Maeve tried to listen to the conversation between Shay and Sheik Junda, but it was hard to focus on what they were saying when it seemed as though everyone in the room was staring at her. She knelt on the floor at the witch's feet, stark naked but for the silver circlet that rested on her brow and the thin metal collar around her neck. Aside from the witch and the Sheik, there were almost a dozen other people in the cabin, including the Sheik's guards and his severe looking second in command who stood beside his liege with his arms folded tightly across his chest. Of all the people in the room, he was the only one who Maeve hadn't caught staring at her tits or ass since Shay had commanded her to undress.
The Sheik said something and Shay laughed politely in response. It seemed that the two did have some prior relationship and whilst Maeve wasn't surprised by the fact, she was intrigued. She knew that Shay had travelled through Arridia before on one of her previous attempts to reach Aggodar, but she wondered what cause the witch had had to ingrain herself into the Sheik's graces.
She caught one of the guards staring at her again, the lump in his pants telling her exactly where his mind was at as he hurriedly looked away. Her cheeks were already red with embarrassment but she was also conscious that she had done nothing to resist Shay's command to strip. Even now her clothes were within easy reach to her, folded neatly on the sofa next to Shay. There was nothing to stop her from grabbing her leather skirt and corset and covering herself up again and yet she remained kneeling at Shay's feet like a good, obedient little slave. She thought back to the previous night aboard the Desert Rose, when they had dined with Captain Abraham whilst a gagged and topless Tilly had served them. Tilly hadn't been embarrassed by her nudity. If anything, she had seemed to relish the attention whenever she had caught Maeve staring at her breasts and the golden nipple chain that dangled from her tits. Maeve had admired her confidence at the time and now that she was in a similar situation, she was beginning to understand why Tilly had taken such pleasure from exposing herself.
"Ah! Lovely!" Junda said as a pair of women clad in sheer silk skirts, crop tops and veils entered the room bearing trays laden with bowls of fruit and a large silver teapot. They placed the trays on the table between the Sheik and the witch and poured them each cups of hot, aromatic tea, passing the first cup to the Sheik and the second to Shay.
"Your good health, my dear," Junda said, smiling like a kindly uncle as he held out his cup towards Shay.
The witch smiled sweetly as she tapped her cup against the Sheik's before taking a measured sip of tea. "So you agree to provide us with passage to the Golden City?" she said as she placed her cup carefully on the table.
"Of course," Junda said. "For an old friend, I will even do for free!"
Shay smirked as she leant forwards. "And as you are an old friend, I know there will be a catch."
Junda shrugged. "I ask only that you stay a while in the city with me," he said. "It has been too long since we have seen each other, and I do so enjoy our discussions."
"My business is urgent," Shay said calmly.
"Of course! Of course!" Junda said. "Please, you would be free to leave whenever you wish. I offer only the hospitality of my city."
Shay took another sip of tea as she considered her response. "I need to pick up a few things in the city," she said at last. "One or two of them may take a couple of days to source."
The Sheik beamed. "It is settled, then!" he declared. "You may consider yourself my honoured guest. Whatever you need, my people shall be at your disposal."
Shay bowed her head. "Thank you, Your Excellency," she said reverently. "For now, I would appreciate somewhere to rest and freshen up. Captain Abraham's ship was rather short on luxuries."
Sheik Junda clapped his knee as he laughed. "Indeed! Indeed!" he said as he stood. "Come! I will show you to the guest cabin."
Shay smiled politely as she stood and smoothed down the front of her knee length skirt before snapping her fingers at Maeve. "Come, slave!" she snapped, her pink eyes sparkling mischievously.
Maeve bit her tongue, holding back the reply that had almost slipped from her lips as she stood and followed after Shay and the Sheik. She was more aware than ever of the prowling eyes of Junda's guards as she crossed the cabin, her tits and ass swaying from side to side as she walked. She kept her gaze on the back of Shay's head as they left the room but she heard two of the guards fall into step behind her and could practically feel their eyes on her ass as they followed her through the office suite and down a set of spiral stairs to the deck below.
It was warmer below deck and Maeve could feel the vibrations of the powerful turbines that powered the ship through the wood beneath her feet. Junda led them down a corridor lit by candles encased within small, intricately perforated metal balls that hung from the ceiling to a cabin near the rear of the vessel. He presented a key from his turquoise tunic and pushed open the door to reveal a large cabin containing a four poster bed draped with white and gold linens, a chaise upholstered in gold brocade, a mahogany writing desk and a dressing area complete with a wash stand and basin.
"I trust this will be adequate?" the Sheik said with a smile.
Shay inclined her head as if the cabin wasn't draped in more finery than most of Everdale's noble houses and smiled. "It will be more than enough, Your Excellency," she replied.
"Good," Junda replied. "Your slave may reside here with you, or if you wish I can place her with the other slaves tonight?"
"She will remain with me for the time being," Shay said, her eyes flitting to Maeve's face before returning to look at the Sheik.
"Of course," Junda replied, taking the opportunity to once again admire Maeve's naked body. "It is understandable. But please, do not be afraid to take advantage of our amenities whilst you are with us."
Shay bowed, motioning for Maeve to follow suit. "Of course," she said. "Perhaps later, once we are settled in."
The Sheik smiled, taking Shay's hand and kissing it gently. "You will dine with me tonight?" he asked.
"I would not miss it," Shay replied.
"In that case, until then, my dear!" Junda said before turning and heading back down the corridor, his guards following swiftly in his wake.
As soon as Junda and his men were gone, Shay grabbed Maeve's arm and pulled her into their cabin, closing and locking the door behind her. Maeve opened her mouth to speak but Shay held up a finger to silence her and immediately began searching the room for something. Maeve watched, utterly bewildered as the witch ripped off the bedsheets, turned the spare linens out of the drawers and even pulled the wardrobes away from the walls. She wanted to ask what she was looking for but whenever she tried to speak Shay gave her a fierce look and then carried on searching. Finally, having just slid the mattress off of the bed, a triumphant grin spread across her face as she reached down to pick up what looked like a small golden beetle.
