Training Desire

Laith sauntered along the arcade of the upper tryst gallery, twirling a necklace around his index finger and whistling a jaunty tune. A passing elder glared at him, but, used to a lifetime of chastisement, Laith ignored the disapproval. Here he was, soon to collect on a delicious deal, and propriety wanted to intrude? Not a chance, he decided.

Behind his swagger hid a simmering desire. Born of playful flirtation, it had escalated into an enticing bargain, one that he could finally make good on. Lissa, the object of his conquest, stood among a throng of people, leaning out over the balcony. Or so he assumed by the rounded rump that he saw. He was not one to forget such an inviting form.

Edging his way between other on-lookers, he reached Lissa and slipped an arm around her waist. Pulling her back from the balcony, he murmured in her ear.

“I have something for you.”

Long wanting to bed the girl and long refused, he had nevertheless achieved a cheerful compromise and now brought the goods of that compromise to his intended. Nuzzling her, Laith lost himself in the cascades of her golden hair, scented of springberries. That and her firm flesh under his hand made him swell with desire.

Lissa pulled herself free, urgent with excitement. “The Cat. She’s to come this way.”

Ah, yes, Laith thought. The Cat. She ascends this day. Attempting to deter Lissa from the event would, he knew, do him no good.

The Cat. Laith himself could not help but lean forward and wait for a glimpse of the young woman who was about to ascend into the ranks of the rangthiadeen. Everyone knew of Mira and everyone knew her story: How she was orphaned at birth and given over to a wet nurse who grieved the loss of her own child; how she grew up among the bakers, never once speaking until the day she opened her mouth and sang. Brought before the odgiadeen marms of the kith house because of that voice, she was schooled in the rigors of vocal performance. There, she outshone all and proved capable enough to become the most celebrated operatic child star Kith House Rangtha had seen in some ages. And now she would learn to give the pleasures like the rest of them.