"If I get any happier," Bahira said boldly, "I shall die of it, my father. Aye, I am more than content to be this lusty man's wife."

The sultan's court erupted into laughter as this blunt statement from the vizier's eldest daughter, who had always been thought to be a meek creature, met their ears.

"So be it, then," the sultan said, a twinkle in his eye. "Bring forth the temple priests, and the marriages shall be celebrated now."

The priests, with their shaved heads and their loins wrapped in white linen cloths that fell to their ankles, came into the sultan's hall of audience. They were bare-footed. The chief priest, distinguished by a gold-and-onyx collar about his neck, signaled for the two couples to come before him. "We worship the lords of the sky, the waters, the earth, and the winds. Do you respect these gods, my children, and agree to abide always by their natural laws?"

The four voices agreed, and the four heads nodded.

"In the name of the gods, and in accordance with the laws of our world, do you take each other as mates till death parts you?"

The voices once again agreed, and the heads nodded.

A young priest stepped forward and held out a small round gold salver to them. Upon it were four small pieces of bread. The four lovers each took a piece of the bread, and fed it to their chosen mate. Two cups of sweet wine were presented. Each couple took one, and offered their mate the cup. When all four had drunk, the cups were removed.

"Two have become one now," the high priest said. "The feeding of the grain, the sip of the grape, binds you to each other in the sight of the gods. Multiply, as do all the creatures of the earth, and you shall be blessed." The high priest turned to the sultan. "It is done now, my lord Ibrahim. Is there any other way in which I may serve you this day?"

"Nay," the sultan said. "I am content to see my child wed. Come now, and let us partake of the feast that has been set out in their honor."

"You feast? You dare to celebrate when Prince Haroun is missing?" They all turned to see Golnar, who had come into the hall. "What have you done to my good lord?" she cried piteously, stretching out her gold-bangled arms.

The sultan signaled to his guards. "Remove the lady Golnar from the hall," he said in his strong voice. He watched impassively as she was carried, struggling, from his presence. The old man turned to his court. "I do not know where my nephew is, but none here can say I have ever borne him any malice. I am as mystified as you all are. But now is not the time to discuss or investigate this matter. This is my only child's wedding day. I will not have it spoiled! Come now into my banqueting hall," the sultan said, and they all followed him without another moment's hesitation.

Chapter Five

Golnar, Prince Haroun's favorite, had been returned most forcibly to her harem. "When my lord is sultan here you will pay for this outrage!" she screamed at the guards who none-too-gently thrust the struggling woman back into her quarters, closing the great doors to the harem firmly. Golnar shrieked with her fury, and looked about for some hapless soul upon whom she might vent her anger. There was no one. Slaves, eunuchs, and harem women were nowhere in sight. The fountain in the main chamber tinkled pleasantly, but the air was devoid of any other noise. Even the birds in the gardens beyond seemed hushed by her anger.

Taking a deep breath, Golnar calmed herself. She reached for a piece of paste candy on a nearby silver salver, and sucked upon it thoughtfully as it melted in her mouth, releasing the flavor of plum as it did so. Where was Haroun? How could he have disappeared at just the perfect time for his enemies? And disappeared without any trace at all? She had personally questioned Haroun's bodyslave. He was as mystified as they all claimed to be. He had put his master to bed. When he had gone to awaken him in the morning, Haroun was gone. There were no signs of a struggle. The imprint of his head was yet upon his pillow. What had happened to her prince?

Golnar was no fool. Haroun was gone, and suddenly Zuleika was returned into the city amid great pomp and spectacle. She was married to Amir Khan before the court. Her best friend, the vizier's daughter, was wed to the khan's general. Something was afoot, and Golnar suspected that Zuleika's husband would be appointed the sultan's heir, as Prince Haroun had so conveniently disappeared. And the sultan. He had been dying but two days ago. The physicians all said so. Yet now he appeared in miraculous good health. How had that happened? And then Golnar knew. There was magic afoot here!

She went directly to her private apartments. Her personal servants were also among the missing. So much the better, she thought, as she locked the door to her bedchamber behind her. Then she pulled the latticed shutters tight, and drew the gauze draperies over them. No one must see her. Opening the painted wood cabinet she drew out a slender alabaster vial, and setting it upon a table, uncorked it. "Mother," she called. "I need you now."

Violet smoke, first little in color, and then growing darker, arose from the vial. The smoke began to take shape, and it was a beautiful woman with silver hair, and eyes like blue ice, very much like Golnar in appearance. "What is it, my daughter?" the woman said. Her voice was smoky, and yet pleasant.

"Haroun has disappeared!" Golnar cried. "And no one seems to care, mother. I think they will make Zuleika's new husband, Amir Khan, the sultan's heir. And the old man, dying but a few days ago, is suddenly restored to good health!"

Keket looked at her daughter irritably. "Of all my children," she said, "you seem to be the most hapless, Golnar. Why do you allow your humanity to overrule your mystical side? Even your father was not this unfortunate. I do not know what I shall do with you." Keket was a magical creature born of a fairy mother and a genie father. She had certain powers she used for her own amusement. "I allowed your human father to raise you. I saw that you caught Prince Haroun's eye. I taught you how to please him so mightily that you became his favorite. All that was required of you, Golnar, was that you give him a son. Now he has gone missing? Well, child, I do not know what else I can do for you, but tell me everything in detail, Golnar, not just what affects you and your comfort."

"Everything was going exactly as we planned," Golnar whined. "The princess had been given to Amir Khan, and devastated by her loss, the old sultan took to his deathbed. Learning of it, the princess returned to the city, dutiful daughter that she is," Golnar sneered, "to sit by her father's side. But when morning came the sultan had recovered his full health and strength, and Haroun was gone! Zuleika returned to the khan's encampment, and later she was escorted with much pomp back into the city with the khan. There were musicians, and even the sultan's war elephants all caparisoned in their green jeweled satin. The populace threw rose petals, and shouted the princess's name over and over again. I hate her!"

"Do not waste your energies hating, Golnar," her mother advised. "Concentrate upon your revenge. Now continue," Keket ordered.

"There is nothing more but what I have already told you, mother. The khan asked the sultan for Zuleika in marriage, and he asked for the vizier's daughter for his general."

"I thought the lady Bahira was to be Haroun's choice for a wife," Keket said. "What happened? I can see things have been going wrong for you from the beginning."

"When the khan first accepted Zuleika as his concubine, he also asked that his general be rewarded with the vizier's daughter, Bahira."

"How did he know of the lady Bahira?" Keket asked.

"I don't know!" Golnar whined impatiently. "He just did!"

"Hmmmm," Keket said thoughtfully. "Go on."

"So when the princess married Amir Khan today, Bahira was also wed to General Sabola. They are feasting in the sultan's banquet hall even now. Mother, there is absolutely no trace of Haroun. None! I know that the sultan will make Amir Khan his successor; and what is to happen to me then? The princess will be Dariyabar's sultana, and she will not want me about. What will become of me?" Golnar wailed.

"There is magic here," Keket said slowly. "Do you have something that belonged to Haroun, daughter?"

Golnar thought a moment, and then her eyes lit up. "Yes!" she cried. "He gave me this ring from his own finger last week." She held out her hand to display the large diamond.

Keket pulled the ring impatiently from the girl's hand, ignoring her squeal of protest. "Be silent now, and let me see what I can see." Keket looked deep into the ring, concentrating. An amused smile suddenly touched her full lips, and she began to chuckle.

"What is it?" Golnar demanded. "What do you see, Mother?"

"Someone has transported your lover to the kingdom of Kava, Golnar. It is a place where women rule. You will not see him again," Keket said. "Oh, my!" And she laughed aloud.

"Can you not bring him back?" Golnar demanded. "You have powers, mother. I want him back."

Keket looked up. "No one ever returns from Kava, Golnar, and whoever sent him there knew it. Obviously, the princess has very powerful friends. Here, look into the diamond, and see your prince."

Golnar stared hard, and then she saw Haroun. Fascinated, she watched as his bottom was whipped until it was pink and glowing. She gaped as he was then spread-eagled upon a block, and women, one after another, came to use his upstanding cock, some sucking on it, some mounting him and riding him until his mouth opened so wide Golnar could almost hear him scream. "What are they doing to him?" she gasped, looking to her mother.