Free Shadow of God by Anthony Goodman Page B

gold by the new Sultan to his Janissaries.
    Suleiman was not offended at this public display of greed and presumption. This was a time-honored tradition, and only a fool would break it. However, Suleiman had neglected to have his gold brought up with the advance party. These trim, well-muscled, and highly trained soldiers were the mainstay of every Sultan’s power. They had no life outside their duty to the Sultan. Young and celibate, their entire focus was on war and the protection of their Sultan. Without this armed force, Suleiman held no power at all.
    Suleiman moved to higher ground, where he could look down upon the moving mass of bodies. The crowd surged with him, as if attached to his person, but the guard kept the masses from actually touching him. He climbed up upon a small, wooden stand that had been placed there for the purpose, and raised his arms above hishead in triumph. Still the Janissaries shouted for their reward. The noise made it impossible for the Sultan to speak.
    Suleiman’s eyes scanned the gardens for Piri Pasha. But, Piri was nowhere in sight. He felt the faintest twinge of anxiety in the depths of his abdomen, for Piri’s loyalty was critical to the Sultan’s power. This was the man who attended to every decision in Selim’s reign. Had not Piri Pasha sent word for Suleiman to come immediately to Istanbul? Why was he not here now to greet the new Sultan?
    Then, a slight disturbance occurred at the edge of the crowd, and Suleiman looked up hoping to see Piri emerge there. But when the sea of bodies parted, Bali Agha, Commander of the Janissaries, moved through his troops, climbing the platform to a step just below the Sultan. He was out of breath from his run, but he reached up to his new master and struck him lightly upon the shoulder with his open hand. This was the traditional greeting to a new leader by the Agha of the Sultan’s army. Thus acknowledging Suleiman as their Seraskier, their Commander-in-Chief, as well as their Sultan, Bali Agha held his right hand aloft, and displayed a huge bright red apple. The crowd grew silent as the Agha began to speak. “Can you eat the apple, Son of Selim?” he shouted to the crowd more than to Suleiman.
    To the Ottomans, the apple represented the traditional enemy of the Janissaries, the armies of Rome. The Pope. Christianity.
    Suleiman took the apple from Bali Agha, and smiled at him. Then he turned back to the crowd, and holding the apple high, he said, “In good time. In good time.”
    Again, the crowd broke into shouts of joy and the fervent cheer again rose from all around the Sultan. Suleiman took a bite and tossed the apple high into the air. The Janissaries surged forward trying to catch it. Before it fell into the crowd, a scimitar flashed, and two halves of the apple came tumbling from the air.
    “Make the gift, make the gift!” But, Suleiman stepped from the platform, and with his small retinue of personal guard began his walk to the Palace.
    The men went silent. Bali Agha sagged with disappointment. He had hoped that Suleiman would give out the gold at that very moment. It had been the perfect time to seal the loyalty of thesemen. The crowd parted in silence, and the Agha followed Suleiman toward the palace.
    Achmed Agha had been sitting quietly in the shade nearby. He was glad that the Sultan had shown no fear in the presence of the Palace guard, but he had hoped for more. The Sultan had missed his chance.

    Ibrahim stirred the coals and built up the fire in the small room deep inside the interior of the palace’s Third Court. The Sultan’s apartments adjoined the harem, and were guarded by both the corps of palace eunuchs as well as the Janissaries. Suleiman leaned against the back of the divan and pulled his white silk robes tighter around him. The early fall air had chilled quickly, and the dampness seeped even into the Sultan’s household. He had been silent since the episode at the ferry landing, and Ibrahim knew it was best to