The Houris Part I M/F

[Kate]

The Houris
Copyright by Kate/martykate©August 1999


Little Fahzi had been a quiet and obedient girl, always doing what her parents told her. She helped her brother tend the sheep and her mother cook their meals and clean the small house where they lived. Someday she would marry a boy from the village, and her life would remain basically the same. She would be obedient to her husband, cook the meals and clean their house. And at night be a dutiful wife and submit to her husband’s desires.

That was until the soldiers came. She and the villagers did not know that an army was invading the city state where they lived. She did not know the ways of governments, only knew vaguely that there was a king. She had never seen him, and did not think of him except at the end of the harvest when her father had to pay a portion of his crops for taxes.

But now their way of life ended in a heartbeat. The enemy soldiers destroyed the village and the crops, and killed all but a few of the men--those who would make good slaves, and beautiful young boys. The women met the same fate, except for the strong ones and young girls. The young girls and young men and boys were shackled in a group away from the others, and were loaded in wagons while the others walked in their chains.

Fahzi had no way of knowing it, but the enemy had won the war. All they knew was that they were being taken away from their homes, away from the place where they had lived all of their lives, leaving everything behind them. They knew that slavery was their fate, and a few of them killed themselves along the way rather than submit to such a life.

Fahzi did not know this. She and the others made the long journey, a journey which seemed to take forever, away from the others. They were fed not well, but adequately. It was hard to sleep in the wagon, but they were too tired and too numb to do anything.

One day they reached the walls of a city, and Fahzi was amazed for she had never seen a city. The gates were opened and the army entered with their spoils, displaying the slaves as trophies. All Fahzi was aware of was a long and tiring ride through the city, her head aching from the journey, terrified of the stares she received from the crowd.

They reached a great compound, and the girls and the boys were led into a room with a tiny window that let in the sunlight. Their chains were removed and they rubbed wrists and ankles to ease the chafing of their skin, and to improve their circulation. The eunuchs inspected each one, putting their fingers far up inside between the girls’ legs. Fahzi fought the eunuch as his fingers reached up inside her and found herself pushed over a bench, struck again and again with a leather strap between her legs until she thought her flesh would be ripped apart.

The captives were fed, bathed, clothed in soft, and what to Fahzi were indecent clothes, but she was glad for a moment just to be alive, if still a captive.

One day the eunuchs appeared with shackles again, they found themselves herded into a wagon that was more comfortable, and with a curtain hiding them from prying eyes. They came to another building and they were taken into a room where their shackles were removed. The girls were dressed in filmy veils, clasped at hips and shoulders, and the boys in gauzy trousers. Then they were led one by one from the room, and did not return.

Fahzi’s turn came, and when they came for her she resisted them, trying to hold back. One of the eunuchs held a narrow rod in his hand and brought it sharply down onto her buttocks, causing her to cry out. She obeyed now, and was led to a room filled with a group of men. She was made to mount a platform, and one by one her veils were removed until she stood naked before them. And she realized now what was going on.

She had never seen herself in a mirror, because it would have cost what her parents might have earned in a lifetime. She did not know that she was a girl of exceptional beauty, raven black hair, large brown eyes surrounded by long thick lashes. Or that the men were lusting for the beautiful curves of her body, and wished to ravage her mouth with its rouged lips. She only saw the stares that made her ashamed, and she kept her eyes lowered.

The bidding seemed to go on and on. Eunuchs were there seeking women for their owner’s seraglios. Only the most beautiful were acceptable, and bidding was fierce. At last she heard the bidding for her stop, and she was taken away, a burkha covering her from the prying eyes of the crowd, and was put into a palanquin and taken away.

She remained in it until she was taken to a large villa. A luxurious compound of one the king’s many brothers—for his father had had a large harem—and walked down halls of marble floors and walls tiled with colorful designs. But she paid no attention as she was led into a large room, and a slave woman appeared and took her to the baths where she was bathed, her hair washed, and afterwards anointed with sweet smelling oils and perfumed. She was given silken trousers and golden breastplates to wear, and was admitted to the main room of the seraglio.

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[Kimmy]

Very good start to what looks to be a good story.

Kimmy