The Desert Falcon

Chapter 6, The Falcon's Ascent

Sheikh Rashid was absent for most of the afternoon, allowing me a semblance of peace to think. However, the tranquility didn't last long as two women entered his quarters. I was startled by their presence, as the two examined me curiously. They tilted their head slightly upwards noting my height.

One of them stepped forward and bowed politely. I frowned, watching the two warily. I had never had anyone bow to me before. "My name is Jalah and this is Medina," Jalah pointed to the one beside her. The two were similar in age to each other, but slightly older than I. "We have been asked by the sultan to see to your dressings."

"For what?" I asked.  My guarded tone belied the animosity I had for the sultan.  I was not in the mood to be kind to those who were carrying out the sultan's order to my detriment.

The two looked at me startled, exchanging a look between them. Jalah turned to me then. "He has asked that you be clothed in female attire."

"You can go tell him to drown himself," I tossed.

Medina gasped, as Jalah looked at me as if I had gone crazy. "You know very well we cannot do that. It is a great honor that the sultan has gifted you with this."

I watched as two other men came in and dropped a bronze trunk down, before departing. Jalah went to it and opened it, revealing swaths of colorful fabric, stitched with rich embroidery on them. It was a pleated skirt of sorts and a tunic to match in a beautiful red and yellow color, reminding me of a sunset. There was a shawl and slippers that went along with it as well.

"Are they not beautiful?" Medina asked as she giggled, holding them out against her to display their magnificent design.

Jalah pulled out jewelry of all sorts. Gold bangles, anklets and hair pieces, along with earrings. I had never before witnessed such beautiful jewelry in all of my life. The two began to set it out as a tub was procured within the room.

Medina approached me and attempted to undress me, I reared back and stared at her. "What do you think you are doing?"

Jalah looked at me. "We are going to help you undress. The sultan is providing you a bath to freshen up."

I sighed. I could not outright refuse their offer of a bath. Water was sacred in this region. The Bedouins would think I was spoiled if I refused such a gift. "I can undress myself."

I began to undress, as Medina took the clothes from me. I felt naked before them, as I settled myself down in the water. Medina smiled at me and said, "You have the most alluring body with not an ounce of unseemly fat on you. You are toned. The sultan will be pleased."

I could not help but glower even more at the thought. I did not come here to please the sultan.

Almost immediately, Jalah sprinkled petals and poured fragrant oils within the bath, softening my skin. Medina worked on my hair, washing it with some sort of milk wash and it gleamed beautifully, before adding something fragrant that smelled of exotic fruits.

Two other women came in and began to oil my body, as the other began to wax me, removing unwanted hair from my legs, arms and everywhere in between. I was heavily embarrassed, but let them continue as they busied themselves to make me presentable to the sultan.

"You are a lucky woman," Jalah spoke, as she dressed my hair. She let me hair loose, letting it fall like a thick waterfall down my back and only pulling back half of it to secure in a bun behind me. Medina tied an anklet around my ankle and placed jewelry upon the crown of my head, allowing it to fall against my forehead. "The sultan has chosen you to be his woman."

"I am not his woman," I responded evenly. "He is keeping me captive because of a debt I owe him."

"Still, it is not every day the sultan showers you with attentions of priceless jewels and clothing. Even his harem women I have heard do not own such nice things as this."