CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO
“Ibrahim’s power grows greater with each new conquest in the north,” Haseki muttered.
Hafsa turned to the Odalisque in silent contemplation. They had been sitting for hours in the garden pavilion, admiring the view across the Golden Horn. Ships and launches skimmed over the sparkle of water, their sails blossoming with the gusting wind that swept down the Bosphorus and around Galata Point.
“His power comes with the blessing of our Sultan, and has been instrumental in the expansion of the Empire, my daughter.”
Haseki stood and walked to the balustrade. “But still, I do not trust him. Authority over the Janissaries should be kept firmly under Suleyman’s hand, not bequeathed to one who is not a descendent of Mohammed. There should be none with the ability to coerce our
