This story is a continuation of my previous one, Berhem's Two Husbands. You really ought to read that one first, to understand what's going on. This sequel focuses a bit less on anthropology, and more on the feelings of the protagonist, Berhem, about her polyandrous marriage. And around the middle of the story, there's lots of explicit sex. I'm not sure why, but I find the idea of polyandry powerfully erotic, particularly when the partners all go to bed simultaneously: perhaps it's the premise of a woman being so thoroughly loved and pleasured by her partners, being completely surrounded and immersed in sexual stimulation, as it were, the object of intense erotic worship, in the context of a loving relationship. Floats my boat, anyway.

All sexually active characters are above the age of eighteen.

* * *

Setting: a village in western Asia, circa 410 CE

* * *

My mother-in-law's request

* * *

This is good pomegranate wine. Avzen smacked her lips. Anahita has blessed your harvest.

Thank you, mother-in-law. Will you also taste some of our goat cheese? I made it just yesterday.

No thank you, Berhem, do not trouble yourself. I have eaten well this evening. A cup of wine and a conversation with my beloved daughter-in-law are all I crave. Tell me, how are my other grandchildren adjusting to this precious little one?

As we spoke, I nursed little Hawre, my third son, now three months old. His brother Hozan was now eight, brother Rebaz was six, and sister Vahar four.

The boys are delighted with him. Vahar has been a bit sulky. She is unhappy that she is no longer the baby.

If she ever needs more attention and energy than you can give her, just send the little goddess over to me, so Granny can spoil her.

I will do that. She loves spending time with her Granny. As do I. Everything good in my life I owe to you, dearest Avzen.

Hush now, daughter. You are the best wife to my sons, and the best mother to my grandchildren, that I could wish for. I am grateful to have you as a daughter-in-law and as a friend. And because of this, I want to speak with you about my brothers' family, who live in Rozaq. Sadly they lost two of their sons to a fever two years ago. They have a daughter, who married a few years ago, and now has a child. Their one remaining son, my nephew Evindar, is now of marriageable age. But my sister-in-law Veman cannot find a wife for him in Rozaq, as you can imagine. He is a good boy, and quite beautiful. But no mother of his village is willing to marry her daughter to a brotherless man, a bow without a second or third string. The land in Rozaq is more mountainous, a holding there is too much work to fall on the shoulders of just one husband. So ... Veman suggests that Evindar spend some time here in Gonshi, to let the young women of this village meet him. Perhaps he will fare better here. I will take charge of the matchmaking. But the fathers and I are in a smaller house now, whereas yours has just been enlarged. Perhaps Evindar could dwell in your house, during his sojourn here.

Certainly, Avzen.

I am sure that Sirvan and Diyari would welcome their cousin's help with the harvest. And your little ones would enjoy meeting their cousin.

Avzen, you need not persuade me! Of course I will give your kinsman houseroom, for as long as he wishes to remain in Gonshi.

* * *

Evindar settles in

* * *

When I first set eyes on Evindar son of Veman, I knew without a doubt who he was: he looked so much like Sirvan – well, a somewhat younger Sirvan – and he carried himself with Diyari's exact gait and mannerisms. This could only be my husbands' kinsman. As he entered our house, he knelt and kissed the hem of my robe, a rather old-fashioned gesture of respect towards a woman, which I found charming.

Evindar was quiet and polite, like Sirvan. He was deferential toward me and my husbands. But with my sons Hozan and Rebaz, he was boisterous and playful, and they quickly came to adore him. Vahar, not wanting to be left out, would climb into his lap the moment he sat down in the house, and refuse to let go of him. Hawre gurgled happily when Evindar held him.

I was unused to having another adult living in our house, sleeping in the outer room with the children. Our children have grown up hearing the sounds of my nightly love-making with their fathers – to them it is as unremarkable as the sighing of the wind outside our house. But Evindar was new to us. Did hearing my cries of pleasure make him uncomfortable? My husbands merely chuckled at my concern.

Your cries will make him eager to find a wife, laughed Sirvan. And that is good. That is why he has come to Gonshi. Let him know the blessing that awaits him, if he finds a plump, lusty wife like you, Berhem.

And do not deny your husbands the joy of hearing your cries of pleasure, Diyari added, stroking me between my thighs.

So, I let go of my inhibitions about this. I probably would not have been able to keep quiet, even had I tried – when Sirvan and Diyari's kirs are sheathed in my quz, I lose awareness of everything save the pleasure they are giving me.

Evindar proved himself to be a strong worker, helping Sirvan and Diyari complete the wheat and barley harvests in record time. He then set about tirelessly shoring up the retaining walls of the terraced gardens, whilst my husbands tended our orchards. In the evenings, he often cooked for us, delighting in preparing the specialties of Rozaq. Before bedtime, he sang us tales of the Parthians, from the cycle of Rustam and Sohrab. He had a lovely singing voice. In short, Evindar settled smoothly into our household. Within a month, I began to wonder how we had ever got along without him. And perhaps the knowledge that Evindar could hear us even added a touch of excitement to our nightly love-making.

Avzen's matchmaking efforts, however, met with no success. The more wanton young women of Gonshi – even some of the married women, I'm sorry to say – were eager enough for a secret dalliance with Evindar, for he is indeed a beautiful young man. These women he politely rebuffed. But no mother was going to let her daughter marry this brotherless young man, not when there was an ample supply of marriageable young men in our village, or nearby Mitri villages, all with younger brothers.

* * *

Brothers by adoption

* * *

One afternoon, I laid the problem out before my good friend and mentor, Sazan daughter of Alai. Perhaps, I thought, she could prevail upon some of Gonshi's mothers to see past the brotherlessness, to consider Evindar's many virtues – his gentleness, his generosity, his piety, his strength and initiative – not to mention his manly beauty.

Sazan looked at me searchingly. She shook her head.

Beloved Berhem, if Evindar son of Veman is as exceptional as you say, it would be a waste, frankly, to wed him to one of the thick-headed young women of this village. No, there is a better option. I am puzzled as to why Veman has not considered it. Or perhaps she has. Hmm, yes, perhaps she has indeed. A Mitri young man who has no brothers may be adopted, by the mother of his kinsmen or friends. He may thus get brothers by adoption, and a woman may lawfully take them all in common marriage. Such marriages are sometimes unsuccessful, it is true. The husbands were not all raised as brothers, and so the sharing of the wife sometimes is difficult. But if the husbands come to trust one another, and if the wife shows ample love to all of them, such marriages can be as strong and happy as any other common marriage.

I have never heard this.

Our village has not had a brotherless bridegroom for many years, not since ... that evil man who I will not name. My poor Berhem.

I wonder why that man's mother did not try this option. Did she know of it?

Certainly. But that man's kinsmen knew his evil reputation. They would not consent to adopting him for this purpose. So, instead, his mother found a vulnerable woman who lacked the wits to protect her own daughter: you. The grandmothers of Gonshi should not have permitted such a match. I am sorry we failed you.

It was a bad match, it is true. But if my life had taken a different turning, I would not now be married to the sons of Avzen. Anahita has blessed me.

You are a wise and pious woman, Berhem daughter of Hetaw. Now, tell me, does this Evindar son of Veman get on well with your husbands and children?

Yes, extremely well. I think we shall all be quite sad when his time in Gonshi comes to an end, assuming he does not find a wife here. Evindar says that my husbands remind him of his late brothers. And they always wanted a younger brother –

I paused. Suddenly, the implications became blushingly clear.

Sazan chuckled. Berhem, why do you suppose his mother sent him here, to become acquainted with his kinsmen? And with you?

I shook my head. Sazan, I cannot consider this. I could not do this to Sirvan and Diyari. I love them. They fill my heart.

Yes, yes, they are both excellent young men, and they nicely fill another part of you as well, judging from your four children. But a heart is not a quz: there is room in it for more than two. From the glowing way you speak of Evindar, I suspect your heart has begun to open to him already, whether you recognize it or not. Listen, when I first married, Hekar and Palan were close in age, and I wedded them together. We soon fell in love. I bonded with those men – I had not thought it possible to open my heart and my body that way to another person, let alone to two of them. My heart was full to bursting. But they had a much younger brother, Khebat. I thought I had no room in my heart for him. I secretly dreaded the day when Khebat would reach marriageable age and come to live with us. How could I let this outsider lie with me? It felt like a betrayal of Hekar and Palan to even think of it. But when the day came, Hekar and Palan brought their younger brother to our bedroom, and proceeded to show him just how to please me. And he was an eager and skilful pupil. It was the very opposite of a betrayal: it seemed to complete our love, theirs as well as mine. Then, after Hekar and Palan died, I had only Khebat left, and our love for each other kept the memory of the other brothers' love alive. Now, only I am left. But the memories are sweet. I thank Anahita for my years with Khebat.

But you all knew Khebat would become your husband once he came of age. He was their brother. This is different.

Is it? Berhem, you are dear to me. What is more, I respect you. But do not forget that I am a grandmother of this village, I know the Mitri way, and I am telling you that this is the Mitri way. Berhem, my dear, do not put obstacles in the path of your own happiness, and that of your family.

When Sazan spoke in that tone of voice, I could not argue back. Instead I took my leave of her, and stormed off to confront Avzen.

* * *

Avzen's response

* * *

Am I to have no choice in this matter, mother-in-law?

What matter is that, daughter?

You know very well: the matter of you adopting Evindar, making him a brother to Sirvan and Diyari. Which would just coincidentally make him my third husband. Is that why you lodged him in my house? Did you and Veman cook up this scheme together, to push Evindar into my marriage bed along with Sirvan and Diyari?

Avzen set aside the dough she was kneading and dusted the barley flour off her hands.

Berhem, dear one, there is no scheme. Evindar is here to find a wife, as you know. And to that end you agreed to give him houseroom. Perhaps one of the women of Gonshi will find it in her heart to marry him. Perhaps you will be that woman. If so, there is a way to arrange it: yes, I could adopt him and make him a brother to my sons.

But I am already married! To your sons! How could you do this to them?

Berhem, my sons are dearer to me than life itself! As are you. And my grandchildren. Can you doubt this? And my nephew Evindar is dear to me as well. Do you think I would consider this thing if I was not confident it would be a blessing to all of you? Evindar lost his older brothers, and now he has found them again in Sirvan and Diyari. My sons always wanted a younger brother, but after Diyari's birth I could not conceive another child. Evindar deserves a good woman to be his wife, and I know of no better woman than you. So, why is it so unthinkable that you might marry him?

Why did you not tell me all this before I took him into my house?

You had to meet Evindar, to form an opinion of him, of course. Now that he dwells with you, I know you think highly of the boy – you and your husbands too.

What do my husbands know of this?

I have not discussed it with them, Berhem. I would not go behind your back in this matter, even with my own sons. But they are not stupid. It is clear they already relate to him as a younger brother. They work well with him. The possibility of Evindar joining the marriage has certainly occurred to them. I suspect they are waiting for you to broach the subject. If they have not spoken against it by now, I suppose they welcome the idea. And your children already treat Evindar like a third father. It would leave a hole in your family, would it not, if you send him back to Rozaq, or if he finds a different wife here in Gonshi?

Yes. I cannot deny it. But I feel as though you and Veman have sprung a trap for me. And it was obvious to everyone but me, from the very beginning. I walked right into it. I feel like a fool. Of course I must say yes now. Sazan has basically commanded me to marry him. Whether I want to or not.

No my dear, it is all up to you. You and my sons. Nothing will happen unless you choose it. I am sure Sazan wants what is best for you, as do I, but nobody is going to force anything upon you. Come dear Berhem, do not be angry with me. Nobody thinks you a fool, least of all me. Go home and talk to my sons. I will keep Evindar and the children at my house this evening, so the three of you can discuss this privately. Come, give me little Hawre now and I will nurse him to sleep.

* * *

The husbands weigh in

* * *

Where are the little ones? Sirvan asked.

At your mother's. Evindar as well.

Both husbands' eyes lit up. Can we take you to bed early then, plump one?

We can eat supper later, grinned Diyari, pulling off his clothes. I know what I am hungry for right now: some nice, ripe melons!

He began kissing my heavy breasts, opening my robe and sucking on one of them, whilst Sirvan's mouth latched onto the other one.

Husbands, no, wait. Well ... very well, I laughed, we can go to bed, but then we must discuss something.

Discuss what? Sirvan asked, as they carried me, giggling, into the bedroom.

After ... ahhh! ... hee-hee, yes, just like that. Ohh, yesss, don't stop my husbands, ahh ... unghhhh! Oh, don't stop ... don't stop ...

An hour later, Diyari rose from our bed and brought us bread, cheese and wine. Sirvan sat up and began eating.

So ... discuss what? Sirvan asked me again.

I took a wet cloth and wiped my husbands' seed from my loins and arse, then donned my robe, for the evening air began to feel chilly. Our long and vigorous bout of love-making had improved my mood markedly, as well as cleared my mind: for this idea that had seemed so fraught and threatening to my happiness with Sirvan and Diyari now seemed ... possible. Even ... exciting?

Your cousin Evindar: should I marry him? I asked bluntly. I took a sip of wine and waited for their answer.

Sirvan and Diyari grinned at each other. Beloved, Sirvan said, if you can find it in your heart to receive our cousin as your husband, we can gladly receive him as our younger brother. Our children already love him as a father.

The boy is a clever worker, commented Diyari. He somehow accomplishes as much as Sirvan and me combined in the same amount of time. With his help, our barley and olive harvests this year have been the best ever, by far. With the proceeds, we could buy that unused field of Rounak daughter of Ashti. The land would be perfect for a walnut orchard. And maybe buy some more goats, so you will have plenty of milk for your cheeses and yogurts. We could live very well, without having to work quite so hard, if Evindar laboured with us as a brother. But ... well, I am getting ahead of myself. Berhem, beloved, the important question, is: could you love and desire him?

Until now, I have not allowed myself to think of him that way. But ... oh Diyari, Evindar is so much like you and Sirvan – how could I desire you two as I do, and not desire him? Of course I desire him: what woman could resist any of the sons of Avzen, natural or adopted? But, we have been taking it for granted that Evindar wants this marriage. Perhaps he does not desire me at all. Perhaps I am too old for him, or my facial scar repels him. Or perhaps he will not want to lie with me together with you two. Perhaps he will want to take turns. A common marriage is one thing: what we have is something far more intimate.

Beloved, said Sirvan, if Evindar comes into this marriage, he comes as our younger brother. A Mitri younger brother must adapt himself to the household ways of his older brothers and their wife, not the other way round. Evindar knows this. He knows how Diyari and I lie with you – not the intimate details of our love-making of course – those we will teach him when the time comes. Our aunt Veman sent him here to dwell with us, after hearing our mother speak so rapturously of you. So Evindar came hoping that you would look favourably on him and receive him as a husband. He has remained in our house, working alongside Diyari and me, bonding with our children, listening to our love-making every night. If he did not desire this marriage, he would have returned to Rozaq long ago. And ... Diyari and I discovered something, a few days ago. Shall we tell her?

Diyari explained: you recently cut up one of your worn-out under-skirts for rags, and threw away a couple of excess pieces. Well, these scraps of cloth still smelled of you ... of your body, your quz. So Sirvan and I took them. When we are out working in the fields and orchards, and sit down to rest for a moment, it cheers our hearts to take out these bits of cloth, that you once wore next to your womanly parts, and smell the scent of you upon them. Evindar saw us doing this. The next day, my cloth went missing. I found it later beneath Evindar's pillow, but I said nothing to him. I did not want to embarrass the boy.

You men enjoy smelling my unwashed clothing? I asked incredulously.

They smell of you, beloved, Sirvan said blushing. We love your smell, we cannot live without it. And neither, it seems, can Evindar. Trust us: that boy desires you as we do.

I found my husbands' preoccupation with bits of smelly old cloth surprising, to say the least; but the frankness and vulnerability of their confession, and the love and desire for me that motivated them, melted my heart. I would gladly give them every single garment of mine, to cheer their hearts. For my husbands. In my mind, that term now seemed to include Evindar.

As for you scar – began Diyari, in a stern tone.

Yes, I know, I replied. I merely said that out of old habit.

In truth, my scar, that I once thought so hideous, had faded over time. It was now merely a faint white line on my face. Perhaps it was never as bad in reality as it was in my own mind. Nearly a decade of Sirvan and Diyari constantly affirming my beauty and desirability, with words and actions, has had its effect on my self-image. My husbands desire me, of that I have no doubt. They love the features of my face, my expressions, my moods, the sheen of my greying hair as I brush it out in the evening. They revel in the softness and warmth of my fat body. Why should not Evindar, who is cut from the same cloth as my husbands, desire me as well?
Just speak the word to our mother, said Sirvan, and she will arrange everything with Evindar and our aunt in Rozaq.

Very well, husbands. We shall need to enlarge this bed.

We will start work on it tomorrow, laughed Sirvan. Now let's arise and fetch Evindar and the children home from our mother's house.

* * *

It is arranged

* * *

It is not the Mitri way for young people to arrange or even discuss marriage matters directly: this is left to their mothers. Since I have no living mother, Avzen handled everything. So, I did not speak to Evindar at all about the impending marriage. In fact, once the process was set in motion, he moved into Avzen's house, so that he could return to my house as a husband once the proper ceremonies had been observed. But Avzen spoke with him, and then assured me that Evindar was as eager to marry me as her own boys had been.

As for our children, the news that Evindar would now be their third father, that he would be joining our family permanently, had them cartwheeling for joy through the squash garden. Then they raced over to Granny Avzen's to find their hero and hug him.

With the help of the magus, a letter was written and sent to Rozaq, carried by my father-in-law Hedi. He returned two days later, bearing a linen package that contained Evindar's navel string, signifying his mother's assent to the adoption.

Avzen and my fathers-in-law, as well as my husbands, my children and I, assembled that very day before the village fire shrine, dressed in our finest clothes. I had thought it would be a small, quiet ceremony, but Sazan daughter of Alai had seen to it that the whole village turned out, to pay their respects and contribute to the feast. Led by the magus, Avzen spoke the formal words of adoption. And that was it: since Evindar was now Avzen's son in the sight of Ormazd, that made him my husband as well, by virtue of my marriage nine years previously to Avzen's other sons.

The marriageable young women of Gonshi looked on in envy, furious with their mothers for letting Evindar slip out of their fingers. But as the feasting began and toasts were offered, Sazan took the occasion to publicly invite Avzen to join the council of village grandmothers. Avzen's status in Gonshi was now unassailable. And as Avzen's daughter-in-law, and Sazan's protege, my status was assured as well, no matter how much envy and bitterness the young women felt at our good fortune. Well, it would now be the task of the grandmothers to smooth things over, to ensure that these young women quickly found suitable husbands and turned their minds to more productive things than envy.

Sirvan soon pulled me aside. Berhem, we have spent enough time at this feast. Come, let us go home. My brother Evindar has waited long enough.

My brother Evindar. Hearing that phrase from Sirvan's lips caused a powerful surge of desire to shoot through me – I could feel wetness running down my inner thighs. I wanted them – all three of them – inside me. I too had waited long enough. With a nod from me, Diyari and Evindar were at my side, and together we hurried back to our house.

* * *

Evindar's first lesson

* * *

As Evindar stepped across my threshold as my husband, I turned to him and made the promise I had given to Sirvan and Diyari nine years earlier: I want to be a good wife to you, Evindar. To all three of you, my beautiful, wonderful husbands.

Evindar dropped to his knees before me and kissed the hem of my robe.

Thank you, Berhem, he said, his eyes bright with emotion. I ... I want to be a good husband to you, a good brother to Sirvan and Diyari, a good father to our children. I thank Anahita a thousand times for giving me to you. I want to please you in everything I do. I hope you and my brothers will teach me how.

Very well, said Sirvan, the lesson begins now. Diyari, let us teach our younger brother how Berhem likes to be kissed.

Sirvan and Diyari took me in their strong arms, holding me tightly between them, as they began kissing my cheeks, my eyes, my forehead, my nose, my ears, my neck. Their hands stroked my back, my breasts, my soft belly, my well-padded arse, reducing me to a quivering jelly of lust, whimpering with need. Their hard, hot kirs pressed into my body through our clothes. I tried to capture their mouths with mine, but they eluded me.

Come little brother, said Sirvan. She wants you. Kiss her mouth.

Evindar sprang to join us, and now his strong arms encircled me as well. His lips found mine, his mouth tenderly opening to me, his tongue shyly caressing mine. I responded hungrily, sucking his tongue into my mouth. All the while, my other husbands continued holding, stroking and kissing me. Evindar was now softly grinding his loins into my fat belly: his kir was as hard and hot as the others'. His trembling hand began cupping and squeezing my breast, making my robe wet with milk.

Berhem, you are so very lovely! he sighed between kisses.

The love and desire in his voice so thrilled me, combined with all the other kissing and caressing, from him as well as from Sirvan and Diyari – my quz, and my whole body, suddenly blossomed in pleasure, I moaned into his hot, sweet mouth. If my three strong husbands had not been holding me tight, my legs would have given way beneath me. An instant later, Evindar grunted and thrust his kir against my belly, climaxing as well. I could feel his hot seed soaking into the front of my robe: the potent smell of it made me lightheaded.

I ... I am so sorry ... I spent my seed too soon, Evindar muttered in embarrassment.

Hush, my new husband, your eagerness delights me. You made my quz blossom, without even touching it!

Sirvan clapped Evindar on the back. Well done, little brother! You have given our wife pleasure, just from your kisses and embraces. I would say you have mastered your first lesson.

I ... I don't want the lesson to be over, he answered shyly.

The teaching will continue then, laughed Diyari happily. In the inner room. Come, Evindar.

* * *

Evindar enjoys me

* * *

Despite living in our house for the past three months, Evindar had not ventured into our inner room before.

Never have I seen such a large bed! he exclaimed.

It is your bed now, Sirvan said. Our bed. Here we will lie with our beautiful, lusty Berhem, all of us together. Do you like it?

It is wonderful! he answered. I feel as though I have entered Anahita's paradise.

No, chuckled Diyari, that is what you will feel when your kir is sheathed in our wife's snug quz.

Enough banter, husbands, I growled. Come, off with your clothes. Do not keep me waiting.

Sirvan and Diyari pulled off their tunics with practised ease, then dropped their loincloths. Evindar nervously fumbled a bit, removing his clothes. But a few moments later all three husbands lay in our bed, Evindar in the middle, naked and lovely as the gods the Greeks used to paint and sculpt back in the reign of Aleksandar. But with far more beautiful kirs! My eyes were drawn to Evindar's – so young and powerful, its size was perfect, the tawny skin of his manpouch like the supplest kid-leather. He was hard again already, his loins still wet and sticky with the seed he had spilled. The smell of it intoxicated me. I fell into bed, taking his kir at once into my hungry mouth, savouring the salty-sweet taste of him, devouring him, sucking on his manpouch, kissing his little nest of downy hair, as my hands grasped and stroked Sirvan and Diyari's equally thick, hot kirs, making them groan with excitement.

I switched back and forth among my husbands, enjoying this banquet of kirs that lay before me. Then I returned to Evindar.

Berhem, please stop, or I will spend my seed in your mouth! Evindar whimpered.

Do you not enjoy this lesson? I teased.

Oh, yes! But ... could you not remove your clothes as well? Let me gaze upon your body, lovely Berhem, please!

Indeed, said Diyari, the next part of our teaching requires Berhem to be naked.

As much as I hungered for Evindar's fresh seed in my mouth, my new husband had waited long enough to see my naked body: I would make him wait no longer. Standing up, I shrugged off my robe and pulled the underskirt down from my hips, letting it drop to the floor.

The rapt look on Evindar's face – on all my husbands faces – made me go weak at the knees, my quz dripping freely. I sank back into bed.

You are a goddess, Berhem, Evindar gasped, a divine emanation from the heart of Ormazd!

Would you like to taste your goddess-wife? asked Sirvan. Come Berhem, lie back in the middle of the bed and open your sweet thighs. Evindar, kiss her quz like you were kissing her mouth before. Whilst Diyari and I suck at her breasts.

A hot eager mouth on my quz, and on each breast, as I lay nestled among the strong, warm bodies of my three husbands, their hands touching me, caressing me in all the right places – it was not long before my quz blossomed again, spraying my womanly nectar into Evindar's thirsty mouth, as my breastmilk flowed into Sirvan and Diyari's equally thirsty mouths. But my husbands would not relent. My awareness dissolved into a pure sensation of pleasure, as the three switched off. Now it was Sirvan's head between my thighs, now Diyari's, now I know not whose, as I wailed and whimpered and grunted and keened.

No more! I finally gasped weakly. Please husbands, I can take no more.

Enough, said Sirvan sharply. Reluctantly, Evindar withdrew his wet face from my molten quz.

I am sorry, Berhem it is difficult to stop, you taste and feel so good.

Yes she does, said Diyari.

I will freely give you my unwashed undergarments henceforth, Evindar, if you enjoy the taste and smell of me so much. You need not steal them from my other husbands, I teased.

Evindar blushed bright red.

You know about that? I am so sorry ... I ... every night I could hear you making love in here ... it made me feverish ... I caught the fragrance of you on Diyari's cloth and I could not resist ...

Evindar, I laughed, stop apologising for desiring me. I want you to desire me. I desire you too. You are my husband now.

Yes, he beamed. Yes I am, thanks to Anahita.

* * *

Room for two

* * *

Time for the next lesson then, said Sirvan. This is the very secret of our family's happiness. Our wife is endowed with a very special quz: she has room for two kirs. Would you like one of those kirs to be yours now, little brother?

Oh yes! But ... there are three of us. What will the third one do?

I, said Sirvan, will sit up at the head of the bed. Perhaps Berhem will favour my kir with her lovely mouth. You, Evindar, lie in front of her. Diyari, go into her from behind.

After all that priming, I was hungry now to have their kirs inside me. I eagerly cooperated with their efforts.

Ah! gasped Diyari, she is so wet ... ungh! Aahhhh! Our little brother will have no trouble entering her.

Slowly though, both of you, I panted, let me savour this. Ah, yes! ... Diyari is now sheathed nicely inside me. Ahh. Evindar, husband, beloved, please put yours in alongside his. Make me truly your wife.

I gazed into Evindar's beautiful young face, seeing his eyes go wide as he entered me, as he sank slowly inside me to the hilt.

Aahh! Aahh! Oh brothers, she is so hot and tight. And very wet. And I can feel Diyari's hard kir against mine.

Husbands, you both feel so good inside me! I grunted. So full.

Now brother, Diyari panted, stay deep inside her, I am going to move a bit.

As Diyari began thrusting in and out of me, I took Sirvan's luscious kir in my mouth, whimpering and moaning around it, as Diyari's gentle thrusts gave me pleasure.

Aah! Aah! Evindar kept panting, feeling Diyari's kir rub against his, within the tight, wet channel of my quz.

Your turn now little brother, Diyari coached. I will hold still whilst you thrust in her.

Evindar began pumping inside me like a hound tearing after a rabbit.

No, Evindar, I hissed, slowly! Aaahhh, yesss, go deep, slow, just like that, oh yess, oh yessss ... I settled my mouth back over Sirvan's kir, who was now fighting, I could tell, to hold back his rush of seed.

Diyari began moving again as well, thrusting in and out in opposite strokes from Evindar. I was used to this delightful double movement of kirs inside me, but knowing that one of them was my new husband, enjoying my body for the first time, added considerably to my joy. I was not far from blossoming again. My cries of pleasure, muffled by Sirvan's throbbing kir, spurred on my younger husbands, who increased the pace and force of their thrusts, from a trot to a canter to a full gallop.

Mmmmf! Mmmmf! I grunted onto Sirvan's kir as I received the alternating thrusts from my other husbands' powerful loins. My whole body trembled and quivered as the wave of pleasure swept over me at last. In the midst of my climax, Sirvan's kir erupted, spurting seed down into my gullet, as I held his softening kir tenderly in my mouth, draining it of every drop of seed, loath to let go of it. A moment later, Diyari and Evindar suddenly changed their rhythm, thrusting in unison now, both sheathing their kirs deep in my quz, then spurting together, great gouts of hot, potent seed, right against the mouth of my womb.

* * *

Afterglow, and sleeping arrangements

* * *

And that, said Sirvan once he could speak again, is how we make love to Berhem, little brother. Well done!

The shyness was gone from Evindar's face now. He looked as relaxed and at ease as a well-fed cat lying in the sunshine.

I think I will need many more of these lessons, he grinned, before I have learnt it all properly, brothers. Can I have another lesson, Berhem?

Give me a few hours to recover, husband, I grunted. You three have worn me out. And don't you dare apologise, Evindar.

Mmm, you are right, I am not sorry, Evindar smirked. Not in the least.

Nor am I, beloved. But I would like to rest for a bit now, with my three husbands. There is only one thing lacking to my contentment: I have not held or nursed little Hawre for several hours. Diyari, would you go to Avzen and fetch him home? The other children can stay with their Granny tonight if they wish.

I am sure Hawre will be fine with his Granny till tomorrow, said Sirvan. He got up and wetted a cloth, then tenderly mopped up the excess seed that had pooled between my thighs. He passed the cloth to his brothers, to wipe off their kirs.

You are probably right, husband. But I miss him. I am not used to being without him for so long.

I will fetch him, beloved, said Diyari, rising and donning his clothes.

When Diyari returned at short time later, I took my precious Hawre and laid him to my breast, letting him feed. Then Evindar gently burped and bathed him, swaddled him, put him in his little cradle and rocked him for a few moments. Hawre fell asleep almost immediately. I wanted to do the same.

Come Evindar, I said, lie beside me here. Suck on my breast as I go to sleep.

Your breasts are so beautiful, Berhem, he whispered happily, latching onto my erect, milky nipple.

Sirvan lay on my right side, taking my other breast in his mouth. I spread my thighs, inviting Diyari to lie between them, with his head resting on my thick nether beard.

Mmm, I will sleep well like this, with so soft and fragrant a pillow, he murmured. His warm breath tickled my quz pleasantly. I soon dropped off into delicious sleep, with my three wonderful husbands holding me.

* * *

Horses in Gonshi

* * *

The sound of galloping horses is not a welcome one in Gonshi. We Mitri use asses and oxen as beasts of burden. Horses generally mean soldiers, and soldiers generally mean trouble.

It was two or three months after Evindar's joining of our marriage – there were small adjustments to be made, mostly by him, as we incorporated him into our routines of work, of childcare, of prayer, of cooking, of love-making – but my husbands, my children and I had never been happier, or more prosperous. I thanked Anahita for sending me my new husband, and I thanked the wisdom of Avzen and Sazan, who had steered me, kicking and screaming, into accepting my good fortune.

Then came news from Rozaq that one of Evindar's birth fathers, Hemin, was unwell. Evindar had not seen his birth family since coming to Gonshi the previous summer. So I kissed him goodbye and he set off on a borrowed ass to visit Rozaq for a few days. I still had Sirvan and Diyari with me, and the children of course, but the emptiness of our house without Evindar was palpable – his absence lay heavy upon all of us, so essential had he already become to our happiness together as a family. When we made love, two husbands were no longer enough, it seemed.

But it was not just Evindar's beautiful kir that I missed: it was his gentle voice, and even gentler touch; it was his surprisingly dry sense of humour, that often got my serious Sirvan laughing till his sides ached; it was the way our children ran to him, asking for him to throw them up in the air and catch them again and again, or to recite stories. I had grown accustomed to sleeping with one of my husbands, usually Evindar, between my thighs, his warm head pillowed on my loins; or, if I rolled over onto my belly in my sleep, he would quickly resettle, nestling his head in the deep furrow of my arse. No doubt I would have missed Sirvan or Diyari equally, or even worse, if one of them had gone away, but just then it was Evindar that I longed for.

On the tenth day of his absence, the Mitri of Gonshi awoke to hear the thundering of horses into our streets. The magus began to ring the village alarm bell by the fire shrine that he tended. My husbands and I scrambled into our clothes, and emerged from our house to see, in the early morning greyness, a large host of Parthian cavalry, perhaps two hundred men, encircling our little village and filling the main street.

Our village has been invaded by soldiers like this many times, and when this happens, we assemble in the central square, at the magus' summons, and wait to see what will happen to us. Avzen and the fathers found us, and clutched our hands, seeking or offering reassurance, though there was little any of us could do but pray for Anahita's protection.

The Parthian commander, in gleaming chain mail, his hair grizzled and face scarred with sabre cuts, dismounted from his horse.

I am called Mazdak. I am sarhang [colonel] of this troop. This is a Mitri village, is it not? I can tell from the style of houses you build.

That is correct, O Mazdak, said Sazan daughter of Alai.

Who is this ugly old woman who dares to speak to me? Come, where is your head man? Let him speak for you. I do not speak with old crones.

I am called Sazan daughter of Alai, Mazdak. If you know the Mitri, you will know that it is the grandmothers who speak for the village. Nevertheless, I ask our magus, Ardan son of Medya, to speak in my place.

The magus, looking small and distinctly uncomfortable in this role, said, What do you and the Parthians want of us, O Mazdak?

This village belongs to Yazdegerd, Shah of Shahs. But the records show that you have not paid tribute to him for several years. You will pay it now, or face the consequences.

We have paid tribute to the Huns these past four years.

The Huns were defeated by the glorious Yazdegerd, at the battle of Ashgabat, a month ago. These warriors and I were there. The Huns' so-called king, Balamir, is slain, his armies are destroyed and scattered. The Huns are no more. It is time for those villages that treacherously paid tribute to the Shah's enemies to make amends, or face his wrath.

Very well, Mazdak, it shall be as you request. After our next harvest, we will put aside ... a thousand drachmae in grain as tribute to the Shah of Shahs.
You will pay the tribute today. Two thousand drachmae. Perhaps more if you show any more insolence.

Today? But ... noble Mazdak, he have already paid tribute this year to the Huns. The harvest was months ago. We will have nothing more till next autumn. We will starve –

Starvation is your problem, not mine. Your payment to the Huns is no excuse. You pay the tribute today, or we burn this village to the ground, and take you all as slaves.

You cannot get wool, O Mazdak, from a sheep that has already been shorn, said Sazan.

Silence crone! That backtalk will cost your village another five hundred drachmae. You Mitri women look well-fed to me. Bring out the grain from your stores at once, or my men will begin the burning.

* * *

The protection of Anahita

* * *

We returned to our houses, bringing out our baskets of emmer wheat and barley, even our millet, reluctantly loading it onto the great ox-drawn wagons of the Parthians. It amounted to less than two thousand drachmae worth. We would pay the difference, we knew, with enslavement – perhaps just a few of us, perhaps they would be harsh and take the whole village. My husbands and children might be sold away from me in the slave market. Our homes would be reduced to ashes: if any of us remained here, we would die of exposure and starvation this winter. At least Evindar is safe from this, I thought. Unless the Parthians had already enslaved the Mitri of Rozaq. We all stood silently in the central square, praying to Anahita, waiting for the word of doom from Mazdak, and the suffering that would follow.

Just then, the clop-clop of ass hooves was discernible in the distance. It grew louder. I could see the man and ass approaching. It was him! Evindar had returned! He dismounted. Never were my feelings so conflicted – my heart leapt to see him again, and it fell knowing that he was about to share our fate. Nevertheless I could not stop myself from running to him, and he to me.

Stop that man! barked Mazdak. A burly Parthian stepped forward, sword drawn.

No, wait! Mazdak shouted. Is that ... is that Evindar, of Rozaq?

Sarhang Mazdak, is that you?

Ha-ha, Evindar my boy, what are you doing here of all places?

I dwell in this village now. This woman, Berhem daughter of Hetaw, is my beloved wife.

Is she indeed? I ... I would have guessed she is your mother, except that I know your mother. In Rozaq. Venom, is it not?

Veman. Yes, I have just returned from visiting her.

She is well, I hope.

Yes, quite well. My father Hemin was ill for a while, but he is recovering.

Glad to hear it, my boy.

But I have been adopted into this village. I have a mother here as well now, let me introduce you, this is Avzen daughter of Fidan, a member of the council of grandmothers.

Er, pleased to meet you ...

Avzen nodded but said nothing, her lips still tight with fear, not knowing what might happen next.

But Mazdak's entire demeanour had changed. He turned now to his subordinates and excitedly bellowed, This boy rescued me after the battle of Erzurum. Did you know that? Saved my life. I had nearly bled to death, but he found me on the ground, whilst the Huns were still loosing arrows all round about us, and took me to his mother, who bound up my wounds and nursed me back to health. His family showed me, by their kindness and generosity, the true meaning of the laws of Ormazd. So ... you are Mitri, are you Evindar? I never realized. You speak Persian without a trace of an accent.

Yes, Sarhang Mazdak, I am Mitri.

I say, you Mitri do make things complicated, do you not? I should have thought one mother was enough for a man. Seems like you have three now. Ha, the men have multiple mothers and the woman have multiple husbands. You do not defend yourselves with arms. And yet you follow that precepts of Ormazd, just as we Persians do.

Quite so. Er ... Mazdak, why are your soldiers here in Gonshi?

Oh. Er ... yes, a small matter of tribute. Taxes and such, you know, a most unpleasant duty for me. Say, I owe you a debt of gratitude, Evindar. How about if I appoint you head man of this village, and exempt Gonshi from all tribute, for as long as I remain governor of this district.

Er, the exemption will be most welcome, Sarhang. But Mitri villages have no head man. Only the council of grandmothers.

Well, I will let you work that out with the villagers here. As far as I am concerned, you are the head man here. Don't let these women push you around, eh my boy?

Er ... as you say. But our grandmothers here are very wise. We do well by heeding them. Let me introduce you to Sazan daughter of Alai. She is our greatest treasure.

Yes, er ... it is an honour to meet you, noble lady. Please forgive my hasty remarks earlier. And ... er ... please accept this token of my esteem.

He unclipped a heavy bag of coins from his saddle and handed it to Sazan.

A quarter-talent of gold, he said.

You are most gracious, noble Mazdak. All hasty remarks are quite forgotten. The gift is unnecessary, but your generosity does you credit.

I hope, added the magus, that the true meaning of the laws of Ormazd will remain ever alive in your heart, that He might bless you always.

Yes, thank you, magus.

I assume, Sazan continued, that this exemption will be extended to Rozaq as well, since that is where Evindar's birth family dwell?

Er ... certainly.

And the other Mitri villages within your territory?

Er ... yes, very well. What are a few baskets of wheat to the Shah of Shahs, after all? Well, we must be on our way. Good to see you again, Evindar my boy. Good day to you people.

Mazdak smartly mounted up and led his cavalrymen out of the village and away onto the northern road.

* * *

The Mitri way is restored

* * *

As my first and final act as head man of this village, Evindar called out, I return all power to the grandmothers, where Anahita has rightfully placed it.

He knelt before Sazan and kissed her hem.

The entire village broke out into cheers. As they finally died down, Sazan held up her arm to speak.

Mitri of Gonshi, my beloved grandchildren all of you ... once again we have stared into the face of violence, enslavement, starvation, destruction, death. And once again our goddess Anahita has protected and delivered us! Never in all my years have I seen her power so manifest. Freedom from tribute for the indefinite future: it is pleasant not to be robbed, is it not?

The cheering resumed.

This gold will be distributed to the young women of Gonshi and other Mitri villages, to help them find husbands and start families.

More cheering.

Our deliverance just now is thanks to Evindar, of course, but also to Avzen daughter of Fidan. It is she who brought Evindar to our village and adopted him as her son. If he had not been here, arriving just at the moment he did, we would have been taken away as slaves, perhaps worse. For many years, I have led the council of grandmothers in this village. But now I am very old. The friends I grew up with have all died, and soon I will go to join them. I can go in peace, knowing that Avzen will succeed me. My beloved grandchildren, listen to her, as you have listened to me. But before I go to the grave ... tonight, I am going to celebrate our deliverance, I am going to get royally drunk on pomegranate wine, with you, my neighbours and grandchildren! Men of Gonshi, your labour in the fields can resume tomorrow: today is for celebration, I am sure the magus will agree. Women of Gonshi, if you have husbands, take them home and lie with them, one at a time or all at once, however you please: show them how much you love them today, for our lives are uncertain. Blessed be Anahita, our protectress!

Blessed be Anahita! the whole village roared back.

* * *

Needing my husbands

* * *

As we made our way back to our house, my husbands and I, I clung to Evindar, unable to let go of him. Inside the house, the children climbed onto him as well, but still I could not let go. The terror of the Parthians had rolled together in my mind with my pining for Evindar.

The whole village loves you now, Evindar. But you are mine ... beloved, I need you now. I need all my husbands.

Hush, I am here beloved. I rode through the night to get here, I could not wait another day to see you, to hold you, my Berhem. Brothers, let us take our wife to bed.

Children, Sirvan said, Evindar will play with you this afternoon, and Diyari and I will make you mutton dumplings for dinner: but right now your mother and fathers need some time in the inner room. Take Hawre to Granny if he starts to fuss.

Mutton dumplings! they chanted excitedly. Then they rushed outside to play. The children, it seemed, did not quite comprehend the threat our village had just faced, though they had seen the Parthian soldiers: they only perceived the celebratory mood that had broken out afterward, and joined in with it. Thank Anahita for that blessing.

* * *

Epilogue

* * *

My husbands and I made love for many hours that day. Evindar was back among us, and everything began to feel right again. It is a good thing he is a vigorous young man, and his kir can regain its hardness quickly after spending – for I was insatiable, and demanded his seed again and again. Nor did I neglect Sirvan and Diyari. My quz blossomed many times for them. But my greater joy was just to hold them all close to me, my three beautiful husbands, savouring the warmth of their firm bodies, their comforting smell, the sound of their voices.

That night, the whole village drank pomegranate wine in the central square, and Sazan indeed became quite inebriated, and then quickly fell asleep. My husbands carried her home and Avzen put her to bed. I only drank a couple of small cups, for I was still breastfeeding Hawre, and did not want the wine to thin my milk.

A month after this, Sazan took to her bed, and did not rise from it. She could not eat or drink, and became weaker and weaker. The whole village gathered round her house, weeping in love and grief, as she bid us farewell and closed her eyes for the final time.

Avzen took over the leadership of the grandmothers, with only a few ruffled feathers, which she was able to smooth back down. She is a skilled peacemaker, and she knows the Mitri way.

A few more months went by, and I felt I was again with child. Evindar's child. Well, it was partially his, at any rate. He certainly spent plenty of seed in my womb. I gave birth the following winter to another boy, Kosret, named for one of my fathers.

Hozan will have a full complement of brothers, when the time comes for me to find them a wife. He is thirteen now, and is beginning to pay attention to girls. Or grown women, anyway. A few nights ago, Diyari caught him and his brother listening and peering in at the window of our neighbour Rounak, as she lay with her husbands. As though he did not hear plenty of the same thing in his own house. Diyari was not harsh: he told them it is wrong to violate someone's privacy, but their feelings of curiosity and desire for women are given to them by Anahita. Still, it is several years before he will be of marriageable age. Rebaz, I think, just went along with Hozan because he always goes along with Hozan. In a few more years, they will make some young Mitri woman excellent husbands, and Hawre and Kosret will grow and step into that role for her as well.

My Vahar will inherit our prosperous holding: I will have no trouble finding good husbands for her. If they are half as loving to her as my three husbands have been to me, she will be a happy woman.

My husbands are still vigorous and lusty. I am beyond my childbearing years now, but our nightly love-making continues, as joyful as ever. Anahita has blessed me. The Mitri way is good.