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Jayti Singh Part 2 By Aardvark Maryam dances before the Emperor for high stakes. Mark continues to change. Looking for men. Danger--harem plot! Revenge. Meeting the Empress. Freedom, but at a cost. Jayti tries to recruit Hassan. A clever plot. Muslim marriage. Busted! Freedom! Bandits! Mark goes it alone. To defeat the Moghul Empire. Warning: Some subject matter and explicit language may offend. Don't read unless you are over 18. Chapter 9: The Festival The day of the Festival arrived, celebrating the Emperor's ascension to the throne. On this night, he would allow the harem to demonstrate their skills in the arts rather than watch the usual professional entertainers he normally hired for his court. The harem was busy. Female vendors were allowed to come in through the main gate to set up their small shops and stands in the courtyard of the Major Harem. Over a thousand women shopped in the cool morning air. Concubines and wives, the women with the most wealth, bargained good-naturedly for jewels, anklets, cosmetics, cloth, and clothing of all kinds. There were few restrictions. Varieties of birds, sweets and candies, musical instruments, games, and amusements of all kinds were available. Eunuchs and female guards were out in force to make sure no one was sold anything that could be used as a weapon or sexual aid. A eunuch positioned at the vegetable stand sliced cucumbers, or any other legumes that had the remotest chance of finding their way into the Emperor's property. Even servants such as Jayti had been given an allowance to buy small items. She, as well as many others, lined up two and three deep looking for bargains and things of interest. ['Do you see anything you like?'] ["Just a lot of little items, small jewels and things like that. We can't afford much."] ['We could buy some paper and ink.'] ["I suppose so. Why?"] ['We may need to write something to someone. In the meantime, I like to think with my hands. I like to draw ideas.'] ["Sure. And perhaps something to help my poor feet from hurting after dancing?"] ['Of course. They hurt me too, remember.'] Jayti bargained for a bottle of ink and a sheaf of paper. She had just enough left for a small bottle of salve. She spent most of the morning in the garden by herself until she met Maryam and Fatima, pleased with their purchases of jewels and candy. Both were wealthy by any standards. As concubines, any jewels in the Emperor's clothes were theirs by right after a night of love. The many jewels they had accumulated over the years could have bought a large estate. They were horrified that Jayti had spent her money on paper and a bottle of grease. What was she thinking? Maryam insisted on giving her a jeweled pin for her hair. She accepted it gratefully. It was worth a small fortune. At last, it was time to get ready for the dance. Jayti was a part of a four- woman group doing a fast Nritha. Maryam, of course, had Bolero. Jayti still had to have her hair braided and get her costume ready, a traditional Moghul outfit with yellow leggings, wide anklets with bells, and a medium length, thick yellow skirt that would present well in the turns. Maryam would wear a diaphanous outfit of matching hip-hugging, tan muslin salwar pants and short choli top, with just the minimum calico preserving her assets. It was a costume suggested by Mark, and surprisingly, approved by Hasseema. She would also keep her hair in thick braids, the better to emphasize her movements when the time came. The performance would take place in the harem. The Emperor would be attending, as well as the rest of the harem, including Ruqayya Sultan Begam, the Chief Eunuch, and most of the wives. The hired musicians, many of them men, would be hidden away behind a solid screen of fabric on a balcony behind the Emperor. Maryam and Jayti went to Maryam's apartment to braid each other's hair. Maryam started with Jayti's. "I want to thank you for the song, Jayti. It was hard for me to give up Fatima for this. Fatima hated you for a while, you know. But it was the right thing to do. Even if I fall on my face tonight, it will have been worth it." ["She's talking to you, Mark. You get all the credit for this one."] ['I just started it. You helped finish it.'] ["Oh, Shiva, this could go on forever. Please, take the credit and stop pretending to be Buddha!"] "I just gave you a song, Maryam," said Jayti. "You did the rest. It's a chance, nothing more. Think nothing of it." Maryam finished braiding Jayti's hair. As she turned around, Maryam gave Jayti a hug. ['One of the most beautiful women in the world, and all I get is a warm feeling of friendship.'] ["Would it help you to know that I like you more this way? I know only too well, from you, what a man feels for a pretty woman. It's priceless knowledge, but it makes life hell in a harem. This doesn't change my feelings for you. You are the same bright star in my head. If your color has changed slightly, your edges are still as sharp."] It was past final prayers when the dancing started. The Emperor sat comfortably on a chair raised several feet above the level of the stage. Most eyes in the harem were on him. Emperor Akbar was a fairly tall, stocky man with a small mole on his upper lip above a long, narrow mustache. His gold trimmed turban, studded with large diamonds, had his characteristic royal white heron feather attached vertically to the front. A yellow and gold, long court dress covered him from head to ankles, his legs wrapped in white leggings in the cool night. He relaxed as he watched the evening's entertainment. A servant stood beside him and to the rear with refreshments if required. Ruqayya Sultan Begam and the Chief Eunuch, both richly dressed, sat next to him on opposite sides. The singers and solo musicians finished and exited the stage. Many lamps illuminated the stage in a golden glow. The first set of dancers, in traditional Hindu dress, gave a masterful performance using a series of precise finger, wrist, foot, and hand movements set to traditional music from a sitar and drum. The second group was Jayti's. Her group performance went well, also. A fast, complex melody directed the women's movements as they swirled and glided in unison around the stage, using intricate footwork, fast spins, quick turns, and elaborate hand movements. Jayti's thick dress spun and wrapped around her body in an enticing display of femininity. She glanced seductively at the Emperor whenever she had the chance. Finally, it was over and Jayti sat down to the side waiting for the final dance, Maryam's. ['That was wonderful, Jayti!'] ["Yes, it was. I'm still breathing hard. I hate Akbar for what he has done to us, and yet I'm thrilled to dance before him."] ['What do you feel when you see the Emperor?'] ["I see the first man with all his parts I've seen for months. I am disgusted with myself to know that I feel some pleasure looking at him. He's a powerful man. He isn't bad looking, either. I don't want to find him attractive, but I do. What do you feel, Mark?"] ['I feel interest. I feel distaste for him. I not so sure I'm attracted to him because of his power; we can do things that he can't. But I see he's a good looking, attractive man, and I'm attracted to him, too, damn it.'] ["It's nothing to be ashamed of."] ['I know, Jayti. I've wanted to tell you this for what seems to be a long time. I love you. It's an impossible love, but still, if I were a man, I would make you proud of me. It sounds ridiculous now, but I wanted to let you know before everything male about me disappeared.'] ["I've known this for over a month, Mark, and I feel the same way. I regret very much meeting you like this, and yet I'm happy you're here with me. It's my body making you like men, but the mind behind it is still Mark. But think, Mark, is it so bad to be in a woman's body and to like men? Doesn't it make the thought of getting married and having children, something you want for me, to be something you might want now, too?"] ['You know the answer is yes.'] ["Then we've lost something and gained something else. We're even closer than we were."] Maryam was on stage. Her costume glowed softly in the lamplight. The Music began, starting with a lone flute in the first pass of the haunting melody. She raised her hands and calmly, gracefully, slowly executed a number of full flowing turns and bends that captivated the harem. From the expression on the Emperor's face, she had his full attention. The second pass was similar to the first, with a slightly deeper movement at all levels. A stringed instrument played low and clear, matching Maryam's movements. The third pass was close to the first two, but a new move was added that was a little less restrained, a little more daring. A slightly louder woodwind, similar in sound to an oboe, played this time. Each successive pass increased in volume and strength until drums, pounding a martial cadence, inserted themselves into the pattern. Other instruments joined together in a harmony of command. Still more instruments joined in, and the drums beat louder and more persistently. A set of bass drums made their presence felt. The music grew much louder. Maryam matched it with greater power and feeling, the flickering lamps making her motion ethereal. On the second to the last pass, Maryam's movements stayed just barely in control. Her face was pure passion. She hardly danced at all, now; she reacted. On the final pass, she was a wild animal on a leash of musical restraints. She moved in a wave of barely suppressed lust. When the climax came, the music held her on the edge, her body demanding release, finally collapsing on the stage as the music died, thoroughly spent, lying in a posture of abject submission towards the Emperor. It was an incredibly sexual performance. The Emperor was clearly affected. He gripped his chair tightly, and anyone who dared look could see a small tent under the fabric of his royal dress. ['Wow! If that didn't put Maryam on the path to his bedroom, Jayti, I don't know what will.'] ["She was magnificent! If I were the Emperor, I would take her immediately!"] ['Look! The Emperor is speaking to the Chief Eunuch!'] ["I believe I'm seeing with the same eyes, Mark. That can only mean one thing. He wants her. It's worked!"] ['Well, I knew it would work, Jayti. After all, I'm from the 21st century.'] ["What? You did not! Oh, you're joking. Ha. Ha. Good one. Now it's all in Maryam's hands."] The festival ended with the Maryam's dance. The Emperor dismissed the harem. Nobody minded. The obvious enjoyment of the Emperor for the finale was a juicy piece of gossip that would satisfy them for weeks. Jayti went to bed soon afterwards. ["Mark?"] ['Yes, Jayti?'] ["Have you accepted the idea that you are attracted to men, now?"] ['How can I deny it? You know I am.'] ["Then I can ask you, what kind of man do you want to marry?"] ['The true answer is someone like I was before I came into your life. Someone who loves you and will protect you, someone who is smart, funny, and will make you happy. But there are a few extra things; he must respect you like I would respect you. That may be hard to find in the 16th century. Most Hindu men in this century aren't exactly what I'd want either. The culture is just too different from what I'm used to. Even in Europe or England, men of the type I would like would be difficult to locate. If such a man could be found, I could accept him as my husband.'] ["After knowing you, I believe I could accept no less, but you forgot something; what about good looking?"] ['Sure.'] ["Mark, what did you look like?"] ['Like this.'] ["You looked different than what I expected."] ['Really. So what did you think I looked like.'] ["Hassan."] ['What? I'd spank you for that, but it would hurt me as much as you!'] * * * * * * * * * * Jayti met Maryam after first prayer and breakfast in her apartment. Maryam was there. She grabbed Jayti's shoulders and jumped up and down, her blue eyes were on fire. "We made love twice. He was like an animal and so was I. He couldn't take my clothes off fast enough. He said he had found a tigress in his harem. I'll get a bigger and nicer apartment with more privileges and a balcony overlooking the Diwan-i-am. I can listen and make comments and mix with the wives at the Darbar. Best of all, it will be easier to see Fatima!" "Maryam, I'm so excited for you! When do you move out?" "In a couple of days. You'll be going with me, of course." "Oh, Yes. I'd love to be your servant in your apartment!" Two days later, Jayti, Maryam, and Fatima stood behind the marble screen of Maryam's new apartment in the bright, clear morning air, watching the beginning of the Darbar, the Emperor's daily meeting with the people, where justice and important decisions of the realm were often decided. The Darbar was held in the Diwan-i-am and Maryam's apartment view was less than a hundred yards from where the Emperor, bedecked with diamonds and jewels in a gold-lined turban, sat on his throne of gold pillars and red velvet cushions. To his right, watching his every move, sat his oldest son, Selim. The Diwan-i-am was an area roughly the size of two football fields divided by a wide cross of gray marble, one section leading to the center of a long, single story, open building constructed of sandstone and white marble. There, slightly set back for protection from the sun, sat the Emperor, his throne higher than any point on the grounds. The grounds were laid out according to rank. In the front, closest to the Emperor, stood the nobles dressed in their finest attire. Behind them, stood the minor nobles and merchants. There was a space in the grounds behind them. Further back, the Emperor's war elephants stood, their foreheads decorated with gold and silver, the mahouts sitting just behind the massive ears. Just behind them were the ranks of cavalry officers on matching Arabian horses, and finally, the commoners were in the very back. Jayti could just barely hear Mir Arz, the person in charge of official court petitions, read the itinerary of business for the day. She watched as Akbar dealt with land grants and boundary problems, tax issues and personal disputes. Occasionally, he would wave one of his advisors forward for a consultation. Twice that morning, a man was led off to a nearby marble circle where a tethered elephant, prodded by an executioner, stepped on his head, squashing it flat with a sound like a watermelon being dropped. Waiting slaves using shovels and rags quickly cleared away the dirty mix of blood, brains and hair. Late in the morning, the time came for personal introductions, appointments, and rewards. Jayti watched this portion closely. The time had finally come to make efforts to know the members of Akbar's administration. Who were the most eligible men to marry? Who found the most favor with the Emperor? ["Mark, what do you think of Faraz? He looks handsome enough and he certainly is showing wealth in his turban."] ['What? The guy has to be at least 40! Sure, he makes us interested, but you can also see how arrogant he is to his servants. How do you think he would treat his wife?'] ["Hmm. Maybe your right. I didn't see that last. I'll bet he has a nice big lingam, though!"] ['Jayti, I may find him attractive, but Jesus, stop talking like that. I'm not ready to think about it yet!'] ["Hmm. I wonder what size we are. The Kama Sutra lists three levels of dimensions for the woman: the deer, the hare and the elephant. It may be we will only be satisfied with the largest size of a man, the horse. This is something to think about, Mark!"] ['Jayti, please!'] ["All right. I'll stop... for now. What about this guy? He seems young and confident."] ['I like him. He has manners, he's very good looking... and I can hardly believe I am feeling what I am feeling.'] ["Nonetheless, he is all of those things and we are getting a little bit wet because of it. I'm not surprised. He's the best looking man I've seen for months. His name seems to be Anwar and he's an administrator from Jaipur."] ['He's number one on the list.'] ["Agreed."] Mark and Jayti agreed on several more names before the Darbar ended. Jayti wrote them down, along with the men's personal data, on the paper she had bought earlier, when she was alone. Maryam was also fascinated with the Darbar. She hadn't seen men besides Akbar for months and was visibly flushed. Fatima was similarly affected. The bath was forgotten. The three women discussed the Darbar and the men for an hour before remembering lunch. At the Dining Hall, Maryam was the center of attention. She was still as nice to her friends as before, but it was obvious that many women were looking at her in a different way. Maryam was now a figure of jealousy and resentment for other concubines who felt robbed by the attention this previous unknown attracted. To Maryam, this was expected; she didn't care. Jayti and Mark wanted no part of this new tension. Jayti had already asked everyone who knew the origin of Bolero to remain silent. It was too dangerous to draw the wrong sort of attention to herself at this critical point. Chapter 10: Danger After lunch, Maryam was given two more servants as a result of her promotion. Jayti liked the tall, slim Inayat instinctively almost as soon as she introduced herself in her sonorous voice. The 20 year-old Egyptian was beautiful, really no surprise in a harem, with black, curly hair, and deep, dark, expressive eyes. She seemed to have retained her spirit after being in the harem for three years and told tales of her native land that stirred the heart. Still, Jayti didn't trust her completely. Jayti caught her looking sideways at Fatima and Maryam together when she thought no one was looking. Farha was different. She was a shorter and younger woman with fuller hips and breasts, dark brown hair and green eyes. Her story was typical; she'd been captured in a raid on Cyprus, sold in Kandahar, and she still felt lost after a year in the harem. There was something odd about her, too; she had trouble looking people in the eye and wouldn't talk back. Along with her new promotion, Maryam was now entitled to keep a servant with her at all times. Jayti moved into the small servant's quarters that adjoined the main living area. It was surprise to all, when a short sleek eunuch was waiting at the door when they returned from lunch. He informed them that Maryam and Jayti were to be presented to Ruqayya Sultan Begam at her bath. It went without saying that he meant immediately. The two barely had time to consider the implications as the eunuch led them away, leaving behind a puzzled and concerned Fatima. ["I'm worried, Mark. I can understand why the Sultana would want to get to know the Emperor's new favorite concubine, but wanting to see me can only mean she knows about Bolero. I don't know if I'm ready to face the Empress!"] ['Take it easy. This could easily be a good thing. The only thing she could possibly know is that Bolero is a tune you knew. What's the problem with that? She must be impressed by Maryam's performance. How could anyone not be affected by it? She's probably just curious. In any case, we need to have a good story ready as to how you know Bolero. To be on the safe side, we should make up a story that would be untraceable. If you told her that your Guru taught you, she might have it checked.'] ["I could say that a group of visiting musicians were practicing it in Jodhpur and that I heard it. Maybe a group of Jewish musicians, some of them come from Andalusia, I hear."] ['You want to blame it on the Jews?'] ["Why not? It sounds good. It would be impossible to find out if it were true or not."] ['I suppose so. It just seems ironic, somehow. Okay. That solves the major problem. We didn't plan it this way, but this could be our big chance to get on her good side.'] ["She's the most powerful woman in the world, Mark. I didn't prepare for this!"] ['So? She knows you'll be nervous. She's a woman at her bath, not an official judging you for crimes. Just be yourself; be nice, polite and respectful. All will be well.'] Ruqayya and Selima, Akbar's other favorite wife, shared a two story house together in the middle of a courtyard, north of the Dining hall and east of the Hawa Majal gardens. Like most other buildings in the harem, it was lined in white marble for beauty and protection from the sun in the severe summers. A small bath with descending marble steps lay to the north of the house, surrounded by a small garden with flowers and a shade tree over a delicately carved sandalwood bench. The eunuch held up his hand just outside the garden, stopping them from proceeding further. "Wait," he said, and entered the garden. Returning almost immediately, he waved them forward. Ruqayya was sitting on the lower step of the bath, naked and chewing on a pastry. Her stately body was totally relaxed. Two slaves wearing nothing except thin muslin salwars stood behind her, one with a tray of sweets. Two tall female guards, one black and one white, in red salwar pants and leather vests over a white blouse, stood guard behind the slaves in the shadow of the shade tree. The eunuch took his place between the guards, who ignored him completely. Jayti and Maryam bowed deeply and rose together. Ruqayya glanced at the two women and motioned with her pastry for them to sit on silk cushions next to the pool. The Sultana neutrally regarded Maryam with intelligent eyes beneath graying hair. "Maryam, you've really made an impression on my husband. He calls you his tigress. Now why do you suppose he says that?" She took a bite from her pastry and waited patiently. Maryam went white. "Your Highness, I have to believe that the dance I performed during the festival had something to do with it. I tried my best to be a tigress." The impression the calm sounding answer made was somewhat spoiled when she unconsciously wiped her palms on her salwar. The Sultana finished the pastry and a slave hurried forward, handing her a cotton napkin as her arm rose for it. 'She's nervous,' Ruqayya thought. 'Well, that's to be expected.' "Yes, the dance. I was impressed by your performance as well. Where did you learn to dance such a thing? Who gave you the idea?" "I... I wanted to dance a special dance for the Emperor at the festival, your Highness. My servant suggested a new piece that might be used for a new dance. Hasseema, the dance teacher, created the dance from the music." Ruqayya turned her attention to Jayti. "And you, young woman, are more interesting than I thought when I sent you there not long ago. No one here has every heard of that tune Maryam danced to a couple of nights ago, and some of the most accomplished musicians in the world stay here in the palace. Where did you find it?" "Your Highness, it was a group of Jewish musicians from Andalusia, in Jodhpur a few years ago. They were practicing, and I heard it. I was so impressed with its beauty, I remembered it years later." She added boldly, "It's called Bolero, your Highness. I hope you enjoyed it." Ruqayya was intrigued; the servant was less intimidated than her mistress. "How old are you, child?" "Sixteen next month, your Highness." 'Marrying age,' she thought. "You also danced at the festival, as I recall. You've come far in a few months." "I like to do as well as I can, your Highness. I enjoy singing and dancing." Jayti was worried. 'Where is the Sultana going with this?' 'The girl is more than the simple girl she pretends to be,' Ruqayya thought. She regarded her. "Come back tomorrow at this time, Jayti. I wish to talk to you further." She turned her attention to Maryam. "Maryam, you dance very well. I am pleased my husband thinks so as well." It was a dismissal. Maryam and Jayti bowed and left. Maryam was shaking as they walked. "Jayti, I don't think she likes me. She was rude and treated me like a little girl. I don't want her as an enemy." Jayti stopped and faced her. "Maryam, please don't take it that way. She's the Empress. You don't think she would be polite to someone who is so much younger and prettier than she is, do you? She isn't angry with you, but I don't think any woman would be overjoyed to see you in her husband's bed." Jayti touched her hand. "Think about it. It went fine, considering." Maryam reflected on her words for a moment. "That's easy for you to say. She wants to see you tomorrow. She likes you." Maryam exhaled suddenly and clenched her fists; she had just come to an understanding. "She wants to take you from me. She's just vindictive enough to do something like that. She knows I like you, so she takes you away." "Maryam, I truly wouldn't worry about it. Trust me on this." All went well for the rest of the day. Jayti and Maryam went to dance practice as usual, this time with the other servants. Fatima went back to her apartment to study poetry and memorize new stories. Storytelling had proven to be a critical skill for her on those nights when the Emperor couldn't sleep. At the bath the next day, Razak watched Maryam and Jayti. ['Jayti, I don't like the way he looks at Maryam or you. He doesn't like us.'] ["I'm not surprised. We took away his pleasure. Maryam doesn't need him anymore."] ['Yes, and it's probably nothing, but, in this place, I prefer to be a little bit paranoid. Two servants were killed last month for an affair.'] ["But what can Razak do about it? If he tells someone that Maryam and Fatima are having an affair, it would implicate himself."] ['Are you sure? Let's just think this through. If Razak wanted to get revenge on Maryam by accusing Maryam and Fatima of having an affair, what are the chances that Maryam would be believed if she then accuses Razak of having an affair with her? It would look like she was trying to get back at Razak for finding out about them. No. All Razak would have to do to get revenge on Maryam would be to find out what time to catch her and Fatima together, or he could just plant a dildo or some other sexual aid in her apartment.'] ["But Razak has no way of knowing when Fatima spends the night at Maryam's. Hmm. Someone could tell Razak when Fatima might meet with Maryam or put a dildo in the apartment. But the only people who can go in the apartment are Maryam, me, Inayat and Farha."] ['Now you're thinking. You don't trust Inayat or Farha, either. Razak could be pressuring either of them to hurt Maryam.'] ["We need to talk to Hassan."] ['And get him involved? That wouldn't be a friendly thing to do. You'd have to tell him about Maryam and Fatima and that might put him in danger; the knowledge might force him to do something. The way I see it, we can watch Inayat and Farha as much as we can. We talk to Maryam and make sure she doesn't tell either of her new servants when Fatima will be staying overnight. The big problem will be to make sure there's nothing planted in the apartment. It will have to be thoroughly searched whenever Inayat and Farha leave.'] ["And all this on a suspicion?"] ['I admit I'm probably worried about nothing, but look at Razak and please tell me you're sure he isn't capable of doing something like that. Why is he trying to hide his nasty looks from Maryam? I think he's up to something.'] ["I'll talk to Maryam tonight, and we can search the whole place."] After lunch, Jayti made the long walk to Ruqayya's house. The eunuch was waiting for her outside the garden, and announced her to Ruqayya on her arrival. Jayti found the Sultana in a robe on the bench under the tree. She had apparently just finished her bath, and her hair smelled of coconut oil. Jayti bowed to her. Ruqayya gestured for Jayti to sit beside her on the bench. Ruqayya had a commanding presence, and it took a while before Jayti became comfortable talking with her. She asked Jayti about her family, her friends, and what she liked to do. It finally put her at ease; she began to realize that Ruqayya was not necessarily the terrible, forbidding figure she seemed to be. "So, you have no idea why you were taken to the harem?" Ruqayya asked. "That's unusual. Are you sure your father didn't make the Raja, or someone here, angry?" "Your Highness, I have no idea why I was brought here. As far as I know, my father is still the best of friends with the Raja. My family even visited him only a month before I was brought here. When the retinue to take me to the harem came to our house, it was a complete surprise to my father." "So," mused the Sultana, "it's a mystery." 'And such a mystery can be easily solved here,' she thought. She made a mental note to talk to the Chief Eunuch about it. "Have you had a chance to watch the Darbar, Jayti?" "Yes, your Highness. It was wonderful. The Emperor is a very busy man. It was an experience to see how the Empire functions." The Empress knew she could do better than that. "I doubt that was the only thing you noticed, Jayti. What did you think of the men?" Jayti blushed deeply. 'She couldn't say she was attracted to the men! She was the property of the Emperor!' "The men, your Highness?" she finally replied. She laughed heartily, breaking the tension. "I think your face tells me what I wanted to know. It's normal for a girl your age to think about such things. Was there anyone there who caught your eye? Tell me." ['Well, here it comes. Do you remember the top three, or do you need me to remind you?'] ["I still remember, but thanks."] "I remember Anwar Mohammad, Ibrahim Ali and Khalid Owasi. They were all quite handsome, your Highness." Jayti was still blushing. 'She was delightful!' "Why those, child? Why not Faraz Pervez or Rahim Aziz?" "Well, your Highness, Faraz Pervez is a fine looking man, but he is just a little bit old and Rahim Aziz didn't treat his servants well... Please, your Highness, this is making me very uncomfortable." 'But not too uncomfortable to remember names and reasons why she likes or dislikes them,' the Empress thought to herself. 'She'll be a formidable concubine when she gets older, or an asset to the right husband.' Ruqayya smiled broadly. "Well, I did order you to tell me, Jayti. You can hardly be blamed for that." She stood up. "Thank you for visiting me. It was quite pleasant." "It was my pleasure, your Highness." Jayti bowed and walked out. ["Shiva! She scares me!"] ['She scares me too, but you were great. Whatever happens will happen, but you were your normal, wonderful self.'] ["I hope to never have to go through that again. If she orders me back to talk to her, you can try it!"] ['Me? No way. I have no idea how to talk woman to woman. I'd probably ask her Highness what size lingam she prefers.'] Jayti made a quick search of the apartment before leaving for dance practice, but could find nothing unusual. Later, after dinner and last prayer, when Inayat and Farha had gone back to the Minor Harem for the evening, Jayti brought up her suspicions with Maryam. Maryam wasn't really surprised; she had never trusted Razak, and it was obvious that he wasn't happy when she had broken their relationship off. They searched the apartment again, this time making sure they knew of every possible hiding place. They spent an hour marking drawers and cabinets with a thin layer of powder, not enough to be obvious, but enough to determine if any were opened. In the morning, before leaving for breakfast, they made sure they knew the position of every cushion and piece of furniture in the apartment. Satisfied they had done as much as they could, they continued as normal, making sure the measures were always in place. Fatima stayed with Maryam again that night and the small sounds of their lovemaking kept Jayti awake with fear. She could only rest when Fatima finally moved to one of the divans in the main room. A week had passed when Jayti noticed a cushion had been slightly moved on the floor after lunch. Jayti felt an instant chill. She quickly checked all the drawers and cabinets for telltale smudges. There was nothing. She searched them anyway and finally ended up searching the entire apartment frantically. If something had been planted, the guards or the eunuchs could be here any minute! Maryam and she could be killed! She wept in frustration. She was missing something! ['Jayti, we have to stop and think.'] ["There isn't any time, Mark! I have to keep looking!"] ['Relax a little. Start at the beginning. The cushion in the middle of the floor was moved and nothing else, right? So whatever she planted has to be close by. Whoever was here must have either moved the pillow or accidentally kicked it. Just search in that area. It almost has to be around there.'] ["I've already looked there, Mark!"] ['Look again, inch by inch. If it's here it has to be around there. Get on your hands and knees if you have to. Feel something?'] ["No. Wait a minute. This isn't right. The liner in the incense hole isn't sealed all the way. It's pushed up on one side, just a little."] ['That isn't a place we thought of, was it?'] ["No. I didn't even know you could take it out!"] ['Well, someone did! Lift it up and see what's underneath!'] ["There it is, Mark. Oh, there it is!"] ['Grab it and run, Jayti. I doubt there's much time. Hide it in your dance clothes and go!'] Jayti snatched her clothes and left as quickly as possible. As she made her way down the stairs, she saw a contingent of four red-clad female guards with spears, and the Chief Eunuch, ascending the stairs together from the other side. Jayti's heart pounded furiously. Chapter 11: Payback ['Okay, let's get rid of the damn dildo that fat, sleek, hairless, no-balls bastard planted.'] ["The dog won't get away with this. I'll hide it in the garden by the wall on the way to the Dance Hall."] ['Act normally and keep moving. Hide it well, Jayti. If they suspect you, they might search where you go.'] ["I will. And I'll look at Inayat and Farha very closely this afternoon. One of those bitches just tried to kill me!"] Jayti discovered that when she was extremely angry, she became very calm. She became the hunter. She smiled and greeted Inayat and Farha when she arrived at the Dance Hall as usual, but closely analyzed every expression, every word. Farha was her normal nice but befuddled self. Jayti wrote her off as a suspect quickly and examined her Egyptian friend for signs, discussing Maryam's dancing, what she had for lunch, exuding the happy Jayti on the surface, but all the while probing ruthlessly. Jayti's fear was gone; ice was in its place. Inayat was nervous. She had trouble looking at Jayti. Her eyes were evasive and she was more quiet than usual. Long after she had decided Inayat did it, Jayti continued to chat. They played a new game, now. Jayti was a cat toying with a mouse. Maryam's set finished. Jayti strode confidently to her side and told her that she needed to take a water break. As they were drawing water from the fountain, Jayti spoke to Maryam quietly. "Maryam, don't look around. I have to tell you something important. Everything is fine now, but someone planted a dildo in the apartment. I found it." "What?" Maryam jolted. "How did this happen?" "Inayat did it. Also, there's trouble at the apartment. I saw the Chief Eunuch and some guards go up the stairs when I left. They must have gone to the apartment to search." "Shit! How do you know it was Inayat?" "She's acting very nervous and scared. You know that's totally unlike her. Farha was her same strange self and I'm sure she had nothing to do with it. I just wanted to let you know that when you get back to the apartment, expect a little trouble, but don't worry. They didn't find it. It's gone. Somebody is going to pay for this, but it won't be us. The Chief Eunuch must be angry right now with the person who tipped him off. Just act indignant and it should be fine." "That damned Razak!" "No doubt. Well, Maryam, I am going to dance as usual." Jayti smiled brilliantly and held Maryam's hands. "Maryam, cheer up! We'll be all right! They made their move and we caught them. Now, it's our turn." Maryam looked at Jayti as if for the first time. "I wouldn't want to have you for an enemy." Jayti threw her head back and laughed. "Maryam, you don't know how frightened I was 15 minutes ago! I almost didn't find it. It was under the incense liner. I thought I was going to die! Can't you understand why I'm so happy?" She hugged Maryam and kissed her on the cheek. "Now, go back to the apartment, or watch me dance and we'll go back together. Just don't give it away to Inayat. She's in for a surprise." Jayti danced that afternoon with strength, grace, and confidence: so much so, even the normally taciturn Hasseema complimented her. Maryam decided to wait for Jayti. When they came back to the apartment, Maryam had caught a little of Jayti's mood. The Chief Eunuch was waiting inside with the four guards. The apartment had been turned upside down. Maryam, Jayti, and the two other servants immediately bowed. Maryam carried it off beautifully. She demonstrated just the proper mix of surprise, apprehensiveness at the Chief Eunuch's presence and finally, a subtle tone of outrage and indignation that such a thing, such a rumor of impropriety, could have been attached to her for even the smallest amount of time. Jayti had a chance to look at Inayat. Her face was pale and tense. Farha was bewildered. The Chief Eunuch finally left. He was boiling mad, but not at Maryam or anyone else in the room. Maryam waited a few minutes. Her rage built visibly. Finally, she coldly told Farha to go back to the Minor Harem. She left quickly, scurrying out the door. Maryam faced Inayat and slapped her as hard as she could. She fell to her knees and started to wail uncontrollably. Maryam slapped her again from the other side, leaving two very red cheeks. Jayti closed the doors and closed the shutters, leaving it darker, but less likely for others on the floor to hear the cries. Maryam continued to beat her around the ears and back of the head. Inayat didn't dare protest. Finally, Inayat lay on the floor, sobbing. "You have just one chance to tell me why you did it! Speak!" Maryam screamed at the blubbering woman. "M, Mistress, I didn't want to do it. He forced me to!" She was broken. "Who forced you to do it? Don't lie to me! I will know! Who forced you to do it, you worthless bitch?" ['Wow, I didn't know Maryam had that kind of rage in her.'] ["It's passion. The same passion she has in her dance. You seem shocked, Mark. Don't they beat attempted murderers like this in your time? She deserves everything she's getting and more."] ['I'm not complaining.'] "Please mistress, I'll tell. It was Razak. It was Razak!" She collapsed, once again sobbing. "You aren't done, Inayat. You are going to tell me everything! Get your traitorous ass off the floor and start from the beginning!" Inayat's once calm and confident eyes looked in terror at Maryam. The story unfolded gradually, between sobs and sniffles. Razak caught her in a relationship with another servant almost a year ago and forced her into a sex role to allow her relationship to continue, much as he had done with Maryam. When Maryam refused to see Razak anymore, Razak was enraged at Maryam, but couldn't see any way to get revenge until recently. Having Inayat assigned to Maryam as a servant was an enormous stroke of good fortune for Razak, but Inayat wouldn't go along with his plot to plant the dildo despite beatings and threats. So, Razak took matters into his own hands and took her virginity with it one night. Inayat was in real trouble. The only way a virgin could become a non-virgin without the Emperor's involvement was grounds for death. The word of a eunuch would always be taken over the word of a servant. For Inayat, it came down to either do what Razak said and set Maryam up, or die. Jayti and Mark were sick. Razak had Inayat's life in his hands and would continue to threaten Maryam, Fatima, and Jayti until he was gone. Maryam's rage was gone. She settled to a cushion and looked in utter disgust at Inayat, her chest heaving on the carpet. ['What would you like to do, Jayti? Is it possible to make a deal with Razak?'] ["Razak is a thoroughly wicked man. He's caused great injury to many and will likely do so in the future. You can't trust the word of the truly wicked. We could never rely on Razak's promises. He'd always be a deadly threat."] ['I agree. This has to end.'] ["Do you see any way out of this mess?"] ['I have the beginnings of a plan, but it depends on how stupid Razak is. Jayti, how would the harem react if Razak decided to commit suicide?'] ["Hmm. Razak is a Muslim, and suicide is forbidden in Islam. He would look like an awful coward. There might be suspicion that it wasn't a suicide."] ['How about if he's found hanging from a tree with a broken neck? Would it be suspicious then?'] ["Probably not! Mark, what are you thinking?"] He told her his plan. After some hesitation and then enthusiasm as the implications hit her, Jayti approved. It was getting late. Last prayer had come and gone. In a few minutes, the guards would close down the areas and only trips to the latrine would be permitted. Maryam had no choice but to send Inayat back. Her face was a wreck after the beating. She told her to clean up, run back to her quarters before she got into trouble, and be back before first prayers. She left hurriedly, still wiping away tears from her swollen face. Jayti asked Maryam to discuss Mark's plan with her. She was horrified at first and wouldn't hear of it. Mark had to do part of a kata and break a chair before Maryam believed that she was capable of doing her part. Even after that shock, it took most of the night to convince her to go along with it. Inayat crept back to Maryam's apartment just before first prayers. Maryam and Inayat were forced to pray together in the thick tension that existed between the two. Finally, the prayers were over. Maryam looked at her with contempt. Inayat stood silently, her face still swollen and red despite applying heavy make-up before leaving the Minor Harem. Her expression told the story; she was resigned to her fate. She had thought long and hard the previous night and had seen no way out. She fully expected more punishment and abuse. So, she was surprised when Maryam prepared to go to the baths when Farha arrived. Maryam considered her one more time before she left. There was pity in her eyes. "Jayti will speak to you now. Listen to her, do what she says, and perhaps you will be forgiven." She left, Farha in tow. Inayat looked at Jayti in surprise. Then she bowed her head in shame, remembering that she nearly had her, as well as Maryam, killed the previous day. Jayti was very short with her. "Inayat, look at me," she commanded. "You have a choice. We can treat you like the piece of shit you are until Razak decides to expose you. When that happens, you die. The other choice is difficult and dangerous, but will give you a chance to redeem yourself and eliminate the threat from Razak at the same time. It is far more than you deserve, but Maryam agrees with me that it is the best way." An uneasy light came to Inayat's eyes. This ray of hope was unexpected. Jayti saw it and threw a little cold water. "Don't get your hopes up, yet. I have to know some things, first. Can you get Razak to meet you very early tomorrow morning behind the Music Hall? It doesn't matter how you get him there, but he must be alone." Inayat thought for a short time and said slowly, "Yes. He's probably very angry with me and will want to find out what went wrong. He'll come. He really hates Maryam for some reason and will probably want to use me again, someday." Jayti sighed in relief. That was the hard part. "Can you get a strong rope at least 30 ft. long by the end of today and hide it behind the Music Hall?" Inayat nodded firmly. "There's some rope in the Minor Harem to tie the canvas. I can use some of that. During the day, with almost no one around, I can conceal it under a long dress." "Good. You and I are going to get rid of Razak tomorrow morning." Inayat began to hyperventilate. She was almost in a panic; her voice rose in pitch. "What? We're just women! Razak is big and very strong! We would have no chance!" The wailing started again. "Inayat, look at me! Stand still!" Inayat ceased making the irritating noises for the moment and stood up straight. ["Show her, Mark!"] Mark threw a sidekick to her stomach, and closed in with a knife hand to her throat, lightning fast, missing her by an inch each time. She let the knife hand stay at Inayat's throat, watching her reaction. She was stunned, her reddened eyes wide, her mouth open. Mark smiled like a feral cat. "If I wished, you would be on the floor, failing utterly to breathe through a broken windpipe. Still think we are 'just women'? That sort of thought will be Razak's downfall." ['Well, that was fun.'] ["You're fortunate she doesn't have anything in her bladder yet this morning. She has had too many shocks, one after the other."] "M, Mistress, I will do as you say." She was completely cowed. "I'll need to leave him a note to let him know where to meet me." Jayti shook her head firmly. "First off, I am not your mistress, Maryam is. Secondly, don't send him a note. We're trying to make this look like a suicide. If a note were found, it would ruin everything. You must talk to him in person and arrange the meeting before the end of the day. Can you do that?" "Yes, Jayti. It will be harder, but I can do it." She looked at Jayti with tears in her eyes. "If Allah permits, I hope to pay a small part of my debt to you and Maryam tomorrow. I can never ask you to forgive me. My crime is too great for that, but I want you to know how deeply I feel my shame to betray people who have been so kind to me, especially two amazing people such as Maryam and yourself." She stood, crying in silence, her body shaking; Inayat was a mute picture of abject misery. Even Jayti was moved by it and hugged her. Inayat resisted initially, but let herself go in the end, crying and sobbing on Jayti's shoulder for a few minutes. When she stopped, Jayti held Inayat's head in her hands. "We'll speak of forgiveness after it's done, Inayat." The rest of the day went normally for Maryam and her servants. Maryam and Jayti's nonchalance quickly squelched the rumors that might have started from the search. Inayat had a puffy face, but that was mostly written off to crying during the excitement. Following Jayti's instructions, she sought out Razak in the baths, and he agreed to the meeting. A rope was found and hidden in a bush next to a tall tree behind the Music Hall. Maryam wanted to help by being a lookout, but Jayti convinced her that she had to have an alibi during the event, just in case. She reluctantly agreed. Jayti stayed awake the entire long, cold night in heavy buskins, hiding behind the tall tree in the back of the Music Hall. An occasional guard passed by, but bushes and darkness concealed her. When the sun began to rise, she was stiff and sore, but worked her muscles out deliberately. Inayat arrived first. Jayti waved to her from behind the tree to let her know she was there. Her deer eyes calmed somewhat. Razak approached a short time later from the east, through the Hawa Majal gardens. Inayat had to lure him close to the tree where Mark would bring him down. Razak was a big man, a bit over 6 ft. tall and over 230 lbs., even though a lot of it was fat. When Mark was in his prime as a man, Razak would have been nothing. Now, she knew she had to take him by surprise to have a good chance. ['Time for me to take over, Honey.'] ["You start calling me sweet names, now? You must be worried."] ['I am, some. We have the quickness and speed and hopefully the surprise on our side, but size counts for a lot. I forgot just how big the guy is. We should win, but I don't want us to get damaged.'] ["Do whatever you need to. I just want this to be over."] ['Sure, Honey'] Mark spent the time clearing away all the twigs and leaves from the area, making sure there was no sound to give her away when she had to move. The plan was for Inayat to lure him in a position where she could approach silently from behind and give him a blow to the throat with a knife hand as she passed by. He weighed almost twice as much as Jayti, so a takedown from behind would have been difficult, if not impossible. Razak approached Inayat. Inayat was in perfect position. "Well bitch, what went wrong?" He inquired in a surprisingly pleasant soprano. "It was an easy thing to do. All you had to do was just plant it and go." Inayat crossed her arms in the morning cold. "A guard was outside, Razak; she saw me go inside. If I had dropped it off, she could have reported me and I might have been dead along with Maryam. I'm sorry, Razak," she pleaded with him. "I can do it another time." Razak stopped his advance towards Inayat about 10 ft. in front of the tree. "Come here," he said, pointing to the ground in front of him. "I want to show you just how much I appreciate what happened yesterday." He grinned nastily, revealing red betel leaf stained teeth. Inayat cringed, but didn't move. "Please, Razak, I really didn't try to make it go wrong. I can do better next time." "I told you to get over here," he growled. "I meant now, Inayat." Inayat moved forward slowly, reluctantly. Resignation lay heavy on her face. As she came in range, he cuffed her to the ground. He kicked her in the legs and ribs. ["Go now, Mark. Save her!"] ['Bad time, Jayti. I see what she's doing. She's rolling on the ground, trying to make him show his back to me. That is one brave woman. Just a few more seconds.... Yes!'] Mark rushed the ten feet and hit him with a knife hand to the throat as she went by. The strike was perfect; Razak's larynx was broken, but Mark had to come a little too close. Razak grabbed her forearm with a huge hand and hauled her in. Mark's knee went solidly into the groin in a blow that would have paralyzed an ordinary man for minutes. Razak merely grunted. Mark stepped hard on Razak's instep in a final effort to get Razak to release her. Razak crumbled to the ground in pain, but still held on. His other hand captured Mark's free forearm in a vice-like grip. He was dying and in real pain, but he managed to wrap his arms around her back. He began the process of snapping her spine. Mark was in agony. Her back felt like it would break at any moment and she couldn't breathe. If anything, the pressure was getting worse. She knew she didn't have long to live, and the thought of causing Jayti's death put her in despair. The pressure broke suddenly as she was passing out, and Mark rolled limply off Razak. Before blackness overcame her, she remembered seeing Inayat holding Razak's throat and pulling his arms away. She wasn't out very long. Inayat shook her awake. "Jayti! Jayti, please wake up!" Mark looked up at Inayat and smiled. She managed to get to her feet with difficulty; she was sore and dizzy, but everything seemed to be working. ['Jayti, we're still here! Now we just have to string him up.'] ["Shiva, that was close! Go ahead and finish it, Mark."] Mark looked at the shivering Inayat, grinned and slapped her on the back. "You did well, Inayat. Now we need to get him on this rope." Mark threw the rope over a low, strong branch and made a loop for the noose. She put it over Razak's head and pulled it tight. She then gradually pulled Razak to his feet by using Inayat and Mark's combined weight on the other end of the rope. Slowly, they hauled Razak off the ground until he was swinging 3 ft. in the air. Then, they moved their end of the rope back towards the tree until Mark tied it off with a bowline. It still didn't look right; Razak's neck should have been broken. Inayat and Mark each took one of Razak's arms and jumped up and down until they heard a satisfying 'snap!'. Mark brushed away the drag and scuffle marks from the area around the tree and was satisfied. Mark took Inayat's arm, and they left the area, walking quickly. They passed through the gardens and made their way through the east gate of the Major Harem before the call to prayer overtook them. They completed the ascent up the stairs to Maryam's apartment without a hitch. There were already many women walking around and a few guards, but nothing they did aroused suspicion. Less than a quarter hour later, a guard was the first to notice the hanging body behind the Hall and called the head guard, who called the Chief Eunuch. Later, after a cursory investigation, the official report declared it a suicide in remorse for blaming an innocent concubine of hiding a sexual aid, as there was no evidence to the contrary. The Chief Eunuch didn't believe it; Razak was unpopular with too many people. The list of suspects included a number of other eunuchs and even some guards. He finally allowed the matter to drop. The thought of two servants being capable of doing the deed was never considered. Chapter 12: Marriage Jayti took over from Mark when they entered the door. Maryam was waiting for them nervously. The look in Jayti's eyes told her the news. She hugged Jayti, glanced at Inayat and looked to Jayti, a question in her face. "Inayat did very well. It was a close thing and she almost certainly saved my life. As far as I'm concerned, her debt is paid." Jayti looked at Maryam, pointedly. It was her turn. Maryam made a production of it, sighing, pacing, and frowning, but finally she turned to Inayat and told her she was forgiven. Inayat cried as Jayti and Maryam hugged her. A huge weight had fallen from her shoulders. Not only was her tormenter dead, but she had won her friends back. Maryam and Farha went to the baths again that morning, but Jayti and Inayat stayed behind. Inayat's face was still quite swollen and both of Jayti's forearms and back had bruises from the struggle with Razak that would take more than a day or so to clear up. Jayti noticed that Inayat seemed to have developed a case of hero worship. Inayat was all of a sudden shy around her; Jayti was uncomfortable with it. "I'm sorry, Jayti. I can't help myself. I still see you in my mind striking Razak in the throat so easily just like (she made a quick motion with her hand) 'thuck!' and then he was on the ground. I've never seen anything like it!" "Well, we can talk about it this morning," Jayti cautioned, "but never again. I don't want people to know that I have some skills like that." "It's not just that. You were just so confident you could do it! You are here for a few months and you find an amazing dance tune that promotes Maryam, you danced so well before the Emperor, and when there was trouble with Razak, you (she made the quick motion with her hand again) 'thuck!' and it was over." Jayti was beginning to get alarmed. "Please, Inayat, don't talk like that! I was very lucky. Please, forget it." Inayat turned it over in her mind. "No, I don't think so. You were very clever to find the ah, item... in the apartment." She dropped her head in embarrassment. "I'm very happy that you did, but it was like you knew it about it before it happened." "It was luck, Inayat. We knew Razak. We just suspected something like this might happen. Come on, let's wash and get clean. We're both filthy after this morning." They had to carefully use the fountain in the floor to wash each other and clean each other's hair. When Inayat was washing Jayti's back, she stopped momentarily, slid around to Jayti's front and kissed her full on the mouth. Jayti was so surprised she hesitated for a few seconds, and found she enjoyed it. She pushed Inayat away in confusion. ['What just happened?'] ["I don't know Mark. It won't happen again, though. She caught me off guard. There is a bond between us after this morning, but not that kind of bond."] ['I think she loves you, at least for the moment. You just saved her from death. You must seem to her to be like an Angel that can do no wrong.'] ["So what do I do, Mark?"] ['You're the expert on women, not me.'] Jayti faced an embarrassed Inayat and took her hands. "Inayat, that was nice, but don't do it again. All right?" A mildly chastised Inayat replied, "All right, Jayti. I won't." "No problem. Let's finish washing." ['That was it?'] ["I thought I made myself clear. You could see she was embarrassed. Any more talk and she might have felt really terrible. We have to get out of the harem, Mark. That kiss didn't feel bad. How was it for you?"] ['She isn't you, Jayti. I've kissed someone when I've been in love before, and that was a poor imitation of it. It was nice and if you could kiss her again without complications, it wouldn't be bad at all, but it's just practice for the real thing.'] ["What do you mean, 'she isn't me?'"] ['I think you know. I used to imagine kissing you, and that wasn't even close.'] ["I knew, I just like hearing it. I wonder what Ruqayya is doing about finding us a husband?"] * * * * * * * * * * A few days after Jayti's visit to her house, Ruqayya Sultan Begam remembered to ask the Chief Eunuch to find out why Jayti Singh had been sent to the harem. Jayti was in the back of her mind as one of the several young eligible women to be married off as rewards for good service to the empire. She also found that she liked her. Liking her wouldn't have stopped her from declaring Jayti unsuitable for marriage if she had come from a bad family, though. Being a Hindu was not necessarily bad. She could always convert to Islam, after all, but a bad family was a stain that would be impossible to erase. When asked, the Chief Eunuch remembered the order for Jayti to come to the harem because it was unusual. Man Singh, the Hindu slated to become the next Raja of Amber, had requested her personally. Man Singh was currently in Jaipur, so he sent a messenger with the Empress's request for answers. She had her answer a month later. It seems Man Singh thought that the Emperor would be pleased if an equal distribution of beautiful young women came from all the provinces. He had noticed that Manwar Province didn't have proper representation in the harem. His daughter-in- law had suggested a beautiful girl from Manwar, and just like that, Jayti was sent. Of most importance to the Empress, Jayti Singh came from a respectable, moderately well to do family south of Jodhpur. The Empress had her answer. Jayti was eligible for marriage. An opportunity presented itself quickly. Abdul Jamal was a tax assessor from Jaipur. Recently he had conducted a survey of cities and towns in the area that resulted in a substantial increase in tax revenue for the Empire. He was 29 years old, unmarried, not bad looking and most importantly, he had pleased the Emperor. It was a good match. Abdul Jamal would be summoned to the Darbar and told of his gift. Abdul would find Jayti to be a fine wife. * * * * * * * * * * Ruqayya summoned Jayti to her house the following week. When Jayti arrived, the Sultana was in her bath, feeding a parakeet some almonds from her hand. The weather was fairly warm and comfortable for this time of the year, early spring. Ruqayya motioned for her to join her. Jayti took off her clothes, washed herself down from a bowl held by a waiting slave, and walked down the steps to take her indicated place next to the Sultana. Ruqayya noticed Jayti's slim and firm body. She looked very healthy and strong. "Jayti, you look lovely, but I believe you've lost some weight. I can see the muscles in your legs and arms more clearly now. Have you been ill, child?" "No, your Highness. I've been dancing everyday." 'And doing pushups, situps, jogging in place, practicing karate, and sword fighting for the last two months,' she thought to herself. "Well don't lose any more weight. I've found a match for you, Jayti. There is someone you are to marry." "Really, your Highness? May I ask who it is?" "Yes you may, Jayti. His name is Abdul Jamal. He's a little older than you, but I'm sure he'll mold you into a fine wife. Now I know you want to know all the details, but I won't tell you everything. After all, he won't be able to see you until the day of the marriage." "I will just say that it is a fine match and leave it at that. A teacher will be sent to you to train you in Islam every day in the afternoon for the next month. After that, you will need to convert for the marriage. I am excited for you, Jayti. It is the best way for you. You will make a fine wife and mother." ['Convert to Islam?'] ["You knew it might be a requirement, Mark. I will say the words, but I will always be a Hindu in my heart."] Jayti's eyes watered, and she bowed quickly. "Thank you, your Highness! I'm so happy!" Suddenly, Jayti paused, thinking. Ruqayya noticed the hesitation. "Jayti, is something wrong?" "Highness, will my family be allowed to come? It would mean very much to them." Ruqayya snorted. "Of course! They've already been sent for. They should be here in a little over a month." Jayti bowed deeply. "Thank you again, your Highness." "Yes, of course." She said impatiently. 'I'm glad to see her so happy,' Ruqayya thought. 'It was the right choice.' "The wedding will be in about two months. Learn well and be ready. Now remember to look your best. That means you shouldn't lose any more weight. Eat more, child!" Maryam wasn't happy to lose her best friend in the harem. She wept at the news, although she was happy for Jayti. They had been through so much together in just a few months. It was only now that she thought of Jayti and everything she did. She was much wiser than her years, brave, fought like a warrior, sang like an angel, danced well, and was passionate, honest and compassionate. Inayat also took it hard. She had fought with her in a life and death struggle and they had saved each other's life. Although she had returned to her lover in the Minor Harem, it hadn't been the same. She loved Jayti. Farha knew she was missing something, but didn't know what. The poor woman had been out of the loop since she had become Maryam's servant. She liked Jayti and would miss her. Jayti and Mark wanted to leave behind something special for their friends. "Maryam, do you mind if I teach all of you some special ways to fight? I'd like it to be my gift to you in case you need it. There are some nasty dirty tricks that can prevent you from being hurt. Also some ways to kill and injure. It's up to you, but someday you may be glad you learned." Maryam and Inayat wanted to learn, Farha wasn't sure, but went along. Mark decided that the simplest moves were the best and went heavy on surprise, nasty tricks and disabling moves. Snapkicks and sidekicks to the knee, head butts from behind, strikes to the nose, eyes, throat, and kidneys. Not surprisingly, Maryam was the best. She was strong and a natural athlete. The real surprise was that Farha wasn't far behind. The shorter, stockier woman with green eyes had a lot of power behind her strikes and kicks. Inayat was good, but it was clear that with her slight build, she would never rival the power of the other three. She would have to rely on placement and surprise. They practiced in secret against pillows and posts. It was far too dangerous to practice together, so someone always had to be the lookout, watching for roving eunuchs and the occasional guard. In the afternoon, Jayti veiled herself and was led away by a eunuch to a nearby location in the palace where her Islamic tutor, Benazir, waited. ["Mark, do you know anything about Islam?"] ['Ten years ago I wouldn't have, but since the US was attacked by terrorists, I wanted to know why, so I did study Islam to a fair extent.'] Benazir was a short, slim Iranian woman about 50 years old with long graying hair and a kindly face. She obviously believed