Stolen from the Harem (Tales of the Thasali Harem Book 2)

by Astor, Jade

  Then, like any flame, the one roaring between them crested and burned out, turning to embers that warmed them peacefully and led them toward a contented sleep.

  “Did I fulfill my promise?” Charis asked in a teasing voice. “Did I please you?”

  “Oh…yes, yes,” Zav replied in a voice that shook with a kind of wonder. “It was wonderful.”

  “I’m glad. I wanted to make you happy.”

  They fell silent for a while. Charis hoped Zav wasn’t comparing himself to Vidnar, but his next question made him think that might have been the case.

  “Will you miss the palace life?” Zav asked, holding Charis close against his bare chest. Charis enjoyed hearing his heart beat behind those blunt brown nipples. He couldn’t resist tonguing them a little and making Zav laugh.

  “No more than you will miss traveling once we save enough for a downpayment on your villa.” Charis said. “Tomorrow we will leave here forever. Lord Ezda is right. We must never return here.”

  “You would not mind that?”

  “No. I think we have a great deal more traveling to do, anyhow. We have to find the perfect villa. One by the sea, perhaps. You promised you would show me the waves.”

  “I did, didn’t I? Well, I intend to keep that promise. That and many others.” Zav sighed with contentment. “Maybe I spoke unwisely at Masylion’s party. Maybe the old gods do watch out for us sometimes.”

  Charis murmured in agreement as Zav leaned down and kissed his forehead. Then he stroked Charis’ hair until the need for sleep grew too strong to resist. They clung to one another as darkness fell around them like a soft, comforting blanket.

  Exhausted, Charis welcomed the sweetness of oblivion. But he also looked forward to waking up into a new, exciting, and hopefully very long life with the man he truly loved.

  A BRIEF GUIDE TO THE WORLD OF ORANTO

  GLOSSARY OF COMMON WORDS

  Burninga: The Oranto equivalent of a goat. It can be milked, and its milk is an ingredient in natash.

  Cachu: Slang term for excrement.

  Davosira: This refers to both a desert succulent called davosira and the toxin derived from it. It is found primarily in the Marqash province of the Thasali stronghold and other arid regions on Oranto. No antidote to this lethal poison exists. Within seconds of ingestion, paralysis sets in. and death comes within an hour.

  Elodie: This refers to both a leafy tree that grows in abundance over most of Oranto and to the oil extracted from its narrow yellow leaves. The oil has many uses, but is primarily used as lubricant for sex.

  Fuffer mash: The recipe for this rather bland, though filling, dish is simple—water and gilla grain heated and then mashed into a pulp. It is an important part of the diets of Oranto’s poor.

  Gilla grain: Equivalent of rice or wheat.

  Gillotin: A large stork-like bird with very soft feathers.

  Ginamar: A denomination of currency in Resedna.

  Grubergreens: Greens more commonly eaten raw in salads, as cooking them renders them inedible.

  Imperial ginamar: A form of currency in Resedna. Rare and thus worth a lot, they are minted once every 10 years on order of the reigning monarch. They are meant to mark a significant event. The matriarch ordered a batch of imperial ginamars to be minted to celebrate her jubilee. They are embedded with high-quality crystals from the Resedna crystal mines.

  Jundii: The jundii are an exalted group within a royal household’s coterie, a sort of inner circle within an inner circle. They are a royal household’s most trusted advisers. Occasionally, they act as a star chamber for whatever royal household they serve.

  Jusubo flowers: Sweet smelling, small delicate flowers.

  Krask: A curse word similar to fuck.

  Lamasket: Formal term for anal sex.

  Lamplight: The term Resedna residents use to refer to dusk.

  Lottery: A chance to win a little bit of money. They payouts aren’t very good, but they’re more than what the poor of Resedna earn in months of hard work. It’s a good way for the royal family to control the peasants.

  Mrow: Long and flat worms.

  Natash: Fermented drink made and consumed primarily by lower echelons of society. The drink’s strength can be made quite strong or weak, depending on who is making it and for whom the drink is intended. Some connoisseurs prefer the unfiltered variety.

  Omple tree: Fortunately for Resedna, omple trees are abundant and hardy, growing nearly everywhere in the Thasali stronghold. A smaller, dwarf version of the tree manages to thrive in the arid Marqash region. The tree’s sap can be easily processed into sweet, thick syrup.

  Pagvee berries: Highly prized pagvee berries are found in the more mountainous regions of Oranto. Small, intensely sweet and ruby colored, they are harvested in early spring. The Thasali capital city and region Resedna have hills but no mountains high enough for pagvee berries to take root and grow, so Resedna residents who can afford them pay dearly. The jewel-like berries are used to make Pagvee berry brandy.

  Rikilda: A long, slender, citrus fruit with a hard yellow rind.

  Sallabeast: This term refers to both the five-legged animal and the meat for which it is raised.

  Steenango: A fruit that grows in more temperate regions, like Pyriel. Its flesh is a bright orange-yellow with a texture reminiscent of melons found on Earth. Steenango pits are small, no bigger than an Earth cherry. The flesh is covered with thin yet tough green skin with a white pith between the flesh and skin.

  Talphoux: A tangy fruit that holds up well to heat so it is often baked and served with burninga cream.

  Thrashing: A unit of measurement, generally only used when measuring foodstuffs like grain. A full thrashing is equivalent to 10 pounds.

  Tralicot: A fish found in rivers and streams all over Resedna.

  Unbalanced Fluids: Considered the cause of all illness by rich and poor alike.

  Xoxobeasts: Like oxen. They pull carts.

  PEOPLE OF ORANTO

  Thasali Household

  Duga Rigers: A former harem boy who grew up in Resedna’s mudflats precinct; Prince Baboye’s most trusted adviser/former consort.

  Lash: Royal tailor.

  The Matriarch: The head of the Thasali family, she succeeded to the throne upon her husband’s death.

  Prince Baboye: The Thasali crown prince.

  Prince Vidnar: Baboye’s youngest brother.

  Thasali Harem

  Agatan: Harem boy who mentors Duga when he first arrives in the harem. Tall, redhead, pale skin.

  Blanto: He’s in charge of the harem when Duga and Shebi arrive.

  Charis: Harem boy.

  Defri: Harem boy.

  Ethan: Harem boy who mentors Shebi.

  Eyakan: Harem boy; Prince Baboye’s current favorite.

  Gerion: Oraj’s chief assistant.

  Kuzabu: Games master, a small, muscular compact man with strong opinions.

  Leuna: Harem girl from the mudflats; chosen with Duga and Shebi.

  Mekko: Lecherous music master.

  Oraj: Harem master, very strict and by the book; former harem boy.

  Rilas: Houseman; sometime assistant to Master Oraj.

  Sisuma: Harem boy.

  Resedna City Inhabitants

  Apamar: Brothel boy.

  Jamas: Brothel boy.

  Shebi Goza: A brothel owner and Duga’s old friend from his harem days.

  Others

  Corceus Family: It once ruled nearly a third of the planet Oranto, but that was several generations ago. When the Corceus Family fell, it fell hard and far. Many royal families on Oranto owe their wealth to former Corceus property and other assets, which were divided among the royal families once the fall of the Corceus family was complete. The Corceus family started to fall apart at the height of its power because of overweening ambition, misrule, intrafamily battles, greed and a touch of madness.

  Tertiana Alsadafti: Duga’s ex-wife. She bore two children with Duga, raised them with him and when they were ne
arly adults, she went to live with an old lover who had also been in the Thasali girls harem. She and Duga and are still friends.

  Umji: A talented actor who often performs in the theater at Daphek.

  Zav: A traveling merchant who takes Charis with him for a while.

  PLACES ON ORANTO

  Arthon: A distant city from Resedna, it has been proudly independent since the fall of the Corceus family, when the Corceus palace was destroyed during a fierce battle. Its citizens refused to allow any royal family to move in and take the place of the Corceus family. Duga and his former wife Tertiana sent their children there to be educated.

  Daphek, City of Entertainments: A city featuring a pleasure center known as the Dome of Delights with an exotic marketplace, theaters, and other cultural attractions.

  Ithu: A northern city; a cold, dreary place.

  Jehenne Mountains: The highest elevation in the Thasali stronghold. Although other regions have higher mountains, the best water is found in the Jehenne Mountains. No one has been able to determine why, but the water in the springs here has a smooth, almost sweet taste. As with many of the finer things, Resedna’s poorer populations cannot afford Jehenne Mountain water.

  Marqash: One of the more far flung Thasali villages, it’s mostly desert. It is a neglected part of the Thasali stronghold. Marqashians resent the Thasali royals because of the neglect. This is Eyakan’s home village.

  Pyriel: A resort village with a large and famous market. Wealthier individuals from the Resedna region often retire there. Its climate is temperate.

  Resedna: Resedna has always been the Thasali royal city. This is unlike most other royal cities, which were originally held by the Corceus family and then taken over by other families when Corceus collapsed.

  Warren: The Thasali royal penitentiary. It’s almost always referred to with the definite article “the” before it. The inmates are kept in underground cells. While they’re serving their sentences, the inmates are allowed above ground once every ten days for an hour. The Warren’s cells are as dank and dreary as underground cells can be.