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What Santor said was true, as ever, though. It made him ponder the situation, and that was his guide's purpose. Whilst he knew he must not reveal the reason for his presence too soon—for it might put her in danger—he wondered how long he could afford to wait. The moment would come of its own accord, when their minds could meet and exchange this vital knowledge, the knowledge that would empower her and help her survive the treacherous times ahead. He only hoped it was soon enough.
The sound of her laughter reached him once more, and he sighed into the night. Above all, he needed to keep his wits about him, in order to encourage the moment when it arose. He couldn't afford to be distracted by her beauty and her feminine allure. He had chosen the life of a magus, eschewing the normal path a man might take. The gods had chosen him to undertake their will, and the goddess Sevita had sent him because she knew he would help her prove her additional point about women as magi.
So he assumed.
He stared up at the balcony, wondering, suddenly unsure. Eventually, he left the hidden spot, but only after the candles faded and the night sky had begun to brighten.
EXCERPT
Chapter Three
Yoshi, Elishiba's seeress, was intent on the dual pursuits of speculating about Amshazar, while attending Elishiba in her chambers. With the back of her wrist, she pushed back the scarves that encroached over her forehead
"This man they call Amshazar, he is no Karseedian, no. Perhaps he is from another place, another time.” She hummed to herself, as was her way when she followed her own thoughts.
Elishiba knew she ought to hush her seeress, or tell her to focus her mind on something more relevant, but she was reluctantly curious to hear anything about Amshazar, so let her chatter on.
"There's that special glow about him, oh yes.” Yoshi's eyes glistened, heavily fringed and full of hidden secrets and visions. She flashed them at Elishiba, to emphasize her words.
"You are sure he has powers?” Elishiba asked, tensing as she did. If Yoshi confirmed what she herself had felt the previous evening, her worries would only multiply.
"I am sure enough, but wait while I ponder it more.” Pausing in her task, she leaned back on her small stool and closed her eyes, breathing deeply. Her veils slipped back over her thick, short black hair, and wisped lazily to rest over her shoulders. She hated to wear her hair long, but covered her head in scarves to create the illusion that would make her accepted in their society. Despite her many years there, Yoshi was no court player at heart.
Yoshi had been selected by Elishiba's mother to be Elishiba's nursemaid, and had been by her side since her birth. She had been one of her closest companions ever since. Aside from her companionship, Yoshi also had the gift of sight, the sight of things yet unknown. She could tell fortunes and occasionally had visions that would direct her chosen ones to wise words and actions. Elishiba waited, breath bated, to hear what she might have to say.
Her eyes flashed open and her mouth moved into a secret smile. She eyed Elishiba up and down appreciatively as if responding to her thoughts, and then bent to pursue her task once again. She was crushing vanilla pods between her hands, and then rubbing the oil over Elishiba's hands and arms.
"What do you see?” Elishiba asked, growing frustrated. She knew by her actions that Yoshi had seen an image of the future.
Yoshi shrugged, chuckling to herself. “You find him pleasing to look upon, yes?” Her softly rounded features glowed and she beamed, her expression filled with amusement.
Elishiba tried to control her annoyance. It was a direct question regarding a subject she had yet to completely understand. “He is a beautiful man, yes.” She tried to sound objective. “But it cannot be, you know that."
Yoshi shook her head, her expression growing serious. She spoke low and intimately. “You and the magus Amshazar—"
Elishiba interrupted, halting her with hand upon her shoulder. “Magus? He is truly a magus, as we have heard in the rumors?"
Yoshi nodded. “Oh, yes. And you are destined to share the most intimate gifts of the love goddess with him ... he will fan the flames around you and then draw and sup from the waters of Sevita's secret oasis, deep within your body. He will bring you much pleasure."
Elishiba felt suddenly light-headed.
She closed her eyes, but as she did she was more acutely aware her skin tingled and her intimate places felt hot, damp and heavy. She chastised herself, reluctant to allow herself to drift with the physical responses that were stirred in her at that moment. Whether Amshazar was friend or foe was far from being established. Her father and her country were at risk. She had to tread carefully.
Yoshi shook her head and continued. “He will bring you many gifts; he will unleash the woman in you and more. You will find your power and your inner vision, that which I have not been able to reveal to you all these years.” Yoshi sighed in disappointment.
This last was a more familiar topic of conversation. Yoshi had often told her she had the ability of sight unseen, but Elishiba had found no evidence of it to date and, being a pragmatic soul, dismissed her words. Now that Yoshi was attaching so much significance to this mysterious man, this enemy of her people, it only served to send Elishiba into confusion, even though she wouldn't admit to it. Instead she blamed the scent of the vanilla. It was heady and intoxicating; that, she decided, must be the cause of her lack of focus.
"Enough.” She drew Yoshi's hands together to stop her actions. “Elra, call for the nubile ... it is time for us to make him one of our own."
Amra and Elra rose from their places quickly, their eyes sparkling. Elishiba felt a momentary pang of pity for the poor youth. The sisters were going to create mischief with him, but it would do him no harm—far from it—and the interlude would be a welcome distraction from the sense of uncertainty that increasingly threatened her equilibrium.
"Are you all ready?” she asked, and her question included Yoshi.
The twins began to move in response. Elra went to the bedchamber. Amra ran across the room and pulled the bell rope to summon an attendant.
Yoshi nodded, a slight smile around her mouth as she brushed a stray vanilla seed from Elishiba's arm. “It will be, you and this Amshazar ... by the flames of the love Goddess Sevita, it will be."
She stood up, fetching her stool up in one hand, drawing her scarves back into place with the other. “And the pure one, this nubile slave.” Yoshi nodded toward Amra, who had pulled the bell rope to summon Kerr. “He will also be part of this, for he holds a secret, hidden link."
