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Amra bowed her head, turning toward the outer apartments to prepare the jewels.
Elishiba moved in the water and looked up at the high window. Lush green foliage crept through the narrow arches, filtering the remaining light and dappling it across the marble floor toward her. Elra was lighting the candles set into evenly spaced niches in the walls and soon the room was infused with their warm glow, outshining the fading light of the outside world.
The outside world ... very soon, she would have to leave Aleem for Karseedia. She loved her home. It pained her to even think of leaving it, but her heart was strengthening. It had to.
"Elishiba, may I have your attention for a moment?"
The husky male voice drew her back from her thoughts. It was Xerxes, her closest and most loyal manservant. He was a fine Aleem warrior, a leader of The Immortals, and one who took his vows very seriously. The Immortals were so-called because they believed defending their beloved land until the death would bring them immortality. Devoted and powerful, they itched to do battle with Karseedia, and Elishiba feared the wisdom of even taking a small number of them with her to Lhastari.
Xerxes stood to the side of the sunken bath. The drapes of his robe still swayed with movement as he stopped at the top of the steps that descended into the bath. With his massive, muscled arms folded across his chest, he presented a powerful image of male strength, and she admired it, openly, smiling up at him.
He returned her smile, indulgently, as he looked down at her, his dark eyes made even blacker by the sight of her body through the petals on the water. Elishiba knew it was shown to good effect against the blues and greens of the tiles, and the crystal waters that ran down to Suzin, from the Zaneesie Mountains. The water was piped into the palace and then warmed in a huge furnace, for her to bathe in. His eyes on her imbued her with her own kind of strength, lusty female power.
She gestured fluidly with her hand, indicating that he should begin. He hesitated, his eyes watching her breasts as they bobbed gently near the surface of the water. The candlelight glinted on his smooth, golden skin. It was the color of the sandstone walls of the temples when the afternoon sun warmed them. Elishiba watched as the beautiful shape of his shaven head was highlighted by the wavering patterns of the candlelight, dancing across the bones like shadows on the far hills at sunset.
She was very fond of him, and they had been lovers, until the latest turn of events had forced her to put some distance between them. It was hard, to say the least. He was an adept and passionate lover, and he had been both angry and hurt at first. Eventually, he had acquiesced and agreed it was for the best thing to do for their people, but the history between them remained.
"The preparations for the banquet are complete. Everything is just as Elishiba has requested.” He bowed, but his eyes still lingered on her body. He inclined his head. He was waiting for her to instruct him.
She idled a moment, enjoying the sight of desire in his eyes. The shape of his head alone was handsome. He knew that, and had it shaved daily, to catch her eye. His mouth was wide, expressive; his brows were heavy dark lines, echoing the dark line of hair that grew down his chin. His ears were adorned with rows of silver hoops, evenly spaced, except for one gap, where she herself had knocked the hoop from his ear in a moment of blind and ecstatic passion. He had left the piercing naked and wore the small scratch she had caused him unwittingly, with true pride, reminding her of his prowess.
Elishiba smiled at him and let her body float up through the water. “I feel there was something else you wished to say—a comment on our visitors perhaps. They have arrived?"
He smiled in response to her words. “You are perceptive, as always, Mistress.” His tongue lingered on the name he chose to call her at that moment. “They have arrived,” he continued. “Two men, with a number of slaves and a heavy guard ... however, their soldiers seem unwilling to accept our hospitality."
He adopted a disgruntled expression. He had made it clear on more than one occasion that he felt their position would be better secured on a battlefield, but Elishiba was a leader of a different kind. Too many lives had been lost to similar causes over the centuries, and now it was time to cut to the heart of the matter. Elishiba did not aspire to be a leader who hid behind her army rather than talk and negotiate. However, centuries of turmoil and death in battle were not easy precedents to overlook, and the way had to be led by a grand gesture—the betrothal. Beyond that, Elishiba intended to negotiate her way toward peace and cooperation.
"It is our duty as hosts to break down such wariness and teach trust, is it not?” She swam across the pool toward the steps.
"As you say, Empress.” He stayed at the edge of the pool, a bemused expression on his face.
"What else have you to tell me?"
"I thought you would be rather amused to know that among the gifts they have brought for you, there is a selection of nubiles from the northern countries. Pale, thin creatures they are, too.” He gave a mocking frown, as if in distaste. “They are a gift sent by Hanrah's mother, and are offered to ... to keep Elishiba supple and pleasured.” His mouth twitched into a smirk and his eyes glinted with amusement.
Elishiba laughed aloud, the sound echoing within the cavern of her bathing room. “Did you hear that, Elra?"
Elra nodded, joining the other two in their amusement.
"Do I need their offerings? Is Elishiba not kept happy enough by her own chosen companions?” She flashed her eyes at him.
"Indeed,” Xerxes replied. His body wavered on the edge of the pool. The heat in his eyes passed through her flesh as she rose out of the water, beginning to mount the steps. She looked at his muscled arms. His powerful should
ers looked inviting against the pure white of his robes, slung low across one shoulder. He moved slightly, flexing his chest as her gaze crossed it.
Her body responded with desire. She glanced up and smiled at him. He turned and took the wrap Elra carried toward her mistress, opening it for her himself as she stepped from the pool.
"Thank you, Xerxes."
His gaze met hers as she turned into the robe.
She returned his gaze, unflinching. “I trust you will bring your favored concubine of the moment to the banquet this evening."
He nodded his head slightly, his smile turning wry, yet lifting one corner of his mouth. It was her way of reminding him of their agreement. Their relationship was strong and trusting, but it was also edged with desire and she often teased him this way. If things had been different, she thought wistfully as she watched him leave, perhaps it might have been Xerxes she would have taken as her betrothed. They would have ruled Aleem well together, and she could have been happy. But that was not meant to be, even though they had both thought of it often enough.
She sighed, and adjourned to her dressing chamber.
* * * *
