hands.
It was only after assurances were made that her son would remain with her for a few more months, a few weeks, a few days, it was only then that she let the Sultan enter her chamber.
But one cold night, frustrated by the obstinance of the woman that he loved, he had his men break down her door. Shouting was heard as the shattering of clay pots and vessels sounded throughout the quiet compound. The next day, Nur-Banu’s door was replaced with a thick, velvet curtain, and Murat was informed that he was to be sent away. He was a man and could no longer live among women and boys.
Murat said goodbye to his mother and sisters then gathered his things from the Sultana’s apartment. He was given his own quarters with servants, butlers, and beautiful slaves. And yet he thought only of Tamar. He had to find a way to see her again.
*
As he walked along one of the servants’ paths, Murat spotted Jaffar not far in the distance. The Ethiopian eunuch had just rounded the corner disappearing behind a thick wall of tall hedges leading up towards the kitchen quarters. “Jaffar!” Murat called out as he quickened his pace. “Jaffar!”
The eunuch spun around to face Murat. “ Effendi , what are you doing here?”
“How are you, Jaffar?” Murat attempted to sound casual.
The eunuch’s expression stiffened. “Is there something I can help you with, Effendi ?”
Murat took a step back and cleared his throat. “I just thought you might have some news from the harem.”
“It’s only been a month, Effendi .”
“Much can happen in a month’s time.”
“You know, most boys can’t wait to graduate from the harem and live their lives as men, but you, you’re different, aren’t you, Murat?”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand—”
“You want to find a way to sneak back in. To see the girl. You’re plotting and scheming this very instant, and you think I can help.”
“Can you?” Murat leapt at the suggestion.
“Of course not,” said Jaffar. “Are you trying to get me executed?”
Murat’s posture withered.
The eunuch shook his head and dug his walking staff into the dirt. “There may be another way.”
Murat looked up with pleading eyes. He was sure his heart had skipped a beat.
“Soon the girl will turn fifteen. Her education in the harem is coming to an end. She’s going home, Effendi , so there is no point in trying to sneak your way back in.”
“When is this happening? When does she leave?”
“In seven days time, I’m to escort her back to her father’s house.”
Murat looked around. “Here.” He pointed to a tall pomegranate tree than pushed away its branches and disappeared beneath it. “Can you see me?” Murat called out from behind the wall of leaves.
“You are well hidden, Effendi. No one can see you there.”
Murat emerged and was standing by the eunuch once more. “Then this is where I will wait. Bring her to me.”
“You know that I can’t.”
“Do me this favor. I’ll remember your kindness one day when I am sultan.”
Jaffar seemed to mull it over. “All right. Just this once. After the sun goes down, at the time when it is no longer day, but not yet night.”
Murat clasped his hands together loudly. “Thank you, Jaffar! I won’t forget this.”
The eunuch turned away and frowned. “I already wish you would.”
Seven days later, just before sundown, Murat took his place in the brush of the tree and waited for Tamar. While he waited, kitchen staff bustled past with rattling, silver trays. Sacks of rice and grains were transported towards the imperial kitchen in wagons pulled by donkeys and servants. To pass the time, he began to count the heels of servants and princes passing by. When he reached sixty, he looked up. The moon was bright but he couldn’t make out even a single star in the pale sky.
Somewhere in the heavens, his and Tamar’s star signs overlapped. He’d just come from Sheik Suca’s dark sanctuary in the second courtyard of
It was only after assurances were made that her son would remain with her for a few more months, a few weeks, a few days, it was only then that she let the Sultan enter her chamber.
But one cold night, frustrated by the obstinance of the woman that he loved, he had his men break down her door. Shouting was heard as the shattering of clay pots and vessels sounded throughout the quiet compound. The next day, Nur-Banu’s door was replaced with a thick, velvet curtain, and Murat was informed that he was to be sent away. He was a man and could no longer live among women and boys.
Murat said goodbye to his mother and sisters then gathered his things from the Sultana’s apartment. He was given his own quarters with servants, butlers, and beautiful slaves. And yet he thought only of Tamar. He had to find a way to see her again.
*
As he walked along one of the servants’ paths, Murat spotted Jaffar not far in the distance. The Ethiopian eunuch had just rounded the corner disappearing behind a thick wall of tall hedges leading up towards the kitchen quarters. “Jaffar!” Murat called out as he quickened his pace. “Jaffar!”
The eunuch spun around to face Murat. “ Effendi , what are you doing here?”
“How are you, Jaffar?” Murat attempted to sound casual.
The eunuch’s expression stiffened. “Is there something I can help you with, Effendi ?”
Murat took a step back and cleared his throat. “I just thought you might have some news from the harem.”
“It’s only been a month, Effendi .”
“Much can happen in a month’s time.”
“You know, most boys can’t wait to graduate from the harem and live their lives as men, but you, you’re different, aren’t you, Murat?”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand—”
“You want to find a way to sneak back in. To see the girl. You’re plotting and scheming this very instant, and you think I can help.”
“Can you?” Murat leapt at the suggestion.
“Of course not,” said Jaffar. “Are you trying to get me executed?”
Murat’s posture withered.
The eunuch shook his head and dug his walking staff into the dirt. “There may be another way.”
Murat looked up with pleading eyes. He was sure his heart had skipped a beat.
“Soon the girl will turn fifteen. Her education in the harem is coming to an end. She’s going home, Effendi , so there is no point in trying to sneak your way back in.”
“When is this happening? When does she leave?”
“In seven days time, I’m to escort her back to her father’s house.”
Murat looked around. “Here.” He pointed to a tall pomegranate tree than pushed away its branches and disappeared beneath it. “Can you see me?” Murat called out from behind the wall of leaves.
“You are well hidden, Effendi. No one can see you there.”
Murat emerged and was standing by the eunuch once more. “Then this is where I will wait. Bring her to me.”
“You know that I can’t.”
“Do me this favor. I’ll remember your kindness one day when I am sultan.”
Jaffar seemed to mull it over. “All right. Just this once. After the sun goes down, at the time when it is no longer day, but not yet night.”
Murat clasped his hands together loudly. “Thank you, Jaffar! I won’t forget this.”
The eunuch turned away and frowned. “I already wish you would.”
Seven days later, just before sundown, Murat took his place in the brush of the tree and waited for Tamar. While he waited, kitchen staff bustled past with rattling, silver trays. Sacks of rice and grains were transported towards the imperial kitchen in wagons pulled by donkeys and servants. To pass the time, he began to count the heels of servants and princes passing by. When he reached sixty, he looked up. The moon was bright but he couldn’t make out even a single star in the pale sky.
Somewhere in the heavens, his and Tamar’s star signs overlapped. He’d just come from Sheik Suca’s dark sanctuary in the second courtyard of
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