Abal still loved her sister even if it didn’t make sense and that was the thing about family. It did not always make sense and it did not have to. It should not; a family that made sense would be awfully boring would it not? Family could kick you and you would still help them. You could scream that you hated them but still love them. That’s how her family was. That is how she loved her family even when she doubted the way they loved her back.
Abal was pacing in her room when Salma rushed in with a smile on her face. “He’s back Abal!”
Abal jumped up and ran out to the verandah. Her brother, Avranos had come home after a year away. Abu was helping him bring his trunks into the bedroom section of the house. He was tanner and his beard had filled out. He had gained some weight but he still looked like her brother. She waited until he put down his trunk and jumped on his. He gave her a tight bear hug and mussed her hair. He put her down and looked at her with the adoration that only an older brother has for his sister. He kissed her forehead and rested his hand there.
“I missed you,” he said. Something was different. He looked like a man who had been through hell and was glad to be safe again. He was clearly relieved to be back home. He had obviously seen a lot. He had matured.
“ I missed you more, Avra.” She squeezed him again. He had always been there for her. They had always been close. She had only bonded with Salma after he left. Avra looked after her and played with her, he was the one who encouraged her to do what she liked whether it was playing sitar or learning a language that no one else spoke besides the travelers. Salma made her feel dumb for doing these things. She said it would not benefit her and that she was wasting her time.
Avranos smiled at his little sisters and put his arms around them both. The three siblings moved into the living room. It was different and full now. The pieces of the family that had been missing while the men were away had come together. The maid, Sarena, brought them tea but it was allowed to go cold. Abu always brought with him presents from other places but Avra came bearing stories. He was the type of storyteller that would get up and imitate the old hunchback beggar that tried to outsmart him.
He relayed the stories he had heard. He told them about sea monsters in the west and creatures from the south. Abal sat beside her brother and looked up at him in adoration. They got up and made their nightly prayers then sat down to a dinner of roast lamb and vegetables. It was Avra’s favorite. They were all spoiled but Avra got it the worst. Umm fussed over him constantly even though he was a grown man. Since he had returned, he would get anything he wanted.
The Ibn Nafis family were happy. The sisters forgot their quarrel and Abu forgot his suspicion. Umm relaxed, which was rare and Avra was home. They were together and they were content. Abu sat looking at his family. He had less children than all his siblings but he did not mind. He had three perfect family. He had a strong son who would carry on for him after his death and take care of his mother and sisters. He had a strong character and was good natured. The toll his travel took was evident in his features but Avra had only mentioned the good parts. He never complained. Abu heard him mention to a friend once that when he thought about how much others did not have, he could never be but content.
He had Salma who would marry well and live up to her mother’s expectations. She was smart and would never allow anything bad to happen to her. Salma had grown to be clever and was always one step ahead of everyone else. She had a wonderful voice and delightful personality. Salma would be a happy woman.
Then there was his Abal who was more like him than he could fathom. Abu knew deep down that she would surpass his expectations. She had his discontent and hunger, his wanderlust. She always wanted more, to know more, to see more, to do more. She would not settle like her sister. While it made Abu happy, Umm worried for their youngest. She knew her daughter would never be happy with the conventional man in a conventional marriage. Abal had too many ideas about love, too many expectations. She did not accept society as it was, if she could not change it she would exchange it for something else. Umm knew she would leave someday, she only hoped she would not stray too far.
Late that night after the family had all retired to their rooms, Abal moved around in her sleep, she just could not get comfortable enough to sleep. She sat up after at least an hour of tossing and turning. She felt around her bed and her hand fell on a sack of coins and a letter written on thick parchment. Abal instantly shot out of bed and put on a long robe. She had to use the tunnel to get out as fast as she could. She raced through the windy whispers of the night to the creaky old bookstore where she normally changed into her brother’s clothes.
She heard shuffling and someone clear their throat. He was there. He had waited. Abal’s heart was racing, she took one step forward. Amar lit a match and transferred the flame to his pipe. There was another thing about him that disgusted her, the smoking. He touched her face gingerly.
“You are far too pretty to masquerade as a boy.” his words even felt dirty.
“I fooled enough people. What do you want?”
“Oh I don’t want anything at all,” he said. Puff, puff. “ I doubt there is anything you could give me that would not put you in a sticky situation.” Another puff and a chuckle. Abal took a step away from him.
“Then why did you call me here?” Abal demanded.
“Listen girl, you made me wait for more than an hour. This meeting will take place on my terms.” Amar inhaled and went back to his charming drawl. He started walking as he said, “ You play messenger pigeon but you know none of what is in the messages. I know that your family is close to the royal family. They have been our choice customers for quite some time now and it seems that we may run into some problems. Mahmud is becoming too confident and Sultan does not like it one bit. You are a woman, an extraordinary woman, but the fact that you are a woman means you know nothing of our business. You know we trade in things that are bad because no one speaks of them.”
Abal thought for a second. Amar was right. She had no idea what exactly was traded on the black market. A few books were banned but a couple of books could not bring so much wealth. She knew that exiles used Sultan to carry messages. That much made sense but what was in the boxes she sometimes carried?
“ Have you ever noticed this?” Amar held up his left hand to Abal’s face. There lay the most delicate and out of place thing ever. It was a thin glass ring with words carved into it. It seemed almost impossible that the thing did not break. It was already thin and it had holes where the words were carved in. She did not recognize the language.
“No, what is it?” Abal could not contain her curiosity which she cursed when she saw the bemused expression Amar pulled.
