The Eighth Day
"So, we finally leave tomorrow?"
Zalen answered Talyar's question with a nod. Closing the book in front of him he leaned back in his chair.
"The seven day mourning period ended yesterday so I am now free to move on without making seven new enemies. I honestly have no idea if some of my... umm, wives are going to join us or not but I had to make the plans as if they might all be going."
"Good call. And I'd wager the number will be more than one. I've heard enough about their culture to know you're not getting away from this quite that easily!"
Before Zalen could find a suitable response he noticed the Master of Keys had entered the room.
"Yes?"
"As the mourning period has ended your wives have requested Master's presence."
"Better not to keep them waiting then," Zalen sighed, heading out the door.
As Zalen once again entered the main harem room after the curvy dark-haired woman, the others were waiting pretty much in the same positions as last time.
"You wished to see me?"
The dark-haired woman smiled. "Yes. Seven days have passed and we are now fully yours. We have already begun making preparations for tomorrow's journey but now it's time for us to introduce ourselves to our husband, if you have time for it."
"Of course."
Zalen sat down cross-legged on the floor.
"Wait, did you mean you have all chosen to travel with us?"
"Naturally. If our husband won't be returning here, we will travel with him." The woman's friendly smile suddenly turned dark. "Especially if it means a chance to avenge the Sheikh."
"But..."
"Oh, you meant the offer about the new life elsewhere? It was truly generous but in the end none of us wanted to take it."
Zalen opened his mouth again but managed to bite down another 'but'.
"Umm. Very well then. Please introduce yourselves, it's getting strange that I don't even know any of your names. Except for Sumi."
The dark-haired woman smiled and walked in front of Zalen. Now that he had time to look at her properly she seemed to be forty or so and with a bit more meat to her bones than the other women. She had an approachable demeanor that wouldn't have felt out of place in any jolly tavern. And her body certainly would have turned heads in any of them, even without the revealing harem outfit. And those breasts - Zalen quickly turned to meet the woman's eyes before his thoughts would wander any lower but the curvaceous beauty just smiled.
"My name is Sindara. I am the eldest here, taking care of everyone. I love to read and to talk. May our nights be pleasurable."
The last words were accompanied with a curtsy and Sindara returned to her place as the next woman walked to the front. Her body looked far more fit than the previous woman's and her stride reminded Zalen a bit of Coryel.
"My name is Leilah," the short-haired blond announced, looking at Zalen with a clear challenge in her eyes. "I am an adventurer and could cut you in two if you gave me reason. May our nights be pleasurable."
Although her tone had clearly softened for the last sentence, the contrast between it and the previous one still made Zalen cringe as the next woman walked closer to make her introductions.
"I'm Mirada," the tall, thin brunette announced, her long hair cascading between her breasts. Zalen recognized her as the one who had been lounging in the room during Zalen's initial meeting with the Sheikh. "I do have some small skill with magic myself and I'm always interested in learning more. May our nights be pleasurable."
As she walked back to her seat, her place was taken by the two identical looking redheads. Well, identical except for the flower-like ornament added to their hair as the one on the left was wearing a blue one and the one on the right a yellow one.
"Jazmyn," the one on the left murmured, doing a cute little curtsy.
"Dinah," the other one added. "We're twins as you can see."
"And our favourite thing is games of all kinds."
"May our nights be pleasurable," they both intoned, smiling as they turned to take their seats again.
The next one to walk forward looked quite different from the others. Not only did she have a clearly darker skin than the other women but she shared the strong stride Leilah had had - although with a far more curvy behind.
"My name is Kity," she announced, "and you'll find me rather skilled in unarmed combat and wrestling. May our nights be pleasurable."
Her tone had some of the same challenge Leilah had had but instead of hinting of danger, the look in her eyes was far more sultry.
As she returned to her place, Sumi walked forwards next.
"My name is Sumi," she curtsied, "and I think you already know what I love." She winked unabashedly at Zalen before turning away.
As Sumi glided back to take her seat Sindara spoke once again.
"And that was everyone. There is still one more thing before we return to our travel preparations."
"What is it - Sindara?"
Zalen would need to do his best to memorize their names. Using the wrong name would be bad even if they weren't his wives but in this case...
"I would request to be the first one you choose."
"Umm sorry? First what?"
"For this night. To share your bed. Oh, we all know Sumi didn't wait to be chosen but now that the time has come, I would ask to be the first. I do have plenty to offer you." Sindara emphasized the last words by squeezing her ample breasts together a little with her arms.
"Ah, sure. You are more than welcome," Zalen stammered, trying to keep himself from blushing.
His reaction clearly didn't go unnoticed though as he could hear little giggle from the other direction, followed by a whispered "We'll have fun with him". Maybe it was the twins?
Trying to compose himself Zalen got up again.
"Very well then. Tomorrow will be the beginning of a new life for all of us. It will be dangerous and it won't be the kind of adventure you hear about in the stories. But it's also something I - we - cannot walk away from and if luck is on our side, we will eventually succeed. And the long journey should give us plenty of time for me to get to know everyone. See you tomorrow morning."
"- and tonight," Sindara added, watching the slightly blushing Zalen walk out.
Once again he could hear the room explode in chatter after his exit.