Star of Persia

Chapter 6

"House of Rosa!" The servant leading me out of the Selection Hall exclaims, giving me a brief once over. "I can see why you were placed there."

"Thank you," I say in a small voice, unsure of what else to say. My head is still reeling over the announcement that has shaken me so thoroughly.

"You will see the king within days or weeks once you have completed the year of beauty treatments," the thickset lord heralded in a pleased voice before I was escorted away by the plump female handmaid.

Under the direct and personal supervision of Hegai, I thought to myself. That must be a wonderful thing, or quite terrible. Somehow, I have a feeling that there is kindness lurking under his hard exterior, and my anxiety eases slightly.

"How will we know where our friends have been selected to?" I ask the attendant as we roam through unfamiliar hallways.

"You don't," she responds with a shrug, but then says, "but there are beauty treatments where Houses will combine, so you may see women you know from your past."

From my past? I wanted my friends to be in my future too. But, a little voice whispers, you don't have any choice. You live under the direct control of these people now.

I silently pray that Emitta has been selected into the House of Rosa as well. She is beautiful and young, so surely it is not a vain hope? Perhaps seeing a friendly face in this apparently exclusive group may be just what I need.

"Where are you from?" The servant asks me politely. She appears middle-aged and has the typical accent of someone local to the Persian capital. We stride up a flight of stairs I have not seen before.

"Susa," I reply, running my hand along the smooth guard rail, and marvel at the texture under my fingers. The steps which we climb appear to be made of alabaster with snaking veins of silver.

"You don't look like a Persian," the handmaid comments without looking directly at me.

My heart misses a beat and my brows furrow.

"You must be mistaken then," I reply tactfully. The woman smiles at me, nods and doesn't speak again. Somehow, I don't think I have convinced her.

When we reach the top of the embellished stairs, we are greeted by a wide hallway ending with enormous wooden doors guarded by palace sentries. On the walls hang painted portraits of women that can only be described as truly and utterly breathtaking. Careful brushstrokes show workmanship that puts extraordinary artistry on display.

It does not take us long to stand before the sentries who regard us with steely eyes. The great wooden doors behind them bear the engraved emblem of an elegant, lovely rose.

"A new virgin for the House of Rosa on the orders of Prince Carshena," the maidservant tells them. It seems clear that I am not the first young woman that she has brought before the guards.

"Enter," one replies in a formal voice, and the two men in unison pull the immense doors open.

As we walk through, I whisper to the handmaiden, "I thought the only males allowed in here are eunuchs?"

She looks at me with amused eyes. "They are."

"Oh," I say, blinking in confusion. "But they look like palace guards."

"The king has a handful of trained eunuch guards, specially dedicated to protecting the most valuable women."

I crinkle my nose at her words. Most 'valuable' women? Aren't all women, those old, young, beautiful and plain valuable? My God sees each as a treasure, I want to reply, but hold my tongue.