ordinary boy ruin everything for me, I will tell no one and soon I will be on my way to the Potentate to be splayed before him, waiting for him to enter me. My lust, though momentarily quelled, grows once more as the sun rises. My priestesses finally come once it is directly above us. There are five of them and each one carries a different piece of my sacred vestments. I step out of my black silk robe and allow them to dress me. First a piece of red silk is wrapped around my waist and tied just below my entrance, then I am dressed in a tight black silk robe with a low neck. After that, an elaborate gold gown of finely embroidered brocade, its skirts sweeping back in an elegant train. My Priestesses fasten it tightly in the back with a line of elaborate bronze clasps. Before me they place a pair of white silk slippers. I step into the slippers and then finally they cloak me in a heavy velvet mantle of deepest blue, edged in gold damask and inlaid with pearls. My dark haired priestess tenderly washes my hair and then pins it up into an elaborate bun, placing atop it a delicate crown of white gold inlaid with rubies. I step in front of the mirror to examine myself and gasp. All my life I have worn rough grey linens, I have kept my hair tied demurely at the base of my neck, I have never sought to be beautiful, but today what I see before me is nothing less then a Goddess. The rich fabrics that float around me make my pale skin almost glow in the midday sunlight. My hair, instead of being dirty and uncombed is carefully shaped into soft golden curls falling lightly out of the bun and around my face. I look back to my priestesses and I can see their desire for me, perhaps it is even greater today because they know that they cannot have me. They can never have me again. Today I belong only to the potentate and his vassals. I shiver with delight at the thought of it.
Chapter Three The Silver Palanquin My priestesses take me down a spiraling stone stair to an archway framed in golden light. Before we go through it, Chasa stands before me with tears in her eyes. I reach out and stroke her face. Though it pains me to leave her I know I will go on to greater things. By the end of today, I will be with the gods. Whatever that entails I know that only the greatest mysteries await me. She lifts the heavy hood of my cloak and pulls it over my head, just before the hood comes down over my eyes she kisses me softly on the lips and then I descend into darkness. The hood of the cloak is large enough to cover my whole head so that I may not be seen on my way to the potentate. I can see nothing through the dark folds of fabric, so I let myself be led by my priestesses out into what I suppose must be the courtyard. I have watched with envy as other gifts are taken to the temple of Xerastes, so I know what is happening when I am lifted off the ground and set down on a velvet cushion. Last year’s gift was a beautiful dark haired girl with piercing green eyes. We were close and would often spend hours together, reading scriptures, painting, studying, enjoying the comfortable silences of companionship. Sometimes she would talk to me of how excited she was for her harvest day and about what we imagined might await us once we entered the grey tombs. She too looked beautiful on the day of her harvesting. I came to see her in the virgin’s bed and then watched through the windows as she stumbled blindly into the courtyard where four men stood, holding the four carrying poles of a magnificent silver palanquin carved with scenes from the scriptures. One of the priestesses gathered up her slim form and gently set her down within the vehicle. I caught a glimpse of the velvet-lined interior before the door was shut and the palanquin was lifted onto the shoulders of the four brawny young men. They were all naked to the waist and a thrill of desire went through me as I watched their muscles tighten with the effort of hoisting the heavy palanquin, their