"I understand." Rose said simply as she listened on.
"If you expend too much energy in one day you will get very weak. There are some that can absorb large amounts of energy and expend it but those few have been practicing for years and years. Legend has it that naarabian shapers could use their own body's energy to cast if they were taxed beyond their limit but I wouldn't attempt that if I were you. It can be dangerous and damaging." Nina put a finger on her cheek and tapped it gently. "There are other rules but honestly those are the most important and the only ones I can remember off hand, like I said I was never a good study."
"You seemed to have introduced me to this gift just fine." Rose said with a big smile.
"Well you seem to have a natural aptitude for it. I figured you would, something about you makes me think you're destined for great things." Nina smiled and turned around as the double doors of the chamber opened and the two guards that delivered the prajma weed walked in with the familiar burner. "It is almost time, we should prepare for tonight. I'm coming with you."
"Nina, no! I can't put you in that position. I was spoiled by the hands of this man; I can't have you suffering the same fate." Rose said as she ran her fingers through Nina's long, soft hair. "I would not be able to take it."
"Don't worry. He won't be able to see me. Once he drifts off to sleep I can get us out of this place." Nina put her hand on Rose's thin fingers and smiled broadly. "It warms my heart to know that you're looking out for my best interest."
"I took you under my wing, you are my responsibility. I don't take such tasks lightly." Rose said as she stood and began walking toward the matron's former room so they would not catch the brunt of the prajma weed. She knew that Nina wasn't really allergic to it because not long after she had recovered Nina had told her and called it a good way to get Rose alone so they could talk more. The girl was smart, very smart. Rose had to respect her for many reasons but mainly because she was a mere child with a mind like a quarrian sand pit, nothing could escape it. "My word is my bond."
"Rose can I ask you a serious question that you may not fully understand?" Nina asked as they retired to the side room and sat down against the far wall underneath the barred window.
"Of course, though that is an odd way to start a conversation I think." Rose smiled a bit and watched the girls gather around the bone bowl to get their daily fix. She was glad she had never taken well to the prajma weed; it apparently had a slightly addicting effect to it.
"For a long time I have served the elven court with devotion. I have been assigned a few bodyguards since then." Nina looked up at Rose with her eyes sparkling in the sunlight wiggling its way through the obsidian bars. "Will you be my guardian like in the story of Kwynneth and Xunil?"
"Nina." She said softly as she looked down at the shorter girl then back out to the main room of the harem. For a moment she was quiet as she pondered the question. Nina had done so much for her but this type of commitment was something she had trouble fathoming. She knew it stemmed from not having any friends growing up, she had been alone most of her life regardless of the fact that there were always other girls in the harem.
Rose couldn't help but sigh and look down at Nina and her beautiful blue eyes. Nina was the closest thing she had to a friend and Maudette and Neeshka were the closest thing she had to family. Regardless of her trepidation she felt as if she and Nina had a bond. From the instant they had met she felt like they were destined to be together.
"I take it from your silence that is a no?" Nina said dejectedly.
"Not at all, I just need some time to think." Rose smiled down at the young girl and pulled her close by the shoulder. "You are the only friend I have in this world."
"I have never been able to make friends; every other elf I have interacted with has either been older than me or too mixed up in politics or study to care about having a friend. I feel like we are bonded together at some level I cannot see." Nina rested her head on Rose's shoulder and sighed softly. "It's funny you know, I've never taken to anyone this quickly but there's just something about you I trust. I feel like I have known you all of my life."
Rose knew not how many hours had passed but she watched the light from the window shift across the floor as the burning orb that was the sun moved on in its daily trek. Her mind swirled with questions but she could not answer them all at once. The bond Nina felt was obviously mutual, for Rose could not deny she had taken a liking to the girl. "Nina, I would be honored to be your guardian."
"Oh thank you!" Nina's ecstatic tone broke her calm exterior instantly.
"I must ask though, what do you need protection from?"
"This is the part you may not understand." Nina said simply with a shrug. "My mother's current status will not hold forever and the truth of this world is that everything is dangerous or it is dead."
"So how does this whole thing work?"
"I don't know exactly." Nina replied sheepishly. "I guess we exchange blood and an oath?"
"Well then," Rose stood up for a moment and straddled Nina's lap. She got a bright red blush from the elf and giggled; knowing Nina had misunderstood the gesture. With a light nip to her lip she drew a line of blood. She leaned forward and bit Nina on the lip only enough to draw a little blood from her as well then kissed the elf full on the lips making sure to exchange a few drops between them. She held the intimate gesture for a moment then pulled back and looked directly into Nina's eyes. "I swear to protect you to the best of my ability, may our bond hold strong eternal."
Nina, flushed and taken aback by the highly personal gesture, cleared her throat a bit and shifted looking a bit uncomfortable from the proximity. "I accept you as my guardian and closest friend, may the gods themselves watch over our union."
Rose felt warmth wash over her and sat back down next to Nina, knowing from her look she felt the same. The knowledge that Nina had shared with her thus far was a demonstration of the trust they felt for one another. Without a doubt she was sure that the informal ceremony had caught the attention of the remaining gods, she knew in her heart that the bond they felt had been strengthened in that passing moment.
"That was unexpected." Nina said after a long moment of silence had passed between them. She giggled softly and put her hands over her cheeks to cover the blush she knew was coming. "I have never kissed anyone in that manner before."
"I figured that a gesture of intimacy was required to solidify it. I think I was right." Rose chuckled down at the naïve young elf and hugged her shoulders tight. "I think the gods approve of our pairing, guardian and charge, friend and sister."
Rose was content to sit in silence with Nina until the appointed time. Once the burner smoldered down to nothing the two of them walked back into the main room and took up a place near the door, drawing many strange stares from all. "They notice this is not my usual place."
"Well at least we know most of the girls here are observant, not just pretty meat with eyes." Nina smirked for a moment and perked her head and ear to the side. Hearing a change in the norm outside of the door she nodded to Rose almost imperceptibly and rushed off into the matron's room.
Most would find it a gesture to avoid the lecherous gaze of the pasha but Rose knew better. Not long after Nina left the main room the doors swung wide and she turned around expecting to meet the eyes of the pasha. Instead a tall man with a well-trimmed black goatee and dark eyes stepped into the room. He had dark skin that obviously had seen too much sun and as he swept his hateful gaze around the room Rose almost flinched. The pasha's son wore a thin tunic and breeches that were more for what little modesty he had than anything else, it was a hot day.
Hoping that he would not attempt to choose her she kept her gaze away and left her attention focused on the brazier. She could feel his burning glare without turning around though. For a moment she considered bolting or using the invisibility spell to keep her from harm's way but she knew it would draw too much attention. The guards knew not to let him touch his father's prize
possession and he hated her for that more than anything. For a long time she stood completely still, trying to seem impassive until finally the royal brat selected three of the younger girls including Koral and ordered them to his quarters.
"Young master, you are not to cause the girls harm this time. Your father has forbidden you from damaging his trinkets." The larger of the two guards said with his stern eyes never leaving the nobleman's back. Rose could only silently applaud him for standing up to the ornery spoiled brat of a man.
"You will not forget your place as a sentry or I may forget that you are alive and use you as practice for honing my swordplay." The snake-like man hissed in return with his horrid voice. "Escort these three to my quarters immediately, I shall be in shortly."
"As you order young master." A smaller guard led the scared girls down the hall with the evil man in tow right behind.
Rose huffed a sigh of relief as the man left and turned to watch the three girls walk down the hall. She noted that a scared Koral met her gaze almost pleadingly. She wished she could help but at this time it would not be wise to blow her cover. It pained her almost physically that she could not assist them. With a shake of her head she sat down to wait, looking over at the matron's room to make eyes with Nina only once. Rose did not have long to wait for the pasha to arrive at the door and step into the room to select a girl, or girls, for the night. This night he wore a bright red robe with a golden sash and a pair of red slippers to go with it.
Turning toward him she smiled broadly and stood to her full height, letting her breasts come to full view right at his face level. She stood at least six heads tall and he at five could see right between the cleft. She had his attention that was true but she had to guarantee that he would take her to his chambers this night so she stepped toward him and took his hand; bringing it up to her face she kissed his fingertips. "Does my pasha desire worthy company this night?"
"He does treasure, he does." The older man said with his eyes lighting up considerably. She was affectionate to many people but rarely did she show affection to this man so she felt she needed to make it believable. "I wish to repay you for not giving up on me when I was scarred; I want to show my gratitude."
"I would like that very much my favored. Shall we choose another to join us?" He said with his eyes hungrily sweeping across the room at the other girls.
"My pasha, how am I to show my true gratitude if I cannot have you all to myself." To emphasize the point she stepped closer to him and crossed her hands under her breasts, causing them to jiggle a bit as she lifted them. "I need no help to pleasure my master."
"Very well then, to my chambers favored." He ordered while shooing her off with his hands and following close behind with his eyes tied to her rear as it swayed back and forth like a flower in the warm desert breeze. He was too interested in her to notice the fact that a slight draft wafted past him causing the red robe he wore to sway a bit.
~~~~
Rose was tired that much was true; the pasha had the stamina of a man half his age. Once she was sure he was sleeping she took a look around the room and sighed. He had changed his chambers again; the stone book shelves that lined the walls had been dyed purple though she knew not how, to go along with the purple drapes and cushions on his bed. The barred window leading outside had a black drape across it blocking out the moonlight. A pair of candles like hers flickered almost angrily as they hit pockets of air trapped within the self-reforming wax.
Nina's spell of invisibility had worn off during her time with the pasha; she had seen it herself and motioned the elf underneath the bed to hide. Once she knew it was safe she ushered the girl out and over to the largest of the book cases. She knew the book and where it was so she pulled the tome out of the shelf and showed it to Nina who smiled broadly and nodded to confirm that it was the right book. Excitement hit her instantly as she tasted the sweet freedom her betrayal of the pasha had purchased.
Nina walked to the window and pushed the curtain aside, looking outside as if she were trying to find someone just on the ledge in the night. Instead she cupped her hands and whispered something unintelligible, soon after Rose looked on with wide-eyed fascination as she watched the moonlight sneaking into the window pour down into Nina's hands as if it were pale water. Once the elf girl had a handful of the stuff she touched her lips to the surface and flung the droplets out into the night air. Rose watched them dance out into the open light instead of dropping to the ground like she had suspected. Nina frowned and whispered softly. "They are unable to take us now, so we wait."
If she did not have faith in Nina and her kin and complete trust in their word her panic would have taken her then. They both settled down under the window to wait for their saviors to arrive. The wait was almost unbearable; Rose feared that her captor would wake up at any moment and know something was amiss at having both girls in his room when only one had entered at his bidding.
She felt a wash of relief as the male bodyguard Merik appeared before them in a swirl of moon-colored mist and held out his hands for both girls, smiling the whole time. "Come Rose, your freedom awaits."
"I'm sorry mother, but I must do this." She whispered into the air as she took the muscular elf's slender hand.
Chapter 3: The Price of Freedom
Disorientation hit her hard on her first translocation. Memories swirled in her head: images of Ninanthia the elf that had guaranteed her freedom in exchange for a minor theft of her master’s property, the feeling of power and fear she got from her first magic lesson, a promise between the two of them. The last thing she remembered was taking the hand of an elf allied with Nina.
Alethia Rose, that was her name she told herself silently as time and space bent around her and flowed through her simultaneously. Her ears were popping, it was an alien feeling she had never experienced before. Then as suddenly as it started the feelings stopped and she felt as if she were standing on the floor again. Before she knew it her head was spinning and she felt herself unceremoniously falling toward the ground. A pair of thick, strong hands gripped her shoulders tight.
It took a moment for her to recover but she finally heard a silky but thickly accented voice close by. “I should have warned you that your first couple of times would be a bit dizzying.”
“I think I’m alright now.” She squeaked out weakly while being stood up straight by Merik. He was a tall muscular elf with amber eyes and hair and a gentle manner about him regardless of his obvious physical prowess. Even so she felt as if she was being swung around effortlessly almost like a ragdoll. “May I call you Merik?”
“Only if I may call you Rose.” He smiled, it was not strained but it wasn’t broad ether. The gesture fit his face like a perfectly tailored glove would slip onto its designated hand.
“Then thank you Merik.” Rose replied. Her surroundings were foreign to her but she figured no matter where she ended up it would be unfamiliar for her since she had lived such a sheltered life. She was inside another building; this one was open-air and run down as if it had not been occupied in a very long time. As she gazed upward her breath caught in her throat. The stars above her were so plentiful that she could have sworn someone had just torn small holes into a gigantic dark blue sheet and draped it over the world to block out the sun. The first moon was half and the other two quarters but together they shed enough light to illuminate her surroundings. “The sky is so beautiful out here.”
“This is your first time out of the palace isn’t it?” Merik remarked with a tone somewhere between amused and saddened. “Then we must celebrate your freedom young naarabi!”
“Where are we?” Once she pulled her gaze from the sky she noticed the sand-worn stonework around her was in complete disarray. They were definitely ruins of some sort. The hard floor was covered with a thin sheet of sand and all around the rather large but open room were elves going about their duties. She noted though that all of them stopped to look at her for a moment before continuing on, as if she was a spectacle. “Be
tter yet, why is everyone staring at me?”
“You are the first naarabian we have seen in a very long time. But more than that you are still wearing the smock of a slave-girl. We must find the both of you some suitable clothing.” Merik bowed to them both and turned on his heel to go find something for them to wear. “Princess, your mother requests your presence as soon as you are settled in.”
“Thank you Merik.” She said through a light smile. In her hands she held a small book with leathery binding and bone pages. It was ancient and she and Rose had stolen it this night. It was a book of elven prophecies that had been lost for some time. “I’m sure she does.”
“You are a princess?” Rose asked in an astonished voice. For a moment she had forgotten Nina was beside her. She could still feel their gods-blessed bond and the promise between them but her mind had wandered. The yellow-haired elf was slender and shorter than rose with white skin and dark blue on sky blue eyes. She was also dressed in the clothes of a slave.
“Correct, heir to the elven throne.” She giggled a bit at her friend’s look of astonishment and waved her hand. “This changes nothing between us trust me. I feel a bond with you that I have never felt with anyone else. I hope you’ll remain my friend even knowing my heritage.”
“No question about that.” Rose shook her head and gave Nina a light squeeze across the shoulders, again drawing looks from the elves around them. “What’s all that about?”
“They’re all commoners and guards, normally it’s not permitted for a commoner to touch one of royal blood unless invited to do so.” She looked over at the gathering of elves and waved her hand imperiously to get them to return to work. “Let’s find Merik and get out of the open, I feel strange in this outfit outside of the harem.”
“As do I honestly, I’ve never really liked this attire.” Rose followed Nina and discarded the white clothing as they walked, leaving her wearing absolutely nothing as she followed close behind the young elf. The elves around her had a penchant for staring apparently, because she was again drawing looks. She shook her head and rolled her eyes at them, wondering what she had done this time. “Elves have poor mannerisms it seems.”
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