The Isle of Thanta slowly drifted away from the sailing ship that we had booked passage on. We are comprised of myself and Asia's four kajirae, which in itself did rather stun me. Because Asia elected to remain behind and not accompany me to Ar. My state room cabin is shared with all four women.
While I do not mind this arrangement in the least, it was when I had emptied my pockets of all the usual keys and slips of paper requesting my attentions in clandestine trysts that I felt suddenly innundated over my head. It has always been Marius' peculiar delight to sift through these tawdry invitations and select for me whose solicitations I shall respond to, and for what favors I shall ask in return. Mostly Marius' are simple return favors, such as luncheon meetings with important political diplomats aboard the same sailing vessel. I myself have never learnt why the politics of cities so intrigues Marius, who is chiefly responsible for the entertainments of Cos.
I would imagine therefore that Asia too, would leap at the chance to have her fingers in a few pies that are not of her own caste. I discovered otherwise, and much to my surprise when she met up with us at the Port of Kar, that she had very little interest in sorting through my small pile of erswhile come-ons, and simply told me that I should make my own decisions more or less. And if I do not desire a particular person's solicitious approach for sexual favors, I am to say, "I am all booked up," and just leave it at that.
Asia is so vastly different from Marius, and not just in the obvious ways. She has the ability to drive hurtful stakes into my heart and to confuse me beyond comprehension.. abilities that she has, on a few occasions, taken advantage of and inadvertanly awakened a monster inside of me that I never knew existed. Apart from Marius and Asia, I have yet another to fear.
Myself.
