The Kadin - Bertrice Small [136]
Joseph ben Kira and Karim were ushered into the presence of the tall and austere abbot, James Dundas. Joseph introduced himself and told his carefully rehearsed story.
“My lord abbot, I am Joseph ben Kira of Constantinople. Before I departed from my home several months ago, a child was brought to me by a black slave. He gave me a letter, a chest of gold, and disappeared into the night. The letter asked that I bring the child to his mother’s homeland and take him to the Abbey School of Glenkirk to be educated and raised as a Christian. He wears a ring and a locket about his neck to identify him to you. I know nothing more of the matter.”
“Come near, laddie, so I may get a better look at you,” said the abbot “I am an old man, and my sight is nae what it used to be.”
Karim stepped forward. The abbot visibly whitened.
“What is your name?”
“Charles Leslie, sir.”
“Give me the letter you carry, my son.”
Karim took the letter from his doublet and handed it to the old man. With trembling fingers, the abbot opened and read it
“Now, child. Show me the locket”
Karim drew the gold chain from beneath his shirt and, opening the locket, revealed the miniature to James Dundas. The abbot smiled.
“She is a beautiful woman. When she was a child, I could see she would be. Now, laddie, the ring.” He took it, read the inscription, and returned it to Karim. “Well, my son, we shall do our best to make you happy in your mother’s homeland.”
Ringing a bell, he instructed the attending brother, “This is Charles Leslie, Brother Francis. He is to be our new pupil and is a cousin to Donald and Ian Leslie. He will share their room. See that he is settled. Then send a messenger to Glenkirk Castle. I must speak with the old earl at once!”
Joseph ben Kira rose. “If you no longer have need of my services, my lord, I will begin my return to Edinburgh. I can be reached at the House of Kira in Goldsmith’s Lane.”
“Thank you, Master ben Kira. You have done us a great service. I will commend your kindness to the earl.”
Joseph bowed low, smiled, patted Karim on the head, and departed.
In her private garden by the lake, the bas-kadin rose from the marble bench. Yes, surely that was how it had gone. Now Karim was safe to grow to manhood, and her duty must return to her beloved lord Selim.
His ailment had grown worse, manifesting itself in a new and infuriating symptom—partial impotence. He never knew when it would strike. Many maidens were sent to his couch. Most returned weeping and in disgrace, for the sultan of sultans could not admit his disability.
Despite it, he continued to treat his three kadins with courtesy, affection, and favor. But having only one remaining son, he suddenly became desperate to father another; however, the kadins were more than ever united behind Suleiman, and no maiden went to the sultan without first sipping a soothing draft of their cherry sherbet Though it was practically unnecessary these days, they took no chances.
In midwinter, Selim felt it his duty to return to Anatolia, as the invasion of Rhodes was planned for the spring. Before his departure, as was his custom, he would spend one night with each of his kadins.
Cyra was to be with him the night before he left, and from the stories brought to her by Firousi and Sarina, she was worried. Selim was totally impotent now, and he resented it deeply. Two nights before, he had taken leave of Sarina. Unable to perform as a man, he had grown furious, called his kadin an “old woman,” and loudly demanded a young maiden be brought to him. Sarina, who loved Selim deeply, had gathered the shreds of her dignity about her and fled her suite for the gardens, where she wept bitterly.
Firousi’s leavetaking of Selim had been equally disastrous. Again, the sultan could not function. Enraged, he had slapped the second kadin. Both were stunned by this action. Never in all their years together had Selim physically abused any of his wives. Without a word, he left