Chapter 36
Erik narrowed his eyes.
He had just spent days in blistering heat racing across the desert to arrive in Phoecea before the Shah. At first he was pleased with the news from those near the sea. Many were speaking excitedly that the son of Titus was alive. Although many of them still spoke in hushed voices out of fear, the merchants and traders were eager for a change. Many of them paid heavy taxes for any goods they sold to support the Ottomans. While the sultan's lands grew wealthy, those bordering the sea were tightly controlled.
Erik made his way cautiously into Phoecea, wary of anyone he encountered. While he was unsure if anyone knew that a masked man killed King Titus years ago, he was not going to take any chances. He secured a ship, paying the captain an amount worth more than the vessel itself. He traveled by the darkness of night, rarely stopping for any rest.
Once he finally arrived at the crumbling palace, Erik found a great deal of men training to be soldiers. While Erik was satisfied that Hamid had made progress, the large number of men made it difficult for him to enter the palace without being seen. Disguising himself as one of the soldiers, he finally made it inside and began to search for Hamid.
Only to find him in a room surrounded by nude women.
"Erik?" asked Hamid as he scrambled to sit up on the bed, clutching at the sheet that covered his lower half.
Erik's response was to cross his arms over his chest and not reply.
"Um…I can explain…"
Now Erik frowned as he glanced at the nude women. They were looking at him like he was a complete monster, and it was beginning to annoy him. Sensing this, Hamid wisely dismissed them. The women rushed past Erik, escaping out the door. After they disappeared, Erik unfolded his arms, pulled the door shut, and locked it.
Hamid swallowed hard. "I did not forget about Rashida. And this is not what you think it is…I did not want the women; they were forced upon me."
"Yes, you looked extremely uncomfortable with their hands all over you," replied Erik with heavy sarcasm.
"Well, I certainly did not know a harem was a requirement to rule! Besides, it is complicated. If I refuse, their families will be deeply insulted."
"Indeed," replied Erik dryly. "The first girl that carries your child will ensure her family's future."
Hamid's eyes widened. "I...had not thought of that…"
Erik nodded. "The families use their daughters for their own benefit. So naturally they would act insulted if you refused." His frown deepened. "Please tell me that you did not bed with all of them."
Hamid's face turned red. "I have not taken any of the harem to my bed!"
Thank God. A harem full of pregnant women would mean further complications they certainly did not need. "It takes a strong man to avoid such temptation," Erik said softly. "I am pleased."
Still clutching the sheet covering his lower half, Hamid looked down at the floor. "I am not certain you will be pleased for long," he muttered under his breath.
"And why is that?"
"Ah…I mean…with how I have…been trying to…rule"
Erik sensed Hamid was reluctant to reveal something in particular. But for now, Erik had other priorities. "I saw the men outside. You have made great progress. But you will need the shah as an ally to truly be strong in a short amount of time."
"Why? What is happening?" asked Hamid. "And where is Rashida?"
Erik's shoulders grew tense. "She was abducted by the Ottomans."
"What?"
"Unfortunately, yes. Time is against us, Hamid. We have very little time before she is married. Where is the sultan's daughter?"
"Her…room, I think."
"I assume you have the door well guarded?"
"Ah…no."
"Why the hell not?" demanded Erik. "In Paris, she attempted to escape a number of times! Surely you know her temper from your journey!"
"It is fine…she will not leave."
Erik clenched his jaw. "Is she refusing her future husband?"
"What…what do you mean?" asked Hamid with a rough voice. "Why would she not want to marry him?"
"The shah has over one thousand wives and concubines."
"Over one thousand?"
"Yes, so be thankful you only have a small harem."
"But…what kind of life will Sevdi have?"
Erik looked at him blankly. "Who?"
"The sultan's daughter!"
"She will have a very secure future with the people of Qajar."
"How? One woman against a thousand other wives? She will never even see her husband!"
Something stirred in Erik's gut. He did not like Hamid's sudden concern for the girl. Suddenly feeling hot, Erik took off the heavy soldier's cloak that hid his clothes. He tried to remain calm as he looked down at it in his hands. "I assure you, she will lead a very full life. Unlike the Ottomans, the women who belong to the shah are well educated. They are allowed to read and practice many arts."
"But she will have no…love in her life."
Erik sharply looked up at him. "And since when does this matter to you?"
Hamid glanced away. "I just…I do not want her to have a life…like Rashida. I mean, married to one man and shared with so many others?"
"Rashida's fate will not be with the Ottomans," Erik said in a gruff voice. "And Sevdi was raised in such ways. She expects to share her husband. It is as natural to her as it is for you to be with only one woman."
"But, what if she no longer wanted to share him?"
Erik sighed. He was becoming tired and this conversation was beginning to drain him further. "Have you influenced her in some way? What is the reason for such questions?"
Hamid sat back down on the bed. "Something…has happened," he said in a voice that Erik swore he heard tremble.
"Tell me," said Erik as his chest began to tighten.
"I…I am sorry but…," he hesitated.
"Hamid, just tell me" snapped Erik impatiently.
"I love her," Hamid whispered.
Erik stared at him. "You…what?"
Hamid hung his head. "Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Goddamn it. Erik dropped the cloak to the floor. "How the hell did this happen?"
Hamid's eyes suddenly narrowed. "Do you think I did this on purpose? Can you choose love?"
"You could have stayed away from her!" said Erik angrily.
"Oh really? Just like you stayed away from Alexandria?"
"That was different," said Erik with a sigh, "Alexandria had been captured…"
"You did not need to save her from my father! You could have let her die!"
Erik's hands curled into fists. "Is that what you think should have happened? That I should have left Alexandria with your father? Or even better, if I had not interfered, your father would still be alive?"
"Of course not!" yelled Hamid. "But do you not see? I have to save Sevdi! I cannot leave her to such a fate!"
"Unlike Alexandria, she would not die," said Erik quietly.
"Maybe not right away," replied Hamid in a deep voice. "But even in a beautiful cage, she will still die."
Damn it. Erik knew it was pointless to argue any further. Deep down, he knew Hamid was right. It was the same with Alexandria in her gilded cage. And if Sevdi was anything like her father, she would be too strong spirited to survive such a life with the shah as her husband.
Hamid suddenly threw the sheet aside and naked, walked over to a couch where his clothes were neatly folded. Snatching up his robe, he quickly got dressed.
"Where are you going?" asked Erik.
"To see Sevdi," he snapped. He turned and faced Erik. "I love my sister," he said with a rough voice. "But I also loved Sevdi. Do not make me choose between them because it is something I will not do. I will find a way to save Rashida with or without the shah."
Erik studied Hamid and it struck him how much the young ruler looked like his real father. He had grown very tall and was now almost the same height as Erik. With large shoulders and a broad chest, he was no longer the mischievous boy Erik once knew. Instead, was strong and determined man…but with a good heart.
And that was what mattered most.
"Do you truly love the girl?"
"Yes," said Hamid firmly.
Erik slowly nodded. "Then we shall have to find another way to negotiate with the shah."
Hamid looked at him with hopeful eyes. "Really?"
"I said yes," said Erik under his breath. How was he going to make things work now? Maybe there was another way. Maybe the shah had a need for-
Erik was shocked when Hamid suddenly embraced him.
"Thank you," Hamid whispered.
Erik closed his eyes for a moment, his mind still trying to work out a new solution. Pulling slightly away, Erik held Hamid's face within his large hands and their eyes met.
"You will always be my son, Hamid."
"And you will always be my true father," he replied.
--
"I should not be here with you," said Suleiman as he and Rashida now sat on the floor while a meal was being served.
"Why? Am I not allowed to be within your apartment before the wedding?" Rashida asked as she accepted a plate of fruit from a slave.
Suleiman took a bite out of an apple and chewed. "No," he said, after he swallowed. "Men do not eat with the women."
Her eyes widened. "Why not? Oh, wait. Because women are inferior."
He laughed, his heart swelling as he was happy to even be talking with her. That is, until he found a way for her to escape. Then he would be miserable…for the rest of his damn life. But that was his role, his fate. Yes…he had to be the next sultan…
"Suleiman?"
He pulled back from his thoughts. "Yes?"
"You looked like something was wrong. Are you…regretting the thought to help me?"
"No!" he said a little too sharply, making her wince at his tone. He lowered his voice. "It is just…I will never find another woman like you." Suleiman sighed. "I will accept my fate Rashida. But no matter how many wives I have or how large my harem grows, I will never be truly happy without you."
"I am sorry," she whispered.
He shook his head. "Do not every apologize, Rashida. This is not your world and it is impossible to ask someone as yourself with such a strong mind to live within it."
"Well…I was not really asked."
He smiled again. "This is true. I envy your father in his strength to be with your mother."
"What do you mean?"
"He risked much to be with her. I cannot see my father giving her up so easily."
Rashida fiddled with a napkin. "Which is why I am here as a condition of your father's demands." Her eyes grew serious. "What are you going to do?"
Suleiman lowered his voice. "While many of the slaves do not speak in French, I must be careful." He ordered the slaves away from the room. Once they were alone, Suleiman leaned in close to Rashida. "I need for you to pretend to love me." When she almost choked on the food she was swallowing, Suleiman's chest constricted. "I know you do not want to…but it is the only way," he said quietly. "My father…he knows how I feel. It is dangerous. You are my weakness and he will use whatever he can to ensure this marriage will happen."
Her beautiful eyes met his. "But…your father, I think he would become suspicious if I suddenly just loved you."
Suleiman nodded, the ache in his chest growing painful with her only pretending to love him. "If I appear as the harsh, domineering man I am expected to be, you will be fearful of another punishment with the whip. And then, to make amends, I will present a gift to you in front of my father."
She looked at him suspiciously. "What kind of gift?"
He grinned. "You will just have to wait and see."
"And this…gift is supposed to somehow make me soften to you?"
"Yes, and then you will begin to suddenly realize that you do love me."
She looked down at her plate.
Suleiman frowned. "Please, Rashida. It would only be for a little while where you begin to openly show your affection. As soon as my father realizes that I have truly captured your heart, I may be able to convince him that you would rather have life than death. He will allow me to reduce the amount of guards always watching you."
"But…what if he thinks you planning something? I mean, surely he might suspect something if you talk with him about reducing the number who watch me. And what about my father? The sultan will want me watched constantly for that reason alone."
Suleiman nodded. "You are exactly right. Which is why you would move into my apartment."
"What?"
"Rashida, think about it. If you are willing to actually stay within my apartment, I am certain my father will believe you truly love me. Not to mention, I would be able to keep my eye on you even more closely…or so I will tell my father."
"But…I thought…I had to remain a virgin until…"
Suleiman chuckled. "Yes, you must remain untouched until our wedding night. I would not disgrace my Ottoman heritage so easily."
"How would your father know…I mean, if the day came when we were wed, how would he know if I was still a virgin?" She visibly shuddered. "Would I have to be examined by someone like when I was first brought here?"
Suleiman hesitated, but decided she might as well know. "After the…joining," he said, trying not to be too vulgar, "it is custom for the new husband to invite his father or other relatives into the bridal chamber."
Rashida's face filled with fear. "Why?" she whispered.
"To witness the…proof of blood from the first joining."
"So, they look at the sheets?"
"No," he said quietly. "They examine the…um, bride."
She looked at him in horror. "What?"
"There is…usually blood around the…ah…well, on the woman's thighs and the new husband's…shaft." Suleiman felt his face burning and knew it was probably red. Not that he had any idea why when this was such a common thing for marriages. But he knew Rashida would be shocked.
--
Rashida's heart pounded. "Does this land have no privacy between a man and a woman?" she exclaimed far too loudly. "It is bad enough that a woman has to share her husband with other women! But to humiliate her in such a manner on her wedding night?"
"Rashida, I know you disagree but think back on our debates. How do you think women here feel about the tradition?"
"I am sure they think it is some great honor," muttered Rashida.
"Yes, they do. It is a proud moment for a woman to show her proof of virginity; that she remained pure until the night of her marriage. Any woman who lies with a man before marriage is considered a disgrace to the family."
"What about the women in the harem?" she demanded. "They are not married! Yet they are expected to bed with the sultan! What about their families?"
Suleiman sighed. "A family is very proud if their daughter is chosen to serve the sultan. Most of the women in a harem are purchased or stolen from other lands so that the sultan has a wide variety. Therefore, when an Ottoman family's daughter is chosen, it demonstrates what great beauty she must possess to please the sultan."
"But Raja," she stopped when she realized her mistake. "I mean…"
"I like it when you call me Raja," he admitted.
"But it is not your real name."
"No, but it is who I truly want to be."
She tried to ignore his loving eyes. "But what will happen if you really help me escape? What will your father do to you?"
"Do not worry about me," he said firmly. "It is you that I am worried about. You must understand the risk you are facing. If you are caught, I truly fear what my father may do to you as a punishment to me. I will try to convince him that you were clever enough to do such a thing on your own, or that even your father played a role in your escape."
"But he may not believe you."
"He will not know for sure, especially as I will be…heartbroken."
You will not be the only one with a broken heart, thought Rashida sadly. But she had to be strong. She could not stay. And, if she could escape before her father tried to free her, Rashida may save his life as well. But what if this was some elaborate plot to keep her here?
"How can I possibly trust you?" she whispered.
Suleiman looked sadly at her. "What other choice do you have? I am uncertain if you will ever trust me. The only way I can prove my love is to help free you."
"What about you?" Rashida asked. "Why can you not find a way to escape with me?"
She saw Suleiman inhale sharply. "You…would want that?"
Yes.
When she did not reply, Suleiman frowned. "It does not matter. My fate is here, Rashida. As the future ruler, sacrifices must be made for the good of my people."
"Not even for love?"
Suleiman looked away. "I am doing this for love," he said roughly. "For the love of you…and the Ottoman Empire."