collecting taxes from the timariot s, the feudal cavalrymen given small fiefdoms in return for their service in wars. On their death it was supposed to return to the Sultan. It was one of the basic tenets of the Osmanli system; only the Sultan could accrue hereditary wealth.
Well, that was supposed to be how it worked.
Abbas leaned forward: 'The Veil of Crowned heads has asked me to tell you about a man named Hakim Dürgün. It seems that last year he died of the pestilence. Yet he still farms his timar near Adrianople. A remarkably diligent ghost, do you not agree?'
'Remarkable. I will look into it.'
'You should also look into the case of another timariot in Rumelia who died four years ago. About the time you became treasurer, in fact. Since then he has taxed the farmers on his land eight aspers per sheep. And yet you have done nothing about this avaricious spirit. Is it because you are afraid of the dead or because his ghost passes you two aspers per sheep for yourself?'
'How do you know so much about ghosts?'
'Wherever there is a black man, I have a pair of ears. And there is not a palace or a treasury in the entire kingdom that does not have a supposedly deaf mute who hears everything.'
Rüstem selected a pastry and chewed slowly. 'What is it you want? A cut of the business?'
Abbas admired his calm. 'Nothing so common. Please. I have not come here to line my own pockets. The Lady Hürrem sent me.'
'She does not need money.'
'Of course not.'
'A favour then?'
'More than a favour. I think we are talking about an alliance.'
For the first time he raised his eyes and looked directly at Abbas. They were November eyes, Abbas thought. Not cold, just grey and empty. 'That would be an interesting arrangement. Does she realize that Ibrahim is my patron?'
'Of course. You did not think I would keep it from her?'
'I think you only tell anyone what they need to know and no more.'
'I understand you are to accompany the Vizier on the campaign in the east.'
'What interest could the second kadin possibly have in a military expedition to Persia?'
'None. Her interest is Ibrahim.'
Rüstem frowned. 'What does she want from him?'
'She is concerned for him. She worries that if he has become too besotted with his own power. His boasting is already the scandal of the court and the bazaars.'
Why should she be concerned about it? I have heard she does not care for him overmuch but surely his arrogance cannot touch her in there.'
'Her reasons are not your affair. But it seems the Vizier is heading for a fall, and she would like it very much if you hurried his downfall along. She would like evidence of his treachery.'
'He is hardly a traitor.'
'It does not matter to my mistress if he is or he isn't. Just that you collect evidence of it.'
Rüstem selected another pastry while he thought this over. 'That might be difficult to do.'
'Not too difficult, I hope. Or one night, when the Sultan is wrapped in the embrace of his second kadin ., she will whisper to him how you have embezzled taxes from the timariot s and corrupted the fiefs.'
Rüstem did not look afraid. All that registered was a frown of disappointment, as if he had been outmanoeuvred at chess. 'And what reward should I hope for, should I prove a resourceful ally?'
Abbas was surprised by the question. 'Your life?'
'If we are bargaining, Kislar Aghasi, as you say we are, then I should like to counter offer. Tell her that should I give her Ibrahim, I would like to enter into a more permanent arrangement with her. We might be very good for each other.'
Abbas grunted in surprise. 'I will tell her,' he said.
The Man Who Never Smiled almost did. But he restrained himself at the last.
Later, as he made his way back to the palace, Abbas passed a dead horse that had been left in the gutter. The dogs had been at work on it and had dragged its entrails out through a hole they had torn in its stomach. Try never to fall, he reminded himself. Once your belly is supposed, even for
Well, that was supposed to be how it worked.
Abbas leaned forward: 'The Veil of Crowned heads has asked me to tell you about a man named Hakim Dürgün. It seems that last year he died of the pestilence. Yet he still farms his timar near Adrianople. A remarkably diligent ghost, do you not agree?'
'Remarkable. I will look into it.'
'You should also look into the case of another timariot in Rumelia who died four years ago. About the time you became treasurer, in fact. Since then he has taxed the farmers on his land eight aspers per sheep. And yet you have done nothing about this avaricious spirit. Is it because you are afraid of the dead or because his ghost passes you two aspers per sheep for yourself?'
'How do you know so much about ghosts?'
'Wherever there is a black man, I have a pair of ears. And there is not a palace or a treasury in the entire kingdom that does not have a supposedly deaf mute who hears everything.'
Rüstem selected a pastry and chewed slowly. 'What is it you want? A cut of the business?'
Abbas admired his calm. 'Nothing so common. Please. I have not come here to line my own pockets. The Lady Hürrem sent me.'
'She does not need money.'
'Of course not.'
'A favour then?'
'More than a favour. I think we are talking about an alliance.'
For the first time he raised his eyes and looked directly at Abbas. They were November eyes, Abbas thought. Not cold, just grey and empty. 'That would be an interesting arrangement. Does she realize that Ibrahim is my patron?'
'Of course. You did not think I would keep it from her?'
'I think you only tell anyone what they need to know and no more.'
'I understand you are to accompany the Vizier on the campaign in the east.'
'What interest could the second kadin possibly have in a military expedition to Persia?'
'None. Her interest is Ibrahim.'
Rüstem frowned. 'What does she want from him?'
'She is concerned for him. She worries that if he has become too besotted with his own power. His boasting is already the scandal of the court and the bazaars.'
Why should she be concerned about it? I have heard she does not care for him overmuch but surely his arrogance cannot touch her in there.'
'Her reasons are not your affair. But it seems the Vizier is heading for a fall, and she would like it very much if you hurried his downfall along. She would like evidence of his treachery.'
'He is hardly a traitor.'
'It does not matter to my mistress if he is or he isn't. Just that you collect evidence of it.'
Rüstem selected another pastry while he thought this over. 'That might be difficult to do.'
'Not too difficult, I hope. Or one night, when the Sultan is wrapped in the embrace of his second kadin ., she will whisper to him how you have embezzled taxes from the timariot s and corrupted the fiefs.'
Rüstem did not look afraid. All that registered was a frown of disappointment, as if he had been outmanoeuvred at chess. 'And what reward should I hope for, should I prove a resourceful ally?'
Abbas was surprised by the question. 'Your life?'
'If we are bargaining, Kislar Aghasi, as you say we are, then I should like to counter offer. Tell her that should I give her Ibrahim, I would like to enter into a more permanent arrangement with her. We might be very good for each other.'
Abbas grunted in surprise. 'I will tell her,' he said.
The Man Who Never Smiled almost did. But he restrained himself at the last.
Later, as he made his way back to the palace, Abbas passed a dead horse that had been left in the gutter. The dogs had been at work on it and had dragged its entrails out through a hole they had torn in its stomach. Try never to fall, he reminded himself. Once your belly is supposed, even for
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