Bagoas luxuriated in having no urgent duties to call him out of his bed in the early morning. He lay back against the soft pillows and enjoyed the feel of the silk sheets against his skin. The soft bed, the tinkling fountains, and the soft noises in the hallway reminded him that he was not at home.
Bagoas was a person of power in his own world. He was, indeed, Overseer of the Harem of Governor Glaouri in the desert oasis of Ouarazate. Naturally this meant he was a eunuch, but he had long ago accepted that fact. He had risen to power the way a eunuch can, by careful attention to his charge and to politics.
He heard soft snores coming from the floor nearby, telling him that Hamid, his body servant and protegee, still slept. He decided to relax in his own bed, letting the boy sleep a bit longer. Hamid was, of course, also a eunuch. He was rapidly learning his trade and was of great assistance to Bagoas in overseeing the three slave girls who made up the Governor's harem.
Bagoas knew that everything changed today. He lay in this magnificent bed in the capital city of Rabat, indeed in the Sultan's very palace. Not long ago, as told in previous chapters of this story, the Governor had stunned the entire valley by summarily divorcing his wife, Durrah, and sending her back to her father. Shortly after, the news spread that the Sultan had honored Governor Glaouri to the highest extent, by offering him one of the royal daughters to be his wife. Bagoas and Hamid had traveled to the palace to bring the bride to her groom.
This would surely be no easy task. Even eunuchs were not allowed to see a royal princess alone. Bagoas knew that some old hag from the harem would be assigned as the girl's chaperone, and that everything he did must be done through that woman. He was resolved to strike up a good relationship with her from the start. Bagoas and the old lady would share the task of preparing the virgin girl to please her husband. It would not be simple.
Bagoas heard a tinkling of bells entering the room. He opened his eyes and beheld a beautiful dark girl, completely nude, bringing him fruit juice. He was gratified to be thus served, although he noted the beauty of the girl only in a professional way. A man awakened by this black slave, with large round breasts tipped with dark nipples, and a shaven pussy peeking from between shapely legs, would surely have other things to do than to drink his juice, but Bagoas of course had no such stirrings.
Hamid jumped up from his soft pillows on the floor with a guilty look. "My lord," he stammered, "let me serve you."
Bagoas waved a negligent hand at his young protegee. "No, Hamid, let her serve you."
Hamid was unused to such treatment. An uncut youth of his age would have been stunned by the nude beauty, but Hamid was not subject to such feelings. Instead he was awed by being the one receiving service instead of giving it. After a moment, he seated himself cross legged on the cushions and sipped his juice through the silver straw, just as if he had been doing it all his life. Bagoas was vastly amused by this.
Bagoas then asked the slave girl to lead them to the harem offices. There, they waited patiently until they were admitted to the Grand Overseer of the Sultan's Harem. His chambers were impressive, hung with the finest cloths and filled with carved furniture of costly woods. He himself was seated in a chair of mahogany, imported from great distances. Hamid bowed himself low before this august presence. Bagoas, however, gave only a slight dip of his head. He was, after all, a harem Overseer in his own right and was not going to bow before another eunuch.
The Grand Overseer noticed this, and a brief cloud passed over his face. Bagoas looked him right in his eyes, and softly said, "My esteemed colleague, it is indeed a pleasure to visit your harem. In the name of Allah, the Exalter, the Giver of Honor, I thank you for your hospitality. The fame of the Sultan's wives, concubines and slaves has, by Allah's grace, spread around the world. Your master is truly fortunate to have such a skilled servant to superintend his harem." Once again, he gave that slight dip of his head.
Suitably flattered, the Grand Overseer deigned to motion Bagoas to a seat at his feet. He turned to a subordinate eunuch and ordered, "Bring the Lady Uneefa in." Soon, an elderly lady strode into the room, straight and erect and proud. Since there were none present except eunuchs, she wore only a light filmy veil. Her bright eyes at once sought out Bagoas.
He returned her gaze steadily. Then, turning to the Grand Overseer, he exclaimed, "But who is this flower of beauty? I have seen many of Allah's finest creations, but never one with the grace, the movement, the fine figure of this wonderful woman. Where have you been concealing her, mighty one?"
From the corner of his eye he could see the old lady bask in his remarks. He knew he had hit the right note with her.
The Grand Overseer chuckled and replied, "Bagoas, this is the Lady Uneefa, aunt of a second cousin once removed to His Glorious Majesty the Sultan. She goes with you as chaperone to the Sultan's daughter."
Bagoas turned and bowed to the Lady. "Surely Allah, the All-Wise, the Loving, has smiled on me this day. What a delight the flower of the desert will be to travel with, my Lady. I know that we will work together well in caring for our precious charge." He was carefully establishing them as sharing joint power over the virgin. He hoped it was working. He noticed that Lady Uneefa smiled and nodded at him.
"Lady, take this eunuch to meet his charge," ordered the Grand Overseer. With a wave of his hand he dismissed them both and turned to his other duties.
Bagoas turned and followed the Lady out of the room. He did not fail to notice that two eunuch guards with large scimitars flanked them.
Soon they reached another chamber within the harem, with two more guards standing before the door. With an imperious wave of her hand, the Lady ordered them to stand aside and led Bagoas and Hamid into the chamber.
There, attended by two slave girls draped in filmy cloths, sat a small girl heavily veiled. Her head was tilted downward and her hands folded. As they entered, she glanced up quickly, and then dropped her head again.
Lady Uneefa bowed before her. "Princess," she said, "these are the eunuchs who will escort us to Ouarazate to meet your husband." She turned to Bagoas and continued, "This is the Princess Dahab, the Golden."
Bagoas smiled to himself. So Durrah, the Pearl, was being replaced by Dahab, the Golden. He wondered if Gold was more lasting than Pearl. Only time would tell.
Bagoas bowed deeply. Behind him Hamid prostrated himself on the ground. The Princess raised her head and above her veil her curious eyes could be seen carefully studying this large and self important eunuch before her.
"Bagoas is the Overseer of the Governor's harem. You will get to know him well. For now, we will let him see the charms you bring to please the Governor," continued Uneefa.