Atara
Feeling the handsome young prince beside her bristling with anger and indignation, Atara was at a loss as to how to bring comfort and pleasure to this guest. Briefly a frown crossed her face as confusion clouded her mind as the to the Sultan's words. Yet, he was her Master, and it was not her place to question what he did.
As Valic's fingers touched her skin, she shivered at the touch. She glanced up into his handsome face briefly, amazed that her body had responded so quickly to this man's touch. She glanced at his hair, and suddenly had to repress the urge to run her fingers through it, soothing it back from his face. As his glance drifted briefly to her, Atara felt her cheeks darken and tried to divert her eyes before being seen. Yet, she could tell by the way Valic's fingers lingered on her skin, that her look had been noted.
With the Sultan's speech, Atara felt the blood drain from her face. She quickly glanced at the row of concubines lining the wall. Yes, she understood the politics of the harem - there was very little love lost between the women behind the silken veils. Most were cutthroat in their desire to become the Sultan's favored one. But death to most? She looked in the direction of the Sultan, wondering why he would do this. A man of his position based part of his wealth on the women in his harem, and here he was about to cast them aside. Had the conquest truly been that remarkable?
Atara quickly glanced at Larina, standing in shocked silence at the Sultan's words. Yes, it was true she called one of his wives "mother", but all knew she was truly the daughter of one of his concubines. Her look spoke her feelings, though she tried hard to cover it. To disagree with the Sultan could bring about death or punishment.
Moving her glance along the row of guests, Atara met the stare of the slave, Shinaa. She seemed to be pleading with her, and Atara returned her stare openly. The slave was safe, that was assured. But then Atara glanced over at Milla, new to the harem and still most unaware of it's politicos. Yes, there would be certain people to plead for, that was true. And Atara knew that she had some power to sway the Sultan's heart.
Yet, he had given her to Valic for the night's pleasure. Atara glanced at her hands, folded in her lap, and tried to think of how she might influence the Sultan. Perhaps, if she found favor with the prince sitting next to her this night, he might consider intervening?
Suddenly Atara's mind was brought sharply back to focus as the two guards took up their position behind the prince. To be a guest and under guard in the Sultan's palace was not going to make persuasion any easier. Swallowing hard, her mind still calculating, Atara leaned towards the prince and rested her hand upon his arm. The tension was still strong within the room, and she hoped her gentle words might dispel it to some degree.
"Is there any way that I may serve you, lord? There is much food and drink here this night. Indeed Larina is much skilled as a dancer."
Almost as if on cue, the music rose from behind a curtain, and Larina once more moved her body in the graceful moves in time with the music. Indeed she was a delight to watch.
Atara glanced up at the prince, but his attention lingered only briefly on the beautiful dancer, before settling on the Sultan. Taking a chance, Atara raised her fingers to his face, stroking his face tenderly from his temple to his jaw.
"Lord? I am at your disposal for whatever you wish," Atara whispered humbly.
Feeling the handsome young prince beside her bristling with anger and indignation, Atara was at a loss as to how to bring comfort and pleasure to this guest. Briefly a frown crossed her face as confusion clouded her mind as the to the Sultan's words. Yet, he was her Master, and it was not her place to question what he did.
As Valic's fingers touched her skin, she shivered at the touch. She glanced up into his handsome face briefly, amazed that her body had responded so quickly to this man's touch. She glanced at his hair, and suddenly had to repress the urge to run her fingers through it, soothing it back from his face. As his glance drifted briefly to her, Atara felt her cheeks darken and tried to divert her eyes before being seen. Yet, she could tell by the way Valic's fingers lingered on her skin, that her look had been noted.
With the Sultan's speech, Atara felt the blood drain from her face. She quickly glanced at the row of concubines lining the wall. Yes, she understood the politics of the harem - there was very little love lost between the women behind the silken veils. Most were cutthroat in their desire to become the Sultan's favored one. But death to most? She looked in the direction of the Sultan, wondering why he would do this. A man of his position based part of his wealth on the women in his harem, and here he was about to cast them aside. Had the conquest truly been that remarkable?
Atara quickly glanced at Larina, standing in shocked silence at the Sultan's words. Yes, it was true she called one of his wives "mother", but all knew she was truly the daughter of one of his concubines. Her look spoke her feelings, though she tried hard to cover it. To disagree with the Sultan could bring about death or punishment.
Moving her glance along the row of guests, Atara met the stare of the slave, Shinaa. She seemed to be pleading with her, and Atara returned her stare openly. The slave was safe, that was assured. But then Atara glanced over at Milla, new to the harem and still most unaware of it's politicos. Yes, there would be certain people to plead for, that was true. And Atara knew that she had some power to sway the Sultan's heart.
Yet, he had given her to Valic for the night's pleasure. Atara glanced at her hands, folded in her lap, and tried to think of how she might influence the Sultan. Perhaps, if she found favor with the prince sitting next to her this night, he might consider intervening?
Suddenly Atara's mind was brought sharply back to focus as the two guards took up their position behind the prince. To be a guest and under guard in the Sultan's palace was not going to make persuasion any easier. Swallowing hard, her mind still calculating, Atara leaned towards the prince and rested her hand upon his arm. The tension was still strong within the room, and she hoped her gentle words might dispel it to some degree.
"Is there any way that I may serve you, lord? There is much food and drink here this night. Indeed Larina is much skilled as a dancer."
Almost as if on cue, the music rose from behind a curtain, and Larina once more moved her body in the graceful moves in time with the music. Indeed she was a delight to watch.
Atara glanced up at the prince, but his attention lingered only briefly on the beautiful dancer, before settling on the Sultan. Taking a chance, Atara raised her fingers to his face, stroking his face tenderly from his temple to his jaw.
"Lord? I am at your disposal for whatever you wish," Atara whispered humbly.