Next, Mehmed named the viziers of the empire, calling them before the throne one by one. As they were called, each man stepped forward in turn and bowed low. 'Halil Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire,' Mehmed began, confirming Halil in his place. Mehmed still resented Halil's role in calling Murad back to the throne years ago, but there was no doubting the grand vizier's usefulness. To moderate Halil's influence, Mehmed named two of his rivals, Saruja Pasha and Zaganos Pasha, as assistant viziers. Finally, he confirmed as Chief Eunuch and Assistant Vizier Shehab ed-Din, his one remaining confidant from his earlier brief rule.
Mehmed turned now to the women of the harem and beckoned them to step forward. Sitt Hatun came first, offering her condolences for his father's death and congratulating him on his ascendance to the throne. Gulbehar followed, and Mehmed had to concentrate to keep the impassive face of a sultan when greeting her. After his own wives, came the widows of Murad: first his newest wife, the childless Christian Mara of Serbia, whom Mehmed ordered sent back to her father; and then Hadije, Murad's favourite and the mother of his youngest son. She was young, younger even than Mehmed, and she cried as she spoke, her voice trembling and broken. Mehmed wondered if the tears were for her deceased husband, or if she already knew the fate of her son. For even as he accepted Hadije's condolences and compliments, Mehmed's servants were in the harem, drowning her young son Ahmet in his bath. Mehmed bore the boy no hatred, but he was a possible rival for the throne, and as such, had to die.
Finally, Mehmed turned to the mass of nobles in the hall. 'Emirs, beys, pashas – lords of the empire, you have my thanks for your presence here today,' he began. 'You served my father well, and I too will have need of your service soon enough. For I swear to you now on the holy Koran that as your sultan, I will not rest until the city of Constantinople falls before me. There will be riches and glory for all who fight beside me. Together, we will grind to dust those who have defied us for far too long. Together, we shall conquer for ourselves a new capital for a new, golden age!'
Murmurs of approval ran through the crowd. A few voices, then dozens, and finally all the hundreds present joined together to shout again and again: 'Hail Mehmed, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire!' Sitt Hatun sat in the harem garden, enjoying the sunshine on an unseasonably warm late winter day. Anna was with her and between them lay Sitt Hatun's one-month-old son, Selim. Sitt Hatun cooed at the child, who giggled back. She could still hardly believe that less than a year earlier she had left Edirne as an outcast, fleeing for her life. Now she was an ikbal – mother to a male heir. No matter that Sitt Hatun did not know if Selim's father was Mehmed or Halil. Selim was hers, and one day he would be sultan.
Loud shouting echoed down from Gulbehar's apartments above the garden, and Sitt Hatun smiled. Gulbehar was not dealing with her fall from favour well, and her distress was another source of contentment for Sitt Hatun. Just now, Gulbehar was screaming furiously, and Sitt Hatun could make out a few words here and there: 'Incompetence! Spoiled brat!' and then a climactic, 'Get out, all of you!' There was a series of slamming doors, and then silence.
A moment later, one of Gulbehar's odalisques appeared in the garden, carrying a bawling Bayezid. The odalisque looked Russian: a pale girl, no older than fourteen, with dark auburn hair. She went to a row of evergreen bushes not far from Sitt Hatun and sat behind them. After a moment, Bayezid's crying stopped and was replaced by the muffled sobbing of the Russian girl. Sitt Hatun felt for the girl, and for Bayezid, who bore the brunt of Gulbehar's disappointment. Perhaps by befriending them, Sitt Hatun reflected, she could help both them and herself. It would be useful to have allies in Gulbehar's household.
Sitt Hatun motioned for her servants to remain where they were, then rose and went to the odalisque, who looked away as she wiped at her tears. Bayezid was nearby, huddled in a small space between two bushes. Sitt Hatun sat down on the grass near the nurse. Bayezid peeked out furtively. He was a precious child, with the fair skin and light hair of his mother and the distinctive nose of his father. His left cheek was bruised bluish-black.
'Hello, young prince,' Sitt Hatun said.
'Hello,' the boy replied.
'You are not to speak to him,' the boy's nurse warned Sitt Hatun. She glanced towards Gulbehar's apartments. 'I should not be seen with you. Please go!'
Sitt Hatun remained seated. 'Gulbehar does not treat you well, does she?' Sitt Hatun asked. She reached out and gently touched the nurse's arm. 'You or the boy?'
The nurse turned away, fresh tears in her eyes. 'I am her servant. I cannot speak ill of her. I should not speak to you at all. My Lady says you are dangerous.'
'Do I look dangerous?' Sitt Hatun asked softly. The young nurse shook her head. 'I am a mother, too,' Sitt Hatun told her. 'It pains me to see young Bayezid suffer.'
'My Lady says that if Selim becomes sultan, you will send men to kill Bayezid.'
'That is nonsense,' Sitt Hatun assured the girl. Bayezid would indeed probably be killed when Selim took the throne, but Sitt Hatun would have little to do with it. 'I swear to you that I will never harm the child. Not everyone in the harem is as heartless as Gulbehar.'
'She is a monster,' the girl spat with surprising vehemence. 'She hits Bayezid and treats her servants even worse. I can live with the beatings, but Bayezid is only a child.' A door slammed in Gulbehar's apartments, and the Russian girl froze. 'You must go,' she whispered. 'I must not be seen with you.'
'I understand,' Sitt Hatun told her. 'But first, tell me: what is your name, girl?'
'Kacha, My Lady.'
'I know how hard it must be for you, Kacha. If you ever have need of a friend, then my quarters are always open to you. Bayezid will be welcome, too. The boy should have a place where he feels safe from his mother.'
'But how, My Lady?' Kacha asked. 'Gulbehar would never allow it.'
'She need never know. There is a secret passage that connects your apartments to mine. Tell me, which room is Bayezid's?' Kacha pointed to a window above them. 'That is perfect,' Sitt Hatun said. 'Here is what you must do. Go to the wall of his room away from the window. The wall is decorated with animals carved from wood. Find the lion and press its head. A door will open.' Kacha nodded. 'Be sure to close the door behind you, so that you are not followed. The passage will be dark. Follow it until you come to a flight of stairs. They will take you down to the harem kitchen. Cross the kitchen and take the central passage on the far wall. It leads directly to my bedroom. Knock like this when you reach the end.' Sitt Hatun mimed two knocks, a pause, and then three knocks.
'I understand,' Kacha said. 'Thank you, My Lady.'
'It is nothing. You may be a slave here, but that does not mean that you should not be treated with kindness.' Sitt Hatun squeezed Kacha's shoulder, then rose and returned to Selim and Anna. A moment later, Gulbehar stormed into the garden.
'Kacha! What are you doing here?' she demanded. 'Bring Bayezid here at once!' Gulbehar gave Sitt Hatun a venomous look and then turned and strode away, followed by Kacha with Bayezid. Sitt Hatun gathered up Selim and also left.
She entered her apartments to find Halil's secretary, Davarnza, waiting for her. He produced a folded piece of paper and handed it to Sitt Hatun. It was a note from Halil. He was coming to the harem to meet with her, tonight. Sitt Hatun sat on her bed, watching the full moon reflect off the Maritza river as it flowed past the palace. She had sent her servants to their quarters hours earlier, keeping only Anna by her side. They sat waiting for Halil, and Sitt Hatun thought back to that other night when they had sat together in the dark, waiting for Isa to come and rescue them. She thought of Cicek's death and of her night with Halil. She shuddered as she remembered the cold touch of his hand.