Chapter one
For as long as I can remember men have sought me for my beauty and for my gifts.
Many have claimed me ; pirates, rich merchants, noble men, even a demigod, but none had claimed my heart until I met him.
I was born in the kingdom of Jureal, more properly in the dukedom of my uncle, the Lord Nightshadow. Our family is very powerful and rich. One of my cousins is the Ragghyr, the male bride of king Kay Salgis, the First.
However, being my father's third son there was not much in the way of a fortune that I could expect in the future. All family possessions were my eldest brother's inheritance. That left the rest of us, shall we say, hanging.
Jureal is a fascinating land. An oasis of peace and tranquillity in a very tumultuous world. The Illuminaous family is responsible for that. They have ruled Jureal , uninterrupted, for over a millennia.
It was while performing my duty to them that my story began.
The southern realm of Keosh had been invading our waters. A possible disembarking of troops was foreseen, so Jurealite ships kept a thorough watch around the island kingdom.
I had been assigned as cabin boy in such a ship. " The Lady of the Waves" it was called.
The life of a seaman was not really my calling, but my father insisted since many of his ancestors had been naval officers. So, at the age of thirteen, I found myself in a besieged vessel.
Ours was an envoy ship carrying an ambassador from Sandasi Quiary, a close ally from the somewhere in the northern continents. Let me confess right now that I have never been good with geography.
At first the captain thought we were being attacked by a Keoshian galley, but it turned out to be pirates.They forced us off course and boarded our ship.
I was below deck with the ambassador and his family when the pirates came on board. Helpless, I watched as a sword cut the man in two and was sick to the stomach with the gruesome sight. His wife, two daughters and I were taken prisoners by our attackers.
On the upper deck we were forced to witness the decapitation of those few crewmen who had survived, but were not considered valuable. Part of the crew, the handsomer ones or those who could be sold into slavery, were carried off to the pirate ship, thus escaping death. By the end of our voyage the ones that were still alive might have been wishing they had died on "The Lady of the Waves".
I still shudder as I recall the lascivious stares from those sex starved men. Six months out at sea, without women, was rough on them. The poor woman and her daughters... it was horrible what they did to them. I might have ended the same way, except the captain thought I was exceptionally beautiful . He reasoned , quite correctly , that I might fetch them a hefty amount in the slave market. Being a virgin was an added value.
So, I lived as their prisoner for a while. The cell was the most disgusting thing I have ever seen. It smelled of piss and feces and , near the end, of rotting corpses. Most of the prisoners died of decease from the poor living conditions.
The day we finally arrived on land, a tiny atoll that served as a watering hole, I cried for joy. Regretfully the trip was not yet over.
We headed from there to a large chain of islands in the southern seas. To the island named Trianix. These were two small keys united by two isthmus to a larger island. That was their port of call, the place were they sold their cargo.
I was still a virgin on arrival, though I had forcefully gained enough experience in the art of fellatio to please any man. Or, as the pirate captain would say, I gave " a heavenly blow job".
On the island I met the man I would call my master for the next two years. He was a middle aged merchant ( slave trader on the side) . Hamud El Qurad was his name. Now this man was very rich and he had a clinical eye for the acquisition of slaves. He dabbled only in the finest merchandise. His specialty was in the area of sex slaves for men of very discriminating tastes.
Later he would tell me he recognized in me the potential to be a raggher'na'ai . More than a simple sex slave. The term in itself carried some advantages. It made me a sort of second wife-concubine , with more privileges than a simple slave.
Of course the famous Nightshadow brand would not remain secret for long. I will never forget the shine in Hamud's eyes when he saw the red spot on my belly. Instantly he knew I was worth ten times what he had paid for me.
" Elris...." By the way, that is my name, Elris Nightstar of the Clan Nightshadow.
" Elris, when I am done with your training king's will vie for your favors. I will make a Ragghyr out of you!" That is what he said... I am getting ahead of my story.
" Surely Mirial Nightson must envy your beauty." He boasted proudly.
I was not of the same opinion. Oh , I new I was pretty , but the memories I had of my famous cousin told me he was an ethereal beauty.
It was then that my training began in earnest. My lessons addressed every topic , music, dance, writing, poetry, magic ( my family is very skilled in that department), even geography!
I learned how best to accentuate my sharp features, my violet eyes, even my pointy ears and graceful neck. The dressing of my long silvery hair merited a teacher of it's own! One teacher taught me how to walk, another how to talk, and yet another what to wear.
The class "de rigor" was the one about pleasing your master, if you get my drift. Okay , sex!
Strangely enough I was taught self-defense. The odd kidnapper and thieve are known to steal expensive slaves. And believe me, with the prices this men pay for a slave, you bet they are going to protect them.
My given weapon was a beautiful silver fan . It was made of a very light , but sturdy metal. A delicate , yet deadly weapon. Capable of lopping a man's head of in a single swift strike. It was perfect for me , as it complemented my fighting style. My teachers used to say that I danced when I fought. Probably to compensate for my lack of strength.
Even then I was extremely tall and thin, in a graceful sort of way .
I still have my weapon, right here beside me. Red roses and vines are painted upon it and red silk ribbons stream from it's center.
Those two years were the happiest of my life, but like all things tend to do they came to an end.
I was sold to a prince, the brother of the Crowned King of Esberil. This was a small country on the border of the Keoshian Empire. They had sworn their allegiance to Miahatep, Emperor of Keosh, and were allowed to retain their sovereignty.
The said prince paid a small fortune, enough to buy himself a country. Only Miahatep himself could have paid more , but Hamud told me he would drown me himself before he sold me to such a monster.
What can I say about Zilaro? He was an ugly , ancient old runt A miserable bastard. I lost my virginity to a nearly impotent man. How pathetic!
There I was at the age of fifteen married to a drooling eighty year old who wanted me to give him a child.
Three hundred wives had not managed that miracle!
Honestly I did try. I even invoked Quiax'n , my family's dark protector.
Then one night, in the middle of what I must confess had been his best performance in bed ever , he just ... died. One minute he had been humping and huffing away, the next he was dead.
His servants and all his belongings were awarded to his closest relatives and thus my new master turned out to be his nephew, the King's second son.
To be continued...
Original story by Angela M. Meléndez
1998