He turned, finally taking in the room itself. There was no antechamber, though something of an entryway, just a large room sectioned off by furniture and informal dividers like planters, drawn back curtains, and the like. The room smelled faintly of fresh flowers and cool water. At the very back of the room was an enormous bed shrouded by diaphanous curtains, and further beds were built into the nearby wall, cozy little nooks where someone could retreat if desired.
"Your Majesty," Jankin said. "I hope I did not cause a problem."
"Somebody caused problems, but it wasn't you," Shafiq said. He motioned to the table he was standing by. "Sit, please." When they'd both done so, he poured them both tea. A king pouring him tea. Jankin didn't know what to do with that. "What you did was save your own life. The food and the wine were poisoned, and you would not have survived even a single bite. Is the name Raffa familiar to you?"
"Another dancer, jealous and insecure, but I didn't think he loathed me to the point of murdering me."
"He and the cretin I tossed out of court found each other. We're still working on how, and while I fully believe Lord Asken knew you would die, I believe Raffa agreed to help because he thought it would simply make you too sick and weak to perform again anytime soon. There is a major holiday coming up, and performance spots for it are highly coveted."
"Well, wouldn't be the first time someone poisoned me to get me out of the way," Jankin said with a sigh.
Shafiq scowled. "I hope the guilty parties suffered for their actions."
"Not really, no. I had no way to prove it was them, and a certain amount of violence and backstabbing is expected and tolerated in this business, no matter what country you're in. You'd be surprised how universal some things are in the dancing world. I'm glad my instincts were right, though I'm not happy about being right."
"You should never have to worry about such terrible things, but…"
Jankin shrugged. "As I said, it's part of the industry."
Shafiq looked pained. "So you would not be alarmed if it was part of a different life?"
"A different life?"
Sighing, Shafiq paused to sip his tea. "I wanted to have this conversation with you over lunch, not with a cloud of near-murder hanging over the matter. These things never seem to go my way."
"What things?"
"You have traveled the world, Master Jankin. No peacock in the world could rival your feathers. I have been told endlessly of the many people who have tried to clip those feathers and keep you for themselves."
Jankin had thought his heart was racing before, but before had nothing on now. "Your Majesty…"
"I have no desire to clip your feathers, pretty bird, and as I have promised all the others, I will give or do whatever you desire to see you happy, especially after you've being treated so horribly in my home, but I was hoping you would agree to quit your travels and remain here with me, as one of my own.
"There are strict laws regarding this question." He swept an arm to indicate the room. "It must be asked without any audience, so there is no pressure on your reply. You cannot be offered incentives, bribes, or threatened to comply. If you say no, there will be no retaliation of any sort. You will not be kicked out, or have work taken away, etc. Those are the main ones, but there are others. Contracts that must be signed, and in your case, that would include becoming a citizen of Tavamara. Taking a concubine is no small thing, and all the more complicated with a foreigner.
"Because it will come up, your presence in my harem is not contingent on your dancing. My affection is not contingent on your dancing. Obviously dancing is quite dear to you, the dearest thing in your life, but if you joined my harem and then stopped dancing the next day, there would be no repercussions."
Jankin still did not know what to say. He had received many offers over the years, some of them truly shocking in the wealth and power they offered. Without hesitation he had rejected every single one. "I don't even know what's fully entailed in being a concubine. I'm not trained like they are."
"Concubines rarely come fully trained," Shafiq said with a smile. "Nadir was perhaps the only one who had any at all, because as a noble's son he is trained in many of the same skills anyway. As with the rules regarding asking you, life as a concubine has many, but the important ones are this: you cannot be alone with other people; guards should be with youat nearly all times and report many conversations to me. Not because you are not trusted, but because other people can't be trusted."
"Unfortunately I know exactly what you mean."
Shafiq nodded. "No one but me and the other concubines can touch you, outside of guards in emergencies and your family, of course, should they ever come to visit. You cannot leave the palace grounds. You wear the harem uniform, so your status is always clear. When I die, your contract concludes and you are free to do as you like, and any possessions given explicitly to you are yours to keep. Many jewels and such remain royal property, but not all of them. Those are the most important things. Everything else is quite minor."
Jankin thought about it for a few moments more, but he knew his answer. He'd always known it, even though he'd never dreamed he'd actually be asked such an important question. "My answer is yes, Your Majesty. I accept gladly.
Shafiq smiled, bright and beautiful. "Are you certain, my Peacock? You value your freedom to travel the world."
"I never found anywhere worth staying, and I think I've learned everything about dancing that I possibly can. Time to try something new." He shoved away from the table and went easily as Shafiq reeled him in close, throwing arms around his neck and meeting his kiss full measure. Soft at first, then exploratory, and then deep and eager, leaving his lips throbbing when he finally drew back enough to speak. "I cannot believe you really want me here, forever." He stopped, curiosity getting the better of him. "Could you get rid of me if you decided you didn't want me as a concubine after all?"
"There is technically a trial period, as you might find you do not like this life after all, with all its rules and burdens and risks, but it is incredibly rare a concubine is dismissed from the harem."
"The last time was ages ago, a great-grandfather at least, I think," a voice said from behind them.
Nadir, with Ender standing right beside him, prettier than the finest painting, one in rubies, one in sapphires.
"I have so many questions, now that I can ask them," Jankin said, slowly letting go of Shafiq as they stood up—and barely avoiding a startled yelp as he found the twins wrapped around him.
