The Message Bible (TMB) claims that Ruth crawled under the sheets with Boaz "to signal her availability for marriage." You can look that up for yourself (Ruth 3:7 TMB). In my opinion, TMB has it all wrong because I believe Ruth had a much shorter term goal in mind, namely getting laid. The Bible contains tales of real people who deal with the same primal urg...
The Wedding Bagoas stood in the courtyard of the Taourit Kasbah and drew in a deep breath. Bagoas was a powerful person in the Kasbah, being Overseer of the Governor's Harem. Today had been the wedding day of his master, Governor Glaouri of Ouarzarate. The Governor had celebrated his marriage to a daughter of the Sultan, Dahab the Golden. The Kasbah had bee...
The evening of April Fool's Sweat poured from Marcus' brow; the hot and sticky kind you feel in sub-tropical rain forests. But Marcus was not in the Amazon or Congo. Marcus was enjoying an April evening; on a lake; in Austin Texas; temperature about 63 degrees. Or at least he had been enjoying it. The spring wind blew and caressed Marcus' skin with the pro...
For those who have not read the whole story. English Lisbeth is captured by Sheikh Fuad while she is handing over a package containing a bomb that was supposed to kill his children. He wanted to punish her even more then the death sentence and decided to lock her up in his harem as a slave. The rest of the women there are all there out of their free will and...
Authors Note: This is a continuation of the Trallis: Summer storm dancer story. ~ellie Twins of Trallis: Dancer in the sand Nyx had been born into a cruel and harsh world. Her mother lay dying as she took her first breath and as the illegitimate daughter of the Lord of their realm hers was to be a life of slavery and humiliation. Janus, the physician...
The Sunlight Temple was an appropriately bright place. The supporting beams and columns were blood red, but the many roofs had blue and yellow colors. The walls were white with thin carvings of trees, flowers, birds, and dogs. Gentle, sweet incense was burning as the Empress Dowager and Wen knelt before a statue of an elven god and silently prayed, holding p...
Chapter 08 Rewarding the Raiders The Taourirt Kasbah in the desert oasis of Ouarzazate was abuzz with rumors. All in the fortress knew that the nomadic Berber tribes around the oasis had refused the authority of Governor Glaoui. In the morning the garrison's eight soldiers had loaded their ancient muskets and ridden off. The palace servants and junior offi...
CHAPTER 7 -- WELL TRAINED Bagoas the eunuch strolled across the courtyard of the Taourirt Kasbah. He was a person of power in this place, being Overseer of the Governor's Harem. With him was his body servant and chosen protege, Hamid, an eighteen year old eunuch. Governor Glaoui had called Bagoas to his office this afternoon. They entered and the elderly se...
Bashasha lowered her head quietly and waited for the great Sheik to speak. She had been summoned before him and prayed to Allah that neither she, her girls nor anyone under her command had angered him. “Praise be to Allah, great Sheik. I am yours to command.” She spoke, head lowered waiting for the young man’s reply. Mohammed watched the older woman in a c...
"Certainly you won't mind, Dear Wood Consort, if I play with your maid for some moments?" Empress Consort Miseo was in a playful mood this late morning. Wen couldn't help but smile. "I'll miss her once you take her away," Wen said from her seat in the reception room, "but I can rest well knowing she'll be cared for." She gestured towards Yuwei. Faintly s...