I needed to get camp set up. I raised my head and prepared to get up, when I saw that it was already being taken care of. Zarsha was already blowing some simmering embers into a lively little fire, which she added sticks to steadily until she had a nice fire going. I watched in open admiration of the little girl's skills, the pain in my head easing a little as I watched her.
"Who did you learn all of this from?" I asked gesturing to the fire and my shoulder wound.
"My mother." She said simply without looking up.
I asked my next question very carefully already sensing what her answer would be, "Where is she now?"
She was quiet for a moment and then answered softly, "She's dead." She looked over at me and added, "You killed her."
I nodded as my hunch was confirmed. It had been Zarsha's dark colored skin and grace even as a girl that had reminded me of the woman I had killed called Kana.
"I'm sorry Zarsha! I'm sorry that I've caused you pain, but I had to do what I did. Do you understand that?"
She nodded and said, "She taught me much, but she was bad. She caused much suffering and she was a she devil. Manta says you are a good man and I think so too. I will serve you now."
My heart cringed at the realization that a precious little girl could have such a grown up perspective concerning her own mother. I didn't ask about her father as he was likely only one more of a long line of victims her mother had incurred.
"Zarsha, I don't need any more servants, but I would like, actually like isn't a strong enough word, I would love to take over the role of a parent and guardian for you and raise you as my own. What do you think about that?"
She looked up at me with her big brown eyes, which I saw were wet from unshed tears and gave me a tremulous smile, "I would like that very much!"
And then her little body slammed into me as she hugged me fiercely. I held her tenderly to me, as she broke down and sobbed her heart out against my chest. Not how I had planned on becoming a parent, but anything that felt this right was the right thing to do.
"God help me protect and care for this little girl like a father should!" I whispered softly against her hair hoping that I was man enough for the task ahead of me, of raising this little girl right and replacing what she had lost or had never had as best as I could.