Claire had hoped that, once there, the ruse could be exposed and she and Saida could be given rooms in the palace until Elliot and Ali managed to join and thereby rescue them. On the way, Agha Rezai made it clear that he was adamantly opposed to this idea. Rezai was still concerned about inspection of the palace by unfriendly forces, and what could happen to Claire and Saida in the hands of either faction. In addition, he feared exposure by gossip among the palace staff. Virtually no information escaped from the closely-guarded seraglio. So they were to remain safely ensconced in the vestibule of the harem, awaiting Elliot and Ali. It should only be for a few days at most.

  Rezai had decided that Claire would be introduced as C’amila, a common Bosnian Muslim name. The Emir’s staff would be told she was Bosnian, a country with a language no one at the palace was likely to speak. They’d be informed that C’amila spoke enough English to be able to use that language, which was understood by some within the palace and, of course, by Saida.

  They’d been delivered to the Palace! Claire, still completely shrouded in black, turned for one more glimpse of the Agha Rezai as they were ushered by the eunuch Aziz along a corridor, and through locked doors, which Aziz carefully relocked behind them.

  At Ali’s request, they would spend the next three days as palace guests, while they waited for Ali and Elliot to rescue them sometime in the next one-to-three days. After three days, they’d begin their actual induction into the harem, if their men hadn’t arrived.

  Knowing they weren’t from within the sultanate, Aziz asked them both if they spoke Arabic. Saida indicated that she did and then told him that C’amila, from Bosnia, did not. She told Aziz that the only language they shared was English. Then she translated what she’d said to Claire.

  “Then you will translate for her until she learns Arabic,” Aziz told Saida. “Now, remove your burkha and all your clothes and place them in a pile over there. You will no longer have need for them. When appropriate, we’ll provide normal harem dress for both of you.”

  The two girls were now standing naked and nervous before Aziz. The first thing he said was, “I was lead to believe that the two of you were going to be of a fuller figure. We have a harem rich with skinny girls. The intention was to add some flesh to the Emir’s diversity. It appears that we have some work to do.”

  Saida translated for Claire, who replied with “He thinks we’re too skinny? What the hell does that mean?”

  Saida shushed her for the moment, as Aziz approached each of them in turn.

  He examined them carefully, running his fingers through their hair, and his hands all over their arms, backs, bottoms, breasts and legs. He was somewhat astonished at Claire’s piercings and tattoos.

  “These are very well done,” he noted as he looked at her clitoris and labia rings. “As are these,” indicating her nipple rings and the jewel attached within her navel.

  “The intention was to make the two of you a matched set for the Emir’s pleasure. Since we cannot remove most of her jewelry without leaving marks upon her, and because most of them provide an erotic experience that His Highness will certainly enjoy, we’ll have to match her modifications on you,” he said to Saida. She almost fainted at those words, her piercing phobia vivid in her thoughts.

  He spoke to Saida again. She continued to translate for Claire, whose face betrayed her concern for her friend, a very anxious, upset Saida. “Your coloration is very similar, though C’amila’s hair is black and yours is dark brown. We will change your color to match hers, and fix both of your hairstyles to match.

  “But it grows late. I will take you to a guest apartment, where you may eat supper and spend the next few days relaxing. You will begin your initiation in three days. You should be ready to enter regular harem life a few days after that.”

  Dinner was plentiful, flavorful, and, Claire suspected, high in calories. It looked like they were already determined to fatten them up. She’d have to watch it or she’d gain ten pounds in the few days she’d be here. They did serve delicious food, she had to admit. They both slept restlessly in separate, but adjoining rooms.

  Claire’s knowledge of harems was restricted to what she’d read in novels of slavery imposed on hapless women by evil sultans in Turkey and the Middle East. Saida convinced her that the stories were just that – stories. Although his concubines were subject to the Emir’s will and desires, those centered around fashion and their personal appearance – not discipline and the whip. Punishments were used in training, including the whip and cane, but they were judiciously applied for reinforcement and never capricious. That was at least true in this Emirate. Somewhat reassured, Claire still felt that any control over a woman’s appearance should be by mutual consent, not dictated by a man. Even Elliot had only changed her when he knew it was what she wanted or she’d clearly asked him or given him carte blanche agreement. She had a feeling that no one here was going to bother with asking her or Saida.

  Of course, the Emir wasn’t here at all. They’d only be staying for a few days at most, until Elliot and Ali could get to them.

  Aziz appeared in their suite, unannounced and without knocking, early in the morning. He asked them to make their toilet and bathe. He would return shortly, at which time they’d be examined by the harem physician and measured by the harem jeweler, who would create the custom ornaments for both of them. Claire could see Saida pale at this last remark. Following the examinations, Aziz would take them to breakfast.

  He came back accompanied by a very dark-skinned eunuch, Mbutu, whom he introduced as the jeweler to the seraglio. In a moment, he was joined by the eunuch Majid, the harem doctor and surgeon. Majid weighed them both and took detailed measurements of their head, face and ears, and of their limbs, breasts, waist, hips, hands, feet and genitals. Then, with Claire reclining on the examination table, Mbutu spent fifteen minutes measuring Claire’s jewelry, making copious notes as he did so. He took close-up pictures of her earrings, nipple rings, bellybutton quad-piercing ornament, and clit and labia rings. Claire, by now used to people inspecting her piercings, found herself embarrassed at Mbutu’s clinical examination of her rings.

  Saida, fearing what was to come if the men didn’t retrieve them in time, broke out in a cold sweat and her heart beat furiously as she was measured. Just the idea of duplicating Claire’s piercings on her, unlikely as it was to even happen, scared her to death. Though she appreciated that the effect was beautiful on Claire, she didn’t want them to do that to her at all. Even if the jewelry could magically appear in her body without pain, she feared having metal within her tender flesh like some people fear heights or spiders or enclosed spaces.

  Saida was told to lie down and Mbutu began to examine and measure her ears, nipples, navel, clit and inner lips for jewelry, which he would create over the next few days.

  Mbutu and Majid left them as they walked to breakfast with Aziz.

  They sat in a quiet room on padded benches at a table lavishly laden with sweet, starchy, fatty, rich food of every sort. Aziz was especially proud of one dish which he uncovered for Claire with a flair that would have done a waiter proud. Claire had no idea what the curious, rolled meat pies were, though it was evident Aziz thought she’d immediately recognize the dish. Not knowing what to do, she feigned delight as she glanced at Saida for help.

  “Oh C’amila! Look! They’ve prepared Bosnian burek, especially for you!”

  Claire got it at that point and showed her fake appreciation to Aziz as she took a couple of the charred-looking, savory-smelling, roll-shaped pies. They actually were quite good. She said so. Aziz appeared happy and satisfied.

  Whew, that was close, she was thinking as Aziz encouraged them both to eat everything in sight. Yep, they were trying to fatten them up; Claire was sure of it at that point. She had to admit, though, that she was famished – probably from the long day before and the difficult travel to the Emir’s palace.

  As they ate their fill, Aziz told them what was to happen next. Saida translated for Claire.

  “Once a contract had been secured with your families, the Grand Eunuch worked out a plan to create a unique position for you within His Highness’s harem. That plan was approved by the Emir, who was unusually enthusiastic about the Grand Eunuch’s ideas. We’ve already begun the process of adapting you both to the plan. In three days we’ll continue the work that will allow you to join the harem.”

  * * * * *

  Unbeknownst to Claire and Saida, the three eunuchs met the following day to discuss the women’s imminent introduction to the seraglio. Majid needed to discuss the upcoming procedures with Aziz and Mbutu. He was doing this at the request of the Grand Eunuch, who was otherwise occupied with plans for protecting the harem, should the need arise.

  “I consulted the Grand Eunuch about the exact procedures for these new concubines, considering the results of the measurements I took the other day. Aziz, I know you prefer less invasive treatment of the women assigned to you. However, in this case, because they are to be a matched pair, the Grand Eunuch has instructed that I perform one complex piercing and two surgical procedures on Saida, and one on C’amila.

  “As you can see, C’amila is more well-endowed than Saida. If you look carefully under her arms, you can see very slight scars from where implants were inserted to augment her breasts. It was very-well done by a skilled surgeon. I’ve been instructed to augment Saida such that she exactly matches C’amila.”

  “I suppose I have no objections,” Aziz noted. “To achieve a match, we would have to either reduce C’amila or augment Saida. His Highness likes a substantial bosom, so augmenting Saida seems preferable. Recognize that they will enlarge some on their own, as they gain weight.”

  “I would take that into consideration, Aziz, save for the reality that C’amila is already enhanced. So, what will be will be. At least they will start from the same point. Luckily, their nipples and areolae are nearly the same size. C’amila’s areolae are slightly larger, but Saida’s will stretch enough from the implants to make them virtually the same. Saida’s nipples will become permanently erect, as C’amila’s are, once they’re pierced.”

  Next, Majid pointed out how C’amila’s clitoris was perfectly positioned for the piercing it held. Using photos he’d taken during their examination, he showed Aziz and Mbutu the difference with Saida. “This makes piercing this girl somewhat problematic. I will have to pierce somewhat deeper to position the ring correctly. In doing that, I risk damaging the nerve that serves her clitoris. She could lose some or all sensation in her tiny bud.”

  “I see,” said Aziz. “Although her possible loss of sensation at first seems a small price to pay for a lifetime of luxury in the care of the Emir’s harem, it would make the responses of the two women different, and that would defeat the purpose of a matched set.”

  “There could be an easy solution, should that happen,” Majid offered. “If she loses any or all sensation, we could modify C’amila such that she also lost the same amount of sensation, keeping them matched.”

  “That sounds like medieval barbarism to me. I don’t see how my conscience would allow that.” Aziz stated adamantly.

  “But, for example, all eunuchs, like we are, are modified,” offered Mbutu.

  “But we were done as children and don’t even really appreciate what we’ve missed. These are grown women, no longer virgins, who, we presume, have had experience with the sexual arousal that we would seriously change to their detriment. Perhaps we should just remove C’amila’s clitoral ring and leave Saida unpierced there. C’amila’s piercing would be barely noticeable, if it were noticeable at all.” Aziz was known to be conservative and protective of the women in his charge.

  “Have you done many of these, Majid?” Mbutu asked.

  “A few. They’re rare because so few women are built to accommodate them. C’amila is one of those rare ones who are completely suited for a clitoral piercing. Saida is right on the borderline. You should know that your uncle, the Grand Eunuch, has instructed me to proceed. I tell you this now in case you want to appeal to him.”

  “Yes. And if this were Egypt a hundred years ago, we’d just have everything removed down there from both of them and be done with it,” said Aziz, mockingly. “Fortunately for them, we’re supposed to be civilized now. I could not agree to have them surgically modified in any way that might result in seriously damaging their pleasure - in their genitals or anywhere else.”

  “You’re being tiresome, Aziz,” Majid complained, exasperated. Mbutu nodded his head in agreement. “She’s only a woman after all. No, I don’t think she’ll lose sensation. Most likely, she’ll become aroused far more and far more easily. But there’s a small chance that the piercing will affect her negatively, and a very small chance that she’ll lose all sensation there forever. That’s why I mentioned it.”

  “And what are the actual chances of anything undesirable happening?” Mbutu asked, looking for a compromise way out.

  Majid considered his question. “I believe that, if one of you can keep Saida’s beauty bud aroused and erect when the time to pierce it comes, I can avoid going too deep, thus making the chances of damage slight.”

  “How slight?” Aziz asked. He wanted the girl undamaged, but didn’t relish challenging his uncle, the Grand Eunuch, over this trifle.

  “Less than one in ten. Of loosing all feeling, less than one in one hundred. If we can keep it aroused.” He added as a caveat.

  Aziz sighed loudly and then nodded. “Alright, we shall do it,” he agreed, reluctantly and somewhat angrily. “Anything else?”

  “Just one more common procedure.” Majid reminded him. “Both women have well-formed labia minora, the inner beauty lips as we call them. As is customary, the Grand Eunuch has demanded that their inner beauty lips be trimmed away, so the outer lips will close together like those of a child, as His Highness prefers for all his concubines. This is actually a procedure that is becoming somewhat common and accepted in western countries,” he added, attempting to head off any other objections from Aziz. “In addition, Saida’s outer beauty lips are more prominent than C’amila’s. I’ve been instructed to trim them to match C’amila’s. For the sake of completeness, I should tell you that C’amila’s inner beauty lips appear to be unusually sensitive to arousal. She’ll lose that when they’re removed.”

  “If their inner beauty lips are removed, C’amila will also lose the five beautiful rings that pierce each of them. I thought we might preserve those.” Aziz noted. He otherwise didn’t care much about what was done to the inner beauty lips, or to Saida’s outer lips. Of course, the inner lips, in particular, were sexually sensitive, but nothing like the beauty bud. If C’amila lost some erotic sensation, she’d at least still have her very-sensitive beauty bud. All of the other harem girls had been deprived of their inner beauty lips when they entered the seraglio.

  “The Grand Eunuch and I believe that having a cleaner, smoother appearance as is traditional in the harem, outweighs the erotic nature of C’amila’s inner lip rings. However, we propose to move them to her outer beauty lips, and duplicate them on Saida, once she’s also trimmed.”

  “That would provide a fine base for lacing them up, as a prelude to their being taken by His Highness. It would make them somewhat virgin-like again.” Mbutu offered.

  “Exactly!” Majid agreed. He wanted to end this exasperating conversation and also avoid displeasing the Grand Eunuch. He looked at Aziz Hopefully.

  “That seems a very sensible solution to me,” Aziz agreed, to the obvious relief of the other two. “Mbutu, can you reuse C’amila’s existing rings on her outer beauty lips?”

  “Alas, no, Aziz. They were closed with an internal locking mechanism and can only be removed by cutting them and, thus, ruining them. I will retrieve them from the excised lips and save the gold, but I will make new, identical rings for both C’amila and Saida.”

  “Then, I believe we’re agreed. I suggest you get to it, Mbutu. We will bring them into the harem itself for induction in two days.”

  That day passed, then the next without any sign of or word from Ali and Elliot. Claire and Saida spent the time leisurely talking and almost constantly eating. Claire told Saida she thought they were being given appetite stimulants, because she’d never been so hungry. Saida suspected Claire might be right.

  Meanwhile, many miles away on the far side of the sultanate, Elliot and Ali had run into considerable difficulty on their way out of the forests and onto the road that would take them to the Emir’s palace. There was fighting all around. It was clear that the journey that way was impossible. They backtracked to a road that lead down to another that would take them first to Ali’s home on the oasis, then up to the Emir’s palace. They never made it to the crossroad.

  A battle had taken place some miles beyond their current location. Vanquished fighters were streaming past them, hotly pursued by the victors. The two friends barely made it out of the situation without injury or capture. In the end, they had no choice but to flee in the opposite direction from the Emir’s palace and Ali’s oasis, and seek shelter across the border in Saudi Arabia.

  At the border, Ali convinced the immigration guards to call a Saudi business partner of his, who sent a car to whisk them from the border region to a safe house several hundred miles away.

  As they drove away from the sultanate through Saudi Arabia, Ali got on the satellite phone to the Agha Rezai.

  “My dear Agha, we were unable to make the journey and had to escape to Saudi. Are you still at my uncle’s palace?”

  “I am, Qaid. We are almost out of time here. I’ve already asked the Palace Agha for some additional days before the women are taken into the harem. He has refused.”

  “Then at least get word to Saida and Claire that we’re delayed, but safe. We’ll get back as soon as we’re able and retrieve them. It looks like that may be several weeks at the best right now. The situation between us and you is very unsettled. There appear to be skirmishes throughout the sultanate. In your opinion, are our ladies safe there?”