Bedazzled

enemies.'

Slaves bustled about the two men in the bath, preparing the massage benches for the bathers, bringing heated towels for them.

'It is his way to be cautious,' Aruj Agha defended Caynan Reis. 'I have known him for ten years now. Not once have I known him to act dishonorably. What you have offered him-freedom from tribute, El Sinut for himself and his heirs-is an irresistible temptation. He has, only several months ago, taken his first wife. He will want the security you offer for his sons, but his is a little state. For years, his larger neighbors have hovered like vultures in the desert, seeking to annex El Sinut for themselves. It makes Caynan Reis a careful man.'

'Why in Allah's name would anyone want this remote piece of earth,' Hussein Aga demanded scathingly.

'El Sinut has the finest deep-water harbor along the Barbary coast. That is why our tribute to Istanbul has surpassed that of Algiers and Tunis. And beyond the city are date orchards whose harvests exceed any in the region. The dates are plumper and sweeter than others. It is the soil, I am told. And we have salt mines, as well as a famous mineral spring at the Star Oasis where the wealthy from all over the east-even from as far as Damascus- come to be cured,' Aruj Agha said.

'I was not aware of how prosperous an area this is,' Hussein Aga replied more thoughtfully. 'Perhaps you are right, and I am seeing jiins where there are none. Certainly your friendship with this petty dey is not to be discounted. I was impressed that he insisted you remain when I asked to speak to him alone. It shows a certain respect for the corps of janissaries.'

'He has always worked with us, Hussein Aga, and, frankly, he has been more than generous with the wealth we collect on our voyages. Are you aware that he even sends one ship of tribute to the corps each year, and has since he succeeded the previous dey, Sharif.'

'That is why I was sent here first,' Hussein Aga said. 'It was believed Caynan Reis was a friend to us who could be trusted.'

'He can be!' the younger man swore. 'I would stake my own life upon it. Certainly you now understand his discretion.'

'I will accept your word in this matter,' Hussein Aga replied. 'I know you for an honorable man. I remember you as a boy in the prince's school, and I know your uncle, who is one of our leaders. But remember, Aruj Agha. If this dey betrays us in any way, it will be your duty to kill him. You do understand that, don't you?'

'I hear, and obey,' was the simple reply.

'Good! Good! Now, do you think you can find me a pretty girl to make my evening complete. Surely a young man as yourself knows a number of pretty girls,' the older janissary chuckled.

'She will be eagerly waiting for you in your quarters after we have dined with the dey this evening,' Aruj Agha said with a smile.

The two men exited the bathing pool to be enveloped in warm towels by the bath slaves. They were dried and massaged, and then dressed in clean clothing. Together they departed the baths to stroll in the palace's public gardens before the evening meal was to be served.

Baba Hassan watched them briefly from his high window, and then turned to receive the mistress of the baths. 'You have information for me, Oma?'

'Not I, my lord, but Refet.' She drew forward a slight young girl, who had been almost hidden behind the bath mistress.

'Speak then, my child,' Baba Hassan said in kindly tones to Refet, who looked half terrified to be in the august presence of the chief eunuch of the dey's palace.

'I am Turkish,' the girl began. 'The two janissaries spoke in that tongue, for it is their natural language. The older one does not trust the dey because he will not give him an allegiance, but Aruj Agha swore the dey could be trusted, thereby soothing the other man's fears. Nonetheless, the visitor told Aruj Agha that if the dey betrays them, Aruj Agha must kill the dey. He agreed. Then the older man asked for a woman for his bed tonight. That is all, sir.'

'Thank you,' Baba Hassan said, and dismissed the two from his presence. Then he sat down to consider what he would do. Of course the woman who pleasured their visitor must be carefully chosen. As the dey was little interested in his harem currently, perhaps he would allow two of his own women to entertain the two janissaries. India, of course, could not be part of the evening, but Samara would be happy to be at the dey's side. And sweet Mirmah, who had once belonged to Aruj Agha, would be his again for this night. The passionate flame-haired Sarai would certainly please Hussein Aga. Who knew what information the clever Sarai might extract from this man in the throes of passion.

Baba Hassan arose, and went to his master. The dey was with his wife, and it was obvious they had recently made love. The chief eunuch bowed low, hiding a smile. Then he told the dey what the bath attendant had overheard and the plan he had devised for the evening. 'It is better, my lord, that the two women with the janissaries be those we can trust. If, however, you do not choose to share these two women from your own harem, then I shall send for two skilled courtesans from the town who I know are loyal.'

Caynan Reis laughed softly, and his eyes twinkled as he said, 'Nay, Baba Hassan, my poor ladies have been most neglected of late, as I seem to be otherwise occupied with my beautiful wife. Send my own women, and let Hussein Aga believe I have honored him.'

'But why must Samara take my place by my husband's side?' India demanded. 'Would it not also do honor to our visitor from Istanbul that the dey's wife ate with him?'

'If this were an ordinary evening, my lady,' Baba Hassan told her, 'I should not have suggested Samara accompany our lord, but this is a dangerous situation. Outside of the palace, few know your face. It is better for you to be invisible to this man from Istanbul.'

'I agree,' the dey replied, 'especially in light of the news my wife has given me this very afternoon.'

'My lord!' Baba Hassan's face broke wide with his smile. 'Is there to be a child? Ahhhh! This is what we have all prayed for, my lord dey!' He turned to India. 'May Allah rain blessings upon you, my lady India! May I tell Azura?'

India laughed happily. 'I am not entirely certain, never having had a child, but as the eldest of my mother's children, I believe I recognize the signs. Yes, Baba Hassan, you may tell Azura, and the ladies as well, for it will give them some hope of entertaining my husband again. It might also take the sting from my choosing only three of the seven this evening to entertain the janissaries. If it were I doing the deciding, however, Baba Hassan, I should give this agent of the janissaries two ladies to amuse himself with, for he will surely suspect if only one is sent that she is a spy. Two, though, bespeaks the dey's generosity. I do not believe a fool would have been dispatched upon such a delicate mission. Why not give him Nila as well as Sarai? He will be so overwhelmed with their voluptuous pulchritude, he will not have time to consider anything other than how to gain the most pleasure from those two beauties.'

'You plot like a valideh,' the chief eunuch said admiringly. 'With my lord's permission it shall be done, my lady India.'

'Do as my wife suggests,' the dey agreed. 'Is she not clever, Baba Hassan? What sons I shall have of her!'

'It might just as easily be a daughter,' India replied. 'My mother had me before my brother, Henry.'

'A daughter would please me, too, as long as she is as beautiful as her mother,' the dey declared gallantly, and, catching up India's hand, he kissed it passionately. 'However, I hope this first child will be a son, my precious, not just for me, but for El Sinut.'

'Mama has five sons,' India told him with the hint of a smile. Then she said, 'You must be prepared for your evening, my lord. A bath, I think, for the day has been hot. If that vixen, Samara, attempts to seduce you, though, I shall have her bow-strung!'

Baba Hassan withdrew chuckling, and made his way to Azura's