did an odd trill with her tongue and rushed forward to hug Etta. When she pulled back, Ryk was looking at the both of them with a pleased smile on his face.
Ryk pointed to the man. “Tamor.” Then he pointed to the woman who had hugged her. “Dansha. Dansha illi Tamor madua.”
Tamor lifted his hand and Dansha went running back over and snuggled into him. He patted her hip and held her against him.
Ryk repeated slowly to her, commanding Etta’s gaze. “Dansha illi Tamor madua. Etta illi Ryk madua.”
Etta staggered back as Ryk lifted his hand expectantly toward her. He wasn’t telling her that they were a couple, like Dansha and Tamor appeared to be. He couldn’t. Meayan pushed her toward Ryk. Ryk pulled her in close as Tamor had to Dansha. When she didn’t step away Ryk gave her a happy squeeze, patting her hip.
Ryk gently pulled her over to a large chair and sat her next to him. He nuzzled her and whispered. “Madua.”
She froze.
