Two months had passed since the death of Zillah Bey. The people of the tribe were only just beginning to regain some normalcy, but it was obvious that their chief would never be the same. It was obvious that he had loved his wife even more deeply than anyone imagined, for a week afterwards he refused to eat, and barely ever slept. He had become merely a shadow of his former self, until there had been a large group of raiders had threatened the tribe then he had become ruthless, and completely reckless in destroying them. For all of the people it was painfully obvious that Zillah had been his reason for living, and now she was gone, and had taken a vital part of Aasim with her into death.

Everyone was relieved when he called for the celebration of Sixth Moon to still be held among their tribe. It seemed as though he was finally beginning to recover, and so preparations had feeling of relief to them that was unusual but better than the grief that had hounded the camp for the past two months.

Miriam was finding great comfort in the preparations, when she was busy it was easier to deal with the grief of losing her dearest friend. She, Alya, and her youngest daughters, Numa, and Zahrah all worked together with the other women of the camp to prepare fragrant dishes for the feast, as well as weaving new clothing for themselves and their families. Alya had generously volunteered to create the clothing for Aasim, Ardeth and Assam as there was not a female family member to weave for them, and she had become very skilled at weaving.

On the night of the celebration there was great rejoicing among the people as they all gathered in the center of their camp. Food and drink abounded, as well as merriment and music. It seemed as though they could all finally return to some normalcy as even Aasim seemed in good spirits, and ate many of the foods that had been prepared. Joash, Miriam's husband leaned over to her, "Who made the clothing for the Bey's?"

Miriam smiled, "That was our Alya. She has become quite the weaver."

He looked thoughtfully into Miriam's dark eyes, "She has grown." They both turned to look at Alya, who sat with other young women in a group near the center. She was slender and in the firelight she seemed to sparkle. Her long dark hair flowed down her back like a river of dark curls, and her blue eyes, so very uncommon in the sea of brown glowed in comparison to her tan face.

"It appears, husband, that we are not the only ones noticing Alya tonight." Miriam whispered.

Joash looked in the direction of her glance and chuckled, as he saw Ardeth Bey, who was unable to take his eyes off of her."I think I know why she volunteered to make the clothing for the Bey's."

Miriam nodded, with a small smile. "Perhaps you should speak with Aasim…"

"I believe I shall."

After all of the food had been devoured, and before the dancing started Aasim stood before the people of his tribe. "I have something to inform everyone of." He cried out. The noise level almost immediately dropped as everyone turned from where they were standing or sitting to look at their chief.



"I have decided," Aasim continued, "That the interests of the twelve tribes would be better served if I was no longer chief." There was an audible gasp from the crowd as murmuring broke out, Aasim paused and raised his hand for silence. "I will be moving to the Cairo Museum as the Curator, and will be leaving the Twelve Tribes under the leadership of my eldest son, Ardeth. He has shown great maturity and leadership in these past few weeks, and I know that he will make a great chief."

All eyes immediately went to Ardeth, even though all the people saw him usually every day, now he was going to be their chief and so he was deserving of a closer inspection. Seated next his father, he was a tall young man who had come of age the winter before. There was seriousness on his brow, and he knew his duty to the Twelve Tribes, but he was beloved of all the children, because he could always find time to play with them, or calm tears.

Aasim turned from the tribe to Ardeth, who was still seated on the ground, and bowed to him. Ardeth's eyes were desolate, as he motioned for his father to stand, but Aasim continued to bow while removing the scimitar from his waist. Holding it in front of him palms flat as though it was an offering, he waited for Ardeth to take it. Ardeth's face tightened, as he reached a slightly shaking hand out, and grasped the scimitar firmly before holding it above his head. A loud roar of approval burst from the crowd for Ardeth Bey, Prince of Maim and leader of the Twelve Tribes. No one but Ardeth noticed that in the activity, his father had slipped away from the celebration.

The sounds of lyres, zithers and drums broke through the cheering as the people took their jubilant mood into dancing and music. Wood was stacked onto the bonfire, until it was burning bright and almost as tall as a tent.

Alya felt a tug on her skirt, as she stood. Looking down, she saw the bright face of her youngest sister, Zahrah. "Alya, please, please dance for us?" There were several other children with Zahrah, and they all began to plead for Alya to dance.

She smiled, and wrapped her arms around her sister in a hug. "Zahrah…" she sighed.

"Please, please, please?" Zahrah began to jump up and down, still clinging to Alya's skirt. "You haven't danced in forever!"

Their brother, Malik, overhead the pleas of the children from where he was tending the fire and joined in. "Come on, little sister! Favor us with a dance!" He came over lifted her off the ground. "I will not release you until you do…" he threatened.

"Malik!" she squealed, futilely pounding on him with her fists, as he slung her around his shoulders, much to the delight of Zahrah, and the other children.

"Alright, alright!" Alya cried out. "I submit, I shall dance!"

Malik laughed from deep inside, as he placed her feet gently on the ground. "Good thing too…"he quipped. "You aren't as light as you look."



The crowd roared with laughter as Alya grabbed a pot of water and neatly poured it on Malik's dark head. "Now you won't smell so bad… I couldn't take much more." Her green eyes sparkled as she took the offered tambourine, and went to the middle of the circle. Miriam looked over to where Ardeth was sitting, to judge his reaction. A slight smile played on across his lips, and he barely inclined his head to Alya, causing her cheeks to bloom like roses.

A pipe began to play a simple haunting melody, and Alya swayed her hips to its gentle flow. Soon the pipe was joined by a harp, and she began to beat the tambourine against her hip. Another player added the drums and the music went into a wild beat, and Alya threw everything she had into this dance. Her grace and power were incredible as she moved in time to the rhythm of the music, her face shinning as she danced around the circle.

The song ended, and Alya froze in place, staring into Ardeth's dark eyes, as she felt a trickle of sweat slide down her back, and she fought to control her breathing and slow the rapid beat of her heart.

"Again, again!" cried the younger girls, and this was echoed by many of the older members of the tribe. There was a great sound of approval for this young woman who was everything she should be. Alya smiled enchantingly, and bowed to the members of the audience, shaking her head, and handing her tambourine to the group of young girls. She then slipped silently through the crowd, over to a rug behind her family.

"Beautiful girl, just beautiful. She is so sweet and respectful." The old women whispered among themselves, smiling and remembering their times of dancing.

"Lovely shape, such grace and spirit." Older men echoed.

The little girls watched her with their dark eyes wide, all hoping and praying that one day they would be as graceful and beautiful as Alya.

"You were wonderful, Alya." Joash said, squeezing her hand as she walked past her family.

"Thank you, Abba." Her smile was wide and lovely but didn't quite hide the sadness in her eyes. Miriam nodded to her, brown eyes filled with tears, because Zillah had taught Alya how to dance and they both shared a look of understanding, knowing that they were both thinking of her.

Everyone turned their attention back to the other girls who danced, and slowly everyone began to dance themselves, joining into the wild rhythm of the desert drums and instruments, celebrating another year having come and gone, and remembering those that were no longer with them.

Miriam looked away from Alya as Joash swept her into the dance, as they all sang and reveled together under the stars. A look over to the carpet where Alya had been revealed it to be empty, except for a sleeping Zahrah, who the excitement had been too much for and who was curled into a ball on the rug. Miriam smiled softly, and made her way from the circle to her youngest daughter. Lifting the six year old into her arms, she turned towards the fire, and saw that there was another empty carpet. Ardeth's. Miriam swiftly turned and carried Zahrah to their tent, placing her in the soft pallet she shared 

with her sisters. Bending down she smoothed the dark hair off of her daughter's forehead, and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek before slipping out of the tent to find her other daughter.