To the left and the Records Repository

The king walks briskly down the corridor, knowing that he is unlikely to find anyone working in the administrative section at this hour. Arriving at the Records Repository, he takes one more look around. Confirming that no one is watching, he enters the room.

Inside, the rows of shelves contain books, scrolls, and containers of parchment. The room has a dusty, official, and boring smell that would instantly detract anyone who happened to stumble across the room by accident. Like many things in Mirantia, however, there is much more to this room under the surface appearance. Specifically, it is directly beneath the room where the really exciting things happen.

Going to one of the shelving units along the wall, the king places his hand on the hidden mechanism that unlocks the secret doorway. He slides the shelf to one side, revealing a staircase that leads downward.

As Malcolm descends the stairs, his thoughts return to the day he first learned of the existence of the hidden quarters for the king’s concubines. He was the crown prince, and his father decided Malcolm was finally old enough to be shown this aspect of his eventual inheritance.

“How long ago it seems!” thinks the king. He remembers his surprise, both at the revelation of the secret quarters under the palace and at the realization that his father had such a healthy libido. He remembers his father introducing him to the royal concubines and trying not to dwell on the mental images of his regal, respected father rutting with each of them. His father’s taste in women led him to acquire concubines who were not unlike Malcolm’s mother. That’s when Malcolm began to fantasize about the beautiful females who would eventually fill these chambers — and his bed — once he assumed the throne.

Arriving at the bottom of the stairs, Malcolm found the large common room empty, as he expected. He walked past the bell that he could have used to bring a couple of dozen young women scurrying out of their beds, eager to offer him whatever relief he sought from the weight of his crown. Many is the time that bell brought him exquisite — but sleepless — nights, moving from one nubile beauty to another.

Tonight, however, his harem can have their rest. There is just one of his concubines on his mind at the moment — the one who sent him the note that prompted this meeting.

Malcolm walks directly to the door for his head concubine, Jini. Without bothering to knock or announce himself, he opens the door and walks in.

Jini is a beautiful woman with black hair and pleasing body. She has the appearance of a healthy woman in her mid 30s, and her sexual prowess and stamina would put many 20-year-olds to shame. Her eyes betray the truth, however. When her face is not convulsed with passion or seductive charm, her gaze suggests a long life of experience, knowledge, and secrets.

Jini is reclined on her side on a large bed. A silken sheet covers her from the waist, down. Her naked breasts face Malcolm, drawing his attention long before her words bring his eyes to look at her face. A slight upward turn of one corner of her mouth seems to say, “Yes, I know you want me. I love this power I have over you.”

Malcolm feels his cock harden. No matter how many times he sees her like this, she has the same spell over him. He came here, fully intending to talk this out once and for all, but damn it! He may be the king of all Mirantia, but at times like this, it’s Jini who really wields the power.