Chapter 1 (Part1)

"YOU WENCH!" the woman shrieked, striking the girl down, "YOU COMMON TROLLOP!" 

The girl had blocked the strike to her face. She absolutely must not allow her face to be harmed or the Mother will be angry.

"How dare you steal our husbands!? You should be burnt on a stake for your sins!" the older woman screamed hysterically at the girl. 

Other people gathered at the street to watch, some tried to pacify the older woman. 

"Maybe if you had taken care of your husbands needs better, he would not have come to us instead," the girl replied flatly.

The woman threw herself at the girl who again tried to protect her face. A man came to pull her out of harms way and hurried her away, blocking the woman from causing any injury.
"Are you alright?" he asked, once they got away, "You really need to guard your tongue more." 

This man worked at the brothel as a guard and errand boy of sorts. One of the reasons why he was chosen was because he never held any interest in women, thus keeping him from 'damaging the merchandise'. 

"I didn't seduce anyone," the girl said in the same flat voice, "He came on his own account and paid for us." 

"I'm not saying you're wrong, but that woman was ready to tear your throat out." 

"Eos!" a girl her age called from the backdoor to the Desert Gem, "Finally. Thanks Jin."  

"No problem," Jin replied good naturedly. 

The girl, Tara hurried Eos into the changing rooms. "Really. What happened? You were out for ages and you have to perform again tonight," Tara said as Eos took her clothes, a silk top that covered her breasts with bells hanging on its hems and a bottom that had a long length of silk in the front and back, tied together with a gilded chain. The servant girls who worked at the brothel but were deemed by the Mother to not be pretty enough to entertain, helped dress her and do up her long, thick black hair. 

Eos was about five feet seven in height, with long, slender legs. Her body was lithe as she was a dancer and her long, wavy hair was dark as the desert night sky. Her eyes were brown but her skin was lighter than most, showing signs of mixed descent. She guessed it was her father who was the foreigner as she had never met him before nor did her mother speak of him when she was alive. 

The servant weaved gold beads into her hair as she put on a sheer veil and kohl around her eyes. Mother approved of her as she was beautiful and graceful. Though she didn't hold a candle to Tara, who was a year older than her. Tara was extremely beautiful though not as tall. The customers loved her. She had long dark hair that flowed down her back like silk. Her almond shaped dark eyes were framed by long, thick lashes. Her skin was a smooth, dark, coppery brown. She was very elegant in her ways that she would put noble bred women to shame. 

But no matter how beautiful, girls were seldom welcomed as children in their society. Dowry was meant to be paid to the husband's family and was expensive; many could not afford it. Because of that, Tara was sold off the moment she started becoming beautiful and started catching attention of men. Mother had found her in the slave pens and bought her at once, saving Tara from a life as a bed warmer slave. 

Once dressed and ready, Eos stretched herself and danced a few steps, turning on the balls of her feet and extending her long limbs gracefully. She lifted her leg straight behind her back so it would touched her hands stretched over her head. As she worked the stiffness out of her body, Tara went to get ready and the servants took out the jewellery and bells she was to wear. 

Most of the jewellery came from rich clients that had become smitten with her. The Mother let them keep those trinkets as accessories for their evenings. The servant girl opened the jewellery box and held it up to Eos who chose pieces that would give attention to the places that she was meant to give attention to. A long chain that would dip between her breasts, a jewel to her navel and a pair of simple earrings. She put the bells on her ankles and tried to dance a bit again. They chimed musically with each step. Good. 

"Tara- I'm going out to practise a bit first," she told the girl who was carefully painting the kohl around her eyes. "Alright. I'm already booked for the night." 

Eos would be dancing alone again that night as she normally did. The room had a round area raised of the ground with candles and lamps around it, lighting it brighter than the rest of the room. Surrounding it were cushions and low seats and expensive rugs for people to sit and be entertained. Upstairs was the rooms that men could bring them if they could afford. 

Standing in the middle of the dais, hands on her hips, "Can we practise a bit?" she called to the musicians who sat on the lower floor nearby. They nodded and started to play. Eos took a deep breath and listened to the music. 

She began to dance, swaying her hips. With each gentle sway, she bent her knees a little more before straightening and her movements grew more rapid as she reached out her arms, twirling her hands in an inviting manner. She kicked her leg high and spun once more before raising the other leg behind her and leaning back to touch it. She spun, her feet hitting the ground in a hard, rhythmic manner. Her long hair spun round her, the beads in her hair catching and throwing off light to make her hair look as though it had stars in it. The bells on her ankle chimed loudly with each strike of her foot, adding to the music. 

When the night begun, she held the men spellbound by her dancing. Several times, she leaped gracefully of the dais as instructed and threw herself on top of the richer customers but whipped away the moment they tried to touch her. 

She hated having to be under the men's leering gaze. Instead she threw herself deeper into the music and dance. This made her all the more captivating to the audience. Many of them always said she was akin to the legendary Sun Birds that danced in the sky as the sun rose in the morning and set down in the horizon in the evening. 

As the night progressed, Eos finished her performance and went to take a breath in the changing rooms, trying to dry her sweat and fix her make up. Mother came looking for her there. 

Mother was a beautiful woman, even in her old age. She was kind enough to those who work for her but she was not one to stand any nonsense from anyone. Punishments were often handed out to those who were defiant or those who took lovers outside. At the same time, she never allowed customers to harm her girls. Many men have been banned from the Desert Gem due to their habit of bringing physical harm to the girls for their own sexual gratification. 

"Well done tonight," Mother said, "We have an unexpected guest who has asked for you alone. Try not to embarrass us," she told Eos who bowed to her. 

"Who is it?" she asked with some curiosity. Why would one customer ask for only one girl? It couldn't be that he couldn't afford more than one. If he could afford her, he would most definitely be able to afford others. Her price was one of the high end ones in the Desert Gem. 

"The son of Lord Griffin; Azea. You performed for their family at one of their dinner parties. He says he has taken a liking to you." 

Eos bowed again and went to Azea who sat in a more private area. It had more luxurious cushions and rugs and a sheer curtain of sorts that allowed him to look out but not let others look in. Those particular sitting areas were expensive. 

She bore a tray of fine wine and refreshments. Making sure she had a sway in her hips as she walked to the sitting area, she opened the curtains slightly to step in, "You summoned me?" she asked. 

Azea was good looking enough. He was young. Probably twenty five years of age. He was not the first son and that allowed him more freedom. He had dark hair that was he kept tousled and tied back in a horsetail, unlike his siblings well greased hair. His dark eyes were keen and Eos often saw intelligence in them despite the rumours of his lack of interest in studies. He had a fit body that could be seen as he wore his silk robe loose. He was a warrior, and it showed clearly on his body. But at that moment, his manner was of a lazy noble, reclining on the cushions. His clothings were expensive, made of fine silk and he had a citrine drop at his ear and a gold chain round his neck. On his fingers were three rings on each hand. His scabbard with its blade within it, was made of good leather with jewels encrusted on it and gold on the end. 

At least he didn't had those leering eyes nor the roving hands she had to put up with from the other customers. 

"It's good to see you again," Azea said, watching through lowered lashes as she knelt by his side and poured wine for him. 

"Pour yourself a goblet as well," he told her, watching the group of dancers now on stage, "They don't dance as well as you do," he commented, taking the goblet of wine and sipping it. Eos bowed her head, "I am honoured, milord," she said, sitting within arms reach of him, as she should but she did not drink the wine though she held a goblet for herself. They were to keep from drinking unless under direct order from a customer to drink. 

"You're a curious one, Eos," Azea said, taking a date. 

"Milord?" 

"The other girls are usually more excited when they're around me. You never really showed any sign of enthusiasm, even when you were entertaining my father at the dinner." 

Lord Griffin was known for his love for beautiful things. Which was why he chose Tara and Eos to be among those who served him at the dinner. He himself had five slaves whose purpose was to warm his bed for him. He had four sons and a daughter but the daughter died in labour. Not that it mattered since it was one of the slave's child. The eldest son was said to be the only child who was birthed to him by his wife. The others, including Master Azea were all by slaves. 

Eos hope he wouldn't tell Mother about her secret lack of enthusiasm. She would get into so much trouble. Hadn't she put on her usual, empty headed, frivolous girl smile when she was with Lord Griffin? Hadn't she done all the things other girls did? Hadn't she looked so flattered when he praised her dance and beauty? How did he know? No one else ever noticed since she had done it so many times she could now act perfectly. 

"Call me observant," he said, answering her unasked question, "You see, whenever you girls-" he had the politeness and tack to call them girls rather than their proper denomination, "have to entertain the rich, normally you're suppose to be quite happy since we give you extra coins and trinkets. But you never seem very eager about the whole affair," he observed, taking another draught of wine. 

Eos couldn't think of a reply. But inside she was silently praying he would not tell Mother. 

Again he showed his strange ability to read minds, "Don't worry, I won't tell Mother. I wouldn't be too keen either in your place," he said. 

"Thank you, milord," she said, though inside she was wishing he wouldn't keep seeing into her mind in that uncanny way of his. It was making her uncomfortable. 

"I'm not reading your mind, you're just easy to read. Especially when disconcerted," he said, this time looking quite amused as he motioned for her to feed him the olives. He reclined back onto the large silk cushions as she obeyed. 

She took a handful of the olives and knelt next to him, one arm with the olives round his head and her body close to him. She placed one olive in his mouth as he watched the dancers in a somewhat lazy manner. 

"Tell me your story, Eos. We have the whole night," he said swallowing the olive and opened his mouth for another. 

"Why is my lord so curious on someone as insignificant as a prostitute?" Eos asked, keeping her voice polite. 

"I'm sure none of you girls are working here by choice. So tell me your story. How you came to be here? I'm just a bit curious
about you. You're different from the other girls," he said after swallowing the olive. Again, he opened his mouth to be fed She fed him.

If he asked, she had no choice but to tell. He was a rich customer, she had to do what he asked, no matter what it was. How she hated this part of the job. She was fine with dancing, as she could easily take her mind off everyone else. But entertaining customers, especially alone like this… she would rather play with a scorpion nest. 

"I was born in the slums, my lord. My mother danced in the streets. One day she fell ill and died. I never knew my father. My mother always told me she would tell me who he was when I was older. After she died, I was thrown out of my home because I could not afford the rent. I had no relatives or anyone. Mother found me and made me work here. When she found out I danced, she had me take lessons. When I grew pretty she started to let me dance for customers," she said, trying to be as brief as possible. 

Azea reached out to take a lock of her long hair. "Do you enjoy dancing?" he asked. 

"Yes." 

"What else? What are your hobbies?" he wanted to know, bringing the lock of hair to his lips. She wished he wouldn't do that. Each time any men did that, she had the strong impulse to wash it far too much in the morning. 

Eos didn't answer. She couldn't think of an answer. She enjoyed watching fights but mostly because she had always wanted to learn. But that was something she had kept to herself. Azea sighed, "You're such a secretive turtle dove." 

"I'm no turtle dove," she said. 

He smiled and watched her before turning his eyes back to the dance. "You know- I'd like to buy you," he said suddenly,
"You dance beautifully. It would be nice to have you dance during my evening meals." 

It was not uncommon for the rich to be entertained while eating. But usually they had slaves they had trained for such a purpose. It was a cheaper alternative as Mother would drive the price higher than it's worth. But then, being bought; it meant she would have to obey him alone and probably accompany him to his bed. Then again- it was probably better than having many other men pay for the night. Of course he might bid her off for other guests but nobility rarely did that. 

"If it is as my lord wishes," she said in her quiet voice. 

"It is. I think I'll talk to Mother tomorrow," and opened his mouth. She fed him another olive, suddenly aware his other hand was round her waist and rested on her hip. He had done it in such a casual manner, she had not noticed at first. But his touch didn't repulse or annoyed her as it did with other customers.