The story of Ban Nu

Banou got started and take a few step back. She cover her face using the veil in a hurry and look somewhere else. "Ban Nu, i am calling you. Ban Nu!"

Banou look at the scholar. He is offended that she did not respond well to him when he kiss her. He stands there in an angry look. Banou got frighten but she swallow that thought and walk up to him. Her head keep low and he stare at her hair. He pinch his lips together and slow raise his hand and lift her chin up. Her deep set of golden brown eyes look at him with a fright. He remove her veil with the other hand. He stare at the entire face infront of him. His thumb reach out to rub her lips which is dry. "I think you need to drink more water. I will get you more water. I cannot bed a woman that is dry inside and outside. Besides that you need to bath too. Maybe a change of clothes. AH MU!"

A young man come running holding a scroll and a brush in his hands.

"Yes your highness."

"Go get some water for Ban Nu to bath and drink. That girl too. Also see if we got some clothes for them to change. Man or woman's don't matter. Shoes too."

The young man hurry off while he continue to look at her and down to her chest. Banou quickly put her garment to cover her top tightly. He laugh

"Why are you so beautiful and cute. How old are you i wonder."

"What is he saying my princess."

"I don't know. I don't want to know too. He is not a good person Aylin, beware of his man." 

"Ah language is a problem. Huge issue!" He walk away and point to a man to continue what he is suppose to be doing. While Banou and Aylin walk away. 

The young man brings a set of clothes he find in one of the carriages. While the shoes he brings doesn't fit, the clothes seems fine for the woman. They look at it and wonder how to wear it as they are all Chinese men's garments. Next a bucket of water for them to clean up in the caravan. There are some flowers floating on the water. He demonstrate that the bath is for cleaning up with a rag. The girls quickly nod their head. After awhile he sent hot pot of tea and show them to blow and drink. After place down everything with the help of some men, he close the curtains tightly and goes off. Banou watch the men working on the carriages from her window. She ask Aylin to clean up fast. While she keep a watch. Aylin after clean up, she figures how to put on the clothes for awhile. After she is done, she keep watch and allow Banou to clean and change. Aylin help Banou to dress up in the confusing tie around the garments. After they clean up, they wash their own dirty clothes in the bucket with the flowers. Opening up the curtain, Banou and Aylin hop off the caravan to hang their clothes and the rag out to sunshine. Feeling fresh and clean they giggle. 

Lunch is served with vegetables and porridge. They watch the men have meat porridge. aylin wonder why aren't they offer the meat porridge. After Aylin finish the meal, she walk to the porridge pot. She reach out to scoop and try it but the young man stop her. "You can't have this, it's pork. It's against your religion." Aylin cannot understand. He repeatedly said finally he decided to make the sound of the animal. "Oink oink" he crawl on all fours. The men around all burst off laughing. Aylin then understand. She place her hand on her chest to say thanks. She run off to Banou. "Princess i know why we are given different food!"

"Why Aylin? Because we are slaves?"

"No! it is because the food is cooked with pork. They know we can't have it."

"Oh, that is nice of them." Aylin smile but Banou eat her meal slowly as always. Banou is raised as a princess, she was trained never to eat fast and talk with food in her mouth. It's a habit that she can't change. The scholar watch her eat from his tent. He is amused at the sight of his new slave. She seems to have a dignity of a high born person. If she is label as traitor, she must be frame. When Banou finishes, Aylin clear her bowls and plates. While Banou wipes her mouth slowly. When she is done, she see that the scholar is watching her while he is having his meal. She look annoy and lower head. She walk off to find Aylin.

"Ah mu can you check if any of our man can speak their language?"

"Yes your highness."

"I want to know why that young girl is treating my slave like a princess."

"Yes your highness."

"Ah mu, forget it. When i reach the capital there are people who can tell me who she is. Never mind. Now is everyone finish breadfast? Including the horses and the camels."

"Yes they are done your highness. Are we going to set off?" 

He wave and Ah mu go running and yelling. Everyone starts to pack up. Ah Mu even run to the other circles to inform them what to do. Banou and Aylin begin to help washing the bowls and plate and pack them up in the crate after wipe dry. They even help to load the crate up. After loading up the crate they see that the scholar is helping to pack the tent. They too want to help but Ah Mu direct them to go back the caravan inside to wait. Aylin run back to the caravan and check if the clothes are still there. Banou walk to see everyone is busy. Most of the clothes they wash are dry except for a few. Aylin had them tie on the bar next to the driver. Banou pour the tea on the small tea cups and enjoy with Aylin. The scholar climb up the caravan and they make way for him to walk in. As usual he walk in and sit down at the center seat. He look at Banou and signal for a cup of tea. Banou reluctantly pour out a cup and hand it to him. His hand touches her fingers and he smile in sly way that makes her feel sick. Banou look away and Aylin crawl out to the front to sit with the driver. At the back exit Ah Mu load in a crate. 

"Your highness, the crate that you have requested."

The scholar wave and Ah Mu disappear after he close the door tight. The scholar got up and open the crate and look through it. While Banou drawl near to where she is sitting yesterday. 

"Ban Nu!" She turn her her to find a book flying her way. It nearly smack her face. 

She look at him angry. He point to the book. Banou look at the book to find it actually an Arabic book of poems. She look at the scholar again. He smile and gesture her to go ahead to read. She pick up the book and smile to herself.

On this long journey, she sit there alone and read the book and marvel the wonderful poems written by Al-Mutanabbi. While the scholar watch her reading he understands that this slave he have is someone special. Not mentioned that she have the beauty she might have the brains. 

Outside the caravan, the scenery begin to change. From all the golden sands that surround them, the lash green grass begin to appear before their eyes. Aylin feels that life is getting better. While Banou who is holding the book in her chest feels that she have arrived to her new destiny. Something wonderful is waiting for her.