“I wish I were so sure, your Majesty,” Hajjaj said. “I do remindyou, I am only a man, not one of the powers above. I can do one of those thingsor the other. I have no idea how to do both at once.”

“You’ve been managing the impossible now for as long as Zuwayzahas had her freedom back from Unkerlant,” Shazli said. “Do you wonder when Itell you I think you can do it again?”

“Your Majesty, may I have your leave to go?” Hajjaj asked. Thatwas as close as he’d ever come to being rude to his sovereign. He softened itat once by adding, “If I am to do this--if I am to try to do this--I shall needto lay a groundwork for it, if I possibly can.”

“You may go, of course,” Shazli said, “and good fortune attendyour groundlaying.” But he’d heard the edge in his foreign minister’s voice. Byhis sour expression, he didn’t care for it. Bowing his way out, Hajjaj didn’tcare for being put in a position where he had to snap at the king.

When the foreign minister got back to his office, Qutuz raised aninquiring eyebrow. “They will stay,” Hajjaj said. “All I have to do now isdevise a convincing explanation for Marquis Balastro as to why they may stay.”

“No small order,” his secretary observed. “If anyone can do it,though, you are the man.”

Again, Hajjaj was bemused that others had so much more faith inhim than he had in himself. Since Shazli had given him the task, though, he hadto try to do it. “Bring me a city directory for Bishah, if you would be sokind,” he said.

Qutuz’s eyebrows climbed again. “A city directory?” he echoed. Hajjajnodded and offered not a word of explanation. His secretary mumbled somethingunder his breath. Now Hajjaj’s eyebrow rose, in challenge. Qutuz had no choicebut to go fetch a directory. But he was still mumbling as he went.