Preys and Predators 3 Love Binds, Family Destroy Chapter 4

 

4.

 

Radu had stood aside to let the handmaiden do her ministration on the brother. He took to the end of the barracks and took glimpses of the lady. He felt envy that her hands were on her brother and not him. Aylin had been, or rather, assigned to them upon the consent of the Sultana. She was older than the two brothers, but her tiny frame disguised her age. She was dressed in a pinky chemise, or gömlek, with the dark shade short vest buttoned at the bodice, and white baggy trousers, or şalvar. She had on the dainty silken slippers as her standing of handmaiden to the Sultana.

Radu wore the 'mintan' (a vest or short jacket), 'şalvar' (trousers), with the sash at his waist, and 'sarık' on the head, complete with 'çarık' (boots), on the feet. It was his other dress in the janissary uniform that he wore during training. He saw that Vlad was shirtless as expected, and his ‘carik’ was by the bedding.

“Bastard!” Radu muttered to himself. He then took to studying the landscape of the yard; barren of flowers, but there were the well-trodden paths of the others, who had no regard for the growth there, and just stomped their boots on anything growing. He shook his head at their ignorance.

“He is asleep.” Aylin stood behind Radu. “His older scars are healing, but some have broken open. I had …”

“He will not die today,” Radu said. “I wished he would at times.”

“I have time.” Aylin stood behind the lad. She was older by many seasons, but she liked him. Radu nodded and walked to the small chamber in the barracks. She followed him, as was customary there; a lady was to walk behind the man.

“I missed you.” Radu embraced the handmaiden. Aylin held up her face and laid her lips on the other.

“Me too.” Aylin rubbed her body on Radu. As mentioned before, she was dainty in shape, but to Radu, she was beautiful. His arms went around her lower back and then snaked down her spine. His fingers parted the seams of the trousers and rested on her bare cheeks. She felt him at her navel and smiled.

“I have some to apply to you.” Aylin tucked her right hand beneath the sash, but it was tight. “You have to help me there.”

Radu nodded and loosened the sash. She reached in and held him. Her ministrations were slow and soothing. His left hand moved to her bosom and fondled there. It was his youth or his lust; he was all done within the moment. Aylin held up her right hand and looked at the smudges there. She licked her right palm.

“One day, you will do it to me.” Aylin smiled. She knew that if he violated her, it would be death for them, impaled on the stakes.

Radu nodded and then tightened his sash. His relationship with Aylin was not on his mind before. He was to be alone, and upon his death, he will be alone. It was during one session of self-loathing then when he was left behind by his father. He was arguing with Vlad.

“Tata left us here. He will not return for us. Never again.” Radu had confronted his brother. “Why?”

“Tata had no choice. He was to serve the Sultan, and the condition set was for us to remain here as guests.” Vlad lowered his head. He was the elder one and needed to put on a brave front for his brother.

“Tata will be back.” Vlad looked at Radu.

“You lied, Vlad. Tata will not come back.” Radu burst out in tears. Vlad approached his brother, but Radu was inconsolable.

“Let me talk to him.” It was the handmaiden that Vlad saw at the palace. The young lady sat by Radu and held out her right hand onto his left shoulder.

“Leave me alone!” Radu had shouted. “I do not need any … love.”

“None will be given if you do not accept it.” The handmaiden said. “I am Aylin. I am the handmaiden of the Sultana. I would like to sing to you.”

Drama köprüsü bre hasan dardır geçilmez

Soğuktur suları hasan bir tas içilmez.

Anadan geçilir, bre Hasan yardan geçilmez.

At martini de bre hasan dağlar inlesin

Drama mahpusunda bre hasan dostlar dinlesin

 

Translated into English

 

The bridge is narrow and can't be passed through, buddy Hasan.

Its water is cold; it can't be drunk, just a bowl. Hassan

You can give up mother, but not wife, buddy Hasan.

Let mountains moan by shooting a martini gun, Hasan.

Let friends listen to this moaning in drama jail, buddy Hassan.

 

(https://lyricstranslate.com/en/drama-t%C3%BCrk%C3%BCs%C3%BC-drama-folk-song.html).

 

That was the first time since Radu arrived at the palace that he cried his fear. When he was in fear, he looked for his mother, who would sing to him.

“I do not want to be here. I want to go back to my mama.” Radu burst out in tears. The handmaiden held the boy’s head to hers, and she let him sob. It was their first meet, and over the years, the handmaiden became a friend to the brothers. She told them her name, but she was never to tell them of her origin.

She was a sister to them, older by age, but soon she felt like the younger one, for they grew well and shadowed her in height. She found herself closer to Radu, who was more open to affection than Vlad.

It was affection, and soon to be more.

Aylin took the pot of ointment and left the chamber. The lad then walked back to his brother's bedding. Vlad was asleep. Radu saw the folded Janissary uniform with the sword by the bedding. He picked up the kilij and pulled out the sheath. The weight of the blade was familiar to him; he had wielded a similar blade for a few years while he was in the palace.

“The kilij is not to thrust but to swing it hard at the enemy. Use the strength of the arm to swing the blade from the right or left.” The instructor demonstrated the move. “The kilij is a one-handed blade, and you must make it an extension of your arm. Do not charge forward, but move with the swings of the blade like a sickle on the farm.”

“Swing hard and not too wide, for you will be exposed to the enemy. Swing in fast, and if deflected, pull back to swing again. You can do an overhead swing at the head or shoulders. You can also swing in at chest level to the forearm or the waist. There is always the low swing to the thigh of the enemy.”

“Make the cut and pull out to swing for a different area.” The instructor called out. “If you hesitate, you will die. The enemy does not stand still for you.”

“The fatal cuts are the chest, the shoulders, the neck, and the knees. Cut them there, and you will just get spared to join them in death.”

“The enemy has their shields, or their blades may be longer in reach. The spear will kill you when your arm may not reach it. The attack is to deflect the spear off you, then move in with your body to shorten the distance. Once you are closer, swing hard.”

“The shield of the enemy will block you. You must be fast on the attack. If you cannot cut, use the hilt of the kilij to hit the enemy on the face or the elbows. That may stop the enemy, but follow up with the swing. Do not forget the enemy’s sword may be of the long blade. Their blade held a sharpened tip, and they will kill you.”

“Do not tell if you failed, for you will be dead. I will not mourn your death. I will laugh at your stupidity.”

Radu swung the kilij onto Vlad, but his movement stopped short at the nape. He pulled back his arm and looked at the sleeping brother.

“I am not a warrior like you. I will not cut down my own blood with this.” Blood was never about killing, but, at times, the cost of repayment.