Epilogue
Tshaya of the Kaldeshari clan moved over the deck. Her dark, full-length skirt was pinned up on one side, leaving a leg
exposed. The colorful red blouse that was cut low showed off her bosoms. Although not ample, Tshaya knew that what she
had, combined with the cinched bodice and revealing top, was enough to make any man her unwitting servant. With each
slight step, she felt her hips gently swaying, capturing the glances of the sailors nearby.
The young Gypsy woman cast forth her most beguiling smile when she noticed the various glances of the men. With each step
she took, she was aware of the sexuality that exuded from her being. On bare feet, she crossed the smooth wood, the jingling
of the ankle bracelet making a soft noise that was only outdone by the bracelets around her wrist and her necklaces. As the
wind brushed past her long, dark, raven hair, the tinkle of her golden earrings sang on the wind.
With only a tilt of her head, the young Gypsy smiled at the men as she looked at them with hooded eyes. She acknowledged
their attention without encouraging their advances. In silence, Tshaya moved to the rail and looked out at the distant land that
passed by. As she watched the unfamiliar landscape change before her eyes, she released a sigh of relief as she remembered
the perilous journey that led them here.
It had all happened so fast. One day the Kaldeshari clan was living a peaceful life. Their wagon caravan moved through the
countryside not at all worried that trouble would cross their path. Although her grandmother had predicted darkness ahead,
no one knew what to make of her dire warnings. It was not until that fateful night that it all became clear to Tshaya.
As her clan laid asleep, the Horajah people, a rival clan jealous that her grandmother held the power and title of the Gypsy
Queen moved in to slaughter them as they slept. If it was not for little Mari who had to relieve herself in the middle of the night,
Tshaya never would have known that men were approaching their caravan. Once she noticed the danger, she had only enough
time to spirit little Mari and her grandmother away. Their parents perished before their eyes. Even as they hid in the nearby
brush, they watched in horror as their people were slaughtered and the bodies lay out and identified. It was then that she
realized that the Horajah clan would not rest until her grandmother was found, and they were all dead.
With this thought, they fled from the scene. Together, they ran as fast and as far as they could, but no matter how far they
went, the Horajahs were always close behind them. When they entered Athens, the Gypsy knew that the large port city would
be the place for them to find their escape. Although her people were not accustomed to the sea, only by sea would they save
their lives, she reasoned as she waited for the right time to find the one who would be their salvation. With her grandmother's
prediction, they waited in the darkness of the alley knowing that the one who would accept their meager coins would walk
through their path.
As a noise caught her attention, Tshaya turned and watched as the tall female captain exited her cabin. With a curious glance,
she watched as the mysterious woman made her way to the bow of the ship. As if the weight of the world pressed down upon
her shoulders, the strange woman stood at the front of her ship, her back straight as she stared ahead.
Tshaya could not have explained it, but when she first saw the figure in the night, she felt a familiarity in her soul. So strong it
was, that the dark Gypsy felt all control leave her. When the tall stranger lowered her hood it was then that Tshaya realized
that the captain who was their salvation was a woman. In that single moment within the alley, the Gypsy girl thought she saw a
glow within the tall captain's eyes. Upon seeing a familiar flash, the young girl felt her breath catch as her heart skipped a beat.
“Is it you?” Tshaya asked the stranger in the native tongue of the Gypsy people. When the figure looked at her confused, the
young woman shook the feelings away as she regained her senses and begged to be allowed passage. She didn't care where
the destination was, as long as it took what was left of her family as far away as possible.
Now that the fear of escape was gone, Tshaya found herself spellbound by this single thought. “Is it you?” She asked herself
again as her gaze remained on the woman's back. Her instincts came into play as she tried to grasp what was happening to her.
Tshaya Kaldeshari had seen nineteen summers and still she was not romi, she was not a wife. No matter how many men tried
to sway her to marry them, she did not consent. Although many felt that she saw herself above the men, only her grandmother
understood her reasons. Tshaya knew that somewhere in the world was the one soul who was meant for her. Somewhere out
there, was the person who would make her complete and only in their arms would her life be given meaning. So rather than
marry a man who was not her other half, Tshaya chose to remain alone until the day would come that she found the other part
of her soul.
When she looked up at the tall woman, she cocked her head in confusion. Although she knew of couplings between the same
genders, this was not something that Tshaya openly sought out. But if truth was told, she never considered that the one meant
for her would be a woman. Confused by this, the Gypsy woman was deep in thought as she turned away from the female
captain. As she watched the waves crashing against the side of the ship, she remembered the night before.
While the big man named Abu readied their room, Tshaya moved toward the cabin where the tall captain disappeared. On the
tips of her toes, she glanced into the window and watched as the mysterious woman put her cape and weapon away. When
she turned away from the large wooden closet, her dark, wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders. Tshaya watched as the
captain moved to stand near a child's bed. When the tall woman lightly touched the pillow, the Gypsy wondered if this woman
had lost a child. Before she could ponder this, the Moroccan moved to the larger bed and turned around. Afraid of being
seen, the young Gypsy ducked down low for a moment, then carefully rose and peered into the window. Tshaya could see the
devastating pain of the woman. When the captain held a green colored cloth to her face and inhaled deeply, it was all the
Gypsy could do to keep herself at bay. As the woman laid on the bed submerged in shadows, the young woman turned away,
her brow cocked as she thought over all that she had seen.
With a slight smile, Tshaya turned away from the rail and slowly walked over the deck, her eyes occasionally glancing toward
the back of the captain. Is it you? She found the silent question rolling through her thoughts. Once she was out of sight, she
ran the remaining steps, entered the cabin closing the doors quickly behind her. She smiled at her little sister as she deposited
a scarf of bread and fruit on the bed. Not needing an invitation, the little girl began to greedily devour the food as their
grandmother sat hunched on the floor.
"Grandmother, tell me true, is it her? Is she the one?" Tshaya excitedly asked as she pulled her skirt up and joined the wizen
figure on the floor.
Her grandmother's brows were knitted in concentration as she examined the bones on the floor. At her insistence, the clan
matriarch had taken the fortune telling bones and cast them upon the ground after Tshaya had spit on them. While the young
woman retrieved their morning meal, the old woman was free to examine the bones in peace. Now that her granddaughter
returned, the wizened face concentrated while Tshaya anxiously waited. The young woman wondered if what she felt was the
sign that she had been waiting for all of her life.
"Please, grandmother, don't torture me!" she begged. At her words, her little sister giggled as she ate the bread.
"Oh, you! Just wait until you are seeking your other soul!" Tshaya waved at the child, then smiled as she winked at the little
girl. When she turned her attention to the Gypsy Queen, she felt her heart catch as the clan matriarch gave a toothless smile as
she nodded her head.
"Yes, child," the wizen voice spoke low. "This one is meant for you! This is the other half of your soul!"
"Oh, grandmother! At last!" Tshaya jumped up and twirled around in a circle, scooping her little sister up in the process as
they danced in the small room. When she saw her grandmother's pleased smile, she gave a sheepish grin as she deposited her
little sister to the bed, then helped the old woman to her feet.
"However, there is this that you should know, my child," the old woman tsked. "She is filled with so much sorrow and pain."
"Then I shall take her sorrow away! With me, the Captain will never feel pain again!" the young Gypsy was filled with
confidence.
"Beware, Tshaya, lest you scare this one away. Her heart is as fragile as a morning dove," the old woman advised.
"I will grandmother, I will take care, I promise," she smiled as she knelt at the old woman's feet.
Even as she contemplated her grandmother's words, her heart was jumping for joy. Tshaya was not certain how she was
going to go about wooing the strange female captain. She only knew that of all the souls on the earth, this one was meant for
her. No matter how long it took, or how hard the endeavor was, Tshaya of the Kaldeshari clan had no intentions of losing the
other half of her soul now that she had found her in this life.
The End
Tshaya of the Kaldeshari clan moved over the deck. Her dark, full-length skirt was pinned up on one side, leaving a leg
exposed. The colorful red blouse that was cut low showed off her bosoms. Although not ample, Tshaya knew that what she
had, combined with the cinched bodice and revealing top, was enough to make any man her unwitting servant. With each
slight step, she felt her hips gently swaying, capturing the glances of the sailors nearby.
The young Gypsy woman cast forth her most beguiling smile when she noticed the various glances of the men. With each step
she took, she was aware of the sexuality that exuded from her being. On bare feet, she crossed the smooth wood, the jingling
of the ankle bracelet making a soft noise that was only outdone by the bracelets around her wrist and her necklaces. As the
wind brushed past her long, dark, raven hair, the tinkle of her golden earrings sang on the wind.
With only a tilt of her head, the young Gypsy smiled at the men as she looked at them with hooded eyes. She acknowledged
their attention without encouraging their advances. In silence, Tshaya moved to the rail and looked out at the distant land that
passed by. As she watched the unfamiliar landscape change before her eyes, she released a sigh of relief as she remembered
the perilous journey that led them here.
It had all happened so fast. One day the Kaldeshari clan was living a peaceful life. Their wagon caravan moved through the
countryside not at all worried that trouble would cross their path. Although her grandmother had predicted darkness ahead,
no one knew what to make of her dire warnings. It was not until that fateful night that it all became clear to Tshaya.
As her clan laid asleep, the Horajah people, a rival clan jealous that her grandmother held the power and title of the Gypsy
Queen moved in to slaughter them as they slept. If it was not for little Mari who had to relieve herself in the middle of the night,
Tshaya never would have known that men were approaching their caravan. Once she noticed the danger, she had only enough
time to spirit little Mari and her grandmother away. Their parents perished before their eyes. Even as they hid in the nearby
brush, they watched in horror as their people were slaughtered and the bodies lay out and identified. It was then that she
realized that the Horajah clan would not rest until her grandmother was found, and they were all dead.
With this thought, they fled from the scene. Together, they ran as fast and as far as they could, but no matter how far they
went, the Horajahs were always close behind them. When they entered Athens, the Gypsy knew that the large port city would
be the place for them to find their escape. Although her people were not accustomed to the sea, only by sea would they save
their lives, she reasoned as she waited for the right time to find the one who would be their salvation. With her grandmother's
prediction, they waited in the darkness of the alley knowing that the one who would accept their meager coins would walk
through their path.
As a noise caught her attention, Tshaya turned and watched as the tall female captain exited her cabin. With a curious glance,
she watched as the mysterious woman made her way to the bow of the ship. As if the weight of the world pressed down upon
her shoulders, the strange woman stood at the front of her ship, her back straight as she stared ahead.
Tshaya could not have explained it, but when she first saw the figure in the night, she felt a familiarity in her soul. So strong it
was, that the dark Gypsy felt all control leave her. When the tall stranger lowered her hood it was then that Tshaya realized
that the captain who was their salvation was a woman. In that single moment within the alley, the Gypsy girl thought she saw a
glow within the tall captain's eyes. Upon seeing a familiar flash, the young girl felt her breath catch as her heart skipped a beat.
“Is it you?” Tshaya asked the stranger in the native tongue of the Gypsy people. When the figure looked at her confused, the
young woman shook the feelings away as she regained her senses and begged to be allowed passage. She didn't care where
the destination was, as long as it took what was left of her family as far away as possible.
Now that the fear of escape was gone, Tshaya found herself spellbound by this single thought. “Is it you?” She asked herself
again as her gaze remained on the woman's back. Her instincts came into play as she tried to grasp what was happening to her.
Tshaya Kaldeshari had seen nineteen summers and still she was not romi, she was not a wife. No matter how many men tried
to sway her to marry them, she did not consent. Although many felt that she saw herself above the men, only her grandmother
understood her reasons. Tshaya knew that somewhere in the world was the one soul who was meant for her. Somewhere out
there, was the person who would make her complete and only in their arms would her life be given meaning. So rather than
marry a man who was not her other half, Tshaya chose to remain alone until the day would come that she found the other part
of her soul.
When she looked up at the tall woman, she cocked her head in confusion. Although she knew of couplings between the same
genders, this was not something that Tshaya openly sought out. But if truth was told, she never considered that the one meant
for her would be a woman. Confused by this, the Gypsy woman was deep in thought as she turned away from the female
captain. As she watched the waves crashing against the side of the ship, she remembered the night before.
While the big man named Abu readied their room, Tshaya moved toward the cabin where the tall captain disappeared. On the
tips of her toes, she glanced into the window and watched as the mysterious woman put her cape and weapon away. When
she turned away from the large wooden closet, her dark, wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders. Tshaya watched as the
captain moved to stand near a child's bed. When the tall woman lightly touched the pillow, the Gypsy wondered if this woman
had lost a child. Before she could ponder this, the Moroccan moved to the larger bed and turned around. Afraid of being
seen, the young Gypsy ducked down low for a moment, then carefully rose and peered into the window. Tshaya could see the
devastating pain of the woman. When the captain held a green colored cloth to her face and inhaled deeply, it was all the
Gypsy could do to keep herself at bay. As the woman laid on the bed submerged in shadows, the young woman turned away,
her brow cocked as she thought over all that she had seen.
With a slight smile, Tshaya turned away from the rail and slowly walked over the deck, her eyes occasionally glancing toward
the back of the captain. Is it you? She found the silent question rolling through her thoughts. Once she was out of sight, she
ran the remaining steps, entered the cabin closing the doors quickly behind her. She smiled at her little sister as she deposited
a scarf of bread and fruit on the bed. Not needing an invitation, the little girl began to greedily devour the food as their
grandmother sat hunched on the floor.
"Grandmother, tell me true, is it her? Is she the one?" Tshaya excitedly asked as she pulled her skirt up and joined the wizen
figure on the floor.
Her grandmother's brows were knitted in concentration as she examined the bones on the floor. At her insistence, the clan
matriarch had taken the fortune telling bones and cast them upon the ground after Tshaya had spit on them. While the young
woman retrieved their morning meal, the old woman was free to examine the bones in peace. Now that her granddaughter
returned, the wizened face concentrated while Tshaya anxiously waited. The young woman wondered if what she felt was the
sign that she had been waiting for all of her life.
"Please, grandmother, don't torture me!" she begged. At her words, her little sister giggled as she ate the bread.
"Oh, you! Just wait until you are seeking your other soul!" Tshaya waved at the child, then smiled as she winked at the little
girl. When she turned her attention to the Gypsy Queen, she felt her heart catch as the clan matriarch gave a toothless smile as
she nodded her head.
"Yes, child," the wizen voice spoke low. "This one is meant for you! This is the other half of your soul!"
"Oh, grandmother! At last!" Tshaya jumped up and twirled around in a circle, scooping her little sister up in the process as
they danced in the small room. When she saw her grandmother's pleased smile, she gave a sheepish grin as she deposited her
little sister to the bed, then helped the old woman to her feet.
"However, there is this that you should know, my child," the old woman tsked. "She is filled with so much sorrow and pain."
"Then I shall take her sorrow away! With me, the Captain will never feel pain again!" the young Gypsy was filled with
confidence.
"Beware, Tshaya, lest you scare this one away. Her heart is as fragile as a morning dove," the old woman advised.
"I will grandmother, I will take care, I promise," she smiled as she knelt at the old woman's feet.
Even as she contemplated her grandmother's words, her heart was jumping for joy. Tshaya was not certain how she was
going to go about wooing the strange female captain. She only knew that of all the souls on the earth, this one was meant for
her. No matter how long it took, or how hard the endeavor was, Tshaya of the Kaldeshari clan had no intentions of losing the
other half of her soul now that she had found her in this life.
The End
