Page 83 of Dark Shaman: The Lost Treasure
"Sit." The command was sharp.
Eluheed sat, keeping his posture relaxed despite tension threatening to lock his muscles.
Navuh continued pacing for another moment before finally settling into his throne-like chair. His presence filled the space like poisonous smoke.
"How are you enjoying my generosity?" the lord asked, his tone deceptively casual.
The question seemed routine enough, but Eluheed knew better. Navuh did not engage in small talk. The lord knew that Tamira had claimed him. She hadn't been subtle about her interest, and privacy in the harem was an illusion.
"My lord, your generosity knows no bounds," Eluheed said, infusing his voice with appropriate deference and gratitude. "I'm thankful for the chance to serve Lady Tamira. She is exquisite."
Navuh leaned back, dark eyes studying him with the intensity of a predator evaluating prey. "And how exactly do you serve her?"
Did he want details of their lovemaking?
"I'm delighted to fulfill Lady Tamira's every wish of me. She is beautiful beyond words, intelligent, and kind. Every moment in her presence is a precious gift."
"Since you spend every night in her bed, you have a treasure trove of those precious moments."
Where was he going with this?
Despite Tamira's assurance that there were no surveillance devices in her rooms, the lord probably knew how many times they'd made love, in what positions, and what words they'd whispered in the dark. The thought made Eluheed's skin crawl, but he kept his expression appropriately embarrassed rather than disgusted.
"Lady Tamira has been generous with her affections," he said, ducking his head as if overwhelmed. "I am a fortunate man."
"She seems quite taken with you," Navuh observed, and there was something dangerous in the silky tone.
Instinctively, Eluheed knew that he shouldn't let Navuh even guess the depth of their connection, but how was he going to deflect the lord's questions without seeming to do so? How was he going to minimize what was between him and Tamira without insulting her or implying she had poor taste?
"I am merely a novelty, my lord," he said. "Different. I know that her interest will wane once the newness fades. It always does."
"Did she tell you that?" Navuh's fingers drummed against the desk.
"No, but I am a realist, my lord. I am a simple man with some shamanic knowledge that she finds fascinating. Lady Tamira is extraordinary. Once she has exhausted my limited conversational repertoire and satisfied her curiosity, she will move on to a new companion."
"Hmm." Navuh was silent for a long moment, and Eluheed resisted the urge to fill it with nervous chatter. "Tula has claimed the American, but I know she doesn't love him. She is just guarding her toy and doesn't want anyone else to play with him. What do you and Tamira talk about?"
Another test. Navuh undoubtedly knew every word spoken in the dining room, probably had recordings of their more public exchanges. But did he have the time or inclination to listen to hours of philosophical debate and literary analysis? More likely he wanted a summary, wanted to know if anything subversive was being discussed.
"Philosophy, mostly," Eluheed said. "Lady Tamira is remarkably well read. She challenges my understanding of various schools of thought. We debate the nature of consciousness, the role of suffering in spiritual development, and the intersection of science and mysticism."
"How intellectual," Navuh said dryly.
"Also poetry," Eluheed continued. "She has introduced me to works I'd never encountered. Her translation work is fascinating—the nuances of meaning that can be lost or transformed between languages. And books, of course. The ladies' literary discussions are quite enlightening."
"And what else?"
"My lord?"
"What else do you discuss? Surely not every moment is spent in rarified intellectual discourse."
Eluheed allowed a slightly sheepish smile. "No, my lord. We also talk about...more earthly pleasures. The excellent food, the rare wines from the harem's cellar, and other things…"
All true and harmless. He'd carefully avoided any mention of the deeper conversations about loneliness, dreams of freedom, and the growing connection that went far beyond intellectual stimulation or physical pleasure.
"No discussion of the outside world? No curiosity about current events?"
Aha, so that was what Navuh was worried about. He didn't want his concubines to know the state of the world for some reason. It was truly paranoia since they were prisoners of the harem and could change nothing.
