She paled.

"But," he continued, "I prefer it that way. In the future, I expect all of you to address me as a man, not some court demiG.o.d. However, your respect for me as your master should not diminisk I will never be ruled by a woman." He turned to his aunt "I know nothing of these household matters. What must be done here to make my palace habitable? Will you take charge for me?"

"Dear boy, I cannot I know very little. You forget that your mother and I entered the harem when we were only nine years of age. We were trained from the first to be gediklis, not household servants, but Cyra has been trained in these things in her country. Let her take charge. I will oversee all she does, as my knowledge of our customs is greater."

"Very well," said Selim. "I suppose, however, that the first thing we should do is set up the tents so we may be comfortable. Cyra, send a message to Hadji Bey informing him of our plight."

"Yes, my lord." She turned and, pointing at a slave, said, "Can you ride?"

"Yes, my lady."

"Saddle one of the Moorish geldings and then come to me. I will have a note for you to take directly to Hadji Bey."

The slave ran off to do as he was bidden.

"Lady Refet will you write for me? My written Turkish is not yet perfected."

"Of course, my dear. What shall I say?"

"Tell Hadji Bey what we have found. That we need men to repair the buildings, the water pipes, the kitchens and baths. We need gardeners for the grounds, furnishings for the palace, and many more household slaves. Tell him it must be done within the month. That we are camped here like savage nomads."

Lady Refet called to her maid to bring parchment and pens. As she wrote, Cyra walked over to the other girls.

"Well, my sisters, this is a fine mess we find ourselves in today."

"I notice you were quick to offer a solution to our lord," sneered Sarina. "Why should you be in charge?"

"It was Lady Refet who offered my services to our master. Oh, Sarina, let us not quarrel. There is so much to be done. Have you ever run a large household? If so, I will be happy to turn over my responsibility to you. Do you want it?"

"No."

"Well, then, I must shoulder the burden. Before I came to the seraglio, I helped my grandmother to run my father's castle. Were I not here, I should now be running my own. We must all help so that when our lord returns he will be pleased."

Sarina turned away. "My father was a gardener in the house of a great lord," she said. "I know much about plants and their care."

"Wonderful! Then you must take over the rebuilding of the gardens. Turks love their gardens, and the prince is no exception. Will you do it?"

"Yes," replied the Spanish girl. "I could do it."

Cyra put an arm about Sarina's shoulders. "Then, sister, the gardens are your responsibility-and your domain."

The Spaniard gave her a little smile. "See that the palace is as beautiful inside as my gardens will be without," she said.

Cyra looked startled. Then, seeing that the girl was teasing, she grinned back. They burst into laughter.

When the note had been dispatched to the capital, there was nothing for the prince's maidens to do. Cyra asked permission of Lady Refet to explore the grounds a bit It was granted, and she strolled off.

She quickly saw that with work the property could be magnificent. Set on the cliffs high above the Black Sea, it had both fields and wooded areas. Wandering among the trees, she heard the bubbling of a spring and, following the sound, found a clear, sandy-bottomed pool that was filled by a little waterfall at one end, flowing out and down the cliffs between two small rocky hillocks at the other end. The banks surrounding the pool were thickly carpeted with moss, and the warm sunlight filtered through the trees. Kneeling, she dipped her hand into the water. It was invitingly cool, and Cyra was hot and dusty from the journey.

I will tell the others later, she thought, but first I am going to bathe by myself. It had been so long since she bad had the privacy of her own bath. Stripping her garments, she left them where they fell and, pinning her long hair up, waded into the water. Before long she was happily swimming and then leisurely floating about the pool. The late-afternoon sunlight dappled the water, and she felt freer and more relaxed than she had in months. Turning to swim back to the sh.o.r.e, she was horrified to see Prince Selim sitting by her clothes and regarding her with amus.e.m.e.nt. Her feet touched the bottom, and she stood regarding him, half-perplexed, half-angry.

"Come out, my little Ondine. You will shrivel your lovely skin."

"I cannot, my lord."

"Why not?" His face grew worried. "Do you have a cramp?"

"My lord." She struggled, trying to find the right words. "My lord, I am not accustomed to appearing naked before a man."

"I will change all that" He grinned at her.

"Please, my lord-" Her eyes pleaded with him, but he was not to be swayed.

"If you do not come out my little mermaid, then I shall come in." Laughing, he removed his shirt His broad chest was smooth and tanned and well muscled.

Daring possessed her. "You will find the water quite refreshing, my lord."

So, she wants to play, thought the prince, surprised. The little vixen! He stripped his boots and pants off, never noticing that Cyra carefully kept her eyes on his face. Plunging in, he surfaced to discover himself alone in the water-Cyra had scrambled ash.o.r.e as he dove, and was frantically trying to get into her clothing. Swimming to the pool's edge, he vaulted out. He was furious, and the look in his eyes was unmistakable.

She was naked from the waist up as he caught her to him and loosed her hair. It tumbled about their wet shoulders. Kissing her slowly and deliberately, he forced her mouth open and touched her tongue with his. She trembled violently and then went limp.

Taken aback, Selim lowered the inert girl to a mossy carpet Her dark lashes were like a smudge against her pale cheeks. He could see her heart fluttering wildly between her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Confused-for he had never before been faced with a fainting woman-he wondered what to do. Her obvious helplessness had cooled his l.u.s.t, and he suddenly felt strangely protective. As he reached for her cloak and covered her, her eyes opened.

"Please, my lord," she whispered, "not like this. I am not a peasant wench to be tumbled in a wood."

"Why did you faint?"

"I was afraid, my lord." A little smile touched her lips. "You looked very angry."

"I should have you beaten."

"Yes, my lord."

Her repentance was so sincere he could not help laughing. "You did invite me to come into the water."

"I was thinking only of gathering my garments and fleeing you, my lord. I did not think you would chase me without your clothes."

Her honesty perplexed him, and he heard himself say, "I have, you know, seen you naked before. You need not blush. You are quite lovely. The human body is nothing to be ashamed of. Perhaps when we know each other better you will not be so shy."

She lowered her eyes, and for a few moments they sat in silence. Then he bent and kissed her. He felt her tremble again.

"Do not fear, little virgin. I will not ravish you," he said gently.

"My lord-" Her voice was apologetic.

He stopped her mouth with his hand. "You were correct, my lovely Cyra. You are not a peasant wench to be tumbled in a wood. For you it will be a full moon and a scented chamber. The softness of a Persian love song, and a prince who at this moment is already in love with you. Put on your blouse and return to the encampment. I need not tell you to speak to no one of this interlude."

After she had left him, he sat by the pool in deep thought. The sight of her slender body had aroused him terribly. Had she not swooned, he would have raped her and ruined everything. Hadji Bey had spoken to him at length about the three girls he had purchased, but always the agha had come back to Cyra. When Selim asked him why, Hadji Bey had smiled, and said only, "You are perceptive, my son. You will soon see why this maiden touches me. I will not influence you further."

Selim had quickly discovered enough to pique his interest Her actions at his birthday fete had aroused his admiration. Her wisdom, immediate loyalty, and intelligence pleased him. In their three days of travel he had observed that she was a natural leader, yet sweet-tempered and kind to her peers. She deferred to his aunt and this afternoon he had discovered her modesty. It was more than enough to encourage his further investigation. He wanted to know more of his lovely slave than just her body, but right now it was her body that disturbed him.

It would take a good month to get his palace into order, and if he must remain in the constant presence of this virgin temptress, he could not be responsible for his actions. He had promised her a scented, moonlit chamber, and he did not think it would do his cause any good to break that promise.

He might of course, take one of the other girls to his bed, but he did not want another, and it might hurt Cyra. It surprised him to find he did not want to hurt her. Swiftly he stood up, and, striding back to the camp, he sought out his aunt "I am going hunting," he told her. "This domestic uproar is no place for a man! It should be a month before the palace is habitable. I will return then."

Without giving her a chance to reply, he mounted his horse and, shouting to his Tartars to follow him, rode off.

12.

THE SLAVE sent to Hadji Bey returned with the message that the agha kislar himself would be arriving by the following morning to survey the situation. Cyra casually tossed him a small bag of coins. "Serve me well, and you will never lack," she said softly. The slave flashed her a knowing smile. sent to Hadji Bey returned with the message that the agha kislar himself would be arriving by the following morning to survey the situation. Cyra casually tossed him a small bag of coins. "Serve me well, and you will never lack," she said softly. The slave flashed her a knowing smile.

When the agha arrived he was not alone. With him came a caravan bearing luxurious tents, food, and additional slaves. By sunset the prince's household was comfortably settled, and the fragrance of lamb kebabs drifted through the encampment When night fell, the residents of the small tent city settled down to sleep. Hadji Bey and Lady Refet remained talking alone in her tent "I would have thought my dear Bajazet would have seen to the repair of my sister's palace."

"I see Besma's fine hand in this business," replied the eunuch, "but never mind. I have already spoken to the sultan of the few minor repairs necessary, and received his permission."

"Minor repairs!"

"A small stretching of the truth, perhaps," remarked her companion. "However, it is not imperative that our lord be informed of the extent of the repairs. He is also less likely to mention such unimportant matters to Besma She will do a great deal of speculating, and it will be very difficult for her to place spies within our ranks."

"If she has not already done so."

"Impossible! You know I personally kept the new slaves given the prince segregated from the rest of the palace people. The workmen arriving at dawn I selected myself. Nevertheless, we shall keep close watch. Nothing must be done to arouse the suspicion of that she-wolf. When the prince's household is settled, I shall allow her to place a spy or two. There will be nothing to report, and in a year or so Besma will be lulled into a false sense of security. She has enough enemies in the Eski Serai to worry about without being overly concerned with a minor prince living several days' journey from her precious Ahmed"

"Sometimes your sense of strategy amazes even me, old friend," said Lady Refet "I shall not rest until Lady Kiusem's son succeeds Sultan Bajazet"

Refret gazed hard at the proud black man across from her. "Did you love my sister so much, Hadji Bey?"

"I loved her as only a man who is not a man can love. She was my mother, my sister, my friend When I came to the harem, a frightened little boy of nine, I had been torn from my family, cruelly castrated, and carried from my homeland. Most boys of my age died from castration. I was one of the fortunate ones, but at that time I did not know it Kiusem saw my fright though she was just a child herself. You remember how she took me under her wing. When she became the sultan's ikbal, I became her head eunuch. When her son was born and the old agha died I was, thanks to her influence, given the post I owe everything to her, and I have always shared her dream of Selim's succession. She saw, as I did, the degenerate, warped man that Besma has raised Ahmed to be. My lady is dead, but you, Refet and I live. We will make Kiusem's dream become a reality."

The campares burned low, the night waned, and slowly the new day lightened the eastern sky. The encampment came alive with activity. The workmen arrived from the city to begin their task of restoring the Moonlight Serai to its former elegance.

Cyra, with Firousi and Zuleika in attendance, explored the small palace checking for needed repairs, while the Greek girl, Iris, and the Indian maiden, Amara, jointly took over supervision of the household slaves and set them to various tasks. Sarina, well veiled, walked through what had once been the gardens. She made mental notes and without delay set a group of slaves to work removing the heavy undergrowth and the weeds that had so long ruled the area.

The gardens, free of weeds and brush, were tilled, fertilized, and newly planted with thousands of spring bulbs, flowering shrubs, and fruit trees of every kind. Expectantly they awaited the spring. The air was fragrant with late roses and other autumn flowers transplanted from the sultan's greenhouses.

Within a month the Moonlight Serai was transformed back to its past glory and sat like a fine jewel amid the green hills. Its exterior had been scrubbed with sand to remove the dirt The broken columns, windows, ironwork, and fountains had been restored. In the kitchens the ovens grew warm again, and the pantries were full. The roofs of the outer buildings were newly thatched, and in the freshly cleaned and painted stalls the royal horses neighed contentedly.

Within, furnishings brought from the storehouses of the Eski Serai had been skillfully placed. Lamps were hung, rugs laid. Cyra, in her first inspection of the palace, had found a small wing overlooking both the sea and the the hills, which she decreed would be the harem.

To gain entrance, one had to pa.s.s through large double doors which opened into an inside waiting room. There the local female vendors might come to show and sell their goods to the prince's women. To the right of the main door was a paneled door opening into a small private anteroom which let to the rooms of the harem. The main room was a large, square salon whose far end looked out through a wall of leaded-pane windows into the harem garden, which faced the sea. Here Selim's harem could walk in complete privacy. To the left of the salon a hall led to the harem baths. To the rear right was an arch opening into a long corridor. On the left side of the corridor were six small bedrooms, each with its own separate outer chamber for a eunuch or slave. On the right side of the corridor were Lady Refet's rooms-a nicely proportioned private salon and bedroom, each of which faced her own small, secluded garden.

It was now understood that Cyra, with Zuleika and Firousi, would oversee the running of the household until a competent slave could be trained to handle the situation. Amara and Iris continued to oversee the household slaves, and Sarina ruled the gardeners like a Tartar warlord.

One afternoon, a horseman came galloping up the newly graveled road to the palace. He was immediately brought to Lady Refet "Prince Selim will arrive by late afternoon," the soldier reported.

Upon hearing this, the six maidens took action. Sarina went to the gardens. Firousi hurried to the kitchens to inform the cooks that tonight's meal must be without flaw. Amara and Iris marshaled the house servants and gave instructions that the prince's rooms must be cleaned and freshened immediately. Cyra and Zuleika flew from one place to another overseeing all the preparations.

Returning to their quarters, the six girls descended to the baths. Lady Refet smiled to herself and wondered how long this era of peace and cooperation would last now that her nephew was returning Selim arrived and much to his delight was greeted by a beautiful home, his aunt and six lovely girls who smiled shyly at him from behind their sheer veils.

"Well, nephew, do you approve of your house?" asked Lady Refet as she escorted him to his new quarters.

"Frankly, I am amazed. When I left I did not expect to return to such perfection. Even the gardens look as if they had been here forever. How in Allah's name did you do it?"

"I didn't"

He stared at her in disbelief.

"Do you not remember? You left Cyra in charge. She and the other women of your harem have created this miracle. If you like the gardens, thank Sarina. If the cooking pleases you, Firousi is responsible. Your slaves are being trained by Iris and Amara. Zuleika has seen to the furnishings, having twice traveled in secret to Constantinople to choose them from the seraglio storerooms. Over it all, Cyra has ruled and administered with a firm but kindly hand. You are truly blessed to own such a harem."

"Indeed they seem clever, but are they as skilled in other matters? Or have I chosen a group of Amazons to warm my bed?"

"Bah," snapped his aunt "Would you prefer six fat lazy, and selfish women instead? I have lived practically my whole life in Turkey, and if you do not have enough sense to realize the treasures you have, then you are a fool beyond belief! Your girls excelled in the cla.s.ses on those 'other matters.' I doubt you will suffer any disappointments! You men are all alike. Had you found your house a pigsty, no amount of skill in carnal marten would have pleased you."

Selim burst into laughter. "Oh, aunt," he gasped, wiping the tears from his eyes, "my mother always said you were the serious twin. I am but teasing you." He put an arm about her and kissed her cheek.

Lady Refet sniffed, but a little smile flickered on her lips. "You are the age of a man, but you still play tricks like a small boy."

He chuckled and, trying to make amends, asked, "Will you take supper with me this evening?"

"Ah, I had almost forgotten. Your maidens wondered-if you were not overly fatigued from your trip-if you would dine in the harem this evening. You really should, Selim. They have worked so hard to please you, and they hardly know you."

"Very well, aunt I have been in the company of men for over a month now, and it is time I came to know my damsels. Tell them I will come."

Lady Refet bowed courteously to her nephew and departed.

That evening Selim sat cross-legged at the head of his table and stared in frank delight at the girls about him. They were like the flowers in his garden-Amara in pale sky-blue, Sarina in lime-green, Iris in peach, Zuleika in peac.o.c.k-blue, Firousi in dusky rose, and Cyra in a soft wisteria color. Their unveiled faces were a pretty mixture of races and cultures. He began to feel a slight stirring of desire. It had been over a month since he had lain with a woman-unless you counted that savage little nomad girl he had surprised one day while hunting. Selim, like all Ottoman princes, was a healthy and virile man.

Firousi, smiling up at him, asked, "Might I sing for you, my lord? Songs from my homeland? Cyra has studied my native language and can translate them for you."

He nodded, and a slave brought a stringed instrument, which Firousi began to strum Her songs were merry, and the silvery-blond played and sang well Cyra softly spoke the words to Selim, occasionally blushing at the more ribald parts. The prince laughed heartily. Then Firousi began a soft, romantic Persian love song. Rising quietly, Sarina began to dance, her slim body moving suggestively to the music.

Selim glanced at the other girls. He was definitely beginning to feel the need for a woman that night He had decided, the afternoon he sat by her at the pool, that Cyra would be the first of his maidens to come to his bed-Cyra, cool, competent and infinitely desirable. What fires smoldered within that lovely white body?

Motioning to a slave, he told him to bring his aunt to his quarters when he signaled an end to the evening. The slave bowed. For a while longer he allowed his harem to entertain him, then, smiling his pleasure at them, he ended the evening.

Chattering among themselves, the six girls reviewed the evening with pride. It had gone well; Prince Selim was obviously pleased with them. They did not notice Lady Refet's absence until she reappeared among them.

"My nephew has requested a specific maiden to join him this night"