Chapter 2

Meeting her keepers

Saihrena awoke to darkness. "It must be early," she whispered, sitting up in her bed. She had been aboard the slaver ship for over two months now, and knew she couldn't escape. Aidan had said they would reach port today, and she would be sold into her new home. She had done everything they said without delay throughout the voyage. Dunk had hit her a few times, but she was completely healed since then. Saihrena was frightened, she didn't know what to expect when she reached Turkey, all Aidan had said was that she was going into the Sultan's harem, but she didn't know what that was, and he wouldn't tell her.

"Land-Ho," a voice called, and she knew she was doomed, her brothers would never look for her in Turkey, she would never be found. A knock sounded on her door, startling her.

"Come in," she called. Aidan walked in and smirked at her.

"Get dressed in this, we'll be docking in an hour," he said, throwing a beautiful black and crimson dress at her, along with a pair of ruby earrings and a ruby necklace. "Make sure ye look yer best lass, wouldn't want me te help ye." Aidan turned and left, closing the door behind him.

Saihrena shrugged and stood up, taking off her torn and ragged night shift. She then slid the velvet and silk dress over her head. She pulled the laces of the dress tight, and left them not being able to tie them on her own. Picking up the earrings she put them on slowly, followed by the beautiful necklace. Her hair would have to be done next, and she wondered if he had a comb she could use to keep it up. Saihrena walked to the door and yelled for some one to help her. Dunk appeared immediately with a smirk plastered on his face.

"What do ye want lass?" He asked, leaning against the door frame.

"Well first thing, can you tighten my laces and tie them for me?" He shrugged and did as told, tightening them until she told him to stop, and then tying them tight. "Thank you, umm, could you ask the Captain if he has a comb I could use, I must do my hair." Dunk nodded and left the room, closing the door with a kick. He came back a few minutes later with a black and gold hair comb, she smiled and set to work brushing through her tangled locks before pulling it up into a half pony tail and sticking the comb in it to keep it in place. She sat somberly on her bed and waited for some one to get her. She didn't have to wait long.

"Come on girl, time te meet yer owner," Aidan said, walking into her room and unchaining her. It was light out by then, she could easily see the city. It was strange, dark people littered the streets, which were dirt and mud. "This is Bursa, in Anatola. It'll be yer new home lass," Aidan said.

They were docked a little ways from the city, and Saihrena heard Aidan call for a rowboat to be lowered, she was going ashore. Dunk unceremoniously picked her up and dumped her into the boat before it was lowered, and then jumped in beside her. The Captain, and five other men that she hadn't met before hopped in after them, and she held on tight as the rowboat was lifted off the ship and dropped slowly into the water. It didn't take long for them to reach the dock.

(AN, I don't know any Turkish, so umm when their speaking I'm just going to say, she heard them speak in a different language, and eventually when she learns Turkish it will be English, just so everyone is on the same page here, okay, back to the story.)

Dunk picked her up from the boat and set her on her feet on the wooden dock, making sure to have a tight grasp upon her. She felt woozy, and unsteady upon the dock, she had been on ships so long that she had forgotten what it was like to be on a dry land. She rather missed it. The group walked unsteadily down the docks and into the street, and to her astonishment she heard Aidan yell in an odd language she had never heard before. A carriage immediately pulled up in front of them, and Aidan spoke to the driver in the same language while Dunk pushed her into the carriage. Saihrena sat in a corner and curled up on the seat.

"Dun' worry yerself te much lass, the life of luxury ye'll live will more then make up fer yer lack o freedom," Dunk snickered, and she slunk down, trying to ignore them. Dunk hopped into the carriage and sat across from her, the Captain and two others joining her. There wasn't enough room on the inside for the rest, and she assumed they rode on the outside with the driver, or holding onto the side. The ride was rather long and uneventful, and her heart leapt into her throat as the carriage stopped. They had reached her new home.

"Out," Aidan barked as he jumped out, Dunk followed, and she slowly stepped out, trying to wait as long as she could before being sold again. Dunk grabbed her arm and steered her around the carriage. She gasped at the palace in front of her. She had grown up in a beautiful castle, but nothing could compare with the grandeur of the place in front of her. It was pristinely white. There was a cobblestone path in front of it, and double doors that looked to be over ten feet tall. It was magnificent. She quickly regained control of herself, forcibly closing her mouth.

Aidan walked to her side and took her other arm in his. It was time. She swallowed noticeably and allowed herself to be dragged along with Dunk and Aidan, the five other men following behind them. As they reached the grand entrance, two guards stopped them, and Aidan spoke in the strange language again. The guards pointed at her, and she trembled as Aidan nodded to whatever they were saying. The two guards smiled at each other, and opened the doors. They resumed their pace, moving quickly, forcing her to almost run to keep up. Another guard stopped them in the entryway, and Aidan began speaking with him, obviously growing tired of repeating himself. The guard in front of them finally nodded, and then motioned for them to follow him. They did so, and she sighed as the guard began walking at a fast pace too. Her feet were killing her. They walked forever, or so it seemed, before the guard finally stopped and motioned for them to sit. He disappeared, leaving them to their selves. She sighed and sat down on a bench in the small room. She quickly took in her surroundings, noticing that the walls were done in a gold print, and a painting of a young boy was one of the walls. They sat for over an hour before another guard came and gathered them.

"Where are we going," she whispered to Dunk, and grew silent at his look. They walked quickly again, and this time made it to a grand room rather fast. The guard motioned them inside, and as soon as they entered Dunk, Aidan, and the other five men all kneeled on the ground.

"Kneel fool," Aidan whispered, and she complied, kneeling down and lowering her head. A man approached them, and she kept her face down, staring at his shoes. She heard him speak in the strange language. "He wishes for you to stand," Aidan told her, and she slowly raised her head and stood before the man. He had a long beard that reached his chest, and he was dressed all in silk. Some sort of hat, it looked like a bunch of fabric layered, sat atop his head. He began to circle her, his hands touching her hair, her skin, her dress. He was looking her over in much the same way that Dunk had before purchasing her. She saw him nod, and shuddered.

"How much?" Her jaw dropped as he spoke in think accented English. Aidan answered him, speaking in the other language so she didn't understand, but the man shook his head.

"My Lord she is untouched by men," Aidan said quickly, and the man in front of her turned to study her closely.

"How do I know this?" He asked, turning back to Aidan.

"We will stay until you are satisfied my Lord, how about half now, and the rest after. Do we have an accord my Lord?" Aidan asked, and the man nodded his head.

"You will stay in my palace until I am satisfied," he said, and motioned for them to leave.

"You will go with my guards to meet my wives and ready yourself for tonight," he said, motioning towards the guards at the door. Saihrena nodded her head sadly, and followed the guards out the door.