The Harem Master Read Free Page A

job when the harems were first created. Six men and five women had served as Harem Masters, all of them from his family.
    And Bulut thought that he would throw away his lineage, his pride, to become the concubine of a man as despicable as the king they both served. At least Demir served faithfully. Bulut was a spider hiding in the sand, waiting to strike. If he thought Demir was wounded, easy prey…
    Well, he would learn his mistake the hard way.
    Standing, Demir returned to the harem hall. A servant stood there speaking with the guards. "Lord Demir, there you are." He nodded in parting to the guard then hastened over to Demir. "His Majesty requests three concubines for lunch, in now half an hour's time." He handed over a rolled-up slip of paper.
    Demir opened it, read over Kagan's demands. "I will fetch suitable concubines." Returning to his office, he retrieved the master list and looked it over, then carried it with him to the living quarters of the concubines. He knocked on three doors and told each young man, "Dress to attend the king for lunch while he dines with the ambassadors from Rittu, Hadge, and Gollen." One man grimaced; the other two rolled their eyes. Demir could not blame them. The king loved to flaunt his concubines at such lunches, most often with behavior best confined to the bedroom. The three concubines Demir had selected were as comfortable with such displays as anyone could be and always handled themselves well.
    Others were much more discomfited. Not a single one of them had been trained for such a life, as the younger sons and daughters of nobles and wealthy persons often were. Too many made mistakes that got them killed.
    When they were ready, the men met him in the hall. "Ricep, Mesut, Gursel… be careful." He kissed each one on the cheek for luck and sent them off with a quietly murmured prayer. He wanted no more dead bodies brought to him.
    After they had gone, the hall grew quiet. Too quiet. He would never grow accustomed to silence in a place that should always be as vibrant with noise as it was with color. Looking to the nearest guard, he asked, "Would you summon a servant, have them bring me wine. Something bright and refreshing, along with a light repast."
    "Yes, my lord," the guard replied.
    "Thank you." Demir vanished into his office and settled into the tiresome chore of paperwork, going over supply lists, future events to prepare for, training and practice that needed to be scheduled, guests who would be coming and going over the next few months… on and on it went.
    Demir should have had an assistant, but he had given up the practice after one had run away and the other had been caught fucking one of the concubines. The first rule of being Harem Master was that he was to care for, but never amorously touch, the concubines except for purposes of instruction. Second rule was to be seen but never touched. His assistants must abide by the same rules. But they had all proven unfaithful. Better to work alone than with someone he could not trust.
    If the palace—the kingdom—was being run the way it should, he would have been within his rights to take a knife to Bulut. As things stood, he would be one more head put to the block. Worse, he might be given to Bulut.
    He looked up, smiling as a servant set a tray with wine, fruit, cheese, and bread on the corner of his desk. "Thank you."
    "My pleasure, Harem Master. Do you need anything further?"
    "No." He smiled as the servant bowed before departing and pulled the tray closer, setting aside paperwork in favor of food and drink for a few minutes. The wine was exactly what he'd asked for, one of his favorites in fact: Afternoon Sea, a vibrant blue-green, salty and sweet, perfect against the cheeses and fruit that had been brought.
    His afternoon and evening continued on with modest interruption, which was fortunate because the night was going to be agonizing enough. As the sun vanished, he abandoned his office and retreated to his private