"It'll help me a little bit."said Jacinta. "What color do you suppose this flower should be?"she asked. "I was thinking white, but I thought, I've already done the white. Do you think another color will fit it?"
"I suppose so."
"No, you don't think so, do you?"
Nereida shook her head.
"No."
"Oh, well, we'll do the white then."Jacinta answered.
"You always do everything in such an order."replied Jovita.
"It makes me feel comfortable."
Jovita rolled her eyes.
"I don't know where you got that from."
"It's just easier. And much faster."she said.
"Right."
"For some reason, it just...makes me feel...so...bored."said Jovita. "I think I want to...I don't know...something."she said.
"I'm tired of sewing everyday."Fahriha was saying.
"Me, too. If you wan to know the truth."
"But we must."
"I suppose so."
"My brothers never have to sew."
"Didn't you say it was because they were boys?"
"They are."
"At least you'll get to get out of here every now and then."
"I can't. Only...well, never anymore, actually! I'm a princess, not a prince."
Malaika smiled.
"You're something, at least."she said. "Everyone else here, has no chance to get out of here. You will, I suppose."
They giggled.
"I hope so."Fahriha sighed. "I wonder what it would be like."
"Like inside."
"Do you remember anything from before you came here?"
Malaika frowned.
"I remember that we wore very bright colors. And our skirts were kind of shorter. And we didn't wear veils."
Fahriha looked shocked.
"At least, I can't remember seeing anyone with a veil over their face. No one."
"You're remembering the men!"Fahriha said.
"No, the women, too. And some would dress in black."she nodded.
"Black?"
"I think that was...a...I can't exactly remember. She was...older. Well, most of them were. Only some of the older women wore black. But we didn't leave without someone else."
"A khuddam."said Fahriha, nodding.
"No. I don't think so. It was a girl."
"A girl?"she asked.
"Yes. I don't recall ever being around men, either. They made us keep to ourselves. Except, I think for one. But I can't remember so well. Let me see...I always recall that there were two others, and they would sometimes confuse us."
"An entire harem, with only three?"
"I don't recall ever living in a harem. It was somewhat like a harem sometimes, but they were all dressed in the same way, and we addressed them as Mother, or Sor."
"The same."
"Yes, it was...I think a dark color...oh, yes, and they were the only ones who wore veils, but not to cover their faces, only their heads."
Fahriha put down her embroidery to listen. She loved to listen to her friend's stories of a distant land, before she came to the royal harem.