by Megan Derr
Haluk swore loudly. "You cannot mean what I think you mean. Where is the man that was supposed to be in this room?"
"He'll be back soon. He's making his nightly round of threats and bribes, if my source is to be trusted, which I believe he can be on that point. And yes, I mean exactly what you think—there are people in the palace, though I don't yet know how many, who are seeking to turn the royal harems into… well, sex slave farms, to put it bluntly. Mind you, it's only supposition."
"I trust your suppositions," Haluk said. "What provoked them?"
"Like I said, the conversation Demir overheard troubled me. I know where slave traders and those they work with can be found. What I found is that there is a small but thriving business for it here in Tavala. Most of the decision makers are Havarin, with a smattering of other nations. Some of those involved are fully invested, others are happy to accept bribes and ask no questions, and the remaining are threatened into compliance. One of them mentioned that there is one man who seems to manage the threats and bribes, and that he can be found here. Whoever he is, he's still just a stepping stone, but one who likely reports to the person in charge here in Tavamara."
"This all seems far too easy," Haluk said. "Slave traders are more subtle than this, especially in Tavamara and Rittu, where concubines and other pleasure workers are highly regarded."
"Easy? Maybe, but the more accurate word would be arrogant."
Haluk made a face. "A fair point."
"If not for Arda's panic-driven actions, we would have no clue," Demir said. "If that is what's happening, they've been working smoothly and quietly for some time. I dread to know how many people have gone missing. No concubines, minus those I smuggled out myself, but there are plenty in the city and even the palace who could have been sold. Even the recent meeting over the harems would not have tipped me that such a plot was in play."
Kitt nodded. "I would wager a good number of the council—" He broke off, lifted a hand, then gestured sharply for them to hide. Drawing a long, thin knife from somewhere among his clothes, he moved to the side of the door and crouched down low.
A few seconds later the door swung open and a grungy-looking man stepped into the room. He turned to close the door and let out a cry that turned into a squeak as Kitt grabbed him and slammed him to the floor. "Haluk."
Moving rapidly across the room, Haluk closed and locked the door, then drew his sword and stood guard in front of it. Kitt dragged his squirming captive to the middle of the room and threw him into the only chair, punching him in the stomach when he tried to bolt out of it. Looking at Demir, Kitt said, "Hand me that rope on the table."
"You need him tied up, I assume?" Demir asked, wishing he felt as calm about the situation as Kitt and Haluk acted. He was well-acquainted with tying men up, but not for violent purposes.
"Yes."
Demir picked up the rope, then knelt and quickly bound the man's ankles to the chair legs. He tugged and tested the knots, and when he was satisfied, secured the man's wrists behind the chair back. As an added measure, he secured the man's neck as well, leaving him just enough room to breathe and move his head a little bit.
"Handsome work," Kitt said as he examined the knots. "Such a pity it's wasted on this unhappy task. Stand there in the corner; don't come close unless I say." When Demir had done as requested, Kitt put his full attention on the bound man. "So you're the one they call Jev."
The man said nothing, merely glared.
Kitt grinned, all tooth and cold malice. The man's glare wavered. "You're Rittuen, which makes you even more despicable."
"Fuck off. You know nothing about me."
"I know those who break the Great Dragon's Heart die in His Shadow," Kitt replied. The man's pink-toned skin turned almost bone white. "Tell me about the slave traders and I'll kill you here and now, instead of sending you home to be sentenced by His Majesty as you deserve."
To Demir's astonishment, the man did, though in the end he did not have much to offer. He was in charge of keeping the various pieces in the city under control and occasionally was told to dig up information on important people in the palace. The names he rattled off were either councilors or people closely connected to the council.
"Who is your boss?" Kitt asked.
"Right now? No one. He's dead. Murdered, apparently, by one of the bastards he told me to dig up information on." He leered. "The one that liked to be—"
"Enough," Demir snapped, striding forward—stopping only when Haluk moved between them. "It is not your secret to share, you pathetic coward."
Jev laughed, cold and mean—then grunted in pain when Kitt backhanded him hard enough to cut his lip. "If he hadn't been ashamed of it, he wouldn't have been used because of it. Not my problem people are scared of themselves and permit others to abuse them."
"The Great Dragon would be ashamed of you for the lack of love in your heart," Kitt said, and before Jev could reply, Kitt moved around him, cut the rope around his throat, then grabbed hold of his head, and snapped his neck.
Demir looked away, closing his eyes and silently chanting a prayer. He took several deep, slow breaths, tried to still his trembling. The meal he'd recently eaten churned unpleasantly in his stomach, threatened to come back up. It was one thing to know Kitt was a trained killer, another to see it.
He heard Haluk and Kitt whispering furiously to each other but could not focus well enough to understand the words. A moment later, Kitt's hands rested lightly on his forearms. Demir forced his eyes open. "I'm sorry," Kitt said softly. "It was cruel of me to do that in front of you. I am far too used to working with men as brutal as me or at least accustomed to my ways and familiar with killing." He stared hard, as though searching Demir's eyes, mouth twisting. "Are you afraid of me now?"
"No," Demir said slowly, taking another deep breath. "Not afraid. I've seen dead men, but never seen one killed. It's a bit unsettling. His Majesty orders people dead the same way he would swat a fly. You—you—his neck broke as easily as a twig. I wasn't expecting it, and I do not think I'll ever be used to it, but you do not need to tread carefully or treat me gently over it."
Kitt's smile turned almost sad. "I am sorry you had to become acquainted with it at all. That it's my fault you did." He leaned up, pressed the barest kiss to Demir's cheek, then withdrew. "We should go. Haluk, help me with the body. On the bed?"
"Yes, but leave some coin for the poor person who will find it." Once Kitt had cut the body free of the chair, they hefted it up and hauled it to the bed, covering it with blankets so it looked as though the man was merely sleeping. "May he find peace," Haluk said quietly.
Kitt sneered as he left a handful of coins on the table. "May he dwell forever in the ice, never again to know the warmth of Dragon Fire. Let's go home." He led the way out of the room, then took them through a back entrance of the bar, tossing a silver coin at the barkeeper, who grunted and otherwise ignored them.
Thankfully their journey back through the city to the palace was uneventful. Stepping back into his bedroom was such a rush of relief, it left him dizzy; the only thing better would be when he could finally crawl into his bed.
Sabah was in his sitting room, a tight frown on his face. He closed the book he was reading and set it aside as he rose. "Bulut was here earlier, though he did not get past the guard. I think he will return. He wants to speak with Lord Demir and was not pleased you were sealed in here with us. I told the guard that if he returned, the harem guards had leave to detain him and were to summon Prince Ihsan to address the matter since it's his harem being interfered with. How did your adventures go?"
Kitt grunted and began to strip off his clothes. "There's a lot to explain, but the short answer is that at least part of the council and a few of the ambassadors are contriving to turn the royal harems into a farm for sex slaves."
"What in the name of the Divine…" Sabah stared at them then shook his head. "I don't know what to say. No, I do. Ihsan is going to set this entire palace on fire. We'd better not le
t him anywhere near the council until he calms down."
"Agreed," Kitt and Haluk chorused.
Demir left them talking, returning to his bedroom to change back into his harem garb. He sat on the edge of his bed when he was finished, scrubbing at his face with one hand and trying to ignore the way it trembled. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Kitt snapping that man's neck, the movement as flawless and smooth as Demir serving wine.
The sound of feet treading softly across the floor forced him to look up, and he watched Haluk walk toward him bearing a small cup. "Did you need something, Lord Haluk?"
Haluk knelt on the floor just to his left. Demir tensed, face going hot. What in the name of the Divine was with these men that they could not remember basic protocol. Haluk did not even have the excuse of being foreign. He tried to stand, but Haluk grabbed his arm and dragged him back down. Demir just looked at him, baffled and disconcerted. "You do not kneel before me."
"I am fairly certain the Harem Master outranks a simple concubine."
"You know that is not how it works," Demir hissed.
Haluk smiled faintly, eyes glinting with entirely inappropriate amusement. "I know that since our arrival we have asked much of you, dragged you further and further into deadly games you should not be part of, all while your position and livelihood are in danger of vanishing forever. Not to mention Kitt's insensitive behavior tonight."
"I'm an adult and older than all of you," Demir replied, anger sparking. "If I had not wanted to endure it I would have left the room. I'm not a fool, I knew how it would end."
"That doesn't mean it is easy to take. You might be older, but you did not spend the better part of five years at war." Demir started to argue with that, but Haluk offered up the wine, clearly expecting Demir to drink it while Haluk held the cup, but that was going too far.
Demir took the cup and drank the wine in several quick sips. It was a particularly potent one, from his private stock that should have been tucked away in a locked cabinet. Endless Midnight was its name, and true to its name, it was so dark a blue it appeared black with flecks of gold gleaming within. It cost him dearly but was one of his few private indulgences. "Who's been picking the lock on my wine cabinet?"
"Who do you think?" Haluk asked dryly. "He says your locks are mediocre at best."
Demir shook his head, a smile twitching, winning out. "He is welcome to replace them if he is so offended."
"Don't grant him that permission. If you give Kitt a coin he will help himself to your purse."
"Only half of it," Kitt said from the doorway. "You have excellent taste in wine, according to Sabah. He was practically weeping with joy over that bottle when he saw it."
Demir laughed softly. "He is welcome to help himself. I think after the past few days, we are all entitled to excellent wine. It is a shame we cannot safely invite His Highness, but you can certainly take it to him."
"You should come and drink it with us in his chambers."
"I need to drive off Bulut when he gets here."
"Then drinking that fine wine can wait until we can all drink it tog—" Kitt broke off at the sound of someone pounding on the door. "That must be Bulut, paying a grossly inappropriate visit at half past midnight. Even I am not that rude. What should we do?"
Demir stood. "Kneel," he said, pointing to Kitt, then to the floor immediately in front of the bed. He reached under his bed, pulled out a small rug, and laid it out on the spot he'd indicated. "Kneel here, legs spread, hands behind your back, left hand gripping your right wrist."
Kitt grinned, eyes turning hot and approving. "Yes, Master."
"Not a word out of you," Demir said. "Lord Haluk, discard your skirt, lay out on the bed on your back, arms gripping the headboard." He turned as Sabah entered the room and the knocking came again. "Sabah, bind Haluk's wrists then straddle him."
Sabah gave a slow, sly grin. "Yes, Harem Master."
Demir shook his head. "You all need discipline."
"We won't complain if you administer it," Kitt said.
Demir nudged him as he walked by. "You were ordered to be quiet." He looked at Sabah and Haluk. "I will stall him at the door, but I'm sure he will press to come inside. Make it look like we've been doing this for some time."
"Yes, Harem Master," they all chorused.
Demir turned toward the door.
"Wait," Kitt said and rose to his feet. "Pardon my impropriety, Harem Master, but you do not look at all like you've been training us." Before Demir could say a word, Kitt grabbed his head and dragged him down into a hard, wet, and biting kiss. He tasted like bitter wine and fragrant smoke.
Rough hands worked on the knot of his hair, getting it partially undone and combing through the strands that came loose. Kitt tore away from his mouth, dragged his nails down Demir's chest, and flicked at his nipple rings.
"Kitt!" Sabah said behind them. "Ihsan will kill you if I don't do it first."
"How do you expect him to carry the lie if he looks as impeccable as ever? Now you look like you've been training us—and enjoying your work." He winked and then shoved Demir toward the door as the pounding came a third time.
Demir tried to put his thoughts back where they should be and far, far away from Kitt's mouth and rough, knowing hands. He finished the work Kitt had started with his hair, leaving it to fall unbound down his back as he walked to the door, unlocked it, and pulled it open. "Good evening, Steward. Has there been an emergency?" Bulut tried to step past him into the room, but Demir blocked him. "Respect, Steward, you have no right to be here unless invited. Why do you disturb me?"
"I am under orders from His Majesty to keep a close eye on you and the concubines. His Majesty is not the fool that lots takes him for. He is well aware of his son's penchant for sneaking about when he was a boy and has every confidence that bad habit was retained. You and his concubines have been locked up in here for the past few hours, and I do not trust—" He broke off at the sound of a hoarse, quickly muffled cry.
Demir regarded him coldly. "I am under orders to train Prince Ihsan's men. While Lord Sabah is of noble birth and has received proper training all his life, Lord Kitt and Lord Haluk have not. Sabah is assisting with the training, as they are more comfortable learning with someone they know and trust. If you do not approve, you may speak with His Highness."
Bulut looked him up and down, mouth tightening—then he abruptly shoved past Demir and strode across the sitting room and into the bedroom. He stopped in the doorway. Demir did not move from his spot, could see well enough past Bulut to where Sabah was fucking Haluk's mouth while Kitt remained kneeling on the floor, still and silent, all the more beautiful for such rare, perfect obedience.
Demir turned to the open door. "Guards! To me at once!"
Six guards came running, led by Ruth. "Remove the Steward. He has grossly violated, by force, the privacy of Prince Ihsan's concubines. He is not to enter the harem hall without my permission and personal escort."
Bulut whipped around. "You have no authority to—"
"I do not have authority anywhere else in the palace, Steward, but here in the Jeweled Garden my word is law. The concubines are meant to feel safe here, away from the prying eyes of the court and the exhausting demands of the royal family, however much they love to serve. These men were in my chambers, behind locked doors, to learn in privacy. You were not invited in but shoved past me, driven purely by your own selfish curiosity. I do not care what His Majesty's orders were—you do not have grounds to violate the harem hall. Remove him."
Ruth motioned for two of the guards to follow as he stormed across the room. He grabbed Bulut's arm—and caught the other when Bulut tried to hit him. Jerking him around to pin his arms behind him, Ruth held them firmly there until another guard bound them.
Demir followed the guards out. "Ruth, see he is locked up for the night. He is free to go at the changing of the guards in the morning. He is not to be released before that time. He is not allowed in the harem hall without my permission.
He is not permitted to approach or speak to the concubines no matter where they are in the palace." He glared at Bulut. "Prince Ihsan will have my report within minutes. His Majesty will have it when he wakes in the morning."
"I was following His Majesty's orders."
"His Majesty's orders do not include violating the harem hall," Demir replied. He turned to Ruth. "I am going to see Prince Ihsan. No one leaves or enters the harem hall. If someone tries, stop them by whatever means necessary. I do not care who it is."
"Yes, Harem Master," Ruth said and bowed.
"Thank you. If Prince Ihsan's men require anything, see they have it. I'll be back as soon as I can." Ruth bowed again, and Demir strode off, signaling for the guards holding Bulut to follow him.
Outside the harem hall, guards wearing the black sashes of the court curled hands around the hilts of their swords. "You are not permitted to leave, Harem Ma—" The guard speaking broke off as he saw Bulut. "What is the meaning of this?"
"You are not very good guards, to hear the commotion that was going on in there and do nothing," Demir said. "The Steward has been placed under arrest for violating the sanctity of the harem—for knowingly and willfully violating the promise of privacy granted all concubines who enter here. The privacy of Prince Ihsan's harem specifically. I will speak with Prince Ihsan immediately, and my orders regarding Lord Bulut will not be countermanded save by His Majesty." He gestured to the harem guards holding Bulut. "Take him away."
The guards dragged him away, one clapping a hand over Bulut's mouth when he tried to speak.
When they were gone, Demir turned back to the court guards. "Escort me if you must but do not prevent me."
"We will have to report to His Majesty," the second guard said.
"Do what you must," Demir replied and strode off, keys jangling loudly as he strode through the dark halls.
Eleven
Ihsan jerked awake, hand going to the knife tucked into a concealed nook in his headboard before he registered the disturbance was someone pounding on his door. "Enter!" he called out.
