CALIA
As Kintook's first wife, Calia held the highest status among the women of the large village, but with this privilege came great responsibility. She was the leader of Kintook's 4 other wives and of all his children. She bestowed fertility upon all the women of the village and held the responsibility for the fertility of the entire earth. Any personal shortcoming she carried would directly affect all life. While her husband held the power of healing, health and happiness, she held the power of life itself.
Calia watched her eldest daughter grinding the wild barley into flour.. Taryn's lush curly hair twinkled in the sunlight. Her delicate face, full pink mouth and long limbs gave her the graceful look of a gazelle. Her breasts had grown into full ripe melons. Her long bright pink nipples poked through the curtain of beads. A small tuft of hair graced the little "Y" at the tops of her firm thighs. She was the embodiment of beauty and fertility.
Taryn had been born on a full moon at harvest. Her First Moon, the full moon following her 20 years, would fall on the first day of her 20th year, and it was at harvest time of one of the most fertile years the entire Kabati tribe had ever seen. Taryn had brought Calia high status from the moment of her birth. As soon as the villagers saw Taryn's light caramel skin and golden brown hair, they all knew Taryn would be special
Calia had spent Taryn's entire life preparing her for her responsibilities as a Kintook's wife. For 20 years Calia taught Taryn how to harness the power of life and pass it to the women of the village and to the plants and animals of the earth.
Calia was both excited and fearful for her daughter's future. Taryn would have even more status than the village elders if she were to become pregnant during the 20 days of Taryn's Rites. But if Taryn failed to bleed at first penetration, or if she was found to be barren, then she would put to death and a new wife for Kintook would be chosen. Even if she passed the first tests of her life giving power, she might still lose her status. The expectations for Taryn were impossibly high, much higher than those for any other Calia in the Kabati tribe.
Kintook entered the hut and gave her the traditional greeting of patting her head with his right hand. Calia looked up at her husband. They had been chosen as children and Calia was grateful her husband was a gentle lover and attentive friend. She was married to him at the end of Taryn's second year, according to tradition. He was barely a man then but already well respected in the village. He had grown into quite an impressive man, strong and kind. She squatted in front of him and kissed his penis cover, signaling her respect for his position in the village.
Kintook sat next to her and put his hand on her thigh. "They will come for Taryn in 3 days." He said. Calia said nothing, looked at her feet and tried not to cry. Taryn had been promised to Jala, a village more than four day's walk to the west. Calia's heart ached because she would only see her daughter twice a year during the Kabati tribal gathering.
Calia's husband tenderly took her in his arms and kissed her forehead. She pressed her body against his and rested her head on his strong shoulder. They sat in this manner for a long time, each comforting the other. Kintook eventually reached behind Calia and unhooked her chest beads and then reached down and untied the beaded cloth covering her womanhood. He lay her down next to him and took in her beautiful nude body.
The Kintook stood, removed his headdress, beads and penis cover and then lay down on the furs next to his wife. Calia took her man into her arms and pulled him into her. She was at her fertile time and hoped she would soon be filled with new life. She pulled her legs up and wrapped them around his waist as he penetrated her to get his seed as far up into her belly as she could. After he shot his hot seed up into her womb she rolled over onto her side with Kintook's leg under her hips and her back against his firm belly. Thus entwined, they napped in the warmth of the afternoon.
TARYN'S ENDOWMENT
The Jala elders had arrived at nightfall. The women of her village had spent the earliest hours of dawn preparing Taryn to meet the Jala elders. She was clothed in the traditional fertility dress of her village. Strings of white bone beads were braided into her ash covered hair, her body was covered in gray ash. Her usual chest beads were replaced by a curtain of bones, bleached white in the sun. Her loincloth was the soft white belly of the gazelle.
With the women bustling around her, Taryn did not have much time to contemplate the changes about to come. Her mother had spent Taryn's entire life preparing her for her role and Taryn was long prepared for this event in particular. It's coming felt as natural as phase of the moon that signaled her journey to Jala village. Her only nervousness came from having to speak the ceremonial words in front of the entire village. Would she remember them or would she stumble?
As soon as the first glint of sunlight peeked in the horizon, her mother led Taryn from the hut to the ceremonial grounds in the center of the village. They were followed by all the women of the village. The village men stood in a wide circle at the ceremonial grounds. The Jala elders joined the elders of her village and her father in the center of the circle. Each man stood nude except for his ceremonial yellow penis cover, the length of which signified each man's stature in the village. Her father's penis cover was nearly 3 feet long.
As Taryn and her mother approached the circle, the men separated just enough for them to pass through. The village women formed a second circle behind the men. Taryn understood the significance of joining her father and the elders inside the circle. She understood her status was higher than that of everyone in her village except her mother, father and the elders.
Taryn stood 3 feet in front of her father with her eyes downcast and her arms folded elegantly at her waist, as she had been taught. As she expected, her father patted her 3 times on the head with his right hand – a ceremonial greeting reserved for village Kintooks toward women of high status in the Kabati tribe. In return she bent slightly from the waist to kiss the tip of his penis cover, a show of respect for his manhood and status.
Her father beat his Acha staff on the earth 3 times. "This is the eldest daughter of the Kintook. This woman is the hope of the ground and the sky. This woman is rain. This woman is beating of the heart." He said loudly enough for the village to hear. "Who takes an oath for this woman?"
Calia stepped forward to stand to the side between Taryn and her father. Kintook acknowledged his wife by patting her on the head with his right hand and she kissed the tip of his penis cover. "I take this oath" her mother said loudly. "This woman is seeded on First Moon." Taryn knew these words certified to the Jala elders that Taryn was the resultant child created during Calia's ceremonial rites, and as such, Taryn was qualified to be endowed with the power of life. Kintook beat his Acha into the ground 3 times and Calia moved to stand behind him.
The oldest man in the village, one of the elders, stepped forward to speak. "I am Banduk and I thank this Calia for bringing my wives children, grandchildren and many great grandchildren. This Calia brings us many goats and pigs. This Calia brings us the grain and the fruit. This Calia honors the Kintook." Banduk took a moment to reposition the stick he used to support his aging body before continuing. "This Calia bled for the Kintook at First Moon and honored the seed of this village by bringing this life forward." Banduk raised his arm toward Taryn. "This old one remembers these things. This old one honors this life."
Taryn was proud that Banduk spoke for her. He had been like a grandfather to her all her life. His eloquent words now were heartfelt and genuine. Taryn knew the Jala elders would be impressed by Banduk's honor. As Banduk stepped back to take his place with the other village elders, Taryn went to him and kissed his penis cover. He put his hand under her chin and lifted her face so that she could see his broad, proud smile.
For the first time Taryn thought about what she would be leaving behind. Banduk's age made it impossible for him to attend the Kabati gatherings anymore. Taryn realized this might be the last time she ever sees her dear Banduk. Tears began to well up into her eyes but were quickly wiped away as Banduk mouthed "danna" – a Kabati word that could mean "lifelong joy", "child" or "blessing". It was his way of reminding her that their memories of each other would last her lifetime and he would always be with her.
She moved to stand in front of her father again. By now the sunlight had moved over the horizon enough to fill in the shadows created by the torches surrounding them. Taryn faced into the morning sun and watched a large flock of ngnaga fly over the village. The sun glistened on the dew covered bountiful harvest gathered in the circle, a testament to the Jala elders of Calia's fertility shared by the entire village.
Kintook turned and brought Calia forward to stand in front of her daughter. Banduk's wife, the eldest woman in the village, began to sing about the life and fertility Kintook's daughter would bring to Jala. During the song Calia's right thumb was cut just enough to produce blood and Calia pressed her bleeding thumb against Taryn's forehead – the bright red almost garish against Taryn's gray ash covered face. As the song progressed Calia tied a small pouch on a leather string around Taryn's neck. The pouch contained the tooth of a male lion, the seeds of 3 plants and small cut of cloth caked with Taryn's first menstrual blood. She would wear this pouch constantly for the rest of her life.
Taryn was now endowed with the power of life and qualified to bestow that power as she saw fit. Every member of the village knelt in honor of her life. One of the Jala elders spoke. " The Kintook is honored this day. This man honors this Calia who brings forth this life. (gesturing to Taryn) This life is a blessing to this man. I beg of this life to honor the seed of Jala."