Shirin Waradra.
Main Gates, Darqaeidin-Palace near Utica.
To introduce myself, I am Shirin Waradra, Personal Handmaiden to the former Grand Vizier Mahmut al-Zahir. Usually, one would expect someone far older, far more mature then me to fill this role, but truth being told...
...the former Grand Vizier is an old pervert.
Not to the point of glancing under skirts, or even chasing them, or other molesting behaviour, let me be clear about that, but he appreciated the female form quite a lot.
He was still an old pervert, though.
Speaking of which, his staff worked all over the Darqaeidin-Palace near Utica, a medium-sized palace surrounded by formerly huge stretches of land, which were just barren desert.
However, another thing about Mahmut al-Zahir was, that he was not only an old pervert, but also that he was a visionary. For him, the endless deserts were but an empty canvas and his little corner of it, he had filled with his great passion, with flowers and greenhouses and colour and water and about a hundred acres of hydroponics research institute, which he financed.
He had literally made the desert green.
And so many more colours.
So, when he sent me out for an errand, he had specifically told me to take the scenic route to the garage, where the W-55 stood, which I loved to ride for errands to Utica or one of the villages around us. And now, I had returned, only to see a girl in front of the main gate, inquiring to a man, who belonged to the Tabardariyya, if a job offer was still open.
She looked pretty, red eyes, dark skin, a khimono or however the citizens of the UIS called their coats, her glasses being quite cute, too. She didn't quite fill the requirements the old Grand Vizier had in one department, but she had an aura of calm grace about her.
If she had the skill...
I leaned on the fuel tank, after taking off my helmet and shaking out my long hair. The guard had long since noticed me and had motioned in my direction.
I smiled at the girl.
"It's more usual for applicants to write an application with CV and all previous employment references and school degrees to the Household Office, but the Grand Vizier was always picky about his gardens.", I said and decided to make an exception. It was within my powers. Plus, that she came here apparently without an appointment... there were both better and worse ways to make an impression. I reached behind me and took out a second helmet, offered it to the girl. "Hop on."
The guard made way for me and opened the gate.