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Faced with an ugly body and an intolerable life, what would you do if given a chance of escape? A SPELL OF FREEDOM By Geneva Gritting my teeth and pulling over my head the coarse sacking that served me as a blanket, I tried to ignore the series of grunts, gasps and soft moans from the other end of the wagon as Nikolai amused himself with one of his female slaves. The cloth screen separating my end from theirs did nothing to dampen the sounds of their amorous activities. Their enthusiastic rolling and tumbling even added to the shaking of the wagon, as if the wind over the plains was not enough. Maliciously, I hoped some gritty dust would blow in their eyes -or other parts. At last, with almost simultaneous indrawn breaths from Nikolai and a drawn-out squeal from his companion, their activities reached a climax. This was soon followed by gentle breathing from one and snores from the other. I hoped I could now rest better but sleep now eluded me. I began to think of my situation and my future. I suppose my life could have been much worse. Servant to an itinerant trader working across the Asian plains was not too bad a life. At least it was better than a peasant's in the muddy village that I came from. In some ways, Nikolai had rescued me from an untenable existence, one where my very survival had been in doubt. You see, in their wisdom, God, or the gods, or whatever higher powers there were, had given me a body with not one, but multiple deformities: a dwarfish shape, a hunch- back, a hairy face and a long jaw, so that my face looked like a dog's. All my years, as long as I could remember, were filled with the taunts of the other boys and looks of distaste or even horror by the girls. The one gift given to me, perhaps in some minor twisted consolation, was that of language. I seemed to have an aptitude for it. Apart from my native tongue, I had picked up Greek, Latin and even some Hebrew with the help of the local priest. He had even taught me to read and write. I think he had taken pity on me, that I might some day enter a monastery. It would have been the only life open for me. With my ungainly body I would have trouble farming or at some trade. Then the Mongol invasions changed all that. Ironically, it perhaps was my appearance that had saved my life and with it the others in the village. It lay just to the south of Kiev. The Mongols had barely started to burn the first buildings when they saw me. Then, perhaps in superstitious dread of my appearance, they had only looted the church and a few other houses before galloping off to the main prize to the north. The village had not had much to plunder anyway. Unfortunately for me they had killed the priest, my mentor, as they looted the church. Even his holding a sacred icon to them had failed to bar them. They had looted that too, thinking it gold, instead of only gold leaf. The village elders had been briefly grateful to me, but my brief favour lasted only a month before the harassment started again. When my distant relative Nikolai came through the village a year later and recognised my linguistic skills, he invited me to accompany his caravan. No one had objected, not even my parents. It would be one less mouth for them to feed. Demands for tribute from the Mongol administrator kept everyone poor. On this trip we were returning from Samarkand with goods destined for the west. The Mongols exacted their own heavy tribute on Nikolai's trading, but at least safe travel within the dominions of the Khan was possible. No brigand would have dared incur the wrath of the Khan. I flattered myself that I was of value to Nikolai. I was able to pick up the many languages and dialects easily and be a great help to him, back and forward over the plains, in his trading with the numerous tribes and clans, at least once they had got used to my appearance. Sometimes that took a long time. I also helped with the care of the oxen and the cooking. In return he fed me and provided clothing. Unfortunately, even with my deformities I had a normal youth's desire for women, but it was only rarely he permitted me the use of one of his slave girls and then it was more for her punishment than my pleasure. I awoke early the next morning, as usual. It was part of my duties to get the fires started and the simple meal prepared for the others. Once more I saw the slave girls' distaste as they viewed me. I had got used to their distaste, why had they not got used to me? Would it ever pass? That day our travels took us west over the Volga. I was usually nervous at any river crossing, but Nikolai's three wagons and oxen were ferried over without mishap. As we set up camp for the night, Nikolai was in a good mood. He had negotiated a good price for our passage over the river from the ferryman, but even so he pretended to grumble, like the shrewd businessman he was. We had set up our camp in a poplar grove by the river. Unfortunately the best part of the site was already occupied another caravan. Nikolai watched the other caravaneers carefully, but they did not seem hostile or even suspicious and after our meal he beckoned to me to accompany him over to the other caravan. I knew he relied on me to help him at awkward translations. The other head caravaneer was actually glad for a talk and, like the good servant I was, I sat dutifully behind Nikolai as they shared a flagon of wine. Nikolai was in a good mood and even offered me some. My linguistic skills were not required this time as the trader, was originally from just north of the Caspian and understood our Kievan dialect. Eventually, they began talking about a city to the south, called Zernos, in a valley in the Caucasus, where there might be high demand for eastern goods. I listened with interest as I was on the lookout for a city where I could slip away from Nikolai. You see, I had grown tired of these repeated trips over the dusty plains, with only a coarse blanket for cover at night, a straw filled sack for a pillow and Nikolai's cast-offs for clothes. I had ambitions for myself. Perhaps I could set myself up as a trader in some small city, or with my abilities help out other traders. I could charge fees and live more comfortably. After all, I was a servant to Nikolai, not a slave. As the evening wore on and the flagon of wine emptied, Nikolai sent dismissed me to finish my work. Anyway, I needed my sleep to be up early in the morning to feed the oxen and start the meal. The next morning Nikolai seemed to be in a continuing good mood, an avaricious gleam in his eyes. "A change of plan, Dimitri," he said, rubbing his copious belly. "We are going south to the Caucasus. My friend last night informed me that there is good trading in Zernos. We will try our skills there." That suited me. It would be warmer in winter down south and who knows? There might be a place I could settle. We plodded south for ten days, through a spell of unaccustomed rainy weather, then suddenly, through the clouds, I saw the high snow covered peaks of the Caucasus before us, like a barrier to our journey. I began to worry. I hoped we were not planning to go through them. That would make our journey slower and stress the oxen. Soon we were approaching the foothills and it became distinctly cooler. When we passed several ruined towns, I became even more worried. Their stones were blackened with smoke and in front of one of the ruined settlements there was even a pile of white skulls. I recognized the work of the Mongols. The inhabitants of these towns must have hesitated too much in surrendering to the Khan's forces. Nikolai looked grim, but he kept on his course until well into the foothills he turned in a valley to the west and in some days we saw the walls and roofs of a city in the distance. Nikolai said that this was Zernos, our destination, In contrast to the other ruins, Zernos seemed untouched and as we drew nearer I saw that its walls and the roofs within were unmarked. Evidently the inhabitants had had the good sense to surrender to the Khan's forces as soon as they appeared. We were stopped at the city gates by a troop of soldiers, but the search of our wagons was fairly casual. Their speech gave me trouble at first, but in minutes I recognized it as a Greek dialect and I was able to make them understand, as if our unarmed wagons were not proof enough, that we were no danger to the city. In fact it was soon obvious that the townspeople would welcome Nikolai and his goods. Some of the citizens eyed our slave girls, who shamelessly swung their hips at them. The girls need not have tried. I did not think Nikolai would be in a mood to sell them. It was close to dusk when we set up the wagons in the main square. There was a large marble building overlooking the square and on talking with some onlookers I learned that it was the palace of the ruling king and his family. I examined the building. It was set within its own walls on a series of steps. Some palace guards stood at its entrance. It was ornate and seemed to be very well maintained. There were no signs of war damage. The palace was set on a low shelf of rock and was built into a low cliff at its back. I saw swallows' nests in the soft rock of the cliff. A group of townspeople hopefully eyed us and the bales of silks, the spices and other goods that we carried. They need not have bothered as we would start our trade in the morning. I hoped they would have enough money left over from the Mongol exactions to make Nikolai's trip worth while. As usual, I was the object of amusement and wonder to the children and of ridicule by the ruder of the adults. I heard comments like "dog-faced or 'ape', but I ignored them. Besides, Nikolai had let it be known on previous occasions that I should not let my own feelings interfere with his trade. The next morning, as part of my work, I was the first to rise to get a meal prepared and ready for the others. Afterwards there was a rush to set up tables and lay out our goods. Nikolai's selection of eastern silks and spices was high quality. I hoped they would fetch a good price. Towards mid morning trading was going briskly and Nikolai had collected a good amount of silver in exchange. I knew he would have preferred gold, but there was a good market for silver in the west and he would profit even more by trading it there. I was getting better at the language and in speaking to one of the customers, she told me that when the city had been approached by the Mongols, the king had surrendered it immediately. Of course some buildings had been burned and the palace and treasury looted. Although some young men had been taken for the Mongol army and even some young women as slaves, Zernos was left more or less intact. It was close to the limit of the Mongol empire and well placed for trading to Anatolia and other little states in the Caucasus and to the south to Araby so it had prospered despite paying tribute to the Khan or the local Mongol governor, the Il-Khan. I learned that Zernos was fairly typical of others we had visited: a small ruling class, some nobles and free citizens, with a few slaves owned by those who could afford them. The city ruled all of the farming villages some distance round about it, about as much as one might travel in a day. The religion was nominally Christian, but there seemed to be a substantial influence of ancestor worship and pagan deities as well. I was about to start preparing our midday meal when I saw a procession making its way towards us from the palace. There were two litters, carried by male servants or slaves and accompanied by several slave girls. The litters were set down before us and from them stepped an older woman and a young girl. The woman looked about forty or so and I guessed the age of the girl at about thirteen, as her breasts were just beginning to bud beneath her gown. I saw the customers part in deference to allow them access to the trade goods. "I think that might be the queen or some noble come to have a look," I whispered to Nikolai. "Presumably the young girl is her daughter." "Your queen?" I whispered to an onlooker. He grunted a reply that I took to be 'Yes' and told Nikolai. He did not hesitate. He strode up to the women and bowed deeply. He beckoned to me. "Dimitri, tell the queen that she may have her pick of my bolts of cloth." I did so, using flowery language to flatter the woman. The queen looked at me haughtily, but the offer of the cloth soon softened her expression. The young girl seemed to be less interested in the goods than in me. She stared at me constantly even as Nikolai and I accompanied the queen while she selected more goods. Despite my thick skin the scrutiny made me uncomfortable. Having made a choice of some goods, the queen offered some money to Nikolai. He pretended not to want it, but soon accepted a token amount. It was a good strategy as he now had her goodwill. I was sure she would now buy all the more. The queen and Nikolai soon discovered that they both knew enough Greek to communicate effectively and my services were no longer needed. I was helping at another table with a negotiation when I saw the girl pointing at me. Nikolai shook his head, but then queen spoke to him. There seemed to be some negotiations going on there also and this time he nodded. However the party left soon after with a number of bales of cloth, some spices and some trinkets and I thought no more of it. It was a good day of trading, followed by the morning of the day after, so that by midday we were finished. It had been very good for us. Our wagons were almost empty of trade goods while Nikolai's coffers were full. I straightened my back from loading the wagons, as much as my hunchback would allow and looked round. I liked the look of this city. It was spacious, well planned and clean. It would be a good place to slip away from Nikolai and his caravan. I waited for Nikolai's orders to start readying the wagons and oxen for his departure. In the bustle I would be able to slip behind some other booths and disappear down some side street. Then I saw two litters approaching again from the palace with an escort of soldiers. I wondered why the queen would want to see us again. The litters were set down and the queen and princess got out. I saw the queen give some money to Nikolai and he called me over to him. The princess began to behave like she was examining me, walking round me, looking me up and down. I got flustered. I wondered what she was doing. "What is the matter with her?" I asked Nikolai. He sneered down at me. "Why, the princess has taken a fancy to you, Dimitri. She wants you for a pet." He beamed sarcastically at me. "Now you can have a good life. You will be fed and clothed. So I have sold you to her. You should thank me. Now behave yourself, or she may put you in her zoo, in a cage. I hear she has some exotic animals as well." He turned away dismissively. "What?" I screamed, running up to him and tugging at his cloak. "You cannot do this. I am free. I am your servant, not your slave. I am even a relative of yours." He pushed me away roughly, leaving me standing uncertain in the dust of the square. I should have been suspicious earlier. I knew that various rulers kept dwarfs and midgets, but I had not thought that would be my fate. I saw a soldier coming for me and I tried to run away but I was caught easily. The next thing I knew I was thrust into a sack and felt it lifted. I tried to kick free but with a painful a blow I decided it was better to keep still. I heard the orders as the litters were lifted and we began moving. The sack was not too clean and dirt got in my mouth and hair as I was jolted along. Some minutes later I was tumbled out onto a marble floor. I looked round at the plastered painted walls, sculptures, carvings and exotic draperies. I was now in the palace. I sprang to my feet, spitting out dirt and straw and began to protest, the princess looked at me curiously and spoke sharply and a large soldier menaced me with a thick rod. It was in my best interests to keep quiet. The princess was now looking at me in delight. The queen looked tolerantly at her daughter. I looked at the floor in dismay. It seemed I had been sold as a pet. So began my servitude with the princess. But my original mean attire and appearance did not satisfy her. First some servants dragged me away to a stone trough, stripped me and washed me, clipping my dirty fingernails and trimming my hair and beard. I was given new clothes. I groaned when I saw them. They were fancy silks, like a clown's clothes, not for the man I felt myself to be. The princess inspected me, clapping her hands in delight. From then on, as Nikolai had said, I was fed and clothed. In return I had merely to be visible around the princess and occasionally entertain her. I told some witticisms when wanted and learned a few conjurer's tricks. I even had my own quarters, but I chafed in her service. It was not a man's life. I was only a pet, hardly better than a trained dog. The king's family was small, the king himself, called Samon, the queen, Rhodanthe, their son Julian, aged about sixteen and the princess Calyxce, about thirteen. I heard that two later children had died in infancy. Calyxce had four attendants, all slave girls, all beauties. I wondered if they were chosen for their looks. Over the next months I watched as Calyxce herself also matured, blossoming from a girl into a beautiful young woman. Her hips had widened, emphasizing her narrow waist. Her breasts were smallish, but nicely shaped and pertly pushed out the fine silk on her robes. Her slaves wore their hair long, but in contrast she wore her dark glossy hair up, usually decorated with golden combs and jewelled pins. Her ears were small and pretty and were decorated with jewelled earrings. She had become very desirable. In the first months I never saw her or her slaves unclothed, but later, I suppose as they got careless, I occasionally glimpsed more and more of their naked bodies. Once I even saw the princess herself absolutely naked while dressing. Of course, if it was discovered that I had watched her naked I would have been in trouble. Every day I was surrounded by this beautiful provocative, tantalizing, tempting female flesh, but none of it was for me. I had no hope of fulfilment. Almost every night I wept in frustration and cursed whatever fate had given me my deformities. One hot summer afternoon, about six months into my servitude, I heard a bustle in the courtyard below my window. I looked out and saw a group of about two dozen or so of mounted men, all with swarthy weather- beaten faces. They were dressed in a strange combination of homespun cloth, felts and leathers, but all carried shields, bows and swords. "Mongols", I heard whispered, but I did not need to be told. I recognised their type of men from that time three years before when they had terrorized my native village. My heart was pounding. My stomach was so tight it hurt. There was panicked shouting within the palace and I watched as the king and queen ran out of the main doors and bowed low before the riders, almost prostrating themselves. I noticed too the palace guard removing themselves. The king's chancellor was close by me. His face was grave. "What is going on? Why are the guards being sent away?" I asked. "We do not dare give these cursed Mongols any excuses. We must show them our servitude." "But there are only a few. They could be easily overwhelmed!" "Are you mad? Keen to have your head stuck on a post? Yes, we could beat these few, but then the Il-Khan's forces, or heaven forbid, the Great Khan's army, would be at the city gates within months." He shuddered visibly. "There would be no mercy. No, we dare not resist in the slightest. Only by accommodating them can we hope to survive." He looked at me. "And I suggest, Dimitri, that you also keep out of sight. Your ungainly appearance would be tempting to them, to say the least. They might only torment you. Or they might kill you and then start to slaughter us all." He was right. I had survived once before, but the Mongols were known for their capriciousness as well as their ferocity. I watched from the background as the Mongols were led into the palace, then ran to a gallery to better observe them from above. I even saw bowls of water set before them and slaves and servants set to washing their feet. I wondered just how obsequious the king and queen could be. Food and drink were laid out on a table. Rich clothing was set before them and they were invited to take their pick. The Mongols were fairly quiet at first, probably tired from their ride, but they became increasingly noisy and turbulent as the day wore on. The greed in their eyes was evident, only lessened by flashes of lust at some of the female slaves. A banquet was hastily set for that night. From an alcove behind a curtain at the head of the table, I watched as the king and his family entered. I thought they would take their accustomed seats at the table, but they made a point of placing the Mongol leader at the most honoured position. The king clapped his hands and roast meats and game were brought, rice and prepared grains, fruits prepared in elaborate ways. There was drink in abundance. Several wine casks were set by the side of the table. The guests, if that is the word, became increasingly raucous. My heart pounded with fear and apprehension. I knew trouble would start. As I had thought, it began just after the Mongols' leader reeled to his feet and leaned over the princess cringing across the table from him. He lunged at her, spilling the plates and with one pull ripped off the front of her gown, exposing her breasts. I saw the hesitation in the king's eyes, then his patience finally broke and he tried to pull the Mongol away. Fury covered the Mongol's features and in a moment the king sank with a knife in his chest. Rhodanthe clutched at the Mongol but he easily threw her off, smashing a flagon over her head. In another moment the scene was chaos. The Mongols grabbed whichever slave was nearer and wrestled them to the floor, spilling the remaining food and drink to the floor. The other servants fled the turmoil but I saw the princess crawling out of a door. I wondered about her brother, then I saw him lying on the floor, a gash in his neck, leaking spurts of blood. At that point the drapes hiding me were pulled down by a struggling serving girl, enveloping me, but I still heard the sounds of the riot, the gleeful drunken shouts of the men and the screams of the girls. I remember also a blow to my head and it became black. I awoke, I don't know how much longer, to continual bedlam with screams, shouts and laughter. The drapes were hot and stuffy over me but I dared not move. I lapsed in and out of consciousness, then later I was half aware of the shouts and loud cries fading away. I must have fallen asleep or become unconscious again, as I was awakened by the drapery being lifted off me and soldiers helping me to my feet. I looked round in horror. The banqueting room was a shambles of spilled food, broken dishes and wine running into the blood. Yet the worst was at the end of the table. The king was lying bloodied and pale, obviously dead. Beside him was the dead prince. Some attendants were hovering over the queen but as I watched a great wail went up. Calixce was standing at their side, a small frail figure in her torn white gown. Her shoulders drooped, she covered her face with her hands and sat down heavily. Her slave girls were huddled at the side of the room in a fearful embrace. Most of their clothes were torn into shreds and several of the girls were even entirely naked. All were bloodied or bruised. But of the Mongols there was no sign. Remarkably, the princess stood up, straightened herself, took a deep breath and began to command the soldiers, servants and slaves. I was even proud of her. Her voice quavered at first, but it gradually became stronger. In two hours the bodies were washed and covered, then the room cleared of the debris, swept and washed. The chancellor watched Calyxce carefully, then took control of the cleaning up when she finally broke down. "Where are the Mongols?" I asked. "Gone. They rode off in the early morning." "Will you pursue them?" "No, we cannot. They are too strong for us and anyway, we dare not raise our hands to any of the Mongols." "Could you not seek redress from the Il-Khan?" He shook his head bitterly. "No, the leader of that mob is close to the Il-Khan, one of his best captains, I have heard. No," he sighed, "ours is the fate of the defeated. We must accept the whims of our masters, their insults, their predations, if we are to survive at all. Now we must pick up after these animals, make repairs as best we can and then wait for the next time." According to the funeral rites of the city, the king, queen and prince were cremated the next day. I watched as the princess herself threw a torch onto the oil soaked logs bearing her dead parents and brother. The blaze quickly took hold and the fierce heat drove the onlookers back many paces. Over to the right a similar pyre consumed other dead. I was standing in a party with the princess' slave girls and some of the soldiers. I watched Calyxce's face as her parents and brother were incinerated. She did not flinch. Only a tear or two trickled down her cheeks. Her jaw seemed firmly set, as if with determination, while the pyre burned down. Then she turned and left, beckoning her slaves and the chancellor. The ashes would be thrown into the river. It did not take long for the princess to show her mettle. In days the palace was scoured inside and out, the walls repainted, the draperies replaced and the scarred tables and benches thrown out and replaced. Soon I noticed more fortifications built at the city gates and extra height added to the city walls. I shook my head when I saw them. Surely she would not contemplate resistance to the next party of Mongols to visit the city? The princess was showing she could command, but I wondered at her youth and inexperience. I wondered how she would behave with the chancellor. He had a strong personality, but she commanded him as if it was her natural right. A week after the repairs were complete she announced that she would taking the title of queen. Her coronation was a great show. The queen-to-be's servants, including me, were given new robes. The slave girls were squealing in delight at their new silks. I only sighed at the frippery I had been given. It was no clothing for a man. First in the procession came the palace guard, holding their polished spears high. They passed the dais where the high priest was sitting and moved to circle the square. Not that Calixce needed protection. I knew from speaking with the citizens she was loved and respected by her subjects. Even the chancellor deferred to her. Next came a large party of delegates from the surrounding villages and then some musicians, mainly with trumpets and drums, leading the queen's servants, including me. We were set to the right of the dais. The princes herself, in a dazzling white long robe, overlaid with a purple cloak, was carried in on a litter borne by several male slaves, all in purple tunics. Walking in measured steps behind her was the chancellor, carrying a small crown. I had heard that this crown was new. The previous crown had been looted by the Mongols. Lastly was a guard of veteran soldiers. The princess stepped from her litter and, followed by the chancellor, advanced to the dais. There was a benediction by the high priest, then the chancellor placed the crown on her head. We all cheered, me included. She was a brave girl, beautiful, fully queenly. It was just that I did not want to be owned by her. In a clear confident voice she spoke out loud to the populace, promising to be a good and fair ruler. She even promised to protect them from the wrath and depredations of the Mongols. Sceptically I wondered how she would do that. A city ten times the size, with an army of thousands would still be no match for the Mongols. I knew that they had destroyed uncounted towns, cities and nations in their sweep west across the plains. Even the cities of Araby, Africa and Europe were all in future peril. I remember that in Samarkand I had heard some of the Mongols boast of the destruction they had even caused in far Cathay. In those first weeks after the disaster, the queen's attitude to me and to other men was cold and I had much time to myself. I even idly began to make several plans how I might escape my servitude. Then in time, the princess began to recover her personality and I gradually reverted to my usual status, as if a dog, at her beck and call. The slave girls that had been raped took much longer. It was months before they showed signs of their previous confidence. One girl had become pregnant. I heard the other girls talking about her soon after her belly had begun to swell noticeably. I hoped the queen would make provisions for her future care. The pregnancy was no fault of hers, but when I saw the girl some days later, her belly no longer bulged. "I thought you were with child," I asked. "Did you lose it?" The girl just looked at me haughtily. "Queen Calyxce has taken care of it," was all she said. I wondered what the queen had to do with it. Calyxce now used six female slaves to attend to her, as befitted her rank. All six accompanied her most of the time, but as she used them as gifts to one or another to her soldiers, or courtiers, or to other states, new girls came into her service every few months. She selected the new girls herself, usually choosing a replacement from some of the slaves already in the city, or buying some pleasing girl from a passing caravan. One day, after Calyxce had held court, she seemed weary. "Dimitri!" she called, "I am bored. Show me some of your tricks." I first told her some quips, but she was barely amused, I began to juggle and try some new tricks, but one of my feet caught in my stupid robes and I fell on the sharp marble edge of a dais. My arm was cut and bleeding freely. She shouted to an attendant to get a cloth to cover my wound, but I spent that night in pain. In the morning Calyxce demanded to examine me. She took my arm in her small hands and examined my wound, still oozing a little blood and pursed her lips. "Are you in pain?" she asked. "A bit" I said. "It was throbbing in the night." "Wait here, Dimitri," she said and went to her private quarters. She returned holding a small book. It was covered with what appeared to be some pale hide. In it were a number of pieces of parchment or paper. She opened the book and began to turn its leaves. "Aha!" she said, "here is one. Now hold still, Dimitri." She began to read words that I had never heard before. As I said, I was good at languages and I had soon acquired fluency with the tongue of this city, but these sounds were completely different. My wound seemed to sting and I flinched and jumped slightly. Then it began to sting even more, but rapidly the pain became merely a pleasant warmth. As I watched it, I saw the bleeding stop, then the edges of the wound drawing together and knitting. The redness disappeared, until all that was left was a faint pink line. All of this in the space of a few minutes. I looked at it in awe. "Queen Calyxce," I asked. "What is this? Sorcery?" "That need not concern you, Dimitri," she said testily. ?Just be glad that I can be a healer." I began to think about what had happened. This was sorcery, not healing. And then I remembered the slave girl that had been pregnant. She had said the queen had taken care of it. Would there have been a spell too, to get rid of an unwanted child on its way? The queen had brought the book from her own quarters. I decided I would need to sneak in there to look at it. That was not going to be easy. Her private quarters were guarded by one of the guards at all times when the queen herself was not occupying them and I knew I would probably need some time to do a proper search. A week later I had a stroke of luck. One of the girls slipped in some water while carrying a heavy ewer. She fell on the broken pottery, cutting her leg. I was eating at the far side of the room, chewing on a goat's leg bone, when I noticed the queen rush into her personal quarters. She closed the door, but it swung open in a draft and I saw her searching in an ornate chest in her room. She lifted out a book, but stiffened when she saw the open door. I had seen her and had already turned my back to her so that she did not suspect me. The next week I took my chance. The queen was on some expedition to outlying villages with two of her girls and an escort of soldiers. Her private quarters would be empty as she was not expected back that night. I crawled out of my window onto the slightly sloped roof and edged across it to another window set in a staircase. This led down to the Calyxce's quarters. I carried writing materials with me to copy some of the spells. I tip-toed down the stairs on my bare feet and looked round. The guard was careless. I heard him flirting with one of the slave girls round another corner. I tried the door on the queen's room. It was not locked and I slipped inside, closing it quietly behind me. At last I took a deep breath. Even the trunk was unlocked and, wrapped in a silk cloth, was the book I wanted. I looked at the first page. There were what appeared to be instructions in the local language, but on each opposite page were what I supposed were the actual spells, in a different language. Only a few words of these bore any similarities with the language of the city. All spells seemed to be related to curing ills and diseases. As there were too many to copy all, I wrote down the spell that the queen had used to heal my cut, rewrapped the book in its cloth and placed it back in the trunk. I listened at the door, but the guard was still flirting with the slave girl. I made my way back over the tiles to my own quarters without discovery. That evening I looked at the spell and its instructions. Gritting my teeth, I deliberately cut myself slightly on my arm and recited the spell that would supposedly heal me. There was a slight tingling, but there was no other effect. I spoke the words again, to no avail. Cursing, I hid the paper with the spell in the bottom of a chest in my room. I lay awake thinking about it that night. I knew that the spells worked. I had seen them used two times and suspected their use another time and yet it had not worked for me. Was it the queen's voice, or the book itself that held the magic? For this I would need to obtain the actual book, but that was very dangerous. If the queen found it was missing she would not rest until the palace was completely searched. If I was found with it I would be punished severely. On a hot day, a month or so later, I was resting in the shade, still thinking about escape when a slave girl summoned me. "The queen has to go into the city. She commands you accompany her." I groaned inwardly. With my ridiculous costume I would be the object of amusement by the town's urchins and with my short legs I would have to continuously run to keep up with her litter carriers. I would be exhausted and it would be hot. I would get very thirsty. Still, as her commands were not to be ignored, I raised myself. Calyxce's errand took her not to the merchant's stalls as I had expected, but along the main thoroughfare, then into a side street and finally into an alley close to the city wall. Our procession stopped in front of a small house and the litter was set down before its small door. Calyxce emerged from behind the litter's curtains. She was quick to hide it, but I saw her sliding the book into a cloth bag. She knocked briefly and entered alone. "Whose house is this?" I asked one of the soldiers. "Some physician, I think." He shrugged. "At least that is how the queen describes him." I wondered why Calyxce wanted to see a physician. She did not appear to be ill and as far as I knew none of her slave girls were ill. But she was carrying the magic book. So her business must involve that. "I need a drink," I said. "I see a vendor of water over there." I ambled over to the water vendor, but carefully examining the physician's house as I did so. The windows were covered with waxed cloth preventing me from peeking inside. I bought some water and some fruit from another vendor and carried it back to the slave girls and the soldiers. They thanked me. Who knows? They might view me with more favour. The queen was taking some time. Our group sat in the shade of a nearby tree, some of the soldiers making lewd comments at the young women who walked past, or dozing. Others lounged, catching up on some sleep. As usual, I collected a bunch of urchins, laughing and giggling at my appearance. I could have chased them off, but they would be soon back and I just lay back with my eyes half-closed to watch Calyxce as she came back out. At last she did so, again sliding her book into her bag. She looked at her entourage carefully, but I pretended to be fully occupied eating one of my oranges. The queen returned to the physician's house about two weeks later. This time it was quite stormy and a hot wind blew dust in our faces. This time I could not see if she had the book with her, but as I passed the door again, ostensibly to buy fruit, I saw the waxed cloth on a window was blowing open in the wind. I quickly glanced through it and saw the queen pass a coin to a cloaked figure, who I presumed was the physician. In return he passed her a piece of paper. I dropped to the ground when the wind flapped the cloth again and scurried to the old woman selling fruit, just as the door opened and Calyxce came out, sliding her book into the bag. I guessed that she was buying spells from the physician. She motioned to me in annoyance to get back with the others to start back to the palace. It was about that time that I saw more construction start at the cliff behind the palace. Workers were hewing chambers out of the solid rock. I wandered into the area one day, past the labourers and the masons. Some rooms were small and fitted with barred doors. It looked like a prison and I wondered why it was being constructed. I asked the chancellor about the cells, but he just told me they were for criminals. As the weeks went on, I accompanied Calyxce many times to the physician and one time when she was to be on another tour of the outlying villages, I even managed to sneak into the queen's apartment again and copy all of the spells onto some paper. There were a great variety: healing of broken limbs, cuts, bruises, even curing squint eyes and much to my interest, straightening hunch backs. I was astonished to see that the book even contained, towards its end, spells to change a man into a woman, to reverse the spell and for a woman into a man and reverse. I wondered why anyone would want spells such as these. I could understand a woman wanting to be a man, but for a man to want to become a woman seemed incredible. Yet, when I again tried one of the spells to heal a cut I had received clambering back over the roof tiles, it did not work. I knew I would have to try the spell with the actual book. I had to risk getting it. Once more I made my way across the tiles and reading from the book, I recited the spell. I was exhilarated when this time the wound healed rapidly. So I needed the actual book for the spells to be effective! It was these pages, bound in the yellow hide that contained the magic. I had a sudden thought about the healing powers of the book and checked through its pages again, but although I might have cured my hunch back, there was no spell that might remedy my dwarfish stature and dog-like face. I made my way back over the tiles yet again to my quarters and lay thinking about my discovery. If the queen had got the spells from the physician, I wondered if I should contact him. I supposed I would need to do so without the queen knowing. She would not take kindly to my gaining a spell for a normal body. A day or two later, before I could visit the physician, I obtained another demonstration of the book's power. I heard the shouts as the guard had spotted something from the city walls. I ran to the city walls and saw a small group of Mongols approaching. I wondered if Zernos would resist them this time, but to my amazement, Calyxce and all six of her slave girls, accompanied by her soldiers, rushed out of the palace and to the city gate. These were flung wide and all prostrated themselves before the Mongols. It was a small party, about two dozen or so. Amazed, I saw Calyxce and the women fawn over the invaders, offering them food and drink and leading them into the city, to the palace and into its main hall. Curiously, I saw the guards dismissed so that Calyxce and the women were alone with the Mongols. She saw me too and sent a slave to command me to return to my room. Of course, with my curiosity, that was an invitation for me to spy on them and from my room I crawled along the tiles to a small window above the main hall. I could see all quite well, but unfortunately I could hear little apart from the loudest shouts. I looked at the sight in disbelief. The queen and her women seemed to have dressed in their most revealing clothes, silks that clung to their waists and hips and barely hiding their breasts. Had they learned nothing from the disaster of the last time? All seemed to be moving deliberately provocatively, swinging their hips, brushing them and their breasts against the soldiers. I saw the queen herself offer some wine to the Mongol leader, while the girls filled the other goblets with wine. I shook my head in wonder. Had they learned nothing from the disaster of the previous time? I looked in disbelief as the queen put her hands to her neck and slipped a closure so that the top of her robes spilled to her waist, revealing her pert young breasts, each tipped by a pinkish brown nipple and areolas. Of course, she now had the Mongols' absolute attention. Mine too, from the stirring between my legs. The Mongols' shouts increased to screams but she held up her hand for attention and amazingly the Mongols fell silent. Then she lifted an object. I saw it was the book! She began to read slowly but I was too far away to hear any of it. It only took a minute and she laid the book aside. The Mongols sat as if stunned, but then their shouts arose anew and almost all lunged towards the nearest woman. Their leader, a powerful man with a golden skin and slant eyes even caught Calyxce round her waist and pulled her to the floor. Her hands were at her mouth in terror. But suddenly the Mongol shook his head and sat back on his heels as if with a short attack of dizziness. He lunged at her again but this time almost fell over her, in a hunched position. Almost simultaneously I saw the others begin to fall of their benches, until all were lying on the floor or across the table. Their shouting changed to screams, then faded to moans and whimpers. A goblet rolled across the table and smashed on the floor. Then there was silence apart from a little nervous laughter from two of the queen's girls. I was terrified. I had seen enough. Calyxce must have been mad. It looked like she had cast a spell on the Mongols. If they died their disappearance would certainly be noted by the Il-Khan and we should expect severe and certain retribution. My knees knocking, I made my way once more across the tiles to my quarters. I knew I must escape if I was not to be slaughtered with the rest. Yet, when hunger overcame my fear and I went down to the hall the next morning, I looked round in wonder. There was no sign of the Mongols. I looked over the city wall. There was a cloud of dust down the valley, but diminishing. I asked a soldier. I pointed to the dust, "Are these the Mongols' horses?" "Yes, it is their horses," he said and laughed. I did not understand, but if they were gone I had less to fear, but still, I needed to escape, in case of another time. I wondered what had happened to the Mongol visitors. Had they recovered from their spells and departed? The rest of that day was quiet, like any other, but close to noon of the next day I was aware of a shrill noise beginning, like a terrified screaming. I went looking for its source. It seemed to be coming from the new cells built into the cliff behind the palace. I wanted to investigate nearer, but a soldier shooed me away. "Just criminals, Dimitri. It need not concern you." I wondered who the criminals were. It sounded like the shrieks and screams of women in terror, not the sounds of men. The din continued for a days. They were screams of horror, fright, terror and despair. They penetrated my room those nights, disturbing my sleep. I shudder at the memory still. Slowly, over the space of a week, they gradually diminished although I knew, by the food and water I saw taken there, that the cells still housed prisoners. About that time too I noticed differences in Calyxce and her slave girls. In her own vanity she had chosen all of them for their beauty, but it was as if all had suddenly become even more beautiful. They were all recognizably the same women, but it was as if some subtle changes had been made. A month or two later, looking out of a palace window, I saw activity at the cells to the back of the palace. A group of prisoners was being led out. All figures were naked and as I worked my way nearer I could see by their curved figures that they were all women. Getting even nearer, I saw slim waists, curved hips and, pretty, well-shaped breasts with brown nipples, even the triangles of dark hair at the junctions of their legs and slightly rounded bellies. Then as I moved even nearer, from what was visible of their faces, I saw all of the women were beauties too. Several of the queen's soldiers were herding them into a line in front of the queen and several of her slave girls. Calyxce began to slowly walk past the women as if inspecting them. One prisoner, a golden skinned woman, lunged at her, but she was caught and whipped to the ground. I saw her dragged to a wooden post and manacled to it. She screamed at the queen until she was gagged. Calyxce herself began sorting the women into two groups of a dozen or so. Two other women, who had also resisted violently, were manacled by the chained one. I saw one of the larger groups returned to the cells, then chains were brought and the other group, manacled and fettered were driven, still completely naked, down to the square in front of the palace. I wondered why the queen wanted to humiliate these women so much. The three other women were whipped, then driven back inside the prison. I wondered where all of these women had come from, whether they had been captured in some raid. And yet I had heard nothing of any expedition. As far as I knew our city was a peace with her neighbours. I did not even know if our city was at war with any other. Any war must have been when the Mongols were here and yet I had not noticed any of our soldiers absent. Curious, I ran, as fast as my short legs allowed, down to the square and pushed my way through a small group of bystanders. There was a trader's wagon there. I gasped. It was Nikolai's wagons. He was carefully inspecting the new slave women. He seemed satisfied and I saw him pay the captain of the guard. Some of the women began moaning and crying as he herded them into a large wagon. I examined Nikolai. He must have been doing well in his trading. His mantle was of richer cloth and his cloak was even trimmed with fur. His wagons were in good repair and the oxen were quality animals. He even now possessed a light horse drawn carriage for his own use. As soon as the queen returned to her palace, I ran to him. "Please Nikolai, Take me with you, I must escape from here." He held me at arm's length and looked me up and down. "So Dimitri, you look well, you are well fed, I see you have fancy clothes. And you want to leave? You should be grateful to me for leaving you here and grateful to the queen for keeping you." I tried to cling to his leg, pleading, but he pushed me off. "Be gone with you. I have no need of a cripple, a fancy clown like you." He fingered my silk robes contemptuously. I ran back to the palace and hid in my room until I had calmed down. Would my slavery be forever? That night, as I wondered about the new slave women, revelation hit me. I remembered that Calyxce's book had a spell about turning men into women. Was that what had happened to the Mongols? Had that been her revenge on them, to make them into women and enslave them? A week or so later it was the turn of the other large group of slave girls. Wailing, they were whipped into line, chained to each other, driven to the square and sold to another trader. Some tried to resist, but they were beaten into obedience. I wondered about the fate of the three slaves left, including the golden skinned Mongol woman. These had seemed the most fractious and recalcitrant. Another month passed before I found out. A special banquet had been laid out, in honour of the queen's first coronation anniversary. The food was all abundant and delicious, but I could not overeat as I would be expected to give part of the later entertainment. I was surprised to see that the three women prisoners were there too, but now as serving women. All were wearing revealing robes, fine silky feminine ones in blue silk, but short chains joined their ankles. They served well, in a proper demure fashion, but looked nervously at two jailers with whips watching them. At last I was summoned and a told a fresh repertoire of jokes and anecdotes and some conjuring. I had a short stature, but at least my fingers were dexterous and I had practised well. The queen and her courtiers all applauded at the end. There were even some coins thrown to me. I picked them up gratefully. It was all the more money I could use for my eventual escape. "Thank you, Dimitri," said the chancellor. "Queen Calyxce thanks you too." The queen broke in." Now Dimitri, remain there. We have something else, a special reward for you." There was a brief bustle at the door and two men were brought in. Both were dishevelled, dirty, in rags. They looked as if they had not washed for weeks. I saw one scratching at his side. They looked nervously at Calyxce. They must have been criminals from the queen's prison. The queen clapped her hands and the guards dragged the three serving women to the centre of the floor. A jailer knelt to unlock one ankle fetter on each, but then fixed them to rings set in the floor. The women were now chained to the floor, unable to escape. Their eyes were apprehensive, even frightened. One tugged at her chains, but she was well tethered. Another held her hand at her mouth, in fright. The golden skinned woman looked at the queen in hatred and defiance. The queen stood up and motioned to me and the criminals. "Go, these women are for you. Dimitri, the golden skinned one is for you. Do not spare her. Take your enjoyment of her." I could hardly believe my ears. I was being rewarded with a woman, after all that time. The three women screamed and tugged at their chains but we were upon them the two criminals had no difficulty wrestling the two others to the floor. I heard their screams and moans as they were penetrated and used. I had more difficulty with my woman. She half crouched and faced me, like a cat. I approached her more carefully. Usually I had not cared for any of the few Mongol women I had seen. Their faces were too flat and their folded eyes too strange, but this woman was beautiful. Her golden skin, her high cheeks and her delicately slanted eyes gave her an exotic look. Her body was lithe and well shaped. She was taller than me and quite strong. At first she fought me off and I heard the snickers of the guests. Finally I caught her and used my weight to force her to the floor. I held her arms with mine and forced her legs apart. Then she screamed like the others as I thrust into her and she too was penetrated. I climaxed in seconds. After a minute I withdrew from her, but she struggled to her feet and screamed and kicked at me. I heard the soldiers laughing. My anger rose. My need was not done yet and I slapped her face and seized her again. I was stronger than her. I turned her to her belly on the tiled floor and entered her again, ignoring the blood from her torn maidenhead, from behind. I took longer this time and I even relished her squirming and gasps. When I drew from her the second time she was weeping in anguish on the floor before me. Her spirit was broken. But I felt good. I had enjoyed the use of the woman. I wondered if the queen would give her to me. My hopes were dashed the next morning when I saw the three women in the courtyard. All were in chains by a trader's wagons. They too were being sold. My Mongol wench was standing meekly and when she saw me she looked at me sadly then gave me a slight smile. She pursed her lips to me as she climbed docilely into the wagon, her chains clinking as she did so. I even felt sorry for her. I thought about it much. She had been a man yet changed against her will. She had resisted the effect of the spell that made her into a beautiful woman. And had it seemed she had finally accepted her change. Obviously the spells in the magic book were very effective, yet none was effective for my stature and face. It was time for me to visit the physician, as he was termed. I had my opportunity one afternoon when the queen was again away on one of her administration tours. I slipped out of the palace, covered in a plain cloak and made my way to the physician's house. I knocked on the door. It was opened by a large figure clad in a long brown loose gown. I looked at the face. It was fleshy and soft, with no trace of male hair. "Yes, my short friend. What can I do for you?" Even the voice was indeterminate. It could have belonged to a man or a woman. But as the queen had referred to the physician as a male, I began. "Please, sir. I need your help. I have heard you are a physician." He did not object to my title but looked me up and down for a minute. I began to feel uncomfortable under his scrutiny. Finally he beckoned me in. It took a minute before my eyes accustomed to the gloom after the bright sunlit streets outside. His quarters were fairly large. There was a small alcove with a bed in it and two benches. A water jug and dirty plates lay by some pots by a small open charcoal fire, but there was barely any other domestic material. Filling the walls of the small room were glasses, vials, bottles of crystals and fluids, herbs hung in bunches from the rafters and strange mechanical devices, books and parchments were strewn over the low tables, benches and even on the floor. Along one wall were hung cages of rats and mice. A cauldron simmered on another fire in the corner. The room had a peculiar musty, slightly fragrant, slightly sulphurous smell. "So, short one, Tell me what you want." he said gently. I explained my request. "I have heard that you are a skilled physician. That you are a healer." I pulled off my cloak. "Ahh." he said. "I think I know what you want. My name is Merones. Your name is?" "I am called Dimitri." "That is not a name from these parts?" "I was born near Kiev, to the north and west of here." "You speak our tongue well, Dimitri, but your accent betrays you. Now let me see you properly. Take off these ridiculous clothes," he commanded. I did so. His own accent was different. I could not place it. He looked me up and down. "I see your clothes are quite fancy, although ridiculous. Expensive too. I think you must work for some important personage." "I work for, no, Queen Calyxce owns me, but I was sold unwillingly to her." "I have heard of you, but you know, if I were able to help you, the queen would be concerned that she has lost an unusual possession, if I am right that that you wish to have a normal stature and a face like a normal man." "Yes I do. But I feel no responsibility to the queen. I am really free. If you can change me, I would hide and make my way from the city." He nodded. "Turn around, Dimitri." I felt him testing my hips and spine, my neck, then turning me around he felt my jaw with his soft hands. "Open your mouth." He probed in it, testing my long jaws. He grunted. "You may dress again, Dimitri." "Can you help me, Merones?" I asked anxiously. "I can pay you." That was true. I had saved up several gold coins. "I have various skills. Some need little more than a knife, needle and thread. Some need special herbs, potions or salves, either swallowed or on the skin. Some other skills need resort to other ... arts. I think I need to use these." "You have these already," I burst out eagerly. "I could already cure your short stature and your back, but your face? Well, I need to make further study." "Then please change my stature now." He shook his head. "That would be unwise. If I change your body, but leave your face you will be recognised, that would be dangerous for you. The queen would be annoyed at you and more importantly, at me. She is a determined woman. I know. She sometimes visits me." "Yes," I said, "that is how I knew of you." "Ah yes, I wondered. No, it is best that I work on a spell for your face and then change it and your body at the same time. Now, you should know it will take some study for the new spell. It will cost you three gold pieces." I gulped. That was most of my savings He must have seen my look of dismay. "It will take some work to look up spells try them modify them and so on," he said defensibly. "I have to live by my arts." "When can you have it by?" He shrugged. "Perhaps next week, perhaps next year. I will inform you when I am successful. I know one of the queen's guards, who will pass a message to you. One other thing, Dimitri, your hair and your complexion. Don't you think they are distinctive in this city?" He was right. My hair, beard and all, were a bright reddish blond. My skin was fair too, no doubt the legacy of some distant Varengian ancestor. A pity that I had not acquired his stature as well! With my colouring I would be very noticeable in this city of dark hair, olive skins and brown eyes. "Do you have a spell for these, Merones?" I asked "No, I do not need to resort to that. A simple matter of dyeing your skin and hair will suffice. Your eyes are more of a problem. I would need yet another spell to change them, but you could just cover your head and there are some in this area who have grey or blue eyes. That would not be so unusual. So Dimitri, have patience. You will hear from me." I completed a small errand and made my way back to the palace in thought. I was thinking about the queen's book of spells. I was barely in my room when one of the slave girls brought m a message that the queen wanted to see me. "I called for you earlier, Dimitri. Where were you?" "I beg your pardon, Queen Calyxce. I was on an errand. I wanted to get some paper and writing materials." "What, a dog that writes?" she laughed. "Wonders never cease!" "Queen Calyxce, please release me. I am not a dog, I am a man, a human being, I have skills at language and... '' "Silence!" she shouted. "Yes and you copulated like a dog with that Mongol wench I gave you. You showed your animal lust. No, you will stay here as long as I wish. Besides, I need you here. The chancellor and some of the senior court have been ... advising me. They say that for the future of the city I need to be married, to provide an heir for the stability of our state." She seemed visibly annoyed, barely controlling her anger, but at least it was no longer directed at me. "So I will have it be let known that I am seeking a match. But it must be a man that is intelligent. I will set a riddle and he that solves it may have me as a bride. If not, perhaps we may thunk up a surprise for his effrontery." I wondered if she was thinking of her spell book. I shivered. "So Dimitri, when we entertain and feast these suitors before they are tested, you may be needed as a translator and for entertainment. You will," she growled, "need to practice your tricks and think of some better stories and anecdotes. I grow tired of these ones you have." She dismissed me. I felt encouraged. Perhaps if the Calixce acquired a husband she would mellow and allow me to go. The next day brought a drastic turn of events. I was practicing a new trick when I heard a shout of panic. Some soldiers were pointing to the north. I saw plumes of smoke, burning villages to the east." Mongols!" I heard. I was almost panic stricken. The Mongols must have realized that some of their army had gone missing when visiting our city and come for retribution. I started to make my way to the city walls, but I saw the queen's soldiers moving to guarding the access to them. They were holding back the citizens. I thought it curious. What difference would it make if the citizens saw their soon-to-be destroyers? However I knew other ways to the city walls and by scrambling over some low tiled roofs I was soon near the city gate. I watched down the valley at the approaching dust cloud. It did not take long for the Mongols to appear. There were about two hundred of them, all mounted, all well armed. It was a small force by their standards, but far more than needed to overwhelm us. They galloped to the city in a cloud of dust, wheeled to a stop before the city gates and gave a mighty roar. It was an impressive show of force. I had absolutely no doubt now that they had heard of the disappearance of the earlier group and were investigating. Their mood appeared ugly. I wondered if the city gates would be opened and Calyxce would throw the city on their mercy. Fond hope, my mind told me. These men were spoiling for battle and slaughter. I watched as a rider advanced to the city gates and shouted orders. I knew enough of Mongol speech to understand he was demanding surrender. Amazed, I saw the city gates open with a flourish of trumpets and the queen herself walk out, surrounded by her six maidens, all in white robes. Some of the braver guards move to accompany her, but she waved them back. She would be completely without protection, not that the few guards could do anything against the horde waiting outside. She appeared to be heading straight to the Mongol commander, a swarthy figure sitting on a piebald horse under a banner made of skins and animal hair and decorated with skulls. The Mongol host parted as the women walked to it, then flowed in behind them. She was completely trapped. From the city wall I watched as she and her women all bowed before the Mongol leader, then even prostrated themselves on the ground. Then she arose and pointed to the city. She took the Mongol's hand and kissed it then bent again, I suppose she was kissing his feet. It was too far to see correctly. But then she took a tan coloured object from her bag. It was the book! She began to read, all the while smiling at the general. I saw her white teeth flashing, but neither my companions on the wall nor I were near enough to hear the words. It was then I noticed the guards at the gates had wound tight cloth coverings over their ears. I could not believe it. She was attempting to use the spell on hundreds! The queen had now finished talking. The Mongol commander pointed his spear to her throat, lifting her head. Her head was well back. One thrust and she would die. He seemed to be questioning her. She was alternately nodding and shaking her head. She took his hand to her lips once more. Then I saw the general seem to waver and drop his spear. He appeared to shake. His spear was soon lifted again but just as soon again dropped to the ground. He hunched over his horse as if hit by a cold wind, then in seconds tumbled off. In moments the Mongols were all falling off their horses. There arose a great cry, as