2-5. Allies
"The Master of the Royal Bedchamber ordered us to return here," I say in answer to the other girls' questions about Hürrem's early return from the New Palace.
It's the truth, and I've no intention of elaborating further. I'm sure Gülsah, or Mahidevran herself, will soon let it be known how they sabotaged Hürrem's special night. Of course, they won't be so blatant as to admit their underhand plot, and Ibrahim's collusion, since that might incur the Valide's wrath. I'm beginning to comprehend the scale of the dirty tricks and politics played behind the genteel veils of the harem.
"I'm sure the sultan will call for you another night, Hürrem," I say when we are alone in the baths the next morning.
"I need more allies," says Hürrem in response.
"Allies?" I reply. "What do you mean?"
"Mahidevran and the favourites will not rest after their victory last night. They resent me for my lowly birth and because I speak Turkish with a strange accent. Nor do I believe the Valide really approves of me. On one hand she wants Suleiman to produce more heirs, but only with the right sort of concubine."
I can't deny the logic of Hürrem's assessment. If Mahidveran acted on her own last night, then her stunt risked incurring the Valide's anger; but perhaps the Valide had approved Mahidevran's move. The sultan is about to depart for war, and the Valide may not want him to spend his few remaining nights here in the company of what she sees as an unsuitable slave girl.
"Who do you propose to approach as an ally?" I ask.
"I need to have Sümbul Aga and Nigar Kalfa on my side," says Hürrem. "And someone close to the Valide."
"How do you propose the win them over to your cause," I ask. "You have no money for bribes unless you sell the sultan's gifts. He might not like it if you sell his gifts."
"I agree. I would never do that in any case. In exchange for their help now, I shall promise Sümbul and Nigar great rewards once I am the haseki."
I'm flabbergasted at Hürrem's ambitious goal. I never knew Hürrem aspired to rise so high in the palace hierarchy. She is not simply aiming to become a sultana like Mahidevran, but to claim the rarely used title of haseki … the sultan's principal and most favoured sultana. It's a harem position only second in power to that of the Valide.
During our training we have been encouraged to set our sights on the lower status of favourite or concubine. Traditionally, any girl who gives birth to a male Ottoman heir gains admission to the royal household and the right to be called Sultana. But tradition is not always followed when it suits the Valide. Although rare, it isn't unheard of for a male heir to be raised by a governess while the unfortunate mother is exiled to some remote corner of the empire. Even if Hürrem is allowed to raise her son, there is no guarantee she will receive the stipend she is due. While the sultan has the power to dictate how much each palace resident receives in pay, the Valide normally determines the stipend paid to each of the women of the Imperial Harem, including the sultanas.
"You will need the Valide on your side as well," I say.
"In time. Yes," replies Hürrem. "For now I shall content myself with someone close to her."
"Who?" I ask. "Daye Hatun is loyal to the Valide. You'll not get her to side with you against the Valide."
"I know," replies Hürrem. "But Daye Hatun is at least fair minded. She'll not go against an order from the Valide, but she might be swayed to argue in my favour when the Valide asks for her opinion."
"And how do you propose to sway Daye Hatun to your side," I say.
"I don't know at the moment. For now I will be friendly and helpful to her. To Gülfem as well. Something may happen to enable me to win their favour."
We are late for our lessons, but Nigar Kalfa doesn't reprimand us. Hürrem and I settle down to a routine morning of lessons. However, our day doesn't stay routine for long. When we break for our snack at midday we discover Gülsah has spread the word about Mahidevran's coup last night to the favourites. For the first time Hürrem and I can gauge which of the favourites are supporters of Mahidevran and whom are more sympathetic to Hürrem's plight. To our surprise, Ayşe is in the latter group and she doesn't participate in the teasing and insults some of the favourites heap on Hürrem.
The teasing stops abruptly when Hatice enters our part of the harem from the royal wing. She too must have heard of Mahidevran's activities and clearly Hatice doesn't approve.
"If you girls have nothing better to do then there are dresses that need mending," snaps Hatice to the favourites.
The favourites disperse quickly and return to their rooms. Hatice's comment gives me an idea.
"Once the war begins I suspect there will be a shortage of new dresses and material," I say to Hürrem. "Perhaps if we offer to mend Gülfem's or Hatice's dresses you might be able to gain their favour."
Hürrem nods in agreement, but her attention is directed towards Sümbul Aga who is approaching us in an unseemly rush.
"Sultan Suleiman Khan has ordered that you prepare yourself for tonight, Hürrem," says Sümbul Aga. "You are to walk he golden path again."
Hürrem gives a smile as though she knew all along that Sultan Suleiman would call for her tonight. I suspect her response is simply to let the other girls know that Mahidevran's victory last night was only a temporary setback to Hürrem's ambitions. I escort Hürrem to the baths to start her preparations while the same girls who helped yesterday are summoned to assist with the preparations.
That evening we follow the same procedure as yesterday. We enter the New Palace through the same side door, and walk the same corridors to the sultan's bedchamber. This time there is only Ibrahim and the two door guards outside the sultan's room. Ibrahim and Sümbul Aga exchange polite greetings while we wait nervously. Ibrahim enters the room to inform the sultan of Hürrem's arrival. Moments later Ibrahim returns and signals for Hürrem to enter the room. She takes a deep breath and steadies her nerves before walking gracefully into the room. The guards close the door behind her. Ibrahim leaves at once for his own room, which is next door to the sultan's bedchamber.
Sümbul Aga, Esme and I wait patiently in the corridor in case Sultan Suleiman changes his mind and dismisses Hürrem. We must stand quietly and not fidget. It is an agonising wait, both for our tiring limbs and our curiosity at what might be happening on the other side of the door. After nearly an hour Sümbul Aga decides that we no longer need to wait in the corridor and takes us to a nearby room.
"I shall return to the Old Palace," says Sümbul Aga. "You are to wait in this room until Hürrem leaves his majesty's room. Listen for a knock on the door; it will be the signal from one of the guards that Hürrem is ready to leave. You should then escort Hürrem to the door where the carriage left us. One of the servants stationed at the door will arrange for you to be escorted back to the Old Palace."
The room is small but comfortable, consisting of a small table between two low divans which double as seats or beds as required. A small bowl of fruit and a pitcher of water have been placed on the table for our use. A tiny side room provides facilities to answer a call of nature if necessary. We make ourselves as comfortable as possible, given that we might be called upon at any minute. However I think it could be a long night.
Although Esme and I had planned to take turns to sleep, tiredness eventually overcomes us and we both fall asleep. Fortunately for us there is no knock on the door in the middle of the night. It is daylight and we are both awake when the awaited summons occurs. We quickly straighten our clothes and hair, and rush out into the corridor where Hürrem is already waiting. She looks very pleased with herself and doesn't mind the delay in our arrival. I relay Sümbul Aga's instructions about our return journey to Hürrem and she leads the three of us along the corridors to the side door of the palace.
An hour later we are back in the harem. Most of the girls are at lessons or performing other duties, so Hürrem has time to freshen up before she faces a gauntlet of questions. When we leave the baths we find Daye Hatun waiting for us.
"The Valide wishes to see you, Hürrem," says Daye Hatun. "Come with me."
Hürrem leaves with Daye Hatun. Esme and I should go to our lessons, but we have had nothing to eat but a few pieces of fruit since our midday snack yesterday. We decide to go to the kitchen first. We have both visited the harem kitchen often enough that we know who in the kitchen can be approached for some titbits of food. Strictly speaking we are breaking the harem rules and could be punished, but all the girls try to scrounge some extra food at one time or another. We are in luck. A friendly cook hands us some bread and cheese which we quickly devour in the kitchen. Esme and I then leave for our lessons.
We next see Hürrem when our lessons end for the midday snack. She refuses to say much about her time with the sultan and is very vague about the details every girl in the harem wants to know. Daye Hatun and Sümbul Aga join us before we finish our snack.
"His majesty has sent you a gift, Hürrem," says Daye Hatun as she hands a small box to Hürrem.
Hürrem opens the box to reveal a beautiful ruby and diamond necklace. There is a collective gasp of surprise from around the room. I help Hürrem try it on while Esme fetches a tray which we can use as a mirror.
"You are very fortunate indeed, Hürrem," says Sümbul Aga. "You should consider wearing it tonight. His majesty has called for you again. Gülnihal. Esme. You will accompany Hürrem again this evening. Now, enough of this chatter. Everybody get on with your afternoon duties."
We repeat the preparations of yesterday. This time Esme and I make sure we have plenty to eat before we leave. Hürrem is only allowed a light snack in case Sultan Suleiman wishes to have a meal with her. We are ready in plenty of time.
"What did the Valide want with you this morning?" I ask Hürrem.
"She warned me against wanting too much from my time with her son. I think she was trying to make sure I don't expect to rise above my station in the harem."
"What did you say?" I ask.
"I thanked her for her advice and said that I will do all that I can to please Sultan Suleiman. Any reward I may receive will be his alone to grant."
Sümbul Aga arrives to escort us to the New Palace. We follow the same procedure as last night except we don't bother waiting in the corridor for more than a few minutes after Hürrem is admitted into the sultan's bedchamber. It is nearly nine o'clock the next morning before Hürrem is ready to return to the Old Palace.
To everyone's surprise, the sultan calls for Hürrem the next night and the night after that. I think he would have called for her the following night, but the preparations for war finally intrude on his time.