"Yes. I have chosen my mate," Kalida replied.

"You are certain?" Uphala queried the younger woman. "I am given to understand that his attributes are greater than any ever before seen here in Kava. It is not just that, is it? After all, if it is, you do not need to mate with him to enjoy him."

"I know," Kalida told the High Priestess. "He, himself, asked me the same question, and made the same suggestion as you did, but the answer I gave him, I give you. I love him."

"So," Uphala noted. He was obviously clever this man, to have captured Kalida's icy heart so quickly.

"I have waited all my life for Dagon. I know now it was the will of the goddess that I not fall in love until she brought him to me. He is a man, and my inferior, it is true, but he loves me, he respects me, and in his own land would have been a king one day. He seems to know what I am thinking before I do. He makes me laugh, and he is frankly the most incredible lover I have ever had. He is the only man who hasever brought me to true joy. Is there a better reason for me to take him as my mate, Uphala? If so, tell me, I beg you!"

The High Priestess could see Kalida's sincerity. "No, your reasons are valid, my daughter," she told the queen. "I have never seen you so happy, or so content. It is truly Suneva's hand in this matter. I accept her will. The temple will this very day send out messengers to all the villages in Kava, calling upon our women to come to Suneva's temple in three days' time so you may announce your decision. And three days after that, all thirteen-and fourteen-year-old girls shall be gathered in the Arena of the Queens that the messenger of the goddess may choose a new queen from among them. Suneva be praised!" Uphala drained her cup.

"Suneva be praised!" the queen echoed, draining her own.

The High Priestess rose. "Let us go into the temple, my queen, and pray to the goddess for your happiness with your mate, Dagon of Aramas. I shall look forward to meeting this man who has secured your heart when so many others before him failed."

Together the two women knelt before the huge statue of Suneva. It was most unique, made of flesh-colored marble, its eyes two enormous blazing blue sapphires. Strands of gold and silver were worked into the marble that covered its head and long hair. The goddess stood straight, yet relaxed, one arm by her side, the other with its hand raised in blessing. On her shoulder sat a snow-white marble dove. She was naked but for a large wreath of fresh flowers that was placed about her neck daily. Her whole demeanor was one of benign love as she stood silent within the flickering lights of the candles and torches of the temple's main chamber.

Their prayers completed, the women stood, and the High Priestess kissed the queen upon both cheeks. "I feel her blessing," Uphala said.

Kalida nodded. Then, turning, she departed the temple.

Those who saw her crossing the square back to the palace longed to stop her and ask her if the murmurs and whisperings were true. Kalida walked, a slight smile upon her face, and while she had always been approachable, this time, despite their great curiosity, no one asked her to halt and speak with them. There was something about the queen today that made them hesitate, and so she passed by unopposed.

Kalida called upon Zenaida next. "I owe you a great debt," she told the older woman. "He is magnificent."

"And?" Zenaida pressed the queen.

"You mean Vernus has not already dashed here to share the gossip with his brother, Durantis? And Durantis with you?" Kalida teased.

The High Procuress shook her head. "We have not seen Vernus since yesterday, my queen," she answered honestly.

"So," Kalida remarked almost to herself, rather pleased to learn that Dagon could be so discreet.

"What? What?" Zenaida begged the queen.

Kalida smiled mischievously. "Perhaps I should say nothing yet until Uphala sends out her messengers."

"My queen!" Zenaida sounded exasperated, and Kalida laughed.

"Oh, very well, Zenaida. I shall repay my debt to you by telling you that I have decided to take Dagon as my mate; but you somehow knew I would when you purchased him in Ramaskhan, didn't you?"

"I did," Zenaida admitted. "Suneva be praised!"

"Yes," Kalida agreed, "it is all the doing of the goddess. I firmly believe it, Zenaida. Ido!"

The two women embraced, and then the queen took her leave of the High Procuress, returning to her palace, where she called Zeras and Vernus to her privately.

"I have been to visit the High Priestess, Uphala, and the High Procuress, Zenaida, to tell them of my decision to take Dagon of Aramas as my mate. Now I tell you, because you are both my trusted servants. I ask that you allow my news to be nothing more than an open secret until the formal announcement. Neither confirm nor deny it."

"Yes, my queen," the two chorused.

"We go to the Arena of the Queens in three days' time, and three days after that, the messenger of the goddess will be set free to choose a new queen from among the young girls. You two have a great deal to do before then. I expect you to be so busy that you will not have the time to gossip. Now, find Dagon, and send him to me," Kalida instructed. She turned on her heel, and entered her bedchamber, closing the door behind her as she went.

"Well, there it is," Zeras said bitterly,"It really is over."

"Oh, don't be so querulous," Vernus replied. "Have you any idea of how much must be done in less than a week's time? We have so many decisions to make, I don't know where to begin! What servants are we to take, and which will remain for the new queen? Has anyone bothered to see if the water pipes in Kalida's home are connected? And what in the name of Suneva are we to do about furnishings? And we have to obtain a decent apartment for Dagon in the Palace of the Consorts!"

"First I must fetch Dagon," Zeras grumbled. "Have you any idea of where he may have gotten to, Vernus?"

"He's steaming himself in the baths," Vernus replied. "It was obviously quite a night, dear boy.Quite a night!"

"The baths are part of your province," Zeras snapped. "You fetch him for the queen. I can barely stand to even look at the brute."

"I like looking at him," Vernus chuckled. "He really is gorgeous, with those big muscles, his ebony hair and blue eyes."

"And that obscene penis," Zeras said sourly.

"Why, Zeras, dear boy, I didn't think you had noticed that magnificent cock at all," Vernus murmured slyly. Then with a chortle he hurried off to find Dagon.

"Custom demands," Kalida told Dagon when he had been brought to her, "that now I have chosen you for my mate we be parted for the short time prior to my formal announcement. When I tell my people of my decision, it will be required that we mate publicly before them. I will mount you in the Arena of the Queens, and you must then show my people that you can give me pleasure as no other can. Only then will they accept my decision. You may have whatever women you require during the time of our separation, Dagon, or you may be celibateas you choose."

"I want none but you," he said quietly, and she believed him.

"Vernus will see you are housed and cared for until we meet in the arena, my love," Kalida told him. Then she kissed him ardently, and his penis immediately rose up. Laughing, she allowed him to cup her buttocks, and raise her so she might wrap her legs about his waist as he plunged deep inside her. Backing her against the wall allowed him to hold her with one big hand, while two fingers from his other hand drove into her other orifice. Kalida squealed, wiggling herself as she tried to satisfy both the burning itches he had aroused.

"Ooooooooo!" she murmured hotly in his ear, bending her head to sink her teeth into his shoulder as he doubly pistoned her.

"Bitch!" he groaned, feeling his crisis nearing. "I shall have a thin little silver dildo made to help me pleasure your outrageous desires. And three matching balls for your eager sheath," he told her.

"And I shall have a carved ivory ring made especially for your cock," she threatened him. "I shall keep you in a constant state of desire for me. Ahhh!" she cried out softly as they reached the top of the mountain together. Her head dropped onto his shoulder, and she sighed gustily with her deep satisfaction. Her legs dropped away, and he held her close so she would not fall, amazed he could stand himself.

Finally, Kalida pulled away from him. "Go now," she said, "and in three days' time you will show all of Kava how much you love me, my beautiful Dagon."

"It shall be as my queen wishes," he promised her, smiling, and he backed from the chamber.

When he was gone Kalida sighed. When he had promised her he wanted no other lovers to amuse him during their time apart, she had promised him no such thing. Still, she thought, no one had ever given her the pleasure Dagon had, and she expected that nothing had changed in that respect. Even sweet little Adon with his facile tongue would not make her happy. Like Dagon, she realized, she was doomed to three days of longing, and deepening desire. Somehow it didn't seem fair, but he was worth it!

The queen was not seen for three days as word of her impending abdication was broadcast throughout the land of Kava. It had been so long since a new queen had been chosen that there was great excitement and anticipation of the celebration to come. Every mother with a female child between the ages of thirteen and fourteen, who had had her first show of blood, imagined her daughter as the next queen. The record of each eligible girl was carefully checked, for there were those who were tempted to cheat the authorities with daughters who were yet twelve, or closer to fifteen, or had not yet become women.

The day of Kalida's abdication came. It was a beautiful day, clear, warm, and sunny. For two days, the city had been filling with those women from the farthest reaches of Kava's borders.

Now the flow of females of all ages surged up the temple steps, and out its rear bronze doors into the Arena of the Queens with its green-and-white pillars. In the center of the arena's sandy floor a large, flat marble altar had been set. The arches and balustrades of the arena were draped with colorful flowers of all kinds, and the air was heady with fragrance.

The queen's box was on the west side of the arena. The female genitals, carved in gold, were proudly displayed on the box's front. An awning sewn from cloth-of-gold shaded the single throne, and the marble benches about it. The cacophony of chatter died immediately as the queen, the High Priestess, and the High Procuress entered the royal enclosure. Then a mighty cheer went up as Kalida stepped forward and acknowledged her subjects. They grew silent again as she raised her hand in order that she might speak.

"Women of Kava! Ten years ago I was chosen by the goddess to rule over you. I have ruled longer than any queen in Kava's history. Until recently no man captured either my heart or my attention enough that I would give up the throne, and my crown, to mate with him. Recently, however, the goddess has brought to me a man for whom I am willing to do just that. Today I come to you to tell you that I have taken a mate, and will, in three days' time, give up my authority over you. Suneva has blessed me. I would that you, my beloved sisters, render me your blessing, too. Pray that the new queen will rule you as well as all those who have come before her have ruled you. We have thrived, and survived since the days of our earliest existence because of the peace and concord among us as women. We are not like men, who war and destroy. Suneva be praised!"

"Suneva be praised!" the entire arena of women cried out.

The High Priestess now came forward to stand by Kalida's side. "The time has come for the queen to mate," she said so that all might hear her. Once more the arena grew silent with anticipation.

Dagon was brought forth into the arena escorted by a group of beautiful young women who were clothed in nothing more than wreaths of flowers and their long hair. There were flowers on their ankles and wrists, and about their necks and in their flowing hair. The nipples of their breasts were stained a carmine red. Dancing and laughing, they surrounded the queen's mate.

He towered above them all. He had been bathed and primped by Vernus, who was almost beside himself with delight that Kalida had chosen Dagon for her mate. His dark hair shone with a blue-black sheen. It was tied with a gold-and-pearl ribbon, and topped with a floral wreath. He wore a simple linen wrap about his loins, and was barefooted. The muscles of his chest, his arms, and his legs were oiled to best show them off. He was bronzed and handsome, and the women leaned forward to obtain a better look at him, nodding appreciatively to one another.