Chapter 18 #2
Kadin Besma had continued to lobby her lord about his nephew despite his refusal to pay attention to her concerns.
She had even involved the other kadins, who might dislike her (and they did) but also considered another male heir one too many.
While the other kadins did not really believe that Amir constituted a threat, there was always his father, Prince Jem, hovering like a bad smell in the background.
An undercurrent of turmoil ran through the sultan’s harem, and Bayezit did not like it.
If removing his nephew was what it would take to bring peace and order back to his household, he would do it.
Besma, however, had her own plans. It never occurred to her that there might be a way of removing Prince Amir other than violence.
As one of the sultan’s favorites, she had amassed a great deal of her own wealth over the years.
Now she planned to use some of that gold to solve the problem of Amir.
The eunuch who served her personally, Taweel, was utterly devoted to her.
Unusually tall, thin, and black as night in color, Taweel was Besma’s link to the world outside of the harem.
He could come and go without question and with impunity, even if she could not. He was her eyes and ears.
Now, upon her order, he set out into the city to seek a man who was known by only the single name Sami.
The name meant “all knowing.” It was said of Sami that whatever you wanted, desired, or needed, he knew where to find it, and for a price would obtain it for you.
Besma wanted a troop of ruthless and murderous Tartars who would sweep down upon the Moonlight Serai, murdering its inhabitants and destroying the little palace.
They would be well paid, half in advance, half upon the satisfactory completion of their task.
They were free to carry off the women in the Moonlight Serai and take slaves, but the lord of the palace was to be slain without mercy.
“For proof of his death my mistress would have the gold signet ring he always wears on his right hand,” Taweel told Sami.
“And the finger upon which he wears it as well. The ring could be stolen, but the finger will be the actual evidence that the task has been completed to my mistress’s satisfaction. ”
The broker of all things possible considered the tall eunuch’s request, and then he said, “And am I apt to face a troop of Janissaries come to peel the skin from my bones if I find what it is you seek?” Sami demanded.
“I know from whom you come, Taweel, and whom you serve. This is a dangerous business you propose.”
“But you will do it,” Taweel said, smiling, and his large white teeth were fearsome in his black face. “The commission you collect will be a fat one, my greedy friend.”
“It will be very costly,” Sami replied. “Very, very costly.”
“She will pay,” Taweel responded. “Now find her the Tartars she wants, and send to me when you have them so I may personally come to give them their instructions.” The eunuch handed Sami a small bag of gold coins, which the purveyor of all things mentally weighed in his palm.
“A small retainer for your services,” Taweel said, and then returned to the palace to report to his mistress the success of his mission.
“He will be discreet?” Besma asked her servant.
“His life and his livelihood both depend upon his discretion,” Taweel assured her. “But if you so desire, I can slit his throat once the mission had been accomplished, lady.”
“It is to be considered,” Besma responded. “And we might recoup some of my gold too. But then I might need him again one day, so perhaps I will let him live.”
Hadji Bey did not yet know of Besma’s intentions towards Prince Amir, for she had shared her thoughts only with her minion.
The Agha had taken it upon himself to make a rare and secret visit outside of the palace, leaving quietly in the dark of night when even the most curious eyes and ears slept.
He traveled in the company of only one man, Captain Mahmud, whom he knew the prince had come to trust. They traveled quickly.
Their arrival at the Moonlight Serai was greeted with great surprise by Diya al Din, who practically fell over his own silk slippers when a slave came to tell him of the Agha Kislar’s presence in the house. “My lord Agha!” he greeted his guest, and he bowed respectfully to the great man.
“I have come to speak privily with your master,” Hadji Bey said.
Diya al Din hesitated a moment. He didn’t know whether he should run and fetch the prince immediately or settle his two guests in the salon first. Finally he decided on the latter.
“Come,” he told them, leading them into the charming light-filled chamber with its view of the gardens beyond the windows.
“Let me make you comfortable before I go to fetch my lord Amir.” He signaled slaves to come with fruit sherbets and sweet cakes and a bowl of pistachio nuts even as he settled them.
The Agha Kislar looked weary to Diya al Din’s sharp eye. How quickly had they traveled?
Satisfied that the guests were comfortable, Diya al Din ran for his master. He found him in his own small privy chamber planning the next year’s voyages of his three ships.
“My lord, my lord! The sultan’s great Agha Kislar has just arrived to speak with you!” the eunuch burst out, unable to keep the excitement from his own voice.
Amir jumped up. “Hadji Bey himself? Allah! What has happened? Where have you put him? Quickly! Quickly! Take me to him!” He swiftly followed Diya al Din to the salon where his guests waited.
Seeing Captain Mahmud with the Agha, the prince’s eyes grew wary.
“What has happened?” he asked them. “No, my lord Agha, do not get up. Stay seated and be comfortable.” He joined them. “Tell me my uncle is well.”
“The sultan is healthy and well,” the Agha responded, impressed that the prince’s first concern had been for Bayezit.
“I apologize for startling you, but I could not send a message ahead of my coming, for this trip has been made in the utmost secrecy from all but my master. You and your family are in grave danger, my lord prince. It is the sultan’s wish that you be relocated in secret from your home here to El Dinut, where its dey has agreed to welcome and shelter you. ”
“Why are we in danger, and why is that danger so great that we must leave in a clandestine manner?” Amir wanted to know.
“There are those who have the sultan’s ear who do not trust in your goodwill, my lord. They would have your uncle dispose of you and your family in a more traditional manner,” Hadji Bey said quietly.
A small wry smile touch Amir’s lips. “Kill me, in other words,” he said.
The Agha Kislar nodded in the affirmative.
“But I have done nothing to cause anyone to be suspicious of me,” Amir pointed out. “I have served my uncle with honor, and all I wish is to live peaceably.”
“Your uncle knows that, my lord. The suspicions are not his, but others continue to carp on your near presence. You know that the sultan prefers settling these family matters in a pacific manner. The dey of El Dinut is an old friend of your grandfather’s.
He is ready to welcome you and your family to his small kingdom.
Captain Mahmud and a troop of his Janissaries will be stationed in El Dinut at the invitation of the dey.
It is on the sea, and you will simply be another merchant to the citizens of El Dinut.
To forgo any curiosity, you will not use your title.
You will be known simply as Amir ibn Mehmet, a wealthy merchant who has settled himself in El Dinut. ”
“This is not a request, Hadji Bey, is it?” the prince said.
“No, my lord, it is not,” the Agha Kislar replied with a sigh.
Then he added, “There are many advantages to making this great change in your life. You are able to take your whole family with you, and all of your possessions, your slaves, your animals. But most important of all, you will be as far away as you were when you lived in Florence.”
“In other words, once I am out of sight you will be able to divert those who are fearful and irritated by my near presence from causing my uncle any embarrassment by creating an unseemly carnage. Such an unfortunate event could be made public, thereby tarnishing his reputation as a just ruler,” Amir said shrewdly.
The Agha nodded. “Indeed, my lord, indeed,” he said with a faint smile. “But, of course, your exodus must be quick and discreet. Your whereabouts must be kept secret from all but a few. Are your own ships available to transport you?”
“It can be arranged,” Amir said. “I am only just now setting the voyage schedule for the year ahead. It is a long and difficult journey you are asking me to make with three women, and a child barely out of infancy.”
“Would you rather see your women murdered, or carried off into slavery? And what of your daughter? She is an Ottoman princess even if she never knows it,” Hadji Bey said. “Does she not deserve to be raised by her mother in a safe place?”
Amir felt a flash of anger, but he restrained himself from any outburst. It was not the fault of the Agha Kislar that they must leave the Moonlight Serai.
Hadji Bey had not said it, but Amir knew without being told it was his uncle’s kadin Besma who was responsible for all of this trouble.
It was the Agha’s duty to make certain the sultan’s household ran smoothly, and that his kadins brought Bayezit pleasure.
Besma’s ambition for her only son was well known.