“Yet I have never seen you act so authoritatively,” Talitha said. “Is it true, then, that Kedar will make you his wife?”
“I know not,” Skye answered truthfully, then added to confuse Talitha, “but it will be as he, and he alone, desires. He is the master.” Talitha might think what she would, but she would never be able to say that Muna said she was to be Kedar’s wife. Skye stood up. “I am going to bathe.”
“I’ll come with you,” Talitha replied. “So far there has been little time for indulging anything other than Kedar’s various appetites.”
Skye laughed. “Does Kedar know how sharp your tongue is?” she asked, genuinely amused.
“No more than he knows how strong you are, Muna, my friend. Hurry now lest that little upstart Zada try to join us. I can bear no more of her chatter today. Is she never quiet?”
“No,” was the short reply, and the two women departed quickly for the guest bath.
They bathed in leisurely fashion, and then returned to the apartment and ate what Zada had brought them. Kedar was still with the princess, and Talitha and Zada lay down to sleep while they could; but Skye took the opportunity to walk in the gardens that opened off of the guest quarters. The day was warm but not uncomfortable, and she enjoyed the peace and the solitude of her own company. Slowly she strolled along the carefully raked gravel paths. About her a multitude of bright flowers bloomed in exotic and riotous fashion, their many scents almost overpowering in the still air.
“My lady Muna.” She heard Hamal’s voice, but looking about did not see him. “I am on the other side of the hedge,” came the explanation. “It is better that we not be seen talking. Just walk along. I will keep pace with you.”
“Which way?” Skye asked.
“Toward the fountains at the end of the hedgerow.”
“Have you some news for me, Hamal?”
“I have managed to convince both my brother and the princess of the advisability of journeying to Algiers. As I have explained to Turkhan, she cannot entrust her goods to her own caravan people until she knows the risks and variables of the trail. Since Kedar, having never over the years lost a shipment, is really the expert in this, I suggested that he go with her to aid her. Also the Dey of Algiers is an old friend of the princess’s father, Sultan Selim II. He will aid her in her dealings in Algiers, and Kedar will benefit by meeting the Dey through Turkhan. Everyone will profit all around.”
“What of Niall, Hamal? What of my husband?”
“The princess will take both myself and Ashur, your husband, with her.”
“But how are we to escape?” Skye’s voice had a nervous edge to it.
“Kedar has confided in me that he is so enamored of you that if you could not go along he would not go.”
“Oh, God!” Skye whispered. “I will never escape him!”
“Courage, Muna! You must only put up with my brother for a few more months. I have already dispatched a pigeon to my Uncle Osman. Your ships will be awaiting you in Algiers. Do not fear! Has my uncle not said it was not your fate to remain in this part of the world?”
“We cannot compromise Osman,” Skye said firmly.
“Do you think I am so foolish as to endanger him?” Hamal’s voice sounded hurt.
“I do not like returning to Algiers,” Skye fretted. “There is danger in that city for me.”
“What danger?” Hamal was curious.
“My second husband was Khalid el Bey, the Great Whoremaster of Algiers. He was murdered by his best friend, Capitan Jamil, the Sultan’s commandant of the Casbah fortress, in order that Jamil might possess both me and my beloved Khalid’s fortune. Your uncle helped me to escape, Hamal. When Osman sent for me a few months ago, Jamil was in Istanbul. By now, however, he will have returned. If he suspects for one moment that I am there, he will attempt to exact revenge on me for spurning him.”
“Even if this Jamil is there he can do you no harm,” Hamal soothed her. “Kedar is not apt to let you run loose in the city, and it is unlikely that Jamil will ever meet my brother and discover that they both covet the same woman. Besides, all this happened long ago,” Hamal said with the certainty and assurance of his youth. “Surely Capitan Jamil has forgotten you by now.” Then he quickly amended, “Not that you are a forgettable woman.”
Skye was forced to laugh. “Stop!” she begged him. “I am but thirty, and you make me feel like an old woman.”
“You are thirty?” He sounded amazed, and Skye was overcome with a fresh fit of giggles.
Suddenly she felt more certain than she had in days. She had been frankly worried about escaping with Niall from Fez, and making their way alone through unfamiliar and hostile territory to the coast. She had almost been beaten down by Kedar’s overpowering sensuality, but now she suddenly felt lighthearted again. She wished she might share that good feeling with Niall.
“When do you think we will be leaving, Hamal?”
“It will be at least two months before we can depart from Fez. It will take that long to prepare a caravan large enough to hold the goods of both the princess and my brother. The trip itself is at least a month. Three months at the earliest, between three and four months more likely.”
“It will be necessary to create a diversion in Algiers in order that Niall and I can escape.” Skye said. “Then we will need to travel in a large convoy in order to circumvent the Dey’s corsairs. The Mediterranean is virtually an Ottoman lake. Have Osman alert my men as to our arrival.”
“My uncle is right,” Hamal said admiringly. “You are really an amazing woman. You know so very much about the world. In a sense I envy you your knowledge. I have lived here in Fez my entire life. I have never been more than a few miles from the city. I have never even seen the sea.”
“Ask Niall to tell you about our homeland, and about England and its Queen and her court, Hamal. Now you must tell me how my husband fares. I have spoken with you on everything but that which is dearest to my heart.” Skye had reached a large, azure-blue tiled fountain. The fountain was round, and filled with bright golden fish darting to and fro. In its center a crystal spray bubbled forth, shooting at least nine or ten feet into the air. Hamal was still nowhere to be seen, but Skye knew that he had not left her.
“Knowing you are here heartens him, as he is distressed by seeing you with my brother.”
“I was distressed at seeing him with the princess,” Skye answered tartly. “He seemed to be paying her most ardent court. I had been told he was resisting her fiercely; he did not look last evening as if he were resisting her at all.”
A chuckle sounded behind her. Her obvious jealousy in the face of her seeming passion for Kedar amused Hamal. “Ashur decided a small while ago that to fight Turkhan was not the proper tactic. So instead, he began to court her, and believe me, Muna, when he escapes her, Turkhan’s fury will know no bounds. I imagine Kedar will feel the same way at your flight.”
Skye walked slowly around the fountain, pausing a moment to dip her hand in the cool water. “Out of respect for your uncle, my dear friend Osman, I will say nothing to you of your brother but that I will be glad to escape his clutches, Hamal.”
Again came the rich chuckle from the green shadows of the hedgerow. “If Kedar knew you, Muna, really knew how strong and disciplined a woman you are, he would be very frightened. If you could but be yourself, how easily you would vanquish him. I almost wish I might see it, for it would destroy him.”
Skye hid a small smile as the truth dawned upon her. “You hate him, don’t you, Hamal? Despite your gentle manner and soft appearance, you are as ruthless as he is; and, I think, far more clever.”
“By right half of our father’s wealth was mine, and yet my brother robbed me by selling me to the princess.”
“Still you love Turkhan, your uncle tells me.”
“Yes, Muna, I love her, but that does not wipe out Kedar’s crime. As long as I am a slave I can inherit nothing. I strive for the day that Turkhan will free me. I will marry her then, claim m
y father’s wealth from Kedar, and with Turkhan’s wealth I shall be far more powerful than Kedar. He will regret having attempted to disinherit me.”
“Are you not afraid I shall expose you, Hamal?”
“To whom, Muna? Not Kedar, for you care nothing for my brother. To my uncle? He would understand, I assure you. Do not fear, lady, I shall aid you and Ashur in your escape once we reach Algiers. Now I must return to the palace. Do not be frightened if I do not attempt to speak with you until we arrive in Algiers. There is no need.”
“Hamal!” Skye called softly. “Tell Niall that I love him.”
“I will,” came the reply.
She was alone again. She walked once more around the fountain, watching the fish flashing golden amid the crystal bubbles. Escape from Algiers was assured in Skye’s mind. As much as she disliked, no, detested, spending further time with the salacious Kedar, it was a small price to pay for what in the long run was going to be a better situation for both herself and Niall. Completing her second circle of the fountain, she began to retrace her steps back along the tall green hedgerows toward the palace.
“Where have you been?!” Kedar’s fingers dug into the soft flesh of her upper arm.
For a moment anger flashed in Skye’s eyes, and then a warning glance from Talitha reminded her of her situation. “I was but walking in the princess’s garden, my lord. Is it not allowed? Have I breached the code of good manners?” Her voice sounded distressed and anxious.
Kedar’s grip loosened somewhat. “It would have been better if you had taken Talitha or Zada with you, my jewel. I do not like you walking alone.”
“Perhaps she was meeting a lover,” Zada said spitefully.
With a roar Kedar rounded on her, releasing Skye as he attacked the now terrified Zada, beating her viciously about the head and shoulders.
“My lord, my lord!” Skye protested. “ ’twas but the ill-considered jest of a jealous woman!”
Even Talitha, who normally would not involve herself, added her voice to Skye’s in an attempt to stop Kedar. “My lord, if you kill her you will have lost a valuable slave. How often have you admonished us not to waste?”
“Owwww! Oh! Oh! Arrrrgh! Mercy, master! Mercy!” the unfortunate Zada wailed.
“Bitch! Little savage animal!” Kedar snarled. “How dare you suggest such perfidy against your mistress, your better? Do you think that because I have relieved my lust into your worthless body you are as good as she?” He cuffed her a blow on the side of the head. “You will receive twenty lashes when we return, worthless one!” So saying, Kedar shoved Zada away from him angrily.
Ignoring the fallen woman, Talitha and Skye quickly set about calming the furious Kedar. While Talitha hurried to bring him a cool and refreshing drink, Skye wiped his brow with a cloth wrung out in rosewater. “You must not be angry with Zada, my lord,” she implored him. “She is but an ignorant Berber, and the honor you have done her has gone to her head.”
Talitha held a goblet of lemoned sherbet to his lips, saying, “Has this sort of thing not happened before, my lord? And it will continue to happen if you will not confine yourself to your harem.”
“The women of my household are there to please me,” Kedar grumbled. “All of them!”
“That may be your right, my lord,” Talitha persisted, “but if there is no distinction between mistress and servant then the servants will believe that they are as good as their mistresses, and this sort of thing will happen again and again.”
Kedar snatched the goblet from Talitha and drained it. “You have been with me many years, Talitha, and I have never known you not to act in my best interests. I will think on what you have said.”
Skye could not help but raise an eyebrow. Such a reasonable concession on Kedar’s part was surprising. Talitha merely smiled, and said quietly, “You will decide what is best, my lord.”
Skye did not see Niall again. They left the princess’s palace in the afternoon to return to Kedar’s house. In the corner of their litter Zada sat sniveling, and, finally annoyed, Talitha rebuked her sharply. “Be silent, girl! You have brought this misery upon yourself.”
“Muna was meeting a lover,” Zada insisted. “I saw a man in the garden walk the same way that she did.”
Skye quickly debated with herself whether she should admit to meeting Hamal, and finally said, “The lord Kedar’s young brother, Hamal, was on the other side of the hedgerow from me, Talitha. He but bid me good day, and returned to the palace lest he compromise me. Should I say something to our master?”
Talitha laughed. “Of course not, Muna. More likely, Hamal feared that you would compromise him with Princess Turkhan, especially now that she has shown such favor toward that handsome brute, Ashur.” She turned stern eyes on the complaining Zada. “Say a word to Kedar, and I will have you poisoned, foolish one.”
Zada nodded. She had no doubt that that old bitch meant every word of it. “Will I really be given twenty lashes?” she quavered.
“Probably,” Talitha said drily.
“Speak to Kedar, Talitha,” Skye intervened. “Zada has already been sufficiently punished.
“No,” Talitha said. “She deserves to be beaten. I will try, however, to see that her sentence is cut from twenty to ten lashes.”
The next few weeks passed quickly in a haze of sameness for Skye. Almost every evening, except during the period when she was considered unclean, she joined Kedar in an orgy of dark sensuality. During the day she slept heavily and long in order to counteract the debilitating effects of the previous night, and to prepare for the night to come. How Kedar kept up such a strenuous pace she did not understand. He seemed to gain his strength from the sexual encounters he had with his women. With less than five hours’ sleep he was up early each morning, busily preparing for the journey back to Algiers. He had not said yet that he would take Skye, and she fretted with uncertainty as he had always left his women behind when he led a caravan before.
Finally a week before the trek was due to begin she could bear it no longer. Kedar was feeling benevolent and relaxed that evening. Before him danced half a dozen attractive and supple girls, their sheer, rainbow-colored skirts whirling prettily as they swayed and dipped in time to the reed and drum. He was alone but for his favorite, Muna, who popped small, very sweet dates stuffed with almonds into his open mouth. She pressed her breasts suggestively against his arm, and spoke breathily into his ear.
“How I shall miss you, my lord, when you are gone to Algiers. I am not sure I can bear to be without you. Surely I shall have pined away before you return.” She ran her tongue around the inside of his ear and blew softly into it.
Kedar turned his head and gazed into her gorgeous sapphire eyes, which appeared to him to be liquid in their desire for him. Her mouth was but inches away from his, and he was unable to resist kissing her. Her lips seemed to part eagerly, and her soft tongue taunted his by playing hide and seek with him, slipping out to swiftly brush against his before sliding away. Kedar felt his lust begin to build. He had not intended to take her, but as she flamed beneath his touch he suddenly realized he did not wish to be, nay, could not be without her for three to four long months. She had a hypnotic, almost druglike effect upon him. She had infected his blood much as the opium infected those who overindulged. He would take her with him! He would marry her in Algiers in his uncle’s house, where he had first seen her. He knew that Osman, romantic fool he was, would enjoy that very much.
Releasing her from the kiss, he allowed her to cling possessively to him. “Did I not tell you, my jewel, that you are to go with me? The princess takes her two favorites, and I certainly cannot be without you.”
Relief poured through Skye’s veins, rendering her almost weak to the point of swooning. Seeing it, Kedar was pleased, and found that he was also extremely flattered. Her concern at being parted from him was obviously quite genuine, and he thought that perhaps she was falling in love with him, but she dared not say the words for fear of giving offense. Many mas
ters of such luscious creatures sought only the willing bodies of their women, and wanted nothing more. Indeed, he knew many men who sold off the women who fell in love with them, for they did not want clinging females who grew possessive with their love. Kedar knew that his women gossiped among themselves, and undoubtedly Muna had heard such stories. Beguiled by her attitude, Kedar considered that Muna was the first woman to ever really love him, and he was further gratified. He had been wise to wait all these years. She was going to be the perfect wife. She was discreet, obedient, and incredibly sensual. What more could a man ask for? he asked himself. Whatever else it might be, the slaves could supply.
Freed of her anxiety, Skye knew she must say something. “I am so happy you will not leave me behind, my lord,” she murmured, her voice soft with actual elation.
Kedar smiled into her perfumed hair. “I should not admit this to you, my jewel, but I would be bereft without your sweet company. Were I only to be gone a month though, I should not expose you to the rigors of the caravan trail. What if you are with child?”
“I am not, my lord.”
“My only displeasure with you,” he replied, a small frown creasing his brow.
“What does it matter?” she cajoled him. “You have several sons and daughters by your many concubines, my lord. If I grew round with child then I should not be able to grace your couch as I do now. I do not wish some other to take my place,” she pouted at him.
“No one,” he vowed fervently, “no one, my fair Muna, my adorable precious jewel, could possibly take your place with me!”
Skye smiled at him, and Kedar was so blinded by his growing approval of her that he did not see the cruelty in the smile. God’s bones, she thought to herself, how I despise you! No. It is more than despise. I hate you, Kedar! When I flee from you with my beloved Niall I hope you suffer the tortures of the truly damned, for that is what I have suffered at your hands. Not once have you touched me with love, only with lust. You are the most depraved man I know, and I wonder if I shall ever be clean again, or really free of your touch. Still, if I may aid my dearest Niall to safely reach home, perhaps we may together free ourselves of the terrible memories this wicked land has given us, and build our lives with our children once more.
All the Sweet Tomorrows Page 43