I slowly turned my head to face him again, and despite his charm, I couldn't shake away the terror I felt from his piercing gaze.
"Uhmmm, nothing. Eh you see, I" I mumbled, unable to get my story straight.
"You can't speak properly? Or are you a spy?!" He asked, swiftly placing his hand on his side. I swore he was about to draw his sword at that instant. Before I could defend myself, I heard a different voice and felt a strange but calming breeze.
"Easy now Ahmed, you wouldn't want to take a life in front of the Harem" the voice advised. I turned and standing beside this mysterious man, was another man who despite the striking resemblance he shared with the man who held me, had bluish eyes and a kinder gaze. He wore a smile that strangely put me at ease in an instant.
"I saw her sneaking around, she must be a spy" Ahmed countered, to which the strange man smiled.
"Relax brother, she's an acemi, I watched her come in" the stranger reassured. Ahmed slowly let go of my wrist and removed his hand from his side.
"You better be careful here, this is the palace and intentions are misunderstood" Ahmed said as he slowly walked away. I immediately turned to the man who had saved my life.
"Thank you sir" I thanked him, as I bowed. The stranger chuckled.
"It's fine, just be careful from now onwards" he advised and immediately turned to take his leave. I wanted to run after him, perhaps get his name, but I stopped myself. I didn't want to get into more uncomfortable situations, I had enough of it already. But I watched him, his gait screamed of refinement and elegance, his attire was one of the most beautiful robes I've ever seen and his musk, filled my nostrils even when he vanished into the distance. Immediately, I remembered I needed to be back with the other girls, loitering was only going to get me in more trouble. I managed to get there and instantly, I noticed the room was already full of new faces I didn't meet before. In my confusion I scanned the room for a familiar face, and after tirelessly searching the crowded room, I saw an arm waving. I took a closer look, and I realized it was one the girls, Fatima precisely. The others sat close to her, they were all cramped in a space close to the mirror. I managed to make my way over to them and honestly, for once throughout the day, I felt some warmth. Fatima gestured to me to come sit in between her and the other girls on this mat they shared.
"What on earth is going on? Where did all these girls come from?" I asked, still trying to rap my head around the sight unfolding in front of me. Aisha chuckled heartily, her thick uni-brow narrowing beautifully as she chuckled.
"You really are from far away, aren't you?" she asked mid her chuckle.
"Anyways, let me remind you. This empire has a way of doing things when they conquer, and that includes taking slaves. The young boys are often selected and made eunuchs if they aren't wiped out of this life. The young girls are made to slaves, and if you were lucky, you end up being a palace slave" Aisha explained.
"There is no luck being a slave Aisha. Regardless of wherever you end up, you are still a slave, a vulnerable young girl who would be used for hard labor and probably to warm the master's bed whenever he pleases" Mariam interrupted. I took a look at her, her round amber eyes slumped as she hugged her legs close to herself. Aisha sighed,
"Don't get me wrong. I'm only saying it is worse off outside here. I've heard things in my hometown, if you don't end up in the palace or in some high official's house, you can't survive. Even a nobleman without status is a treacherous place to be a slave" Aisha tried to explain further.
"Why is that?" I asked, my curiosity getting the best of me.
"A slave who serves power can one day wield that power if they understand where they are and align with the forces that make it so. But a slave in the house of a man without significant influence has a very slim chance of ever getting there, the luckiest they could be is a concubine, and that's if there is a level of wealth or prestige attached to her master, and probably if he takes a liking to her. In a common man's house, you'll be used on all fonts without any form of compensation or consolation" she further explained. Mariam just stared blankly into the crowded room, I doubt she paid any attention to everything Aisha explained.
"You seem to know so much, how did you get here then?" Fatima asked. "Cos you really know so much about this empire". Aisha sighed.
"I lived in the outlying villages before I came here. My father was a poor farmer before he passed on, and he didn't take the debts with him to the grave, I became that repayment plan" Aisha responded. She chuckled a bit, even forced a smile, but I could tell she was in pain from just the memory of everything.
"What about you Fatima? How did you get her? Siege or commerce?" Aisha asked. Fatima was silent for a bit.
"Commerce" she finally answered. "I was kidnapped while working the field with my family. That day will forever haunt me till the day I meet my maker" she narrated.
"Mariam?" the two girls chorused, their gaze turning to Miriam. She finally turned, and met their gaze.
"I was taken from Crete, after the ottoman's conquered my city. After deadly marches and even being hauled to sea, I survived, but many others didn't make it, I watched them waste away" Mariam paused for a bit. "They said I would be fit for the palace because I looked "exotic". My name was changed as soon I was here" she continued.
"What were you called before that day?" I asked. My question brought a little life to Mariam's, she smiled a bit.
"My name was Despina" she answered.
"What if I call you Despina when we're alone? Would you want that?" I requested. Just hearing her story made me realize how hard it was for her, she wasn't just traumatized, she missed home, and I knew. Her eyes widened at first, before tears began to fill it.
"Yes, I would love that" she finally responded, as she fought the tears that drowned her voice.