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"Don't pout because she likes me better than you already. You were making her cry, and I made her laugh, so my kiss will be on the lips," Kashmet teased, giving Fen a wink.
"I'm sorry in advance for the next year of his humor," Khan told Fen.
Kashmet rolled his eyes. "You can apologize for the next year of boring her senseless too. Come on, prince, you have one of your father's advisors here wanting to bend your ear about something."
"Of course they do." Khan sighed. "Please settle in, Fen. Kemes will be here soon, and you can sort out some decent clothing."
Fen caught his hand as he turned. "Thank you, Khan. For everything."
"You are welcome, seiðr."
Eleven
First, Fen washed all the whorish paint off her face and unraveled the hairstyle that made her scalp ache. She found a comb and other cosmetics in the dressing room, so she fixed her eyes with kohl and brushed out her hair.
She did her usual seiðr braids, weaving in protections and strength with her magic. The simple ritual, denied to her since the raid, helped her relax the pain in herhugrwhich hadn't been settled in weeks. She thought of all that happened, and something ached deep inside her.
Fen hadn't lied to Khan when she said it would take a while for her to get used to his kindness. It was something that had always been rare in her life.
Fen had been too big to fit in with the other girls, too strong and good with weapons not to intimidate the boys. When Fen's magic started to bloom with her monthly blood cycle, her mother had left her with the seiðr, and Fen had never seen her again.
Those the gods touched always walked the most challenging roads, so Fen had trained harder than everyone and learned more. People always viewed seiðr respectfully, if suspiciously. Kindness, like magic, had always come with a price.
Khan's conditions might be generous, but he still asked her for something in return. What if she ran out of things to tell him before the year was up?
"You look like you want to fight something. Can't say I blame you, considering that dress they've forced you to wear," Kemes said, coming into the room with a bundle of clothes. "Here, these should fit until we can get you some others."
Fen took the bundle, rolling out a loose pair of black pants. With a sigh of relief, she dragged them on under the dress before ripping the offending garment off her. Fen was shaking out a shirt when she caught Kemes's smile.
"You're not shy, are you?"
Fen frowned. "If it makes you uncomfortable, stop staring at me. Any dignity I had left was taken when I became a slave."
"I'm sorry for everything that has happened to you," Kemes replied, her smile fading. "Here, let me show you how to put these on properly."
Kemes took a cloth band and used it to bind Fen's breasts, showing her how to tie it so it wouldn't slip off. A sleeveless tunic shirt went over it and wrapped around her to tie at the back.
"These aren't like the clothes I've seen other women wearing in the city," Fen commented.
"That's because you've only been around slaves or rich patrons at parties. But these are more like Atrahasi designs too."
Fen looked at herself in the mirror of polished bronze. She had always liked black, and the fabric was soft against her skin. Just to feel covered and comfortable again was a relief. She touched the flat gold necklace around her throat. Her fingers moved over the tear and cross shape stamped into it.
"I have to say, I never thought I'd see Khan give one of those necklaces to anyone. Hehatesslavery and has been arguing with his father to do away with the practice since coming back to Ankhara," Kemes said warily.
"It's only for a year, and then I'll be gone. Can you tell me what this symbol means?" Fen asked.
"It's called an ankh and represents all life. It is also the symbol of the Royal House of Ankh. You'll see it everywhere on official buildings and anything pertaining to the Pharaoh's court. Even this city, Ankhara, has been built in its shape," Kemes explained.
"And that's why Khan wears it all the time," Fen mused.
Kemes pulled a face. "Yes, the Pharaoh likes to stamp it on whatever he feels belongs to him."
Fen touched the symbol again. "Khan is as much of a prisoner as I am?"
Kemes nodded. "In more ways than you can imagine. He's taking a risk in buying you. It will cause rumors and make waves when he's tried so hard to do neither in this damn city."
"You disapprove?"
