A lissome young woman in nothing but nightclothes rushes by, but Aram catches her by the arm before she can go farther and pulls her closer. They speak in hushed voices, both glancing in Ilapara’s direction, and when the woman looks over with an intrigued smile, it’s all Ilapara can do not to try to hide behind Tuk. She might have crossed the desert to a strange land, but she knows a brothel when she sees one. The young woman finally notices Tuk and makes an excited little squeal, moving to embrace him. They kiss each other on the cheek like casual friends, but she must be busy, because she
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