First reading

"This is in Ancient Greek and some parts are in Coptic. My Greek is better than my Coptic, but we'll muddle in," the scholar said.

Torg reads from the book, "A public woman, endowed with a good disposition, beauty, and other winning qualities, and also versed in the above arts, obtains the name of a Ganika, or public woman of high quality, and receives a seat of honor in an assemblage of men. She is, moreover, always respected by the king, and praised by learned men, and her favor sought for by all, she becomes an object of universal regard. The daughter of a king, too, as well as the daughter of a minister, being learned in the above arts can make their husbands favorable to them, even though these may have thousands of other wives besides themselves. And in the same manner, if a wife becomes separated from her husband, and falls into distress, she can support herself easily, even in a foreign country, by means of her knowledge of these arts."

I look at Margaret with wide eyes. "That sounds ... intriguing!"

Margaret’s breath caught in her throat as the words washed over her, a strange mixture of scandalized horror and intoxicating allure. "A queen or a minister's daughter... using such skills to hold her husband's heart?" she whispered, her eyes fixed on the page. *To command a man's devotion through the art of the flesh... is that not a power greater than any crown?*

She looked up at Torg, her gaze swimming with a newfound, dangerous curiosity. The idea of being an object of "universal regard" stirred something primal within her. "It speaks of a mastery over the senses," she murmured, her hand trembling as she reached out to touch the fabric of his sleeve. "If a lady could wield such arts... would she truly be free?"