Guest
Good morning, Seker Agha! Have a seat. Bring my sherbet and pastries. Quick, boy! And you two look for bulgur and rice. Come on! Look, my agha, these came in this morning. I set them aside for you. What a liar. These were here three days ago. I recognised this from its neck. You probably already carved their livers out. Bring me those geese livers right now. Quickly! Right away, my agha! Sultan Suleyman came to decisions faster than his father. Cafer Agha is going to lose his head. I wonder what’s next. Did you know he’d make these decisions? No. He asked me about the last days of his father. He is his son after all. He was curious. He asked if his father suffered. Anything else? Anything about us? He didn’t tell me anything else. The sherbet pitcher is held like your knees slowly. Hold it handle gently. it gently with both your knees slowly. All both hands. Lean. Raise your ! Who is she? Leave her. She is Alexandra, the Crimean lunatic. She is Crimean? Ruthenian. She was the daughter of an Orthodox priest. Raise your elbows higher. Both of them. Orthodox? Orthodox. Tatar bandits abducted her from her village. They sold her to the Crimean Palace, and then they sent her you could see the way she was when she first insolent, so impudent. But I’m teaching her manners now. Prepare that Crimean girl, Sumbul Agha. Alexandra? Yes. The one beside her as well. The short one? Yes. And that one facing away from us. The one that’s smiling? Matrakci, come, drink a sherbet before you break your arms too. Come. Come here. Come on. What happened? Nothing, I fell. And they are making fun of me.I’ve become a joke. How is the air up there, Matrakci? Good. Here, look. The navy is in the carriages are on the way from Halic to are waiting for Sultan Suleyman to start the new campaign. The Janissary battalions are gathering in Etmeydani. Bring Matrakci a sherbet on me! Thanks! Very well done. You’re working hard on these, but do they serve any purpose? I’m writing the Book of Suleyman. Day by day, I and this city will record these events. Sultan will pass, I will pass, but these will stay. Do you understand, Seker Agha? Hear ye, hear ye! Sultan Suleyman asked for the head of Grand Admiral Cafer Agha. Cafer Agha will be executed. That’s not all. The captive Egyptian merchants are pardoned. They’re free. The thrown-silk ban is lifted. Long live the padishah! Long live the padishah! Mother, this palace is so big. Is this my palace? Yes, son. It’s your palace. Our palace. I’ll get lost in here. How will I find you? I’ll always be by your side. Don’t be afraid. Let’s go, your grandmother is waiting. The Valide Sultan ordered festivities to be prepared for tonight’s feast. I went with Sumbul Agha to pick from the Crimean concubines to entertain you. Alexandra, the girl who fainted when she saw you, is among them. You didn’t talk to her, did you? I wouldn’t dare, Your Majesty. Sumbul Agha told me how she was brought from Crimea. She is from Crimea, you say? Your Majesty, Prince Mustafa has arrived. He is in Valide Sultan’s chamber. Congratulations! Pargali, my son awaits. We’ll talk later. My Mustafa. How I missed you, my dear! The apple of my eye. My Mustafa, did you miss me too? I did. Where is Father? Take me to Father. Your Father must be busy, not now. You’ll see him later. Is that right, Hatice? It is, Mustafa. I order you, take me to him! Isn’t this my palace? I’m the owner of this palace! How can he talk like this? Are you teaching this to a 5-year-old? How dare you! Forgive me, my Valide. Come here, Mustafa! Come! This palace has but one owner, Mustafa. His Excellency, Sultan Suleyman Khan. Let me hear you repeat it. His Excellency, Sultan Suleyman Khan. I will not hear such words again. Now go, play outside. Take him outside. He is only a child, my Valide. He was just talking nonsense. Forgive me. Mothers must be clever, Mahidevran. You can’t discipline a prince like this. Look at the favourites’ clothes. Look at the jewellery. They sleep in beautiful rooms, on the feather beds. And us, Maria? Look at us. Maybe we will be like them some day. The sultan’s chief consort and his son have arrived. Mahidevran Sultan. She is beautiful. I wouldn’t care if they died! Be quiet! Jesus Christ, Alex! They are coming here. Did they hear us? You. And you. Maria, Alexandra, come on. We’re going. Prohibition, punishment, beating? Come on, after you. You will busy tonight. You will entertain Sultan Suleyman. Do you know how to dance or sing? Dancing, stupid girls! Watch and learn! Dancing like this. Dancing smoothly. Go on! Let’s go!
