Amina glanced out of the palace window, searching the cloudy skies for the moon. The bright crescent had almost reached its zenith, and Hakim would be here soon. He had no obligation to be on time, no one commanded a sultan to be anywhere, but she knew that he would be punctual for Amina. He always was.
She walked over to her large bed. The most expensive silk sheets in the entire palace covered a mattress so soft that Amina was convinced a feather would sink into it. Sleeping on his perch inside of the diamond-encrusted cage was a magnificent songbird. He was bright blue, and his angelic voice had caused many a menagerie owner to shake his fists in envy. Hakim had bought it for her on one of his many journeys, a present for her services. She wasn't used to being the favourite yet, all the special treatment, having her own quarters, her own maids. The other wives surely resented her by now, just as Amina had resented the Sultan's last favourite.
She looked at her reflection in the tall mirror, the maids had truly outdone themselves, she thought. Her dark hair had been artfully pulled up into a complex topknot which itself was made up of a single, long braid. She wore a pink robe that reached all the way down to her ankles but was split at one side, starting at her hip and revealing a glimpse of soft, olive skin. Her back was free, and the dress was sleeveless in order to better show off Amina's unique assets, indeed the main reason for her current status as the first wife.
Where only half a year ago had been a dancer's graceful arms, there now was a pair of smooth, round and empty shoulders. Even craning her neck to get a better look, Amina could only make out the faintest trace of a scar. The sultan's new healer truly was a master. Hakim had brought him back from foreign lands, and the peasants even called him a sorcerer. The healer had always treated Amina well, particularly once he'd been made aware of her position. Amina's injuries could have been the end for her, and in many ways, her old life was indeed over. Never would she have expected this, the palace, the gown, the room, it was impossible for Amina to fully comprehend, impossible to even imagine ever getting used to all this.
Knock, knock, knock.
'Light of my life. I yearn for your company. Will you receive me this evening?'
Amina quickly crouched down on her Persian rug. Kneeling was difficult without arms for balance, but she had practised a lot.
'It would be an honour, your majesty. Please enter.'
The door swung open. Amina shifted her weight forwards, fell onto her knees and bowed her head.
'Rise.'
Slowly she put one foot forward and used it to pull herself back up.
Sultan Hakim stood in front of her, wearing nothing but a small, open vest and a pair of his poofiest trousers. A long, golden rope served as his belt. Amina could see his muscular stomach, his travels had made his skin darker than even her own and he was tall and broad-shouldered. Amina had never seen the Sultan fight, but the bards called him a born warrior, a dancer on the battlefield, light on his feet, quick with his spear.
'You look radiant, the stars pale in comparison,' he said, and reached out for her face, stroking her cheeks and lips. She kissed his hand.
'Clouds are in the sky, your majesty. There is hardly a star in sight.'
Hakim smiled, he loved her insolence at times. Amina knew she was playing a dangerous game, but boring the sultan would mean greater peril by far.
'I see one,' he said. 'It is bright enough to turn the night into day, and it belongs to me.'
Amina looked down.
'Of course.'
'Kiss me.'
Amina did. His technique was forceful, assertive. Amina knew she couldn't back down, couldn't let him take charge without a fight. She knew how to kiss a sultan, with passion and force, and as if nothing could please her more than thrusting her tongue deeper and deeper. With Hakim this wasn't difficult, he too had had his fair share of practice.
He put his hands onto her shoulders, and started to massage them, his grip was firm. He pulled her closer and his tongue play became more and more intense before he pushed Amina back, laughing.
'Tonight, you are to entertain me. How will you go about doing that?'
