Chapter 6: A dilemma

Reyna and I are left languishing in the castle dungeon but are not entirely forgotten. The guards periodically take Reyna elsewhere for a few hours, although I remain confined to our cell. As always she wears a leather hood and manacles when she is removed from our cell. The restraints are clearly designed to break her spirit, but in that respect they fail miserably.

During my month long stay in the dungeon, I learn more about what is going on. Brother Zurab of the grey monks is miffed that his attempts to satisfy Lord Giorgi’s perverse sexual needs have attracted the close attention of the higher echelons of the Order of the Divine. In particular, the obnoxious Exalted Brother Tamaz has taken a personal interest in the situation. It’s bad enough that he has intervened in Zurab’s plans for Reyna. Among the quasi-religious Order that is notorious for debauchery, fornication and political corruption, Tamaz apparently sinks to depths that even the rest of the grey monks try to keep secret.

Despite her cruel bondage, Reyna manages to keep me informed of what comes to pass. Tonight she is using her entertaining storytelling skills to regale what she has overheard today...

“Doesn’t he like to fuck women?” enquires Narek.

“Yes, of course he likes fucking them,” replies Zurab.

“So what’s the problem?” asks Narek. “Why are Reyna and Maia so upset? You were so careful to choose two women who would appeal to Giorgi.”

Zurab knows that Narek is correct. Tamaz had ordered that two slave concubines be selected and gifted to Lord Giorgi after he had seized control of Bolnisi from it’s rightful ruler. As Giorgi’s spiritual adviser, the duty of selecting the women naturally fell to Zurab. He had spent days choosing two suitable women from the scores of slave concubines imprisoned in the Divine Harem. Giorgi’s cousin Reyna was an obvious choice, given the political advantages that would accompany such a union. The choice of Maia was perhaps a mistake.

“Lord Giorgi spends too much time training with his soldiers to understand the more intimate arts of sexual relationships,” concedes Zurab. “I wish it were otherwise, but Tamaz insists Giorgi must become an accomplished military leader. I’m in a dilemma.”

“If Lord Giorgi is to help us extend the Order’s influence across neighbouring nations, then his military training is essential,” says Narek.

“Yes, I know,” replies Zurab. “But siring sons is just as important if Giorgi intends to secure the future of his dynasty. I’m sure he likes Reyna and Maia, but he is so rough with them. He forgets that they aren’t like his sparring partners on the training ground.”

“If that’s all, then I wouldn’t worry,” says Narek. “So what if Lord Giorgi gets a little over excited when he’s aroused? A couple of bruised concubines is nothing to get concerned about. Tell the women toughen up and stop their whining.”

Zurab sighs. If it was only that simple. Zurab has seen the bruises on Reyna and Maia. They can’t simply be dismissed as the result of over-enthusiastic play during the heat of passion. Maia is from a respectable family, and she tells a harrowing tale of physical abuse when she’s been alone in Giorgi’s company. Reyna is from a noble family, and she still commands a degree of sympathy from a few loyal supporters. Both women have recently been trained in the gentler arts of love and seduction. But neither woman is physically able to match Giorgi’s strength. Even if they could, they are his slave concubines, so they must submit to his desires.

Zurab realises that there isn’t much he can do now that Reyna and Maia officially belong to Giorgi. They are Giorgi’s personal slaves. However, their injuries are too easily noticed by the courtiers of Lord Giorgi’s court, and the gossip has already reached Narek’s ears. It won’t be long before the Tamaz hears as well.

Zurab would be even more worried had he known that Maia had already complained to Tamaz about her treatment at Giorgi’s hands. It was a foolish thing for Maia to do, since the Tamaz would naturally take Lord Giorgi’s side against the complaints of a mere concubine. However, Tamaz has years of experience in understanding the workings of the Divine Harem, so he doesn’t dismiss Maia’s complaint out of hand. Instead he summons Zurab to a private audience in Tamaz’s suite.

“You are aware of Maia’s complaints against Lord Giorgi, I presume?” asks Tamaz of Zurab.

“Yes, Exalted Brother Tamaz,” says Zurab. “Although I’m sure she is exaggerating.”

“Perhaps. But the bruises on her body seem real enough. Too many large bruises to dismiss as being the result of an accident.”

“What do you wish me to do?” asks Zurab, hoping the Tamaz might suggest a solution to his problem.

“Lord Giorgi’s spiritual education and training is your responsibility, Zurab,” replies Tamaz. “Your efforts to introduce him to the arts of producing heirs have so far proved unsatisfactory. I will deal with Maia. You must deal with Lord Giorgi.”

“We can’t have Maia spreading her lies around the court,” adds Zurab. “Lord Giorgi’s reputation will be tarnished.”

“Yes. I know,” replies the Tamaz. “Don’t worry about Maia. She will no longer be a problem.”

None of the women in the Divine Harem ever find out what becomes of Maia. Even Reyna has the sense not to enquire. If anything, it reminds the concubines that nobody is interested in a slave’s complaints. It is possible that Maia was transferred to one of the grey monks many smaller harems in some remote part of the grey monks’ dominion. More than likely, though, she was quietly killed by one of the monks who police the Divine Harem. It’s one of the greatest fears among the concubines in the harem. Their lives belong to the Order of the Divine, and as such, they can be executed at the whim of their owners.

Zurab simply tells Lord Giorgi that Maia was an unsatisfactory consort for him and that she is to be replaced. Had Giorgi been older and wiser, he would have questioned why his spiritual adviser had removed a concubine from his harem without his consent. But Giorgi is a novice in such matters, and to him Maia was simply an easily replaced object he had used for his own gratification. A mere pleasure slave. He will miss her though. She was pretty enough, and she did make an effort to comply with his desires. But she had a tendency to cry far too easily. He particularly liked the way she showed genuine fear when he was aroused. That fear fuelled his desire even more, and drove him to be even rougher in her handling. Perhaps he had been a little too rough with Maia, but that is his lordly prerogative.