The Harem

Title: The Harem
Author: Lady Snowblossom
Rating: NC-17

Note: This fic. is over two years old, and one I had stopped working on due to vision problems; those have be corrected and I will be returning to this world. This version is basically the same as the one archived at Minkland. I have made some corrections to it, that will hopefully improve it. It is AU and mentions characters from Gundam Wing.

Status: incomplete

Disclaimer: There is not a power on Earth, that can give me the Ronins, or any of the others, so don’t bother suing, you won’t get anything.

The man sat upon his horse and glared down at the city below. They had made good time, since breaking camp that morning. It was now mid-afternoon and just as soon as he made a circuit of the city, he could go to the Keep and rest. He had crested the sand dune ahead of his caravan. Its vanguard was just beginning to crest the dune, behind him. His bright blue eyes burned over the veil of his red wind scarf. As the caravan started down the dune, he turned in the saddle and waved.

A man detached himself from the side of the caravan and rode to the other’s side.

“My lord?”

The man bowed in the saddle. The blue eyes smiled and a smooth voice issued from behind the scarf.

“Haggi, send a rider to the Keep and announce our arrival. Tell him to inform the Aga Kislar that I wish to see my favorites in my quarters after my bath. Plus, have the Aga inform my wives that I will dine with them tonight.”

The man wheeled his horse and rode back to the caravan. Soon, a rider raced past and plunged down the dune, he easily out distanced the caravan and raced for the city. Spreading the news in his wake that Lord Ryo was home.

Haggi, a dark haired, brown skinned man, rode up to his lord. He had the honor of being the captain of Lord Ryo’s bodyguard. He was also Ryo’s friend. It saddened him to see his young lord, who was as fierce as a desert hawk beating his wings against the bars of his unwanted cell. Still, it wasn’t his place to offer unasked for advice.

Ryo’s bodyguard formed a loose circle behind their captain and the proud young man they called lord.

Haggi grinned and said, “I’ll wager ten gold pieces, that my Sand Dancer,” he indicated the chestnut he was astride, “can beat your Storm Devil. To the city gates?” Haggi had bought the chestnut, while they were in the capital and he was confident that the chestnut was the fastest horse he had ever owned.

Ryo laughed and cried, “I’ll take that wager! To the city gates!”

The two men clapped heels to their mounts’ sides and plunged down the dune to the flat ground. The two horses tore across the sand neck and neck. Behind and losing ground came the bodyguard. At the last moment, Sand Dancer managed to get his muzzle in front of Storm Devil’s black muzzle, and won the race.

Ryo laughed and handed over the wager to his friend. Still laughing, they rode into the city side by side.

Passing through the gate, Ryo and Haggi entered a maelstrom of people, horses, donkeys, slaves, camels, soldiers and carts. w pew people cheered the arrival of their young lord, but most went about their business. It was market day in El Tamir.

The marketplace was full of the usual noisome human flotsam; beggars, mountebanks, mercenaries, and whores. The grim faced man looked around at the stone walls of his city-his prison. Scowling down at a beggar, who was unwise enough to grab sti stirrup, the rider managed to kick the beggar in the face, and his horse at the same time.

Ryo nodded to the left along the wall, indicating the route he would take on this inspection of the ‘the Jewel of the East’. Jewel of the East, indeed! He snorted, as his escort of twenty soldiers followed grimly in his wake. He made these tours once a month, or usually on the same day, he returned from being away.

Ryo growled at each and every merchant, who tried to hawk their wares in his direction, or the painted unveil whores, male and female, who flaunted their questionable ‘charms’ for his inspection. He was feeling in a decidedly foul mood, as he turned down the Street of Slaves. He had been gone a month visiting his cousin, the Khalif. While he was there, he had tried to get his illustrious cousin to give him a new assignment, somewhere a little greener. But, Kashmire, blessings on his name, told him that no; he was needed, right where he was, on the backside of nowhere!

Ryo was convinced that what kept him here was due more to the fact, his dear cousin’s head wife was interested in him, than he was really needed to guard this pile of sand; and that was only because Kashmire couldn’t think of a more godforsaken spot! If Kashmire had kept her locked away in his harem, where she belonged, then this situation would never have come to pass.

His wives knew their place. They stayed in their apartments, unless he summoned them. Ryo scowled as he thought of his wives. Miriam and Saran were the sisters of two of his friends at the military academy. He had married them to gain children. He liked them, but didn’t love them. After four years of marriage, they were both about to present him with his first two children. Miriam was due within the moon, one more reason he was back so soon; he wanted to be there when his son was born. Saran was due in two moons.

As he rode down the street his eyes chanced on a group of ragged slaves. They were standing in the lee of a building, trying to escape the fierce sun beating down on the baked earth of their pen. As his eyes drifted over the bedraggled lot, he spotted among the common pebbles-three jewels, and they quite took his breath away.

He rode closer to the pen, and stared at the three, his eyes narrowed against the glare.

“Hey, you! You, son of a camel! What are you....” the fat man, who had waddled out of the nondescript building the slaves were huddled against, paled as he took in the rich red and white silk trappings of the rider in front of him, and the twenty soldiers grouped in a loose arc behind him.

“My lord, I didn’t... I didn’t realize...Please, my lord, forgive this misbegotten son of a pig!” the fat man fell to his knees, his fat quivering as he hit the ground.

Ryo glared down at the corpulent mountain blubbering at his feet. The captain of his guard rode forward and fingering his whip, inquired in a casual tone.

“My lord, should I teach this spawn of a vulture some manners?”

“No, good captain. I have a better plan.” he smiled unpleasantly. Then he snapped at the obese man on the ground.

“Get up!”

The man scrambled to his feet, as best he could. He kept his eyes on the ground, as he stood sweating and trembling, awaiting his lord’s pleasure.

Ryo sneered, at the fearful fool.

“Those three slaves,” he purred, pointing at the trio that had caught his eye.

The slaver’s eyes darted to the pen, he knew which three were being referred to, but he tried to pretend differently.

“Which miserable slaves, lord? I have nothing in my stock that would be worthy of your exalted notice.” he blustered. He had just acquired the three. Another merchant owed him money and these three boys were the payment, the merchant had made him in lieu of money. They weren’t properly prepared for sale. All three were tanned and their grasp of the language was abominable. If he had had the time, he could have had the tan bleached out of their skin. The whiter their skin, the more money they would bring in, and have them improve their language skills, that would also raise the price they would bring on the block.

Ryo swung an elegantly black clad leg over the neck of his horse and dismounted. He slapped his riding crop against his leg, as he approached the merchant.

“Listen, you fat slug!” We, both know which ones I’m talking about! Trot them over here, so I can get a better look, or I’ll gut you and leave you for the pigs!”

The man, whitened and bowing squealed,

“At once, lord! Of course, my lord! Omar! Selim! Raz!

The merchant screamed for his assistants. Three men ran out of the building, the merchant met them and low voiced waved at the pen. The three ran back into the building and hurried out of the side door into the crowd of slaves. They seized the three in question and dragged them into the building.

Ryo lounged against the fence surrounding the pen. He kept playing with his whip and gazing at the merchant, who broke out in a sweat, whenever he met the dark haired, blue eyed nobleman’s gaze. Finally, the three assistants emerged from the building, pushing the three slaves in front of them.

The three slaves came to a halt a few feet from Ryo, who leaned forward and nervously ran the tip of this tongue over too dry lips. The merchant, bowing to the inevitable, smiled oily.

“Now, my lord, these young men are from a barbaric land, called Japan! They have been carefully examined and all three are guaranteed to be untouched! And they are not eunuchs!”

He felt that would be a telling point, he had heard the rumors, that the lord’s harem was full of nubile boys-not women

All three were dressed in drab tunics that were so short they barely hid the boys’ sex.

“I would see them.” Ryo said in husky tones. The merchant unwisely smirked. Ryo saw the smirk and his eyes narrowed dangerously. The merchant nodded at his assistants, who tore the ragged tunics from the three slender bodies, revealing marvelously sculpted forms. They pulled the boys’ arms cruelly behind their backs, the better to display the ‘goods’.

The first in line was a blonde and his skin was tanned a golden color, and he had the most amazing purple eyes. The second boy had blue hair and eyes like sapphires and had skin paler than either of his companions. But, Ryo suspected that was because he didn’t tan easily. The third boy had auburn hair and sea-green eyes; he was nervously chewing on his bottom lip.

Ryo stepped forward and began to run his hands over the blonde’s body. He didn’t miss the flash of fury in the purple eyes that was quickly masked over.

Good! They haven’t broken his spirit. Ryo thought, pleased. He liked slaves with spirit; it made breaking them all the sweeter.

He quickly examined the other two; both reacted to his handling. Blue-hair closed his eyes, obviously hoping this would be over quickly, and the other boy started to cry.

Ryo stepped back satisfied with what he had discovered in his examination. He definitely wanted the three and he would have them.

The merchant, floating in dreams of gold, blurted out, “Just think, lord! What a man of your leanings could do with such a brace of ...EEEEEE!”

Ryo’s whip slashed out and caught the man across the face.

“CAPTAIN!”

“My lord!” Captain Haggi sprang forward, his hand on his sword.

“Captain, I changed my mind, you may flog this fool, after all. And I’ll take these three slaves as further payment for his unbridled tongue!”

Ryo strode over to his horse, leapt astride, then paused.

“Haggi, don’t kill him. I want him sold to Jasmine the perfumer, she likes slugs.”

The soldiers laughed, everyone knew Jasmine. She had only one eye; six hairy warts on her face, and hair like the tresses of the Gorgon. She was wrinkled as a prune and round as an orange.

“As for his so-called stock, divide them among yourselves.”

“Yes, my lord! How shall we transport my lord’s new slaves to the Keep?” asked Haggi.

“Mount them behind three of your soldiers, and have them follow me. Just don’t forget to set aside their share of the spoils.” said Ryo.

Both men ignored the merchant, who was once again on the ground begging to be forgiven his presumption. Haggi pointed at three men, who rode forward and leaning down each gripped one of the slave boys by the forearm and pulled them up onto their horses.

As they rode off, Ryo leading the way, the screams of the former merchant filled the air. Ryo put his stallion, Storm Devil to the gallop and his men thundered after him, the three boys hanging on for dear life. They flew down the dirt streets. Raced past the mosque, and pounded into the courtyard of the Keep.

Ryo pulled Storm Devil to a stop and flung the reins to a slave, who ran up to help his master dismount.

“Send someone for the Aga Kislar!” Ryo commanded. Several slaves ran to fill his command, Ryo was a good master, but he could react harshly if he wasn’t obeyed promptly. Ryo turned to the three patient soldiers.

“Put the slaves on the ground and return to Captain Haggi. You have done well. Tell him, that tonight I will send some dancing girls to the barracks, and there will be a feast for you.”

“Yes, my lord!” The three men cried. They swung the boys to the ground, wheeled their horses and raced away.

Ryo snapped his fingers and beckoned for the boys to approach him. Slowly, they approached and stopped a few feet from him, keeping their eyes on the ground. Impatiently, Ryo barked,

“Look at me!”

Three frightened sets of eyes fastened themselves to his face. Ryo smiled grimly, “Listen to me! I am not a harsh master, as long as you respect me, as your master. Obey the Aga Kislar and your oda master. Above all, OBEY the rules of the harem!” He paused for breath.

“That fat fool that was your master didn’t tell me your names! What are they?”

Silence.

“Well?”

More silence.

Ryo frowned, have they lost their tongues?

“Please, master.” a soft voice whispered. Ryo could barely hear the soft tones over the bustle of the courtyard. Soldiers and slaves were unloading the caravan that had come with him. A farrier was shoeing some horses. Slaves were shouting at each other.

“Please, master. Our names are Sage, Rowan and Cy. If it pleases you.” The speaker was the auburn haired boy. He was looking earnestly into Ryo’s face, trying to read if his words were pleasing or not. Still whispering, he indicated each of his two companions with a wave of a slender hand. “Sage is the blonde, and Rowan is the one with blue-hair. And I am Cy.”

Ryo nodded, filing away the information. “The names are not displeasing. You may keep them.” Ryo began, when a loud voice from behind interrupted him.

“MY LORD!”

Ryo turned and smiled as his Aga Kislar, Abu, hurried up to him and bowed.

“You wished to see me, lord?” Abu stood with his hands respectfully folded across his ample stomach.

“My good Abu, I have acquired some new slaves. I leave them in your capable hands. See that they are trained and properly prepared to serve me.”

Ryo turned on his heel and strode away, leaving the Aga Kislar to look over the three.