She Goes with Her Father, Chapters One and Two

Aruna had been in the desert with her father for several days now. She was keeping his moving hearth for him whilst he went from homestead to homestead on his trading mission. At twelve years of age, this was her first trip accompanying him, she was a little anxious about meeting new people. Aruna's mother was home with her younger siblings. Ren was lad of 12 years who thought he should be allowed to go with his dad too. Than came Peta, she was 9 and learning from her mother just as Aruna had learned to do a few years ago. Mica had seen 6 summers, she was still playing with scrap dolls and seed shell dishes, playing make believe house. The 4 year old Tarka had only just been weaned last year, she strutted around trying to 'help' mom with the baby, Boc. Boc had only seen the turn of one moon when they had left on this trading mission.

Aruna was happy to be away from all the work that these children burdened her and her mother with. She hoped that when she had returned she would have more help from her sister Peta, Aruna felt over taxed and knew that her sister was past due to start helping. Though a bit anxious, she also felt excitment, it was a bit of an adventure to meet new people and learn about their ways during this trip.

The travelers were running low on water and needed to find a settlement soon. They could go one more day and than they would be traveling dry, not something they wanted to do for too long. Father directed the small caravan with certainty, heknew just what direction to go. He had learned from his father to travel according to the wind, sun and stars in the desert. The desert had no permanent landmarks so they watched and traveled by the wind and skies.

Father halted the lead camel and the short train came to a slow stop in the high heat of the day. He circled the camels, 6 in number, and put up the sun shelter they carried for use mid day. Aruna made herself busy collecting the necessary things for their light mid-day meal. The food and sun shelter were all carried on her camel behind her seat, in a large basket. She took the cheese from the crockery container, there was a half of the cheese ball left, it had been cut into three days before. She found the bread packet and took out some sheaves of dried unleavened bread, a handful of dried dates, and two dried figs. They sipped water but the main beverage when traveling, a spicy herb tea, would be saved for their evening meal. She spread the brightly colored mats on the ground for serving and to sit upon while father saw to the camels checking their feet and eyes. The meal had been made ready just as Father entered the shelter's shade. He was smiling as he sat on his mat. Aruna noticed but did not ask what made him happy. She hoped he would share his thoughts with their meal. Aruna cut two thin slices of cheese and placed them on the dried bread, she divided the figs and the dates and put Father's portion in front of him on his mat along with his cheese and bread. She than cut her cheese and took her bread, fig n dates to her lap on her own mat. They did not speak while they ate but when they were finished Father's smile widened, he told her, "We will be arriving at a large family settlement before dark today. " Than he added "You may want to re-comb your hair and change your travel cloak for your finer one now. It'll not be much further." This was their first settlement that they would arrive at this trip. Aruna felt the excitement rise in her center, the thought of meeting another extended family, and a large one from what father said, ment that her adventure was finally going to begin. She did as she was bidden and emerged from the shelter looking considerably more presentable than she had when she traveled all day. She had spit on the hem of her travel cloak and rubbed the grime from her face and hands and run her fingernails under each other to remove the travel grime from them, her Father smiled approvingly.

Chapter 2

As the two travelers walked their camel train into the yard, Aruna looked around. She saw five houses; four with doors and one with a gate, which she assumed, to be the stable. One of the four with doors had no windows and it was considerably smaller than the others.

Her Father called out; "Aaaooooaaaaa, is anyone about?" a stout man who appeared to be in his mid forties, came around the stable into the yard.

He answered, "Rampa, It is good to see you my wandering friend." after a moment he added, "and who is this lovely young woman you bring with you?"
" Wait 'till my sons see her."

Rampa replied with a grin, "Azekiel, I am happy to see you too. I am happy to find your encampment, my father's stars guided me correctly."

When he had taken a breath he asked. "And how are your daughters, the eldest ones should be ready to take husbands soon?"

It was a playful way that they spoke as neither of their daughters was quite old enough to take husbands but they laughed about it together which caused Aruna to blush. Perhaps that was intentional, who knew with men.

A matronly woman appeared in the door of the largest of the houses, "Rampa," she yelled, "you old codger you," How are you and how is your wife, you keep her at home?"

"She just birthed a fine son for me a moon before we left. I am very pleased" he replied. He countered her query with, "And how are you Mira, is Ziek taking good care of you?"

She nodded her head deeply, "Another fine son, good for you, good," she than answered him, "I am well, my children grow and are strong. Life is good." Come inside and bring that lovely young woman with you. Could this be Aruna? Surely she could not have grown so fast, when has she has become such a beauty!"

The three followed Mira into the house where they encountered the scent of a spicy stew on the hearth.

"Have you eaten?" she asked automatically as she took dishes from the shelves.

"We were sated." he replied with out thinking.

This was the custom to ask and respond in kind, the land had known many famines.
Whilst Mira was laying out the table for a guest meal, two young women came into the room entering from behind the house. They were running and laughing as they entered but stopped short when they realized there were guests in their home. Aruna could not hide her amazement; the young women were alike in every way. She had never seen twins before this. Her eyes flew wide and her mouth hung open.

Mira watched, amused at her response, she had seen it before but it always amused her and seeing it in Aruna warmed her heart to her immediately.

She broke the spell by introducing them, "Aruna, these are two of my daughters, Rema and Reta, they were born at the same time and are as alike as two seeds that grow in the same pod."

Aruna realized she was staring and blushed, again.

She stammered her, "Hello" and smiled, still blushing, as she listened to their greeting.

"Why don't you take Aruna outside to see the new born goats?" It was not so much a question and a bit more then a suggestion by the mother of the twins. "She can help you to milk the ones that are not with kids this year."

Aruna followed the twins outside to the goat pen that was attached to the stable.

"Take a bucket." Rena said doing so herself, the other twin followed suit and Aruna did likewise.

"We must rinse them before we milk" said the other. They all went to the well between the house and the stable; they swished the buckets in the square wooden trough than gave them a final rinse with fresh water from the well.

While the girls were out milking goats Aruna's father started his 'pitch'. "I see you could use some new pots Mira, those have been dented beyond repair. I could take them in trade, perhaps the old tinker could work something with them."

Mira smiled and commented that he had a sharp eye for detail. The pots, as they both knew, had been dented for years and were still perfectly serviceable. They were only an opening for him. "I have some fine knives to replace those stumps you have worn down with the stone." Now he had hit upon a nerve, he knew it the moment the words left his lips, her face gave her away to him as surely as if she had answered with words.

"Perhaps,... We will speak of it later." was her reply - she needed to consult with her husband before she committed to anything so precious as a new set of knives. He smiled to himself looking forward to the barter banter as she thought - 'Perhaps just two a great one and a small one.' She was bargaining with her husband in her head already, even though she was not yet alone with him.