The Pleasure of Business [M] [Nix]

[Zero]

The home of Trade Prince Hespu Masud was the very definition of opulence. Everything in sight was gilded in gold and jewels, including the slaves gliding here and there. Slaves were Hespu's trade, something he was very good at and that had made him very wealthy. Not everyone had his keen eye for good slave stock, after all, and few catered to potential buyers in quite the same fashion as he did either.

Never did his wares go to the slave market after he had acquired them – although truthfully few of his treasures were purchased from the markets. He preferred fresh flesh bargained from the Duhjari savages.

Today was a grand affair, in the later afternoon when the day had cooled enough for comfort his slaves had prepared a magnificent banquet. Hespu had his more talented slaves performing for his guests – all wealthy merchants and Trade Princes. When he had a significant selection of fresh slaves to ply this was always his preferred method of showing them off. Slaves on display at the market couldn't truly show their worth like ones mingling and serving his guests could!

It was a method that had brought him great success.

Zimayi was there today, it was the first time she had been allowed to attend one of the events, because every slave present was available for purchase should they make a good impression on someone. She hoped to catch the eye of one of the guests. Her master was a good, honorable man, but he was always temporary. Now that she was a woman, it was more than time for her to find the one she was really meant to serve.

Hespu had made sure to decorate her especially well. As a slave trader he made a habit of not getting attached to his products, but sometimes an especially fine specimen did come along. Not only physically, but temperamentally, he thought Zimayi was one of his finest. She deserved to find a master that would treat her as well as she would serve – and he knew she would serve her master very well.

Light purple silks, sheer in consistency made up her skirts and what could barely pass for a top. The outfit was designed to show off as much of her lightly sun-kissed skin as possible, a guest could reach out and feel how supple and smooth the flesh of the young slave was to the touch. Her generous bust was practically spilling out of the flimsy garment. Hespu knew she would easily make a fine concubine for a wealthy man.

Golden bangles decorated her arms, and a small portion of her deep purple hair was fixed up with silver hair pieces.

She looked a marvel as she wove among the crowd of patrons, offering drinks off a silver tray, hips swaying sensually as she walked. Hespu almost regretted giving her up, but he had enough wives and concubines of his own already – and his first wife had made it abundantly clear she did not want the foreign-born beauty remaining in her house any longer.

[Nix]

Mahvash had been looking forward to this banquet for a while now. Hawk would always be his favorite gladiator but he had more than one prized gladiators and was always looking for new talent. He had been perusing the gladiators who were serving people. It was no secret that his endeavors in the Colosseum often paid him well and that he frequented matches there as well. It was no secret that his gladiators were kept very well and were treated with the respect and dignity befitting their records as apposed to mere laborers as many masters did. If you were a champion for Mahvash Samara you were treated to luxury and finery not merely well fed. As such the muscular men made sure to dote on the merchant prince, making sure his cup stayed filled, that he had anything he could need.

It was no wonder that Mahvash enjoyed Hespu's banquets. Though muscles alone could not fully show a gladiator's skill it was a very fine and civilized way to get to know his potential champions. It was also a great opportunity to socialize with other merchant princes and tradesmen of class and means. Aside from Hespu's own business, many deals and agreements were struck at events such as this. Last year he had not only purchased a fine gladiator but he acquired a new trade contacts for importing fine exotic ingredients for his perfume and oil business.

He took a sip from his cup and looked around the room some, just taking in its treasures. He saw her across the room, a vision in light purple silks, light skin and dark purple hair. Mahvash lightly touched the arm of the muscular slave tending his cup and whispered to him. A nod and the slave made his way to Zimayi's side, whispering to her and nodding toward Mahvash letting her know that the merchant prince wished to meet her.

[Zero]

As it was the first ever event that Zimayi had attended her master watched her closely - he feared that even the gracious girl could become a bundle of nerves under the pressure and multitude of men and women analyzing her - and there were a lot of people watching her. She didn't so much as falter as she went from group to group, offering coy smiles and polite greetings. A few exchanged brief words with her, but none had gone so far as to approach Hespu with an offer to purchase her yet.

Zimayi tilted her head as one of the gladiators approached her. It was certainly unusual. Most of the men stayed far from the special girls that Hespu had groomed for the purpose of becoming concubines. The whispered request was responded to with a smile and faint nod. Of course she could not refuse such a request. Meeting men was the whole purpose of her being there.

Also she was made aware of whom had asked for her. A well-known merchant prince, one that enjoyed gladiators and had a penchant for spoiling those slaves that performed well for him.

Moving with a grace both natural and from years upon years of practice, she practically glided across the room to where Mahvash was being attended by the group of gladiator-trained slaves. She dropped elegantly to her knees before him, still balancing the tray of drinks upon one hand. "How can this one serve?"