Chapter 28: New Acquaintances

The two men make a grab for me, but Hasan Çelebi pulls me behind him and out of their reach.

“Stand aside, boy,” snarls the larger of the two men. “This is palace business. Do you know the penalty for helping a slave escape from her rightful owner.”

“I’m not a slave,” I reply, doing my best to hide my anger and fear.

“You heard my friend,” says Hasan Çelebi. “Clearly you have mistaken her identity. Leave us in peace and we will forget your bad manners.”

The smaller man stifles a laugh at Hasan’s words and looks at Hasan with contempt. However, it is his associate who is obviously the leader.

“According to Mercan Aga of the palace, this woman is a slave placed in his charge by Sultan Suleiman himself,” says the large man to Hasan. “He has offered a handsome reward for this girl’s recapture. Don’t risk the sultan’s wrath by getting in our way.”

“If what you say is true, then the sultan’s wrath is likely to be directed at Mercan Aga. I doubt the sultan will be happy Mercan Aga has been so careless as to allow a young woman to escape from his charge. What is the name of the woman whom you seek?”

“Her name is not important,” replies the large man. “But this slave is the one Mercan Aga pointed out to us when she was seen leaving a ship this morning.”

“If Mercan Aga saw her leave a ship, then why didn’t he apprehend her at once?” asks Hasan. “It would save him from having to pay a reward for her recapture.”

The large man doesn’t have a ready answer to Hasan’s question. I know, of course, that Mercan Aga wouldn’t have tried to kidnap me in front of so many witnesses. If his intention is to enslave me, then he would need to do so discreetly. My escape from the ship must have foiled his original plan and he’s had to rely on these two men.

“We don’t have to answer your questions,” snarls the large man, producing a big knife which he had hidden inside his robe. His associate does likewise.

But the two men aren’t the only ones carrying hidden weapons. Hasan flicks his cloak aside to reveal a scimitar holstered across his back. Hasan places his hand on the handle, but doesn’t draw his blade. The confidence he shows in his action indicates that he could draw the weapon faster than the two men could attack with their knives.

“You’re a fool,” says the large man. “Why involve yourself over some worthless slave. Hand her over and we’ll not report your actions to Mercan Aga.”

“Report me to him if you like. But you’re the fools if you think Mercan Aga is ever going to pay you the promised reward,” laughs Hasan.

Hasan’s words must fuel a lingering doubt in the minds of the two men. Mercan Aga’s reputation for greed and dishonesty must be more widespread than I had thought. Even Mercan Aga’s own men don’t really trust him. The two men put away their knives and leave as quickly as they arrived. I let out a sigh of relief. I realise that I’ve had a narrow escape from enslavement.

“Do you think they will go running to Mercan Aga and tell him what happened?” I ask.

“Possibly, but more likely they will say that they couldn’t find you,” replies Hasan. “Few men are willing to risk getting killed for a reward which may never be paid.”

“You seem very confident in your skills as my protector,” I say, trying to express my gratitude while masking my roiling emotions.

“Confident enough to scare off those two bullies,” replies Hasan. “Now, allow me to escort you to somewhere safer. It would be unfortunate if those two have simply gone for reinforcements.”

I don’t argue when Hasan leads me through some back alleys and into a small courtyard. The courtyard is almost completely surrounded by dwellings. The houses are well kept and the buildings are in much better condition than those in some of the areas we have walked through to get here.

“Welcome to the Çelebi compound, ... err ... you haven’t told me your name,” says Hasan as he escorts me into one of the houses.

“Gülnihal,” I reply, having previously decided to continue using the name I was given in the Imperial Harem, rather than my birth name, Maria. The sultan’s letter granting me my freedom refers to me as Gülnihal, so it seems safer to continue using that name.

“So, tell me something about yourself, Gülnihal,” asks Hasan. “You aren’t from these parts. Your name is Turkish but from your looks, you are neither Turkish nor Greek.”

“My family lived in a small town in the Kingdom of Poland,” I reply.

“Is that where you are going?” asks Hal.

“No. My home was destroyed, and my parents killed, in a tartar raid. There are only painful memories waiting for me in Poland. I’m simply looking for somewhere safe to settle down.”

“What about this fair city of Salonica? It’s as safe as anywhere in the Ottoman Empire. Mercan Aga isn’t typical of Salonica’s residents.”

I risk being found if I stay in Salonica. Mercan Aga isn’t the only person who might be looking for me. I doubt he will give up so easily, particularly if the Valide decides to make enquiries into my whereabouts. I’m about to reply to Hasan’s suggestion when a woman in her twenties enters the house. Hasan introduces me to his older sister, Nur, and I’m subjected to further questions from both of them before I’m invited to stay for the night. I readily accept their offer, not fancying my chances of finding better accommodation for tonight. Nur continues to question me while I help with some of the chores. I’m careful not to reveal too much, but I keep to the truth. Nur would become suspicious if she caught me telling lies.

“So, Nur. What have you learned about our mysterious guest?” asks Hasan of Nur when the three of us sit down to an evening meal.

“A girl of mystery, indeed,” replies Nur. “She says she has grown up in Poland, but her features are those of a Roxalani. Furthermore, she speaks Turkish like an Ottoman.”

“That’s not much of a mystery,” muses Hasan. “Most of the lands inhabited by the Roxolani have been part of the Ottoman Empire for decades. Some Roxalani fled north into other kingdoms when the Ottoman army invaded their territory. Gülnihal’s story is plausible.”