The Kadin - Bertrice Small [53]
“Zuleika,” chided Lady Refet “you must not tease Sarina.”
“I am not teasing her, my lady. I have seen all this. I know.”
“Where have you seen it, child?”
Zuleika unhooked a thin gold chain from around her neck. Attached to the chain was a large opal in the shape of a teardrop. “My mother gave me this before I left China. She told me if I ever wished to see into the future, I should empty my mind of all thoughts and concentrate on the opal.”
“Then,” challenged Sarina, “why didn’t you look into it and see what was to happen to you before you reached the shah?”
“I did look, and I saw myself surrounded by luxury, and a man who loved me. I had never seen the shah, and naturally assumed it was he, but it was our Prince Selim. Last night when he called Cyra to his couch, I gazed into my opal. I see much happiness for Cyra, and I see her son who will be a great sultan.”
“And what do you see for the rest of us?”
“I have not looked, Sarina. My opal is not a toy to be played with lightly.”
Sarina sniffed disbelievingly.
“You show much maturity, my child,” said Lady Refet “And now, my young ladies, the afternoon lengthens, and you have not yet completed your daily tasks. Cyra will be excused today since I wish her to rest.”
Reluctantly but obediently they arose, and Cyra and Lady Refet were left alone.
“I cannot rest”
“You must practice self-discipline, Cyra. As my nephew’s bas-kadin you will have many responsibilities. As the mother of a sultan you will be the ruler of all our women. You will have to do many things you don’t want to do, things that inconvenience you and seem foolish and wasteful of your time; but you will do them because you must This is self-discipline, and you must cultivate it”
“You believe Zuleika? She just said those things to annoy Sarina.”
“Yes, I do believe Zuleika. There are many unseen forces in our world that do not conform to one’s sense of logic, but nevertheless they are there. The power to see into the future is one of those things.”
“It is witchcraft!”
“It is a gift from God. You speak like an ignorant peasant! Do not your own people have this ability? The Celts and the Gaels are well known for their psychic powers. You yourself, I am sure, have it Have you never asked yourself why you did not struggle more against your captivity? You did not because some inner sense told you that this was your fate, and all would be well. Zuleika has simply cultivated her ability. You have not Her people understand these things, but yours, because of their Christian religion, have been taught to fear those things which are not within, and approved by, your strict faith. This is ignorance of the worst sort But have no fear, my dear. You become more Turkish each day, and soon these childish beliefs will fade. Now, go and rest I shall look in on you later.”
Cyra rose and went to her bedroom. Lady Refet’s words puzzled her, and she pondered them. Absently, she allowed her slaves to remove her clothing, sponge her with warmed, perfumed water, and place a light robe about her. Dismissing them, she relaxed upon her couch, mulling the words of Selim’s aunt over in her mind.
When the older woman peeked in several hours later, Cyra lay fast asleep, a look of peace upon her face.
15
THE MONTHS PASSED, and Cyra was the only one called to Selim’s couch. Touchingly in love, she and Selim could scarcely contain their eagerness to be alone. Although the prince was affectionate and courteous to the rest of his harem, they could not help feeling slighted. Only their fondness for Cyra—and the knowledge obtained from a slave girl who had it from one of Cyra’s slave girls that the favorite had had no show of blood in over a month—prevented an unpleasant situation. Soon she would have to tell him, and one of them would be called.
Selim’s harem would have been very