"Safe," was her soft reply.
"Keep him so," the sultan said, a small smile upon his thin lips. This strong, intelligent daughter of his, he now realized, would not easily give up her heritage. "The khan treats you well?" he asked.
She nodded. "Very well. He is a man of honor, I am certain. He rules his own people well."
"And his wives treat you well?"
"He has none. Yet," she replied.
"Ahh," the sultan said, immediately comprehending what it was she was telling him. "Bahira? Poor Abd al Hakim and his wife are devastated by her loss. My vizier no longer thinks kindly of your cousin."
Zuleika laughed. "Bahira has completely wrapped the khan's general about her plump little finger, my father. The vizier and his wife need have no worries about her. I shall tell them that myself."
"How long will you remain with me, my child? Will the khan permit you to stay?" the sultan asked.
"I will be with you, my father, as long as you need me," she promised him. "Now I must go to my apartments, for poor Rafa was so distracted by our sudden move she left one or two of my possessions behind."
"I will sleep now," he told her, and closed his eyes.
Zuleika moved with assurance through the palace corridors back to her own quarters. To her surprise all her furniture was gone, including the cabinet where the bowl was kept. Her heart pounded with fright at the realization, and then Haroun's favorite, Golnar, was by her side.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded rudely, her pale face suspicious. Her eyes were so light a blue that in some lights they appeared almost white.
"My father is ill. I returned to be with him. Where is my furniture? Rafa left some things behind."
"These are to be the new sultana's quarters," Golnar said.
"Oh? Has my cousin then chosen a wife?" Zuleika inquired casually.
"The vizier has a younger daughter. Her heritage is excellent, and he has decided that she will do," Golnar said.
"Tahirah? She is only ten years old!" Zuleika exclaimed. How predictable of Haroun. He chose the easy and quick path. Perhaps he did have something to do with her father's sudden illness.
"Yes, Tahirah. She is young enough to be trained to please the prince, and he will not have to mount her for several years. She is said to be well-mannered and obedient. She will do exactly as she is told," Golnar said smugly.
"And you will retain control of the harem," Zuleika noted. "How very nice for you, Golnar. Has Haroun approached the vizier in this most important matter yet? He will be very honored, I have not a doubt. One daughter a concubine to the khan's general, and the other the new sultana of Dariyabar!"
Golnar, who had a peasant's cunning but was not particularly intelligent, was not certain if the princess mocked her, or was admiring. She chose to believe the latter. "Yes," she said. "It is a good solution for us all. When is the khan to leave Dariyabar?"
"I have been fortunate enough to please my lord Amir Khan," Zuleika explained in a manner that Golnar would comprehend. "He has said we may remain until the situation with my father is resolved one way or another. Of course that should be no problem, as we are no longer at war." Zuleika smiled. "Now, can you please tell me where the cabinet in my quarters went? Rafa left behind my foot basin, and I must have it! It has been mine my whole life." She smiled again almost apologetically. "You know how it is with the things we use to beautify ourselves, Golnar. Do you not have something you could not do without?"
Golnar nodded. "My hairbrushes," she admitted.
"And you have such beautiful hair," Zuleika admired. "It is like spun moonlight. My hair is just an ordinary black."
"But you have always kept it nicely," Golnar responded. "It shines like ebony."
"Ohh, thank you," Zuleika gushed. Then, "The cabinet?"
"It was taken to the storage rooms in the cellars," she said.
"I will go and get it," Zuleika replied.
"Would you like to stay in the harem tonight?" Golnar offered.
"Thank you again," the princess answered her politely, "but I think I will sleep in my father's apartments. You understand?"
"Of course," Golnar said. "The sultan's condition is very delicate, or so the gossip goes."
"Yes," Zuleika murmured, forcing tears to her eyes.
"Go and fetch your foot basin, princess," Golnar advised. "And if you want the company of women, please know you are welcome in the harem. I will instruct the women to pray to the Gods for the sultan."
"I never knew you were so kind," Zuleika said softly, struggling not to laugh. "Thank you." She took one of Golnar's hands, pressing it to her heart in a gesture of politeness. Then she turned and walked slowly away. As everywhere else in the palace, she was not challenged. She entered the storerooms, and searching among the bits and pieces of furniture there finally found her ebony cabinet. She opened the doors, and sighed with relief. There was the basin. She removed it, saying as she did, "Forgive me, Kansbar." The bowl quivered in her hands. Holding it tightly she returned to her father's apartments.
"Oh good!" Maryam said. "You are back. I would like a bit of time to myself, but I did not want to leave the sultan here alone. Prince Haroun has taken all his attendants, and I alone remain."
"When did this happen?" Zuleika asked.
"Yesterday, while we were all in the sultan's hall of audience. When I returned with your father afterwards everyone was gone. When I sought an explanation I was told that the prince had ordered it. I was very afraid, princess. If I leave him, what will happen?"
"You may go and rest," Zuleika said. "I will keep watch by my father's bedside this night."
"I think the prince seeks his inheritance, princess," Maryam said in a low tone.
"I believe you are right, Maryam," Zuleika answered the old serving woman. "Haroun has never been patient, even when we were children."
"I curse the Gods that they took your brothers from us!" Maryam said passionately.
"Do not curse the Gods, Maryam. They had, I think, very little to do with it. How interesting is it that my cousin encouraged my father and my brothers to war with Amir Khan while he remained safe behind the walls of this city. The Gods allow us a modicum of freedom, Maryam. But they are there to judge us when we exchange life in this world for a life in the next. More important, the Gods know what is in our hearts. There are no secrets from them, although we may believe we are clever enough to keep our innermost thoughts from them."
Maryam sighed. "You are right, princess," she said. Then seeing the basin in Zuleika's hands she asked, "Shall I take that for you, my princess?"
Zuleika shook her head. "Nay. I will put it aside. Rafa is coming tomorrow with a change of garments for me. It is my foot basin. She left it behind. I will have her take it back to the khan's camp with her when she returns." Zuleika set the vessel aside casually. "Go now and rest, dear Maryam."
"I have fed your father, what little he would eat," Maryam said. "He is tucked in his bed, but not asleep yet, I suspect. He will be pleased to know you are here." Then she turned and left the sultan's apartments.
Haroun had not yet put in an appearance, and Zuleika knew that he was sure to do so. He would know now of her presence in the palace. He would want to appear concerned. She was eager to consult Kansbar, but it was too dangerous until her cousin had come, and then gone. The princess went into her father's bedchamber and seated herself upon a padded stool next to the elderly man.
"Kansbar?" he husked at her softly.
"I have retrieved the bowl, father."
"It must be given, by tradition, to the next sultan," Ibrahim said to his daughter.
"Not Haroun," Zuleika replied in a determined voice.
"You are strong enough to lead Dariyabar," her father replied.
"The khan is stronger, father. And more worthy. Please trust my judgment in this, though I be but a woman," she told him.