Ashaktis sat at the edge of the pool and watched some of the girls frolicking in the water. She had no intention to join them... she felt she had reached a stage where innocent playing was no longer what she wanted. She wanted a man. And not just any man.

She had been brought up in the Harem of Lagash where she had received the best possible education, the sole purpose of which had been to learn how to please a man... to be of stimulation for him in every possible respect… conversation, humour, music, dancing…and of course also satisfying his physical needs. So, although technically a virgin, she had quite a bit of knowledge on the art of lovemaking. Theoretically that was. She felt it was high time to start with the practice.

Ashaktis spent a great deal of time with the Seraglio's master of music who seemed to have taken a fancy on her. But although she enjoyed practising the harp or the lyre, she did not find true satisfaction in that. Her main instrument was her body, and it was with this very instrument she would perform best. Her sweet body, its soft curves perfection, was like a ripe fruit, ready to be plucked.

Sitting here amongst the other girls, a great deal of them much less skilled than her, seemed just such a waste of time. How could she make the king notice her? It was obvious that in those times of war enyjoing the pleasures of love was not on the top of his list but on the other hand wouldn't that just be the most perfect way for him to relax and get his mind off the troublesome business of war for at least a short time?

She must find a way to get to him. She must. She would burn some incense tonight and say a prayer to Ishtar to show her that way in her dreams….