my blood stir and all my senses snap into full； clear life。
Another clap from the Evocator； and a thick cloud of red smoke burst from the incense brazier。 It smelled of roses and violets； and my flesh tingled in anticipated pleasure。 The curtain of billowing silk parted。 We saw nothing in the dark alcove except stringed instruments and pipes abandoned on the floor by the never…seen musicians。
The Evocator clapped again。 〃Oh； beautiful Butala；〃 she intoned； 〃grant us music as sweet as your womb。〃 She crooked a finger at the instruments。 〃Play；〃 she manded。 We sat in gaping wonder as the instruments rose from the floor。 Pipes and harps and dulcimers alike swayed gracefully。 Two small gilded drums danced on either side。 Strings were plucked by invisible fingers。 Small； padded hammers coaxed beauteous sounds from the dulcimers。 Pipes fluted visions of woodland bowers。 Drams tat…tat…torted the rhythms of love。
Melina came out of the gloom like a ghost from the mountains of the gods。 Torches flared up on either side； lighted by invisible hands。 Her naked flesh shone pure gold。 We saw the startling perfection of her smooth body for so quick a moment one couldn't be sure it wasn't the sacred drink and our imaginations。 Suddenly Melina was covered from toe to crown with writhing shapes of many colors。 She stood quite still for one； two； then three heartbeats。 We saw images of men and women coupling； other figures in playful chase； women embracing other women as lovers； handsome boys doing the same； and wonderfully twisted binations of both sexes。 Melina turned in a slow pirouette； body alive with other scenes of living erotica。
The music shifted and Melina began to dance。 First a slow； swaying shuffle； hips rotating； arms weaving； long； firm legs moving gracefully。 Melina's dance quickened； as did the music and spirit forms at play on her body。 She kicked and twirled and shook her breasts and hips until I thought I would go mad with lust。 I felt the heat rise in the other men。 The room became stifling with our must。 When we could bear no more； Melina stopped。 She held a pose to make a sculptor weep。 The images were gone； and we could see her in all her glory。 My eyes fed on her like a starving man； on her lips； breasts； and smooth； shaved vulva outlined in henna。 Then the alcove went black。 We turned to look at one another； mouths dry； eyes aching in their sockets 。。。 our balls as hard as stones。
〃Well； gentlemen；〃 said that wondrous voice； 〃did I please you？〃 Our heads swiveled。 There； lounging on the couch； was Melina； dressed in pantaloons and jerkin as before。 Only a slight sheen coating her body hinted that she had danced that incredible dance。
〃All praise Butala；〃 we shouted。 The applause was deafening。 Men tumbled forward to praise her art。 There was a loud and constant jangling of coins and the clink of rare gems as gift after gift was flung at her feet。 Leego floated among the men； smiling； patting them on the back； and coaxing even more gifts。 I couldn't help myself。 I jumped to my feet； hands fumbling for the only gift I had： my father's fat purse of gold。 I muscled through the crowd around her； elbowing my petitors aside as if my strength were twice that of a normal man。 She lifted her eyes to meet mine and I stood before her。 I saw a glint of pleasure。 Sensuous lips curled in smile。 I dropped the purse on top of the other gifts。 The sound of its fall was pleasingly heavy。
〃Ah 。。。 it is my handsome young man with the fiery hair；〃 she said。 Her voice was warm and weling。 But her hot perfume rose to smite me dumb。 All I could do was nod。
〃Amalric Antero； it is not？〃 There was no music as lovely as my name upon those lips。
I bowed。 〃At your service； my lady；〃 I said。
She laughed at my stiff formality。 But it was not meant to be unpleasant。 Still； I flushed。 Melina's white； perfect teeth gleamed。 〃Oh； do please call me Melina。 All my gentlemen friends do。 My very close Mends； that is。〃 Her fingers touched my hand and I trembled at that touch。 〃And I can see as well as any diviner； young Amalric； you and I are destined to be 。。。 close friends。〃
I'm not sure what I stuttered。 But she giggled as if I were the greatest wit of all Orissa。 〃Tell me；〃 she said； 〃is your hair real？ Or is it some clever cosmetic the young bravos of Orissa now affect？〃
〃It's quite real； I assure you； my…uh 。。。 Melina。 Upon my honor。〃
〃Perhaps I shouldn't take your word for it；〃 she teased。 〃After all； there are more interesting ways of proving it； young Amalric。〃 The glint in her eyes told me it was not my sprinkle of chest hair she hinted at。 〃I could also learn if it is true what knowledgeable women say about redheaded men and their ardor。〃
If I was dumb before； now my tongue had been ripped out。 I wanted to shout to the gods to let me prove it now。 Now！ I would show her true ardor。 Not the fraudulent love these…these beasts offered。 Before I could recover； Leego pressed forward。 With him was a middle…aged man of distinguished bearing。 I recognized him as one of my father's wealthiest petitors。
〃If you please； my dear Melina；〃 Leego said； 〃I want to introduce a very special admirer of yours。〃
The man stepped forward； his eyes eager。 Before I could hear the exchange I started to rush away。 I knew this was the man chosen to enjoy Melina's favors that night。 The gift he had presented would beggar mine and those from most of the other men hi the room。 If I don't leave now； I thought； I'll kill him where he stands。
Melina's voice stopped me。 〃One moment； Amalric。〃
I turned； afraid to lift my eyes； because I knew they would betray my feelings。 But I couldn't help it。 I had to see her once more。 For the first time I noticed the color of her eyes。 They were as green as stones from the hot forests of the north。
〃What is it； Melina？〃 I husked。
〃You will e again； won't you？ Please promise me you shall。〃
My answer was hot； unguarded。 〃I would lay my life down as a gift； fair Melina；〃 I said； 〃to win another invitation from you。〃
She did not answer。 If she had I'm sure I would have slit my throat for being such a fool。 Instead she kissed one of her perfect fingers and laid it against my hand。 〃I'll be waiting； Amalric；〃 she whispered。 〃My handsome； redheaded man。〃
I don't remember how I got home。 But I felt so godlike after those words； I'm certain I must have discovered the power to levitate。
AFTER THAT NIGHT I went to see Melina at every opportunity。 Which meant anytime I had weaseled enough coin to buy a suitable gift。 Leego made it very clear I would be unwele without one。 I blamed him for this； not my fair Melina。 I was certain she wanted me for myself； not for something so crassly material as gold。 What could he know of the higher feelings that beat in both our breasts？ He was a Procurer； after all； interested only in the profits the hetaerae guild said was his right。 And I knew he must be the most greedy individual of his money…grubbing trade。
I tried desperately to ignore Melina's wild swings of mood。 One moment only / seemed to matter。 The next I would be dust at her feet。 I wallowed in her humiliations； the rich gifts she scorned； the cold looks； her ostentatious displays of affection to other men。 I put my gifts at her feet with the others。 Bore her scorn。 Bore her jokes at my expense。 Bore Leego's increasingly mocking manner。
I spent all I had。 Then I sold my possessions。 I lied to my father and begged sum after sum。 When he refused me； I borrowed from my friends so heavily they began to avoid my pany。 For soon as I would despair； Melina would bee warm； casting long haunting looks； stroking me and petting me until I was on fire with desire。 She would praise me loudly to the other men； make a trinket I had delivered into a treasure trove； or plain she was weary and ached from her work…I dared not imagine how she came by those aches and pains…and beg me to massage her。 Many a time I was her slave and worked her limbs into suppleness。 She would groan under my hands as if lit by passion。 She would turn slightly and allow my hands to brush against her secret places。 Then she would send me away with promises burning hi her eyes。 So I always returned； richly laden and eager。 This time； I wou