The Kadin - Bertrice Small [129]
Only the three young princesses and little Prince Karim remained in the harem with their mothers. The sultan had suggested before leaving for Anatolia that Karim be given his own court, but Cyra had forestalled him, asking that Karim remain with her until the Rhodes campaign was over.
It was summer, and the bas-kadin was twice a grandmother. Before Selim had departed, word had come from Magnesia of Gulbehar’s safe delivery of a son, and much to the sultan’s pleasure he was to be called Mustafa. Nilufer, too, had, just a week past, become the mother of a son, to be named Mohammed.
The days passed quietly. When the first small hint of plague appeared in the city, those in the Eski Serai did not pay a great deal of attention. Plague was commonplace each summer when the weather got hot A few cases were reported among the slaves who worked in the stables, but as these men were never in contact with the harem staff, there was no concern.
Then one day Anber brought word to the bas-kadin that the young princes at Scutari were ill. Had Cyra not lived so long with Firousi and Zuleika, she would, perhaps have acted differently; but the bond between them was too strong. Ordering the horrified Anber to have the princes brought home, she then broke the news to their mothers.
The isolated, little-used Tile Court was prepared to receive the royal children, and both mothers would have rushed to nurse their sons had not Cyra, for the first time in their years together, wielded her authority. Only one might go, and she must be chosen by lot Zuleika won.
Hassan and Nureddin were horribly ill. No plague boil had appeared yet and their suffering was terrible. Word was sent to the sultan that his sons were not expected to Uve.
Remembering Hadji Bey’s dying words, Cyra realized that in a few days’ time, Selim’s ten sons would have shrunk to two—her eldest and her youngest A daring plan began to form in her mind.
She could not allow Karim to become a political pawn and a threat to Suleiman; yet she knew her gentle oldest son would not be able to destroy his little brother, nor would she let him. If Karim remained alive, he could become the means of destroying Suleiman and the empire—or worse, become a puppet ruled by Western Europeans whose greed and fear of Turkey far outweighed their common sense.
When Esther Kira came on her biweekly visit to the harem that afternoon, Cyra invited her to walk in the kadins’ private park. It was not unusual to see them thus, for the bas-kadin often walked and chatted with the little Jewess in this manner. Cyra, with unusual frankness, came right to the point
“Esther, I have an enormous favor to ask of you.”
“Dearest madam, I will do anything for you.”
“Do not commit yourself so quickly, my friend. I am asking you to save a life and, at the same time, perhaps endanger your own and that of your whole family. No. Keep walking, and do not appear surprised at anything I may say. Even I am continually watched.
“Prince Hassan and Prince Nureddin are dying. This leaves my lord only two surviving sons. With Suleiman heir, my little Karim is in terrible danger. I cannot allow him to be used against Suleiman, but I cannot see him ruthlessly killed to protect Suleiman. With your help, I plan to pretend he has died of the plague, and smuggle him to my homeland.”
Esther bent to sniff a full red rose. “Yes,” she said, “it could be done, and fate must be with you, my lady. At this very minute there is a Scots ship out of Leeds in the harbor. My brother Joseph will be sailing on it in five days’ time. He goes to the Edinburgh branch of the House of Kira to bring them a reserve supply of gold and to learn their particular method of business. Dealing with the Scots is a very different thing from dealing with other Europeans.”
Cyra laughed. “Remembering my early years, I would certainly think so.”
“How