Captive of the Harem by Anne Herries

Author:Anne Herries
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2012-09-22T06:59:10.056349+00:00

Chapter Eight

‘Suleiman and the Caliph must both die,’ Abu said, eyes

glowing like black diamonds. ‘For, if one lived, retribution would

be swift. Our only hope is to take them by surprise—and by

taking this hunting trip together they play into our hands.’

He glanced round at the faces of the men who had been

bribed to join him—the Caliph’s second son Hasan, four of

Hasan’s guards and two of Suleiman’s own men. Abu was not

entirely certain of these two, though they were afraid of him.

Both had lain with Fatima, which meant they would be put to

death if their crime were discovered. She was insatiable, and

even when she had been Suleiman’s favourite, she had craved

sexual pleasure with others. Abu had arranged for her to lie with

these two in return for help with the disappearance of a woman

from the harem.

‘We shal kil them both—and when they are dead I shal rule

in my father’s place,’ Hasan said, his cruel mouth narrowed in a

sneer. ‘And you shal be my chief adviser, Abu. You may have a

free hand in disposing of Suleiman’s concubines.’

Abu inclined his head, his features expressionless. He knew

he could not hope to become Caliph himself, but he could

control this weak fool and rule through him. He moistened his

lips with the tip of his tongue at the thought of the power he

would hold.

‘I shal make you more powerful than your father,’ he

promised. ‘Only play your part, Hasan, and within two days you

shal be Caliph…’

‘Yes, yes…’ Hasan’s weak face glowed with the thought of

his triumph over the brother who had always taken precedence

over him in their father’s favour. ‘And then I shal dispose of al

my enemies…’

‘Why do you come to me with this tale, Bayezid?’ Suleiman’s

eyes narrowed as they fixed on his younger brother. ‘I know

wel that you do not like Hasan—why should I believe your

story? It might be that you wish to make trouble for him.’

‘I cannot make you believe my story,’ Bayezid said. ‘I can

only tel you that I have seen Hasan and Abu together. They

thought they had concealed their meeting, but I came upon them

behind the stables of the Janissaries, and I heard something. I do

not know what it means, but I believe they intend to kil you

during the hunting trip with our father.’

‘And you do not wish to see me kiled?’

‘They would also need to kil our father, and I respect the

Caliph because he is a good and just man—and I would like to

be as he is one day if I can earn the respect of others and be

given a position of trust.’

Suleiman nodded. Bayezid was young and studious and,

although he knew there was envy and hatred between Hasan and

Bayezid, he was inclined to believe his story—especialy as he

had known Abu must have had help from inside the palace to

make his escape. He had thought Abu must have gone long ago,

but now he realised the renegade was hiding somewhere within

the palace grounds. Clearly he was waiting his chance to do

more mischief.

Suleiman could instigate a thorough search, root out the

culprits and punish them—or he could alow the conspirators to

go ahead with their treachery and have them taken in the act.

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