CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
Ibrahim noted in concern that Suleyman spent most of his nights alone in his pavilion. He still met with him to go over the necessary strategies, but as the weeks and months wore on he left even that in the Grand Vizier’s hands. The winter passed and so too the summer of 1524. Still they did not return to Istanbul. The exhausting and b****y skirmishes continued as gradually Louis’ strongholds were plundered and the empire expanded closer toward Budapest.
Ibrahim stood by the main fire in front of his pavilion going over detailed plans with the officers of the troops. As he drew his hand across the map before them he looked toward the Sultan’s tent. He had not touched the flesh of his friend for many months—since the night before Ramadan when Suleyman had run to Davud’s
