An Arrangement

[Blase]

Ihmad

Ihmad cursed himself inwardly for letting his notice be so obvious. To throw away the advantage like that! Perhaps he himself had partaken a bit too much.

In this case, though, it hardly mattered. Edmund obviously had nothing else to bargain with. Ihmad could not let such a debt go uncollected, and a word from him would have Edmund arrested at their next port, but there was no need to ruin a man for a moment of foolishness.

Usually, there was no need.

Ihmad considered. A man of his station did not go begging for bedmates - Indeed, he had two wives - but the girl was beautiful, and Infidels did not know how to bargain.

Perhaps he could preserve his honor and at the same time give Edmund an idea of just how wise a man had to be when he was obviously far not just from his own country but from his own life. Insh'Allah, Edmund would learn something, and the girl would be...useful.

"Perhaps there are indeed, Edmund. After all, there are things to warm a man besides liquor...and things to give sport besides backgammon."

"Do you offer me her contract?"

 

[slippedhalo]

"What?" Fira asked, growing more alarmed.

She looked to her current master, the one who seemed to understand her predicament about Alexandria and who had been so easy to negotiate with. He knew she wasn't truly a prostitute and now here he was ready to negotiate using her as if she were a cheap bauble he'd purchased in a farmer's market.

"Edmund, please...don't do this." she pleaded softly, her eyes seeking his in a silent appeal.

 

[Otto26]

Edmund nearly choked on his drink. 'Sell her contract? I'm not a fucking slaver!' was the angry thought that ran through his mind. 'Give her up?' ran another thought, largely lost behind the drink and anger. His hand tightened on Fira's leg in warning as he felt her stiffen and heard her words.

Visibly Edmund smiled and laughed. "Her contract? Not at all, Ihmad Aga. Among other things, her contract specifies that she continues on to Cairo with me and I've sworn to honor that contract. No, I was merely suggesting that you might prefer to celebrate your victory in a more... satisfying manner? A few thousand dinars is nothing to a man such as yourself in a friendly game between gentlemen. Money will not, after all warm your bed unless you set it aflame. Fira on the other hand... You could be very warm until we arrive at Alexandria."

He watched carefully, the edge of the situation lending him a clarity that approximated sobriety. 'He wants her, but he's going to squeeze me,' he estimated.

"Of course," he continued, "if you would prefer money I'll pay you the money owed. I am a gentleman who honors my debts. A day and a night with a woman is hardly worth the sum, but I thought you might prefer a more tangible settlement."

 

[Blase]

Ihmad

Never ask for only what you wanted. There were few rules more important to merchants like Ihmad. One could always accept less, but it was rare indeed that a man could bargain for more, once he had named a lower price.

Ihmad had seen Edmund's face harden, though, and reminded himself that the Anglian, however engaging, would have his own ideas of honor. There was certainly no need to spill blood over this...servant.

Ihmad sat back and smiled broadly, himself.

"Forgive me, friend Edmund, but I think that you are not so used to my people's ways. Everything is a bargain with us and asking terms is second nature."

"You have named your terms: a day and a night of your woman's...services. Now hear mine."

"I do not require a full day - you may keep her for the morning - but she must go to my maids at mid of day. She must obey their instructions as though they were mine. I will accept my maids' word as to whether she has done this, and so will you."

"At sundown she will be brought to the captain's cabin. There she will obey as I wish until sunrise unless I release her sooner."

"The final part of my bargain is that you yourself shall come to the captain's cabin at sundown. You may observe, and converse as you wish, but you may not interfere with anything that happens. Should you interefere, or the girl disobey at any time, you will be required to pay me half of the amount that you owe."

"I pledge that nothing will happen to her that will render her either unable to perform her duties to you or...unsuited to perform them. This is greater surety than you would get from many without much harder bargaining."

Ihmad did not add that there were those in the Sultanate who would have spurned the offer of the girl and pressed for payment in the form of Edmund's own services.

"If my conditions are met to my satisfaction, I will call your debt paid and further, I will give you a gift of not inconsiderable value before we part."

"Do we have an agreement?"

 

[Otto26]

Edmund extended his hand as he rose, somewhat unsteadily. "We have an agreement, Ihmad." He shook the man's hand. "Thank you for..." 'pleasant' stuck in his throat and he settled on, "an interesting and entertaining evening. If you'll excuse me now, I seem to be rather under the weather."

He took Fira by the arm and propelled her towards the door a few feet away and into the cabin beyond. He grabbed her hand as it reached for the dagger, preventing her from gutting him like some drunken fish. He didn't block the knee that slammed into his testicles, though, and he groaned in silent agony as he pushed her back against the wall, pinning her there with his body.

"Think, damn you!" he hissed. "Yes, I'm a drunk and a fool and a bastard to boot, but think! If I pay him the money I owe him... Think about that statement for a minute. Then I'm going to be broke on the docks of Alexandria with no money. Not for me. Not for you. I've got another source of funds but they're... risky. You'd be left whoring in the last place on earth you want to be. I'd probably be dead, not that you care at the moment, but that won't get you to Cairo."

"If you kill me, which might well be a mercy the way my head feels at the moment, you're going to end up in his cabin anyway. He's travelling with maids, Fira. Maids! Did you see any women in the common room? Is there room for them in one of these closets? He's in the Captain's cabin, damn it. So killing me won't get you a thing. You're mad, fine. I'm a cad. But you were going to fuck me to make your way, so you'll just have to fuck him instead. I'll be there with my knife and your knife and a pair of death-blossoms to make sure he doesn't get dangerous."

"And I'll sweeten the deal. He only wants half of what I owe him. When we get to Cairo the other half is yours. On top of what I already owe you. What could you do with sixteen-hundred dinars?"

He released her, falling back onto the bunk and curling up around the pain building in his groin. "Christ's bleeding wounds, Fira, that hurts."

 

[slippedhalo]

"I hate you!' she spat. "I hope that stings the rest of the voyage you stupid bastard." hissed Fira, her chest heaving as she expressed her anger.

"You deserve it." she said, straightening her dress and checking the places she had been pinned for bruising. She stood there, barely able to look at him, she was so mad. But, after a full minute of trying not to break into tears and finally succeeding in expressing her frustration by screaming and tearing apart the pillow just above his prone form instead, she then looked down at him, through the cloud of flying feathers, "Fine. But, you owe me all you have just said AND one of those jewels you think I don't know about." she demanded, nose to nose with the man who's one bad decision just ruined the rest of her voyage.

 

[Otto26]

"Now who's mad?" he groaned. "There are laws about gems in the Sultanate. You can't just waltz in and out of the country with them. And only Muslim full citizens can own them. Try taking one to a jeweler and he'll fleece you, you'll be lucky to leave with your freedom let alone the value of the gem. If the gems were that easy to part with I'd just give him one and be done with this; I'd rather have you warming my bed than his for damn certain. Oh Christ..."

He managed to get the vomit into the chamberpot, but it was a near thing.

"Look," he mumbled as he wiped his face with a towel. "If you're so steamed about this, go to his cabin tomorrow, let his maids clean you up, eat some nice food, and refuse to touch the man. I'll pay him the sixteen-hundred, we can come back to our cabin and frolic until sunrise, unlikely though that feels right now, and then it's off for Cairo. Provided he doesn't get mad and have the Captain toss me overboard or arrest me and turn me over to the authorities or have the authorities arrest me when we get to Alexandria or have me arrested in Cairo. Feel like gambling?" he asked weakly.

Then he threw up again.

"But you're not getting a gem," he mumbled as he wiped his face with the towel.

 

[Blase]

The Captain's cabin: after sundown, the next evening

Ihmad and Edmund sat together at the Captain's table.

The Captain's cabin was a world apart from the noise and congestion of the common room; as large, in fact, as the common room and the staterooms put together. And the galley had clearly been instructed to put forth its best efforts.

So far as Edmund could see, the food was being shared by none save himself, Ihmad and the Captain. Nor were there many people occupying the vast space that the cabin provided; two or three servants, plus two musicians sitting in a corner with a set of drums and a pair of stringed instruments that Edmund didn't recognize. There was no sign, yet, of Fira.

Ihmad held a glass of wine up to catch the light, swirling it gently as he spoke.

"In a far country, Edmund, a man must always remember that not everything is the same as what he has known. There are different words, new foods; the earth itself does not stay the same."

"I never saw an ocean until I was fifteen. Such a thing, so much water could not exist. And to travel upon it, as upon the back of a beast...!"

"But one learns, one adapts. To look away from what is real is to refuse life and court death - either a quick death by violence or the slow death of a life that does not matter, because those who do not learn life's rules quickly fall by the wayside."

"Tonight you will see something of the difference between your ways and those of others. You will see that there is often great importance in what is not said."

"And I think that you will do much better...the next time someone offers you a bargain."

Ihmad clapped his hands twice. A moment later, the cabin door opened and Fira appeared, lead by two young women who had to be Ihmad's maids. She was stunning in a costume that appeared to be made of silk - largely of silk sashes in many colors.

As Fira was brought to stand in a cleared space near the Captain's table, certain things about the way the room was furnished started to make more sense to Edmund.

But that dawning realization was swept away by the sight of Fira as she came closer, not because of her beauty now but because of the far away look in her eyes and the way that she swayed slightly as she walked.

Edmund rounded on Ihmad. "You cursed heathen", he began, but Ihmad gripped his wrist and smoothly cut him off just as his tirade was beginning.

"Hashish is very often a pleasure, my friend."

"And sometimes, it is a kindness."

As the drum struck up a beat that the strange stringed instruments wove in and out of, Fira began to dance.

 

[slippedhalo]

"Now who's mad?" he groaned. "There are laws about gems in the Sultanate. You can't just waltz in and out of the country with them. And only Muslim full citizens can own them. Try taking one to a jeweler and he'll fleece you, you'll be lucky to leave with your freedom let alone the value of the gem. If the gems were that easy to part with I'd just give him one and be done with this; I'd rather have you warming my bed than his for damn certain. Oh Christ..."

He managed to get the vomit into the chamberpot, but it was a near thing.

"Look," he mumbled as he wiped his face with a towel. "If you're so steamed about this, go to his cabin tomorrow, let his maids clean you up, eat some nice food, and refuse to touch the man. I'll pay him the sixteen-hundred, we can come back to our cabin and frolic until sunrise, unlikely though that feels right now, and then it's off for Cairo. Provided he doesn't get mad and have the Captain toss me overboard or arrest me and turn me over to the authorities or have the authorities arrest me when we get to Alexandria or have me arrested in Cairo. Feel like gambling?" he asked weakly.

Then he threw up again.

"But you're not getting a gem," he mumbled as he wiped his face with the towel.

In one last burst of anger Fira pushed the balled up man off of the bed and sat in his place looking down at him writhing on the floor she hissed, "The, give me back my knife. You have no right to take my things."

 

[slippedhalo]

Ihmad and Edmund sat together at the Captain's table.

The Captain's cabin was a world apart from the noise and congestion of the common room; as large, in fact, as the common room and the staterooms put together. And the galley had clearly been instructed to put forth its best efforts.

So far as Edmund could see, the food was being shared by none save himself, Ihmad and the Captain. Nor were there many people occupying the vast space that the cabin provided; two or three servants, plus two musicians sitting in a corner with a set of drums and a pair of stringed instruments that Edmund didn't recognize. There was no sign, yet, of Fira.

Ihmad held a glass of wine up to catch the light, swirling it gently as he spoke.

"In a far country, Edmund, a man must always remember that not everything is the same as what he has known. There are different words, new foods; the earth itself does not stay the same."

"I never saw an ocean until I was fifteen. Such a thing, so much water could not exist. And to travel upon it, as upon the back of a beast...!"

"But one learns, one adapts. To look away from what is real is to refuse life and court death - either a quick death by violence or the slow death of a life that does not matter, because those who do not learn life's rules quickly fall by the wayside."

"Tonight you will see something of the difference between your ways and those of others. You will see that there is often great importance in what is not said."

"And I think that you will do much better...the next time someone offers you a bargain."

Ihmad clapped his hands twice. A moment later, the cabin door opened and Fira appeared, lead by two young women who had to be Ihmad's maids. She was stunning in a costume that appeared to be made of silk - largely of silk sashes in many colors.

As Fira was brought to stand in a cleared space near the Captain's table, certain things about the way the room was furnished started to make more sense to Edmund.

But that dawning realization was swept away by the sight of Fira as she came closer, not because of her beauty now but because of the far away look in her eyes and the way that she swayed slightly as she walked.

Edmund rounded on Ihmad. "You cursed heathen", he began, but Ihmad gripped his wrist and smoothly cut him off just as his tirade was beginning.

"Hashish is very often a pleasure, my friend."

"And sometimes, it is a kindness."

As the drum struck up a beat that the strange stringed instruments wove in and out of, Fira began to dance.

Fira did indeed go to have a meal and be bathed by Ihmad's maids. They spoke to her in a harsh, beautiful sounding foriegn tongue and ordered her about as if she understood them, oftentimes growing quite frustrated when she didn't and she got smacked about the head a lot. She was too stunned to fight back, deciding that she'd only get into worse trouble, trouble with the man himself, if she didn't at least tolerate these women's bossiness.

They had then rewarded her with a large, delicious meal and all the wine she could drink, perfuming her and arranging her hair and clothing as she finished her dessert. Then, they had brought out a funny-looking, decorated glass container with a hose sticking out of it and she felt apprehension. She refused it when it was offered and she eventually complied when they forced the hose into her mouth and smacked her around, squealing and yelling in their language until she proceeded to inhale the sweet smelling smoke coming from it. At first it made her chest burn and her eyes water and she wanted them to take it back, but they made her take another puff, and then another...

...It became quite nice after a while and she was very calm and amused by the whole situation, dissappointed when at last they took the 'hookah' from her. They then set to teaching her a dance she understood she was expected to do for Ihmad later. She learned it quite easily and found herself feeling light and dreamy. It wasn't long until she was directed to him and Edmund to show what she'd been taught. She felt so strange, like her body was not hers as she moved. Her limbs tingled and her vision hazed, she laughed a few times when she felt herself misstep but for the mostpart she completed the dance as she was shown and smiled at the men when finished.

 

[Otto26]

Edmund had to drag his eyes away from Fira to scan the room. Not because he wanted to look at her, which he most assuredly did, but because he knew his examination was hopeless. He had the weapons, and a couple of others that might not be recognized as weapons, but they wouldn't make a difference here. Oh, he was sure and certain he could kill Ihmad. The man was hard, but he was a merchant, and Edmund had had years of training that hard-bitten corporals and sergeants of a dozen nations had refined over the years of campaigning on the continent. And so what? If he killed Ihmad the Captain and his crew would overwhelm him.

And this wasn't about the money anymore. Ihmad was teaching him a lesson. This was about power and who had it. At the moment, Ihmad had it, and Edmund could stand up and offer to hand over his entire fortune and the man wouldn't be interested, because he saw Fira's value. So Edmund looked, because he had to, and didn't find another way out of this. Then he turned his eyes back to Fira and watched.

 

[slippedhalo]

A new song began and now the butterflies in Fira's stomach really began to churn as she recognized this music as the part where her dancing would turn more seductive. She looked around and realized it was now or never and with all eyes on her, it felt a little bit exciting as she began to follow the moves she'd been taught by the maids and, one by one, removed each colored scarf from her body in flamboyant and spectacular style, until finally, at the end of this song she was bowing, completely naked, before Ihmad.

 

[Blase]

Ihmad regarded Fira with approval for only a moment before turning back to Edmund.

"For every task that she completes this night, she will be given a gift."

At Edmund's raised eyebrow, he continued. "A servant serves, my friend, but a servant whose place is always the lowest, whose reward is always the meanest, is a servant who runs away one night."

"Or kills his master."

"Unless that servant has been broken to the point that he is like a cringing dog, always fearing the kick and never questioning why it comes."

"You do not need the services of a dog, my friend."

Edmund vaguely noted that the music had started again, but with a less urgent, almost languid tune.

"My own servants have proven their worth to me, so I try to remember the lesson of the sheik at the feast. When the banquet is served, he does not keep the choicest pieces for himself unless there is good reason that he should. Instead, he rewards those who have earned it, when all can see. He does this because he knows that they will remember."

"And he knows that such favors cost him little. After all, a man singled out for praise one night returns to his life the next. But the sheik is still the sheik."

Fira had not been left to stand idle while Ihmad spoke. Edmund saw now that the two women who had at first brought her into the room had rejoined her and were leading her back, a bit, towards the cabin wall. A number of what appeared to be large, plush pillows were scattered on the floor just in that spot.

"So you see that you have brought me unexpected good fortune on this journey, Edmund. I had not thought to be able to reward my maids and my scribe so well for many long days, yet."

Edmund blinked. His scribe?

Then he saw that the women who were bracketing Fira now had another companion, an impossibly skinny man of middle years.

Against all sense, though, the bony man's eyes were not resting on Fira's unclothed form but on one of the maids, who returned his regard even while she retained a light grip on Fira; even while the other maid stepped in close to Fira and kissed her on the cheek, all the while urging her down towards the waiting pillows.

 

[slippedhalo]

Fira felt confused by all the hands stroking her and urging her toward the cushions, all the faces kissing her,caressing her, and kissing and stroking each other...and none of them so far Ihmad or Edmund. This confusion was strangely seductive in itself, she was pulled into the magnetism of pure sex for the act alone, these people served, much like herself but she sensed that thier lives were oft times even harder than her own and they viewed this act as a form of freedom, a gift. She was their reward for good behavior, a servant to the servants, it both degraded and delighted as the smoke of the hookah still fogged her mind and made reason nearly impossible and only her best mood and insatiable desire remained. She slowly joined in this new dance, one of pure animalistic lust, beautiful in it's own wild way. Fira was lost in the ecstasy of the moment and forgot about those who watched, her inhibitions thown to the wind.

 

[Otto26]

Edmund gritted his teeth as Ihamd lectured him. Fira had her part to play in this, and he had his; he could no more quail at performing his role than she could at hers. It would only make matters worse, but Edmund desired to express his rage as Fira had; he very much wanted to shoot someone. Despite the situation he felt arousal stirring within him. He could imagine his hands on Fira's body as she writhed for him instead of these others. Mentally he cursed all alcohol and his own idiocy and Ihmad for making him watch this.

 

[Otto26]

OOC: In a week or so we're going to need a male to play the role of the scheming official who imprisons Edmund and puts Firanzin in his harem. It's a guest role, so you know they escape, but you get a couple of days game time in the harem with Firanzin.

We might be open to a female harem girl if someone really wants in.

PM slippedhalo or me if you're interested. We'll have other roles coming up, including pirates and mutineers.

 

[slippedhalo]

Fira gasped at the feel of hands stroking her between her thighs but she couldn't be certain who's hands they were and before she could look down to see and face was in her vision, one of the maids, kissing her with desire, then a male servant, kissing her longer, his tongue claiming hers and the wetness of her sex grew as she throbbed there, like it had it's own heart. She didn't care who was touching her. They could do whatever they wanted. Her head was swimming and her lust was now strong.

 

[Blase]

Edmund thought sourly that Fira had certainly earned whatever gifts Ihmad intended to give her. Although, from the sound of some of the moans that he had heard issue from that obscene tangle of bodies, Fira had apparently thought herself already well rewarded.

The music was barely audible now, floating on the air like the sigh of a sated lover.

Fira was being helped to her feet and lead slowly...not to the table where Ihmad and Edmund sat.

Instead, she was brought farther to the right, nearer the musicians, where Edmund had more than half expected her to be brought earlier in the evening.

Because there was a bed there.

Not a bunk, or a cot: A solid, four-footed, oaken-framed bed. Damned if it wasn't.

And Fira was being lain tenderly upon it, and the silk sashes that she had danced with and then without were being ceremoniously used to bind her, spread-eagled before them all.

Edmund heard the cabin door open, then it immediately shut again. No, it hadn't shut, but something was blocking the light.

Someone. The man who now stepped into the cabin had to duck in order to fit through the door.

Edmund's mind screamed bodyguard as one of the biggest men he had ever seen let the door close behind him. Apparently, Ihmad had felt quite safe aboard the Bella Donna, to have let this giant stay out of sight until now.

Ihmad was speaking again.

"Mahmoud has few willing lovers, because nature has bestowed upon him so generously. He is not ungentle, in his way, yet, when a mountain moves..."

Mahmoud was leaning over the bed; hands that would each have made three of another man's stroking and fondling Fira. Then one of those huge hands trailed down to rest between Fira's spread legs. Only it didn't rest, rather two meaty fingers - no, three - no, four!

Fira's groan was half pleasure and half surprise.

In a voice like an avalanche, Mahmoud said, "Yes, you will please me".

And Edmund nearly blanched as Mahmoud put aside his robe.

God's eyes, the man's girth was as great as many men's length!

And then the thought that Ihmad had left unfinished was perfectly clear: When a mountain moves, however gently, it is still a mountain.

The motion of this one was rocking bed and Fira both.

 

[slippedhalo]

He was gigantic! He was enormous in every way and suddenly Fira felt afraid, she tested her binds and there was no place she could tug free, even so, where would she go?

As he climbed atop the bed and moved his huge hands over her breasts, her stomach, her thighs, her sex, she shivered, knowing what he planned on doing next. He placed the monster that was his cock at the entrance of her opening and smiled up at her just before pushing his hips forward, spreading Fira so wide open she never imagined possible...she was tense from anticiapation and it made for slow going on this giant's part. He had to pull back nd try pushing in again several times until she relaxed more. The servants had brought out the hookah again and this time she gladly accepted a few puffs as it was brought to her face. Now stoned, she relaxed more and the giant was able to fully thrust his cock into her. She felt far away, no longer worried about him hurting her, because he wasn't after the fitst few thrusts, no, she was beginning to hear herself enjoying it all, as if floating above her own body.

 

[Blase]

It was not nearly dawn, yet, but Fira was being given three gifts.

First, she was helped into a cloak that was not just of better quality than what she had brought aboard the Bella Donna but obviously fitted to her. Ihmad's maids had apparently found time to do more than teach Fira to dance while she was in their charge.

Second, a purse was placed in her hand. A glance told Edmund that it would not contain great wealth, but probably enough to be helpful...or cause trouble.

Last, a light chain was clasped around Fira's neck. An opal now floated lightly above her breasts; quite small, but seemingly with its own luminescence.

Ihmad took Edmund aside and softly explained what Edmund already knew, that in the Sultanate, such a gift must be kept hidden, never worn openly.

Then the dreamy-eyed Fira was placed on Edmund's arm, and Ihmad was bidding them both goodnight.

 

[slippedhalo]

Fira was honored at the luxurious gifts but still too high to really grasp the full weight of what had just transpired. She floated toward Edmund, held up now by him as he walked away with her, she was almost too stoned and exhausted to walk, dragging her feet and losing her balance often. Now incredibly sleepy, Fira collapsed in Edmunds arms before even making it back to his cabin.

 

[Otto26]

Edmund caught Fira as she collapsed and scooped her up into his arms. He carried her carefully down the stairs and into their room. Setting her on the bed he pondered... too many things. He took refuge in action, stripping her down and hanging her clothing from the pegs on the wall. He weighed the purse in his hand, trying to gauge the value it contained without actually opening it. Strangely, opening it simply wasn't an option. He left the necklace on her as there didn't seem to be any safer place to put it at the moment.

Her sex was raw, distended even, and he grimaced and placed a towel under her before using some of the water and another towel to clean her up. He wanted to be rough, to hurt her for enjoying herself, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Again, too many thoughts were whirling in his head and he finally brought them to a semblance of order by forcing them into a familiar experience he could deal with. 'Wounded in battle,' he decided. 'Not even a lie.'

When she was clean he tossed the towels angrily into the corner and covered her with a sheet before taking his seat on the chair. He propped his feet up on the edge of the bunk and raged as he waited for the dawn. 'She didn't have to enjoy herself! But you're the idiot who got her into this mess. And what the hell do you care about whether or not a whore moaned when she was fucking a customer? Just a piece of ass to keep your bed warm and, be honest, to get your ass out of scrapes like this. A good disguise. She enjoyed it. So treat her like a whore. Didn't I already do that?'

His thoughts grew no lighter, but the day did. Edmund stuffed the bag of coin and Fira's knife under the pillow before venturing out to grab two bowls of the morning porridge. When he returned she was still asleep, so he sat the bowl on the chair. She had still not awakened when the ship pulled into the harbor and tied up at a buoy, a good hundred yards from the docks. He ventured up on deck and pulled aside one of the sailors helping to get the longboat in the water.

"Going ashore?" he asked.

"We take the Captain and Ihmad Bey," the man replied. "You go later."

Edmund nodded and held up two dinars. "A burqa. I cannot take my servant ashore dressed like a whore. Two dinars to buy the burqa, two more when you bring it too me. Okay?"

"Why take her? We give you fifty dinars for her. Ihmad Bey's scribe says she is tight and has a dancer's body. Save your money," the man countered.

Edmund found himself smiling at the man, but there wasn't a trace of humor in it; this was a predator baring his teeth. "Very kind, but I've made a promise." He rubbed the dinars together. The man put out his hand and Edmund dropped the coins into them.

Back in the cabin, Fira stirred, but still didn't wake. A knocking at the door caused Edmund to reach for a blossom and he cursed silently. 'Steady on, you bastard. Cool and detached.' His resolve faltered when the opened door revealed a smirking clerk, Ihmad's scribe.

"Salaam al Alaikum," the man intoned. "Ihmad Bey sends his regards and this letter of introduction to Farooq ibn Aziz. Farooq Bey is an official in Cairo and Ihmad Bey asks that he give you and your... servant his hospitality while you are there. He also expressed his hope to play backgammon with you again some day."

"Ihmad Bey is far too kind," Edmund managed as he took the scroll. "Please thank him for me. I look forward to having another match with him."

The man bowed and left. Edmund turned to find Fira waking.

 

[slippedhalo]

Fira groaned and rolled over onto her stomach, the light of day was far too bright and her head pounded. She was thirsty, hungry, groggy and..."Owe.." she moaned, feeling the tender rawness of her battered sex. "What the hell happened?" she asked out loud. She remembered very little of the night before, just music and hookah smoke and vague images of naked servants...it was all so foggy. She sat up gingerly and raised her hands to her pounding head.

 

[Otto26]

Edmund grunted and leaned against the wall. "Where to begin? You got high on hashish, you danced naked, then you slept with a maid, a scribe, and a horse in human form. Ihmad sat there and watched and lectured me. When you were done he gave you a cloak," he gestured at the wall next to him, "a necklace, and a bag of coins. I don't know how generous he was because I haven't opened it. It's under the pillow with your knife. There's porridge and water on the chair. Still a couple of clean towels if you wish to tend to yourself. We're anchored in Alexandria and I've sent for a burqa so that you can go ashore in disguise. Take a look at the money and see if you still want to go on to Cairo with me."

He managed, he thought, to keep any hostility out of his voice. He wanted to yell, to hit her, to blot out the memory of other men's hands upon her by taking her. He did none of that, though. The first was ridiculous given that he'd caused the mess in the first place, the second more so, and beneath him as a gentleman to boot. The third... he was going to do that if she was travelling on with him, but now would simply be cruel. While he fancied himself as being somewhat hard, he was not cruel. So he kept his temper in check and tried to re-direct his anger, looking ahead to the problem of getting to Cairo and, thence, a caravan to Suez.

 

[slippedhalo]

Fira listened with disbelief although she vaguely remembered each thing he'd mentioned when she stopped to think about it... "Oh." she said simply after a full minute of digesting this. "That was very bad. Don't ever get me trapped in a situation like that again." she warned as she opened the purse and counted the money inside...it was enough to feed, shelter and clothe her well for nearly a month! she considered whether to leave Edmund now and part ways or whether to remain with him straight through to Cairo.

"Alright, I'll still come with you but keep in mind I can afford now to be more... difficult if you attempt to barter me like a stolen pair of shoes again, alright?" she asked, glaring at him only for a second before rising gingerly to attend to her 'wound' and clean herself properly noticing with some appreciation that it appeared he'd already done some cleaning for her. She then dressed quickly, prepared to eat as much porridge as allowed, she was famished.