Outside the bustling desert city were hundreds of poor fallen women who sold their bodies for the next meal. They congregated near the north gate, easily identifiable by their large and small white tents.
No one knew when the first tent went up: indeed some said the tents came before the city. The place had always been a rowdy one, infamous for its purpose. Few weary travelers could resist the temptation to venture inside and entertain themselves for a very reasonable price.
In front of her little tent young Mereth wore a thin white dress and tried to attract customers. She travelled a long way to make a living here after a terrible famine killed most of her family, in a hamlet, on a plain. She was thankful to be alive. Just yesterday she set up her own tent with the nearby kind-hearted sisters' help.
Mereth had nothing left, having eaten the last bit of the food she had begged along the way. She had no time to cry: it was work or starvation. The competition was fiercer than she had imagined. She was pale and had little hips or breasts, and had little inexperience in this trade. But down her narrow shoulder cascaded her smooth raven hair, and her eyes shone a deep warm glow that some might consider attractive, perhaps even fatal.
She patiently bid her time to arrive. Many passed her by only to end up in another woman's embrace around the corner, but she did not give up. Finally, one rough-looking man in ragged clothes stopped, looked at her, vaguely interested. Mereth knew she could afford to be picky.
"Ten coppers and I'll be your woman for a quarter of an hour." She lowered her gaze and made a simple salute.
The man looked irritated by her offer. "No way your poor bony ass is worth that much! You'll get five from me and no more."
Stunned by this vulgar remark, Mereth nonetheless kept her composure. This was how men would speak to her and she'd better get used to it.
You're no longer a peasant's daughter, Mereth. From now on you're a --