The house was modest, located in the popular neighborhoods of Cordoba in deep contrast to the opulence of the residences of the nobles of a city that flourished. In it, the Christian family, consisting of father, mother, and daughter, lived disguised as Muslims.

It was a dangerous choice that few ventured and that required discipline and a strict code of conduct.

Adil, his wife Amina and his daughter Jalila professed Islam for public consumption, while in the home kept their Christian practices. They were descendants of an ancient and zealous northern family who immigrated to the south, along with other branches of ancestors, about four previous generations and covert conversion had been a painful decision carried out in the previous generation. The Arabic names were a necessary choice due to the conversion to Islam and signified respectively, honest, safe and exalted.

Adil kept a small fruit market, an old family tradition. The house was small, but also as the familiar core was not great, the two rooms and the living room allowed the necessary privacy to the couple and their daughter. His wife performed de housework and helped her husband in business.

Jalila, then aged 21; graceful forms, long black hair that always tidy lightly touching the rosy of her shoulders. The beautiful trunk harmonized with the lap modeling the kind of silhouette that produces over men effluvia ranging from divine to Mephistophelian. But it was the face that dominates initial impression on others, marked by the eyes with its typical Basque color ─ using a similar figure in Al-Mahad D'Aziz, {1A] a well-known popular poet of Cordoba ─ imagine two topazes swimming on the milk. She was like those women who appear to show the fragility of the plaster, but are determined and tough as diamond. She had managed to become literate in Arabic in one of the numerous schools aggregated to Cordoba's libraries and learned the Basque language in family life. The exercise of prayer in Arabic, in the mosque, and the use of the mother tongue during the Christian creed practiced at home, is an example of how the family dealt with this high-risk situation. They avoided exposure, by reducing social life. It was dangerous and would deviate from the constant attention they needed to maintain.

Now and then Jalila collaborated with the family business but was currently committed to obtaining a place in the retinue of Subh Sultana, wife of the Caliph, who had just announced a new round of chambermaid's selection.

This work is framed within a revenge strategy plan hatched by family and which had already been planned for several generations. Toward that goal, Jalila was spared of all kinds of service that could compromise the softness of her hands and skin, the seduction of her hair, or at last, compromise its beauty. She was a beautiful woman who distinguishes herself despite her garbs could not compete with the wonderful dresses and jewels that the palace maids were carrying. However, the family supplied with the best they could.

Their Christian ancestors had been shattered by the events known as the "Martyrs of Córdoba", in which 48 accused were put to death by decapitation.

The leader or encourager of this movement was a suicidal monk, name Eulogo, which belonged to an ancient family and was famous for his Christian zeal. One of the ancestors of Jalila her Uncle-great-grandfather had been sentenced to death in the episode, and her family kept since then a latent hatred by Muslim rulers and never give up to promote revenge. It was a plan without an execution date. The opportunity would dictate the time. For four generations, the intention of revenge has been fueled by parents to children by the same kind of the oath-promise that Hannibal had given to his father against the Romans.

Not far from Adil residence, resided a distant branch of the family, where a Jalila cousin, named Amal, was being prepared for the same revenge plan. Amal was a little older, aged 28 and was educated in the same type of school. Besides, he was a scholar of Arabic manuscripts. His choice as to the purpose of obtaining access to court was to play a position among the nearly 500 librarians from the famous Al Hakam library, in the palace of Al-Zahara, a position for which he was already fully qualified. The Amal family utilizes the same covert conversion scheme and the contacts between the two families were limited for security reasons. Still, they were plotting their common goal.

Revenge and hatred were not feelings that are reconciled with Jalila, but she followed without objections to the family plans and tried not to reveal any conflict, though in her heart the matter was not as serious as for their parents. She was acting under a hidden agenda, seeing the opportunity to join the court, a way to enjoy a glamorous life and maybe get to the discovery of love. She had knowledge of the luxury and wealth that was waiting for her and hoped and she dreamed all day with that perspective.

Amal, on his side, was more zealous and convincingly embraced the paternal cause. He considered himself prepared to play the role that was expected of him. In his studies, he always sought a way to research the history of the martyrs, disguising his interest and research as if revered Islamic protagonists of the famous episode.

Jalila took advantage of one of the few times they got together, to feel the involvement of Amal, but the result of the conversation made her aware that she should not address the issue in the way she did. It ended up being very direct about trying to know about the position held by Amal, which did not understand the question.

— Amal, Jalila asked, how do you see this whole issue involving this family revenge project?

— How come Jalila? What do you mean? This is the main goal of family powered by four generations. How do I see it? I feel that we are closer than ever to be finally protagonists. I prepared my whole life for this we are close. I think we will obtain the positions at the palace. You're beautiful, cultured and I've been preparing studies and researchers for this position in the library. We will win our job contest. Do you not feel prepared? Why the question?

— No, that's not it, the question is that is being placed a lot of responsibility on our heads and it scares me. We still don't have a plan, this is not a child's play, Jalila responded, surprised by Amal's reaction.

— Do not worry, that's why I support that we should enter the palace together. Thus, we will be stronger and safer and will be two to look for the exact opportunity. As soon as we enter the court, we can begin to develop some sort of plan. What matters is to give an end to this suffering with the martyrdom of those who dishonored us, even if this can be the last of our actions.

Jalila declined to carry on the conversation and agreed forthwith, soon changing the subject by asking about the health of Amal's father who was sick. From that day on she decided not to raise any questions about the plan, trying to struggle alone with her inner conflicts, seeking to convince herself that this was her destiny.

The selection for the retinue of Sultana was busier than the search for new librarians and Jalila had already attended two rounds of classification by eunuchs of Subh and eagerly waited for the day that would be presented for the first time, to the Sultana herself.

The more this possibility was coming, the more it was withdrawn by the parents of any work and with her mother's help remained dedicated to skincare and her hair and find the best clothes they could afford. She knew that if chosen she would win a new wardrobe, but during the selection, it was crucial to be well dressed. At the same time, he sought to learn about the Sultana, her tastes, her literary preferences, because was very known the love of the Sultana for poetic arts, demonstrated in numerous contests that she promoted in Cordoba.

Jalila for all external effects was Muslim. In this way to follow the precepts of Islam, which were much more rigid concerning personal hygiene than those of Christians, she had to be adherent to some cleaning cares. Because according to the Prophet Mohammed "Allah is beautiful, and He loves beauty." The Muslims make soap with an oil mixture (usually olive oil) with al-Qali (a salt-like substance). According to the manuscripts, this mixture was boiled until it reaches the proper consistency, or until stay solid and then used in the Turkish baths or saunas.

In the tenth century, in Cordoba, cosmetics were already in use. Several products were known by the aristocracy for around a thousand years, such as hair beautification and skin, teeth whitening, and strengthening of the gums, hand cream, environment's deodorizer, with materials which were worked and pressed in special molds, even including depilatories and suntan lotions and tinctures for hair to change colors from blond to black and lotions to smooth frizzy or curly hair, all regulated within the restricted boundaries of Islam.

Although Jalila and her family had no financial muscle to afford this range of products, they did not worry as much since the other candidates were not any better. With that, they knew that in the end, natural beauty would prevail.

Finally, the big day to meet the Sultana arrived. A first impression was crucial. Jalila and her family worked the best they could to be prepared and they went to the palace with confidence that God was on their side and could not miss when they began to undertake a risky mission to endorse the Christian faith. That was certainly a blind attitude without any planning and direction, typically driven by the conviction that they would have to necessarily answer their ancestors.

Only twelve girls made it to the finals. A process that involved besides physical assessment, conversations with the staff of eunuchs' managers trusted of the Sultana. All of them, young, beautiful and longing for comfort and wealth provided by the life of service to the palace, but none of them had a hidden agenda as Jalila and only three would be selected.

The girls were placed in a huge hall with large front doors waiting for the Sultana which would occupy a couch previously installed in the bottom, surrounded by tables where there was scattered silver trays, jugs and crystal glasses, receiving an assortment of fresh fruit all species, including dates, and nuts, assorted juices, and freshwater. Subh would be presented to each one of the candidates that would occupy a similar couch placed at her side in a way that they would have the opportunity to talk and be evaluated by the Sultana. At the end of the interview, the candidate would be conducted in another room to await the result.

Upon entering, Subh greeted all the young girls, congratulating them for reaching the final stage of choice. Shortly thereafter, they were all moved to a small contiguous area where calls were to be started one at a time.

Jalila was the fifth to be called. The enchantment with the beauty and posture of the Sultana was evident in her face. She was careful to remain as natural as possible and answered quietly all questions about their personal preferences in clothing, perfumes, food, maternity, literature, and poetry.

Yes, poetry. As an admirer of poetic, Subh asked Jalila to recite something of her choice. Without hesitation, she recited a part of a poem by Ziryab, known poet sponsored by Sultana: [2]

When she finished, she cannot help but notice a slight smile on the lips of Sultana, she said nothing, just fired up sporting a bright face that made it clear that she liked the choice, which renewed the hopes of Jalila in getting the coveted job, a feeling that flooded her as she went and stayed to the room where the other candidates expected.

Five hours were waiting until all the girls had been interviewed and the eunuchs disclosed the result of the selection. A time which they were treated magnificently and with the same delicacies enjoyed during the interview.

Jalila was one of three chosen girls.

Should come home to bid farewell to the family and be present to the palace the next day, with only the body clothes and permission to carry only the more special personal objects, as from that date her life would be dedicated to the Sultana. Her wardrobe would be renewed, and she would receive specific instructions on their new roles, routines, and behaviors in the palace.

The family exulted with happiness. The first part of a centennial plan began to materialize. Not even they would have much time to say goodbye to Jalila, but it hardly mattered. She was well, and in the way, they wanted.

Amal was with Jalila at her home. Still, in search of his goal in the library, he greeted Jalila, ensuring that very soon would join her.

— I'm so glad you succeeded, I was sure. It will not take long for me to join you in the palace. I am confident, but I still was not selected because the process is not being run by library administrators. Al-Hakam is concerned with problems in Mauritania and while General Ghalib does not resolve the military issue he will not have the brain to be back to his beloved books.

— Be patient, you'll get there. How many are the vacancies?

— According to my informants at least ten.

— There is no way you don't get yours.

— I think so too, it seems that in all the latest selections they were never able to fill all the vacancies, but what worries me is that there are internal resistances on increasing the number of librarians. Let us pray that everything is resolved.

—It will work, said Jalila, turning away to looking for her parents avoiding continue the conversation by feeding fears that she could be directed to the plans of revenge, a topic that she did not feel comfortable discussing with Amal. At the bottom of her being, she wanted him to have success in the library's contest, but she needed to have a time in the palace before his arrival. She tried insistently sending away that thought because it not only frightened her, as confused her feelings.

From her parents she heard the last advice, although happy, they were concerned about the fate of her daughter, whose frequent coexistence could not have anymore. They feared the palace environment, which was known to confine hidden threats behind each column. political dangers, moral hazards, in short, the whole series of mishaps that required moral strength to live and get around, not to mention that Jalila's mission would have mortal dangers. They had no idea that in the mind of her lovely daughter there were growing doubts about the family mission.

Jalila hardly slept that night, the sleep had only visited her near the end of the morning. She thought on those years, preparing to serve Sultana, was already enough to like her and how the close contact revived that feeling. She was a woman whose poise and presence impressed her and would not be difficult to serve her, and now, of course, in the wake of her duties, she would grow culturally.

She could not believe the comments that were circulating regarding al-liwàt al-akbar [3] behavior of Al-Hakam, and which he would only have decided to create a relationship with a woman by the need for an heir, and this after established and enforced by his court advisor's arrangement. It was hard to believe that Subh had needed to disguise herself with clothes and a male haircut to seduce him. However, certainly, he surrendered to her enormous beauty and if not stopped completely, must have diminished his forays into the male harem. Jalila did not understand the unusual tolerance of those times in the Caliphate and as in its origin was Christian, also repudiated the oliwàt behavior.

What a wonderful environment she witnessed in a few hours in the palace with plenty of luxury and glamor. It was exactly what she wanted. Not imagined, not even close, what she had witnessed that day, for the first stages of the selection had not taken place in the palace. Tomorrow her life would take a new direction. It is true that her parents expected a return, something about which she still did not fully understand, but would not allow it to disturb, at least until she occupies effectively the place planned according to her real agenda: be the most important friend and confidant of Subh.

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1. Muladis: Christian who abandons Christianity, was converted to Islam and lives among Muslims.

1A. In order not to break the medieval environment and still not forgetting to mention the author of the metaphor, whose authorship is from Machado de Assis used in his Short Story named Miss Dollar, with the difference that they were " emeralds swimming at the milk", was invented one fictitious poet of Cordoba with an "Arab" name parodying Machado de Assis. The idea was from Wattpad's reader and writer, Rodrigo C. Pereira.

2. Zyriab: Poet knew at the time

3. al-liwàt al-akbar: Great sodomy perpetrated between two men. The term homosexuality is contemporary, created in the 20th century and did not exist in the century X. The relationships between men in Hispania Arabia were called by liwàt term. That meant acts of the children of Lot.