The Akkadian learns a little.

The two handmaids and the Akkadian rose from the low bench. The assassin found that his sexual need was at least temporarily sated following his play with the two girls. The heady erotic musk he had been oiled with still worked it's enchantment though and already his subdued arousal was slowly increasing. The Akkadian supposed that the Sorceress, who seemed to constantly wear the lotion and her closest handmaiden servants inhaling the musk must need sexual release several times per day.

Dressing was a simple matter given the scant quantity of clothing the handmaids wore. Leaving the breechcloths they had discarded to bathe the Akkadian the girls showed the assassin where fresh cloths were kept. The cloths were simple white cotton belts which knotted at the hip and from the belts hung flaps of cloth that did little more than cover the girls sex and bottom crease from view. The Akkadian was shown how to knot the belt in a particular fashion so that a tug on the loose end of the knot would release it and allow the scanty garment to fall away.

The jewellery that the Akkadian wore and which had originally belonged to the real whore Minaja was discarded along with his stolen desert robes. Only the dagger he had taken from the nomads the Akkadian insisted on retaining. Cassie and Honey rolled their eyes and made protests as the Akkadian threaded the dagger sheath onto the cotton belt at his hip, but made no move to stop him.

One clear difference remained separating the Akkadian from his fellow handmaidens. Around each of their necks was a polished metal collar. The Akkadian had a good eye for metals due to his expertise in weapons, finer steel than the collars were forged from he had rarely seen. Etched upon each collar were runes.

"The collars." The Akkadian noted to the girls. "You are slaves to the Sorc.. to the Mistress then?"

"Oh no, we each came here willingly." Honey contradicted. "And are free to leave if we choose."

"The Mistress merely wishes us to appear as slavegirls." Cassie explained. "No man pays much attention to slaves other than what service they can render to him. As such we remain anonymous to any but the sharpest witted men."

"Then for what reason did you seek out the Mistress?" The Akkadian enquired. "The journey to this tower was hazardous enough for me and I have certain training that I very much doubt either of you possess."

"Why to be her acolytes of course." Honey exclaimed. "Surely you did the same? In her service she will teach us a little of her arts and craft."

"When a handmaiden is trusted and skilled to the Mistress's satisfaction she will be given a new identity and the funds to begin a new life in a place of the Mistress's choosing." Cassie explained. "The former handmaids of the Mistress are in every city and nation of Hyperborea, each in position of some importance or power."

"Now that you have joined us it will be Cassie's turn to leave the tower." Honey said, a little sadly.

"I am to be a merchant and moneylender in the Shemite capital." Cassie told the assassin. "I shall have a fine big house and servants and conduct trade and caravans on my own account."

"Yet will still owe loyalty to the Mistress and be her agent and eyes in Shem." The Akkadian mused aloud.

The Sorceress, the Akkadian now realised, was a far more important player in politics and power across the kingdoms than any imagined. Her former handmaids were like a web with the witch at the centre and little of any importance that occurred in the wider world would escape her notice. What end was all this long term planning in aid of he wondered.

The Akkadian looked closer at the collars, Honey allowing him to touch and inspect the metal band about her neck without protest. The collar had no lock or hinge, but was a single unbroken circle of steel. Magic must surely have been used to fit the band around the neck. The runes were of none of the common languages and the Akkadian was well educated in the commonest written script. He had seen their like before though, in ancient ruins and on artifacts from long gone years.

"These runes are Atlantean." The Akkadian declared. "I do not know their meaning, but I recognise a symbol or two from carved inscriptions I have seen."

"Yes, the Mistress says that these are in her mother tongue." Honey agreed. "That she is far older than she appears is well known."

Both handmaids abruptly paused and remained silent for several seconds. Then both smiled and nodded and turned their attention back to the Akkadian.

"Mistress wishes our presence now." Cassie informed the assassin, who had heard no such command. "She is in her bedchamber. Come, we will show you the way."