Saoirse’s mind raced as the soldiers led her through the crowd. Was it better to run for it and disappear into the crowd or wait for a better opportunity? Running would be easy enough, these two were pretty relaxed. She figured she could loose them, but she couldn’t hide forever in the crowd. If someone was actually looking for her she’d be easy to spot as they’d probably notice a scantily clad dancer trying to hide behind the more portly guests. She would have to get out of the villa, but once she was missing the soldiers escorting her would most likely alert the other guards and be watching the entrances. Better to wait for a better opportunity, she decided.
The soldiers led Saoirse to a side exit from the courtyard, taking her further into the main house and up to the second floor. Her eyes scanned for any opening, but there were no windows in this part of the house. With one guard in front and another directly behind, she didn’t think she’d get far though any of the open doorways. Eventually they arrived at a closed door with a uniformed male cheetah waiting in front of it.
“This is the one?” he asked.
“Yes sir, we believe so.” the front soldier said.
“Good. You are dismissed.” the cheetah said curtly.
The soldiers nodded then began walking away. The cheetah turned to her and demanded, “You. What is your name?”
“Saoirse.” she blurted out without thinking, then began kicking herself mentally.
“Saoirse,” he said mulling the foreign name over. “I am Emir el-Sader’s head steward. You have impressed the Emir and are to dance for his Highness and his private guests. Do not speak to any of them unless they speak to you first. If the Emir addresses you, you are to refer to him only as ‘Your Highness’. Do you understand?”
“I understand.” she said. Well this was unexpected. She thought she was being taken to some interrogation room not to a private dance! Her disguise was still holding. Perhaps this is where the smugglers and poachers negotiation was happening and she still had a chance to get the information!
Almost as an afterthought the steward said “Oh, and lose the silk and gold.” as he turned to open the door.
“What?!” she exclaimed.
The steward turned back her with an annoyed grimace, “Take off your veils and jewelry. They’ll want to see the merchandise.” She stood frozen, which the cheetah noticed. “Don’t worry, you can keep your underwear.” he said, as if that was consolation.
He took her through the door into a small room. There was another door on the other side, which he moved in front of, clearly waiting for her to comply with the command. Still slightly shocked at the revelation, Saoirse set about removing her golden adornments and silks. Were they really selling people here? Was that why the other dancers seemed to be from all over? Were they being sold as well? Saoirse’s stomach twisted in knots at the thought. The best way she could help was to get out of here alive, and the best way to do that looked like moving forward.
When she was ready, the steward opened the second door and led her in. They entered a medium sized room with an open balcony looking toward the sunset. There was another larger entrance than the one they entered through, with two soldiers on either side. Maybe a couple dozen guests lounged on couches and cushions or milled around the refreshment tables on either side of the room. The steward guided her across the room to just in front of the balcony.
“This is where you’ll be performing. Be sure to put on a good show for the guests!” he said as he pulled out a remote and pushed a button. Music began playing through a sound system and the steward hurried away. The guests looked at Saoirse expectantly.
“Oh boy.” she thought to herself as she launched into her routine. There were definitely hungry faces in the audience, leaving no doubt about what they were thinking of. She began scanning the room as she danced. The balcony was just behind her if she needed a quick exit. It was the second floor but she was a lithe cat, so she figured she could make the jump if necessary, barring obstacles underneath where she couldn’t see. The group was smaller than the one outside, so she soon found the head poacher. Once again, he was by himself, sitting with his back to a corner so no one could get behind him. He was one of the only ones not paying attention to her, most likely due to the continued lack of the smuggler leader.
Things continued for like this for several minutes until the Emir arrived. The guards stood at attention and one of the guests made to get up, but the Emir gestured them to relax. He made eye contact with her and smiled for a moment before moving to mingle with the guests again. She didn’t like that smile, it seemed predatory. She continued watching the room as she danced. Eventually the Emir made his way to the poacher and sat down on a cushion next the him. Saoirse perked her ears as the directional microphone, hidden in her ear fluff, picked up their conversation.
“Ah my dear minister of tusks! How are you enjoying the evening?” the Emir said.
“I’d enjoy it more, if you had showed up sooner.” the poacher growled.
“Of course! I’m terribly sorry about the delay, but certain decorum must be observed at these events.”
“Yea, and you could have met us anywhere besides here. You just wanted to show off.”
The Emir sighed dramatically. “Well, when one has a house like this, one has to find a use for it, you know?”
“Listen, let’s avoid the camel dung and get to business.” the poacher said irritably. “I’ve got ivory, you’ve got gold. Let’s figure it out.”
“Ah, of course.” Saoirse thought to herself. “I should have seen that coming. Who better to organize smuggling the ivory out of the city, than the one who rules it?” She moved as far forward in her dance area as she could, so as to hear the conversation better.
“Such a pity you don’t appreciate the niceties of conversation.” the Emir continued. “It can be so … stimulating.”
“And I’ve got a load of illegal ivory sitting inland with the park rangers breathing down my neck. I need it moved.” the poacher said.
“For which I’m willing to pay, you needn’t worry. I’m willing to offer two-point-five million and your continued business for it.”
“Two and a half? Now listen here. I have a half ton-“
“Four hundred thirteen and one quarter kilograms.” the Emir interrupted. “Which would ordinarily be three million. Yes I am quite aware. But it takes time to get so much unmarked gold from the mines, and since you were in such a rush to get through the small talk…”
“Now, hold on a second. Me and my boys want a fair price or…” the poacher sputtered.
“Or what?” the Emir spat. “Where would you take it? The park rangers are breathing down you neck you said! The journey here is far safer and shorter than anywhere else you could go. And if you did go somewhere else, what ships would take it for anything near what I’m offering? What’s to ensure they don’t just take your cargo and turn you in anyway? I suggest you take this offer. Do not forget who you are speaking to! I could have you arrested here and now! You men are too busy getting drunk to put up a fight, and the army would simply seize your goods. I would be hailed as a hero for ending another gang of poachers while taking your ivory for my own profit! I could have you tied to a wild stallion and dragged through the streets to the cheers of my people. I have no need for you, but you have every need of me. Do not think you can bargain with me like a common peasant in the bazaar! Two and a half million, final offer.”
Cowed, the poacher mumbled his agreement which Saoirse could barely hear.
The Emir continued after calming himself a moment, “Good. Now about the hand over. How long will it take you to move it to the city?”
Saoirse leaned forward to make sure she caught their words. Finally, this was what she needed! But instead, one of the more inebriated guests took her movement as an invitation. A hand shot out and squeezed her breast! Saoirse yelped and almost fell over. She was about to go King Kong on the offender’s ass, but the steward appeared first and clobbered the man. One of the soldiers by the door came and began dragging him away, and Saoirse gave a nod of thanks to the steward. He nodded back, then motioned for her to continue. She resumed her dance and things quickly returned to normal. Her ears returned to the Emir and the poacher.
“Well that was something!” the Emir nearly giggled, “See? Always something entertaining at these events.”
“Yes, very funny.” the poacher said, finding it far less funny than the Emir. “As I was saying, we’re three weeks out on getting it to the city. Where should we take it?”
Good, Saoirse thought. She didn’t miss much in the distraction.
“There’s a series or grain silos by the port. The trade will happen at the furthest south one. Shall we say the 27th?” the Emir said nonchalantly, as if organizing a casual lunch meeting not an exchange of illegal goods.
“Yea that works for me.” the poacher said, the fight gone out of him after the Emir’s little tirade.
“Excellent!” said the Emir. “Steward! See this man back to the courtyard. I believe we are finished for tonight. Oh, and bring me my laptop.”
The steward was gone but a moment, then returned to hand over a laptop to the Emir. Afterward, he gestured for the poacher to follow him. The poacher wordlessly followed him out of the room. The Emir sighed and reclined into the cushions in the corner.
Well, she had it. She knew a date and location, now just to get out and relay that to the O’Shays. Saoirse began formulating a quiet exit route, when she noticed what the Emir was doing. He had the laptop open but was fiddling with the handle of his sword. What was he doing? Had the laptop offended him and he was going to stab it? No, that’d be silly, she thought. About that time, he pulled something out of the handle and plugged it into the computer. A USB drive. He sat and typed something out, then disconnected the drive, returning it to the sword’s handle. Curious. Whatever he had typed must be important if he carried it around with him in a hidden compartment. Perhaps it was a record of his illegal dealings, Saoirse speculated. It obviously would have value to someone, maybe she could use it.
As she considered how to nick it on her way out, the steward returned. He went to the Emir, where a whispered conversation occurred. Then the steward approached the area where Saoirse was and stopped the music, leaving the sound system’s remote on an empty chair. She came to a halt as he raised his hands and addressed the audience.
“Gentlemen! His Highness the Emir hopes you’ve enjoyed you evening so far. But he believes it is time to begin the real entertainment. You all have been enjoying the performance of Saoirse, the desert zephyr!” She didn’t know she had a tittle. “The Emir himself personally chose her as the best dancer we have here tonight! Now if any of you would like to enjoy her on a more personal and long lasting basis, her starting price is ten thousand euros. Let the bidding begin!”
Oh right, she was being auctioned. Saoirse had forgotten that in the heat of the moment. She was vaguely offended that she was starting at only ten grand, but she set that aside in favor of figuring a way out of there. The balcony was still her best bet, but it would be very obvious with the crowd watching her and she only wanted to use it as a last resort. Many of the audience gazed hungrily at her, and initially the price climbed quickly. It was obvious by their leering faces what kind of “performance” most of them wanted from her. There were still two guards at the main door, she’d have to leave with someone to get out that way. The smaller one she had come in by only led deeper into the villa. Her options seemed thin. The Emir rose from his seat and began watching the auction. Around fifty thousand euro, the bids started dwindling, then stalled out at sixty two. The steward began trying to encourage more bids.
“Come now, gentlemen! Only sixty two for this hazel beauty chosen by our own Emir? Surely you wouldn’t want to insult his tastes? Why he even said he’d be tempted to bid on her himself!”
Oh, did he now?
And evil grin crept across Saoirse’s mouth as an idea formulated. The steward’s plea had gotten a few more bids up to sixty seven, but it seemed unlikely to go far. Settling on her plan, Saoirse moved forward from her corner and picked up the remote to the sound system. She hit play and set it on a slow, sensual tune. Most people seemed confused, but then she began dancing, walking through the audience, swaying and running her hands over herself in time with the music. “Seventy thousand!” someone shouted out, soon followed by “Seventy five!” from someone else. She made eye contact with the steward who nodded in appreciation as the bids continued to flood in. She continued slow dancing through the crowd making sure everyone saw what she had to offer, slowly running her hands over her fur, giving a little squeeze here and there to tantalize the bidders just a little more. Even one of the soldiers at the door threw in a bid, for which his compatriot smacked him with his hat. But his probably meager paycheck didn’t have to worry as the bid was soon taken by another. Soon the price hit ninety thousand euros. She made her way over to the Emir who was still in the back, watching with an amused expression. She stopped in front of him and gave her best smile.
“Come now you Highness, surely you’re going to join in the fun?” she said coyly.
It was a breach of etiquette that he might get mad over, but that was a gamble she was willing to take. After a moment, he broke into a grin and barked out “One hundred thousand!”
This prompted a flurry of murmurings and debates among the other guests, but soon more bids rang out. Saoirse turned away from the Emir in her dance, writhing to show off her slim muscles. She stopped a short distance from him, moving her hands, then her body in a slow downward motion that ensured the Emir had an ample view of the hindquarters.
“Two hinder and fifty thousand!” he cried out!
The room fell silent save for the music playing. The seconds ticked by until the steward called out,
“Sold to Emir el-Sader for one quarter million euros!”

Part three: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/53170164/
Part one: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/53159127/
Art by  LynxyFA
Artist submission: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/53119880/