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  He stopped just as he was about to be fed something from his concubine, and he pushed her hand away angrily. “I command you eat with me.”

  “I will sit, but unless you force the food down my throat I refuse to eat.”

  He pushed the concubines aside and stood. His voice deep and angry, “You are trying to enrage me.”

  “No, I’m not trying.” Her glare was scalding. “I am succeeding.”

  He let out a growl at that, and walked over to her before taking her arm abruptly. She attempted to protest but he jerked her and dragged her through the room and into the hall. She was trying to push his hold off of her arm, which she imagined was going to leave a hand-shaped bruise. He opened a set of double doors and everyone within immediately stopped the kitchen-related tasks they were performing. Someone dropped a spoon and it clattered on the ground but went mostly unnoticed. He threw her onto the ground of the kitchen; her hands slapped the hard stone floor as she caught herself.

  “Put her to work,” he growled before looking down at her. “Perhaps this will break you of your manners towards me.”

  “I will at least be amongst better company,” she retorted as she he left. He paused and shot her a glare before disappearing.

  She slowly got to her feet. Her hands were red from catching herself, and she cringed when she tried to close them. When she looked up, there were seven women and four men all staring at her. They were exchanging glances as Azel straightened her clothes and took a step further into the room.

  “I know little about cooking, but will help where I am needed,” she said, looking over every face. “My name is Azel.”

  One older woman stepped forward, and glanced back once before saying, “My name is Mabel. I am the Sous Chef and these are the helpers.”

  “Mabel, I am sorry for the way I was deposited upon you. I will strive to hinder you as little as possible.” Azel lifted her hands apologetically, as though to say it was out of her hands.

  “No one stands up to the Liege. It is refreshing to hear him challenged.” Mabel gave her a shy smile. “Come – let’s get you something to eat before we start you working.”

  “You are very kind.” Azel said, and she let Mabel lead her further into the kitchen.

  --

  Aleron inspected Azel as she stood at the large pot and stirred. She wore an apron over her nice clothes and her hair was pulled back. Even in an old apron covered with old stains her lovely features could not be diminished. The darkness of her hair, the warmness of the color of her skin and the slender form haunted him at night. He wanted to possess her.

  He watched her listen to one of the kitchen helpers blathering on about a problem she was having with her husband. She seemed to be providing some advice on the subject, quoting the words of successful marriages. Aleron was not accustomed to being talked to like a fool whenever she was within reach, as though she understood more about how to rule than he.

  He had ruled for nearly a decade and she was little more than a child, but she had power over people that he lacked. He had not seen her smile once since he had found her. The look upon her face as she buried her mother was one that would stay with him; it was an expression that only strong women were capable of making. He had expected to find her crying, as most women would have. She had not shed a single tear. Only once had she shown a moment of pain on her face.

  She obviously hated him, and displayed it by the way she regarded him with little respect. He was aware that he had a temper, and without a mother’s guiding hand he had learned to use it against the horrors of life at an early age. People respected a strong and unyielding ruler; he would not become the weakling his father was. His father had been unable to protect his eldest son and his wife as they were killed by an assassin. He was foolishly killed soon after them.

  Aleron had been thirteen at the time. The second son had not been fully prepared to lead an empire; he had been thrust into it. The coffers had been empty, and with a ruthless pursuit of gold and riches he had reclaimed the debts owed to his father. He was young still by the standards of society, but never before had his confidence as a ruler been challenged so effectively. He was used to getting precisely what he wanted. Until Azel, he had been so completely denied.

  She handled herself like a royal but she didn’t seem to have the shallow desires as those within his inner circle at the palace. It annoyed him how she seemed to undermine his very beliefs and make him question his decisions. He had already begun to reconsider how to best handle the execution of the man who had narrowly failed to carry out his assassination. The traditional method involved four animals pulling all the limbs in different directions until the condemned was literally ripped to pieces.

  “I do not believe the Liege will leave you in the kitchen long,” he heard the helper say and that drew him from his thoughts, “He would not be so unjust to something he desires.”

  “Keeping me here against my will is already an injustice,” Azel had a bitterness in her voice that was beginning to infuriate him. “I do not understand how such a man can rule without challenge.”

  “He is not completely unfair,” the helper offered. “He is right to execute the man who tried to assassinate him. His people insisted that the man must pay upon his return by a traditional death.”

  There was a moment of silence, and he peeked around the corner to catch her contemplative expression. “The man that will be executed upon the Liege’s return was an assassin?”

  “A very bad man,” the helper insisted. “He tried to poison the Liege and accidentally killed an advisor.”

  “I was unaware of the circumstances.” she commented, her voice barely heard over the din of the kitchen, “I agree that assassins should not be allowed leniency, although it was likely an ally of mine.”

  He was surprised that such a willful woman could so easily admit her original assessment was wrong and overturn it. He was aware that he had been delayed too long by both Azel and her words. Content with the knowledge that she had been mistaken and admitted so, he turned to leave.

  The hallway seemed wider; it was though he had become smaller. He continued to walk with the assurance of a powerful man as he made his way towards the councilman’s chambers. He was bowed to as he walked past the many men and women in his employment. One thing that Azel had made him realize was that if he could not pay those within his employment, they would not stay with him out of loyalty.

  “Advisor.” he came up to the older man with a long wiry beard and hair to match, “How are the arrangements for the feast progressing?”

  “Liege,” he said as he bowed. “We are nearly prepared.”

  “Very well,” He looked out the window, to the sea of sand that occupied three-fourths of their planet. “It must be perfect.”

  --

  “You should tell his Liege as much,” Juni said, a woman five years older than Azel. “He would likely release you from your duty here.”

  Azel turned away from the boiling water in order to see Juni’s face. “My duty here is more pleasant than my time with him.”

  Azel gasped and pulled her hand back as some of the boiling water spat at her hand. Juni gave a cry and pulled Azel to a bucket of water, sinking her injured hand into the water. She felt tears of pain fill her eyes but she quickly swallowed them down.

  “I will have to take you to the physician. He should look at this burn,” she insisted as she inspected Azel’s hand.

  “We had it to water quick enough,” Azel answered calmly. “The Liege did not give me permission to go anywhere but this kitchen.”

  “Lady Azel,” Juni started with a protest.

  “No.” Azel held up her opposite hand to cut her objection short, “I will not have you placed in trouble at my expense when the damage is so minimal. We will wrap it in a cool bandage before we continue. That should suffice.”

  “Yes Mistress.” Juni gave in to Azel’s wishes.

  “I have told you before,” Azel said as another woman pulled down the gauze, “I am not a lady or a mistress.”

  “You are the Liege’s special guest,” she responded shyly. “Everyone is aware of the room you occupy.”

  “I am betrothed to another,” Azel responded, flinching as the cloth hit the burn on her hand. “He is aware of this and has made no attempts of such manner.”

  “I am surprised,” Juni responded, her face covered in a blush. “He is fond of beautiful women, and you are one of the loveliest.”

  “Perhaps,” she responded, watching as the other women wrapped her hand, “Unlike the others, I imagine, I am unwilling.”

  “That is true,” she responded as she tied the end of the bandage. “It has never happened before.”

  “It must be very frustrating for a man used to getting his way.” Azel retorted before standing. “We must return before the food burns.”

  Chapter 8

  “Kadi-Ro”

  Azel could not be giving in to her wish to act impulsively. So far he had tolerated her disobedience but she did not know how long that would last. She looked to the mirror once more before turning away in disgust. The long black outfit she wore was for the dance she was to perform.

  It had an open back and a crisscross pattern across her stomach. The material was sheer and it hardly allowed her any modesty. She knew that he had chosen it on purpose. Her earrings were large and matched the thick choker at her throat. She wore traditional dancing pants with a layered skirt that fell to the floor and rippled like water. In her mind it was vulgar and revealing; had she a choice, she would have it burned.

  A knock came to the door an instant before it was opened. “It is time.”

  She went to the hall where four guards escorted her to the dining area; it was full from side to side with men and wome
n of high caliber. Servants not required to see to the guests were on the upper level watching the beauty of the tournament. A mock battle was drawing to a close; the smaller man appeared to be winning as the larger man ran out of energy.

  She was forced to wait at the great doors. She could just make out when the large man fell and everyone who had been watching began to clap. She knew the instant that the Liege had spotted her because the gong that sounded for silence filled the air. The guards escorted her to stand before the Liege, and they knelt next to her, putting their forehead to the ground.

  She stood tall, and there were whispers around the room. The Liege said “you may not bow to me, but you will dance for me.”

  He waved and as she was pulled onto the entertainment area, she walked with her head held high. She was a princess, and a princess was expected to dance when she was a guest. The guards stood just below the area where she was to perform; they had not been amused by her insistent need to escape.

  The music began and she immediately twisted forward with her hands clasped together and her head bent forward. Her left foot stepped out and the small metal medallions at her ankles chimed out as she rolled her hip. Her body swayed to the left as she began the dance of the Kadi-Ro.

  The room, which was before so full of laughter and conversation, fell silent in a wave. It was as though her dance was a rock and the silence rippled out from her. It was a series of slow, sensual moves that did everything to accentuate the feminine form and place it in positions that suggested sex. She wore a long veil that was tied back and the fabric was pressed against her face as she moved. It was drawn tight so that only her nose and mouth were visible.

  Unlike her sisters, she had always felt free when she danced. Her oldest sister had been too tall and awkward and her other sister too large. They had other skills to boast but Azel had always felt a rush of pleasure when dancing. The rest of the room vanished, and it was only her and the rhythm locked in a battle for domination. Only one would stop first, leaving a victor; her, or the drums. She was so completely lost in the movements of the dance that Azel could not feel the way he watched her.

  --

  The desire to possess her grew in him to where he wanted to dismiss his honored guests and have his way with her right where she danced. His hand was across his mouth and a glass of wine sat clenched in his fingers, mostly forgotten. He was not a fool; he could she was born of a rich family that had invested in both her education and her future.

  That much was evident by how she handled herself and by how she moved. He could see the desire of the men around her and they could not even see the rest of her face. He knew the way her long lashes turned down whenever he approached her alone, and the way she could stare at him with a fierceness he enjoyed.

  The music ended, and the first beads of sweat were gathering on her skin as she lay curled in a circle of submission. He and the rest of the hall began to clap and a rich man to his right leaned in towards him. Aleron ignored him and continued to gaze upon Azel who had risen and was being escorted back to her room.

  “What do you want for her? I will pay whatever you desire,” the old lecher said. He smacked his lips together and licked them.

  “I will not part with her.” He turned his eyes on the man.

  “You have other women to enjoy,” he said. There was lust in his eyes as his hand fell to rub himself in his lap. “I have not had something as lovely as her in a long time.”

  Aleron pulled his dagger from his belt and brought it down between the old man’s legs. Everyone within seeing distance went silent as the old man pulled back in horror.

  “If you speak of enjoying her again, I will not miss,” Aleron threatened. No matter how rich they were, he was richer and more powerful.

  “Yes, my Liege,” the man said with a quiver in his voice.

  He looked up and saw that Azel was still in the room and watching him. He was surprised to find disappointment in her eyes, and she didn’t try to hide it. She turned away and the guards escorted her the rest of the way as she swept from the great hall. Strange. It almost seemed as though she was disappointed he had not killed the man.

  --

  The man was repulsive, Azel thought to herself. She knew his type – there had been many diplomats visiting that had made the same sort of leering glances. She knew exactly what he wanted and she hadn’t needed to overhear what he had said to The Liege to guess what he had said. He had asked to have her; for the night or to own, she didn’t know. Had her father been a crueler man, he would likely have sold her to the first bidder. It was fortunate that her mother had insisted Azel be given to a man with power and of decent reputation.

  Her door was closed and locked behind her. She pulled the earrings from her ears and threw them on the floor. One shattered as it struck the marble, and she watched the pieces scatter every which way. She quickly stripped down, throwing the clothes on top of the shards and walking over to pull on the clothes that she normally wore. It was obvious that the Liege had chosen the dress, and it made her feel like she really was his concubine.

  She was about to crawl into bed but she stopped when she saw a small furry thing on her comforter. She had never seen such a thing; long coats were not common on animals of Zendar. It had a large bow around its neck and was so small that it could lie in Azel’s hand.

  She reached forward and touched it, her fingers brushing the soft white fur of its side. Instantly a strange noise began to emit from it and it began to unfurl. It turned sleepy eyes on her and Azel tilted her head to the side in wonder. The small animal instantly did the same before it opened its mouth and yawned; sharp little teeth lined its mouth.

  It pushed itself up and stretched, arching its back before stretching its front legs forward and small nails were exposed. It slinked to the end of the bed and looked up at her with blue eyes, mewing softly. Azel took a step back as it jumped down from the bed and began rubbing itself against her legs.

  She could feel it vibrating against her leg and could hear that same strange noise from when she had first touched it. Azel couldn’t help it; she reached down and picked up the sweet little animal. Holding it in her arm like a baby with its back exposed, she began to run her fingers along the soft fur. It immediately began to fall back asleep, still vibrating and making a strange humming noise that Azel imagined was connected to happiness. For a moment she did something she had not done for some time; she smiled.

  Chapter 9

  “Pact with the Enemy”

  The door to her room banged open and Azel sat up quickly. It took her eyes a moment to adjust from sleep to the shadowy room. The Liege strode into the room; the light from the two moons touched his skin in an eerie blue. She gathered the blankets against her chest and her eyes opened in terror.

  “Stop.” she commanded him.

  He did for a moment, but he said, “you should resign yourself to my command. I will not wait another moment.”

  Her heart jumped to her throat and she pulled herself from the tangle of sheets. She hurried over the bed as he came around to her side and made a wild dash for the door. She heard his footsteps follow just behind her as her hand reached out for the door.

  “You cannot escape me!” she heard him growl as his arms wrapped around her.

  “I beg you to stop,” she cried out. She had not imagined he would come for her so soon. “You are not free to claim me.”

  “I must possess you,” he said, his hands running along her body as he pulled her toward the wall.

  “You must not!” He trapped her wrists in his hand and pulled her arms over her head.

  He pressed her wrists against the wall, trapping her with the hardness of his body. He bent his head and pulled her up to press his mouth against her breast. The thin cloth of her nightgown did little to protect her. She gave a sharp cry as his teeth found the softness of her breast and to her own shock it was a pleasurable feeling.

  He raised his head to look upon her in triumph. “You have passion you kept so well hidden; I want to hear more of it.”

  “I have done nothing to provoke your desire of me,” she managed. Her pride was wavering. Her breath was constricted from the tightness in her lungs.

  “You have tempted me with your dance. Such passion and fire I must have for myself. Taste for myself,” he said, his head bent to assault her other breast.