Prelude Of The First War

THE MOMENT that Kosem and the Grand Vizier Esad Fehrattin arrived at the Fehrattin Manor, the old master tapped Kosem's head before leaving her alone with Torah. Kadir Tayyar Bey, Grand Vizier Esad Fehrattin's adviser, gave her a lingering glare before following the head of the House Fehrattin. Kosem and Torah went immediately inside Kosem's room to clean the latter for bed.

"Kosem hanim, are you alright? I should have stayed with you." Regrets and disappointment laced Torah's voice as she held the small hands of Kosem, who was startled by the former's outburst.

Kosem recovered immediately and smiled sweetly. "And what, Torah? You'll defy the command of the sultan? You know that is a capital crime, right?"

Torah's face darkened. Kosem's words silenced her for what the latter said was true. "Then I will follow you as your escort maid during your visit to the sultan's palace." Her voice was laced with conviction even after seeing the man-eating tiger.

'You are such a sweetheart, Torah.' Kosem thought as she smiled sweetly at her maid. "If you are my escort maid Torah then I will also need an escort Janissaries, right?"

"Hanim, you don't mean to get that kid from the fighting pit, right? Only Janissaries, who are appointed by your grandfather can escort you, Kosem hanim." Worry laced her voice as Torah's eyes shook with fear that her young mistress would really take the monster from the fighting pit as an escort Janissaries.

Kosem grinned and patted Torah's slumped shoulders. "Worry not, Torah. Grandfather already approved it. Macit Guray is mine the moment he took my hand. Aren't you mine too, Torah?"

With her young mistress' question, Torah kneeled and bowed her head in front of Kosem. "This Torah, a humble servant, is yours to use, Kosem hanim."

THE YEAR 1526, a year from today, Sultan Hazeyn Suleiman would experience his first war. At the age of nineteen years old, the inexperienced sultan of the glorious empire of Ottoman would fight a war with the Hungarians. In the modern era, Kosem read from the transcripts that the Ottoman-Hungarian war would be later on called the Battle of Mohacs.

It was the peak of the expansion era for the Ottoman Empire so it was recorded that the Great Suleiman won – conquering the Hungarian territory with flying colors.

Her two lives as Kosem and Clara fused. Hence, the Kosem today knew how the Battle of Mohacs was used by the Grand Vizier to emphasize his influence in the military.

'The Ottoman Empire has a centralized bureaucracy starting from the sultan who is at the pinnacle of power. Next to him is the Grand Vizier who holds the two Viziers who represented Religious Faction and the Bureaucratic Faction, Now, the power of balance between the two factions is vastly different. In this era wherein officials strive for the expansion of territory, the Religious Faction composed of the Muslim Group, Jews Group, and Christian Group was slowly losing its influence. And this was the first wrong move of the sultans of the empire that would lead to the fall of the empire six hundred years after its founding. After all, the Ottoman Empire only existed in the history of men for six hundred years. That is where I will change everything.' Kosem pondered as she drank her sherbet.

Clad in a white tunic that showed her shoulders, gold bangles dangled around her bare feet and hands. A headdress made of gold and sapphires adorned her hair and forehead like a sprinkle of stardust was attached to her image. Kosem, while drinking on the balcony of her lavish room, stared at the marching Janissaries around the Grand Vizier's manor. Torah was silently enjoying the comfortable silence behind her, while Kosem played the plush Persian rugs below her feet.

"Torah, who do you think the Ottoman Turks fear the most in the empire?" Kosem asked Torah while her peculiar eyes never left the marching elite soldiers under the command of her adoptive Grandfather, the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire.

Torah, who knew the implication of her question, faltered for a moment before gulping down her fear. "The citizens fear your Grandfather more, hanim."

Kosem looked back at Torah with a raised eyebrow and was smiling playfully. "And why is that, Torah?"

"It is a common notion in the empire that the Grand Vizier's wealth can buy an empire. Many also said that if anyone attracts the attention of the Grand Vizier, it is almost attracting the attention of the entire empire. Wealth, influence, and now the Janissaries – Grand Vizier Esad Fehrattin is the most influential man in the Ottoman Empire. Please forgive my impertinence, Kosem hanim."

'You are smart, Torah.' Kosem praised Torah in her mind before shifting back her attention to the marching Janissaries.

"What you said is true, Torah. The House of Fehrattin can compete with the sultan's wealth even if the national treasures are to be included. But wealth and influence? Those two can easily be shifted with the proper environment and experience for the young and inexperienced sultan. The one thing that shackles the sultan's power right now is the rapidly growing influence of the Janissaries under the direct command of the Grand Vizier. And during this warring time with the Hungarians, Sultan Hazeyn Suleiman has no choice but to lean towards the House of Fehrattin for support."

'And a year from now, during the battle of Mohacs, Hazeyn will be forced to crush his pride by bending the knee just to ask for the Grand Vizier's support. At that time, Hazeyn was mindful of my presence and that he was constantly afraid for my safety – so he left his most talented Janissaries to me. With him being alone at the forefront of the war with only a handful of loyal Janissaries to him, he incurred a fatal wound that almost killed him – and it was Grand Vizier's order that injured him. I must stop it!' Kosem stood up after solidifying her resolve.

"Hanim?" Torah was startled when Kosem suddenly stood up, rattling the cups in the process. Kosem merely gave her a wide grin, displaying Kosem's pearly white teeth, as the latter took Torah's hands.

"Torah, let's go out again. This time, with Macit."