Odalisque (16 page)

He shook his head. This was all spiralling out of control. ‘I am honour-bound to the Zar and by my position in Percheron. I must take her back to the palace,’ he replied, his voice hard. ‘I’m sorry, Zafira.’

‘So am I,’ she said, just as cold.

And it was with those words that Lazar decided he would follow through on his vague plans made during the night. He walked over to Ana and lifted her. She permitted him without a struggle but her eyes were filled with a sorrow that broke his heart.

‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered.

‘I know.’ He so wanted to kiss her golden hair and tell her he would make everything right again. Instead he stalked out of the temple with her. He did not look back but then Zafira did not expect him to.

The priestess’s words rang in his ears. She had insisted he could do more.
What?

‘Take me away, Lazar,’ Ana moaned as he set her down.

His jaw ached from the way he was grinding it. ‘Ana, my duty is to the Crown of Percheron.’ For
lack of anything remotely comforting he quoted an old Percherese military saying: ‘A man without honour is a man lost.’

Ana gave a wan smile. ‘My uncle said that once.’

‘Ana, I—’

‘Please, I know I have to go back, Lazar. It’s all right. Ah, there’s Jumo,’ she said, using Lazar’s companion as an excuse to end their awkward conversation.

‘Ana.’ Jumo moved quickly to hug her, relief in his eyes when he stepped back. ‘You frightened us.’

‘I knew you would come and that Lazar would find me,’ she answered. ‘Thank you, friend Jumo, it is precious that I can see you again.’ She kissed both of his weathered cheeks.

He glanced at Lazar. ‘Do we have to take her back immediately?’

The Spur sighed. Wretched Jumo could always read his thoughts, and worse, Jumo got to hug Ana and be kissed by her. It annoyed him that he was himself so reluctant to show her even the slightest amount of the affection he felt. ‘No,’ he said, running a hand through his unkempt hair. ‘We can at least share a kerrosh together.’

They walked with Ana between them to a shop they knew sold the best morning kerrosh in the bazaar.

‘Find a spot,’ Lazar suggested to Jumo, having noticed the long queue. ‘I’ll get them,’ he added,
knowing one of the advantages of being Spur meant a small crowd such as this simply parted at the sight of him. ‘Thank you,’ he uttered to those who bowed and moved aside to allow him through to the counter.

‘Spur Lazar,’ the owner acknowledged, grinning to show the few teeth in his head. He expertly poured hot frothing milk from a long-handled jug into another. Years of practice meant he didn’t even have to look at the motion—it all happened through sense, touch and skill. The milk turned a burnt golden colour once combined with the hot kerrosh and the smell of it made Lazar’s belly grumble. ‘Three and give me that plate of skazza.’

‘Hungry today?’ the shopkeeper said, still grinning as he reached for the heated glasses to fill.

Soon Lazar was shouldering his way back with a tray of steaming kerrosh and pastries oozing with honey.

Ana’s eyes lit. ‘Our mother never offered it with milk!’

‘Paradise in a glass,’ Lazar said, trying hard to lighten the gloom that had settled around their tiny table.

Jumo raised his glass. ‘Recovery for the troubled soul.’ He looked hard at his friend.

‘Ana,’ Lazar began gently, pushing the plate towards her. ‘Eat.’ She took one of the sticky pastries. ‘Did you run away because of Kett or because they scared you afterwards?’

‘Doesn’t Salmeo deliberately scare everyone?’ she asked.

Lazar felt her quip bite at where he was hurting the most. What was in his mind to have given her over to that evil man? He watched her chew on the pastry, the syrup oozing over her lips, glazing them to a high shine. He stared at them, feeling a stirring in his bleak heart, and momentarily hated her for doing this to him, for making him care.

She pulled a strand of hair from her face with sticky fingers. ‘Salmeo did an inspection of my body,’ Ana said matter-of-factly. ‘Inside my body.’

Lazar’s cup slammed down onto the table. He didn’t flinch at the scald of the hot milky drink that spilled over his sunburned hand.

‘I gave him no satisfaction. That eunuch will never break me, although I can tell that’s his intention.’

Lazar had no chance to reply for a group of Salmeo’s Elim arrived, their distinctive red jamooshes giving them away instantly.

‘You have found her, my lord Spur,’ one said, as all in the group bowed low.

‘Only moments ago,’ he answered.

‘My lord Spur,’ the first repeated, ‘we have orders to—’

Lazar held a hand up. ‘Yes, I imagine you do…er?’

‘Farz,’ the man answered.

‘Thank you, Farz. I found the child cold and hungry. I am seeing to her wellbeing immediately
and then, as requested by your master, I shall return her to the palace.’

‘May we not relieve you of this burden, lord Spur?’

The man was persistent. Jumo could see the pulse at his master’s temple throb again, a sure indication that the Spur had run out of patience. It never took very long.

Jumo spoke quickly into the thick silence. ‘No, Farz. You go on. Return to the palace and inform your master that Ana has been located. The Spur will bring the girl as soon as she has been nourished. You can see she is appropriately covered. There is no insult to the harem.’

The men looked between themselves, clearly confused. They did not want to act without courtesy to the Spur and yet each knew Salmeo would cut their throats just as soon as reward them, depending on how they pleased him. It would not please him if they returned empty-handed.

Lazar understood this. ‘Take a kerrosh—put it on my slate. Then you can escort us back to the palace if that is easier.’

The men looked uncertain.

‘Come, let me order with you, I need another.’ Jumo stood, shooing the men deeper into the shop. He shot a wink at Lazar as he herded them towards the counter and saw his friend give a sad smile of thanks. Both knew Jumo had bought Lazar and Ana some precious private minutes together.

Lazar turned back to Ana, who was staring solemnly into the dregs of her glass. ‘You must promise me that you’ll never attempt anything like an escape again.’

‘I cannot promise you that, Lazar.’

‘Ana, I will not always be around to save you.’

‘There is no need. Your responsibility ended when you presented me to the Valide and collected your gold.’

Oh, how her words hurt. She shook her head, frowning to herself. ‘I’m sorry, Lazar,’ she said, contrite. ‘Zafira told you I’d forgiven you for selling me to the harem. And I have. Please ignore my accusations. I am tired.’

‘You’ve made me extend my commitment to you,’ he said carefully.

She eyed him gravely. ‘I don’t recall how.’

‘By insisting I keep the owl statue close.’

Recognition dawned. ‘And have you kept him close?’ He lifted the gold statue out of his pocket. A soft smile played at her lips. ‘As beautiful as I remember him. Lovely Iridor.’

Lazar sat back in his chair, astonished. ‘Ana, where have you heard this name? Did Zafira mention it?’

She shook her head gently. ‘Iridor is my friend,’ she said, a faraway look in her eye. ‘Take me back now, Lazar. I don’t want anyone to get into further trouble on my account. It was wrong of me to leave as I did. I knew I could never escape, in truth. I was upset over Kett and then the Test of
Virtue. It was so easy but I wasn’t thinking clearly and once I was out I felt compelled to find the temple.’ Her voice trailed off.

He had no time to ask how she knew the temple existed because he could see Jumo approaching, an expression of helplessness on his face. Presumably the Elim had knocked back their kerrosh so fast it had hardly touched the sides of their throats. They were taking no chances with their own lives. He understood—Salmeo could be hideously cruel. ‘Come then, Ana,’ was all he said, hating himself for not having an answer to this dilemma. She rose soundlessly as he pocketed the owl.

It was a strange troupe wending its way back to the palace and certain punishment.

‘How is your arm this morning, my lion?’ Herezah asked, reaching to run her hand through Boaz’s hair. She had come to her son directly after meeting with Salmeo and was relieved to note he didn’t pull away from her touch. She had made a silent promise that she was going to find again that affection they had shared in his early childhood—and Herezah knew it was up to her. Boaz would not give it willingly because he felt deserted by her. He had learned to live without her and now she was going to have to turn that all around.

‘It hurts still but the new physician says I will heal fast because I am young and it was a clean break.’

‘I never understood how it happened.’

He shrugged, pretended to put a book back on the shelf so she would not see the lie in his eyes. ‘I fell awkwardly.’

‘Because I frightened you, my darling?’

‘Yes. But I am stronger now.’

‘I know you are,’ Herezah cooed, ‘and I’m impressed.’ He was taller than her now. One
more summer perhaps and he would be a man. ‘Boaz, it is vital that you show that same strength now to those around you.’

‘It’s a little early to impress myself on the people, Mother. Father’s only been dead a short while.’

She heard the bitterness. ‘Nevertheless,’ she persisted, following him to the window. ‘Here, sit with me a moment.’ She took his hand and pulled him down beside her ‘Precious Light, I don’t mean the people of Percheron as such—not yet anyway. I mean that the people in this palace need to know you as a strong leader. It’s their idle chatter that will pass through the city like wildfire. What they see they won’t hesitate to gossip about, whether good or bad. But you must always remember, no-one is your friend, Boaz, except me. I’m the only person who has your absolute best interests at heart.’

He tried not to show his disdain. ‘Pez is my friend.’

‘He’s a fool,’ she replied briskly. She softened her tone again. ‘I know you like the dwarf but you don’t want people thinking your only companion is an idiot.’

She was right, of course, but then she didn’t know the truth of Pez and never would if he had his way. ‘I have many friends in the palace,’ he said.

‘Oh? Name one for me?’

‘My tutor—’ he began.

‘Whom I’ve specifically appointed. No, Boaz, name me someone who is a true friend to you, who is not paid to attend you and owes you nothing.’

He hated the way she always needed to be right; never allowed him credit or even the room to make the simplest of decisions. Here she was again all but humiliating him in trying to make her point. There was only one other true friend and it was a name he knew would stick in her craw, for even Boaz could see how his mother craved the attention of this person. ‘Lazar is my friend.’ He watched her pause, take a slow breath.

‘How true.’ She forced a smile and took his hand between hers. ‘But apart from the Spur, who is not in the palace often enough to be relied upon, you have no real friends.’

‘What is your point, Mother? Does any Zar have any real friends? He is the ruler and by his very position is envied or despised or feared.’ He removed his hand.

‘That is my very point, son, which is why you must count on me and trust me. I am your flesh. I want what is best for you.’

He sighed. ‘What is it you want of me, Mother?’

‘I want you to be more visible.’

‘To whom?’

‘To those who count; those in authority who influence others.’

He smirked. ‘The Vizier and the eunuch, you mean.’

She ignored his barb. ‘You’re going to have to attend dinners, meetings, a lot of tedious gatherings.’ She paused. ‘Some of these events are going to be harder than others.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well,’ she said, playing with the sash of her gown. ‘Your brothers—’

‘Mother! We have been through this. I was injured!’

‘I know, my lion. I know. But you were not present for Joreb’s funeral or the festival to commemorate his life. It was noticed.’

‘I was still very upset at his death.’

‘And I wasn’t?’ Herezah challenged. His defiant gaze faltered. ‘No matter what’s happening in here,’ she pointed to his heart and then to his head, ‘you must always do your duty and look strong.’

They were interrupted by a knock at the door. She looked to him to give permission but knew she had won today’s battle.

‘Enter,’ Boaz said, distracted.

His private servant stepped in, a young man called Bin, and bowed. ‘Your High One, Valide Zara.’ They both nodded. ‘I’m sorry to disturb you, Zar Boaz, but the Grand Master Eunuch wishes to speak with the Valide. He says it is urgent.’

‘Show him in,’ Boaz ordered. After the servant had disappeared again he looked quizzically at his mother. ‘Trouble?’

She had no time to answer. Salmeo entered. He too bowed and acknowledged both his superiors. ‘Forgive my interruption, High One. The Valide Zara asked for this news immediately it was available.’

‘Ah, the girl,’ Herezah said. ‘She’s been found?’

‘Yes, Valide. At the bazaar.’

‘By the Spur?’ she asked eagerly.

‘Yes. They were sharing a kerrosh.’

‘Oh?’ she replied, stung. ‘How cosy.’

‘She was cold, we’re assured. The Spur felt it was necessary to offer some nourishment. They shared pastries too.’ Salmeo gave nothing away in his bland expression that he was enjoying baiting Herezah.

‘So thoughtful of him,’ she said in a contrived tone of boredom. ‘Where are they now?’

‘Awaiting you, Valide Zara.’

‘Dismiss the Spur. Leave Ana in the harem. She can suffer the wait a little longer at my pleasure.’

‘As you command, Valide.’ He bowed and departed, relishing the chance to send the arrogant Spur packing.

‘Mother, what is this about?’

‘Oh, nothing that I can’t handle,’ she said, not meaning to sound dismissive and realising all too soon her mistake.

Boaz recalled the dwarf’s warning that it was vital he begin to impress upon his mother whose throne she served. His tone bristled. ‘If you want
me to be more visible then I demand to be included on all matters relating to the palace, Mother. Is that clear?’

She turned at his sharp tone. This, she had not anticipated. ‘Why, yes of course.’ She felt her own anger stoke but pulled it back just in time. ‘Forgive me, son, I just didn’t think it was of importance.’

‘I will be the judge of what is important. Tell me what this is about.’

‘There is a girl—’

‘I gathered,’ he said.

For the first time Herezah saw Boaz for the rival he was. This journey was obviously going to take longer than she’d thought. She tempered her tone. ‘I’m sorry, darling. Let me start from the beginning. Last night we made the selection of young women who will form the new harem.’ She could not know how he held his breath, relieved beyond belief that she could never know he had been present. ‘And there was one particular girl called Ana—quite a remarkable child in looks and composure—who obviously hasn’t taken to our hospitality.’ She chuckled.

‘She ran away?’ he asked, incredulous.

‘Yes, silly girl. Disguised herself with a eunuch jamoosh, blacked up her face with ash and somehow sneaked out of the palace.’

She noticed how her tale fired his imagination—wonder was reflected in those dark, intelligent eyes.

‘How ingenious,’ he said. ‘I should like to meet this Ana.’

Time to get her own back. She knew how squeamish Boaz could be. ‘Well, now, that’s a fine idea, Boaz. I shall include you in her interview.’

‘For what?’

‘For punishment later today,’ she said and smiled demurely at her son as she took her leave.

Lazar seethed silently, glowering at the all-too-polite Elim guard who reassured him that the Grand Master Eunuch would not keep him long. Jumo, of course, had not been invited into the waiting chamber, and Ana had been whisked away by the red-draped guards who insisted it was their role to escort her into the harem. His only consolation was that Herezah was not here to gloat.

Salmeo must have dropped in on his thoughts, for the Grand Master Eunuch entered at that moment and smiled condescendingly, the smell of violets wafting about him. ‘Sorry to keep you, Spur.’ It had already been two bells since they had arrived, which meant the big black slave had kept him waiting an hour.

Lazar glared at him.

‘This is a delicate matter for the harem, Spur. You must show patience.’

‘I think I have.’

‘Indeed,’ Salmeo replied dismissively. ‘We have kept you from your duty long enough, which is why we no longer require your presence.’

Lazar could hardly believe what he’d heard. ‘What sort of jest is this, eunuch?’

‘Grand Master Eunuch if you please,’ the huge man corrected in a slightly effeminate manner, which only served to infuriate Lazar further. ‘No jest, Spur. The Valide’s orders.’

‘Orders? I wish to see her.’

Salmeo closed his eyes and shook his head. ‘Impossible. She is not seeing anyone today.’

‘Then I shall speak with the Zar.’

‘He is unavailable,’ Salmeo replied curtly.

‘This will not do.’ Lazar forced back his wrath.

‘Spur, if you please, this is no longer a matter for your consideration. The girl is returned—we thank you for aiding in that but she is the property of the Zar…she belongs to the harem and the harem alone will decide her fate.’

‘Fate? What are you talking about?’ although he already knew.

‘She is to be punished. It will be private. You have exchanged the girl for gold. Your business here on this matter is concluded. We shall look forward to welcoming you to the palace on your other official duties, Spur, but now I would ask you to leave. My men of the Elim will—’

‘Don’t bother.’ Herezah had put Salmeo up to this, Lazar was sure. He could see her delight flashing in the man’s triumphant gaze. ‘You may tell the Valide, when she is available, that I wish to speak with her about my position as Spur.’

‘I shall do that,’ the Grand Master Eunuch said and watched the Spur depart.

Lazar found Jumo waiting in an open-air walkway that led out to the Moon Courtyard.

‘I see it went badly,’ Jumo said, hurrying to keep up with the Spur’s long, angry strides.

‘That fat lump of dung!’ Lazar muttered.

‘Where are you going?’ Jumo asked as his companion swung down a hallway.

‘To find Pez,’ was the gruff reply.

The dwarf was singing to himself in the library, turning pages of books far too quickly to be reading them. Lazar noticed, however, that Pez was not looking at the book he held but one on the floor.

‘Pez!’ he hissed.

The little man looked at him with a mixture of surprise and amusement. ‘Yellow?’

‘Don’t play with me. This is important.’

‘Well keep your voice lower then.’

Lazar crouched by Pez on the floor, between dusty books and two vast rows of tomes rearing up towards the ceiling. ‘I need your help.’

‘What can I do?’ the dwarf whispered, eyes watchful for Habib, who was in charge of all the books.

‘Don’t worry, Jumo’s keeping watch.’

Pez nodded. ‘Let us speak plainly then. What’s wrong?’

‘There’s a girl called Ana who joined the harem last night.’

‘Yes, a very special child.’

‘You know her?’

‘Only by what I gleaned from eavesdropping.’

‘Where?’

‘Hidden in the corridor during the presentation ceremony.’

‘You were there!’

Pez nodded. ‘So was Boaz.’

‘What?’

‘They caught the slave, Kett. We escaped.’

It occurred to Lazar to ask how the guards had missed the peeping Zar and his jester, but he had more pressing things on his mind. ‘That savoury episode aside, Ana took fright and escaped last night.’ He was pleased that the dwarf didn’t bother with asking how she had done such a thing.

‘And Salmeo wants blood?’

‘Herezah, of course, is pulling his strings.’

‘Of course. How can I help?’

‘Just speak to Ana if you can. I don’t think they’ll hurt her. They’ll try to frighten her more than anything. But let her know she has a friend in you. I’ve been banished. They want me nowhere near her.’

‘Until you sleep with Herezah this persecution will continue.’

‘Let it!’ Lazar growled. ‘I must go.’

‘I shall see if I can find Ana now,’ Pez assured. ‘Boaz is smitten, I’m sure. He hasn’t said much
but he’ll get around to talking about it soon enough.’

Lazar didn’t know if this pleased him or not, but at least it protected Ana. ‘Good, perhaps he can offer her the sanctuary I couldn’t. Thank you, Pez.’

‘Don’t mention it. I’ve needed an excuse to meet this fascinating creature. Now go, or you’ll get us both into trouble. I’ll send word, I promise.’

‘I shall be leaving the city in a few days,’ Lazar warned as he left.

Pez adopted his vacant expression and went in search of the child at the centre of the harem’s controversy. He found a group of girls crying as they were led out of one of the main chambers behind two eunuchs. Another pair of the men brought up the rear.

He deliberately skipped past the line, twirling and whistling. It didn’t do much to improve the girls’ mood but it cracked a smile on the faces of the lead eunuchs.

‘Where do you go?’ Pez sang, although he could not see the child he sought amongst them.

‘Even you won’t cheer this lot, Pez,’ one man answered. ‘This is the second group for their Test of Virtue.’

Pez reeled away rhyming the word virtue with all manner of odd words including shoe and view, clue and stew. The girls did not laugh and he couldn’t blame them. He weaved his way
amongst the halls of the harem hoping the girl wasn’t bathing, the water pavilion being the one place where he was excluded. It seemed strange to be roaming this area, normally full of whispering or excited giggling, plotting or sighing, now so devoid of noise. He found Ana alone in a room of divans, curled up in a window seat and staring out through the lattices.

He sang her name into the silence and when she turned he saw that she had been weeping.

‘Who are you?’ she asked, not at all perturbed by his appearance.

He skipped up to join her, hefting his short body onto the seat. ‘I’m the court idiot. Are we completely alone?’ She nodded. ‘I belong to the Zar. Do you know his name?’