2-3. Reward and punishment
The next morning we are roused from our slumber at the usual time. As we dress and prepare ourselves for another day, the numerous conversations around us are all about last night's performance. Since those of us who were dancing are newcomers, and lack sufficient fluency with the Turkish language, we must allow those who were the musicians to tell the story. They prove to be our harshest critics, highlighting our every mistake. Even Hürrem's performance is criticised, although I doubt last night's audience would agree with the girls' comments. We are saved from further embarrassment by the arrival of Sümbul Aga and Nigar Kalfa.
"Stop this idle chattering," orders Sümbul Aga. "Get this place tidied up. Quickly. The Valide will be arriving at any moment to inspect you all."
The threat of an inspection by the Valide has the desired effect. All thoughts about last night's performance are brushed aside as we nervously put away our bedding and finish our ablutions. The slower girls are still not ready when the Valide enters the harem with her daughter, Hatice, and Daye Hatun by her side. Fortunately there is no sign of Mahidevran or her maids.
"Line up, girls," orders Nigar Kalfa. We quickly form a single line on one side of the central aisle.
We needn't have worried. The Valide's inspection is only superficial and her complaints about us are relatively mild. She doesn't bother to inspect the favourites on the upper level of the harem. Her visit this morning must be for another reason. She wasn't at last night's entertainment and it is surely too early in the morning for her to have received any report about our performance.
"Those girls who performed during last night's entertainment are to stand over here," orders the Valide.
The five musicians and six dancers quickly move across the aisle and turn to face the other girls. Hürrem and I stand at one end of the line. The eleven of us stand waiting for the Valide to continue but she simply stands there waiting. We don't wait long before one of the agas loudly announces that Sultan Suleiman is entering the harem.
It's the first time I've seen the sultan enter our part of the harem. We all bow as he enters. He stops to greet his mother and sister. I risk a quick look at Hürrem and nearly gasp in surprise. She has taken out the purple handkerchief the sultan gave her last night, and is clutching it in her hands.
The sultan doesn't spend too long talking with his mother and begins a slow walk along our line. He stops at each girl and compliments her on her performance last night, either as a musician or as a dancer. He doesn't need reminding which girl performed which task. The sultan gives each girl a necklace, ring or broach from the bag he is carrying before moving on to the next girl. Despite all our training in docility and obedience, the recipient of each gift can't curb a squeal of joy. The look of jealousy from the line of girls facing us is unmistakable.
Finally he reaches the end of the line where Hürrem and I are standing. He smiles briefly at Hürrem before passing her to stand in front of me. The girls standing opposite clearly think Hürrem has displeased the sultan, and is being snubbed. I suddenly remember that during this morning's chatter, no mention was made about Hürrem being awarded the purple handkerchief. I barely register the words the sultan says to me, but I bow low and gratefully accept the beautiful necklace he gives me.
Sultan Suleiman then returns to Hürrem. He smiles and reaches forward to take her hands in his own. He sees the purple handkerchief in her grip and he gives a gentle laugh. Hürrem is torn between letting the handkerchief fall to the floor in order to allow the sultan to hold her hands, or keep her hands in a fist. He resolves Hurrem's dilemma by taking the handkerchief from her grip and tucking one corner between her breasts. The remainder of the handkerchief dangles down her front, so that everyone can see she what she earned last night. There is a gasp of surprise from around the room.
"You had best look after this, my dear," says the sultan to Hürrem. "I'd hate for you to misplace it and deny me the pleasure of your company."
Hürrem simply smiles and nods in response. I don't know if she understands all the words the sultan spoke, but she clearly senses the meaning. The sultan reaches into his bag and produces a ruby necklace and a matching ring which he gives to Hürrem. She finds her voice long enough to thank him and drops into a graceful curtsey. For a moment I fear that she might swoon into his arms, which would certainly displease the Valide. As it is, she is watching Hürrem like a hawk. I can't tell if she is pleased or angry that Hürrem has received the purple handkerchief. She shows no sign of shock, so I presume Sümbul Aga had forewarned her about the handkerchief.
The sultan doesn't spend much longer with us and soon leaves to attend to whatever business awaits him. Once he has left the harem, all the girls begin to talk at the same time. Excitement temporarily overrides our training in obedience. For once the Valide allows the excitement to continue for a few moments before calling for silence. When she does call for order, everyone is quickly brought back into line.
"A good evening's work, girls," says the Valide to the eleven of us. "Your instructors will undoubtedly find room for improvement, but at least you didn't disgrace yourselves. This afternoon, we shall hold a celebration in the harem in your honour."
The Valide never goes overboard with her praise, and we take her comments as a compliment. A celebration in the harem is a rare treat and will keep the kitchen busy for the next few hours.
"Hürrem. Put that handkerchief away and come with me," says the Valide.
Hürrem quickly obeys and follows the Valide, Hatice, and Daye Hatun out of the room.
"Get on with your duties, girls," says Nigar Kalfa. "You can gossip this afternoon."
I join a small group of girls as we follow Nigar Kalfa to one of the training rooms. Hürrem should be attending this lesson, but we don't see her for the rest of the morning. With the celebration scheduled for this afternoon, we are only permitted a short break for our midday snack. Once our lessons are finished, I risk asking Nigar Kalfa about Hürrem's whereabouts.
"She will be receiving additional instruction from the Valide," replies Nigar Kalfa. "On one hand, the Valide will be pleased that her son is making use of his harem, on the other, she will be alarmed that he has selected an inexperienced girl of low birth."
"But why should the Valide care so much about the sultan's bedtime activities?" asks Efsun.
"She wishes to ensure the continuation of the Ottoman dynasty. The death of Gülfem's son means only Mahidevran's son, Mustafa, is left to succeed Sultan Suleiman. An illness or accident to both could end the sultan's line and plunge the empire into a bloody war of succession."
"Surely Gülfem or Mahidevran can produce another son for him?" I ask.
"Tradition prevents the sultan from having further children with either of them," replies Nigar Kalfa. "Gülfem lost her son, so she is considered ill omened; and Mahidevran's duty is to protect and raise her son to be capable of ruling the empire. No woman of the royal household is placed in a situation of having her loyalties divided between two sons. Only one son will succeed the sultan; all his half-brothers will be executed to avoid civil war. It's the empire's way."
"What has Hürrem's parentage to do with anything?" I ask. "Aren't we all slaves here in the harem?"
"Yes, we are all slaves," says Nigar Kalfa. "But not all girls come here from the slave markets. Regional governors and merchants sometimes prove their friendship and loyalty by offering one of their daughters to the sultan. They become slaves, but they have certain advantages over other girls. They already know how to behave in the company of their betters, and are usually well educated before they come here. Gülfem and Mahidevran are both daughters of local beys; the Valide is the sister of the current Crimean Khan."
Nigar Kalfa halts further questions and we all return to the harem to prepare for this afternoon's celebration. Hürrem enters the harem a short while later. I'm about to go over and talk to her when I see Ayşe and some of the other favourites have Hürrem surrounded. I can't hear their words, but I sense from their body language that they are not pleased that Hürrem has attracted the sultan's attention. Nigar Kalfa notices what is happening and quickly intervenes. Since the favourites rank higher than a kalfa in the harem hierarchy, Nigar Kalfa cannot demand that they leave Hürrem alone. Nevertheless she skilfully starts to defuse the tension building between the favourites and Hürrem. I just hope Hürrem doesn't let her fiery temper ruin this afternoon. Hitting one of the favourites would be disastrous, even if the favourite goaded Hürrem into striking her. Unfortunately I can see Hürrem is struggling to keep control of her emotions.
A particularly nasty barb from Ayşe breaks Hürrem's self control. Hürrem shoves Ayşe hard enough to push her back a couple of steps. Instead of fighting back, Ayşe calls for the agas.
"This girl attacked me," says Ayşe when Sümbul Aga arrives. "I demand that she be punished. She must be thrown in the dungeon."
Sümbul Aga looks worried. He's clearly unwilling to do as Ayşe demands. But she's one of the sultan's favourites, so her orders can't simply be ignored. Sümbul Aga turns to Hürrem and tells her to come with him. Hürrem fortunately has the good sense to obey his command.
"Stop!" comes a call from the balcony above us. "I saw what happened. I shall deal with this matter."
We look up and see Hatice standing there. Sümbul Aga gives a sigh of relief. The sultana walks along the balcony to the stairs at the far end, and comes down to the lower level of the harem.
"Ayşe. Hürrem. Come here," says Hatice while she is still at the other end of the harem.
Both girls obey without hesitation. We can't hear their conversation but it seems Hatice has demanded that each girl must apologise to the other. They apologise with apparent good grace and Hatice announces that the matter is closed. I doubt very much that either Ayşe or Hürrem will forget the incident, but for the moment they have called a truce. Hürrem walks over to join Efsun, Esme and I.
"Where have you been this morning?" I ask.
"Learning how to behave in the sultan's bedchamber," smiles Hürrem. "Tomorrow night I shall be putting it into practise. Suleiman won't think about Ayşe ever again once I've finished with him."