Eloise Ridgelam had been quite the anomaly in the East for much of her life. She loved her people, and enjoyed the freedoms given to her as much as any other. But when compared to her elder sister, Jennifer, she was considered far more conservative.

She trained of course, it was a right of passage in the East for one to be able to navigate the extensive forest and survive on their own. But whilst her sister had excelled so much that she'd been compared to the likes of Saorise Caramort, Eloise had been more than happy to slide by and then spend her spare time hunting the next best novel at the market rather than the game of the forest.

When the Ridgelam family had been called to attend the annual Caramort Feast at Caramort Keep the year before, Eloise had joined for the first time having just turned sixteen. Her sister had already attended for two years by that stage, and had returned both times with the determination to improve her skills and challenge Saorise again the next year.

Eloise had seen Saorise for the first time that year, the young woman who had always bested her sister, the ideal woman of the East. She had expected someone like her sister. Someone who was athletic and strong and forward spoken, if a little aggressive at times. But what she saw was a poised woman with all the best parts of the East combined with the manners and political skills of one of the heroes of those novels Eloise always read.

At first, it had floored her, Eloise had no idea what to think. Saorise was so passive with an always-there warm smile that when Jenny had walked right up to her and demanded an archery competition, Eloise had been ready to step forward and apologise for her sister's behaviour.

But before she'd had to do anything, Saorise's smile had widened ever so slightly, and it had reached her eyes as she'd replied.

"With pleasure".

She'd shown for the third year in a row why she was far superior to Jenny in archery, and Jenny had huffed in annoyance before proclaiming that she'd win at some point. Saorise had been more than happy to accept any future challenges before she'd slipped back on her political, mothering smile and continued socialising with the East's elite.

"What are you staring at, Elle?" Jenny had asked when she'd returned to Eloise and her mother.

"I really like her, she's amazing," Eloise had said. Jenny had turned to look over at Saorise, and for once didn't even bat an eye as she agreed with her sister.

"Yeah, she is one of a kind".

It had taken a few more hours for Eloise to get her courage up, but eventually she'd asked Jenny to introduce her. Saorise had smiled, more genuine in her warmth, at Eloise.

"I hear you love reading," Saorise had stated.

Eloise had been surprised, but had nodded with her own blooming smile, "I know it's considered a bit unsociable but-"

"Nonsense," Saorise had said, "If no one ever read books we'd learn and know far less than we do. Not everyone can be a warrior just as not everyone can be a scholar, your family is quite blessed to have both".

The last comment was made to her mother, who flushed and graciously thanked Saorise for the kind words. No one had said a word to Eloise about her reading habits ever since.

Now, as Eloise finished reading through one the of the many books she'd been allowed to borrow from the Caramort's extensive library, her sister pushed inside her study room making quite the racket.

"Elle, you'll never guess who sent a letter to us!" Jenny said with a grin. Their mother, Louisa, followed in afterwards.

"Calm down, Jenny, you haven't even read it yet," Louisa said, "You have no idea if it's good or bad".

"It must be good!" Jenny insisted, "I hear all the Caramorts are on the front lines at the moment, even Papa has to listen to Saorise as she negotiates with the Wendolans".

The last word was said as Jenny scrunched her nose in disgust. Easterners were usually tolerant of foreigners, but those that invaded their land received little in the way of love. Jenny had wanted to go and fight with their father and brothers, but she'd been too young at the beginning of the war, and their father had insisted that she stay to head the guards they had around their own territory. Jenny had had to settle, though she'd grown quite bored of the lack of action.

Eloise took the letter her mother offered her and saw the Caramort seal stamped into the wax. She gave a small smile. Receiving a letter from the Caramorts was tantamount to receiving a letter from royalty.

She broke the seal then, and her mother and Jenny waited as she read it aloud to them, though Eloise's expression faded with the first few sentences.

"My fellow countrywomen, I am writing to you today to inform you of the current negotiations with the Wendolans. At this stage, it pains me to say that due to the high number of our people currently being kept as prisoners of war, we have had to submit to Wendolan rule. We are currently negotiating so that we may still retain our own ways even if we are not autonomous, however, the Wendolan King has demanded that in return we respect and adopt the ways of the Wendolans. This includes acknowledging the Royal Harem.

"One of the points that the Wendolans have demanded is that three noble women from the East be handed over to the Royal Harem. The demands have listed monetary awards for the family on admission to the Harem, and should the consort have a child. Initially, our council refused, but it was brought to our attention that the Harem is an essential part of the power in the Wendolan Royal Court. The requirements for admission to the Harem are as follows: She must be a virgin between the ages of 16-30 and be of noble descent. She must be fertile, she must not bring weapons of any kind into the Harem Palace and she must be willing to remain in the Palace unless given express permission from the King, this includes visits from family and friends.

"Personally, I have refused this offer. Whilst I wish to do everything possible for my people, I cannot throw away my beliefs in monogamy, nor my freedom that the Goddess of Life has taught us all. That being said, the Wendolan King is not backing down despite our beliefs. As a compromise, I am writing to you all in the hopes that some of you may be willing to make this enormous sacrifice for our people. That some of you may be willing to step into the Royal Harem and take part in the political atmosphere of the Harem for the rest of your lives. I do not wish to ask this of you, but I must. You will have three days to send your replies. Any willing candidates will then make their way to the Negotiations at the Port of Dathow Han. They will be given any further information to make their final decision before the Wendolan King selects from the remaining candidates.

"I understand that this decision is not a light one, but time is of the essence. Should no candidates be found, I am under the impression that negotiations will become considerably harder. That being said, if you are not willing, please do not make the sacrifice. I do not wish to have it known that the candidates the East presents to the Harem of their new King were forced. It will be a stain on our new beginnings I am sure will not be easily removed. Wishing you great strength and courage in this trying time, Saorise Caramort".

Silence pervaded Eloise's study room before Jenny, gritting her teeth, snapped out, "We're just going to submit to this?"

Eloise flinched at her sister's tone, but her mother too was angry, "It seems the rumours of that new King were not so far from the truth, how licentious of him to demand multiple women and our submission".

The two threw their disgust back and forth before Eloise finally took a chance to speak during a pause in the conversation.

"So, you are unwilling, Jenny?" asked Eloise.

"Of course! Aren't you?"

Realising that Eloise had yet to speak on the matter, both Jenny and Louisa turned to the remaining woman in their family.

"I don't know".

"I'm sorry?" asked Louisa, "No daughter of mine is going to be exchanged for a monetary reward like some slave at a brothel!"

"Whilst I respect your opinion mother, I'm afraid it's not up to you," Eloise replied, "If I choose to make this sacrifice it will be for my people, and I believe somebody does have to make it, did you not hear what I said? What Saorise said?"

"What?" asked Louisa, "About you having to pop out children like a brood mare?"

"No!" said Eloise, "While I have no doubt that is a large part of a consort's role, Saorise said that the Royal Harem contains enormous political power in the Wendolan Court, do you understand what that means?"

Jenny and her mother huffed, waiting for Eloise to continue.

"It means that should the East gather enough power there, we can influence the Wendolan King as much as the Wendolan-born consorts can, that could mean the implementation of benefits that our people may not receive through these negotiations," said Eloise.

"But that could take years!" Jenny insisted.

"I have no doubt it will, it is a lifetime commitment," Eloise said.

"You're actually considering this?" asked Louisa.

Eloise nodded, "Not everyone can be a warrior with a sword, mother. I will never be like Jenny. But perhaps I can be a warrior in other ways".

"And if this is not one of those ways?" asked Louisa.

Eloise gave a sad smile, "I will not know unless I try".