"No, really," Gabrielle smiled at her lover's comments. "I've been standing here watching Zara and I noticed something, watch
and see what you think," she encouraged. The ghost remained silent as she saw Inaam moving to the captain's side, the infant
fast asleep in the sling around the woman’s shoulder and body. With eyes downcast, the young woman removed the empty
plate, then took a warm cloth, and wiped the captain's hands, all without a single comment from the tall Moroccan.
"Do you see how Inaam is waiting on her hand and foot?" the Amazon's words questioned. "Did you ever think that Zara was
like that?"
"I see what you mean, Gabrielle, but it could be that she truly doesn't notice," Xena's voice was soft as she turned away from
the scene, her brow furrowed as her eyes were downcast.
"But, did she ever give off any clues that she liked to be catered to like this? You know, I thought I was better at judging
people, and now I'm beginning to wonder who is this woman?" Gabrielle's voice was laced with disappointment as she moved
to sit on a nearby chair. "I mean, am I with someone who I don't even know?"
Xena was silent and contemplative as she stood near her lover. With a slight smile, she moved to sit next to the blonde. In a
tender manner, she leaned toward the woman and reached for her, but pulled away when she realized what she was doing.
"I don't believe that things are the way you think, Gabrielle. There's a lot that Zara has to make right, a lot of things are going
on right now, so much that I, uh… that she needs to take care of." The ghost stopped herself and glanced at the healer. With
eyes lowered, the small blonde gave no evidence of hearing her words. "Gabrielle, are you listening?"
"Yes, so much is happening with Zara now," the storyteller repeated only half of what the warrior said. With a satisfied smile,
the ghost warrior leaned back as she gazed up at the clear blue sky.
"Then be patient, Gabrielle. Don't judge her by what is going on now. There is so much more, so many things that occupy her
mind right now," Xena's voice grew soft as she turned her attention back to her soulmate.
It seemed that the blonde would not listen. But when Gabrielle smiled, Xena felt herself release the breath that she was
holding. "That's it, honey. Just be patient, I'm sure things will change and you'll realize that you didn't misjudge Zara."
"I guess you're right, Xena," the healer sighed as she rose from the chair and began to pace the room. "By the way, have you
noticed that there are no pictures around here, like there were at Arjun's place?" the blonde asked as she glanced at the
intricate tiles that lined the outside of the windows. "It's all really beautiful, but isn't it odd that there isn't a single image of a
person?"
"There are no images of people, Gabrielle, because according to their faith, they cannot have art depicting people or animals."
The ghost warrior explained. When she saw her soulmates confused expression, she smiled. "It has to do with their holy
book, the law which forbids idols or adultery. In order to avoid any misunderstanding, or confusion that the images are being
made as idols, or are praising adultery, they avoid including it in their designs. By staying with intricate patterns and vegetal
shapes, it gives the impression of continuous repetition. For some, it helps them to remain focused on the nature that they
believe is the core of their God, which is infinite," Xena explained with awe tingeing her voice.
"Xena, I never knew that you were so well informed of Zara's people," the blonde smiled. "Have you had a lot of encounters
before with them?"
"No, not really," the warrior smiled. "I guess… I'm just learning to appreciate some of Zara's culture," she explained as she
looked away from the woman.
If Xena had been truthful, she would have explained that merging with Zara gave her a better understand of not only who the
woman was, but of the beliefs that she held dear to her heart, even though she did not choose to display them. But rather than
voice this and draw further questions, the warrior princess tried to brush off her bard's concerns. When she glanced over at
Gabrielle, she noticed the smaller woman's intense examination of some of the tile artwork. Releasing a sigh, she was thankful
that the healer's normally inquisitive nature was so far appeased.
Xena wanted to tell her bard everything. Nothing would have made her happier, but she knew that she could not betray the
Moroccan captain. For better or worse, they had an unspoken agreement that information shared during the possession
would not be spoken of without the agreement of both. Like co-conspirators, the warrior and captain maintained their silence
with their lover. Yet there was a part of the ghost warrior that hoped that Zara would talk to the Amazon, if for no other
reason than to let Gabrielle know that they might be in trouble.
~~~~~~
The reparations could never equal what they had lost, but Zara hoped that the generous stipend to the widows and children
would ensure that none of her fallen crewmen's families fell on hard times. As the scent of the Moroccan candles wafted to
her senses, she realized how stiff her back had become. With a tired but satisfied sigh, she glanced around the table to all the
men gathered.
"I think perhaps it is all in order now," she looked at the three men and noticed that they were all her age. With nods of
agreement, they glanced at each other, then began to gather their piles of scrolls together.
She turned to her friends. "Abu, Isa, you are both satisfied with the results? I trust you feel that all of your colleagues would
approve?"
"Yes, Captain, they would be honored by your generosity," Abu nodded solemnly.
"Of course, Captain, I agree. Thanks to you, no widow or child of these men shall ever want for anything," Isa's grim
expression remained solemn as he looked down at his folded hands.
"For which, I must thank you for your generosity as well," A gentle smile crossed her lips as she reached over and lightly
patted his hand. "Your forgoing all of Rabeé's stipend made it possible for even more to be added to the widow's fund."
"Yes, it was a most kindly and charitable deed," Abu murmured as the gathered solicitors made comments of agreement.
"I-It was the least I could do, after all, I had no use of funds, a-and, I think it's what Rabeé would have wanted," the man
seemed on the verge of tears, but managed to pull himself together as a gentle smile crossed his lips.
Zara nodded silently and squeezed his hand again. Finally she returned her attention to the three solicitors. "Then if the
business is concluded, may I invite you all to partake of dinner," she queried as she rose smoothly from the low chair.
Siraaj, her long time solicitor in all business and money dealings, closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. The aroma of the kitchen
wafted past their senses. "Zara, could I ever pass up one of Sahar and Inaam's dinners!" The bearded man smiled as his two
companions nodded vigorously.
Siraaj and Akram had been friends with the seafarer long before her ship captain's days. Both were from well-known families
and had shared the same tutor. Although not common, at times the genders were required to mix with each other if the girl
had outgrown her own tutor, and for Zara, that happened faster than even her own mother had anticipated. Despite the slight
protests from her father, the future ship captain was allowed to join the local boys in order to obtain lessons of astronomy and
mathematics, lessons that were the cause for her success on the high seas. Tayseer was the newest of her solicitors, and even
though she had only known him for three years, the captain learned that just as Siraaj had vouched, the young man proved to
be a competent man in assisting her with her business and legal issues.
When they stepped to the foyer, she caught site of Nadrah and Gabrielle in a nearby room. Like a dutiful babysitter, Nadrah
was cradling Inaam's babe in her arms as Gabrielle smiled at the two. When she saw Zara, the small woman merely nodded
and waved her to them.
"The business is finally concluded. We will have dinner now, I trust you will join us?" the captain offered her Greek lover a
weak smile, as she turned to her friends.
"You must be the Amazon Healer, Gabrielle. Zara has mentioned you to us," Siraaj, ever the gentleman, bowed with hands
pressed together, "Salaam, may Allah bless you," he greeted, as the other men followed suit. True to perfection, the Amazon
remained formal as she mirrored their greetings, her smile ever as radiant as the captain could hope.
