Chapter 17: A Rescue Mission

Daye Hatun waits with us for a few minutes in case Nilüfer changes her mind and returns to our suite. While I can’t claim to know Nilüfer very well, I doubt she will abandon her mission without at least making an effort to reach Hatice and Gülfem. Only Hürrem knows what promised reward has tempted Nilüfer to undertake this dangerous quest. I hope for Hürrem’s sake that it’s a good reward, because Nilüfer is capable of simply running away rather than returning to the Old Palace. Most girls would never accept such a quest. Even in normal times, a girl travelling alone in the city would face many hazards, and a runaway slave has little chance of successfully fleeing into the countryside. But Nilüfer is no ordinary girl and escaping the city is well within the range of her talents.

Hürrem suggests we all get some sleep. She doesn’t expect Nilüfer to return much before dawn. Hürrem promises Daye Hatun that she will be informed the moment there is any news. I doubt any of us will be able to sleep, but we at least lie down to rest. Despite everything I eventually fall asleep after a few hours of tossing and turning. Esme must have fallen asleep at some point as we both wake up about the same time to the sound of voices in the main room of Hürrem’s suite. It is still dark outside and I’ve no idea of the time.

Hürrem hasn’t summoned Esme and I, so she clearly doesn’t require our presence. We can’t simply invite ourselves into her conversation without risking a reprimand. For all we know, Hürrem’s visitor may be the Valide wanting an explanation of Hurrem’s audacious plan to rescue Hatice and Gülfem. If Esme and I interrupt a meeting with the Valide, then we could end up in real trouble with the Valide.

Esme and I move closer to the door to try and hear the conversation in the other room. The voices are subdued and I can’t make out what is being said. Unfortunately I can only identify Hurrem’s voice from the hushed conversation. Esme shakes her head to confirm that she too can’t make out any details of the conversation.

Our curiosity is satisfied when the door to our room is opened. Esme and I leap back from the door so as not to be struck by the opening door. Fortunately Hürrem has opened the door slowly with the obvious intent of seeing if we are awake. Behind Hürrem, sitting in a chair on the opposite side of the room is the Valide. Behind her stands her maid, Fahriye.

“Ah, good,” says Hürrem. “You’re both already awake. Get dressed. There’s work to be done.”

Esme and I do as Hürrem instructs and we join her in the main room a few minutes later. Hürrem is pacing about as though deciding what to do. I would like to know what has happened, but I don’t have the courage to ask in the Valide’s presence. Finally Hürrem finishes pacing and turns to Esme and I.

“Esme,” begins Hürrem. “You are to go with Fahriye and prepare Hatice Sultan’s rooms so that they are ready for use when Nilüfer returns with Hatice and Gülfem.”

“If they return,” interrupts the Valide. She clearly doesn’t believe Nilüfer’s mission will succeed.

“When they return,” persists Hürrem. “I have faith in Nilüfer’s abilities. She will triumph despite the odds against her.”

Fahriye and Esme leave the room to carry out their orders. The Valide remains seated with a calm but stern look on her face.

“What is your opinion of young Nilüfer’s abilities, Gülnihal?” asks the Valide.

It takes me a few moments to overcome my shock at being asked such a question by the Valide. Even Hürrem rarely asks for my opinion about anything important.

“Nilüfer is very resourceful and she’s capable of looking after herself,” I reply once I find the nerve to answer calmly.

“Not against a mob of armed men,” says the Valide. “Some parts of the city are dangerous at the moment. Particularly at night. I fear you have sent Nilüfer to her death, Hürrem.”

“Nilüfer understands the risks,” replies Hürrem. “She won’t unnecessarily jeopardise Hatice’s and Gulferm’s safety. She will succeed ... I’m sure of it.”

“You had better be right, Hürrem,” says the Valide with a subtle hint of menace in her voice.

I wait for Hürrem to tell me what duty she requires me to perform. After a while I realise that I am already performing that duty by simply standing here. The Valide always has at least one maid standing ready to carry out whatever task she desires. Now that Fahriye has gone with Esme, I must fill in for Fahriye until she returns.

It’s a long and boring wait. The Valide shows no sign of returning to her own suite, so Hürrem is forced to make polite conversation, even though she is obviously very tired. I suspect that the Valide is testing Hürrem. I don’t believe Hürrem knows what the Valide truly thinks of her. When Hürrem was first called to Sultan Suleiman’s bedchamber, all the sultanas regarded Hürrem as a brash upstart who didn’t know her proper place in the harem hierarchy. Since the announcement of Hürrem’s pregnancy, the Valide has shown no bias in favour of Mahidevran at Hürrem’s expense. Of course, the absence of Mahidevran from the Old Palace has helped calm the animosity that had been building. It will be interesting to see whether the hoped for return of Hatice and Gülfem will help or hinder Hürrem’s acceptance into the higher levels of the harem hierarchy.

Hürrem and the Valide talk together for over half an hour. At Hürrem’s discrete signal I fetch the water jug and pour two goblets for Hürrem and the Valide. They each take a goblet without acknowledging my presence. It’s as though the goblets magically appeared in their hands. I return to where I have been standing.