"Same to you." 

That's everyone accounted for, more or less. Everyone she has to worry about, at least. These will see to the rest of the caravan. 

She'll help settle the camels, then, that should take some time; and then she'll return to the fireside as it gets closer to mealtime.

When she returns, it's to a crowded fireside. Rana passes out mugs of wine, and Fahim and Hayat sit and chat about their travels as Fayruz prepares koshari in one of their copper cooking pots and Naila and Munir set up tents. It's old conversation, all of it, but there's an easy familiarity to the old gripes about the sand and the heat.

She comes and sits. Already the desert is cool rather than hot; the fire is welcome. 

"Everyone alright?" she asks. "Anything need tending to?"

"Everything's going well. Koshari should be ready soon. It truly is a blessing to have good water and lots of it." Fayruz smiles. "Well done, whatever it was you did for the spirits."

"I think you should storytell," Rana says. "If you don't want Yasmin's head to be filled with nonsense, put something there yourself."

"Now, now, I wasn't telling her nonsense -"

"Save it," Hayat says. "We've all heard it before. You just like to wind her up. And it's rude to Naila."

Fahim lets out a long-suffering sigh and falls silent.

Yasmin comes over to the fireside, holding a large stack of wooden bowls. "Here," she says to each member of the group in turn. "Your bowl."

"Thank you, Yasmin, that's much appreciated." Layla accepts her bowl with a smile, and takes a small sip of her wine.

A few minutes later Munir comes to the fireside as well. "Do you have anything I can take to Kamil?" he asks. 

"Not just yet, come back in fifteen minutes. Aren't you supposed to be helping with the tents?"

"I'll help with the tents!", Yasmin chirps. "Everybody's got to pitch in, right?"

"Wise words," Layla opines. "Tell you what, get the tents set up fast enough that you finish before the meal is ready and I'll tell a story tonight."

"Oh gosh, really?"

"Yes, really. I don't say these things for fun, you know." She grins and looks over at Rana. "And besides, my sister wants me to have some fun and celebrate a little."

"I will not deny it." Rana grins.

"I - um - alright!' 

Yasmin darts back into the camp and gets her instructions from Naila.

Rana takes a drink from her own mug of wine. "So," she says. "What story do you think you'll tell tonight? One about the old gods? Something more modern? An adventure story?"

"The old gods seem like a good topic. A spirit story, maybe."

"I always liked the tales of the old spiritcallers. Perhaps it's just because of my talent, but it matters to me."

"Glory! Adventure! Magic! Pharoahs who won't listen! Yes, those stories are enjoyable to tell."

"I always liked the stories where they bargain with the spirits and ultimately win. Those are the best kind of stories."

Hayat opens her mouth, then seems to think better of it and closes it.

Fayruz stirs the pot. "I always thought that the best stories were the romances. Give me a pair of lovers to look over the shoulder of any day."

"Oh, and you would know a few things about that, now wouldn't you?" Rana laughs. "Good luck with that!"