All the Sweet Tomorrows

came slowly back into the astrologer's eyes, and smiling up at his lovely wife, he said, 'Kedar is awake, and wishes to know if I will eat the midday meal with him.'

Alima laughed and shook her head at him. 'I don't know why I even bothered to come and get you,' she said. 'Couldn't you at least humor me by pretending that you don't know what I have to say before I even speak?'

'You are too easy,' he teased her back. 'Your mind is like crystal to me. I know all where you are concerned, my love.'

'All?” Alima smiled provocatively at her husband.

'Woman, your thoughts are much too immodest!' Osman pretended displeasure, but Alima was not one bit fooled.

'It will be a long, hot afternoon, my husband, and I will wager that your nephew will not waste it idly.'

Osman chuckled, and then he asked, 'How is Muna?'

'At this moment her thoughts of you are not entirely kindly, my lord. She is in the baths. She would speak with you, she says, before Kedar calls her to him again.'

Osman nodded. 'I can enter the women's quarters without any question since this is my house. When she is safely back in her own chamber, Alima, then send for me. We three will speak together. It is better you be with us, as there is no true privacy for us and your presence, my wife, will divert suspicion.'

Alima nodded. 'I will arrange everything, my lord,' she said, and then left him.

Osman rose from the cushions and went to find Kedar. He was curious as to what his nephew had to say about the new slave girl, Muna. Kedar had bathed earlier, and now lay stretched out upon his couch while his personal body slave, a giant black named Dagan, massaged him. Seeing his uncle, he waved the slave away and pulled a length of cloth about his loins. Osman noted Kedar's powerful chest and muscled arms. He was in excellent physical condition, which, considering his appetites, Osman thought, was amazing. Youth, he decided, was obviously the key.

'Uncle!' Kedar's greeting was enthusiastic. 'How do I thank you for Muna? She is incredible, magnificent! I have not enjoyed a woman so in years!'

'I am pleased to have given you such pleasure with so small a trifle as a slave girl, my nephew.'

Kedar grinned. 'You were right, of course. She is quite unschooled, but she is intelligent, I can see, and will be easily trained despite the streak of stubbornness I find in her. Firmness is the key to managing a woman. Firmness and discipline. One should never be afraid to punish even a beautiful creature like Muna.'

'You did not punish her?' Osman tried to keep the nervousness from his voice. “The girl cost me a pretty penny, Kedar.'

'Allah, no!' Kedar laughed. 'I'm afraid I grow weak with age, Uncle. I could not destroy that gorgeous skin she possesses. If Muna should ever become recalcitrant I shall have to think of a way to punish her without using the lash. No, but she sought to defy me a little last night, and I was forced to be quite firm. She responded well, and became quite pliant afterward.'

'Yes,' Osman answered, 'I suspect that reason will always overcome any outbursts on Muna's part. Tell me, nephew, how long will you be with me this trip? We had so little time to speak last night, so eager were you to have the slave girl. I understood, of course. Your trip from Fez was a long and lonely one.'

'I am no longer lonely,' Kedar smiled. 'I shall probably stay with you a good month or more, Uncle. I have a great deal of business to conduct while I am here in Algiers, and now that you have made me so comfortable I am in no hurry to depart.'

The two men chuckled companionably and, after a few more minutes of idle conversation, ate a light repast. Then Osman excused himself and hurried to the women's quarters. He found both his wife and Skye awaiting him in Skye's bedchamber. 'Good day, my daughter,' he said calmly.

Skye glowered at Osman, and then a small smile touched her lips. 'I cannot say that you did not warn me that he was a lustful man, Osman,' she said, 'but you did not tell me that he was built like a bull, and totally insatiable. I am exhausted, having been at his tender mercy this past night. Still, I know that it is the only way for me to reach Fez, to free my husband. Now, however, we must speak seriously.'

Osman nodded. 'You have doubts, I know.'

'You are certain that your younger nephew, Hamal, will aid me in rescuing Niall? If the boy truly loves his princess perhaps he will have had second thoughts by now.'

'I am in constant touch with Hamal, Muna.' He looked closely at her. 'But if Hamal should change his mind, my daughter, what would you do? You would not, I know, leave your husband to languish in the princess's harem.'

'No, Osman, I would not. I should find a way.'

'I know,' came the answer. 'It is your fate to travel to Fez.'

'Is it my fate to return, Osman?' Skye's glance was a candid one.

'You will see your green land again, my daughter,' was his reply. 'Now tell me what else it is that troubles you.'

'It is your nephew, Osman. He is a frighteningly possessive man. Will he allow me any measure of freedom or will I find myself walled up in his harem?'

'I will speak to him, Muna. He has told me that he intends to stay a month here in Algiers. I will convince him of the need to allow you to move about the city, properly attired, of course.'

'He plans to stay a month? Osman, can you not convince him to spend less time here? You yourself said that every minute counts!'

'He is just arrived yesterday, my daughter. I can hardly send him back today. I do not know what his business is, but I shall soon learn it. Perhaps then I may speed his affairs along, and you will return to Fez at an earlier date. Be patient, my daughter. You have yet to learn that everything will take place in its own time, and not a moment before.'

A knock sounded upon the door, and a slave girl put her head into the room. 'The lord Kedar has sent his slave, Dagan, to bring Muna to him.'

Skye nodded. 'I will come,' she said, and the girl departed the room. Skye rose. 'It is barely two hours after noon,' she said, making a small moue with her mouth. 'I did manage to get six hours' sleep. Heaven only knows how long it will have to last me!'

'He will probably leave you this evening to have dinner with friends and conduct some business,' Osman said reassuringly.

'He will return though, old friend, and he will expect me to be eagerly awaiting him.'

'And you will,' Osman said quietly.

'Yes,' Skye replied. 'I will.' Then she was gone from the room, and Alima looked to her husband with troubled eyes.

'Will she be all right, my husband? We should ill repay the kindness of the late Khalid el Bey should we put her in any danger.'

'You are a gentle flower, my Alima,' Osman said, 'but for all her delicate looks Skye is tempered of as fine a steel as the Toledo blade. She cannot be broken or bent. She will survive, never fear.'

While Osman reassured his wife, Skye was following the huge Dagan through the house back to Kedar's chambers. The few hours' sleep and the steam of the bath had combined to give her a radiant glow. Her cheeks were flushed rose, and her eyes sparkled like a fine Ceylon sapphire. She wore a simple gauze caftan of turquoise blue, and her black hair had been braided into one thick plait and dressed with tiny freshwater pearls and silver lame ribbons.

Kedar's eyes lit up at the sight of her. He reminded her of a panther contemplating its meal, and Skye suppressed a small shiver as she slipped to her knees, bent forward, and touched her forehead to his slipper. 'Rise, Muna,' he said, pulling her eagerly up to him. 'Dear Allah, how is it possible that you are so radiant?' His mouth descended quickly upon hers, and Skye slid her arms about him, pressing her lush form against him. Kedar shuddered, and pulled away in surprise. 'No woman has ever done that to me,' he said, looking at her curiously.

'I did not mean to displease you, my lord,' she said meekly.

'I know that, beautiful one. I am simply surprised at myself. I thought having sated myself upon your beautiful body just several hours ago I would be replete. No woman has ever touched me as you have, and I find, however,