A Tale from the Erotic Adventures of Solomon Magus
*
'Twas in Javan that I first met the lady known as Pandora.
I had come to that land of volcanoes and effervescent pools of water to sample the hot springs, which were well known for their apparent healing properties. And since I was recovering from a rather harsh punishment I received at the hands of the Rab Gibor and his cohorts (the embarrassing details of which I must leave for another time), the waters seemed an ideal remedy for my various aches and pains.
Thus I arrived in Asa, one of the many small villages throughout Javan that offered a curative spring.
As I strolled down the dirt street, a light mist occasionally caressed my face as steam clouds floated past every now and again. Even the walls of the gray rock one-story buildings glistened with a fine layer of moisture.
And, of course, there was also the ever-present odour of brimstone.
When I asked a nearby villager to point out the healing abode, it turned out I had just passed it.
An attractive woman of some twenty-odd years greeted me as I entered.
"Blessings on you, my lord," she said, her soft voice already a soothing balm. "My name is Pandora. You have come to bathe in the waters?"
She wore a short-skirted chiton, a garment common to both men and women in the Isles of the Gentiles, and she wore her braided blonde hair held up by several decorative combs.
"I'm Solomon Magus. I've heard many reports of the waters' healing properties."
She smiled, and then said, "The reports are true. Come, let me take you to a chamber."
There were several rooms in the dwelling that had obviously been built around the natural rock formations, and each chamber was of an irregular shape and size; but all of them possessed a deep pool of steaming water that gave off a stronger brimstone pungency than outside.
As we entered one room in particular, I gestured toward the pool and remarked, "Are you sure you do not mean to cook me in that?"
Pandora laughed aloud, her voice full of youthfulness, her mauve eyes sparkling. She shook her head. "It looks hotter than it is."
I looked dubiously at her.
She held out her hands. "Let me take your garments. Then step into the water slowly; that way, your body will adjust gradually to the heat."
I pursed my lips, peered at the pool hesitantly. But I finally set down my traveling bag, unfastened my long robes and slipped out of them.
"By the gods!" exclaimed Pandora as she noticed the proliferation of bruises on my body."
"The consequence of an unfortunate set of circumstances and foolishness on my part," I explained quickly and simply, since I did not wish to go into details.
"Then after your bath, you must allow me to apply some of my healing salve to your injuries."
I nodded. "My thanks, Pandora. To be honest, I have used up my own healing pastes and have not yet had an opportunity to acquire or make more. And I will certainly pay you extra for your medicines."
I followed the young lady's instructions and descended gradually into the pool of water. It was hot but, as she had said, not unbearable once my body had acclimated itself to the heat.
I closed my eyes, sighed with contentment and relief as the water covered my body and began to soothe my sore bones and muscles.
Some time later, quite refreshed and invigorated by the apparent magic of the water, I sat naked on a milking stool as Pandora daubed and massaged her slave onto several small cuts and bruises.
"Where do you come from, Solomon?"
"Originally, a little town called Vellore in Elishah. Then, one day, when my parents and I were on our way to Madai, pirates attacked our merchant ship. I alone escaped alive, only to be shipwrecked on the island of Ithamar where I studied the magical arts for seven years under the tutelage of Narmada Magus."
"You're a wizard, then?" Pandora exclaimed, her eyes wide with interest.
