"Stephen Goldin - Storyteller" - читать интересную книгу автора (Goldin Stephen)

won't. They all say Ahmad's much too noble to do anything like that. Do you reallywant me to go to
Ravan?"

“I think youshould go,” Rabah said carefully. “Marriage to Haroun is a price to pay, but in a few months
he'll attain his majority and be crowned king of Ravan. That will make you queen. Haroun is a cipher,
easily ignored. As long as you don't interfere with his mother's political rule, you'll be able to do as you
wish. You'll have the freedom you say you want so badly. The price is your maidenhead."

“Haroun may get that from me, but he certainly won't get much else."

Princess Oma lay silent again for a while as Rabah's fingers kneaded her flesh. Then she said, “Rabah,if
I go to Ravan, will you come with me?"

“I can't, O my princess, you know that. I'm your father's concubine; I belong here with him."

“I could make him give you to me as a servant. You know he'd do it if I asked him the right way."

“No.” For just the faintest instant Rabah's fingers tightened on the muscles in the princess's neck. The
pressure was gone again almost before Oma realized it was there. “I belong here with your father,”
Rabah continued emphatically.

“But I'll be alone and friendless in a strange city,” Oma protested.

“You'll make new friends quickly enough, of that I have no doubt,” Rabah smiled knowingly. “Once
you're queen you can have friends ofboth sexes."

“But I want a familiar face to remind me of home."

“Why not take your handmaiden Hinda? You like her, and she'll remind you of home."

“Hinda has buck teeth and a hairy lip."

“But she also has very talented fingers.” Rabah tickled the princess in a particularly sensitive place, and
was rewarded with a delightful squeal.

Princess Oma turned over onto her back and looked up at the older woman. “I'll miss you, Rabah,” she
said, peering straight into the other's eyes.

“And I'll miss you, O my princess,” Rabah said, returning the gaze. “Perhaps kismet will decree a short
separation and we can be reunited again after all."

The princess reached up and wrapped her arms around her friend's neck. “Kiss me, Rabah,” she
whispered. “Give me something to remember if the nights in Ravan prove too long and lonely."

She pulled Rabah down on top of her and Rabah did indeed give her something to remember for many
weeks to come.
****


Later, in the middle of the night when the young princess lay snoring gently from exhaustion, Rabah stole