Chapter 2: Concubines of the sultan

“Pay attention, Alexandra,” says Nigar Kalfa with a quiet tone of authority. “You will undress at once, and then you and Maria will follow me to the baths. Now! You are not allowed to bring your dirt and stench into the palace harem. Always remember that you are the sultan’s slave and your sole role in life is to be a concubine in his harem.”

I cannot deny that we badly need a bath. I don’t think the Tartars ever wash, and the slavers only allowed us infrequent washes in dirty water. Even the flimsy clothes given to us when we left the ship are already dirty. We obey without further complaint. Nigar Kalfa escorts us through the room where the other women were taken, and then along a corridor towards the baths. The baths are huge, with numerous basins and different sized pools in which to bathe. The rest of the captives are already looking cleaner. At Nigar Kalfa’s signal I go to join the other bathers. I don’t know what she says to Alexandra, but Alexandra eventually joins me in one of the smaller pools.

“Are you alright, Alexandra?” I ask.

“Yes. But they haven’t won. I’ll find a way to escape and get back to my village.”

While we all hold a dream of freedom, I can’t help feeling that returning to our homes would be a mistake. Our families are dead. Only painful memories await us there. For the moment we seem safe, and in better company than we’ve been with at any time since our capture. I relax for the first time in weeks. We are allowed about a quarter of an hour in which to wash and refresh ourselves. Three girls, about twelve or thirteen years old, and wearing matching outfits, enter the baths and deposit two stacks of linen.

“Once you have finished washing, dry yourselves and put on one of these shifts,” says Nigar Kalfa pointing to the two stacks. “Then line up over there so the doctor can examine you.”

We do as we are told. Nigar Kalfa inspects each slave as she leaves the bath. A few are told to return to the bath and to make a better job of cleaning themselves. Since Alexandra and I were last to start bathing, we find ourselves near the end of the line of women waiting for the doctor. Once we are all lined up, Nigar Kalfa gives one of the three young girls an order in a language I don’t understand. The girl leaves quickly on whatever errand Nigar Kalfa has commanded.

Nigar Kalfa orders us to wait in silence, and mirror the posture of remaining two harem girls. They stand erect and perfectly still while we wait. Alexandra makes an effort to comply, but her fidgeting suggests she is just biding her time before causing trouble. Fortunately the young girl returns with a woman doctor before Alexandra’s patience wears out. We are each taken in turn into a side room and examined for any signs of disease or deformities. The doctor also checks that we are virgins.

The examination is uncomfortable but much less degrading than our treatment at the hands of the Tartars and the slavers. Alexandra objects, however, and we can hear her raised voice as the doctor examines her. Unfortunately for Alexandra, her tantrum coincides with the arrival of an elderly woman dressed in the finest gown I have ever seen. She is accompanied by two of the men in blue uniforms ... Agas, I think Nigar Kalfa called them ... and two women dressed in beautiful silk dresses. I don’t understand the words the finely dressed woman says to Nigar Kalfa, nor her reply, but the woman is clearly displeased. Nigar Kalfa bows and curtseys to the woman, so she must be somebody important. Both of them glower at Alexandra when she returns to our line-up. Alexandra pays them no mind and stands next to me in a sulk.

Once the doctor finishes her examinations, she confers with Nigar Kalfa and the elderly woman. The discussion takes a few minutes but their nodding heads hopefully means that we’ve all been given a clean bill of health. The doctor answers a few questions from the elderly woman before leaving us. Nigar Kalfa and the woman then move to stand before us.

“This is Daye Hatun,” says Nigar Kalfa, indicating the finely dressed woman. “Those of you she touches on the shoulder should stand over there.”

Daye Hatun walks slowly along our line of fourteen young women. Of the ten women in the line before me, only Sarah and Rebecca are selected. We have no idea whether being selected is a good or bad outcome. Daye Hatun doesn’t rush making her choices, and she takes some time studying each slave. She takes a particularly long time studying Ruth, the girl immediately ahead of me in the line, before deciding not to select her. I’m feeling very nervous as I brace myself for a similar close study. However, I am quickly tapped on the shoulder and Daye Hatun moves on to inspect Alexandra. One of the agas steps forward and guides me to where Sarah and Rebecca stand waiting. I catch a glimpse of Alexandra as I am ushered to the waiting girls. She’s still sulking after the medical examination and she has a scowl on her face which would curdle milk. Daye Hatun must be used to such behaviour as she simply ignores Alexandra’s scowl and taps her on the shoulder.

The last two slaves in the line aren’t chosen, leaving just the four of us in our separate group. Once the selections are completed, Daye Hatun says a few words to Nigar Kalfa, and then Daye Hatun leaves with the two women who escorted her when she arrived. Once she has gone, Nigar Kalfa turns to the ten of us who were not selected, and tells them to go with one of the agas. Two of the young girls also follow the larger group. The third young girl stands next to Nigar Kalfa.