Chapter 3

Erik cursed as he looked up at the sky from where he stood on the scaffolding. The sun had begun to fade, and the slaves shivered with cold. There were never enough hours of light in the day. He had considered lighting up the outside walls of the palace as darkness fell so work would continue into the night. But the damn sultan had given strict orders his slaves must rest each night. He had cited the expense it would be to replace so many when they were too weak to carry out Erik's demands.

If it were Erik's choice, he would drive them harder. He did not see why so many of them needed break times during the day. He rarely ate and needed little sleep, so he easily had the time to work.

"Erik, please..." spoke one of the guards that watched the slaves daily.

Erik cursed again. "Fine! Take your leave!"

The relieved slaves stopped working and were escorted by the soldiers to their stations for the night. Satisfied the slaves were in place, the guards rode their horses back to the small village nearby.

Erik continued to work on his own, chiseling stone and making small changes. When it was completely dark, he climbed down and gathered his tools. He was procrastinating on purpose, as he did not look forward to his next task.

Packing his items away in a bag, he climbed on his horse and began to make his way to the current palace. It had been three days since the sultan had told him of his new wife. Now while the sultan was away, Erik knew he had to see her. He had already overheard the slaves gossiping that she was extremely quiet and rarely spoke to anyone. In the short time since she arrived, the third wife was already content to stay in her apartment.

Erik knew this silence could only mean arrogance, and he was annoyed the sultan now had another wife similar to Lala. Most likely this Alexandria had been sheltered by loving parents, never able to do things on her own. She married the ruler of Constantinople and was pampered extensively. Now that she was but one of many women the sultan owned, she was keeping to herself in anger at the situation. He had seen this all before, when the sultan married Lala.

Arriving at the palace in a dark mood, Erik jumped off his horse and went to the entrance. The slaves who met him cowered in fear and easily let him inside. But a new young male slave was cleaning the entry way and blocked his path.

"Out of my way!" hissed Erik, kicking the slave who scrambled away in fear.

Shit.

A large group of harem girls were walking back to their quarters. The women stopped dead in their tracks when they saw Erik. He kept moving, not caring if any of them were knocked over if they got in his way.

Whispers were cast around him as their eyes grew wide and stepped aside. But when one girl laughed, Erik whirled around and came after her. She shrieked and hit her back up against a wall. He was now inches in front of her face and gave her an evil smile.

"Stop it! Go away!" cried the girl in horror.

"The sultan has told me numerous times I can select any girl in the harem as I wish," said Erik in a low voice. "I have never indulged in his generous offer. Do you wish to disobey the sultan?"

She dropped her eyes from him and shook with fear.

"You know what happened to the last girl who did not please the sultan," continued Erik. "I believe he beat her for an hour before turning her over to his guards, where she was used by them as they pleased. As I recall, she did not survive." He shook his head. "It was a terrible thing the sultan did."

The girl looked up with a shocked expression. "You thought it w-was wrong of him?" she asked in a shaky voice. "I would h-have thought you w-would have approved."

Erik smiled wider. "Oh no, I did not approve. I would have tortured the girl far longer than he did."

The girl choked and whimpered in fear.

"Kiss me."

"What?" asked the girl with horror.

"I will consider letting you go if you kiss me."

The girl continued to shake.

"No? Well then, perhaps I will explore in my bed what other talents you have. There are a number of places far better you can place your mouth on me." He stepped back as the girl coughed and lurched forward as if she was going to become sick. Erik laughed. "How easily scared you are. You would not last even a few minutes with me in bed." His eyes darkened. "Go back to your harem of weak women."

The women were huddled on the opposite side of the room, staring at them.

"Go now!" he spat at all of them. "Before I change my mind!"

The harem ran past him, a few of the girls stopping to help the sick girl to move with them. He turned and walked down a corridor as more slaves moved out of his way.

Erik laughed bitterly to himself. If they only knew not once had he been intimate with any woman. Because of his face, no female would ever want him. Christine had been the only hope he had, and in the end he let her go. He knew the sultan at one time suspected something as Erik was never seen taking women to his bed. But he told the sultan that his harem were far too innocent for his techniques. The sultan seemed to believe he spoke the truth, given how evil Erik's temper could be.

How little the sultan knew.

Spotting a eunuch, Erik asked which apartment held the third wife. He was pointed to an area in the back of the palace that was very secluded.

Of course, she chose the apartment furthest from the other wives, he thought in irritation. He knocked on the entrance to her apartment, and a female slave answered with surprise in her eyes.

"I am here to see the third wife of the sultan."

The slave hesitated. "I am afraid she is asleep."

Erik grew angry. "Night has just fallen. She cannot be asleep already! Go and wake her." When the slave hesitated again, Erik narrowed his eyes. "Now!"

She stumbled backwards, and before she could shut the door, Erik quickly stepped inside. Seeing he was simply going to wait, the slave ran from the entry way down a hall leaving Erik to glance around.

Odd.

The walls were still fairly bare with no pictures or silk tapestries. Perhaps the third wife was not unpacked, which was unusual. The slaves were fairly quick to take direction from a wife in decorating.

The slave appeared again and bowed. "My mistress will see you in the sitting area."

Erik brushed past the slave and walked down the hall. He saw a room with the door slightly open. Without knocking, he stepped inside. Immediately, his eyes rested on the woman sitting on a luxurious couch covered with pillows.

She was much smaller than the other wives; perhaps "petite" was a better description.  Her skin was very light for a woman of these lands. She had rich, dark brown hair that cascaded past her shoulders. Erik saw her eyes were hazel, and they almost glittered as she looked up at him.

"Forgive me," she said with a quiet voice. "I thought you would have visited me during the day. Otherwise, I would not have retired for the evening."

Ah yes, she was arrogant and ignorant. Erik frowned. "I need as many hours as possible in the daylight to work on the new palace."

She flushed slightly as if realizing her stupidity for such a comment. "Yes," she replied softly. "Would you care for anything? Perhaps some tea?"

He sighed with impatience. "I would rather discuss the design of your new court. I have very little time as it is."

She winced slightly at his tone. "Yes, of course."

Erik withdrew a set of plans from underneath his cloak and walked over to a nearby table. Spreading them out, he looked at the designs in front of him intently. "I believe I have found a solution by taking out this area here." He glared over his shoulder as she remained on the couch. "Would you care to join me or do you intend to dictate your orders to me from across the room?"

Her eyes widened, and she quickly stood up to walk near the table where he was standing.

Shaking his head, Erik continued. "If I expand this apartment into the one next to it, I believe I can create another court. It will take some work, but I think it can be done." He looked down at her as she stood before him. "You will also be pleased to know your court will be the largest among the wives."

Alexandria looked almost fearful at his words. "No...I cannot. I am the third wife. You should give the largest court to the first wife."

Erik shook his head. "Iris has already designed her court, and the stone and marble have been cut to the specifications of the room. It is too late now to change this new court into what she wants."

He watched as she bit her lower lip. Erik was not fooled for a minute. This wife was quite coy and would seek her place in the sultan's world by playing the poor, beautiful widow to the fullest advantage.

"We need to begin by detailing the layout of the new court," said Erik in an even tone. "How do wish for your private court to be designed?" As he asked this, he tried as hard as he could to keep his temper in check. Lala had immediately asked for the most impossible design with too many rooms. After arguing with her for a short time, Erik had enough and threw the table over before leaving her. It was the sultan who had to persuade him to return.

Alexandria stared at the plans in front of her.

"Well?" asked Erik impatiently. He still had a number of other corrections that needed to be done to the plans and he needed the remainder of the night to work. She was already wasting his time.

"I am not...what is it you would suggest?" she asked in a small voice still looking down at the table.

Erik gave an irritating sigh. "That would not be for me to decide," he said in a rough voice. "The design should reflect your taste."

"I-I do not know where to begin."

Oh, good God!

"That I cannot believe," said Erik harshly. "I am certain you helped in the design of your last residence! You cannot possibly be that ignorant!"

To Erik's complete surprise, she burst into tears. He had expected rage or even a bitter remark in return. But her sudden show of emotion caught him off guard because of the perception he had created about her. Now what should he do?

Say something to her, you idiot.

What the hell should I say?

Anything! Just get her to shut up so you can leave!

He drew a deep breath. "I will make suggestions if you wish."

Alexandria only began to cry harder.

Damn it, that was the wrong thing to say!

"Or I could design it myself," he added in haste. That would certainly save him a hell of a lot of time rather than dealing with this mess.

Alexandria suddenly looked at him through her tears. "I do have a mind! I just need...someone to show me. I need someone to teach me!" She walked away and with her back to him she gulped for air. "There is a difference between choosing to be ignorant and simply not having the knowledge available to learn!"

Erik was surprised as this was not a response he expected.  He frowned. "Can you read?"

"Excuse me?"

"Damn it, can you read?!"

She quickly turned around. "Of course I can!"

Erik clenched his jaw in reaction to her sudden angry tone. He tried to speak in a calm voice. "I just needed to-"

"Make sure I was illiterate as well as ignorant?" she snapped.

Erik's temper reached its peak. "Tell your husband you have delayed the project. I do not have the time to teach you everything there is about design. I have far better things to do!" He began to roll up the plans but when he looked up, she had once again come forward.

"Wait...please," she said softly. "I-I want to learn. I...I do not know some of these things like the other wives. I never had to design anything before. It was done by my...former husband."

Do you think I care? Erik clenched his fists resisting the urge to strangle her. One moment she did not want him, the next moment she was begging for help.

Sensing the meaning of his silence, Alexandria walked back to the couch and sat down. "I do appreciate your visit. Perhaps I will see if Iris or Lala can help me."

The thought of her going to Lala for ideas was too much to bear. He reached into his bag and pulled out two books, both covering the history of architecture. Tossing them on the table, he glared at her. "Start with these. I will come by each night for a few moments so you can ask me questions."

Alexandria stared at the books. "I am not allowed to have books," she whispered.

"I do not give a damn about the barbaric restrictions these lands have over women. As far as I am concerned, leaving these books with you will assist me in finishing the design."

----

Alexandria stared at the books on the table. Perhaps architecture and design were not a favorite topic of hers but she would not pass up this opportunity. They were still books! She missed reading terribly after only being in the palace a few days. Not to mention the time here so far had been quite boring.

Aside from the attention she received from the sultan, Alexandria had only received glares from the other women if she came out of her apartment at all. Iris was very nice but also extremely busy. As the sultan's first wife, she had a number of engagements she kept with political visitors. Iris was expected to arrange all entertainment and charm them until the sultan was available.

And Alexandria had no idea what Lala did during her long days.

She reached out and eagerly took the books. But a knot tied in her stomach and she looked at the architect. "Where shall I hide these? If I am caught..."

He suddenly snatched the books from her and strode across the room. She could hear him muttering under his breath. She watched as he quickly took out some of his tools and amazingly created a secret door in one of her walls. Alexandria stood and walked over next to him as she examined the compartment. It was small enough to not be noticed as it blended in with the walls.

She opened her mouth in surprise. "How did you-"

"If you are going to ask me how to create secret compartments, I can assure you right now that is not going to happen. You have quite enough information to learn, so I suggest you begin reading," he replied in a rough voice.

Alexandria's slave walked into the room with a scared look on her face. But the slave obviously had something important to reveal.

"What is it, Anna?" she asked.

"Mistress, t-the sultan h-has sent word." She took a deep breath to calm herself as the architect narrowed his eyes at her. "He will return in a few days and he is asking if he may spend his first night home with you in his bed."

Under the careful watch of the architect, Alexandria flushed at the directness of such a request. "Yes, of course," she said softly. "You may send word to him I await his return." The slave bowed and left the room.

When she glanced back at the architect, he was staring at her. She tried to smile with politeness before she spoke again. "Thank you again for coming. I really do appreciate the bo-"

"He actually asked you."

"I am sorry, what?"

He shook his head. "I have never heard the sultan ask a woman to his bed, even his other wives. He must be...intrigued with you."

Her face felt hot in response. "As if I have a choice to say no?"

He responded to her shock with a slight smile. "No, of course not. But it is obvious he cares enough to ask. You are more fortunate than you realize." He straightened. "I will return tomorrow evening." Alexandria watched as he swiftly moved around her and exited the room.

Well that had been an interesting encounter, she thought with a frown. When he first came into the room, she had been shocked that what he wore was completely black. He dressed more like the modern style of the French or English wearing trousers instead of full robes. She already was prepared for the mask and followed the advice of the sultan not to ask him questions about it.

She could definitely see the temper he held within. It was as if he had to focus on every amount of control he had to be calm with her. He would never be easy to work with. Still, it gave her something to do...

Alexandria opened the secret compartment and took out one of the books. Sitting back down on the couch, she opened it and read well into the night.