It was just a week ago, when my world crumbled. I had a wonderful job, a successful career path as a cosmetic chemist. I was a top chemist over at Flint Beauty, till I made a shocking discovery. Our products lacked quality, and the higher ups knew something about it. When I spoke about it to the managing director, I was told they would investigate. And the next day, I had lawsuits filed against me for theft and professional misconduct. The evidences were so damning, I didn't even know how they cooked it up. My lawyer tried to talk me into taking a plea deal, it was all for a lesser sentence. But I wasn't willing to admit to something I never ever did. Now, I wasn't going for a hearing, rather I was now on my way to some palace. The noises of people mumbling somethings to each other brought me out of my thoughts and for the first time, I looked around. This was no doubt a very ancient city, people of different shapes, sizes and weird attires walking down the dusty and untarred street. I saw colorful shops located at the certain corners of the streets, selling fruit, linens or ornaments, with the traders announcing the wares they sold by screaming it at the top of their lungs. I saw guards patrol the streets too, on foot. The whole place looked very different but beautiful in a way. The ride on horseback was about an hour, I noticed the roads were becoming less populated. We went on for a little bit before we stopped in front of a very magnificent gate. I had never seen a gate so big and so beautiful in my entire life, I was almost lost in my admiration, until I saw some guards, about two of them, dressed in black, with a small black turban on their heads. Their hands placed on their side, while their eyes looked sharp and agile.
"And what business do you have here?" one of the guards asked, as they approached us slowly.
"The King's concubine requested for a new servant, and here she is" Abdul answered. The guards studied us for a bit, before they eased off, removing their hands from their side. They both opened the gate and gestured to us. Abdul and I rode in, slowly, and I couldn't believe my eyes.
"Welcome to the palace of the Sultan, Mahmud the first" Abdul announced. I gasped, as the horse gracefully trekked into the palace. The coconut trees and palm trees stood magnificently at different corners, different species of flowers graced the side walks. I could tell that this wasn't all that was in this place, the length and breath of the area made me realize it. The floors were smooth and cemented, and the building was one of a kind. They were large domes, surrounded by other smaller domes and tower-like buildings with pointy tops at the corners. They had decorations that seemed to have been done with colorful precious stones.
"Get down from the horse miss" a voice echoed, bringing me back to reality.
"Oh, yes, sure" I stuttered. I looked around, trying to figure out how to come down from the horse. Abdul sighed and looked at me pitifully.
"Just cross your left leg over and hop down" he instructed. I gently and slowly did that before trying to hop on. Unfortunately, the sole of my feet hung onto the saddle and I fell. Abdul chuckled, and a wave of embarrassment struck me. But just as I tried to get myself up, I noticed Abdul cowered to the side of the horse and bowed deeply.
"What on earth is this? Is the concubine out already?" I asked myself. I looked up, and to my surprise, I saw a tall well-built man standing just arm's length away from me; he had this piercing gaze, his grey eagle-like oval eyes shone brightly under the orange colored light of the evening sun. His jaw was well chiseled, with a neatly trimmed beard. He wore an attire that looked like that of the guards Abdul and I had passed earlier, only that he's looked more expensive and properly fitting, with a finer sword positioned at his side. I hurriedly stood up and began to dust myself. Abdul signaled to me to bow, which although I was slow to understand, quickly did.
"Who is this manner less thing and what business does she have in this palace?" the man asked.
"Manner less? How dare he?" I thought to myself, just as I raised my head to give him a piece of my mind, Abdul quickly answered.
"She's the new servant for the newest concubine your highness" Abdul answered, with his head still bowed.
"Your highness?" I thought to myself, and instantly, I bowed my head. "Is he the king of something? Am I in some sort of trouble already?" I asked myself, as I shut my eyes tightly.
"Ohh, for the newest Ikbal. My father's new catch" the man remarked. "What's your name young maiden?" he asked.
"Ja…. Fatiha" I replied hastily. I shut my eyes tighter from the embarrassment caused by my blunder, with my head still bowed deeply.
"Raise your head, I want to see you properly" the man demanded. Slowly, I began raise my back and my head up, till I was standing straight up. I was able to take a better look at him this time, and I won't lie he was much more charming than I thought.
"You better be careful, any mistake could cost you your life" he remarked, an in an instant, he walked off. My beating heart became still as soon as he passed me. His strong oud scent swept into my nostrils. I wanted to turn, but my fear kept my head bowed. After he had left, Abdul raised his head; and on seeing this, I raised mine. This was when he walked over to me, and gave me a knock at the back of my head.
"Ouch what was that for?" I asked, while I rubbed the back of my head.
"You could have had the both of us killed! I just want to ensure you are delivered safely, not to attract the wrath of the royal family!" Abdul cautioned. I simply nodded my head, at this point, I began to realize my freedom wasn't a guarantee, especially when it came to speech. I nodded sheepishly and followed Abdul as he walked the palace grounds. I didn't take time to study the area anymore or even the paths we took. I was just so immersed with my own thoughts, the man I had just seen and how long it would take for me to be accustomed to this new life, or let's say, how long I was going to be here for.
"Here we are. The Sultanate of women, your new home" Abdul remarked. This brought back my attention, and my eyes were completely immersed in the beautiful structure I beheld. It just looked graceful and was a greyish Byzantine structure. We walked up the stairs, which was long in length but slim in width. We go to the large gate, and we were met with another set of guards and a man who looked quite different from the new set of guards. The man approached us, accompanied by the guards at the entrance of the saultunate.
"And what's your business here young man?" the man asked.
"She's the newest member of the harem, she was just brought in today" Abdul answered with a slight bow. The man looked at me for quite a bit before he spoke.
"She doesn't have any form of disease or deformity?" the man asked.
"No sir, she came highly recommended from the general himself. She had spent some time here in Istanbul before we decided to gift her to the Sultan's newest Ikbal" Abdul narrated.
"Very well then. I was informed of the arrival of this new Acemi in particular, so there will be no problems. I'll take it up from here, your job ends here and now" the man ordered. Abdul bowed, and walked away, without turning back or even trying to glance at me for one last time. I didn't the why but my heart ached a bit.
"Was this how unloved Fatiha was? It must have felt really lonely" I thought to myself.
"What's your name child?" the man asked me, jolting me back to reality.
"Fatiha sir" I responded.
"Very well then, follow me. I'll give you a proper orientation as I show you around" the man said before he turned swiftly. He signaled to the guards who opened the large gates. I followed him as he walked in, not wanting to loose track of his fast pace. I realized the building was larger than how I thought it was on the outside.
"I am Malik, the head eunuch of this place. I work hand in hand with the Valide Sultan, and I am in charge of everything in this harem" he began. I looked at him, the other words he spoke didn't really stick.
"So eunuchs really existed?" I thought to myself in excitement.
"I hope you understood that?" he asked.
"Uhmmm yes, yes sir" I answered. He gave a hard glare, before he continued.
"The top floor belongs to the Valide Sultan alone, although it is currently unoccupied. The floor before it belongs to the Haseki Sultan, she is the mother of the future Sultan. The floor before her quarters belongs to the Kadins, they are usually the other three wives of the Sultan. And the last floor at the bottom belongs to the Utas and Ikbals, the concubines of the sultan. It is the largest floor and it's were you would work, unless you are summoned out of that place. You are to attend to Khadija, the Sultan's newest concubine. This harem is exclusively the for the Sultan's women and his young children" the eunuch narrated. I figured out the ranks, immediately he mentioned the Valide Sultan. I swallowed hard as I followed him hastily, not wanting to lag behind and be shouted on for it.