“Say on,” Shazli told him.

“I shall.” Hajjaj brandished the papers Qutuz had given him. “Inthe past couple of weeks, we have had no fewer than three small boats reach oureastern coastline from Forthweg. All three were packed almost to the sinkingpoint with Kaunians, and all the Kaunians alive when they came ashore havebegged asylum of us.”

Sometimes, to flavor a dish, Zuwayzi chefs would fill a littlecheesecloth bag with spices and put it in the pot. They were supposed to takeit out when the meal was cooked, but every once in a while they forgot. Shazlilooked like a man who had just bitten down on one of those bags thinking it alump of meat.

“They beg asylum from us because of what our allies are doing totheir folk back in Forthweg.”

“Even so, your Majesty,” Hajjaj agreed. “If we send them back, wesend them to certain death. If we grant them asylum, we offend the Algarviansas soon as they learn of it, and we run the risk that everything in Forthwegthat floats will put to sea and head straight for Zuwayza.”

“What Algarve is doing to the Kaunians in Forthweg offends me,”Shazli said; he needed only the royal we to sound as imperious as KingSwemmel of Unkerlant. Hajjaj had never felt prouder of him. The king went on, “Andany Kaunians who escape will be a cut above the common crowd--is it not so?”

“It’s likely, at any rate, your Majesty,” the foreign ministeranswered.

“Asylum they shall have, then,” Shazli declared.

Hajjaj bowed as deeply as his age-stiffened body would let him. “Iam honored to serve you. But what shall we say to Marquis Balastro when helearns of it, as he surely will before long?”

King Shazli smiled a warm, confident smile. Hajjaj knew what thatsort of smile had to mean even before the king said, “That I leave to you, yourExcellency. I am sure you will find a way to let us do what is right while atthe same time not enraging our ally’s minister.”