A month after Janessa had thrown away her chance to use the amulet on Antyny, the number of concubines in the King’s Harem had swelled to ten. Borya had been excused from the harem when she fell pregnant with the child of one of the harem guards. The harem guard had also been excused from his post. In a moment of charity and grace, Antyny granted them new roles in the Palace. The harem guard now worked as a stablehand, while Borya, who had been wed to him upon discovery of the pregnancy, was a maid. Occasionally, Borya, growing bigger every day and happy about it, would clean the harem quarters and provide gossip to her former harem sisters.
Janessa brushed her hair in the harem quarters powder room. She could hear Francesca’s distinctive husky sounds of pleasure in the main room. Antyny had given her the task of “rewarding” a guard that caught a royalist spy the day before. Janessa had a feeling said royalist spy would soon join the harem, given that almost all of her harem sisters were traitors or opponents of Antyny.
“Janessa, why have you not yet been tasked with rewarding a man for a job well done?” asked the newest concubine, a thin brunette named Elisabet. Janessa glanced at her. Elisabet seemed to have rather self-serving intentions. She rarely got along well with the other concubines and even resorted to lying and dirty tricks to try to rise up in the ranks. As Head Concubine, Janessa reported the situation to Antyny, who had assured her if Elisabet didn’t behave, she would be “reconditioned”.
(Clearly, she was someone of high status), Janessa thought. (Otherwise, Antyny would have sent her somewhere else.) Not only did Elisabet display poor behavior and manners, but she was the least attractive of the concubines. She was average height and rail-thin, with a nearly flat chest and rear to match, as well as a narrow, almost weasel-like face. Yes, she was still more attractive than average for a woman, but she looked positively homely next to Janessa.
“I am Head Concubine,” Janessa answered Elisabet. “The only man allowed to bed me is King Antyny himself.”
“I just think it so odd that a woman so fat is the Head Concubine,” Elisabet said casually as she applied her makeup. The concubine sitting next to her reacted before Janessa could, slapping Elisabet soundly across the face. “How dare you!”
“You are lucky to be in Karagot,” snarled the concubine who slapped Elisabet, named Anees. “In my home country, denigrating a member of the Royal Harem got one banished. Insulting the Head Concubine? Why, unless you were with child, it would mean your head.” Anees leaned in. “Removed from your shoulders with a sword.”
“Hmph!” Elisabet got up and flounced out of the powder room. Anees took the stool that Elisabet had vacated. She leaned in.
“She was out of bounds to say such things, but, and I hope you take this in the kindest way possible, you have been gaining weight, Head Concubine Janessa,” Anees whispered, though they were the only two in the room. Anees had been a gift from Sultan Arro of the southern kingdom of Ahkan. She had belonged to his harem before being sent to join Antyny’s as a gesture of peace and goodwill. As such, she was the only concubine in the harem to have been born a female, though everyone thought Janessa to also be in that category.
Anees was easily the second-most beautiful concubine in the harem. She was tall and curvaceous, with a perfect chest and rear, rich brown skin, and deep brown almond-shaped eyes. Her black hair cascaded down her back like an onyx waterfall. She was also incredibly skilled in bed, becoming appointed Janessa’s second-in-command by Antyny within a week of her arrival. Janessa valued her friendship with Anees, and listened when she spoke.
“I- I suppose you are correct,” Janessa replied shakily. She placed a hand on her stomach, which now had a slight curve to it. “But I do not know how it has happened! Nothing has changed!”
“Could you be with child?” Anees suggested. Janessa’s mouth went dry. “When did you last have your monthly?” Janessa had only had her monthly once since becoming a concubine, during her first month.
“It has been four months since,” Janessa whispered. Tears began to trickle down her face. “I- I am with child, yes?”
“As one who has borne children for a Sultan five times over, yes, I believe you to be,” Anees said. “Though I suspect King Antyny will seek a witch midwife to confirm once you tell him.” Janessa began to sob. “No, no, sister, be not sad!” Anees gently wiped away Janessa’s tears. “Bearing the child of a ruler is the highest honor a concubine can have. Particularly for a King that has indicated he will seek no wife. Sister, you have been blessed to carry King Antyny’s child. Be proud!” Janessa nodded, still teary-eyed. “Oh, come here.”
Anees hugged Janessa. Janessa inhaled her exotic perfume, which Antyny shipped in from Ahkan just for her. In the warm embrace of her harem sister, Janessa began to calm down. Antyny’s magic wormed into her mind yet again, filling her with joy over providing her lover the greatest gift imaginable: a child.
Maybe even a son.