Chapter 3 (part1)

Light conversation was made between Lady Dareen and Lord Griffin but Master Azea only spoke when he was spoken to and even then, he gave short answers. Whenever he bordered on rudeness Eos would accidentally hit him lightly with the fan. He would scowl at her and she just looked back, raising an eyebrow slightly. Whether or not it was impudent of her- she was not going to allow him to sour his relationship with his father any further. 

"Azea- so this is the prostitute you bought for yourself?" Lord Griffin asked suddenly. 

Master Azea shut his eyes for a brief moment. He always hated it when people referred to Eos as a prostitute or whore. She had no idea why. It was what she did for a living after all. When he opened them again, he looked like he was having a headache. 

"Yes, father. This is Eos." 

Eos kept her eyes down as she fanned Master Azea. 

"I don't approve of you using her," Lord Griffin said, lifting his wine glass for the serving girls to refill. Master Azea stiffened, "Father, you never have less than three bed slaves for yourself," he said, keeping his temper reared in. 

"Yes- but they had only ever served me. This wench on the other hand- gods only know how many men she has bedded." 

Yeah- you included, Eos thought to herself but said nothing. 

"I bought her," Master Azea said, "What I want to do with her is up to me." 

Darleen scowled at Eos from across the table. "I hope you planning to get rid of her after we wed," she said icily. Master Azea's temper was growing shorter and shorter. No doubt he was going to snap at his fiancee. Under the table, Eos slipped her hand over his and gave it a light squeeze. He looked at her for a moment and released a breath. "I will keep her as a dancer," he said at last. 

"But is she just your bed warmer?" Lord Griffin asked, watching him carefully, "I hope you aren't trying to get a child out of her." 

Eos had to stop herself from wrinkling her nose. A child? What was Lord Griffin? Senile? Everyone knew it was a ridiculous idea of getting a prostitute pregnant. What then? There would be dozens of possible fathers and none who would claim it. No money. And after birth, there was a high chance of them losing their good body shape. 

Master Azea clenched Eos' hand before getting to his feet, "This is why I'd rather not dine with you. Or even be in the same room with you. You only ever spend all your time criticising me and ordering me around. I'm not a child you can control anymore and you don't like that. What I wish to do is my own business," he said and stalked out of the room. Eos followed him, puzzled. 

Why was he suddenly so angry? 

Glancing back, she saw Lord Griffin cast his eyes down, looking downcast though he tried to hide it. Lady Dareen on the other hand just looked angry. 

They didn't say a word as they returned to Master Azea's wing. When they reached his bed chambers he waved out all of his servants. Once they were gone, he aimed a kick at a chair and sent it half way across the room. 

The man has strong leg muscles, Eos found herself thinking. 

"What?" he snapped when he saw her staring at him. 

"Nothing. I just never expected you to behave just as spoilt as Lady Dareen." 

He glared at her, "What?" he asked again. 

"Look around you. You have everything we could only dream about in the lower city. What you have on your dinner table alone each night, is what my mother and I used to have in half a month. You have a good bed. An education you're not even bothering with. You think all this just fell from the sky? You only have this kind of luxury because of your father-" 

"Who is a self centred man whom I ever had the displeasure of being remotely related to-" 

"Which brings me to my next point," Eos said, raising her voice a little to cut him off. She looked at him, calmly, "You have a father. Something I had never had in my life. My entire life was a huge question without him. Even if he's done some wrong to you, he's still your father. He's been around for you. He's trying to mold you into a better person. And yet, because of your own selfish whim for pleasure, you're throwing it all away. You've been with people who tell you nothing but what you want to hear for so long, you blocked yourself to the only person who has been trying to tell you what you need to hear your entire life," she said. 

Master Azea stared at her, looking shocked. 

Eos breathed for a moment, "Good night, master," she told him and returned to her room. Propping a chair to the door knob to keep it shut, Eos changed her clothes and dropped onto the bed. 

Any other master would hand her a trashing for her words. 

Her eye lids began to draw shut. Ah well- tomorrow she would deal with it. 

Tomorrow she would take whatever he had to throw at her. 

The next morning, she met Master Azea at his breakfast table. He was quiet and seemed deep in thought. When she stepped up in front of him, he looked up, "Adna, lock the door and pretend you don't have a key if Dareen comes looking," he told his servant. 

"Yes, master," Adna bowed and left. The door clicked as he turned the key in the lock. 

Once they were alone, Master Azea reached out a hand for Eos. She took it and allowed him to draw her onto his lap. He kissed her forehead and wrapped his arms around her, cradling her to him. Eos observed his manner as she ran her fingers through his hair. 

"You didn't sleep well last night," she commented. 

"No. I couldn't. And when I thought of sleeping with you, I found you have somehow shut your door on me," he said, lightly tapping his fingers up her spine again. "Forgive me, master," she whispered. 

"No, I understand. You've probably grown tired of being around me all the time," he said before pulling away and clearing his throat, "Today… you're going to visit the Desert Gem, am I right? I'll have Adna arrange for some guards for you and a horse," he said, letting her sit down on the cushion next to him instead. 

Eos felt hurt suddenly. She knew he had already mentioned she could have the day off already. But for some reason, she felt like he didn't want her suddenly. The day before in the palm pavilion, he could barely keep his hands off her. Now he wasn't even looking at her. She shut her eyes for a moment, reminding herself of her place. One day he would stop calling for her and that would be that.

She poured his wine and served him before helping herself. 

After breakfast, she changed into a shirt and trousers and went to look for Adna. He assigned her two of the men at arms and a mare. 

Eos looked at the mare as though it was a rabid wild dog. "Relax," Adna said with a grin, "This is Moonbeam. She's as gentle and sweet as can be. The master had gotten her especially for you," he said, handing her the reins. 

Looking uncertain, Eos mounted the mare and wriggled herself into a more comfortable position. Moonbeam didn't even fidget or toss her head as the other horses she practice on did. One of the men at arms had his horse amble up next to her, 

"Do you want me to use a lead rein?" he asked, "You never practiced in the town roads before." 

"Why? What would happen?" 

"Well- more distractions for a horse. She might bolt," he said and Eos looked horrified. 

"Don't tease her," said the other guard, "Moonbeam has been in town plenty of times before. She won't even rear if she gets chased by dogs." 

Eos still didn't look certain as she gripped the reins as though her life depended on it. "Master Azea has given the order for you to use the servant exits and make sure no one outside, nor inside the palace, harm her. By that, Eos knew that Master Azea still feared Seti might harm her 

Riding down to the town, Eos was flanked by the two guards. They went down the streets that Eos still knew so well. It had been only a few weeks but it felt like a lifetime. They went straight down the main road and took a right by the spicer stall and then a left at the store that sold god idols made of bronze and sometimes gilded depending on the order. And at the very end of that street was the Desert Gem. 

A girl in a simple dark gown and head scarf was walking towards it, her back to them. 

Eos recognised her from the manner she walked and held herself and kicked Moonbeam into a gallop. "Oh great- now she decides to speed up," the guard who teased her muttered, having his gelding gallop after her with his partner. 

Tara turned around at the sound of hooves and immediately spotted Eos. 

"Eos!" she cried as the younger girl jumped off the horse. 

The two hugged, "Look at you! You look so beautiful- have you gained weight?" 

"No!" Eos said at once. She gained weight easily which was why Mother always told her to watch what she ate. The dancing and sex helped to keep her weight down as well. "How about you? You haven't been using that lotion Mother told you to use, your skin looks dried out again," she said. 

Tara sighed, "I know, but it can be such a bother. Besides, we're in a room that's half dark all the time, they can't see too well," she pointed out, "So- how are things with you and the young lord?" she asked. 

Eos looked at the two man at arms who were looking around but she could swear they had edged closer when Tara asked that question. "Let's talk inside…" she said but the guards followed them. Eos glanced at them and signalled to some of the girls hanging around. The sign she sent told them that those two men following her had close contact with a very rich man. At once, the girls disappeared and returned, less dressed and fluttered around the guards. 

With them distracted, Eos and Tara went to a corner to talk. 

"Well?" Tara asked. 

"I'm not too sure… I think I might have offended him last night," she said. 

"What did you do?" she demanded. 

"I… I might have yelled at him a bit," she said and received a cuff on the top of her head, "Ow!" 

"What are you!? Stupid? Why did you yell at him for!?" 

"If you stop yelling at me, I'll tell you why I yelled at him," she said, rubbing her head, "Look, he blew his da off, alright? Not to mention he's always skipping his lessons and things. So I might have yelled at him for doing those things, that's all," she said, "Anyway- what happened to you? Anything new?" 

Tara sighed, "Well… I got a new customer. He's rich and completely in love. I got a pair of new earrings. An old suitor of mine came to try and buy me back. Mother has been trying to find a dancer to replace you-" 

"Wait- what!?" 

"I know!" Tara said, "It's been absolutely useless. No one can dance like you-" 

"No- I mean, an old suitor came to buy you back? What happened!?" 

"Oh, it was some rich merchant's son from my old village," Tara said waving a hand, dismissively, "Honestly, he already has two wives last I heard. When he asked for my hand, his mother saw my parents couldn't pay much so she gave him another bride and he took her, no complaints. Suddenly, he appears in Desert Gem a week ago and recognised me. Next thing I know, he's all over me," she said, "Even offered to buy me back but I told Mother no." 

"But why?" 

"Oh, please, Eos. He's not the same kind of man Master Azea is. And I know for a fact, he's one of those who only like me because I'm pretty. The moment I get old, or he finds a more beautiful girl, he'll drop me like a pair of old riding gloves," Tara said. 

At that point, the other girls were already all over the guards, laughing at their least humorous remarks and fluttering their eyes. The guards looked as though they had absolutely no regrets about accompanying Eos at all. 

"They look happy," Tara observed. 

"Tara- I want to ask you- please be careful? You don't know what will happen." 

They had plenty of bad experiences with men who had gotten too infatuated with them. Many times it was harmless. But there were times when some got too obsessed. It was to the extent the girls could hardly move about without having one of the men workers follow them around to make sure they were kept safe.  

Tara smiled, "Whose being a grandmother now?" 

"Tara, I'm serious. Remember what happened to the last girl?" 

The pair fell silent. That last girl had been killed. The man who had fallen so obsessively in love with her could not handle her constant rejection any further. Somehow he had led her away from the Desert Gem and the next day, someone came to the Desert Gem and said she had been seen being dragged away. Her screams had stopped when she was out of sight from the witness. Her body was found in the home of the man who had killed her. 

"I'll be fine," Tara assured her. 

The two continued chatting, talking about the latest gossip in town and in the Desert Gem. 

At last, the two guards managed to extract themselves from the girls, with much regret, to tell Eos it was time for her to return. Tara sighed, "I'll let Mother know you dropped by. She's out visiting slave pens again," she said as they got to their feet. Eos hugged her tightly, "Thanks. I'll visit as soon as I can. And i'm sure you two want to come too, right?" she asked the two guards who nodded, trying not to look too eager. 

"Take care of yourself too," Tara told Eos, "And keep a guard on your tongue and temper," she reminded, smacking her arm lightly. "Yes, grandmother." 

Back in the palace, Adna informed Eos that Master Azea was entertaining Lady Dareen so she had dinner with the servants and went back to her room. Washing herself from the water in a small basin, she dried off and heaved a sigh of relief. 

She had forgotten how dusty the streets could be. She brushed the dust out of her hair and set the brush down on the dressing table. Her hand stopped for a moment and slid the drawer open. 

Inside was a small piece of linen with the pendant hidden inside. She took it out and and sat down on the bed. 

Setting the square of cloth on her lap, she opened it up and took the pendant out. The silver was slightly tarnished. She should polish it again soon. She touched the intricate pattern, feeling the cool, smooth surface. 

Mama loved him…. she found herself thinking, Mama loved him to the vey end. But did he love mama? Did he love her, his daughter? Did he even know she existed? 

"What is that?" 

Eos jumped and fumbled the pendant before clutching it to her chest once more to stop it from falling. She hadn't even heard Master Azea enter her bedroom. She could smell Lady Dareen's sweet, jasmine perfume on him as he sat next to her. 

"What is that?" he asked again, sitting next to her, "Wow- your bed is harder than mine," he suddenly commented.

He took the chain that hung from her grip and she let him take it from her. "Wow- what is this?" he asked, "A trinket from an admirer?" 

"No," Eos said, looking at it, "It's something my mother gave me, before she died. She said it belongs to my father." 

"Oh…" he said and handed it back to her. She took it and rubbed it with her thumb. "It looks like you really treasure that thing," he observed, "You never even knew him." 

She drew her knees up and rested her chin on them. She held the pendant in her hands, watching the shining surfaces that peeped out from beneath the tarnish wink and glisten in the light, "Exactly…" she said softly, "I don't have anything else from him. Not a picture. Not a face. Not a smile. Not even a memory. When mama gave this to me she said this belongs to him. Not belonged. It means it was still his when she handed it to me. Maybe she was waiting for him to come back and take it." 

"And you're waiting for him to come back and take it too… huh?" Master Azea asked, his voice gentle. 

Eos nodded, clutching the pendant harder. 

From the corner of her eye, she saw Master Azea reach out as though he wanted to wrap his arm around her but stopped suddenly. Instead he gave her hair a stroke, "It's going to be all right," he told her before getting to his feet, "Well… good night, Eos. Sleep well." 

And he left. 

Eos watched him leave, feeling a little hurt despite herself. 

Shaking it from mind, she wrapped the pendant back into the cloth and put it back into the drawer. With nothing to do, and suddenly not feeling quite so sleepy anymore, Eos went down to the servants quarters to beg the cook for something to eat.

She had gotten hold of a roll with raisins and some honey when Adna came looking for her, "What on earth did you do to the young master?" he asked as she was about to bite into the roll. She raised an eyebrow, "Nothing. Why?" she asked. 

"I just asked him why he wasn't sleeping with you tonight, and did you know what he said?" Adna said, helping himself to some raisins in a dish only to get his hand smacked with a wooden spoon. "Adna! That's for the master's breakfast bread tomorrow morning," the cook snapped and Adna quickly pulled his hand back, nursing it to his chest. Eos bit into the roll, waiting for him to answer his own question. 

"Anyway- he said you're getting bored of him." 

Eos swallowed, "What?" she asked, staring at him.

"He says- you might be getting bored of him that's why he wants to give you some breathing space. He doesn't want you to hang around him because you have to," Adna said. 

The girl stared at him, "Right- someone needs to remind the master that he bought me. It doesn't matter what I think," she pointed out. Adna shrugged, "I don't know, I'm just telling you what you need to know. And also, a word of advice, no slave should bite the hand that feeds them." "I don't bite cookie's hand," Eos said and cook grinned. 

Adna glared at her, "You know what I mean." 

"Fine!" Eos said, stuffing the rest of her roll in Adna's mouth and going up to the master's bedroom. 

The man was already in bed as the servants' were still dimming the lamps and stoking the fire. Eos could tell that Master Azea wasn't asleep yet. "Private moment?" she mouthed to the other servants in the room. 

They nodded and quickly finished their chores and left the room.

Shutting the door, Eos went over to Master Azea, moving carefully and lightly. She leaned on his side of the bed, "Master?" she called softly and he opened his eyes at once and looked surprised. 

"Eos! What's wrong?" he asked. 

"I couldn't sleep," she lied, "Can I sleep with you…? Please?" 

Master Azea gently touched her hand, "Sure," he said and she could see him smile a little in the darkness. He moved a little to give her space and she climbed into the bed with him. He tucked an arm around her securely. 

"Why couldn't you sleep?" he murmured, his lips pressed to her forehead. 

"I dunno," she replied, edging closer to him. She heard him give a very quiet, content sigh and she couldn't help but smile. 

Chapter 2 (Part 2)

The next morning, Eos awoke when she heard a fearful groan from the master. She bolted up right at once and looked round, "Master Azea- are you alright?" she asked. 

He groaned again, "Don't speak so loudly. My head is killing me," he told her. She looked round and saw one of the servants pulling open the curtains to let in the light, warm morning sunlight.

 "Master Azea had too much wine during dinner last night. Not that anyone would blame him. Any one of us would have done the same in his position," the servant informed Eos who heaved a quiet sigh of relief. 

The birds in the aviary downstairs were loud as usual during the morning. 

 Master Azea covered his eyes with his arm, "Gods- someone have those birds shot and let me have my peace," he said. 

 Eos stifled a giggle and slipped out of bed. Some of the servants were preparing Master Azea's usual morning bath as Adna brought in a foul smelling herbal drink, "Master," he said offering it to Master Azea. 

The master took one sniff and retched. But he took the mug and downed it. Eos wrinkled her nose, and her respect for Master Azea greatly increased. The sight and smell of the herbal drink was horrendous. If she were him, she would have gone on with the headaches. 

Several times, Master Azea looked as though he was about to vomit. Indeed, Adna carried a basin at the ready but after awhile, Master Azea waved him off. "Eos, come bathe with me," he said at last, getting to his feet and looking much better already. At the request, Eos hid a grimace and followed him to his bathroom. There was an area that was raised up and the bath carved out of the marble. The servants had filled with warm water standing in the middle of the cold marble floor. Adna helped undress Master Azea and barely batted an eye nor give a glance at Eos who began to remove her clothings as well.

He really was the type who would not notice a group of naked ladies parading pass him if he needed to attend to the master. 

"Urgh… I wonder how long Dareen will be staying," Master Azea groaned as he leaned against the side of the bath. Eos had only half a mind to attend to him. The other half had never been in a bath so large nor so filled with soap bubbles so she felt inclined to play with them. 

Master Azea watched her as she picked up a handful of soap and blew it so it would float through the air. He smiled. 

"You never bathed with soap bubbles before?" he asked and she shook her head, "Then maybe you should bathe with me from now on." He observed her face, "Now you're thinking you'd rather sit on a snake's nest." 

Eos fought an exasperated look that made Master Azea laugh again. 

At last when he recovered, he reached out to touch her hair she had tied up from getting wet, "You're not going to wash your hair?" he asked, his hand moving down the gentle curve of her back. 

"It's a pain to dry and hardly practical to wash everyday," she replied. 

"We have time," he said, "I can help you dry it later." 

Again, this statement disconcerted her but to hide it, she slowly removed the pins she had used and her hair slowly uncoiled and fell down her back. Master Azea watched her for a moment before deciding to wash himself as well. 

Eos watched some of the lighter bubbles float pass her. Her back was to the master as she slowly soaped and rinsed her hair, thinking and trying to reason out her fears. 

Master Azea was a kind man. Kind especially to those who served him. Had he not say his fiancée had thrown a spoilt tantrum at a maid whom he had also treated well because he had just lost her family? He probably saw Eos the same way. All he did was merely kindness on his part. That was all. 

"Girls must have it hard," Master Azea observed. She looked round and saw him watching her, one arm propping his chin up on the side of the bath.  

"Master?" 

"It's just, the time it takes me to bathe and wash myself, hair and all, is less than the time it takes for you to wash your hair," he said. 

That remarked poked at her like a sewing pin. Eos leaned towards him and touched the back of his ear. He watched her curiously. "You didn't wash behind your ears," she told him after her inspection and went back to rinsing her hair. Master Azea scowled like a small child and obeyed, "You didn't wash your back either," Eos guessed. 

"Can't reach it," he replied, "You do it." 

She obeyed, taking the small hand towel to wash his back. As she scrubbed, she noticed for the first time, what appeared to be old scars on his dark skin. 

"Their from battles and fights," he told her, "Even my hands. Look," he showed her one open palm that had a shiny scar on it she had never noticed before. "Doesn't it hurt?" she asked, touching it. 

Master Azea's hand enclosed around hers, "When I first got them? Yes. But now?" he said, kissing the back of her hand, "They're just scars." He released her hand and she continued her job. After awhile, he asked, "Can you reach your back?" 

"Yes, with a little difficulty," she answered.

"Yes, of course. You're a dancer. You should be flexible enough. All the same," he turned round to face her, taking the towel from her hand. 

Obeying his promptings, Eos turned around and pulled her hair away from her back. As always, Master Azea's hands were gentle though large against her small back, "It's always been on my mind… but your skin is fairer than most… do you have foreign blood in you?" 

"I don't know," Eos replied, "I never met anyone from my mother's side and I don't know anything about my father," she explained. 

His hands stopped and she felt his lips press against her shoulder. She looked at him in surprise and he smiled, "Let's get out before we look like prunes," he said. 

Eos got out first and wrapped herself in a towel before bringing another two for Master Azea. They left the bathroom while Eos tried to dry her hair, heading towards her room. She shut the door behind her with a relieved sigh and wrapped her hair up in a towel so she could get dressed. 

When she finally was dressed in a dark red costume made of silk with gold beads and embroideries, she sat down in front of her mirror, still trying to towel her hair dry. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the door to Master Azea's room open. She really had to find away to make sure it stays shut when she wants it to. Master Azea simply walked up to her and sat on the seat next to her. 

Taking the towel from her, he helped towel her hair dry. But Eos tried to pull away, "Master Azea, this is not something for a lord to do-" 

"Shush," he told her, taking the comb and gently running it through her hair, loosening the tangles. When he had brushed it through, he wound it up and pinned it up in such a way that thick coils still wound and curled down her back. 

Eos looked surprised and he smiled, curling a lock of hair at the side of her face playfully with his finger, "When I was young I used to watch my mother do her hair. She even let me try sometimes. I think she found it a little amusing," he explained, getting up. Eos followed him to his private sitting room for breakfast, "Your mother…?" 

"Yeah,she was one of father's slaves. He had five of them. Seti and I were born on the same day. Seti was born from father's official wife though," he said, as they settled down on the cushions and rugs for breakfast. The other servants set out the meal on the mat before them. "But our mothers were close. They were almost like sisters," he told Eos. He looked at her face as he picked up a fruit, "You're wondering why Seti and I are so different?" he asked. She nodded, pouring juice into a glass for him before helping herself. 

"Seti was never close to anyone. You could say he was a bit of a selfish brat from the start. Even his mother couldn't do a thing about him but she died when we were four anyway. Mother cried and cried. But father didn't even shed a single tear," he said, his eyes growing colder at the thought. He got back to normal quickly as he picked a sweet roll, "By the way, speaking of father, I have to have dinner with him tonight with Dareen. I'd hate to put you in a difficult position, but I would like it if you attended it with me. It's easier to relax when you're around. You can serve me as usual as an excuse to be there," he said. 

"As Master Azea wishes," Eos replied. 

He leaned back and wound an arm around her waist easily, "Feed me," he told her as she leaned against him. 

She picked up the roll and helped feed him. After the roll he picked up his goblet and drained it. Just as Eos was pouring him more juice, the door burst open again as Dareen strode in imperiously. 

That woman loves a dramatic entrance… Eos thought to herself as she poured the juice into Master Azea's goblet and set down the amphora. 

The moment Dareen caught sight of Eos, her lips tightened. Eos heard Master Azea sigh, "Good morning, Dareen. I trust you slept well? Won't you join us for breakfast?" he said in a cheery voice. 

"Us?" Dareen repeated icily. 

Master Azea sighed a little more obviously this time. Eos spread honey on a slice of freshly baked bread and another one with soft cheese as Master Azea liked and set it on his plate in front of him. She took a roll and spread soft cheese on it before biting into it. 

The master removed his arm from around Eos, "We have apricot jam; it's your favourite right? I remember your chef always had it at your breakfast table when I visited last spring," he said. Dareen smiled, flattered that Master Azea seemed to remember such a small detail. She sat down on his other side and Eos murmured, "Please excuse me, master," she said. Master Azea nodded and gave her a short apologetic look. 

When she left the room, Master Azea already had Dareen swooning for him. Eos shook her head as she shut the door. 

Master Azea could be extremely charming when he wanted to be. That was probably more dangerous than how Seti was. 

"Jealous?" Adna asked with a grin on his usual morning rounds to make sure all was well. He usually went round during the master's breakfast and supper.

 Eos raised an eyebrow, "I'm his dancer and bed slave," she reminded, "He bought me. There's nothing between that," 

Adna shrugged his shoulders, "Master Azea rarely has women in his bed. Tell me- why does someone like that want a bed slave for? It hardly seems like him." 

"Master's a strong man. You can't expect him to live like a monk right?" Eos wanted to know and went to search for the musicians to practice. 

She spent the rest of the morning dancing until Adna came to look for her nearing rest period. "Master Azea has managed to rid himself of Lady Dareen. She is spending time with Lord Griffin's wife. He summons you," he said. 

Eos dried her sweat and made to go up to her room to make herself more presentable since she was dressed in a shirt and loose trousers. "He also says if you are not dressed in your usual attire, you don't need to," Adna added.

 Eos grimaced, "Where is the master?" she asked, accepting a handkerchief from him. She mopped her brow and neck before handing it back to him, "Thanks." 

"Master is out in the Palm Pavilion." 

Eos sighed, she worried whenever he asked her to go there. It was surrounded by different kinds of palms which, though cooled the air, hid them from view of other people and it was easy to here people coming on the gravel path. The last time they were there, he had gotten a little carried away on the day bed. 

"Master?" she called as she searched through the clearings among the palms. She found him reclining in the furthest possible area from the walkway. He had a book strewn on the floor, probably bored from reading it. "Come here," he said, sounding irritable. He was lying on his back with one arm slung over his eyes. Eos climbed over him and laid down between his legs and on his chest. 

Master Azea opened his eyes and stroked her head, "Gods… I'm tired," he said, "Distract me." 

He sat up and kissed her mouth, tugging her tucked shirt loose. She expected that and merely helped him with the task. It didn't matter they were outside, but Eos suspected Master Azea had used that place as a safety precaution so that Dareen wouldn't run into them. Either than that, neither really cared if there were other servants or slaves around. During most of their lovemaking sessions in the bedroom, there were other servants, including Adna there, still doing chores like checking the fire and blowing out the lamps. 

Rest period was almost over as Master Azea tucked an arm securely around Eos, "That helped," he said, covering her with his silk tunic. 

"Don't you have lessons, master?" Eos asked, finding herself winding her fingers with his. She heard him make an exasperated sound. "I'll skip it," he said. Eos had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. 

There came a crunching sound on the gravel but Master Azea didn't rouse himself, "It's Adna. Dareen doesn't step so lightly or so swiftly either." 

True enough, Adna appeared and didn't bat an eye at the scene, "Master Azea, Lady Dareen is searching for you. What do you wish for us to do?" 

"Send her off in the opposite direction," Master Azea ordered, lazily. 

"At once, master." 

Once Adna was gone, Master Azea reached for the glass of wine he had left forgotten on the side table they had almost knocked over several times. It was a miracle the wine glass hadn't fallen and shattered on the tiles. 

"Would you like a glass?" he asked, leaning back. Eos sat up, holding the tunic to her naked form as she searched for her shirt, "No thank you, master," she said in an almost flat voice. She retied the cloth around her breasts before pulling on her shirt then searching for her trousers. "You hardly touch wine or brandy or even ale," Master Azea said, after sipping his wine. He set the glass down and started getting dressed. 

"I need to keep my wits about. And Mother said it's unattractive for us to be drunk and not to be able to even walk in a straight line," she replied, tying a leather loop round her waist to tighten her trousers. 

"Wise woman," Master Azea said, grinning, "And speaking of Mother, I was thinking tomorrow, you could go down to the Desert Gem and see your friend… um… Tara?" 

Eos looked at him with surprise, "I can?" she asked. It had only been less than three weeks. Master Azea smiled, looking a little sly, "Kiss me and it's a definite yes. But bear in mind, not that I don't trust you, some of my men at arms will accompany you." 

All this while Master Azea had been the one to prompt such things. Still. 

He was stretched out on the day bed once more and Eos climbed on top of him to kiss him on the mouth. 

When they broke the kiss, he smiled again, "Right then, you can borrow a horse if you like. You're  riding has improved a great deal after all." 

For some reason, Master Azea had got it into his head that Eos should learn to ride. He would make sure she had three torturous sessions a week. Her rear end had never been so sore. 

The look of alarm on Eos' face made Master Azea start laughing again. 

"I love teasing you," he admitted, wrapping his arms around her waist and lacing his fingers together to rest on her lower back. His dark eyes watched her, framed by those long lashes of his. Gazing so closely into them, Eos saw something in them. Something wild and blazing but at the same time gentle and kind. For some reason, the strange look in his eyes made her catch her breath. 

Master Azea lifted his hand and brushed a few stray strands of hair from the side of her face. He kissed her forehead, his lips warm and tender but send a scorching, electrifying path through her, stronger than anything she had ever felt. 

All instincts she had learnt from her life at the Desert Gem screamed to get away from him. It was getting dangerous. 

But if she were to pull away, it might seem insolent of her. 

Master Azea made a small trail of gentle kissed from the back of her ear down her neck. 

At last, she decided, she absolutely had to get away. She pulled free from him, fighting the heat rising to her cheeks. "We just got dressed," she pointed out, not looking at him. She heard him sigh, "Feed me," he said, leaning back once more. 

Eos relaxed and took the bowl of nuts from the side table. Master Azea had leaned back, his hands laced behind the back of his head and his eyes shut sleepily. She sat next to him, leaning against the head of the daybed and feeding him. "Mm… less almonds. I want pistachios," he said, idly. The nuts had already been split open for him. Eos rolled her eyes. 

"Don't roll your eyes at me," he said, his eyes still closed. 

After awhile, the sound of crunching gravel came to their ears. At once, Master Azea was up, "Oh, gods, its Dareen, quick. This way," he said, grabbing Eos' hand and ducking through the palms. "Keep moving," he told her and they found themselves at a small grassy patch heavily surrounded by thick palms. Master Azea crouched on the ground and pulled her down with him, "Stay very still," he whispered, his breath tickling her ear. 

"Azea!" Dareen was calling, stalking round the pavilion in search of him. They could see her find the spot where they were moments ago. "Azea!!" she called shrilly and kicked the side table so the contents would scatter on the ground where by she stomped on some of the things including food. 

Eos pursed her lips. If there was one thing she had learnt coming from the slums was, never, waste food. 

"She's going to be furious at dinner," Master Azea said as they watch the noble lady stomp off like an elephant. He kissed Eos' neck making her jump a little. "What?" he asked, wrapping his arms round her. 

"Nothing but rest period is over and you have lessons." 

"So? I'm skipping. Besides, for once, we're completely alone and unseen without the danger of my blasted fiancee walking in on us. We can be completely uninhibited," he said, already untying the leather loop round her waist. 

Eos had to stop herself from grimacing. 

"Are you alright?" one of the maids asked. 

Eos was slumped in her bed when she was supposed to be getting ready for the dinner that night. "I'm exhausted," she groaned, getting up, "When master says uninhibited; he isn't joking. Good thing it was windy or people would think that patch of palms was haunted." It was already evening and the sun was beginning to set. She went to get dress, looking at the array of clothes she had brought up with her and the large collection the master had given to her. All with the idea of minimal restrictions on mind. 

She pulled out a copper coloured top that would be held up by being wrapped round her back and her neck and a silk copper piece held up by a thin gold chain round her waist that would easily reveal her legs. Donning those, she tied up her hair and together with two maids, went to the pain staking task of weaving the beads into the thick dark locks. With that done she put on a pair of simple earrings and anklets.

 At last, Master Azea entered the room ,"Eos- for goodness sake, woman- aren't you done yet?" he asked, his voice humorous. He often made fun of how long she took to dress even though she wore so little. 

 Eos refused to answer him as she painted the kohl round her dark eyes and added colour to her lips before putting on a sheer veil that sparkled a little when it caught the light. At last she got up and took Master Azea's arm, letting him lead her to the main house. 

She hadn't seen Lord Griffin since the dinner and she could still remember his groping hands. All she could do was hope Master Azea would be able to keep him away from her. 

"Master Azea," Eos said suddenly as they crossed the garden together. 

"What is it?" he asked. 

There were lamps lit in the garden but it was still dim and Master Azea's face was hard to see. But she heard the tenderness in his voice when he asked, "What is it?" She felt his hand over hers. 

"You know about my mother. I don't know anything about yours except she was one of your father's slaves," she said, trying to see his face to read his thoughts.

Master Azea kept his face looking up ahead. Nothing in his manner changed. It was the same stiff, slightly nervous air that he had since they left his wing. "My mother died when I was eleven. She fell ill. The whole time she was sick, my father didn't bother to come see her at all. Finally after a year, she passed on because of some sort of rot in her lungs." 

"A whole year?" Eos asked, her voice hushed. 

"No. When I was sitting with her, I heard the healers talking about how it had only gotten worse then. It had been there for an even longer time. Mother never told a soul," he explained in a quiet voice, "Not even me." 

Something in Master Azea's voice brought memories back to Eos that she had spent her life trying to forget. 

A small, skinny under grown girl child was huddled at the corner of the room, a woman cough out blood on the bed. The healer carried out the basin of warm water that had a red tinge to it to be thrown out. The woman looked round and reached out a hand for the child, "Star…" she called and the girl ran to her mother's side, gripping her hand. "My beautiful little star…" she said, stroking the child's dark hair, her voice hoarse, "I love you so much… never forget…" she whispered, pressing a pendant into her hand, "Never forget… we love you. We'll always love you." 

"I love you, mama." 

The woman smiled, "One day, when you meet him… tell him mama's sorry that she couldn't keep her promise…" she said and kissed her forehead. 

She laid back down on the bed and smiled at the little girl for the last time. 

We… 

Eos stopped and Master Azea looked round at her. "Eos?" he said.

She looked at him and saw the orange light from a nearby lamp light his face for that short moment. She stepped towards him and wrapped her arms round his waist. Stepping tip toe a little, she kissed his mouth. 

When she stepped down, she looked up at him. 

He smiled, "That was unexpected," he observed. He slid his hand round her waist and kissed her forehead, "I like it. You should do that more often." 

Don't bet your life on it… Eos thought to herself.

By Master Azea's sudden grin, she knew he had guessed what she was thinking. But he didn't comment on it. Instead, he offered his arm and she took it again so they could continue their way to the main dining hall. 

They entered the main building and Master Azea led them to the courtyard where the dining hall was when the weather was good. The ornate lamps lit the courtyard as a low table set with gold plates and cutlery. The table cloth was beautifully embroidered and laden with lavish food that made the thing Master Azea had been eating all this while look meagre and poor. Roasted meat, freshly baked bread, grilled fish, fruit Eos had never even seen before, cheese and different types of wine in pitchers. Musicians played as dancers danced in the background like birds in the morning but Master Azea barely glanced at them. 

There was no one else at the table just yet. He waved off the half naked serving girls, "Eos will serve me," he told them. He took a seat on one of the silk cushions and Eos found his favourite wine and proceeded to pour for him. 

"You look like a tiny mouse cornered by a cat," she whispered to him. He gave her a tiny smile, his head propped up with his arm, knuckles on his forehead. "Let's just say it's been over  month since I've seen my father. And the last time we saw each other, it wasn't pleasant," he said. She fanned him with a fan woven from palm leaves. He saw her curious look and smiled again, "He wasn't happy about how I was neglecting my studies and running around with commoners to practice my fighting." 

He sighed and looked round at the silk hangings and lights glinting off the gold. 

Honestly speaking, Eos didn't much agree to it either. But she didn't say anything instead she let him run his fingers up and down her spine, tapping lightly. It was a pleasant feeling. 

The main door opened and Lord Griffin strode in, head held high and proud, Eos could see he was once a very handsome man. Master Azea had inherited his father's jaw and sharp chin as del as height. But Master Azea's eye were more gentle while Lord Griffin's were severe. His grey hair was kept long but severely tied back and braided. He had gold rings on each finger and wore earrings. His dark face had lines about his eyes and mouth. 

His eyes turned to Master Azea who looked back, his face stoney, "Father," he said, curtly. 

"Azea," Lord Griffin said shortly.

  Eos ducked her head, feeling the tension in the air. 

Chapter 2 (Part 1)

The next morning, Eos hugged Tara. The older girl's eyes were shining with unshed tears, "I'll miss you. You've always been like a sister to me," she said. Eos smiled, trying not to weep either, "And you've always been like a grandmother to me," she said jokingly making Tara chuckle a little. 

Master Azea was there with two of his attendants. "The two of them are close," he murmured to Mother. 

"Aye, they are," Mother replied. 

The man nodded. He went forward and set a hand on Eos' shoulder, "I will allow you to come down to see your friend once in awhile," he assured her. Both Tara and Eos took awhile to digest what he had said. But once they did, they both bowed, "Thank you, Master Azea," Eos said. 

Eos took her packs and followed Master Azea who motioned for his attendants to take the packs. Before Eos could decide what to do or wonder if she was to walk, Master Azea lifted her up easily and set her in front of where he would sit on his large chestnut gelding. He went to Mother and paid her the large sum that she had asked for selling Eos. "It is no longer any business of mine, but I can only beg of you to take good care of her," Mother said. 

"I will," Master Azea assured her, "She will be mine alone. I won't allow any other men to touch her nor would I want to hurt her. I always receive better service from those whom I treat well." 

Eos had not heard this conversation. 

She had never ridden a horse before and was extremely nervous sitting up there alone on such a large steed. She held on tightly to the reins, in fear of the horse suddenly deciding to buck her off. 

At last, Master Azea mounted the horse behind her and put his arms around her so if she would slip, at least he could catch her. "Keep close," he told her, "And you can hold on to me if you're afraid," he told her. It was a suggestion. Eos was really in no mood to give him a reason to have her hold him. She had a feeling she was going to have to do a lot of that in the days to come. 

"Suit yourself," he said with a good natured grin and kicked his horse into a gallop. 

Eos gave a small shriek and clung onto him at once, drawing a laugh from him and causing Eos to blush with embarrassment. She looked back to the door of the Desert Gem and saw Tara and Mother standing theorem watching her go. She gave a small wave and Tara waved back. 

Once they were out of sight, Eos ducked her head and tried to blinked away her tears stubbornly. 

At Master Azea's home, there seemed to be a huge oasis inside its walls. Eos gaped at the sights around her. Peacocks strutted about the gardens, drinking from small manmade streams and waterfalls. There were palm trees and flowering plants along with short, smooth grass. The walls of the buildings had small coloured tiles on them, depicting stories of legends and some of their ancestors deeds. Towers rose high above them and there were many guards and servants going about their business as usual, each dressed in their uniforms, made of good quality cotton and bearing the emblems of the house. 

She had always known Lord Griffin's household was extremely rich, but she had never seen such luxury or beauty before. It made her wonder why Master Azea would had bothered coming down to the Desert Gem at all. 

"It's mostly because I enjoy the atmosphere and this particular dancer there," Master Azea answered. She wished he would stop reading her thoughts through her face like that. It was beginning to get on her nerves. 

"Anyway, you will have a room connected to my own. I have my own building. Tonight you will not dance but you will serve me at dinner. I will have my steward introduce you to the musicians later. You can practice with them starting from tomorrow. I would like you to accompany me for breakfast and during the afternoon rest and lunch and after dinner." When it was too hot to work in the mid afternoon, the people would rest but why did Master Azea need to rest? He didn't work or anything. 

"Being immensely rich and nobility is a great deal of work," he said and this time she couldn't stop herself from glaring at him, drawing a laugh from him. 

But another thing he had said unsettled her. By after dinner, she knew what he meant. She sighed inwardly, there was no escaping such a thing. Back at the Desert Gem, the girls were each given a potion every week to keep them from having children. When she left, Mother gave her an amulet instead. If she wanted to rid herself of it, all she had to do was burn it. 

They walked through the main building that he explained was his father's quarters as well as a place for him to greet his guests. There was a separate pavilion for dinners and such. The night they had the dinner, it was at another location. They had set up tents and such outside the town. On the east was his eldest brother's wing. His two younger brothers had places on the north west and north east side. His was the furthest from the other buildings completely in the west. 

Suddenly they caught sight of a man further up the corridor. The man spotted them first and halted. 

Eos felt Master Azea stiffen, all his easy going manner disappearing. "Eos, stand on my other side, away from him and stay close," he told her softly, "Keep your eyes away from him. Try to pretend you had not noticed," he said before speaking in a louder voice to one of his attendants that followed them. This attendant stood in a way that blocked Eos from this man's view. Another stood behind them to hide her from when they passed him. 

She could feel the uneasiness in Master Azea's servants. They did not like this person and they feared him. 

Going closer, Eos recognised him from the corner of her eye. It was the elder brother, Seti

When they just passed him, he suddenly spoke up, "Aren't you going to greet me, little Azea? That's rude." 

Master Azea halted before turning around with his easy grace again, "So sorry- didn't see you there, brother," he said, in a light lilting voice. The attendants bowed their heads but drew closer as though trying to block Eos further. 

Eos didn't need these subtle warnings, she tried to stay discreet. Those who had served him at the dinner had complained to Mother about his treatment. He treated them worse than one would treat animals. He did not even see them as other living things. Just toys for his amusement. His kind was the type Mother had thrown out and forbidden from the Desert Gem. It always gave a clear picture to them what kind of people they were by the way they treated their inferiors. 

Everyone in the city dreaded the day he would take over his father. Even though Lord Griffin was not the best of lords, he was the type that kept them alive and that was good enough. He did not torment them. Unless the entire city was in trouble, such as lack of water or food, he left them well alone. 

They all had the feeling, would ride into the city and cut down people for sport if his father did not stop him. 

Perhaps Master Azea would be a better lord than his older brother. It was unfortunate that he was only the son of a slave rather than the son of the official wife. If he had been from the official wife, then there was perhaps hope that he would succeed his father rather than.

"And who is this?" asked, seeing Eos. 

"A dancer I bought for myself," he said, decidedly trying to keep attention on Eos as short as possible, "Well dear brother, I best be off. I have business to attend to and I do not wish to distract you from your affairs," he said and left, trying not to look hurried but he moved with longer strides. 

"Whatever you do, stay away from my brother," Master Azea told Eos when they were out of sight and earshot, "When you're not with me, try to remain in my quarters. If you do meet him without me, return as fast as you can and find one of my attendants. Even if he orders you to stay, don't listen to him." 

"Yes, master," Eos murmured. 

Once they arrived in Master Azea's quarters, Eos was settled in a small bedroom joined to Master Azea's. She was given new clothes to wear. A satin top just as revealing as her dancing one and a long skirt with wide slits up both sides. She tied her thick hair up and tied a sheer golden headscarf at the base before donning a sheer veil of the same colour. She painted the kohl round her eyes and put on a pair of earrings and a bracelet before going out to look for Master Azea. 

He was in his sitting room, reclining in a seat and drinking lazily. Several feet away, she stopped and bowed, before going closer. She knelt next to his seat and at first he did not do anything, looking ponderously in the distance. 

Suddenly, he seemed to notice her and smiled, stroking her hair, "How do you like your room?" he asked. She didn't look up at first, not wanting him to see that she wished she had a lock on her side of the door that led to his room. Then at last she answered, "It's comfortable." 

His hand continued to stroke her hair, somehow making her feel drowsy. Master Azea noticed and stifled a laugh, "Like a cat," he said and it took her years of self control not to glare at him. She leaned against his seat as he went on drinking. 

If first impressions meant anything, Master Azea had given a good one to her so far. And at least he knew how to keep his hands from roaming all over her every single moment. 

Days passed as Eos settled down in Master Azea's household. She was kept busy. In the morning, after washing herself, she would join Master Azea at his breakfast table. Both to serve and to eat. This puzzled her how she was allowed to share his meal. Normally slaves were given leftovers from the servants' meals, though bed warmers were given food equal to a servant. And after breakfast, she practised her dancing. It was simple enough since Master Azea liked a few particular dances and had her perform those the most. During rest period she would go to Master Azea to accompany him once more. 

At dinner she would dance for him and again accompany him. At supper she would serve and share his meal. Then, more often than not, she would join him in bed. Another odd thing was he insisted she remained in bed with him even after love making. 

Needless to say, with each day so busy, Eos was ready to drop each night. The moment she was able to sleep, she would be out in deep slumber until roused the next morning. 

She also, did discover that Master Azea did not spend all his time idly. During the evening and morning after breakfast, he had fighting training in the training yard of his quarters. He trained with his men at arms and sometimes would go down to the town to train with the other warriors. The other servants told Eos that once in awhile, the master would go up to the capital to train with the knights and royal guards. He also had lessons. Though he usually lazed and paid no attention when it came to maths and history and such things. 

Eos also met Master Azea's younger siblings. The two boys, were amicable enough. They seemed to think highly of their brother but like Master Azea and his servants, they disliked their eldest brother. Apparently, had been known to torment them when they were children and Master Azea had defended them. 

It wasn't till the second week, Eos came to Master Azea did she meet yet another person connected to Master Azea. 

It was rest period. Eos was seated on the end of the couch with Master Azea's head on her lap. His eyes were closed in his usual lazy way as she fed him sweet grapes. The day's heat was so terrific, there was really nothing either of them wanted to do but laze. They were in one of the shaded garden pavilions, where the cool shade from the trees hid them from the heat and scorching sun and the wind blew gently against their skin. 

Suddenly there came a disturbance as a haughty looking woman burst in upon their peace accompanied by some of Master Azea's distressed looking servants, "Master Azea- we told her you were resting-" 

"Azea!" the woman said half imperiously and half in rage, "What have I heard that you bought a common whore to share your bed!?" 

Eos kept her head down; she had heard worse. Really, she could teach a thing or two to this woman about cursing. 

Master Azea however gave a soft, exasperated sigh.

"Really, Dareen… such a word is hardly befitting for such a beautiful lady," he said before adding lazily, "to say," after a pause.

 The woman who had begun swelling up like a frog, deflated at his compliment. But Eos knew Master Azea well enough to know that if it wasn't so hot and he wasn't so lazy, he would not have added those last two words. She hid a smile as he gave her a tiny, secret smile. 

She fed him another grape. 

"But I do not approve of you getting a prostitute to share your bed," she said.

"My beautiful Dareen, until we wed, I simply can not ruin your honour by bedding you. So until then, this girl I bought will do," he said though he rolled his eyes a little making it harder for Eos to bite back a smile, "Now, please, my dear… It is too warm to argue. Surely you know we will both say heated things that we do not mean and will regret." 

Dareen calmed down but scowled at Eos who was still peacefully feeding Master Azea. 

"Then I will feed you," she said, jealously. 

"I could never impose you to do such a thing that is only befitting for slaves, my beautiful desert flower. Why don't you join me for dinner tonight instead?" he asked to pacify her. It seemed to work. 

Dareen nodded, "Very well. I will see you at dinner then, love," she said. 

"Of course. Adna- tell the chefs that Lady Dareen will dine with me tonight. Have them prepare all her favourites," he ordered, closing his eyes again. 

"Yes, Master Azea." 

Once they left and Master Azea and Eos were alone once more, the master groaned, "And like a desert flower, I hope you wither under the sun," he muttered, "Eos, pour me a drink. I think I need it." 

Eos obeyed and Master Azea sat up to accept it. He drained the brandy in one gulp and gave a sigh, "That was Lady Dareen from a neighbouring fief. Not as rich but she's ambitious and well as spoilt. Be careful she doesn't throw a tantrum on you; she might cause some serious injuries. It happened before when I was too kind to a new maid who had lost her family in a famine."

"She is master's fiancée?" Eos asked, pouring more brandy into the glass he held up for her. 

He downed it again and gave her the glass to set aside. 

"Unfortunately. It was not my idea. Her father offered her and already had a fiancee so I was given her. Gods, I dread the day we would wed." 

"Then perhaps, it would be unwise for me to dance for master tonight or serve," Eos suggested. Master Azea scowled, laying himself on her lap once more, "I guess you're right," he said and closed his eyes. 

Eos picked up the bunch of grapes and began feeding it to Master Azea one by one again. 

That night, Eos joined the servants for dinner. As usual, when not serving or appearing before the master, she was dressed in shirt and breeches. "So, Eos- what do you think of Master's fiancée so far?" asked Adna, one of Master Azea's main attendant. Eos had a good measure of this young man and knew that he would take an arrow for the master. 

Eos shrugged, "I've seen worse," she said. 

"Oh?" 

"Back at the Desert Gem, we had some wives burst in at night and cause a huge scene, screaming at the girls who were serving their husbands," Eos said, "Those can easily make Lady Dareen look like a meek mouse." 

Some of the servants chuckled. 

After dinner, Eos joined some of the servants for a game of cards. She was good at it, having watched some of the workers play during rest period when she was a child. 

They had just started on their third game when one of Master Azea's servers came down to look for her, "Eos, master says he wants to see you after dinner. He's already having dessert with Lady Dareen." 

Eos sighed, "Just when I had such a good hand too," she said, throwing down her cards. 

She got up and ran hurriedly up to the top floor where Master Azea and her bedroom was. She had to change her clothes and put on her make up as well as do up her hair. However, just as she popped out of the servant's corridor, she spotted Master Azea and Lady Dareen leaving the dining hall. Just as she saw them, Master Azea saw her. 

He had not recognised her at first, frowning. Then he looked very surprised, "Eos?" 

Eos cursed silently. 

Master Azea had never seen her not dressed up before. Her hair was braided down her back simply and her shirt had been tailored for a man as were her trousers that she held up with a thick belt. Both items hung loosely on her thin frame. To add onto her disgrace, she wore no finery at all or veils or even a headscarf. 

She bowed from a distance, "I am not fit to be present before Master at the moment," she said, "Please excuse my appearance." 

Lady Dareen forgotten, Master Azea beckoned Eos, still frowning a little. Sighing inwardly, she trotted up to him obediently. Lady Dareen sniffed in disgust at the sight of her, especially at how she was dressed and her uncovered head. 

Master Azea, however, took Eos by her chin and made her look at him before tilting her head slightly to the right then to the left as though inspecting her. He cocked his head a little to one side, as though thinking. His eyes once more, keen as they surveyed her face. At last he spoke, "You look different without make up on. But it isn't disagreeable in the slightest way," he said. Eos cleared her throat ever so quietly and subtly nudged her head in Lady Dareen's direction. Immediately Master Azea remembered his guest. For the briefest moment, he looked ready to cut off his head with his sword. Then he stopped and released Eos. 

"Ah, yes, please, Dareen, let me escort you back to your room," he said, offering his arm, politely, and bestowing upon the irate noble lady one of his most charming smiles. 

Lady Dareen gave Eos a look of proud contempt before laying a delicate hand on the crook of Master Azea's arm and they walked off. Eos just rolled her eyes and proceeded to dash up to her bedroom to make herself more presentable for Master Azea that evening. 

Just as she finished fixing her veil, she heard the door in the next room slam and Master Azea's voice call out irritably, "Eos!" 

She opened the door and went to him at once. 

He was pacing the room, rubbing his temple, "Gods, I hate having to put up with that woman," he complained, "Pour me
another drink." Eos obeyed, going to the table in the corner of the room. 

Sitting on the table were some wine glasses and several different bottles. By the sound of him, Master Azea wanted something a bit strong. She poured some brandy into a glass and brought it to him. He took it and downed it in a single gulp. 

Once he swallowed the wine, he squeezed his eyes shut for a while and let out a sigh of relief, "Better," he said and handed the glass to her. She set it down on the table and went to him as he dropped himself onto a seat, still rubbing his forehead. 

Not sure what possessed her to do such a thing, Eos went up behind him and began to rub his scalp and temples. Master Azea leaned back with a content sigh. He shut his eyes peacefully and in all appearance, fell asleep. After about ten minutes, he opened his eyes again and took one of her hands and kissed it, "Come here," he told her and she walked up to stand in front of him.

He pulled her to sit across his lap instead, "You're quite good at that," he commented, "My headache's gone." 

"Thank you master." 

He kissed her below her ear and took a lock of her hair. He pressed his lips to it. This seemed to be his most common sign that he favoured her. He did it at least once a day. She had grown so used to it, she no longer scrubbed her hair out like a maniac the following morning. 

His hands gently wound themselves round her and held her protectively to him. He kissed her forehead and pressed both their foreheads together, eyes shut.

Eos closed her eyes as well. His skin was warm against hers. His hands, one resting on the side of her waist, were light and gentle against her side. She could still smell his dinner on him and a faint, lingering smell of Lady Dareen's perfume. She must have pressed herself very close to Master Azea for it to be still there. Master Azea's breath was warm and caressing as it touched her skin. He kissed her eye lid. 

"Gods, I'm tired," he said at last, "I need to change, go lie down and warm my bed for me," he told her.

 There were times when he took the term "bed warmer" too literally. Didn't he know his servants usually put heating pads under the sheets? 

Eos had to obey anyway. As Master Azea rang for his attendants to come help him change, something he did when he was either too tired or too lazy to do so himself, Eos removed her veil and headscarf before slipped into the bed and rolled onto her side. His bed was much more comfortable than hers. On those nights that they did not have sex but he still insisted on her sleeping in his bed, she rather enjoyed the luxury. She drowsed but didn't sleep. It would be rude for her to sleep before the master did. 

Soon she heard the servants leave and the bed sank a little as Master Azea joined her. He laid with his chest to her back and wrapped an arm lazily round her waist and the other curled under his pillow. One leg was draped over both of hers. She could feel his lips at the back of her head. 

"By the way, you looked quite pretty without your usual dressing up," Master Azea murmured, "Maybe from now on, when I have you in bed, you don't have to dress up and put on your make up and things. After all, when you sleep in your own room, I'm sure you do no such thing." 

"Yes, master," Eos said but it perturbed her. She knew from experience, when a man said such things, it meant things were getting far too personal. She shut her eyes and tried to calm herself. He had bought her, it meant what he said, she must obey, even if it was a simple whim. And besides, he might just be one of those who had strange taste or something. She had seen plenty before. She had seen from older prostitutes, that when things got too personal, it was dangerous as well as painful. And look at her mother. Abandoned by the person she had loved. It could easily happen to her once Master Azea loses interest in her. 

If she allowed things to grow too personal, it would only shatter her when it fell apart. 

"Your heart is pounding," Master Azea murmured sleepily, "Are you alright?" 

"Yes, master," Eos replied. 

She felt him settle down once more behind her. She was tired. Master Azea's soft, steady breathing lulled her to sleep. His warm presence. His arm wound protectively around her. It was nice to be in a place she could feel so secure. Even if it was not permanent. She should savour it while she still could. 

Eos shut her eyes and slowly drifted back into slumber.