The Diamond City by Carmel Smythe

Author:Carmel Smythe [Smythe, Carmel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-01-18T22:00:00+00:00

Thirty-Nine

Topkapi Palace

The Hall of the Sultan was one of the most elegant rooms of the harem, and an invitation came for all women to join His Highness for an audience. Excited whispers filled the harem in the days leading up to the event. Was he looking for a new lover? Did he want to inspect the newcomers? Ellyn didn’t know what to expect. Until this day she hadn’t even laid eyes on His Highness Murad IV; however, many stories circulated. Some terrified her, whilst others fascinated.

Ellyn and Laleh had accompanied their mistress, Kösem, along with others from the valide sultan's court and each sat on sumptuous cushions in a gallery to the side that was bordered by several large windows. All women were draped in finery, rustling silk brocade and dripping with jewels.

Ellyn's eyes feasted on the sheer opulence of the surrounds: the elevated throne where the sultan sat beneath the baldachin, the gilded cornices that surrounded the vast space, the boundless ornamental domed ceiling, the decorative Moorish arches before the gallery; ornate hand-painted floral Iznik tiles in the predominant shades of cobalt blue and white that covered almost every surface, the decorative frescoes in the few areas that remained untiled and red painted areas accented with gold; the intricate embroidered carpet handmade by harem women themselves.

Next, her gaze drifted to the sultan.

His Highness appeared to be a similar age to herself and younger than she expected, looking somehow out of place in his flowing, ermine-lined silk robe, diamond-encrusted dagger sheathed by his side and an emerald-and-ruby aigrette perched atop his white turban. He was like a child playing dress-ups, his boyish features concealed by a luxuriant moustache and beard.

After Ellyn's eyes had surveyed the intricate beauty and magnificence of the Hall and its mysterious sultan, she glanced over towards where the where the odalisques stood, with their backs to the wall – for they were not permitted to sit in the sultan's presence. Ellyn's eyes had been searching for Claire when a little man suddenly cartwheeled into the room, then stumbled and tripped over his feet whilst performing a backflip.

Ellyn laughed along with the other women, as the man righted himself, then bowed low.

‘My ladies.’

The squeaky, falsetto voice made some giggle more.

‘Sorry, I almost forgot,’ the palace dwarf said as he turned to face the sultan and salaamed. ‘Your Highness.’

The dwarf then addressed them all. ‘We hope you enjoy an afternoon of fine entertainment put on for your pleasure.’

A chorus of angelic voices drifted through the air, emanating from the balcony above where Ellyn now sat in the company of her mistress.

Next came the dancers.

They bounded into the central space facing the throne, dressed in velvet vests over sheer, low-cut muslin blouses paired with flowing skirts that exposed graceful limbs as they twirled and twisted. The dancers soon parted to each side of the hall leaving one woman who danced alone. The young woman leapt and twirled whilst holding two sheer multi-coloured scarves in each hand. Kneeling at the

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