by Megan Derr
Euren had only just pulled on the pants and top when a knock came at her door. She frowned and motioned for the others to hide. Once they were safely inside the secret passage, she called for the knocker to enter. A guard stepped inside and bowed low, slowly rose at her bidding. "Highness, His Majesty forbade you to have visitors, but I thought perhaps I could permit this one. Lady Irmak has requested an audience, by your pleasure."
"Oh? Yes, show her in." Puzzled, she picked up a dark pink and silver wrap to wind around her shoulders as she walked back over to the sitting area.
"Good morning, Lady Irmak," Euren said as she took a seat and motioned for Irmak to do the same. "I admit I am surprised to see you but not displeased. What can I do for you?"
"You are not angry?" Lady Irmak asked, looking and sounding very much like a nineteen year old girl.
"Why should I be angry with you? I admit it will be a little strange to call you stepmother, but I'm sure the royal family has stranger tales to its history."
A ghost of a smile flickered on Irmak's face. She was a pretty young woman, with none of the scheming meanness that spoiled her father's handsome face. Some of her mother must be in her because Bulut's features were coarser, narrower, and her skin was much darker. Her hair was loose and long, springing up around her head, darker close to her scalp but much paler at the ends. Freckles scattered across her broad nose and smooth cheeks, and the vibrant blue skirt and top she wore drew out the blue in her gray eyes.
"What troubles you, my lady?" Euren asked as the tentative smile faded into a frown that trembled ever so faintly. "You did not come here to have an idle chat, I think, whatever you told the guards."
Irmak nodded, drew a deep breath, and let it out slowly. "I do not want to marry him. I want nothing to do with him, but I have little choice in the matter… I am pregnant with His Majesty's child."
Euren dropped the teacup she had just picked up. "What?!"
Tears fell down Irmak's cheeks, but she wiped them impatiently away. "My father has been scheming for some time, and I did not have much choice in the matter while I was one little mouse hiding in a nest of snakes. I thought of going to Lord Demir, but he and my father… I did not want to make a bad situation worse for him, there was no telling what my father would have done to either of us." She gave a shaky laugh, but Euren could hear notes of anger threaded through the fear. "But then Prince Ihsan returned, and I thought maybe… And then you arrived, and you are both so obviously set against His Majesty. Then I heard about my father being arrested and decided I had to try. I do not know if I can call you ally, Your Highness, but I very much hope so." Her eyes were wide, bright with unshed tears, but full of hope and determination.
"Of course you can," Euren said, moving to sit next to her, taking Irmak's hands in her own. "I would much rather call you a friend. That sounds much better than stepmother, I think."
Irmak gave a small laugh. "Yes, it very much does."
"Does anyone else know you're pregnant?" Euren asked.
"Only the royal healer. I have been wanting to act against them, but one person alone I could not do much. But with you and His Highness…"
Euren nodded in agreement, tried to make herself think and not let the seething rage boil up and consume her. Even a king could be dethroned and hanged for having a child out of wedlock, for sleeping with a woman outside of marriage. The only woman he should ever know sexually was his wife. If the court found out he had slept with a woman—and one who was not yet legally come of age—they would be infuriated. Bad enough he had declared he and Irmak were engaged. To learn he had already slept with her, with a strong implication she'd had no choice, and that she was pregnant…
If it did not result in a riot, it would be a very near thing. The council would have no choice but to remove and imprison him until the babe was born and it could be verified beyond all doubt that the king was the sire.
Marrying her wouldn't be good enough at that point because it would not restore their trust in Kagan. If he'd slept with one woman outside the bonds of marriage then it was entirely likely he'd slept with others. That was not a forgivable sin.
"So what do you want to do?" Euren asked. "Do you know?"
Irmak nodded. "If I say I am pregnant but cannot admit—or do not know—the father, there is very little His Majesty and my father can do but cancel the engagement. They dare not admit the child is His Majesty's, and he cannot marry a woman already pregnant. It's not an ideal situation, but it's far better than being a puppet queen for His Majesty and my father." Her mouth twisted, eyes falling to the floor as her fingers moved restlessly across her midriff.
"A good plan, and you're brave to go through with it. I'm not sure I would have such fortitude in your place," Euren replied quietly. Give her smugglers and being mindlessly bored in a monastery, Merciful Divine. If she had stayed in the palace during Ihsan's absence she was not at all confident she would have survived them. Definitely not with her mind intact. "I think we should interrupt your father's hearing, what do you say?" She smiled when Irmak nodded again, jaw set in a stubborn line. "Let me finish getting dressed. Do you know when the hearing is to start?"
"Any moment now," Irmak replied. "I brought my father breakfast this morning, and he was frothing like a mad beast, I vow." Her eyes wandered to the plates of food left over from Euren's breakfast.
Standing, Euren shifted the plates closer. "Eat while I finish dressing. Do you know where the meeting is happening?"
"The main courtroom, and the whole council has been called. Rumor has it Lord Demir is furious and Prince Ihsan even more so. Everyone is buzzing around whispering about what could have happened last night." Her mouth twisted. "I think a few are placing bets on who will be executed today."
Euren snorted. She would bet her own fortune that more than a mere few were betting on that. Returning to her trunks, she pulled on the jewels still set out and awaiting her, glancing briefly at the closed secret passage. A pity there was no time to contact someone and explain what had just happened—what would soon be happening.
Ready as she would ever be, she returned to Irmak, who stood and fussed briefly with her own clothing, beautiful and costly and far more elegant and tasteful than anything Bulut ever wore. She smiled shyly at Euren. "Thank you again for your support and help, Your Highness."
"What are friends for?" Euren asked. "I am happy to have someone to call friend, given the scandal I caused when I married a prince and ran away." She winked, and Irmak laughed.
Maybe she'd get the hang of this princess thing yet. Speaking of being a princess… Time to get bossy. Striding to the door, Irmak just behind her, she pulled it open. "I need to see His Majesty immediately on a matter of extreme urgency."
"His Majesty is currently in a hearing—"
"I don't care," Euren interrupted. "It is of utmost importance that I speak with him, even if I must interrupt the hearing to do so. Take me and Lady Irmak to him at once."
The guard hesitated a beat longer, then bowed. The other two guards stationed at her door did the same. "As you wish, Highness. They fell into position surrounding Euren and Irmak as they led them through the palace to the main courtroom.
Euren kept hold of Irmak's hand the whole way, not letting go until they were led into the courtroom.
Twenty councilors, Kagan, Demir, and Ihsan all stared at her. Ihsan frowned, tilting his head in silent query that she was all right. Euren gave the barest nod and then turned her full attention Kagan. "Your Majesty, Councilors, I beg your forgiveness for interrupting. I come with news that cannot keep, however."
"What news is that?" Kagan demanded. "Why are you dragging my betrothed about? What have you done to her? Why are you even with her when I gave explicit orders you were not to speak to anyone?"
"Respect, Majesty, but she came to me to share an important piece of information. She felt I was the best to turn to for advice, and my advice was to come here immediately and share the information with you."
Ka
gan's face soured, his eyes skittering ever so briefly to Bulut. If Euren hadn't been watching him so closely she might have missed it. "What is this news then, Lady Irmak?" he finally asked, and Euren didn't think she was imagining the resignation that colored his angry tone.
Whispers rolled through the courtroom, more than a few pairs of eyes widening as they made likely-accurate guesses. Bulut's face remained expressionless, as did Kagan's, but she would bet that their thoughts were not nearly so calm.
Urging Irmak forward, Euren nodded in encouragement. Irmak drew a breath, hands balling against her stomach as she drew her shoulders back, bowed from the waist, then rose and said, "Your Majesty, with deepest apologies and regret, I must confess I am pregnant."
Anything else she tried to say was drowned out by the outraged cries of the court demanding to know the father, who had manipulated and used an underage woman. Ihsan's eyes widened, and he shot Euren a look full of what did you do after I left and how? She gave a minute shake of her head, and he subsided, but the questions wouldn't stay banked for long.
Only Demir seemed completely unsurprised by the announcement, face expressionless but even Euren could read the sadness and anger in his eyes.
"Silence!" Kagan bellowed. He glared furiously at Irmak. "What is the meaning of this? Who is the father then?"
"A traveler I met in the city, Your Majesty. A man long gone."
Kagan's mouth tightened, and for a moment, Euren feared he would actually leave his dais to visit violence upon all of them firsthand. Finally he tore his eyes away from Irmak to focus his wrath on Bulut. "Did you know of this, Steward?"
"No, Majesty—"
"I find it hard to believe," Kagan snarled, "that you do not properly look after your daughter, do not know where she goes and what she does, what company she keeps."
Pure hate filled Bulut's face. "You dare—" He was cut off as guards grabbed him, shoved him to the floor, and held his head so he could no longer speak.
"Remove them," Kagan said coldly. "Councilors, I am removing Lord Bulut from his position as Steward and banishing him from court for deceiving the throne and abusing his daughter through neglect."
"You lying—" Bulut grunted as his face was pushed into the floor again.
"No objections," Lord Galal said. "Your actions are fair."
Kagan nodded. "Guards, remove them. See their personal belongings are packed and they are escorted to safe quarters in the city before sundown."
"Yes, Majesty," chorused the guards holding Bulut. One of them gently took Irmak's arm and led her away. She looked back briefly to give Euren a shy smile, lifting a hand in farewell before she was whisked from the court room.
Kagan's voice cut into the silence. "Well, Harem Master, I believe that resolves your dilemma as well."
"Yes, Majesty," Demir replied quietly.
Grunting, Kagan said, "Then since you and the councilor are both here, let us move on to unfinished business: what to do with the harems. I've read over the suggestions offered. Abolishment in full, restricting the numbers and raising concubines explicitly to the purpose rather than allowing the monarchs to choose, and the final is changing the harem tradition to once more make them free to the whole court. Does anyone else have further suggestions for how we might revise the harems to be more amenable to all?" He asked the question derisively, which was not surprising.
The surprise was that he asked at all. Kagan had always enjoyed collecting handsome men like toys, taking them from the powerful nobles who could do nothing as their sons were taken away. And apparently, in the years she'd been gone, ordering them executed without remorse whenever his anger got the better of him.
"I have a suggestion," Demir said, the words spoken quietly but with force. The whispers and low, murmured conversations abruptly ceased, all eyes riveted on the harem master.
As always, he was beautiful, dressed in black and red, gleaming gold and rubies. He was somber, even sad. Over the matter of the harems, or was he also equally troubled by what had transpired with Ihsan and his men? Idiots. She hoped they were able to smooth out the wrinkles.
"What is your suggestion, Harem Master?"
"Restrict the harems to so small a number that they dwell with their monarchs in private spaces," Demir said. "Let each king, queen, prince, and princess watch over their respective harems themselves. Let no concubine wander the hall alone but always be accompanied by at least one guard, preferably two. Let all their conversations with anyone not of the harem be reported back to their monarch. Reaffirm the law that a man or woman must be asked if they would join a harem, and they must be able to refuse without fear of reprisals. So revised, the harems would be contained, costs would be minimized, and any concerns of coercion or slavery would be eliminated."
Silence stretched on as he finished speaking. Euren frowned. She could see the looks everyone exchanged, caught the occasional whisper. Was nobody going to actually say anything?
But a moment later Ihsan broke the silence and voiced the concern that was on everyone's mind. "If we went with your suggestion, Harem Master, then there would be no position for you."
Demir bowed his head. "My duty is to serve the crown and the concubines, whatever the cost to me. If sacrificing my role will bring safety and peace to the concubines and strengthen a precious tradition of Tavamara, restore peace of mind to the crown and court, then it is a worthy sacrifice."
"I think it sounds indecisive," cut in a woman on the council. Lady… Yuma? Divine, Euren had been gone too long, she could not remember anyone. "Abolish them or expand them, but do not make us waver and take half-measures that will solve nothing."
"I agree," said another councilor, a stodgy-looking man Euren could not place.
After that, everyone tried to speak at once, and it was several minutes before the bickering leveled out enough to make any sense. Though once it did, none of it was pleasant. Just how many of them were backstabbing bastards, more intent on the wealth to be gained by slaving out their fellows? Euren wanted to scream, wanted to get her knives, press the edge of one to each their damned throats, and teach them real fear.
"Enough," Kagan said eventually. "Councilors, are you ready to vote?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Ihsan, Princess Euren, Lord Demir, wait in the hall while the vote is called," Kagan said.
Ihsan's mouth flattened, but he went without protest, reaching out to Euren. She took his hand gladly and hugged him once they were out in the hall.
"How in the name of the Divine did you manage that with Lady Irmak?" Ihsan asked. "You are a liar about your political acumen, woman."
"The credit belongs to Lady Irmak. She is the one who came to me needing only to know you and I would support her. I think Lord Bulut does not realize just how much of his sharp mind went to his daughter, which makes him all the more a fool."
"Of course we'd support her, which means we'd best get her away from him. I'll see to it the moment this damned meeting is over."
Euren smiled and leaned up to kiss him. Drawing away, she turned to Demir. "Your suggestion was the best one, from all viewpoints, though I hate that no matter what option is settled on you will be suffering."
"I meant it when I said that it is a worthy sacrifice if it means the concubines are safe," Demir replied. "I can find other work." His eyes flicked to Ihsan, then past him, as though he was only glancing around the hall and had not looked wistfully at Ihsan.
Who was too busy scowling and seething to notice. "They're all far too greedy and scheming to go with so sound a plan," Ihsan said flatly. "I do not like where I think this is going to go. We've not had time to weed out the schemers from the threatened and blackmailed on the council."
Demir said nothing, merely stared off down the hall, hands purposefully relaxed at his side. Euren wanted to hug him, comfort him, but even if etiquette allowed, they barely knew each other, and it wasn't likely her gestures would actually lend him much comfort.
Ihsan was a different story,
but etiquette forbade him offering.
"What happens if they choose to free the harem to the court?" Euren asked. "What will become of our harems?"
"I'm sure the council will push that they remain since they're already concubines and chose that life, but they should have the right to choose if the conditions have altered from what they agreed to."
"We should not be turning the harems into a glorified brothel," Demir said, voice cracking at the end. He sharply turned his head away. "Apologies, Highnesses."
"Demir…" Ihsan said softly, letting go of Euren, moving closer, and reaching out… only for his hand to fall at the last moment. Because he couldn't touch—he wasn't allowed to touch. But it hurt to see how much they both obviously wanted to.
Euren looked away, giving them what privacy she could. If the council did, by some Divine fortune, vote for Demir's suggestion, would Ihsan ask Demir to join his harem? Would Demir accept? Was that really what either of them wanted? Did they know what they wanted?
Merciful Divine, wasn't ruling a country complicated enough on its own? Who had time for slave rings and pining?
She startled, barely biting back a cry, when the doors opened and a guard intoned His Majesty requested they return. Sharing a look with Demir and Ihsan, who looked about as hopeful as she felt, Euren led the way back into the courtroom.
The doors closed behind them with a dull, heavy bang.
Thirteen
Demir wanted to scream, wanted to cry, wanted some way to let out the fear and dread that had him wound so tight he felt on the verge of breaking. He should have had more warning, more time to prepare. With all the other problems that had cropped up, he had thought the matter of the harem had been set aside for a little while.
Now to be sprung on him so abruptly… And the looks on the councilors' faces was not promising. None of them would look at him, dropped their eyes when his gaze landed upon them. He swallowed the bile in his throat. What was he going to do when they turned his harem into a brothel?