The architect's apprentice

In the fifteenth century, an Indian boy named Jahan brings the sultan of Istanbul a white elephant named Chota as a gift. Jahan becomes Chota's trainer, but quickly proves his aptitude for architecture and is taken as apprentice to Mimar Sinan. Together with Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and other laborers, Jahan begins working on some of the most beautiful buildings of the Ottoman empire--but in the process makes enemies and is caught up in schemes of intrigue and secrecy.