But Prince Jem was a determined man. Where Bayezit was more serious, patient, and contemplative, his brother was a more romantic figure, a brilliant soldier, and oddly an extremely talented poet. Bayezit held to the great traditions of the Ottoman, which was why the Janissaries favored him so greatly. Jem, however, looked to Western Europe and change. The Janissaries did not want change.
Jem raised a force of Turcoman warriors and captured the city of Bursa, declaring himself sultan. He reigned supreme for almost three weeks. He offered to split the empire with Bayezit. Jem would rule in Asia and Bayezit in Europe. The sultan in Istanbul instead appointed the great Janissary hero, Gedik Ahmed Pasha, to lead his troops against Prince Jem. Bayezit was the first of the Ottoman sultans not to lead his own soldiers, but to instead send a competent commander. Twice, Jem was defeated, but Gedik Pasha could not capture him, and Jem was finally driven into exile.
But even in exile, he agitated resentments against his brother. Amir’s trading vessels brought him word of his father’s travels as he escaped. Jem moved through Jerusalem to Cairo, where he sought sanctuary with the Mamluk sultan, Kait Bey. He made a holy pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, then returned to Ottoman territory to once more attempt to wrest the throne from his brother. This time, however, his army deserted him before the gates of the city of Angora. Jem fled south to the Cilicia and the Mediterranean.
Still, the sultan tried to appease his brother, offering him a generous income. “The empire is a bride that cannot be shared between two rivals,” he told Jem. Bayezit was saddened when his sibling, refusing to understand, sought refuge with the Knights Hospitaliers on the island of Rhodes. Of course he was received with honor, the Christians delighted to have the sultan’s brother in their midst to use as a pawn. The sultan then signed a treaty with the order’s Grand Master paying the knights forty-five thousand pieces of gold each year Prince Jem remained in their care.
Word of all of this filtered back to Prince Amir in bits and pieces. It came via his own trading ship captains, who were instructed to learn all they could of Prince Jem’s activities. Amir did not intend being taken unawares if he could avoid it. He was not of a mind to suffer for his father’s rebellions. His uncle was being very patient, but eventually the sultan would lose his patience. He had done everything to pacify his brother, but Jem refused to be mollified.
But to Amir’s relief, his uncle did not seem to consider his nephew culpable for his father’s actions. Captain Mahmud’s Janissary troop had gone back to Istanbul. Life at the Moonlight Serai took on a regular and almost placid pace. The prince’s trading vessels came and went regularly. The seasons came and went. Azura often thought how surprised her mother would be to learn of the quiet life her daughter now lived. She wondered if Francesca had managed to capture Enzo’s heart; how her younger sisters were growing up. Did they ever think of her? Or was Orianna so angered at having been foiled in her plans for the daughter she had named Bianca that her name was never spoken in the palazzo of the Pietro d’Angelos?
And then one day she was surprised in a way she had not expected. Her husband came to her after speaking with one of his vessel captains. He carried a sealed letter, which he handed to her. Azura took it from him, a questioning look upon her face.
“What is this?” she asked him.
“Someone has written to you,” he answered. “It was given to one of my captains in Bursa, beloved. Open it.”
Azura broke the wax seal and unfolded the parchment. Her eyes widened at the familiar hand. “It is from my brother Marco,” she told him as she quickly scanned the missive. “He would come and see me, Amir.”
She saw the prince’s face tighten with suppressed anger, and quickly said, “I do not need to see him, Amir. We will ignore this.” She slowly folded the parchment.
“I wonder what he was doing in Bursa,” she said, almost to herself.
“The Silk Road comes to an end in Bursa. He was undoubtedly there on your father’s business,” Amir told her.
“But how did he know how to find me?” Azura wondered.
“He undoubtedly learned of my ships, and sought out any of my captains in that port,” the prince reasoned. “That was very clever of him.”
“I never thought Marco particularly clever,” Azura said drily.
“Do you want to see him?” Amir asked her.
“I do,” she admitted, “but if it disturbs you, I will not. Perhaps it is better to let sleeping dogs lie, my lord.”
“No!” he replied, swallowing his pride and his anger that Azura’s family was again attempting to interfere in their lives. “Your family is curious, and will once more attempt to lure you back to them. Let him come! I will not release you, beloved. I will not!”
Now Azura laughed, and slid her arms about his neck, her body pressing against his. “I don’t want to go back, Amir, my dearest love. I am simply curious about why Marco has chosen this moment to contact me, although he is undoubtedly curious about this life I live with you. I held him responsible for my marriage to Rovere. I believe he wants to see if I am happy with you. If you would have him come, then let it be according to your word. I am content to abide by it.” She kissed him a long, sweet kiss.
Wrapping his arms about her, he enjoyed the kiss. How long had they been together now? Almost three years, and he was as happy now as the day he had brought her to the Moonlight Serai. No, happier, he reconsidered. “He may come, but he must sleep on the ship that brings him. I’ll tell my captain.” He kissed her a long, hard kiss.
How vulnerable he is,Azura suddenly thought,enjoying his possession.“Of course, my dearest lord.”
“He will not meet the others,” Amir said.
“Certainly not!” Azura responded, shocked. She had come to have certain Turkish sensibilities. A man’s harem was sacrosanct.
“And you will visit with each other in the salon used for visitors,” Amir told her.
“Perhaps the garden as well,” she suggested.
“If your companion wives do not wish to walk,” he added.
“You are most generous, my lord,” she said.
“You are making fun of me,” he accused her.
“This is my older brother who wishes to visit, Amir, not a former suitor,” she replied, laughing softly.
