[WitchQueen]

The time is early morning. King Ahmed has been awakened by the birds who are happily singing with the approach of the dawn of a new day. Ahmed decides to call Ishtar and tell her it is time to get dressed they are going to the Palace of the Concubines. Ishtar gets out of the bed and begins to dress herself as nicely as she can. She puts on her makeup carefully and combs her hair. Then she puts on her headscarf. After that she makes the bed. Her clothing are an olive green which looks nice with her reddish brown hair.
Ishtar checks the room to make sure everything is in place and then she proceeds to go downstairs. She goes directly to the kitchen and prepares breakfast for herself and Ahmed. They will be having a pasty cereal with fruit. And they do have coffee here besides the tea.

King Ahmed has left his room for Neeta to straighten up. It has been that way for a long time now. They have a Chinese come in to do the clothes. His name is Santini. He is a Muslim Chinese and his wife is Arabic.

King Ahmed comes downstairs and he is followed by Tartufe. King Ahmed lets the kitten outside which is his daily routine. Nadia puts the cat's food in his dish by the sink and changes his water.

King Ahmed and Ishtar are having their breakfast in the dining room so that they can talk privately. Ahmed explains to Ishtar that it is time for her to meet with his Concubines. He goes onto say that Ibraham's mother, Munna is sick at this time. She is not expected to live and she wishes to go back to Quetta and see her people. Ibraham can make the journey with her but he is expected to return to Xanthia.

Ishtar and Ahmed chat a little more and then Ishtar clears the table. "Ishtar, it is time for us to go. Always make sure you have your phone with you and the numbers." So now they depart the Palace and go down the stone stairs to the wagon. King Ahmed rides his horse Pegasus along side of the wagon. They travel down the road that has been cut out of the mountain. It is shady along the way. At the base they travel along side of the field on the back side of the Mosque. Their journey takes them throught the village of Najat until they reach the Palace of the Concubines which is located on the far side of Najat.

The wagon is pulled over in front of the Palace of the Concubines. King Ahmed helps Ishtar down from the wagon. She is a pretty woman. The two of them go into this Palace together. There are servants in this Palace and one of them opens the door for King Ahmed and Ishtar. They are in the entranceway with a polished floor and a Persian rug. King Ahmed tells Ishtar people make them in the city. Across from the front door there is a vast sitting room where the women of King Ahmed wait. There are children with the woman.. The children are sitting on the floor. King Ahmed and Ishtar go into the room. The King introduces Ishtar and explains that she is to be his wife at the end of the month after his trip to Kruata. King Ahmed brings up Munna and asks how she is doing. Sereta explains she is not doing well and she wished to return to Quetta so that she may see her family again. King Ahmed tells them this will be arranged. All of the Concubines are then introduced to Ishtar. King explains that all of them are mortals still and have not been wakened from the sleep of death.

Now is the time for King Ahmed to greet his children. They come up to him one at a time. King Ahmed shows all of the children to Ishtar and she greets them warmly. Abdul has powers like Ibraham althought he is young and inexperienced about this. Sometimes Ibraham studies with Abdul. Abdul's mother, Marini is not happy about the Witch becoming the King's wife even though all of this was explained about in the agreement before they were to come to Xanthia. The Concubines from Quetta were not forced to come. They came in exchange for life in the Palace. Their children would be royalty. They would always be taken care of and they would have gold and jewels as well as beautiful clothes. Their clothes were colorful and more exotic than Ishtar's.

After King Ahmed greets all of the children he again speaks to the Concubines and asks that they understand they must cooperate with Ishtar and he speaks to the children and explains his wishes are that they respect Ishtar.

After their visit at the Palace of the Concubines, King Ahmed and Ishtar return to the Fortress and the Palace. Once back inside of the Palace King Ahmed tells Ishtar he wants to measure her for a ring. He gets a piece of paper and cuts out a ring of paper for a measurement. "This will help me get the proper size ring for you Ishtar." "Thank you King Ahmed, I am really excited about the wedding".

"Ishtar it is time for me to leave. I must check the training camps and decide which men I want to go with me to Kruata. If there is anything you need, Cassem most likely will be able to help you." With that King Ahmed looks straight at Ishtar and secretly hopes she will be brave and help him with his people. Her eyes are dark brown and calm.

WitchQueen