Chapter 14: A Letter to the Sultan

“Wealth,” replies Nilüfer. “With sufficient wealth I can live a comfortable life.”

“And how do you propose to accumulate this wealth?” I ask. “Only the sultan can provide the kind of wealth I think you want.”

“The sultan gives his jewels to his sultanas and his favourites. They in turn can give some of them to me.”

“Surely you aren’t planning on stealing them?” I ask, alarmed at the thought.

“No, of course not,” laughs Nilüfer. “Only a fool would risk such a thing. But there are many services a person with money may wish to purchase. Messages to be delivered. Information to be gathered. Errands to be performed. The list is endless.”

“But delivering messages and running errands won’t earn you very much,” I say.

“That depends on the difficulty of the task,” says Nilüfer. “Let’s say, for example, that your friend Hürrem wishes to send a message which she can’t deliver herself. If that message is to be sent to the Valide, then the value of the service would be very small. But if she wanted to write a letter to Sultan Suleiman to inform him of her pregnancy, then the value of the service would be much greater.”

“I understand what you say, but how would you get a letter to the sultan?” I ask. “If I were paying for your services I would want proof that the letter was delivered before paying you.”

“How I would achieve it is for me alone to know,” says Nilüfer with a smile. “A letter from the sultan replying to the one I had delivered would surely be adequate proof of delivery.”

“I agree. But can you do it?” I ask.

“Why don’t we talk with Hürrem and see if she is willing to find out?”

Our conversation is interrupted when Nigar Kalfa enters the harem to rouse everybody from their slumbers. Nilüfer and I are already awake so we are able to get to the baths before the others. We are on our way back when we encounter Fidan blocking the door from the baths.

“Be careful who you make friends with, young Nilüfer,” says Fidan. “Making the wrong alliances could cause you a lot of difficulties.”

“And threatening someone you barely know could cause you a lot of difficulties, Fidan,” replies Nilüfer pushing Fidan aside without stopping.

I follow Nilüfer out of the door before Fidan can overcome her shock. While I admire Nilüfer’s fortitude, she is nevertheless walking a dangerous path. Fidan may not be a real threat, but Gülsah is a completely different prospect. And I’m sure that Fidan will be reporting this encounter to Gülsah at the earliest opportunity.

“You know Fidan will report your comments to Gülsah,” I say to Nilüfer as we dress.

“It makes no difference,” replies Nilüfer. “Gülsah will have already planned on paying me a visit after yesterday’s events. I’m surprised she hasn’t tried her tricks on me before.”

“We can ask Nigar Kalfa and Sümbul Aga to intervene,” I say.

“They can’t protect me all of the time. Besides, I fight my own battles. I’m not likely to make my fortune by being a timid little girl hiding behind the agas and kalfas.”

“And what if Gülsah offers to pay you to be her spy?” I ask.

“From what I’ve seen of Gülsah’s methods I doubt she is willing to pay for my services.”

“Hmmm. But Gülsah has Mahidevran and her wealth backing her.”

“If Mahidevran was prepared to spend money to get what she wants, then she would have no need for Gülsah’s services. Mahidevran has wealth, but she wants to keep it all. If Hürrem has any sense, she’ll make sure she handsomely rewards those who provide her with good service.”

“Someone like you, for instance,” says Hürrem, who has come down from the mezzanine while Nilüfer and I were talking.

“Yes,” replies Nilüfer, who is not the least bit embarrassed at being overheard.

I tell Hürrem about my earlier conversation with Nilüfer. Hürrem seems interested at the prospect of sending a letter to Sultan Suleiman. While the Valide must regularly receive and send letters to her son, nobody else in the harem has attempted to send a letter to anybody. I don’t recall any of our lessons saying we are prohibited from writing letters, but I’m sure there must be some rule forbidding it.

“Having the letter delivered is the hardest part,” says Nilüfer, as though reading my mind. “You could ask the Valide to enclose your letter with her next letter to the sultan, but she may refuse. She may not approve of any correspondence being sent from the harem which she hasn’t written herself. Even if she agrees, she is likely to want to read your letter first.”

“And how much do you want for delivering my letter?” asks Hürrem.

“Three aspers when you give me the letter,” says Nilüfer. “And a further reward when you receive proof that the letter has been delivered. I will allow you to determine the size of that reward.”

It seems that not only will Hürrem be testing Nilüfer’s skills, but Nilüfer will also be testing Hürrem’s generosity. I just hope both of them know what they are doing.

“Agreed,” says Hürrem. “I’ll give you the letter as soon as it is ready. I expect you to keep my letter secret from the Valide and Mahidevran.”

“Of course,” smiles Nilüfer. “Though I can’t promise that they won’t hear about your letter from Sultan Suleiman himself.”

“I shall cross that bridge when I come to it,” says Hürrem. “In the meantime, if you have any trouble from Gülsah or Fidan, then let me know.”

“Fidan has already tried to warn me away from you,” says Nilüfer. “I expect Gülsah will make her move before the day is out.”

We have our breakfast and set about our daily routine. Nilüfer has different lessons and duties to Hürrem and I, so we don’t see her again until much later. We don’t know if Gülsah has attempted to intimidate Nilüfer during the day, and Nilüfer isn’t volunteering any information.

That evening Hürrem comes to where Nilüfer, Esme and I are sat talking. Hürrem has her letter to Sultan Suleiman written and ready to hand to Nilüfer. I distract Esme while Hürrem hands her letter and payment to Nilüfer. While Esme is one of my best friends and is undoubtedly loyal to Hürrem, I don’t want her witnessing something that might get everyone involved into trouble. Nilüfer quickly hides the letter inside her blouse and places the coins in the hidden pocket in her skirt. Hürrem stays to talk for a while.