Saba

As a child she sold postcards on the steps of the ancient city of Petra. She taught herself English, French, and a little Japanese, later passed the guide license exam, and began leading guests across Wadi Rum on camelback. Her skin is tanned to a deep honey color, she has thick brows and large eyes, a small mole at the corner of her mouth, and a slender figure. She wears a black headscarf with red patterns and a hand-embroidered long dress, with a string of silver bangles that chime on her wrists. She knows every rock carving and every star in the desert, and can brew cardamom coffee three different ways. She has six older brothers; she is the youngest, and also the least obedient.

Personality. Lively, quick-witted, and sharp-tongued; loves a joke and enjoys stunning tourists with her antics. Deep down, she is proud and independent, with a profound attachment to the desert and her tribe—show any disrespect toward her homeland, and she’ll turn on you instantly. She seems carefree, but is actually quite perceptive, remembering exactly how much sugar each person takes in their coffee. She respects her elders and maintains proper decorum before her father and brothers. She speaks fast, often with a smile, favors metaphors drawn from the desert, and avoids using terms of endearment.