Chapter 6: Arin's Initiation

In the event Princess Zubeydeh was left to wonder, because it was Arin who was selected for the Emir's bed that night. When Arin finally returned to the harem, it was mid-morning and she was a sight which made even the most blasé of the concubine hostesses blench. One eye was completely covered by a bandage; the other one was nearly closed. Her back was covered by a large surgical dressing and her left arm was in a sling. She was naked because both legs were covered in weals and any material touching them would be painful. Her breasts were almost black with bruises. The only way she could rest was lying on her right hand side, and even then every time she moved in her sleep the pain woke her. After dozing for three or four hours, she woke and rose to eat something, standing up, naturally.

While she was eating, Princess Zubeydeh came over to her and asked, "How do you feel?"

"Princess, I apologise and much regret I cannot do obeisance to you," she replied.

"Nonsense, nobody does that in here; are you beginning to feel a little better?"

"Yes, Princess, I am much better thank you," she said somewhat unconvincingly; then she added, "Does His Magnificence call for his women often? I see no others who seem damaged?"

"He has never done this to anyone before," replied the Princess gravely, "but he was much provoked in London and again back here. As I was returning from the Throne Room a man tried to kidnap me. I think he just needed to take his anger out on someone, and you were unlucky enough to be in his path."

"The kidnapper died, I suppose?"

"Not yet, or at least I imagine not yet. The Emir sentenced him to the Death of a Thousand Cuts with the added refinement of first class medical aid after every cut and plenty of food and water. He will live in agony for many days, perhaps even months."

"Then I count myself fortunate," said Arin.

"Why?" asked the mystified older woman.

"It is a great honour to lie with the Emir, and I have done that three times now. It is an even greater honour to be able to help him in some way, even if it is only as an object of his rage," the girl replied with no trace of sarcasm or regret.

Once again Princess Zubeydeh was left marvelling at the mind set of these Arab concubines, especially as this one had travelled all over the world with Air Kobekistani and so knew something of the usages of other societies where the position of women was not solely based on the harem.