dryly.
“The relation is not close, Sarah doesn’t even know her. The girl is the niece of Sarah’s cousin’s wife. Were you aware of this when you took her?”
Malik shook his head. “I saw that she was young and beautiful and knew she would bring a fine price on the slave market.”
“Then why haven’t you sold her?” Kalid demanded, watching the younger man’s face.
Malik looked away. “I tried. I couldn’t do it.”
The barmaid brought their drinks and Kalid handed her a coin.
When she left he leaned forward and said, “I’ll give you ten thousand if you’ll keep Amelia safe for three weeks and then turn her over to me at the end of that time.”
Malik stared at him, unable to speak.
“I mean it,” Kalid said. “I have the money with me.”
“Why?” Malik finally said.
“If you hold her that long the Sultan will be convinced that I was reluctant to pay the ransom and had to think about it, finally relenting in response to pressure from my wife.” He smiled. “It is well known that I indulge her, and sexual persuasion is a concept the Sultan will understand.”
Malik nodded, his mind racing.
“I want to avoid any appearance of collusion in the kidnapping,” Kalid said, “and there is another reason.” He took a sip of the boza. “The Sultan has convened a meeting of all the district pashas for the twentieth. I hope to win some concessions for Bursa at that time, and if Hammid thinks I’m still holding out on your extortion demands he’ll be in a more favorable mood.”
“Everyone says that you play him like an instrument,” Malik said admiringly.
“I have to, agha,” Kalid said, addressing Malik by the title that his men used for him. “He still has the janissaries, and they could lay waste to Bursa in a few days. The people rely on me to protect them. When I decide to fight it will be when I’ve eliminated Hammid’s personal army and am poised to win.”
“Anybody else in your position would be long gone, living in luxury in a townhouse in London,” Malik said.
“I’m not anybody else,” Kalid replied shortly.
“Where is the money?”
“Here.” Kalid lifted a leather bag onto the distressed wooden table. “I’m giving it to you now as a contribution to your cause because I think you may have need of it soon.”
“Why? What do you know?”
“I received a tip yesterday from one of my paid informants. The Sultan is planning a raid on the Armenian section in Constantinople. He suspects the Armenians of working with you.”
“When?”
“At dawn on Thursday. If you want to keep your allies there alive to fight another day, send reinforcements in the night before and have them ready and waiting for the attack.”
Malik took the bag of money and stood. “When we move against the Sultan I’ll make sure you’re warned in enough time to get your family out safely,” he said.
“When you move against the Sultan I’ll be with you,” Kalid replied.
Malik extended his hand and Kalid clasped it. Their eyes met and held.
“I’ll wager Amelia’s a handful, isn’t she?” Kalid said, his expression mischievous.
Malik nodded, smiling slightly.
“So was my wife, but well worth the trouble, I assure you. Take care of Amy.”
Malik nodded. He understood.
“Good luck on Thursday. I’ll send word to the camp with Moamar when and where you can meet me to release the girl.” Kalid rose and walked out of the shop.
Malik watched Shah’s wide shoulders disappear through the narrow doorway. Malik’s pulse was pounding, his fingers knotted around the purse in his hands.
He had heard many amazing stories about the young pasha of Bursa.
Now he knew they were true.
* * *
When Malik returned to the camp that evening he sent Matka out of his tent and ordered the guards away from the area. Amy watched, puzzled, as he knelt on the ground before her and pulled his knife from the sheath at his waist.
She drew in her breath, her eyes widening.
He slashed
“The relation is not close, Sarah doesn’t even know her. The girl is the niece of Sarah’s cousin’s wife. Were you aware of this when you took her?”
Malik shook his head. “I saw that she was young and beautiful and knew she would bring a fine price on the slave market.”
“Then why haven’t you sold her?” Kalid demanded, watching the younger man’s face.
Malik looked away. “I tried. I couldn’t do it.”
The barmaid brought their drinks and Kalid handed her a coin.
When she left he leaned forward and said, “I’ll give you ten thousand if you’ll keep Amelia safe for three weeks and then turn her over to me at the end of that time.”
Malik stared at him, unable to speak.
“I mean it,” Kalid said. “I have the money with me.”
“Why?” Malik finally said.
“If you hold her that long the Sultan will be convinced that I was reluctant to pay the ransom and had to think about it, finally relenting in response to pressure from my wife.” He smiled. “It is well known that I indulge her, and sexual persuasion is a concept the Sultan will understand.”
Malik nodded, his mind racing.
“I want to avoid any appearance of collusion in the kidnapping,” Kalid said, “and there is another reason.” He took a sip of the boza. “The Sultan has convened a meeting of all the district pashas for the twentieth. I hope to win some concessions for Bursa at that time, and if Hammid thinks I’m still holding out on your extortion demands he’ll be in a more favorable mood.”
“Everyone says that you play him like an instrument,” Malik said admiringly.
“I have to, agha,” Kalid said, addressing Malik by the title that his men used for him. “He still has the janissaries, and they could lay waste to Bursa in a few days. The people rely on me to protect them. When I decide to fight it will be when I’ve eliminated Hammid’s personal army and am poised to win.”
“Anybody else in your position would be long gone, living in luxury in a townhouse in London,” Malik said.
“I’m not anybody else,” Kalid replied shortly.
“Where is the money?”
“Here.” Kalid lifted a leather bag onto the distressed wooden table. “I’m giving it to you now as a contribution to your cause because I think you may have need of it soon.”
“Why? What do you know?”
“I received a tip yesterday from one of my paid informants. The Sultan is planning a raid on the Armenian section in Constantinople. He suspects the Armenians of working with you.”
“When?”
“At dawn on Thursday. If you want to keep your allies there alive to fight another day, send reinforcements in the night before and have them ready and waiting for the attack.”
Malik took the bag of money and stood. “When we move against the Sultan I’ll make sure you’re warned in enough time to get your family out safely,” he said.
“When you move against the Sultan I’ll be with you,” Kalid replied.
Malik extended his hand and Kalid clasped it. Their eyes met and held.
“I’ll wager Amelia’s a handful, isn’t she?” Kalid said, his expression mischievous.
Malik nodded, smiling slightly.
“So was my wife, but well worth the trouble, I assure you. Take care of Amy.”
Malik nodded. He understood.
“Good luck on Thursday. I’ll send word to the camp with Moamar when and where you can meet me to release the girl.” Kalid rose and walked out of the shop.
Malik watched Shah’s wide shoulders disappear through the narrow doorway. Malik’s pulse was pounding, his fingers knotted around the purse in his hands.
He had heard many amazing stories about the young pasha of Bursa.
Now he knew they were true.
* * *
When Malik returned to the camp that evening he sent Matka out of his tent and ordered the guards away from the area. Amy watched, puzzled, as he knelt on the ground before her and pulled his knife from the sheath at his waist.
She drew in her breath, her eyes widening.
He slashed
Similar Books
