by Anne Herries
diligently to become one of the Faithful. Karin, Caliph Bakhar’s
wife, taught me. She is with me now and wil confirm this if
asked.’
‘This we have been told of already,’ the Vizier replied. ‘But if
what you say is true about already being a believer before you
came here, then there can be no accusations that you have been
forced to convert to the true faith. Yet we would have the truth
of this matter from you, lady.’
‘If you wil permit me, I can prove it is the truth, my lord.’
The Vizier’s eyes narrowed. He glanced towards the Sultan,
who beckoned him forward to whisper in his ear. After a few
seconds, he nodded and came back to Eleanor.
seconds, he nodded and came back to Eleanor.
‘His Magnificence would hear more of this proof.’
‘This was given to me by my father,’ Eleanor said, reaching
beneath her tunic for the treasure of the Far Cross. ‘We were
researching a legend when this came into our possession—and
my father gave it to me to look after for him on our voyage.
When we were at sea and our ship was tossed by the winds, it
gave me courage—and I prayed to Alah to save me. I believe it
was through his goodness that I was saved from the storm and
delivered into the hands of a good and just man.’
‘What is it?’ the Vizier asked as he took the jeweled object
from her, turning it over in his hand. ‘I do not see the significance of this trinket.’
‘If the lord Vizier would undo the stopper, he would see that
it contains an ancient manuscript writ very smal—and the words
inscribed are a part of the Qur’an. It is a part of the treasure of
the Abbot of the Far Cross and was stolen many centuries ago
by pirates.’
‘Bring it to me!’
Eleanor looked at the man who had spoken. The Sultan was
clearly interested in her treasure and she thought she saw a gleam
of excitement in his eyes as he held out his hand imperiously. She
handed the smal vial to the Vizier who carried it to his master
and offered it to him.
‘Open it,’ the Sultan commanded, and watched eagerly as his
Vizier obeyed. ‘Take out what is inside and tel me if she speaks
the truth.’
The Vizier did as he was bid, then turned to his master and
The Vizier did as he was bid, then turned to his master and
held it out once more. ‘The woman speaks the truth,
Magnificence.’
‘Give it to me—the manuscript.’ The Sultan studied it in
silence for a moment, then his dark eyes returned it to his Vizier.
‘Ask her why she wore it around her neck?’
Eleanor waited until the Vizier came back to her and asked
the question of her before replying. It would be presumptuous of
her to speak directly to the Sultan unless invited.
‘My master wishes to know why you wear the trinket about
your neck?’
‘Because it has brought me good fortune,’ Eleanor replied. ‘I
believe it protected me during the storm and afterwards when I
was on the pirates’ galey. I have not been treated il—at least
since I was brought to this country—and have known only
kindness at the hands of Caliph Bakhar and my husband.
Therefore, I kept it as a talisman even though my lord gave me
finer jewels to wear.’
The Vizier glanced towards the Sultan once more, then back
at Eleanor. ‘His Magnificence has listened to your explanation.
You may return to your apartments and await his judgement.’ He
did not return either the manuscript or its container to her.
‘Thank you.’ Eleanor let her veil fal forward to cover her
face once more. ‘I—I am grateful to you, my lord Vizier—and
to his Magnificence for his patience.’
The Vizier waved her away, and she stood up, moving
backwards from the hal until Karin touched her arm and told her
backwards from the hal until Karin touched her arm and told her
they could now leave normaly without giving offence.
She glanced at her friend when they were outside, but said
nothing as they were conducted through the courtyard to the
harem, which was a vast labyrinth of hals and rooms. The Royal
Palace was the main residence of the Sultans of the Ottoman
Empire and had been the headquarters of their seat of
government from the year 1465. It was a huge complex of
buildings, which was built on the Seraglio Point, overlooking the
Mamara and the Bosphorus. The palace itself had been begun in
1459 by order of Sultan Muhammad II, who had conquered the
city of Constantinople six years before that date.
It was here that the government and the elite units of the
Janissaries lived, its various buildings separated by four large
courtyards and many gardens. Karin had told Eleanor of the
Divan in which the Grand Vizier and officials worked, and the
school for the men who wished to learn about justice and
government, besides the huge kitchens, the Imperial wardrobe—
which was very large—and the harem baths.
‘The Sultanas live in much grander state than we do at home,’
she had told Eleanor. ‘I have been told that the baths here have a
domed roof supported on many pilars and are very beautiful.’
Eleanor was able to see for herself that the palace was richly
appointed, and there were many marvels on display. She thought
she caught sight of the magnificent clock Suleiman had given to
his overlord, but she could not be certain. There were so many
treasures, which stood testament to the Sultan’s love of beautiful
things. Besides those on show, she understood that there were
things. Besides those on show, she understood that there were
storerooms filed with rare objects, and the armoury contained
suits of fabulous armour used by the Sultans for ceremonial
occasions.
‘What wil happen now?’ she asked when they were alone
again. ‘Why did no one say anything about what had been
decided? My lord was not there—do you think he has been
imprisoned?’
‘Patience,’ Karin counseled. ‘You did wel, Eleanor. I do not
know what wil happen—but you were very convincing. And
that trinket you wore—I think the Sultan was very interested in
the story you told about that.’
‘He did not return it to me,’ Eleanor said. ‘But I do not care
for such things. Al I want is to be able to go home with
Suleiman.’
‘It was a mere trinket,’ Karin replied. ‘I do not suppose our
master wil wish to keep it—but it would be a smal price to pay
if he let you have your way.’
‘He may have it and welcome,’ Eleanor replied. ‘Though it is
more than just a trinket—and part of a far greater treasure,
which may stil exist somewhere. It was discovered on my
father’s land in Cyprus, and he had hoped he might find more in
time.’
‘Then it may please his Magnificence,’ Karin said. ‘We must
hope so, Eleanor—for he wil only grant your wish if he believes
your story.’
&nb
sp; Eleanor looked at her fearfuly. She had hoped that Suleiman
would be waiting for her when she was taken to the Sultan’s
would be waiting for her when she was taken to the Sultan’s
hals, but there had been no sign of him. What had happened to
him? She and Karin had been treated kindly enough, but it might
not have been the same for her husband.
‘How much longer do you think we shal be kept here?’
Eleanor asked. ‘Oh, how I wish I knew what was going on! Do
you think the Sultan wil send me back with Count Salvadore? I
do not like him, Karin, and I fear what he may do. He wanted
me for himself…’
‘You must continue to be patient,’ Karin warned. ‘Remember
that we can do nothing…we must await our master’s judgement.
As I have told you before, these things take time and diplomacy
—they cannot be rushed.’
Eleanor turned away, her eyes dark with rebelion. She was
angry at her own powerlessness, but there was nothing she could
do. She had been granted an audience, which was more than
might have been granted her—and now she must do as Karin
bid her and wait patiently. But, oh, how hard that was, when her
whole being cried out for the man she loved!
Supposing they had beaten him—or put him to death? What
had Suleiman Bakhar done that had so angered the Sultan that
he should be arrested?
Was it because he had kept her for himself? Had the Sultan
learned that she was to have been a gift to him—but surely the
fabulous clock Suleiman had given him would bring a man who
loved beautiful things so much more pleasure than any woman?
He must have so many women in his harem already!
The thoughts went round and round in Eleanor’s mind,
torturing her. Yet she knew that she could do nothing to hasten
the decision; she could only pray that when it came it would be
the right one.
Eleanor looked at Karin and sighed. How much longer could
she bear this? They had now been in the Sultan’s harem for three
days. At some point clothes had been brought for them from the
Caliph’s palace, so that they had their own things about them,
but no one had spoken to them or told them anything.
Eleanor had wondered if a religious teacher would question
her, but no one came and she was not sent for again. She had
begun to think that she might be kept here for ever, and spent
much of the time pacing about the little courtyard garden to
which they had been given free access.
It was halfway through the fourth day that the Kadin who had
brought them here came to tel them they were wanted.
‘Where are you taking us?’ Eleanor asked as she beckoned
them to folow. ‘Are we to be taken to the Sultan again? What
decision has been made?’
The Kadin smiled and shook her head. ‘I do not know,’ she
said in her soft, husky voice. ‘I have merely been told to show
you the way.’
Eleanor’s heart was pounding as they left the harem quarters
under the escort of a eunuch. It was a different route to the one
they had been taken previously and she thought they could not
be going to the Sultan’s hals this time. Where then were they
being taken?
When at last they emerged into a large courtyard, she saw
that it housed most of the service buildings, including the bakery,
hospital and what Karin whispered was the mint. It was opened
to the public and not the private part of the palace to which she
had been taken the first time. Eleanor’s heart caught with fright
as she saw that two litters were waiting—one with an escort that
she recognized as wearing the Caliph’s colours of red and gold,
and the other with the Sultan’s colours.
‘You must say goodbye now,’ the eunuch told them. ‘The
lady Karin returns to the Caliph’s household—you do not.’
‘Where am I going?’ Eleanor stared at her friend in horror.
‘Karin—where are they taking me?’
‘I do not know,’ the older woman replied. She reached out
to take Eleanor’s hand and squeezed it tightly. ‘I love you, my
dear. Have courage. It is useless to resist—for they wil only
punish you, and Suleiman. Do as you are told and he may
escape further punishment.’
‘But he has done nothing,’ Eleanor cried, the tears starting to
her eyes. ‘Oh, Karin! I cannot bear to leave you. I love you as
the mother I lost long ago. Forgive me for al the trouble I have
caused you…’
‘You were never a trouble to me, only a joy and a delight,’
Karin said. ‘Go in peace, my daughter. I pray that Alah wil
guide your footsteps and bring you happiness.’
‘I shal never be happy without Suleiman,’ Eleanor wept,
‘I shal never be happy without Suleiman,’ Eleanor wept,
clinging to her hand. ‘Oh, why must I go? Why wil they send me
away when al I want is to stay here?’
‘It is the Sultan’s wil,’ Karin replied. ‘And he is guided only
by Alah.’
Eleanor nodded, but looked at her through tear-misted eyes
as they were parted, the eunuch urging them to enter the litters
that had been provided for their transport.
Karin let go her hand, and Eleanor was obliged to do as she
was told. She looked for Count Salvadore but could not see him
—her escort was made up entirely of the Sultan’s guard.
Glancing back at the palace, she tried to send a message of
farewel to her love.
‘God bless and keep you,’ she whispered. ‘They may rend us
apart, my darling, but no other man but you shal be my husband.
This I swear—to keep faith with our love for my life long.’
Once inside the litter, she could no longer hold back her
tears, and wept as al hope left her. She knew that the litter was
carrying her towards the harbour and that a ship awaited her.
She was being taken back to Italy against her wil, and silently
she raged against the power of men. Women were mere
possessions, at the mercy of their menfolk! It was wrong that she
should be treated thus for the second time in her life.
But no one should force her to marry. She would take her
own life first. Al she could hope for now was that her father
would alow her to spend the rest of her life in prayer and study.
Eleanor’s heart caught with pain as she saw the ship in the
harbour. If she had hoped that she might after al be returned to
the Caliph’s palace, that hope vanished. It was a merchant
ship…but that flag! Had she not sailed beneath such a flag
before? It was her uncle’s vessel—Sir John Faversham,
merchant of Cyprus. She had thought to travel on the count’s
ship. He had not mentioned that her uncle was also here
—though if truth were told she had not given him much
encouragement to tel her anything.
A tal gentleman with grey hair and a neat beard was standing
on deck, waiting to greet her. He was dressed in the manner of a
wealthy Englishman, and was distinguished looking with faded
blue
eyes that seemed to look at her with understanding. She
was, of course, stil dressed as a woman of the harem, her face
half covered by a fine veil.
‘Eleanor—you are Eleanor?’ he asked as he came to greet
her, hands outstretched in greeting. ‘My dear child, how glad I
am to meet you at last. There were times when I feared I should
never find you.’
‘Sir John?’ Eleanor looked at him uncertainly. ‘You are my
uncle?’
‘Yes, child. Your mother was my sister and I loved her
dearly. I have left no stone unturned to find you…’
‘But I thought Count Salvadore… He said he was taking me
to Italy—’ She halted as her uncle frowned.
‘That felow sought to steal a march on me. He hoped to find
you and also reach a trading agreement with Suleiman the
you and also reach a trading agreement with Suleiman the
Magnificent. Fortunately, my own agreement was settled some
months ago and I was able to reach the Sultan before him.’
‘You were here before the count?’ She stared at him. ‘But it
was he who…came to the palace to stop the marriage.’
‘I could not prevent that, for he gave the Sultan a magnificent
gift and out of politeness had to be given something in return…
the customs here adhere to a strict ritual, Eleanor—which was
something the count did not understand. He imagined that his gift
would buy your freedom. However, that is not the way the
Sultan does business—and your father’s letter asks that you be
given into my care, Eleanor. Sir Wiliam was unwel for some
weeks, but is better now and on his way to Cyprus. He wil be
waiting for you when we arrive. I do not think that he quite
trusted Count Salvadore—though he was forced to accept his
help until he could contact me.’
‘Do you know that I am married, Uncle?’ Eleanor looked at
him anxiously. ‘Wil you help me? My husband has been arrested
and is a prisoner at the Sultan’s palace.’
‘Al in good time,’ her uncle said, smiling at her. ‘We are
about to sail for Cyprus, my child. Go below to your cabin and
change into something more suitable—my cabin boy wil show
you where to go and I shal be with you shortly.’
Eleanor sighed. Once again, it seemed that she must obey. It
was no different here than it had been in the palace. Suleiman
had been so indulgent towards her, so generous. But at least she
