The Lake of Sorrows by Rovena Cumani, Thomas Hauge

He looked and treated her like an animal for sale. The rest of us, too.”
    Eminee, still at the door, overheard her and stopped abruptly. She approached them with her head thrown back in a wife’s pride and the girl who had spoken immediately lowered her own head in her mistress’ presence.
    “What did you say, girl? Yulebahar, is it not?” Eminee’s voice was colder than ice.
    “Y-yes, my lady. And I said nothing. Nothing whatsoever. I was … just mumbling.” Yulebahar wobbled in utter fear, as if she would faint any moment.
    Eminee let her wobble for a considerable time before speaking in a severe, majestic tone. “Let me impart to you some words of wisdom that our merchants brought home from faraway China, girl. ‘Think once before you speak. Think twice and say nothing at all.’ Especially, I might add, if you were thinking of saying what you just thought.”
    A ripple of laughter ran through the women at this, and even Yulebahar managed a sickish smile. It vanished when she met her mistress’ gaze. “This time, be thankful to Allah I was the only one who heard you. Do you understand?”
    “I understand, my lady. Forgive me.”
    “You do not and I will not. You have been taught a lesson you should not forget. The Pasha’s first wife is the indisputable highest power of the harem and that is so because although I love you all, I love the Pasha more than all of you together. Think of that and you may understand enough to keep your head on your shoulders.”
    Once they were alone, Shouhrae fell upon Yulebahar, albeit with concern in her voice. “What has gotten into you today, you silly girl? Are you going mad? Raising your voice before they had left the room!”
    Yulebahar took a moment to reply. Once she did, it was in a dreamy tone full of grievance, as if talking to herself. “All this time. Two years in here. All this time and he has never, ever looked at me. Not a single glance.”
    “Who?” Shouhrae was startled at the slumbering ardor in Yulebahar’s voice. “Who are you referring to?”
    “To Alhi.” Yulebahar sighed deeply.
    Shouhrae jumped as if a scorpion had bitten her, her eyes widening in desperation. “You
are
mad. I was right. You took his name in your mouth.”
    Yulebahar sighed again and turned her face away.
    Shouhrae grabbed her chin and turned her head back, forcing Yulebahar to look into her young friend’s panic-stricken eyes. “Oh, Allah. You are not allowed to fall in love with him, Yulebahar! It brings only sorrow and nothing else. Banish him from your heart, you will never have a place in his, only in his bed.”
    “I do not care!” Yulebahar pushed her friend away. “All I wish is to see his face again. To be summoned to his chamber. That is all I want.”
    Sinking down onto a sumptuous divan, Shouhrae shook her head. “You have been here far longer than I, and you still think wretches like us get to
want
anything?”
    Yulebahar shot a taunting glance at the young girl. “
You
want something. Or did, once.”
    “I? What do I want?”
    Petulance made Yulebahar mean to hurt. “Noone has told you? You cry in your sleep sometimes. ‘Alexis’, you whisper. A Greek name, too! Perhaps
you
should be careful, little Shouhrae? The Pasha’s lake is far from full yet.”

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XXIV
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    O utside, Levandinos met Eminee in the Harem Garden as ordered.
    “You asked for me, my lady. I came immediately, as you wished.” He bowed deeply. It was well known the Pasha had a special regard for respect shown to his favored wife.
    “Is it true, merchant, that you brought her a Christian crucifix?” Eminee’s tone was even more superior and frigid than the one she had used with the harem women.
    The merchant felt his bowels turn to water. He fell to his knees. “Please my lady. I beg you. Do not tell anyone I admitted it is so. Your son will kill me.”
    She made no reply, only pouted in disgust.
    “My lady, I beg you. I admit it only to you and that because you asked me and I