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ling 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 would think； she'll fall into my arms and beg me to carry her away like that brave captain in the song。 That moment never came。 Because as sure as the sun king lashes his chariot into motion each dawn； the next greeting would be as cold as a slave seller's heart。
This went on for month after humiliating month。 I became pale and thin in the fevered pursuit。 When I slept； the sleep was so troubled that I awakened as exhausted as before。 It was in that time that I began to have a strange dream。 A nightmare that came with increasing frequency as the days of my obsession passed。 Even now as I recall it to write these lines hi this journal； the dream leaps to life； leaving me as shaken as it did so long ago。
But I swore I'd tell this tale。 And tell it all； despite any pain I might relive 。。。
I was not fettered； but rose when he beckoned as if I wore manacles and he was the keeper at the end of the chain。 I stepped awkwardly across the boat's thwarts and then lunged up onto the slime…thick dock carved from living stone。 My feet dragged； as my mind screamed： Strike out。 You cannot go up those stairs。 You must not。
The water beside the boat was thick； heaving； a dark； viscous substance。 I could hear the hiss of the great river beyond as it rushed through the black gorge the boatman had brought us through。 I could also hear baying。 It came from above； from the ruined； cursed city on the gorge's plateau。 It was not the howling of jackals； or even direwolves。 Far above； far outside this river…dug cavern； in the city； in the shattered amphitheater； in the gods…hammered stones； the creatures sat in patient rings。 Up there in the moonless night； those creatures that bayed like hounds bore no semblance to anything seen on this earth。 The thought came that they might have been men； once。 Men who had struck a dark bargain。
The boatman took one of the torches that guttered on either side of the arched stairway and beckoned once again。 In the flare of the burning pitch I saw his arm clearly； muscles flexing； jumping：