Chapter 42: Traditional Dances

There’s a break in the entertainment while more food is served to the guests. Although it isn’t any of my business, I think about whom Ahmed might choose to award the purple handkerchief. The six new women were purchased specifically for his harem, but that doesn’t mean he must choose one of them for his first sexual experience. There is some merit in him practising with an older woman before moving on to one of his inexperienced harem. Centuries of experience in training hundreds of princes and slave girls within the Imperial palace has developed a view that sexual liaisons are much more successful if they are enjoyable for both parties involved. The clumsy fumblings of a virgin couple are discouraged as much as tolerating a prince who violently ravishes his slaves. That’s not to say that both situations don’t occur on occasion, but they are the exception rather than the norm. A şehzade’s prowess in the art of making love is more valued than the tally of women whom he has bedded. Sexual violence has no place in the harem’s teachings despite the unequal social status of those involved.

As if reading my thoughts, Anna and Irem start to discuss the merits of each dancer as a candidate for Ahmed’s first sexual partner. I need to help Anna with a few Turkish words, which draws me into their discussion. Moments later Leyla and Candan are adding their thoughts. Şah Sultan doesn’t participate, but I suspect that she is following the conversation. Anna and I have the advantage of knowing the six new women the best, while the three sisters have a better idea about their brother’s tastes. There are, of course, other factors at play. Will Ahmed risk Ramazan’s wrath by choosing his favourite? Will Ahmed prefer someone his own age, or an older and more experienced concubine? The three sisters don’t seem able to agree on those factors so our conversation goes around in circles. The only thing we agree on is that if Ahmed’s choice is to be based on dancing performance alone, then Gülriz is going to be the clear winner.

The next dance begins. Like the previous one, it is a traditional dance which requires grace and coordination. It’ll be the last dance with all twelve dancers, unless Afife is required to alter her programme. Normally the guest of honour ... Ahmed in this case ... chooses which six dancers are to continue, but I have a strong suspicion that Serhan Pasha and Kadir will be influencing the choice.

As the dance progresses, it becomes clear that Aysun, Nuray and Tülay are the best dancers among the six new arrivals. However Şah Sultan’s earlier warning has had an effect on Kadir’s concubines, and their training is beginning to show. It would be a shame if all of the six new women were eliminated after this dance, but if the decision is based on dancing skills alone, that ought to be Ahmed’s choice. The wider audience continues to encourage the new women. Serhan Pasha doesn’t seem to approve of the strong support the new women are receiving, and I begin to wonder whether there are other games in play.

The performance finishes and the dancers withdraw to the small area by the door. I listen carefully to what the three sultanzades are saying. Kadir and Ramazan are offering advice to Ahmed as to which six dancers to eliminate from the entertainment. It is Serhan Pasha who brings their discussion to a close.

“Time to send the new women away,” advises Serhan Pasha to Ahmed. “None of them can dance, and they need more training before they are ready for your bed.”

On both counts I think Serhan Pasha’s comments are overly harsh. All six of them danced well, given the minimal amount of training they have received. As for being ready for Ahmed’s bed, then I don’t think any of them would disgrace themselves. They have been attentive during Didem’s lessons and seem eager to put their training into practise. I concede, however, that a more experienced woman may be a better choice for Ahmed’s first sexual experience.

Kadir supports his father’s advice, but it’s obvious that all he really wants is for Ahmed to award Gülriz the purple handkerchief. He’s merely looking for another chance to goad and humiliate Ramazan by having Ramazan’s current favourite bedded by his younger brother. Despite what Irem said, Ramazan seems resigned to being a passive victim.

Ahmed baulks at his father’s advice. Whether he is wise to do so is something only time will tell. A hasty compromise of sorts is agreed between father and son. All the women will dance again in two groups of six. Ahmed says he will choose three dancers from each group for the final dance.

Afife is left with the task of selecting which woman will dance with which group, and the dance they will perform. She opts for the easiest option and places Gülriz and Kadir’s concubines in the first group and the six new women in the second. It’s what I would do had I been given the task. That way the choice of dance can be tailored to the skill level of each group. It also means that three of the new arrivals will still have a chance of winning the purple handkerchief.

The first group perform their dance. As I expected, it is a graceful and enticing display of the concubines’ dancing skills. Even Serhan Pasha is enthralled by what he sees. Gülriz is again the best of the six and is an obvious choice when Ahmed is called on to choose three of them to perform the final dance. Melek and a concubine called Emete are the other two chosen by Ahmed. The concubines withdraw and the introductory music starts for the second group of dancers.

“Stop!” shouts Serhan Pasha as soon as he recognises the music. “These girls must perform a dance equally difficult to the one we have just seen.”

The performance is thrown into confusion. Admittedly the dance chosen by Afife is much simpler than the one performed by the previous group, but it is surely better for them to perform a simple dance well than blunder their way through something more complex.

“What dance do you suggest, my husband?” asks Şah Sultan, far from happy at Serhan Pasha’s interruption.

He promptly makes two or three suggestions, all of which are well beyond the new women’s current dancing ability, as he must surely know. Kadir seizes the opportunity to cause mischief by suggesting an easier dance, but one which requires eight dancers.