Free Earthly Crown by Kate Elliott Page B

seduction and the five erotic dances of Tadesh. He could tell, by her lowered eyes and the set of her chin, that she knew he was studying her. She did not smile. She never did.
    “Syrannus,” he said abruptly. “There is a slave-boy about her size. Go get his clothing.”
    “Your eminence?”
    “His clothing.”
    Syrannus looked troubled. “Your eminence, surely, if your most honored uncle said—”
    “Are you questioning me?”
    Syrannus bowed. “Of course not, your eminence, but in my position as a tutor for many years in the palace school, from which your eminence so graciously elevated me to become your secretary, I beg leave to remind you that while your high spirits and rebellious nature made you a favorite among the tutors at the school, it would not perhaps be wise to go against your uncle’s orders.”
    “I can cut the girl’s hair.” The concubine’s hands halted for a moment, then resumed their rubbing. “With short hair, and loose clothing, she will pass well enough for a boy. By my ancestors, Syrannus, surely my uncle cannot expect me to endure an entire year without female companionship? The First Prophet himself warns against such privations. It is simply too much. She will go in the slave-boy’s place. My uncle will not know of it, and the barbarians will neither notice nor care.”
    Syrannus hesitated. At last, he bowed and left the room. The curtain parted, whispering, to let him through, and with a jangle of beads settled back into place.
    Jiroannes sighed. “Something to drink, Samae.” The concubine rose and padded in her slippers to the far table and brought him back a cup of melted fruit sorbet. He liked to watch her. She had an unconscious grace, and her slim hips swayed in an enticing manner. He did not think she did it on purpose. She had yet to show the least interest in him, except to perform her duties as ordered and with exacting perfection.
    She knelt beside the couch and lifted the cup up to him. He took it, and drank. She wore two layers of cloth, an outer silken gown slitted cunningly to reveal the sheer silk garment beneath and the white curves of her body. The sorbet cooled his throat, but not his ardor.
    “My sash,” he said.
    She undid the complex knot that bound his sash and unwound him from its confines. The emerald cloth studded with jewels and precious stones fell to the floor in a heap. Even as she slid his trousers and blouse off, he was thinking as much of his ambitions as of the expert ministrations of her hands: endure this one year, negotiate a successful treaty with this Bakhtiian, secure Vidiya’s borders and perhaps even arrange some diplomatic marriages—the Great King had a daughter by his fifth wife he was willing to offer to the Bakhtiian, and surely this nomad prince had some female in his family to offer the Great King or his heir in turn—and then…
    Samae paused in her stroking while Syrannus came in, deposited the boy’s clothing in a neat pile at the foot of the couch, and left. As the beaded curtain settled back into place, she dabbed oil on her hands and began again.
    Then he could marry well and gain the honor of wearing, instead of a gaudy, jeweled sash, the plain white silk granted only to the Companions. With such a prize within his reach, he could almost look forward to the coming year.

Manifest of the Soerensen Expedition
    Compiled by Margaret O’Neill, Assistant to C. Soerensen
    Personnel:
    Charles Soerensen
    Dr. Cara Fel Hierakis
    Margaret O’Neill
    David ben Unbutu
    Ursula el Kawakami
    Rajiv Caer Linn
    Joanna Singh
    The Bharentous Repertory Company:
Ginnaia Lac Arbha
Owen Zerentous
Seshat Onn
Dejhuti Joldine
Anahita Liel Apphia
Gwyn Jones
Helen Angiras
Jean-Pierre Dasas
Diana Brooke-Holt
Henry Bharentous
Madelena Quinn
Hyacinth
Oriana Vuh Catanya
Phillippe Navarone
Yomi Applegate-Hito
Joseph Applegate-Hito
    Partial Manifest of Goods:
22 Hou-Kohl palm slates
thermal mitts
1 Ananda-Cray Modeler
2 frying pans
1 Ananda-Cray