“Ah! Mr. Brougham, please remove your shoes and join us!” Vinod bellowed from across the room as one of the females lowered a grape into his mouth. Not really focusing, Thaniel removed his shoes and made his way across the room, feeling the soft texture of each fabric through the thin material of his socks. His eyes couldn’t help but stray over the females forms as they walked by, only the terrifying image of an enraged Juline could pry him away from the graceful beauty and down to the portly Vinod. He took a comfortable seat next to the spoiled ruler and made himself comfortable as one of the women came over with a tray filled with and took her seat next to him. Quickly she took to serving him his own goblet of the lavender beverage and preparing the food to feed him. Thaniel felt slightly uncomfortable at having a woman he didn’t know feeding him as if he owned her, but at the fear of losing all the food on the tray and offending Vinod, he simply ate the food as she fed. “Well, how does it suit you Mr. Brougham?” Vinod asked, taking a large bite from a loaf of bread. “Please, call me Edmund,” Thaniel proposed kindly. “I love it. It’s a very exquisite and beautiful room.” “And the women?” He coaxed. “They would fall under the same description.” Vinod exploded into a hearty laugh, “Yes, beautiful aren’t they? They came back from home with me and my men, wanting to live rich and happy lives. Well, here they are, beautiful, rich, dressed in the best garbs, living a palace unlike any other and holding the most respect from a man any woman ever would.” He nodded and took another grape from the woman’s slender fingers. Daringly, Thaniel asked, “You mean they aren’t…?” “Oh, no! Never. They are dancers here in my home, they are each respected like queens and are never to be touched unless by their consent.” He took a swig from his cup and reclined further back into the pillows behind him. “Would you like to see them dance?” Vinod suddenly offered, his eyes focused on the band in front of them. “Well, only if they wish. I would love to see them.” Without a word Vinod clapped his heavy hands, stopping the band mid –tune and sending the women to their feet. He gave a quick command in a foreign language and almost immediately the music sprang to life, the women’s bodies following closely behind. Thaniel watched them dance, completely entranced with their movements, the way their curves seemed to flow perfectly in sync with the music. Again and again like a perfectly flowing river their hips moved in fluent circles, their hands snaking in, around and between each other, their legs took each swift movement with stride, not once faltering their goddess-like strides. Glimmering belts of gold hung from their hips, waves of the lightest fabric swam around them as they spun, their hair fell and whipped witch each movement. Everything had some effect to add to the mesmerizing dance. It lasted for another five minutes then came a clean, neat and perfectly balanced stop. The men broke out into applause as the women took thankful and blushing bows then walked back to the men they had been attending. Thaniel couldn’t take his eyes off his blushing maid as she sat back down next to him. “Was is pleasing?” Vinod asked, a proud smile plastered on his face. Thaniel tore his eyes away from the dancer, “It was beautiful. I have never seen such a dance. Graceful, perfect… words don’t justify it, nor the dancers.” Vinod laughed heavily, “I am glad you enjoyed it, and it flatters the women greatly. But, before we continue into the night I would like to show you one more beauty my palace houses.” Again he commanded something in his foreign language. Somehow the lights the dimmed from a burgundy red to a deep blue-purple, the entire atmosphere changed, fell silent and calm. The band began to play a sweet, slow, mellow tune then swiftly flowed into a mildly faster tune and as they did yet another dancer emerged from another curtain. She was one Thaniel had not seen yet and was, by far, the most beautiful of them all. She was dressed in garments of deep, plum lilac, her top laced with white violet strings of velvet. A belt of silver bells rather than gold hung decoratively from her waist, sending light sprinkles of sound through the room as she began to dance. Her movements were as fluent, graceful and perfect as the others if not more so. Again and again she dipped and rose like a cobra coming from its coil, every muscle, every inch of flesh moving in perfect motion with the inch of flesh that curved before it. Thaniel felt the hairs on his neck rise as their eyes met. She moved as concentrated, as best and as refined as before but her eyes did not leave his. She was beautiful beyond any compare, her large almond eyes were a hypnotizing desert sand color, lined with thick, dark, long lashes. Her skin was just near the same color, smooth and pleasing to the eyes. Her hair was pulled back into a neatly made bun, a beautiful veil lined with satin and beads covering it and falling down to the small of her back. No words forming in Thaniel’s mind could do this woman justice. Her beauty, her movements, everything he could possibly notice about her it was all beyond any words of any language. Suddenly Vinod leaned towards him in the middle of her dance, “Her name is Kiran. My son has had his eyes on her for quite sometime now, beautiful is she not?” Thaniel nodded, “She is.” It took him a few seconds to process what he had said, “Your son?” Vinod looked at him oddly, “Did no one tell you?” “I’m afraid not.” “I do, I have a son. Rajeev. He will carry on my family and home after I pass, with this goddess by his side.” He sat back against his pillows, allowing Thaniel no further questions. A glint of envy passed through Thaniel, but it passed quickly and soon he composed himself just as the song ended. Kiran came a perfectly done stop down on the ground, her forehead touching the soft floor, the fabrics of her clothes spreading over the surrounding pillows. She stood back up and took a bow then walked over to Vinod and placing an affectionate kiss on his cheek, she took her seat between him and Thaniel.