INTRODUCTION

 

Readers of 'Turkish Delight' will recall how the beautiful, proud and stubborn British aristocrat, Lady Isabel Dysart - having been abducted to the Harem of Quireme - was transformed into a submissive and obedient slave-girl, the property of Princess Karina.

This Princess, as she styled herself, was of mixed blood, half German, one quarter Jewish, one quarter Arab. She had immense wealth and an insensate lust for power. Immediate power , personal power as well as power on a grander scale. And she had the will and ability to organise her life so that she could exercise such power.

Needless to say, the transformation of Lady Isabel Dysart into the slave-girl named Belle was not accomplished without her having to endure a very great deal of mental and physical torment. But accomplished as it was and, in due time, she joined the scores of other slave-girls in the Harem Quireme There to amuse and serve the entourage and guests of Princess Karina.

One might imagine it impossible for a woman to descend further from such heights to such depths.

Not so!

An even worse Fate awaited Lady Isabel.

Upon direct orders of Princess Karina, she was transferred to the Stables of Quireme ... There to be trained as a Pony Girl, under the wounding name of Saucy Lady. Her six-month ordeal - and that of other Pony Girls - was recounted in Pony Girls'.

Surprising as it may seem, Lady Isabel developed into a most excellent Pony Girl. Not only did she have beauty and a magnificent body, she had strength and athletic grace as well. All the qualities needed ... and, combined with relentless training, these brought her to the heights. She ultimately became one of two specially selected Pony Girls assigned exclusively for the use of Princess Karina herself.

What an 'honour'!

But the day came when Saucy Lady's tour of duty in the Stables came to an end. She was returned to the Harem of Quireme and once more given her slave-girl name of Belle.

Here another 'honour' awaited her.

Indeed, it was the highest 'honour' any slave-girl could aspire to in Quireme. She was assigned as one of the large retinue which served the Princess Karina personally. These were generally considered the most beautiful and highly trained in the Harem.

Naturally so.

For were they not most frequently in the presence of the Princess?

Even if, on occasions, they were acting in the most lowly of capacities.

Chapter 1

 

Belle, still feeling the sharp sting of the weals raised by Miss Lirium, began to assimilate the information just given to her. Of course, she was quite familiar with such pain - and worse. It was simply part of the everyday existence of a slave-girl and had to be borne. Belle accepted it, not even feeling any resentment against the tall, striking-looking woman before whom she now knelt submissively, hands clasped at the back of her head. After all, it was no more than the duty of an Overseer to punish a slave if she, or he, thought a girl had erred. That was simply part of the pattern of life in Quireme.

"You are sensible of this opportunity, slave? This honour?" enquired the leather-clad figure. She had Slav-like features, high cheekbones and slanting eyes but her wide lips were thin.

"Yes, Miss." Belle spoke clearly and firmly. Her voice had a genuine ring to it. She really did feel something at being selected in this way to serve the all-powerful Princess of Quireme. Could one have called it pride? Maybe ... maybe not. At the same time, Belle also felt a kind of freezing inner dread. A fear of failure. A fear of the consequences of failure. That was understandable enough.

"You may have thought," continued Miss Lirium in a matter-of-fact way, "that standards of discipline in the Quireme Harem are strict. However, as a member of her Highness's slave retinue you will find them even stricter. You appreciate that?"

"Yes, Miss." Once again Belle absorbed the sting of her new weals. She certainly did appreciate that already! For those weals were there simply because she made the error of falling to her knees voluntarily - before Miss Lirium. The Princess's Chief Overseer deemed that as 'acting without an order'. Punishable, therefore. Meriting only a dozen or so from the rod.

And whilst she was giving them to this newly-arrived slave, Miss Lirium not only noted the splendid, curvaceous proportions of the bottom presented to her, but also the way that bottom was kept square to her throughout punishment. She was quite impressed ... even though, by Quireme standards, the punishment was quite mild.

"The regime here," went on Miss Lirium, "is a little different to that of the general Harem. I will explain something of it to you. Listen carefully." She seated herself on the edge of a table, short, pleated black skirt riding high. One saw the whiteness of the top of her thigh above the black leather boot which came halfway up its length. Somehow that garb epitomised her power, just as Belle's nakedness epitomised her helplessness. Oh what a world of difference between these two women! Yet the one who casually flexed the rod had once been a peasant's daughter, while the one who knelt had been born an aristocrat.

O tempora! O Mores!

"Although you have been selected," said the Chief Overseer, "that does not mean you will remain in her Highness's slave retinue. That will depend on your performance. May I say, at the outset, if you fail to make the grade, the consequences for you will be most unpleasant. Both immediately and when you return to the general Harem. Clear?"

"Yes, Miss."

That freezing sensation within Belle intensified. Though she had suffered immeasurable - and somehow survived - she was becoming aware that, on a different level, she was facing perhaps her toughest test yet.

Yet, how could it be tougher than her initiation?

How could it be tougher than her first days in the Harem?

Or being trained as a Pony Girl?

It did not seem possible ... and Belle tried to comfort herself with that thought. Surely nothing could be worse than what she had already gone through!

"A slave-girl 'on probation,' as it were, such as yourself, is given the lowliest of tasks in the service of her Highness. Yet even so, she will consider those tasks an honour. Any service of a personal nature on behalf of her Highness is an honour. You understand that, slave?"

"Oh yes, Miss ... " Belle's reply was low and vibrant. Again, the genuineness of her reply could scarcely be doubted.

"You will remain on such lowly tasks until another slave-girl is chosen as a possibility for her Highness's retinue. Then she will take your place ... and you will move one rung up the ladder. A ladder of servitude; yet a ladder which any slave is privilege to scale."

Belle said nothing. Her blue-green eyes were humble and respectful. Intent. Once they had shone with scornful defiance. With arrogance. With fire and fury.

No longer.

"Her Highness Princess Karina has some eighty slave-girls in her retinue," resumed Miss Lirium. "Perhaps at any one time about 10% are unfit for duty. This number may seem quite large ... and it has grown steadily but surely. First six ... then twelve ... then twenty four ... and so on. Suffice to say that, at the present time, her Highness is constantly attended upon by twenty four slaves at any moment of the day. From that you can calculate that you will spend eight hours on duty, in every twenty four, and sixteen hours off. Not too arduous, you will agree?"

"Yes, Miss." Of course, Belle had no idea whether it would be arduous or not. It much depended on the nature of the duty. However it was best to agree.

Miss Lirium now continued once again. "Whilst on duty, all personal slaves of her Highness have their bodies coated with gold lacquer. You will have noticed that in the Harem ... "

Bell nodded.

".... and you should know that this lacquering is done an hour before duty commences. It is removed immediately after so that no permanent harm comes to the skin. These tasks and others of a similar nature, are carried out by what I might term Princess Karina's 'praetorian guard'. This consists of twelve individually chosen young men ... all of exceptional physique. As you will discover, four are Nubians, four are Arabs, four are from Europe. You will of course, show each and every one of them the utmost respect." Miss Lirium smiled faintly. "And, I should tell you, they all have free run of you at any time ... as is the case with all slave-girls in her Highness's retinue."

Belle's features remained impassive, though she felt a little quivering of emotion deep inside. She called, momentarily, on her inner reserves. She had been used and abused so much that nothing really made much difference anymore. Or so she told herself. Had she not had to service overseers, guests, stable hands? So...

"Perhaps that idea appeals to you." Miss Lirium's dark eyes were almost reptilian in their stare. "Yes?"

"It is not for me to say, Miss," replied Belle, using a time-honoured formula in such situations, "It is simply for me to serve ... to the utmost of my ability."

"Correct." Miss Lirium's voice had a snap to it. One got the impression that if any other answer had been made, Belle would have suffered for it.

"Whilst you are on duty," continued the Chief Overseer, "you will be quartered with the other slave-girls of her Highness's retinue. There you will find life easy. You will rest as much as possible. You will also undergo various beauty treatments ... bathing, massage and so on. This will be carried out by the guards I have already mentioned. There may be times, as I have said, when you may be called upon to amuse one or more of them but that will present no problems."

No, thought Belle, none. I am quite used to giving myself to anyone who wants me. No problems.

"The guards ... and my three assistant female overseers ... are all permitted to administer punishments of a minor nature. Slappings ... strappings ... canings. However, anything of a more serious nature is reported to me. Then I decide the punishment. And, believe me, my girl, I show no mercy on a slave who has got out of line or failed in her duty!"

Belle believed her. Very much so!

"I am fair," said Miss Lirium, "but firm. Very firm. I do not advise you to cross me."

"N-No .. oo ... Miss ..." said Belle in a whisper. She certainly had no intention of attempting to do so. All her experience told her that this woman before whom she humbly knelt had not an atom of mercy in her. If that were not so, in any event, how could she have become the Chief Overseer of Princess Karina?

Miss Lirium paused. The slave-girl before her had spoken without being actually asked a direct question. Punishable, surely? But then she considered. Her statement had, perhaps, invited an answer. It had been a most' respectful answer, anyway. Miss Lirium decided against punishment. As she had just announced, she was fair but firm.

"Now ... as to your duties ..."

Belle tensed, seeing a faint, sneering smile flicker over the Chief Overseer's thin lips. What was in store for her now?

"... as I told you, they will be of a lowly nature. But, nevertheless, you will carry them out with the same meticulous thoroughness that you will carry out every other duty assigned to you while you are part of her Highness's retinue. You fully understand that?"

"Oh yes ... Miss!"

"Good. Well, let me tell you that you have been assigned the duty of lavatory attendant to her Highness. You will spend the eight hours of your tour of duty within her lavatory. You will be responsible for seeing that it is spotlessly clean throughout every moment of the day. Thus your tongue will be most frequently at work." Miss Lirium smiles that thin smile. "For, you see, there will be nothing else to clean that lavatory with." Now the face hardened again. "Beyond that, you will attend upon her Highness whenever she visits her lavatory. An honour indeed, is it not? You, slave, will clean her to her satisfaction before she departs!"

Belle remained impassively silent as ever ... taking in the utter degradation of the duty assigned her.

They had been called lowly ...

But this!

Once again, Belle called on inner reserves and displayed no emotion. If anything, she was well aware, she should look joyful. Was it not an honour to lick the bottom of her Highness? Of course ... oh of course ... it was!

Miss Lirium stood up, tapping the rod to her boot.

"You understand all I have said, slave?"

"Yes, Miss," answered Belle. She swallowed. Then spoke again. "And ... and ... I am honoured, Miss ..."

"Yes, indeed you are, Belle. But don't let it go to your head. Don't get careless or slack. If your duties are not carried out to perfection, I shall hear of it. Then you will have me to account to. And that, as I have told you, you will not enjoy."

"I ... I ... understand, Miss ..."

"Very well, then. Now I shall have you taken to your quarters and prepared. Miss Reva, one of my assistants, will inform you of your hours of duty. Also, she will give you a little instruction in how to carry them out."

Miss Lirium pressed a bell-push by her side, continuing to gaze down on the kneeling woman before her. Yes ... she thought ... this one has considerable merit. A superbly-proportioned body. Just look at these firm, round breasts! Those thighs! The hindquarters, too, she knew, were first class. Add to all that the fine features of good breeding and long, golden-blonde hair, and you had a worthy slave-girl indeed.

One fit to serve a Princess!

There came a knock on the door.

"Come in," said Miss Lirium.

In strode a muscular man in his mid-twenties. A giant of a man, one might say ... approaching six feet six inches and broad with it. He was caste in the mould of all of Princess Karina's 'praetorian guards', whatever the colour of their skin. In this case, it was an amber-brown. That of an Arab. The muscles rippled, the flesh was lean and heathy-looking. The man was nude but for a white satin pouch slung about his private parts. That pouch bulged formidably.

"Miss ... you rang ..." The Arab made a short, formal bow. It was not the bow of a servant. Rather one of respect between equals.

"I did, Haroun." She pointed down to Belle with the rod. "This is a newly-arrived girl. Her name is Belle and she is being considered for a place in her Highness's retinue."

"Ah ..." The Arab Haroun looked down ... and liked what he saw. He had in fact, heard of this newcomer ... this English 'lady' who had been made into a slave. Her reputation, as it were, had preceded her. Haroun liked very much the idea of the high-born being humbled. Maybe it was because, for centuries, his race had been despised and ridden over roughshod by whites. Not only by men but by women also.

Now one of those Christian infidels was getting her just desserts!

"To start with, her duties will be of the lowest. Her Highness's lavatory attendant."

"I understand, Miss."

"Meanwhile, please take her to her quarters ... and inform Miss Reva of her arrival. Any treatment necessary, you may give her."

"Very well, Miss Lirium."

The Chief Overseer turned her attention back to |Belle, who had remained kneeling quietly and submissively. She was summoning her will and strength to contend with the various ordeals ahead of her.

Her new surroundings...

Her new ravagers...

Her new tormentors...

Her new duties...

It was going to be difficult. Very difficult. But, somehow, she must brace herself to endure ... to the limit ... yet again. Did it, she asked herself, become less difficult to do that as time passed and experience was gained?

She asked the question ... but received no answer.

"Do not ever forget what an honour this is, Belle," said the Chief Overseer.