Aliandra: nymph: Book 1 The Nymph chronicles
Page 27
The crowd cried out for more. Ali asked the other women if they had practised other dances and they told her one other dance. Ali instructed the drummers on the dance and they took their positions. Ali's body swayed to the heavy beat of the drums. She then shimmied and shook as the dance demanded. As the final drumbeats died away Ali completed the final complex steps of the dance. Again the applause was loud and there were cries for more.
Ali held up her hand for silence and announced she would do one final dance for them. The other women sat around the performance platform as Ali spoke with the drummers and told them her next dance. It was a dance only the most accomplished could perform and Ali had mastered it long ago. The drums began and the spotlight shone directly on Ali as she began her final dance. It was a very sexy and sensuous dance designed to arouse men into a fervor. Ali performed it perfectly and as the final drumbeats sounded and the lights came on the crowd was silent and remained in awed silence. An Egyptian god stood and called out "I claim her for my own." Another god stood up "I will pay handsomely for her." Protests immediately shot out at his audacity.
Zeus and Hera stood and called for calm. Hera spoke first "Aliandra is our dearest friend and has not yet debuted. We do not wish an incident but it is impossible for her to be claimed by any god before her debut."
Zeus called for calm "Hera is correct. We have no wish to offend our most eminent guests and we will try to work out a solution."
Aliandra spoke "Zeus and Hera, I thank you kindly for your support and friendship. I think it is now time to reveal my grand finale surprise for all the attending guests to avoid any further incidents. There will be a competition held at a nearby arena specially built for this event. I am a nymph and I am due for my next five week keening soon. I am, as yet, unmated and have been confronted by difficulties in choosing a mate. The only solution I can think of to resolve my present dilemma is to hold a competition between all interested gods and the prize will be to be my first lover at my next keening. Each contestant will sign a contract stating that they will accept the outcome of the competition and agree never to harass or attack in any way the winner of the competition or myself. A fair fight in unarmed combat will decide the outcome and the winner will be the last man standing. The rules will be listed in a contract that every god will have to sign if they wish to compete. There will be no proxies, no armor, no weapons, no poison, no dirty tricks and no powers to be used. It is intended to be a test of skills, strength, stamina, speed and will-power. Prometheus will be the independent referee and all his decisions will be final. Every god will fight entirely naked in an all-in battle at the approved arena. This is to be held on the final morning of the conference and will continue until a winner has been decided. At the final dinner, there will be plenty of entertaining battle stories to discuss. I will provide Prometheus with the contracts to be signed and as you read and return the completed contracts, then your name will be added to the list of approved competitors. If you want me, fight for me!" challenged Aliandra.
Ali then left the performance stage and returned to her small office with Rom at her side, then closed the door and breathed in deeply. The stage was set and Ali had decided to leave her choice of husband to the fates.