Chapter 9

I must stop for a moment of my story telling, for my heart and soul becomes riddled with anger at the past memories of the second Kadin. For she showed her true colours to all, except Suleyman himself, blinding him from the truth. She was vinegar to the women of the Harem, while honey to the Sultan. Even Ibrahim Pasha was not immune to her bitterness and poison. One thing that has been true for long in the Topkapi Palace: A Cariyes should not presume she's above a Gözde, a Gözde should not presume she's above an Ikbal, an Ikbal should not presume she's above a Kadin, and a Kadin should never, ever presume she's above Valide Sultan.

Hürrem presumed she was above everyone. Even Valide Sultan.

To her, she was the heart of Suleyman and he belonged to her body and soul. And heart. And allowed no one to think otherwise. And he, the fool, permitted this. It infuriated me. I was the one working to move heaven and earth in order to return normalcy to the seraglio, and she stood in my path every single moment. I knew it would not be easy, yet, all was harder than I had anticipated.

The incident with Hürrem Sultan spread through the harem like wildfire. Word was that she was furious at the way I had behaved, and at Sümbul Agha, for advocating in my favour instead of defending her interests. Cariyes and Gözde alike looked at me and speculated whether I'd be in trouble or end up exiled to Eski Palace for upsetting one of the Kadins. Nilüfer sighed, she had been there to see it and was torn between annoyance at the way I had handled the situation, and pride.

"This could end up well. Or not." She warned me, again. I wondered about it myself. Valide Sultan had yet to call me to her apartments, so I figured it would be downplayed.

"She's lucky Hürrem Sultan hasn't tried to get rid of her in an active manner." Efsun scolded, pointing an accusing finger at me, midst sewing a kaftan. "You need to beware, Mihrişah. She'll cause you trouble soon enough." Oh, how I wish she hadn't cursed me. That same afternoon, as I walked back from the hammam with Nilüfer, cheerfully discussing some of the books I had received from the Sultan recently, we encountered the same Kadin we had discussed earlier in the day. Her pleasant expression soured immediately as she saw us bow. Hoping not to aggravate her mood further, I tried to move on, only for her to sidestep and put herself in my path. I felt cold seep into my veins, but kept my eyes down, while she glared at me with all the hatred she could muster. I maintained a pleasant countenance, smiling while feigning calm.

"Good afternoon, Sultana." Nilüfer and I intoned in unison, while she lowered her eyes, I stared Hürrem back. Allah knows why I felt the need to confront her, when I should have kept myself out of her sight and grasp. I chose poorly, in hindsight. Hürrem stared back, fury shining in her eyes. Her beautiful face was marred by the fierce scowl she wore every time she was unable to hide her true feelings.

"So, Mihrişah Hatun, do you believe yourself above me?" Hürrem slowly asked, her voice gentle, hiding a dangerous edge I could barely grasp. Nilüfer grew tense, grabbing my hand secretly and squeezing too hard her nails pierced my skin, warning me to be careful.

"No one is above Valide Sultan, my Sultana." I replied sweetly, not addressing her question directly. After all, I was under Valide's authority. She was referring to the incident where Sümbul Agha sent her packing to the harem while I visited Suleyman. "I do as the Sultan and Valide Sultan order." She shifted closer to me, in order to seem more threatening. Nilüfer shifted closer as well, and, stealthily, I grabbed her arm back and squeezed as warning. Do not move.

"I'm Suleyman's wife." She gloated. Not truly married, you're simply the mother of his children. I wanted to point out, but I held my tongue. "You are a mere Ikbal. Don't get above yourself." She warned me. As you do frequently? Again, I stopped myself from talking. Fear was a good way of keeping people on their toes, and she was used to getting her way around the harem. With me here, she saw someone she was unable to successfully bully. I wasn't actively insulting or blocking her, simply, I obeyed both Valide Sultan and Sultan Suleyman himself. And I didn't cower whenever we crossed paths, neither did I act offensively. Yet, she wouldn't respect my neutral stance, and the incident with Sümbul Agha was one of the moments I was forced to be offensive and defensive at the same time. At that moment, a poor kalfa was rushing by, carrying a large tray of foodstuffs, and frantically attempting to pass us on her errand. Unfortunately, that caught Hürrem's attention. With a wide gesture, the Kadin sent the tray flying, spreading the food scattering around the small courtyard, the plates clattering on the floor noisily. The poor kalfa fell on her knees, then stared at the ruined food and plate. Of course, we were surrounded by people, so they watched, aghast. Then, the Kadin turned to me, smiling.

"Clean it all." She ordered, smiling as if it were nothing. Nilüfer gaped, while the poor kalfa cowered nearby, staring between the scattered foods and dented plates, and the nasty Kadin. I, on the other hand, stared at Hürrem, one raised eyebrow. "Hurry, you don't have all day!" She gestured for me to hurry, her face back to the beautiful smile she usually wore in front of the Sultan. Nigar Kalfa, who was part of Hürrem's entourage, made to interfere, but Hürrem waved her away. "Nigar, don't bother me." She snapped, unkindly, towards the servant who bore deep respect to her. I hated to see the mistreatment Nigar received, from both Kadins.

"Hürrem Sultan, I have told you to stop this kind of attitude." She hissed to the second Kadin, who ignored the Kalfa as if her words were nothing. I sighed and decided against offending her openly, instead turning to Nilüfer, who watched me. I stared back and willed my decision to her. Apparently, she understood, thank Allah, as she walked to the tray and began the morose task of gathering the scattered things. I, on the other hand, helped the poor kalfa to her feet and exchanged few words with her, making sure she was well and unhurt.

"I told you to tidy up, not that low Cariyes!" Hürrem screeched, moving as if to strike me. Nigar Kalfa grabbed her. I faced her fully, angry at this petulant woman. The kalfa cowered behind and, at that moment, I cared less about disrespect and more about putting the woman in her place. There goes my neutral stance...

"Nilüfer is not lowly." I told her bluntly. There went my restraint. "She's a good friend and servant. I value people, unlike you. As for presuming to be above you, you should look at yourself first. You have been presuming your place is above all, even Mahidevran Sultan. Have you paid others their due respect?" I spoke in low tones, making sure my words didn't carry out of our hearing range. Nigar Kalfa was torn between stopping me and holding Hürrem back.

"You lowlife bitch!" She screeched again, hurting my ears. Nigar and Esma had a hard time holding her back from me, while I ushered the poor kalfa on, after Nilüfer had gathered everything and handed her the tray to take back to the kitchen in hopes of replacing the food. "How dare you to speak to me in that manner?"

"Who are you to disrespect people?" I threw the question back to her. "To disrespect Mahidevran Sultan the way you do so frequently?" I had been in the harem long enough to see how the two Kadins faced one another. Poor Mahidevran ended up badly, due to the perfidious way she was treated and how Hürrem misled Suleyman when it came to his Bas Kadin. And speaking of the devil…

"What's going on?" Mahidevran Sultan arrived at that precise moment, calm and collected, and curious at our small gathering. Gülsah was right beside her, eyeing us all suspiciously. We bowed respectfully, and kept our heads respectfully bowed.

"My Sultana, Hürrem Sultan tripped a kalfa and bade us to pick up her mess." Nilüfer bluntly put it out. "The poor kalfa was unhurt, but it damaged good plates from the kitchen." She kept on meekly, and I smothered a smile. Mahidevran looked at Hürrem with open disdain.

"Is that it?" She asked calmly to Nigar Kalfa, who bobbed a timid nod, knowing it will bring Hürrem's wrath on her. She was trapped, regardless of what she replied. "I shall tell Sümbul Agha about this incident. In the meantime, Mihrişah Hatun, will you come with me?" I was confused, why did she request my company? I nodded and told Nilüfer to return to the seraglio quietly. Mahidevran Sultan and her entourage passed the fuming Kadin, and I felt protected, surrounded by other Cariyes and Gülsah. It was a strange day indeed. The Sultana and Gülsah spoke quietly as we walked, never addressing me. Only when we reached her chambers did they turn to me. Mahidevran took a seat on her divan and looked up at me.

"Well, Mihrişah Hatun?" She prompted, confusing me. What did she want?

"Yes, my Sultana?" I asked meekly, which was very unlike myself. I respected the Bas Kadin too much, despite the fact she was my rival. I saw her as a person to respect and fear. She smiled.

"Why is Hürrem so angry?" She asked more directly, accepting the tiny eggshell-like coffee cup from Gülsah. She sipped the dark, hot liquid, her expectant eyes on me. I sighed.

"The incident from several nights ago, I believe." Might as well speak it. I wasn't going to be let out of the room unless she received the entire truth. "Sultan refused her company, as you are aware-" I needled, since it had been the most talked incident as of lately. "Sümbul Agha interfered, as I had been summoned and she was the one turning me away. It galled her to be replaced by an Ikbal." Mahidevran was highly amused. I can see the scene being payback to the horrendous woman who made her life hell for the last few years, replacing her completely in Sultan's affections. Now I held the Padişah in thrall, replacing the russelana and diminishing her influence. I tried my best to do it covertly, as Valide Sultan had requested. If it helped both Mahidevran Sultan and Mustafa, then it was good. Gülsah smiled wide.

"No wonder Hürrem Sultan is so dejected." Gülsah's tone was victorious. "I guess it's her just desserts." Mahidevran's glared shut her up.

"Well, either way, she's a Kadin." Mahidevran was not one to defend her rival, yet she knew if an Ikbal dared to oppose one Kadin, others could be tempted to do it to her. "She's to be respected. Remember this, Hatun."

"I try, my Sultana." I hated to whine, but it did come out without thinking. "She makes it hard to be pleasant."

"I know…" She sighed, sipping more of her coffee. "How I know…"

I returned to the seraglio, and the latest incident was already spreading through the girls of the harem. I was bombarded by questions, while some threw their opinions in the air. My closest friends worried what it portended, whereas others were more pessimist about my immediate future.

"You're going to last little!" One taunted. "Hürrem's going to have you thrown to the Eski Palace!"

"I doubt she's going to be that safe!" Another joined. "She's going to have you throw in the Bosphorus in a weighted sack!" Nilüfer hissed and threw a cushion at this girl, who simply laughed and threw another cushion to Nilüfer, but ended up hitting one of the Gözde. Shrieking, the Gözde threw her own pillow at the Cariyes, only to fail in hitting her target, striking her neighbour instead. With this, cushions began flying through the air, shrieks of laughter and velvety feathers littered the room, as they enjoyed themselves in a brief romp of pillow fighting. Too brief, but enough for Nilüfer to grab me and us both giggling as we escaped the battlefield to the mezzanine's relative safety. And while under us kalfas bellowed for them to stop and clean up, we shared a few giggles and sweetmeats I kept in my room.

"She didn't want anything of importance." I assured Nilüfer, who enquired about the Sultana's sudden request. "Just to beware." I didn't want to go into details, since there was little to the interchange.

"She's right." Nilüfer told me between bites. "After all, Hürrem still has the ear of the Sultan. If he deems her grievances worthy of notice, you won't last long here."

"I know." The gravity of the situation didn't go unnoticed by me. If Suleyman decided I wasn't worth the trouble, I could end up banished. It was an outcome I hoped we would never face.

Like many nights, I was summoned to share Suleyman's night. I arrived with one of the poetry books he had given me, which I had taken the pleasure to memorise and recite in the middle of our lovemaking. Suleyman enjoyed making me struggle to recite as we took our pleasure, a new game we had invented to spice up our intimate time. When I arrived, he smiled and pointed to a pillow by his desk. He was working on new pieces of jewellery and I enquired about them, watching as he worked for some time before I sat down, opening my book and reading from the page marked by a ribbon. Silence stretched between us, comfortably. Occasionally, I heard his tools clink, his 'hmm'ing noise as he examined the gems and the pattern, adjusting as he progressed in the construction of the earrings. Suddenly, his voice broke the silence, and I turned my eyes up, from the book in my hands to his serious, yet calm face.

"Hürrem has complained about your conduct." Suleyman spoke suddenly, his clear eyes looking up to me from the piece he was producing. I blinked innocently. In between choosing and locking precious stones on the gold settings of his piece, he continued, concentration never faltering. "She says you are disrespectful publicly and turned Sümbul Agha against her." Now she pulls poor Sümbul into the fray, how ungraceful of her.

"My lord, I would never presume such." With slow movements and a calm demeanour, I closed my book and focused on him alone. "I have tried to keep myself out of the struggle in the Harem. Hürrem Sultan, however, likes to antagonise others in public. Poor Sümbul Agha has not been turned against her. He is neutral in the harem. He obeys the higher powers and not warring Sultanas." I told him candidly. "I love you too much to cause trouble. And I love Valide Sultan too much to wreak havoc in the harem. You have both given me much, it would be a poor repayment if I caused any kind of trouble for anyone…" I lowered my head as if repenting for a sinless action. I heard fabric rustling and his hand was under my chin, pulling me up to my feet. I dared look at him and saw kindness and amusement.

"I'm glad." He smiled and placed a kiss upon my lips. I lingered, keeping his lips on mine for a bit longer. Lust filled his eyes. "My Kadins are to be respected." You mean Hürrem. I heard it in between the words, he wouldn't say it like that in my presence, for some reason.

"I would never dream to be rude to the Kadins. But I shall defend myself if I feel threatened." I warned and he grinned. He didn't reproach me. Nor did he warn me against it, which led me to believe he wouldn't be too harsh in the case Hürrem complained next time, unlike what I had previously thought. For there would be a next time, and we both knew it. Suleyman tidied his table, putting away the excess gems, then turned to me. I dropped my book on the cushion and rose to meet him by his bed. Gently, always gently, he took my face in his large hands and kissed me. First tenderly, turning into passion quickly, an almost bruising kiss. When he ran out of air, he pulled back and his shining eyes devoured me first. Hürrem was long forgotten at that moment. We fell to bed and I strove to make him think of me, only me, for the next full day. She would be forgotten for the near future. But I burned all to my mind. I would not forget.

It was, at this turning point, I realised there was no way of working around Hürrem. She was too big of an obstacle to find a way around her without displacing her completely. And, at that moment, she saw me as the true threat I was. We became the biggest rivals within the Palace.

I would have to act more directly. I had to get rid of Hürrem before she would get rid of me.