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TURBULENCE by Geneva Amid the destruction of a society by an Ottoman invasion, a young man is changed by a gypsy's spell. In a web of confusion, trickery, and mistrust she struggles to find herself and her path. This story is the third in a sequence ,"A Spell of Freedom", and "She of the Book", which will lead eventually to "Turkish Delight". It was the lowest ebb of my degradation. I felt, below my bare feet, the warm wood of the auction block, no doubt worn smooth by the feet of countless other slaves. In my misery, I was ashamed to look up, yet I was aware of the men appraising me, some even licking their lips. Most had already appraised me in the morning's pre-sale examination, prodding my limbs, examining my teeth, even squeezing my breasts and trying to probe my intimate parts with their fingers to check the auctioneer's statement that I was still a virgin. I had but no choice to submit to the indignities, otherwise I would have been beaten. There were even some women among the buyers, evaluating me and the other female slaves in my batch. There was little sympathy in their eyes. To some I was merely another commodity to be bought or sold, no doubt complacent at the degradation of one of their own sex, but others were smirking, as if relishing the misfortune of another of their sex. Previously the inhabitants of the city were mostly free, although the authorities had tolerated the trading of slaves destined for other lands. Since the Ottoman takeover, slavery and its trading had become well established in the city. I was but one of a dozen or so women here, up for auction to the highest bidder but I knew that I was attracting most attention. I suppose I was more beautiful than the other girls in my batch. That and the thought of what might be ahead for me terrified me. I was apprehensive as to who would buy me. I wondered whether it would be a kind or stern master-or mistress? I might even be bought for a serving girl, or - I had been told I was beautiful- an odalisque, a female harem slave whose only purpose was to give her master pleasure. I shuddered at the thought. The thought of a man using me filled me with horror. I wanted to crouch to hide my nakedness, but I knew that would be another reason for being beaten. So I endured by making my mind dwell on happier days. I tried to remember the best days of my homeland, the beautiful city of Trebizond and its small hinterland, an 'empire' as our former rulers termed it. It was the most easterly outpost of the ancient Hellenic civilization but it was really only a small country and it will barely rank as a province in its new existence. Yet, when I thought about it, my mind was always brought back to the strange and terrible events that reduced me to this. I was lost from my home, I was lost to my friends and family, those that were left, and worst of all, I was in a strange body, a female one, whose shape and functions still held much mystery for me and which I knew was even beginning to affect my mind. I was born into one of the noble families of Trebizond, one that had many intermarriages with the ruling family, the Comneni. David, the last ruler, had even been a frequent visitor at our home before he ascended to the throne. Now, he and any possible male heirs to the throne, including some of my own relatives, occupy the Ottoman sultan's prisons, their lives subject to his future whims. I might have been one of them, except for the bizarre and terrifying sequence of events that had brought me here and changed my body, my aspirations and my life.. Certainly no one would have recognized me and my life would have been safe, but at what a price! You see, fantastic as it may seem, I was born a male, and, as I said, I was a scion of one of Trebizond's foremost families. Being Christian, I was given the name of Luke, after the apostle. Our family had been long in the city. In fact we were one of the longest pedigreed Greek noble families in the area. My father, Theodore, had extensive business interests, owning several trading companies, and possessing a large estate outside the city that gave us a wealth of food and wine. I had been well educated at one of the schools set up for boys of noble families, and later I even had my own tutor. I had been almost set to join my father in his businesses. No doubt, a few more years after that, and I would have been ready to be married to a daughter of some other noble house in Trebizond. I knew several of the potential girls already. My parents would of course expect me to marry within my own social class, but they had assured me that the final choice would be mine. I had my eye on Roxanne, a dark haired, brown eyed beauty, the daughter of a cousin of David Comnenus. I had seen her at a palace ceremony only months before and had been attracted by her shapely figure, pretty face and dark sparkling eyes. She had noticed me looking at her and had given a seductive smile and even a discreet sway of her hips, so I knew that my attentions to her would be welcomed. My father too would be pleased with such a match as she was in my own social stratum. Now that was all gone. I wanted to weep but perhaps my master would have beaten me. It would have spoiled my price at the auction. On the other hand, some masters are known to like weeping, helpless slaves, to add to their own feeling of power. The events leading to the destruction of my family, myself and our way of life started just a year ago. My father had returned home from a council meeting shaking his head. "I fear we will rue these days", he replied, when asked by my mother about his distracted manner. "I think our ruler is making a terrible mistake. He is trying to ally Trebizond with some of the other states nearby who are in as much danger as we from the Ottoman. He risks offending the sultan.If Mehmet wanted he could squash Trebizond like an insect." He held up his finger and thumb together. "We only exist by his mercy. Neither Trebizond nor the allies David seeks have the resources to fight the Ottoman for long. Our own population is tiny. We only exist because we have been careful to accomodate the Ottoman." Trebizond was a remnant of the Byzantine empire. It had gained its independence from Byzantium at the time the Crusaders took Constantinople, but it was now almost entirely surrounded by the vigorous Ottoman empire. The Ottoman only barely tolerated our independent existence, and in the past the rulers of Trebizond had been very careful not to provoke them. Over the few generations of our indendence some daughters of the ruling house had even been given to the sultans for wives, but recently one of the Ottoman provincial governors had laid a half-hearted siege to us. We survived, but only just. It had cost Trebizond a great deal. These were serious matters of state, of course, but I paid little attention to them. I was just sixteen, full of the energy and confidence of youth. Besides, I had received a privileged upbringing, and thought the world owed me much. Also, I was due to take a small holiday and I was looking forward to some days of relaxation at our estate further east along the Black Sea coast. So, some days later I was riding with a companion towards our estate. He was called Andrew, and was a distant relative. His mother Anna was my father's cousin, but not connected by the same bloodlines to the ruling elite as I was. Andrew was two years older than me and was training for business as well. His father was not as wealthy as mine, possibly because he had fewer comnnections with the ruling elite, but he had also made some poor investments in a trading company which had lost several of its ships to pirates. The riding trail overlooked the Black Sea, and its waters sparkled in the summer sunshine. I looked back over the city. Its towers and walls gleamed in the sunlight, the ornate domes of the churches contrasting with the marble walls. As we rode, we passed yet another caravan coming along the shore from the east. It would have more silks for the wealthy in Trebizond and further west, but more importantly, the city's coffers were swelled by the levy it took from these traders. Also, my own father had quite a share of that. The caravan would welcome a break in Trebizond and the women of the city would relish the prospect of more silks. We were approaching my father's estate when, passing through a copse of trees and bushes, I smelled smoke, and in a few minutes we came upon a small clearing. In it were several waggons. Andrew pointed. "Gypsies!" These nomads occasionally passed through our area and if they wanted to take some food from our fields, it was not a great loss to us. It was better to keep them as friends. They were on our land, or at least my father's, but I did not mind. Although, as gypsies had a reputation for stealing, we made sure the main part of our estate was well guarded. The gypsies looked at us suspiciously. There must have been about eight men and an equal amount of women, with about a dozen or so children of various ages. I held up my hand in greeting, giving a short nod, and then a measured smile to show their presence would give us no difficulties. One of the gypsies, a swarthy man in perhaps his fifties, returned my nod, and with that Andrew and I turned our horses and rode away. We were welcomed at the villa on our estate by my Aunt Maria. She was a woman of about fifty, widowed some years earlier when her husband John, my father's younger brother, was drowned in a shipping accident. I always liked Aunt Maria, and she me. She had two sons, but being apprehensive of the future of Trebizond after Constantinople was taken some years back by the Turks, she had sent them both, when they were only boys, to a relative in Italy, and had not seen them since. She indulged me well. I suppose I was a substitute for her own two sons. I mentioned the presence of the gypsies at supper that evening, and she merely shrugged. She was quite religious in a quiet way. She did not present herself at the basilica on saints' days like some, but, like my father, saw it as a Christian duty to give charity where necessary and she was tolerant of the gypsies' presence. That next week was a wonderful time, swimming in the estate's large pool, riding and testing the horses of my father's stable, and most of all, filling up on Aunt Maria's wonderful food. The estate had a cook, several in fact, but Maria prided herself on her own cooking. The taste of her herbed roast goat was legendary in our house. It was served with the wine from our own estate. I felt so relaxed that I almost dreaded my return to the city. A new round of study awaited me, but I was comforted in that it would be the last. I would then enter my father's business and eventually inherit it. I was the only son, although I had five sisters. My father occasionally shook his head, only half in jest, when he talked of the dowries he would pay on their marriages. On the last day Andrew and I were again riding by the shore. We were racing through the woods, exhilarated by the speed of our horses when we suddenly ran into the gypsies again. They had moved their camp to a sequestered site in a copse of trees and we only just were able to rein in our horses to avoid crashing into their tents. A cur barked at the intrusion, my horse, Star, reared up and I tumbled off. I was not hurt at all. Andrew was beside me in a moment to pick me up. I was embarrased, but we both laughed at the situation. I dusted the scraps of dried grass and leaves from my clothes, and soon we were surrounded by some of the gypsies, strong men and women, with white teeth, in bronze faces from either the sun or perhaps from their breeding. It is said that the gypsies come from the East, Persia or even Hind, but others say that is only a fable. "Here." One of the gypsies passed me a bowl of water. He was a man in his twenties, dark complexioned, with a powerful build. I was not thirsty and poured it over my head, miming that I was washing the dust off my face. The man roared with laughter and then all joined in. I allowed him to help me up. His hand was warm and strong. In a few moments Andrew and I were seated by an fire, open to the attention of all of the gypsies, and conversing in a simplified Greek.. The man who had passed me the water appeared to be some leader of their group. It was obvious the gypsies knew who I was and wanted to thank me for allowing them to live on our estate. Soon we were even passed some wine, and then a group began to dance, men and women twisting and turning to the music of some flutes and a drum. The music was alluring and when gypsies noticed our interest Andrew and I were dragged into the circle with shouts of glee. We allowed ourselves to sway to the insistent rhythm. Our steps were unsure, but the gypsies encouraged us with shouts of approval. It was then I saw a girl on the other side of the dancing circle. She was dark haired, but with as sensual and appealing a face as I had ever seen. Her skin was golden and dark hair swirled over her shoulders and neck, Golden earrings glinted under her ringlets. Her lips were full and appealing, her lithe figure moved easily in the dance, her skirts swirling, revealing tantalizing glimpses of her calves. Her breasts swelled against the fabric of her blouse. Occasionally I saw the small protrusions of her nipples. I was fascinated by this exotic, yet slightly scruffy woman, and her air of wild abandon. She was altogether different fom the well coiffed, groomed and reserved girls of my own class. Then the gypsy who had helped me passed between us. He was dancing close to another girl. The first girl was looking at him in fury. She caught sight of me looking at her and began looking at me too, a faint smile on her lips and an insolent challenge in her eyes. I made my way towards her, until I was beside her. She looked at me through half closed eyes, and began to sway seductively in front of me, as if inviting me to take her. I followed her movements and tried to catch hold of her but she swirled away. Suddenly, the man who had helped me pushed between us, glaring at me. Then another group of dancers caught me up, I lost sight of her, and then she was gone. I was aware of the man still watching me as I danced with the other gypsies for some more minutes, hoping to see her again, but she did not reappear, and then the music finished. With a farewell drink Andrew and I remounted and made our way back to my aunt's house. I tried to put the girl out of my mind but that night I kept twisting and turning at the memory of her lips and eyes and her tantalizing figure. I knew I had to see her again, but in the morning there was an urgent summons from my father to return to Trebizond. I dared not disobey, but as Andrew and I left I made sure our path led through the gypsy camp. "Why do you wish to come this way?" asked Andrew. "It is not the direct route to the city." "Oh, I just wanted to see the gypsies again to thank them for yesterday," I said. That was true but I really wanted to try to see the girl again. Andrew said nothing, but at the camp I knew he was watching me as my eyes searched round. I politely gave my thanks to the gypsies ad we left. "Was there some one gypsy you wished to see?" he asked. "Some girl perhaps?" "No, not really," I replied irritably, but I have always been a poor liar. My father had chided me about this as being a business disadvantage, but only gently as our family had a reputation for honesty and fair business. It seemed to work for us as we had reliable suppliers and had many more seeking to do business with us. Back home my father embraced me and I dutifully kissed my mother and five sisters. "A good thing you came back," said my father. "Things are getting serious. My informants tell me the Ottoman are assembling their forces close to our borders. I fear for the future. There will be an invasion, I am sure of it. The best that can happen is that David Comnenus will be rebuked by the sultan and allowed to rule, but as a vassal. The worst?" He looked grimly. "The city could be destroyed and all in it slain or enslaved." My mother began weeping and he moved to hold her. "However," he said, "I think that unlikely. We really pose no threat to the Ottoman. They surround us. Furthermore, this is a rich city and makes a lot of revenue. The sultan will not be so stupid as to obliterate us. He is more likely take us over, depose David, install his own governor and then tax us. Hopefully, once he has removed the offending party, then he will leave the rest of us alone to make money as usual. Maybe that would make little difference to us. Our city would then be a financial support for the sultan, rather than Comnenus and his cronies. Yes, I know I am somewhat related to the Comneni but I hope I have more common sense and caution than they." "What can we do." I asked. "What can I do?" He gave me a smile of approval. "Pray and hope that the Ottoman leave us alone, or if they do invade, hope that they are merciful." he snorted. "But, perhaps if an attack on Trebizond is possible, I think it will be prudent for us to take precautions to save ourselves, or at least lie low until we know the situation. I have ordered one of our small fast trading boats to anchor off the city. I have also moved some of the family gold and valuables to it. If danger threatens we will embark and head east over the Black Sea to Christian states in the Caucasus, or perhaps west and down the Hellespont into the Mediterranean and away from the Ottoman. Our ship is fast enough. It is my fastest one, and could easily evade the Ottoman ships there. I have trading contacts in Genoa and I am sure I could resume business again there. Your aunt Maria has two sons in Italy also. I think she no longer has letters from them but if we can find out where they are they may be able to give us useful contacts for trade. For your part, I think you could get out some of your language books. Brush up on your Italian or Latin, perhaps, in case we need them. But hopefully my precautions will be unnecessary." I went to my room, reeling at the thought of the danger to my city, my family and to myself, but as days, then weeks passed, there were no further reports of Ottoman troops massing. My father even sent our refuge boat off on some minor trading north to the Crimea, although having prudently unloaded the gold and jewels back to the vaults in our house. Just in case, I secreted a few gold coins of my own under a flagstone in the floor in my own room. As my father suggested, I threw myself into my studies. My father hired an Italian tutor for me and within a month of intensive study I was proficient in a basic form of Italian, enough to get us established as traders. But my mind was not always on my studies. Sometimes they strayed back to the gypsy girl I had seen at our estate. I could not forget her flashing eyes, full lips and her figure, her clothes straining over the attractive curves of her hips and breasts. I saw Andrew occasionally. Otherwise he was busy at his father's warehouse. Their trading luck seemed to be holding for a bit and the family began to acquire new wealth. Andrew was even sporting Talking one day I confessed my boredom and grumbled that I wanted a break from study. I suggested another trip out to our estate. "I wonder if these gypsies will still be there," he said. A thought stirred in the back of my mind. Had he seen my interest in the gypsy girl? "Perhaps," I answered. "If so maybe we can visit them again." "That was a wild and stirring dance," he grinned. "The girls were beautiful and the dance really showed off their charms." So he had noticed the girls too. I wondered if he was as enamoured as I with the girl. Indeed the gypsies were still there as we passed through on our way to the estate villa but I saw no sign of the girl and we departed fruitlessly. Two days later Andrew took ill. I think he had eaten some spoiled food but I was not affected. In his chamber he gave a weak grin and waved me away. "I am no company just now. Let me sleep. Why don't you ride about in the estate. Maybe you will see something that interests you." I wondered what he meant, but I was glad to get out and about. My path led me to the shore, and then west towards the gypsy encampment. I knew of a small secluded cove there that I had sometimes used for bathing and, as it was a hot day, I made my way there, feeling a dip in the cool waters would freshen me up. But as I pushed my horse through the last of the bushes before the low cliff that overlooked the cove, I heard laughter, a woman's laughter. I dismounted and I cautiously inched my way further in the undergrowth until the waters of the cove were visible. I grinned to myself. Three women were already there, bathing in the water. From their golden olive skins I knew they must be gypsy women and probably from the gypsy group. Then I grinned even more. All were totally naked. I grinned as one swam to the shallows, then stood up on long slim legs. She was facing my direction, so that I easily saw her pert breasts, the wet hair over her face and golden shoulders, her slim waist and her wide hips, even the dark oval of her pubic hair. I thought of the old myths of Aphrodite rising from the ocean, but I doubt if even Aphrodite could have compared with the seductiveness of the vision in my eyes. She raised her arms and pirouetted in the sun, raising her face to the sky. I was entranced with this beauty, so natural, proud and sensual. Then she brushed the wet hair from her face and I saw that the girl was none other than the gypsy girl that had so intrigued me. The two other women had swum nearby and now rose out of the sea as well. throwing water on the first. Giggling and splashing, she retaliated. I was fascinated with the movements of the golden bodies, the flashes of their naked hips, the hair between their legs and their breasts, each tipped with dark nipples. The two other women were beauties too, but could not compare to the first. I felt my manhood rise at the sight of the three. Abruptly the two other women donned their clothing and ran along the beach in the direction of the gypsy camp. The other lay back on a rock, idly sunning herself, occasionally holding her breasts with her hands as if examining her nipples. How I envied those hands, each clasped over a firm golden breast and proud nipple. Abruptly she shifted one hand to the base of her belly, stroking under her dark hair. She seemed in no hurry. I watched as she languidly took pleasure of herself but every now and then she shifted her gaze in the direction of the gypsy camp as if expecting something. At last she donned her red blouse and patterned skirt.. I wondered why she still remained there. This was answered when I heard a low whistle, and the girl answered with another low whistle. I watched as a man made his way out of the bushes. I recognised him as one of the gypsies I had seen in the camp, the one who had helped me up from my fall. The girl turned to face him expectantly. She sat upright and clasped her hands behind her neck, raising her shoulders as if better to lift her breasts. The man stood over her, as if they were having a quiet conversation then she rose and they embraced. His hands slid down her back to her buttocks, clasping them, pulling her up to him and then they slid under her skirt. Abruptly it was swept from her, then her blouse, so that she was as naked as I had seen her previously. I even heard her give small giggles. I saw her hands at the man's shirt and his broad chest was exposed, golden too, but with dark hair over his muscles. Then her hands were at his belt and his baggy breeches fell to the ground and he was as naked as she. With one arm at her back, another behind her knees he picked her up easily, as if she was a child. He raised her almost to shoulder level and leaned over to catch one of her nipples in his mouth. I saw him lick both it and her areola, then again catch the nipple in his mouth and begin to suck it. At she first screamed playfully, her legs kicking, then her scream changed to giggles. Then she stretched her neck out. I even heard her moans. His own organ was swollen and standing out as he laid her on some grass and kissed her lips fiercely. Her arms were round his neck. Next his hand left her breast and pushed to part her legs. Abruptly she rose and pushed him back, leaning over him, sweeping her breasts over his own chest, her hair brushing his face, then tantalizing his lips with her nipples In a minute she reversed and took his penis in her mouth. Her cheeks distended as she almost swallowed his organ. I saw his fists clench in his pleasure. Her own female parts were over his mouth. and his hands reached to her hips to pull her to his flicking tongue. I was fascinated. I had heard of such practices, but never seen them. Then she turned once more and pushed the man back on the rock, straddled him, and lowered herself onto his erection. I heard her gasps, then his grunts as she moved up and down. His fingers were dug in her buttocks. She was raking his chest with her fingernails, I even saw a trace of blood. Her head was now back and she was moaning, almost screamng. With small cries they both climaxed. They lay sunning themselves for some minutes, when a small noise behind me disturbed my watch. With horror I saw my horse Star gently pushing through the bushes towards me. She must have got loose and come looking for me. The gypsies had heard the noise to, and within seconds the girl had donned her skirt and blouse, the man his breeches. Both were looking in my direction. Crouching low, I pulled Star away and mounted her, ignoring the angry cries behind me. They should have been more circumspect, but yet, it was rude of me to have watched. My horse was lathered when I reached the estate house. Andrew was waiting for me, watching. He had obviously recovered from his malady. "In a hurry, Luke?" he cried. I could not tell him the real reason. "I felt I would test her speed. Don't you think she is a beauty?" I said, gesturing to Star. My mind was on another golden beauty. I would not mind having her move under my legs I tossed and turned that night, almost in a fever with the thought of the girl and her sensuality. I would soon be betrothed to Roxanne, but I could not get the gypsy girl out of my mind. Andrew was quite recovered the next day. I asked him if he wanted to go out riding . "Do you fancy going to the gypsy camp? I asked. "See if there will be more dancing. " "Ah, you liked that, did you?" We were welcomed by the gypsies again, particularly as we had brought along two plump fowl, several loaves from the kitchen and several baskets of fruit. Once again a dance sprang up and we were drawn in. I got a small start when I saw the gypsy man looking at the dancing girls from the side. The beautiful gypsy girl was there too, but as before, she vanished like a wraith before I could make my way to her. Later I saw the man standing by Star. "A good beast," he said. "Does she belong to the estate?" "Well , we keep her there," I said,"but she is my very own." He rubbed his fingers over her flank. "Yes, a fine beast indeed. If you wish to sell her in the future I would be interested. My name is Jaal. You say she is your own. Do you allow others ride her?" "No, not at all." I said. "I told you she is my very own." "I see," he said. "Then goodbye to you. Remember my name," I mounted, gave him a farewell wave and set off towards the house. My brief vacation was over, and I knew my duty was to return to the city, so we parted from Aunt Maria and headed back towards the city. Our path led close to our route the day before. "Let us say goodbye to the gypsies " I said. Andrew's eyebrows raised slightly. My stomach lurched when we reached the clearing. It was empty. Numerous cart tracks led to the south. I felt desolated at the thought I would not I would see the girl any more. Once again I threw myself into my studies, but my father also had me take a greater part in his businesses. He had me pore over ledgers and inventories until he was satisfied that I knew most of our worth. There were even lists of clients and trading partners as far away as Italy. Sometimes the Genoese and Venetians had been our trade rivals, but usually we found it more mutually advantageous to work together. There were no reports of any Ottoman forces at our borders. In fact it was said that Sultan Mehmet had taken his troops to the eastern borders of his territories. All inhabitants of our city breathed easier. My father shook his head when I talked with him about it. "I would like to think that we may have weathered the storm, or that it is about to blow over, but I am very worried. I hope that we are safe, but...? Perhaps David has learned his lesson. If I were him I would immediately send a party to Mehmet with many gifts. Try to appease him. Some rolls of silks and spices from the east. A few slave girls for his harem would not be amiss either." I shrugged. There were some slaves in Trebizond, of course. Mostly these were captives from eastern tribes or sometimes Nubians. It was an accepted part of life in the city. We ourselves did not keep slaves. Our own servants were free to go as they wanted, but we treated them well, and gave them shelter and food. My father had even helped one set up in business, for a cut of the profits, of course. The thought of the gypsy kept tormenting me. Now that the danger to the city seemed to have dissipated, I thought about again going out to the estate. Perhaps they would have returned. My father readily gave his permission and I rode alone to the estate this time. As usual, my Aunt Maria was delighted to see me again and made a fuss of me. Early the next morning, at the pretense of riding round the esate, I headed to the direction of the gypsy camp. My heart leaped. The gypsies were back! They welcomed me and I spent some time with them. Jaal was there too, and gave me a reserved nod of his head. However there was no sign of the girl and I soon left. On a whim I headed to the secluded cove by the sea.. At first I saw no one, then moving closer, I saw a flash of something moving, and heard a woman's voice singing. I dismounted and made my way to the beach. The gypsy girl was there, although clothed this time. She stared at my approach. "I am glad to see your tribe has returned," I said. "You missed us, sir?" she swayed slightly. I was obsessed with the vision of that sinuous seductive body moving before me. "I heard your singing," I said. "It attracted me here. You sing well." She did not seem in the least afraid of me. "I hope it pleased you, sir." Her voice was melodious, as if with deliberately added inflexions. "Indeed it did. Is it a gypsy song?" "Yes, a traditional one. It has been in our small tribe for generations." "What does it say? Is it in your own language?" "Oh, just the song of a girl for her lover." "What is your name?" I asked. "Why do you have to know?" she said insolently. She stood straighter and twisted her upper body back and forth. I was almost memerized by the lovely curve of her breasts and the sway of her hips.. "They call me Luke,"I said . "I must know your name." "Then Luke, they call me Allila. It means fire jewel in my language. Be careful, Luke, that you are not burned. I have used you Luke, but now you have served your purpose." I did not understand what she meant. I drew closer to her, yet she stood her ground, her stance as insolent as her speech, her calves and dainty feet bare under her calf length skirt, her breasts small but pert, bulging prettily under her blouse. She leaned back to look up at me, emphasizing her breasts, her hands on her hips, emphasizing the narrowness of her waist. She even stood slightly tilted as if better to show the curve of her hip. Her eyes were slightly slanted as if she had some eastern blood. It gave her an exotic appearance I was taken with desire. I stepped up to her, but she put a hand to my chest, as if to hold me back. I seized her slim wrist in my hand. It was warm and wiry. She tried to pull it back, but when she found she could not do so she stopped struggling and looked at me directly. "Beware Luke, I am not for you. I belong to another." Now mad with desire, I put my other hand around her waist. I felt little fat, just taut muscles under a smooth skin. She felt lithe, young and alive under my hand, desirable. She leaned back further to keep her distance from me, but then looked behind me. I heard a noise, but before I could seek I felt a blow to my head, followed by an arm was round my throat, choking me. I caught sight of Jaal, his face filled with fury. I was thrown to the ground and I felt my arms and feet bound. I saw the girl running off into the bushes. He scowled at me. "You are a foolish young man. You have caused me much annoyance. I am tempted to kill you." He kicked me twice. "Had you been a gypsy I would, and I only desist for two reasons. You are young, and you did not know that woman is for me. I know that she is very desirable and tempted you and I suppose any man would be attracted to her. I know from your horse that you also spied on us at an earlier tryst. That was rude, but it was my fault. I should have been more discreet. Still, you should have taken her warning. My only other reason for not killing you is that your aunt has done my people many favors. She gave them shelter at your estate when others would have not. For this I am grateful and I will be merciful, but only this time. Be warned, any more attention to my woman and I will take my revenge." He kicked me again but knelt down and pulled at my ropes. The slip knot fell apart and I stumbled away. Star was waiting for me, peacefully grazing. I climbed into the saddle, waves of pain at my head and rode back home. My aunt Maria was aghast at my condition. "Star stumbled and I fell off," I lied. I could not tell her the correct reason. I lay restlessly in bed that night. At first I was frightened of the gypsy's words, but soon my anger grew. What right had Jaal to threaten me? I was of noble stock, he merely a wandering gypsy, one that we might hire casually to do the labouring work on the estate. We could easily drive them from our estate. If I wanted the girl, I should have her, despite his threats. If he threatened me more I could have the authorities imprison him. It was no idle matter to make threats against one of my class. I tried to conceive a plan to get rid of him, but none came. I returned to the city the next day, my head and sides still throbbing. I determined to make Jaal pay for his threats and take the girl, but as I neared the city, my resolution began to fail. My father would approve my marriage to Roxanne, but to a gypsy? I mused about it. Yes, taking her as a wife might be a bad idea. Perhaps I might set her up as a mistress. I could keep her in much better circumstances than she would ever know as a nomadic gypsy and anyway, she should not expect marriage to the likes of me. Yes, she would be grateful for the the comfort and pretty trinkets I could give her and she would forget her gypsy ways. A day or so later my father sent me with some invoices to Andrew's father's warehouse. I was engaged with a clerk when I caught sight of Jaal speaking with Andrew. They appeared to have been doing business together. I kept out of the way until I saw him leave then later, I spoke to Andrew. "That man you were with. He was one of the gypsies, was he not?" "Yes," said Andrew," Sometime after our last visit to the gypsy camp I met him in the city. He was selling some trinkets in the marketplace. We got to talking about ways we could help each other. I know he is a rogue, but I have found I can use him. You see, he knows many of the pathways over the mountains, and is useful for some specialized trade. His name is Jaal." I knew that Andrew meant smuggling. Our city had put a levy on goods entering it, but many merchants avoided this by smuggling. It made their profits larger. So that was probably the reason that Andrew and his father seemed to be doing better. I really should have informed the authorities about them but he was a relative, after all, and family members should help each other. Besides, his small trading would do little harm to my father's business. Then I had an idea. If the gypsy were caught smuggling..... However, I did not want any trouble to fall back on Andrew. He was a relative, after all. I thought about it over the next few days, made my plans, and returned to to see Andrew . "I need your help," I said. "It will involve you in a little inconvenience, but I hope this will be recompense. " I tossed a bag onto his table. He opened it and gold coins tumbled out. "Then this is a serious matter," he said. "What do you need?" "That gypsy you employ for your imports, Jaal. I want him caught and imprisoned or executed." "Ah," he said,"you do not like him, or does he have something you want?" He gave a smile. "That does not concern you." I said. "I only want you to arrange a trip for him over the mountains. Tell me the route and time and I will see that he is apprehended." Andrew sat back in his chair and stared at me." Luke, we have always been friends, so I will not ask about the matter further. But you ask me to betray an employee. I also tdo not hink you do this for the benefit of the city. Is it a more personal reason? Desist. You may be playing with fire. I am sorry, but I will not help you. Take your money back. I suggest that you be very careful. You do not want to rouse Jaal's ire." Cursing Andrew I went to the palace and talked to the military commander. He was not pleased when I told him about the smuggling. "I heard a ruffian, a gypsy boasting about a smuggling trip over the mountains. You should take steps to capture him. Set guard on the mountain passes. He threatens the revenue of the city and of honest traders like my father." The captain looked at me in annoyance." Yes, that would be serious in normal times, but we have greater dangers. I am supposed to stop smuggling, but in these times, with the Ottoman breathing at our door? No, I cannot send troops to apprehend something as trivial as a smuggler. In better times perhaps. Now off with you. Come back when we have security, or if the city still exists." This would not do. I pulled out my purse and shook some gold out. His eyes lit up. "Ah, I see that it is not merely concern for the city that you give me this information. You have a personal interest." He swept up the coins into his clothes and nodded. "You have convinced me that the matter is serious. I will send a detachment out to the pass." I shook more coins out. "You can say that you were patrolling our borders. See that the smugglers are all killed." I returned home exhilarated. I had a method to get rid of my rival. Even if by some chance they did not kill him, he would be imprisoned. A galley slave's fate might await him. I arranged yet another trip to the estate in two weeks, and guided my horse to the gypsy encampment. By this time my rival would be gone and I could speak with the girl freely but there was no sign of her at first. Then I saw her, standing at the flap of a waggon. She beckoned me, but had her finger over her lips as if to keep me quiet. "Here," she said, motioning to the opened flap. "Come inside." My heart jumped. Was I now the chosen one? I was barely in the door when a blanket was thrown over me. I shouted but I felt myself thrown to the floor and my ankles roped together, There were kicks and blows to my body and head until I was almost dazed. then the blanket was whipped off my head. I was terrified to see Jaal glaring down at me. The point of his knife was at my throat. His dark eyes were furious. "I warned you once. I was very merciful but you persisted in trying to see Allila. Now you even tried to betray me and have me killed. It was fortunate for me that I got warning and I was able to avoid the soldiers. I think you are overly interested in Allila. Do you really think you could have been happy with her? She is a wild spirit. She would not have fit in the least in your decadent Trebizond society. No wonder the Ottoman threaten it. I warned you. Now I will take revenge." It looked like he was going to plunge the knife in my neck. "Please don't kill me," I cried. I struggled against the ropes binding me. "Perhaps I should," he grimaced. "Maybe that would be merciful, but I want to humiliate you. Allila suggested what is perhaps a better punishment for one who desires women as much as you. You will learn what it is to be subject to men's lust." He seemed to muse a little." Perhaps I am being cruel. Perhaps I am being merciful. That will depend on how you adapt to your new life. Oh yes, we will get some profit out of it when we sell you." I did not understand. "What are you talking about? I am not a slave. Anyway, I would be easily recognised in slave markets, then a severe punishment would fall on you." "You will see soon, very soon. You will be well disguised." He called out the waggon door and Allila entered . She looked at me, a slight smile on her face. In her hand was an old book. She opened it. "I have here a series of spells. I was told by my grandmother that they were composed over two centuries ago by a magician. They have all sorts of properties. We have a special one for you." She nodded to the gypsy. "Jaal, it is time for you to leave now. Make sure no one approaches." I struggled to my elbows and tried to see the book. I began to feel some dread. There were no such things as magic spells, were there? She turned back to me. "You have been very foolish. I tried to warn you off. I admit that I used you at first. I even found your later attention flattering. What woman would not be flattered by a man's attention? But we were not for each other and you would soon find out that I was not meant for the society of this city. Or perhaps you knew this. You would just keep me as a paramour, and you would marry someone else who would fit into your society. Also, I was for another. I belong to Jaal who you just saw. Together we will be powerful in our clan. Did you think to spoil that?" "What are you going to do?" I struggled with my bonds. She flipped through the book to a page near its end. "I have here a spell, that when you hear it will make you into a girl, a beautiful one. Your male body will be gone. The spell is severe, but when you recover and are becoming used to your new body, we will sell you, if not in Trebizond itself, in some of the Ottoman territories. There is always a demand for beautiful female slaves and we should get a good price for you." Her story was preposterous. I would have laughed if not for my predicament. "You are lying," I said. "There are no such spells." "You will see. I have used spells in this book before, but I have never had an opportunity to use this, although I have it on good authority that it worked well in the past. You see, one of my ancestors, my grandmother, was a princess of a city called Zernos, in the Caucasus. The spells in this book have saved cities, killed tyrants and ended empires. Perhaps you should feel proud that I use such a spell on a wretch like you." She pushed me back and began to read from the book. Despite my struggles I heard the words clearly, yet they made no sense. They were not in any of the civilized languages like Greek or Latin, or any of the local tongues. She finished reading and I saw her close the book. I felt elation. I laughed. "You see, stupid girl, the so-called spell did not work!" She gave a quiet smile and pulled out a knife. I shrank from her. "I thought you were not going to kill me! I am sorry I spoke like that." She called a few words out of the canvas flap and Jaal rentered. "I have read the spell," she said. "The changes should begin soon." She turned back to me. "Stupid girl, am I? I am not the one who will soon have their life changed. No, I am are not going to kill you but if I cut your male clothes off it may mean less injuries to you in the change," and she cut the clothes from me until I was naked, although still bound. " I will cut the ropes from you when you are unconscious." Then she kissed me, full on the lips. "Thank you, Luke. You have been useful." It was as if she was deliberately provoking Jaal. " I saw his face darken. "This is the last kiss you will receive," she said,"as a man. Perhaps women may kiss you in the future, but I assure you, it is men who will pay you most attention." It was a warm day, and warmer still within the canvas cover of the waggon, but I felt a shiver. Was it my nakedness, or of fear? She was watching me closely. "Ah yes, I see that the spell is beginning to work." He calmness made my situation more terrifying. I struggled again desperately in the ropes so that I began perspiring. Then another shiver took me. I hunched trying to keep warm then yet another shiver, violent this time, took me. Then the shivers became almost continuous and my teeth began to chatter. I was only partially aware of a rag being put between by teeth. "Just to make sure you do not break your teeth. It would decrease your sale price. You will be unconscious about a day and a half," she said casually. Then I remember no more. I began to reach consciousness, being aware of an overwhelming lassitude and deep aches in my bones and muscles. It was as if I was climbing out of a dark pit. I was only slightly aware of a hand shaking my shoulder, when I felt a rush of cold water. I felt as I was drowning. I spluttered, then another similar rush jolted me into semiconsciousness. I cried out in fright, then realized my voice was different. It had sounded more like a woman's scream. I pushed myself up with my arms, aware that my body was somehow different. There was yet another shower of cold water and I spluttered, opening my crusted eyes. Jaal was looking at me in amusement. I rolled over onto my back, again feeling the awkwardness, as if I was weaker or my hips heavier. My body felt unfamiliar and something was tugging at my chest. I felt at it. I muttered in puzzlement then screamed in the shrill female voice. I had felt two female breasts, soft and firm to my own hands. Desperately I squeezed at them hoping it was some joke they were playing on me, but I felt the probing squeezing hands on my own chest. It was my own flesh I was squeezing and tender to my own touch! I focussed my eyes and examined them more carefully. There were two mounds on my chest, each tipped with sensitive nipple. Even the areola surrounds were sensitive. Then in growing horror I remembered what the gypsy woman had said to me, her threat to make me into a woman. Babbling in terror I slid my hand down my belly and found a patch of springy hair, but nothing else! All of my manhood was gone, my penis and the the sac below. I desperately felt further still and felt some edges of soft ridged flesh surrounding a moist opening. I screamed again. In terror. I bent to look and saw the familiar parts of my manhood were gone. Looking still further only the folds of a female were visible beneath the springy hair. My hips were wider too and my waist narrower. The spell had worked. "Please," I babbled, "have mercy. You cannot have me like this. I am a man. Mercy." I was crying like a woman. Jaal shook his head. "We warned you. Now the best for you is to accept it, and you will trouble us no more. Or perhaps I should show you what uses your new body can be put to. Teach you what it is to be a woman." He began to undo his robe. "Please!" I shrank back into the recesses of the waggon. "No, I do not....." With relief I saw him hesitate. I began to cry, realizing my own vulnerabity. "Good thing for you that Allila may be back soon. Perhaps she would be annoyed with me. Now I have things to attend to. I leave you to get aquainted with your new body. Oh yes, Allila says you will find your new body strange at first, but that eventually your mind will become used to it. Allila says that she heard from her grandmother that most came to accept their new bodies, some even to prefer them as their minds become altered too." He bent down and before I could react, snapped a chain round my ankle and I was left alone. If I had thought to escape, it was obvious that it was impossible. I was naked, and the large chain round my ankle secured me to the waggon floor. I knew too that even if I did escape, I was still vulnerable. I was in a woman's body, naked, and miles from my father's house. And even if I could get there they would think I was mad. And what good would escaping do? The gypsy had used a spell on me. If I wanted to change back I would have to remain with them and try to either persuade them to change me back, with the promise of a reward, or to uncover the book and see if it had a spell that would undo the effects of this one. I felt at my face. With relief I felt familiar stubble on my chin and upper lip. My arm too was covered with my own male dark hair. There was also hair in the cleavage of my chest. Yet, as I rubbed at my arm, the hairs pulled away easily. It was the same with my chest, and when I rubbed my chin again I saw flecks of my stubble on my palms. I felt hot and cold. The spell was leaving no part of me unaltered. I raised my arm to examine it. Its proportions were changed too. My hands were small and neat, yet with long fingers. My wrists were slim and my arms rounded. The flap on the door parted and Allila climbed in,"You are finally awake." She looked down at me with only a trace of sympathy. " So I expect you will now be making the acquaintance of your new body. You should feel glad. That spell makes beautiful women and it looks as if it has worked well on you." "Here, look at yourself." She thrust a mirror into my hands. With shaking hands I took it and looked at my face I let out a wail. Facing me was a woman's face, but with blotchy skin and faint remnants of my facial hair. I used the mirror to look at my chest. Looking down had been bad enough, but now I saw clearly two pert breasts, each with a large dark nipple and areola. "You don't like what you see?" she asked. "I am deformed. I am ugly," I screamed. "I thought you said I would not be ugly." "Ah, you are already concerned with your appearance. That is a good start to being a woman. No, I did not lie. You look strange just now," she laughed, "but you should be happy. Your face has regular features. The blotchiness will disappear soon. It is a temporary result of the spell. The male hairs on your face will drop out soon, as will the coarse hair on your arms, legs and chest. But you will still be left with some nice dark hair in your armpits and below your belly, although in the pattern of a woman." "Your hair is too short, but it will grow. We could make you decorate your lips and your eyes, anoint yourself with perfume to show you better on the auction block. Or perhaps we will shave your head and put you in furs to give you an exotic look when we sell you. Perhaps we could say you are a wild woman of the steppes. Some men may bid more for you. Some men like a touch of the exotic." "Please, you cannot do this. It is cruel," I screamed. "I cannot be a woman." "Be quiet! You would prefer that Jaal killed you instead? The spell is old. I do not know where it came from initially, but I have been told that it helped enslave armies, made the soldiers into women, beautiful ones, suitable for harem slaves, many beautiful enough to be odalisques. You know what an odalisque is?" I trembled. I knew indeed. As a young man I had joked with others about these harem beauties whose only role in life was to satisfy the lusts of masters. I began to cry. I cursed myself. Why was I crying? Why was I now so weak? "Here, some water." She held a bowl to my lips. "You will be feeling thirsty. You perspired a lot in your changes." I drank some of the water, a sip at first, then larger gulps. I began to feel a great lassitude and I allowed myself to fall back into sleep. It was some hours later when I woke again. Both gypsies were looking at me. Jaal pushed me with his boot. I shrank from him, my leg chain clinking. He rubbed my face with a hand and examined the palms. "Yes. I see too that the facial hair is falling out." He seized my face in both his hands and held me so that I had to look at him directly. His dark eyes held no pity. I tried to twist away but he was too strong for me to resist. 'Yes, her eyes are clearing." A thumb parted my lips to expose my teeth. His dirty fingernailnail stabbed my lips and tears filled my eyes. I felt shame that I was being examined like a horse. "And I see that her teeth are good. Yes, a fine girl indeed. She will fetch a good price." I cringed inwardly. He was referring to me as a female already. "As you say, Allila, she is beautiful. That is a marvelous spell. It would have a lot of commercial possibiities. There is always a market for beautiful women. A pity about the hair being so short but we cannot afford to keep her until it grows." He leaned down and almost casually seized one of my breasts, squeezing it as if to test the texture. I tried to push him off but he easily held my wrists in his one hand, his hand shifted to my nipples, tweaking, then rolling and pinching them, then slid to my belly, and further down. I screamed at his intrusion on the sensitive flesh. "I do not want her here any longer," said the girl abruptly. She looked sideways at the man. I realised she was jealous of my beauty and his attentions. She rummaged in a box and threw a peasant dress to me. "Put that on." The dress was worn and stained. It even smelled faintly of sweat and cooking but I was glad to use it to cover my nakedness. I did not relish wearing women's clothing, but I did not like the way that Jaal was looking at me. I needed to cover myself. He looked at me. "You should know what your future is. I have contacted a slave trader. You will be on the auction block within a week. " "You cannot do this. I am a man, a free man." I was overwhelmed. I began to cry. He snorted. "A man? I only see a weeping female, naked, and with a chain on her leg. She looks nothing like a free man. Such an impertinent slut! So you are sorry for yourself? Just wait until you see that your desires mean nothing, You will serve a master absolutely, or, if you do not, you may feel his whip. But first, I have a surprise for you. Someone is very interested in your changes and your progress." He opened the waggon flap and beckoned. I gasped as the new visitor entered. There was shock on his face too as he saw me. "Andrew," I cried, "Please, these monsters have put a spell on me. Summon the authorities. Tell my father. It is me, your cousin Luke. Oh please rescue me." I jumped to my feet and tried to run to him, but the chain was too short, holding me back. Hee made no move to approach me, but then held back. There was a calculating, look in his eyes yet compassion too. "Luke, you say. A strange name for a female slave. Perhaps we should get a new name for you. Hmm. What would be appropriate for you? Perhaps Pandora, as in the old myth, the girl who opened a box of misfortunes. That was what you did when you made advances to the girl and schemed against these people. They even warned you. Be thankful they did not kill you. But then again, it has now been my good fortune. You see, your poor father is desperate to find you, but Jaal left bloodied clothes around the estate. It seems a wild animal killed poor Luke and dragged him off to devour him. His body has not ben found. Your poor mother and sisters are so desolate. " He bit his lip. "Roxanne too is desolate, but we have dropped hints that you were interested in a gypsy girl anyway and no doubt she will soon forget you. I will soon call to condole her myself, and who knows? I have no doubt she will come to welcome my attentions. You see, my own company is doing better now. Also, now that your father has lost his only son, he will want a male heir to take over his merchant business. It might even make good business sense to join your father's businesses to mine." I was overwhelmed at his treachery. "How did you plan this?" I gasped. He shook his head. "We are almost friends. We help each other a lot. In fact, the profitability of our trading house depends much on these men. You tried to enlist me to get rid of him. That was such a wicked thing. Shame on you," he chided. "However, it was not me who told Jaal about your scheme. Perhaps it was one of the soldiers that you tried to bribe." I was overwhelmed at his hypocrisy. I leaped at him but he easily avoided my blows and instead caught my wrists in his one hand. My woman's body was too weak to resist him. He held me firmly, but gently too, as if to stop me hurting myself in my struggles. "Got spirit have you?" he sneered. "Ah well, some masters like a little spirit in their female slaves. I should say too, that you are quite pretty. Maybe I could consider taking you as my own slave. It would be amusing to use you in bed. However," he said, "maybe not. I first have to court Roxanne. I have long fancied Roxanne. I think she might have taken me too, had you not been wealthier than me. Maybe after we are wed I can take mistresses, but it might take a month or two to persuade Roxanne to forget you and become my bride. So, perhaps it would be better if you were gone. However, we should get a nice name for you, something dainty and feminine." "Andrew, please do not do this. Help me. I will reward you." He shook his head. "I stand to gain much more than you could give me. Anyway, you are now a woman, forever. Accept it. You have beauty. Use it." "But my face is ugly," I objected. The gypsy girl held the mirror to my face again. I gasped. I saw a beautiful face, woebegone, tear stained, and short haired, it is true, but the girl's features were regular, her lips full and appealing. There was now no trace of my male facial hair. My upper lip and chin were soft and smooth. I saw the remnants of my features true enough, but softened and feminised. I looked nothing like a man. In fact I could hardly believe the vision. "Aren't you pleased that you will not be an ugly hag?" Allila's voice became laced with contempt. "Now you can be pretty, make yourself up, enjoy dressing yourself up. Perhaps you could learn feminine wiles, all the better to attract men. Or perhaps just one. When we sell you perhaps it will be some Turk that will buy you for his harem. How would you like to spend your days in silken seraglio seclusion? You would have to know how to accept a strong master. Either that or be killed, a fitting punishment for you! You were warned." "Now I think, yes, let your hair grow a bit, get some makeup for those eyes and cheeks, maybe even a little colour for your lips. No maybe a little more. just to give you the hint of a whore. We want to sell you in a slave market. Now, what about that name for you? Let me think. Something to suit a female slave. Something sluttish." But they did not come up with a name. They all went off to see about some minor commotion and left me to my own devices, I pulled at my chain the chain, but it was set to a ring in the waggon floor. Some time later the girl came with some food. I threw it in her face but she glared at me. "You do not waste food. For that you can do without." In fact I was left alone for a whole day. When she gave me food again, I ate it ravenously. "Yes, eat up," she said. "Make ready, tomorrow we will move you to the city, there to find a slave trader who will buy you. Then he can put you up for public auction." I lay in fear that night, in my anguish remembering the foolishness, lust and scheming that had so changed my life. The next morning I pleaded with Allila when she came to feed me. "Please I beg you. Please change me back. Do you have a spell for it? Return me to being a man and I will reward you far beyond he price of a slave." She was about to say something but Jaal entered. "Ah pleading, is she? Good! I like to see her suffer. No, we do not want your ransom. You have insulted my woman and my family. You tried to have me killed. I would have killed you but for her. She is too soft hearted," He snorted at me and left. The girl nodded at me. "Up you get. Then she whispered in my ear " Have patience. It will not be long. Andrew will save you. " then pulled me out into the light. I squinted in the sunshine. A small cart was pulled up and Jaal lifted me easily into it, tying my waist by a rope to a bar in the cart. This would be my transportation to the house of the slave trader. But it was not to be just then. One of the gypsies came running into the camp, shouting. The gypsies soon joined in a huddle, shouting and gesticulating. I could not understand their words. "What has happened," I screamed. Allila came over to me. She was biting her lip. "There will be a delay, perhaps for some time. The Ottoman have laid siege to the city. We cannot go there. There is too much turbulence. It will affect our plans for you." So my sale as a slave was not to be just then. Thus, I spent another two months in the gypsy camp. Occasionally groups of Ottoman soldiers visited the camp, but they were not concerned overly with the gypsies, who I suppose had little to plunder and offered them no threat. Jaal told me that an Ottoman governor was in control of the city but that otherwise life in the city was slowly returning to normal. The citizens knew that it was in their best interests to collaborate with the new regime. The sultan was a skilled general, adept in military tactics. He had first neutralised Trebizond's allies in the east before the invasion. The surrounding territory was easily overrun and the city held out, but only for a month until David Comnenus surrendered it. I did not know what would have happened to my father. I hoped he would have escaped During that time I was given work to do, women's work, in food washing and preparation. I looked for ways to escape, but I was well watched, and continually chained as well. Not that escape would have helped me. I needed the gypsy's book to help me change back. and I kept a lookout for it but there was never any sign of it. I supposed the Allila kept it in her own waggon, but I was never allowed near it. It was during that time I got mostly used to the drastic changes in my body. and the sight of my own breasts, the lack of my male parts, my curved figure and my smaller stature no longer held surprises for me. It was different with my mind. I still thought as a man. I hated the female body. I detested its weakness. I detested squatting to relieve myself. I was terrified by the lustful looks several of the gypsy men gave me, Jaal most of all, but Allila watched over me carefully, almost as if protecting me. I supposed she wanted me as a virgin for my sale. One day Allila pointed me to a basin of water and a bundle of plant material. "Wash yourself," she commanded. "Scrub the dirt off with that plant. It will lather like a soap." I looked at her, distrusting her "Yes," she said. "Our band will be leaving here soon. So we are taking you to the city. The slave market is opened again. You will be sold," she added, almost under her breath, "I am sorry it turned out this way. The invasion has upset many of our plans." "What do you mean?" I asked. "Better you do not know now. Accept being a woman. Then you will be happier.There is another thing you should know. Perhaps we have saved your life. You see, the Ottoman have imprisoned all of the men of the Trebizond ruling elite, those that did not escape. You might have been one of them. I suppose now you are well disguised." "Please change me back," I pleaded one more time. She shook her head sadly. "Jaal would not permit it." She looked up.