Sasha stood still as a statue, absentmindedly watching the horizon. She was profoundly bored, and lingered silently several stories up on a roof-top terrace. A hot, arid breeze blew lightly in her face and gently set her wavy auburn hair aflutter. She had been there for a while with little else to do, and had spent most of her afternoon gazing far beyond the city's high walls, where dry, scrub-covered rolling hills met a golden sky. Desi, her best friend among the other girls at the harem, was lying close by, prone and naked on a blanket, allowing the warm sun to caress her already tanned and supple skin. She toyed with her own golden hair where it fell in loose curls across the nape of her neck, and the gem encrusted plug she wore deep in her ass sparkled happily between round, fleshy cheeks.
Suddenly, Sasha spied a band of riders cresting the distant hills. They galloped down the wide dirt road in a tumult of dust and thundering hooves, their helmets and lances glinting. Her breath caught in her throat.
"He's here," she nearly whispered. "He's home."
Desi quickly turned her head, a faint half-smile upon her full, radiant lips.
"At last," she said.
The harem's foyer was a bustle of excitement as Sasha and Desi descended the final wide staircase. Sasha had not been the only girl to spy their lord's return, and word had spread quickly. He had been gone close to a month now, and relief quickly gave way to anticipation in the knowledge that, as was his custom, he would doubtlessly ride straight for them. He would be in a fiery spirit, having likely won some great victory against an evil and vicious foe, and would have a thirst and a hunger, both for meat ale, and for woman flesh. All the girls would want to be with him on this joyous night; all would hope to help him celebrate in ways he would not soon forget.
The cavernous, ornately decorated foyer was awash with the gentle smell of perfumes and scented oils. Over a hundred beautiful, lithe, and scantily clad young women chatted excitedly amongst each other as they made their final preparations. Desi carefully slathered Sasha's pale skin in an oily salve that left her looking wet and shiny. She paid special attention to her friend's soft breasts, hoping the effect would help to hold their lord's wandering eyes as he scanned the room, seeking inspiration. Sasha felt a flutter in her belly as Desi palmed her pink, sensitive nipples, and squeezed each of them lightly between her fingers.
"Hold nothing back," Desi said as she kissed her friend lightly on the cheek. "You are his. He knows it, and you know it. Show him. Rest in that truth and accept your place, and perhaps fate will allow you to please him tonight."
Sasha had asked Desi to choose their ensembles, seeing as how she was more familiar with their lord's appetites, and she had kept things minimal. They both wore only a choker necklace and a long, thin loincloth that hung between their legs from golden chains. Where Desi's bright white contrasted starkly with her tanned skin, Sasha wore black, which was more complimentary of her pale, milky complexion.
At Desi's behest, Sasha had also agreed to wear a jewel encrusted plug in her ass, so they would fully match. It felt queer and cold at first, though eventually she became used to the feeling and it sent small, recurrent shivers of pleasure up and down her spine.
At length, the harem grew quiet as the thundering of hooves grew louder and closer. Sasha's heart was aflutter as she tried to steady her breathing. She clasped Desi's hand in her own and held it tightly as the tension in the room grew thick. Then, suddenly, the cobblestone street outside the harem doors was awash with armored riders.
He was unmistakable, even among his many subordinates. His mount was huge, wild, and black as night. The horse needed to be big, as the rider on his back was a huge, hulking man. He was armored in thick, dark plate, and his helm was crested with blood red plumes. He carried a large burlap sack flung over a shoulder, and held it high over his head as he screamed a maniacal, barbaric shout. His men followed suit, and as Sasha watched, the very building around her seemed to quake and shutter.
He dismounted quickly, his sack still flung over his shoulder as he approached the harem's door. Sasha could feel the anticipation in the room as all the girls sucked in their bellies and smoothed their hair one final time. Desi shot her a sideways smile, and took a deep breath. In an instant their lord was through the threshold, his heavy boots echoing menacingly. He took only a dozen steps before he stopped mid-stride and removed his helm. He dropped the sack as well, and it hit the floor with a heavy wet thud. The sack leaked what appeared to be dark red blood, which seeped through the material and puddled slowly upon the floor.
Lillenth, the head concubine, greeted their lord with formal courtesy, and he in turn gave her a brusque, curt nod. His head was shaved close, except for a long, dark braid that sprouted from the back of his skull and hung halfway down his back. He was known to usually keep his face clean-shaven, though now he seemed to have grown a dark, matted beard that covered his broad chin and thick, muscular neck.
Sasha noticed that his breastplate seemed to be splattered with dried blood, but tried to avert her eyes. While her lord was always gentle and generous to his many concubines, she knew his reputation among his enemies was something else entirely. Now, he stood tall and fierce and proud, panting as he took in his surroundings. Eventually, she thought she saw the wild fury in his eyes dissipate.
"I have been gone from you for far too long," he said to no one in particular as his eyes swept around the room.
"For too long, I have slept cold and hungry and bruised upon the hard, dried ground. My men and I," he said, gesturing to his fellow riders, "have stained countless fields of battle with the blood of our enemies. These men have done many bold, glorious deeds in my name. Tonight we will all celebrate with you, my doves."
He looked down at the dusty, bloodstained burlap sack.
"Here lies the remains of Senika the Wise, or so he was known among his people."
He spat, and sneered. His men laughed lightly from where they had filed inside behind him.
