49 Lessons (2)

During the day A-Narah went to the chief's tent where Elon and the shaman were still residing. She would usually visit him over lunch, delivering his food. Today was no different. In a basket she carried the food to the tent and entered without warning. Elon was sitting by himself. His legs were crossed and his eyes were closed. It looked like he was sleeping, but she knew that this wasn't the case. The shaman called it meditation, it helped to clear the mind and silence stray thoughts. Through it the blood would flow more smoothly. The shaman had told her that meditation was good practice for everyone, and that he forced the chief to make the warriors practice it before and after any battles.

A-Narah wasn't sure if Elon felt her entrance or not, but she wouldn't bother him because his recovery was important. She put down the basket and laid out the food, so he could eat when he was done. Usually she would have left after that, but today she decided to linger.

She crouched down with her knees to her chest and watched him. His breathing was steady and even. She waved her hand in front of his face, but he didn't react at all. It really was like he was somewhere else. As she watched a bit longer, he took a deep breath. The air paused on his breath, the world stopped. And when he let it out it all returned to how it was before. A-Narah wasn't sure if it was just her who had felt it, if it was her imagination, but that breathe was strange. She looked at him more closely and then rubbed her eyes. For a moment she thought she saw his veins pulse, but when she looked again there was nothing odd about them. They were just like her's or anyone else's.

Attributing the strange sensations she had felt and seen to the fog of burning incense hanging in the air, she got up and left to clear her brain. The smoke was so thick in there it could choke someone.

"Hey Ara where are you going?" Anis asked as she caught sight of her. She hadn't told any of the other girls of her riding lessons with Adom. If she told them they would be raging with jealousy. They might, no they would, even follow after her to watch and demand a turn. It such a thing happened she would learn nothing. They would all just be distractions and get in the way. And Adom, Adom would feel uncomfortable with them there. He wouldn't be able to just be himself. He would feel duty bound to watch over all of them. Maybe because she was a stranger, not part of his tribe, he could feel free around her.

"Oh I just finished delivering lunch to Elon. I'm just on my way back," A-Narah fibbed.

"I see, it's just I haven't seen you around lately after lunch. I was wondering where you had gone."

"I'm just helping Feme with something." Feme knew where she was going, if someone asked her about it she would cover for A-Narah.

"Alright. Well some of the girls and I were going to make new dancing dresses today. We thought you might want to join us."

"You are going to dance tonight?"

"Yes, there is someone who caught my attention, and I hope that tonight he might look my way and notice me for once. It will be fun. You should join us."

"But I don't have anyone I like and I don't know how to do the dance."

"That doesn't matter and we can teach you," Anis implored.

A-Narah thought about it. Maybe if she cut her lesson short today she could make it in time.

"Okay," A-Narah said hesitantly. "But I have to finish something first and then I will come."

"Great!" Anis rushed forward and hugged A-Narah.

"With you beside me I will have more confidence."

"Why because I will obviously be worse?"

"No silly, because my best friend will be standing next to me. It gives me courage; I won't be alone."

Best friend? They had only known each other for a short period of time, but to be considered as such…Anis was her best friend as well. A-Narah ran off and told Adom that she wanted to end earlier today.

"Why" he asked her. It was unusual for her to want to limit her time here.

"The other girls offered to teach me some of the dances today. I want to learn," she said appealingly.

"Sure. I guess. You're the who is missing out though." Adom couldn't understand what was so interesting about learning some dance.

"It's good to try new things. Maybe if you danced you would like it."

"I have no plans on ever dancing."

"You shouldn't say that. What if there comes a time that you want to take a hand of a girl? Won't you have to dance then?"

"No. I won't do it."

"You are never getting married?"

"I will, someday. But to take the hand of a girl in a dance is a promise and will give her an expectation that I can't meet."

"What do you mean? What's so complicated about loving someone?" She couldn't understand what he meant when he said that. She agreed with Feme. Adom should find a nice girl and settle down. He should find someone who could make him smile and laugh with. Someone who would understand him. Someone who could take care of him properly and made sure that he would look after himself as well. He needed someone like that.

"I have the tribe to look after. They will always come first. I can't make a promise to a girl that she will be my first priority. I won't give her that hope."

"That's just sad. You shouldn't live your life fulfilling some responsibility, but for finding your own happiness."

"And you? Are you living for your own happiness?" he threw her words back at her.

A-Narah couldn't answer him and tell him that she was. She was happy right now, but it was only momentarily. She had her own responsibilities that she couldn't look away from. This was only a stop on her journey. She had to remember that this place and that these people would just be petals in the wind. Drifting into her life for only a moment.

A somber feeling fell between them. They were reminded that no matter how far nor how fast they ran, that they would never be able to outrun the life that shackled them.