An Evil Eye

96

“Hyacinth,”the valide remarked as she watched the flakes settle in the tiny court outside her window, “should order someone to sweep away the snow. I never liked it, Tulin.”

Tulin smiled, and put down her embroidery. “That is because you were raised in a hot country, valide,” she pointed out. “Most of the ladies are Circassians, and it does them good to see the snow again.”

The valide made a moue. “I’m surprised any of them are capable of remembering that far back. If they are Circassian, which I doubt. You all pretend, Tulin.”

Tulin laughed pleasantly, and stretched. The valide shot her a surprised glance. “I would like Hyacinth to order the court swept,” she said.

“Of course, valide. If you are comfortable, I will attend to it right away.”

Tulin gathered her embroidery and set it on a footstool, then plucked a fur-lined pelisse from a hook by the door and whirled it around her shoulders.

Outside she moved fast, one hand to the wall to steady herself over the icy cobbles. A blast of cold wind hit her as she turned into the corridor that linked the valide’s court with the little suite of rooms set aside for the black eunuchs, and the cape fluttered.

She approached the door of the halberdiers. She could hear them beyond, conversing in low voices; now and then she caught the sound of a laugh, and of dice rattling on a table.

She stood and listened to the mesmerizing voices of the men. Her breath made puffs in the chill air.

The sound of a door opening in their room, and closing with a bang as the wind caught it, made her jump.

“I’m sorry, valide,” she said later as she shook the snowflakes from her pelisse and hung it back on the peg. “I looked everywhere, but I think that Hyacinth has gone out.”

The valide put her head on one side. “Hyacinth? Why do you want to find Hyacinth? It’s cold, cherie. I think you might want to put another log on the fire.”

It was true; the room had grown colder while she was out. Tulin reached into the basket and picked up a log. She noticed that her fingers were trembling slightly.

“There,” she said with a grunt as she heaved the log into the fire. “That’s much better.”

“Much better,” the valide echoed as she felt the warmth on her face: but she was aware that there had been something else she wanted, not fire, quite. She could not remember what it was. “Much better, yes.”