Bedazzled

'My lord, you have a guest. What I have to say is for your ears alone,' his visitor said.

'This is Aruj Agha, captain of the janissaries here. Whatever you have to say to me can be said before him,' the dey replied.

'You support the janissaries then, my lord?' came the question.

'I support all who wish our lord, Sultan Murat, may he live a thousand years, well, and serve to keep his peace,' was the clever reply.

His visitor smiled. 'I bring you greetings, my lord dey, from the court of the janissaries. I am Hussein Aga of the corps. The matter I have come to discuss is a delicate one. Do I have your word you will not repeat to any what is spoken here this day?'

Caynan Reis nodded. 'Speak,' he said.

'My lord, the sultan is young. A mere boy who will not rule for himself for several years to come. We are governed by a woman, the valideh. Such a thing is not to be tolerated. Her influence must be purged from the palace, from the empire.'

'And how is this to be done?' the dey asked dryly. 'Will you murder this woman, and then rule for the sultan in her place?'

'It is more complex than that, my lord. Sultan Murat loves his mother well. He cannot really be separated from her. It is better that he not rule any longer, but rather be disposed of with his parent.'

The dey stroked his chin thoughtfully. 'And who would you place upon the throne of the Ottoman, Hussein Aga? One of the poor incompetent elderly princes who has been housed a lifetime in the Cage? The advantage of this sultan is that he has not been in the Cage long enough to be spoiled, or go mad. Who will you put in his stead?'

'There are two younger brothers,' was the immediate reply.

'You would have to murder one of those children, too, lest someone else, some other faction, use that boy in yet another revolt,' the dey said in practical tones. 'I suppose you could kill the next eldest, and place an infant upon the throne, thereby guaranteeing the janissaries a long rule, eh? How old is the youngest? Four? Five?'

'Such matters are for the corps to decide,' Hussein Aga said stiffly.

'Why come to me then?' Caynan Reis demanded. 'I am the dey of the smallest of the Barbary States. I have no power other than that given me by the sultan, and it does not extend beyond my borders. What do you want of me, Hussein Aga?'

'Your support in this matter,' the agent of the janissaries replied. 'Give us your loyalty. We will make you autonomous in El Sinut. You will be freed from tribute in perpetuity. Would you not like your son to inherit this little kingdom of yours?'

'I have no son,' the dey said quietly.

'But you are a young man, and you could have sons. When El Sinut is yours, you can free your harem women from the draught they are fed to keep them sterile. You might be the patriarch of many in time, my lord dey,' Hussein Aga tempted him. Then he smiled, reminding Caynan Reis of a ferret he had possessed as a boy.

'Have you spoken to the deys of the larger states?' Caynan Reis asked his visitor.

'You are the first, my lord,' was the response.

Again the dey stroked his elegant, short barbered black beard as if he were giving great consideration to Hussein Aga's words. Then he spoke once again. 'As the smallest kingdom, I have more to lose than the others, Hussein Aga. What if I agree to join you in your revolt, and the others do not? Both Algiers and Tunis have been seeking to annex El Sinut for years. I have recently taken a wife. I would not see her widowed and given to another man because I did not show caution. No. I will only consider joining you if the others agree first. If you fail, an example will be made. El Sinut might be considered expendable by Istanbul. I must protect my people. Understand, I care not who rules the empire as long as I am left in peace to do my duty to that ruler and oversee the well-being of El Sinut. I am not saying I will not join you, just that I would be reassured my more powerful and wealthier neighbors will be part of your scheme. When you can bring me that assurance, then I will give you my answer, Hussein Aga. The mouse is wise to look to the cat, eh?' Caynan Reis smiled in friendly fashion.

'I appreciate your candor, my lord dey, and I perfectly understand your position,' was the silky reply. 'I shall leave tomorrow for Algiers, Tunis, and Morocco.'

'But tonight,' the dey said genially, 'I insist that you be my guest.' He clapped his hands, and Baba Hassan was by his side.

'My lord?'

'Have Abu kill a lamb, and make a feast for our noble guest, Baba Hassan.' The dey turned to the janissary. 'You will stay with us, of course, in the janissary barracks here within the palace walls?'

Hussein Aga bowed his acceptance.

'Aruj Agha, my friend, take our visitor to the baths, and see he is made comfortable. Baba Hassan will provide you with fresh clothing for this evening, and see that your travel-worn garments are cleaned and freshened for your departure tomorrow,' Caynan Reis said jovially.

Again the agent from Istanbul bowed. 'You are a gracious host, my lord dey. I shall remember it.'

The two janissaries left the dey's private chamber escorted by the chief eunuch. Caynan Reis sat alone contemplating what had just transpired. The ever-resourceful Baba Hassan had told him but two days ago of the impending arrival of this agent. The chief eunuch had built up over the years an invaluable network of informants that stretched all the way from El Sinut to Istanbul; from Algiers to Damascus. Whatever was important, Baba Hassan knew in advance. The eunuch was a man of great talents, and deserved a larger venue, but I am glad he is mine, Caynan Reis thought.

When he had learned of the plot against the sultan he had spoken of it to India as they lay together, sated with their passion. She had been circumspect in her counsel, advising him to prudence and asking, 'Has this young sultan been a bad sultan, my lord?' The dey had told his wife that their boy overlord was ruled by his mother, who so far had proven wise in her judgments and recommendations. The empire was calm and prosperous right now.

'I would avoid committing myself, my lord Caynan,' India said. 'I think it dangerous, and has any revolt ever executed by the janissaries succeeded? Avoid giving your loyalty to these traitors.'

He had agreed with her, and told both Azura and his chief eunuch that he thought his wife very wise for one so young and beautiful. Now, however, he realized upon consideration that he had been offered an opportunity to gain the right to have his firstborn son inherit El Sinut one day. If he could reveal the plot against the sultan to the valideh before it could be enacted, would not the sultan's mother be grateful? Caynan Reis smiled, well pleased.

Chapter 13

“I do not like Caynan Reis,' Hussein Aga said to Aruj Agha as they lounged in the heated bathing pool. He spoke Turkish.

'Why?' the younger janissary captain asked the visitor from Istanbul. 'He is a good public servant, and very loyal.' He answered his superior in Turkish, the language he had learned as a child, the language of the corps of janissaries.

'He is too clever by far, telling me to go to the other deys and then return to him. I do not trust him. He does not mean to support us. Those who do not support us are our