The Blue Hour

Chapter 23: Hamid

They met by the fountain in the cypress garden where the trickling water drowned their whispering voices. Crisp and elegant, with a frown of concern like a small incision between the eyes, Peresto told Hamid about the Sultan who chased chickens in the offices of state, and about the fateful prophecy. Speechless with shock, he looked at her pretty, heart shaped face.

"Me, Sultan? How can that be?" With his uncle on the throne, and Murad Crown Prince, the throne had never been within his reach. Anger rose inside: "It's just a prophecy, it doesn't mean anything."

"You're right, it doesn't. But we must fear those who believe it does."

The Sultan and the Valide, and the rest of the harem? He knew she was right. As he distilled the full meaning of her words, a sense of dread closed around his heart: the only way for him to become Sultan, was for Sultan Abdulaziz and Murad to die.

"I must tell the Valide she has nothing to fear from me."

"She will not believe you." Peresto tried to put a gentle hand on his shoulder. He pulled away. He did not trust it. Hidden beneath the exquisite surface of her person, there always was another layer, an ugly surprise, a nasty turn of events, manipulation, betrayal. Like everything else in this palace.

She folded her hands in her lap and lowered her gaze. "The empty throne today is a sign the Valide no longer controls her son. If she can't control him, she can't protect him. Questions are already asked, the truth about his mental condition will be revealed and when it is, it's the end."

He stood wearily, and sat down again. Before speaking, he checked his surroundings; the palace walls and garden trees had eyes and ears. "You mean...are you saying...?"

They exchanged a quick glance. The conversation led them into dangerous, treacherous territory. Neither of them evoked the word, but they were talking about a coup. They had spoken of a coup once before, briefly and in hushed voices, the day Midhat Pasha and Huseyin Avni were accused of plotting against the Sultan and sent into exile.

It happened about a year ago, right around the time the Ottoman government declared that it would not pay back its loans. Ever. Good men, Greeks, Armenians, Turks and, most important, countless European holders of the debt, mostly British, lost their life-time savings, and they blamed Sultan Abdulaziz. Everyone did. Midhat Pasha and Huseyin declared publicly that action should be taken. The home of Huseyin Avni took fire, and in the ashes, a stock of arms was discovered.

Had the conspirators been betrayed? Probably. No concrete evidence was ever presented against them, but there was good enough ground for suspicion. Good enough for Ambassador Ignatieff to convince the Sultan that the confiscated arms were to be used against him, and to send two of his most competent ministers - and most vocal critics - into exile.

"The Valide knows it too, that time has run out," Peresto said.

He looked at her and felt his breath shorten. "How do...these things happen?"

She shrugged and shook her head; this was new territory for both of them. "Maybe Midhat Pasha and Huseyin Avni can resume where they left off," she said. "From what I understand, the army and the Ulema had already declared their allegiance to Murad, and all the practical arrangements had been made before they were exiled."

"What if they have changed their minds?"

"The situation has gone from worse to catastrophic since they've been gone. It is more necessary than ever to depose the Sultan, not withstanding the immediate threat to your life."

"Yes, but what if exile has deprived them of the courage to act?"

She considered this. "Let me take care of Midhat Pasha. First, we must get you out of the palace," she said. "God willing, you can leave later tonight. And you will stay away until it's safe to return."