WhentheHeadTreasurerandthechiefofficersopeheportalwithgreatceremonymyeyesweresoacedtothevelvetyredauraoftheTreasuryroomsthattheearlymwintersunlightfilteringinfromthecourtyardoftheRoyalPrivateQuartersoftheEnderuerrifying.Istooddeadstill,asdidMasterOsmanhimself:IfImoved,itseemed,theclueswesoughtinthemoldy,dustyandtangibleairoftheTreasurymightescape.

    Withazement,asifseeingsomemagnifitobjectforthefirsttime,MasterOsmanstaredatthelightcasgtowardusbetweentheheadsoftheTreasurychiefslinedupinrowsohersideoftheopenportal.

    Thenightbefore,IwatchedhimasheturhepagesoftheBookofKings.Inoticedthissameexpressionofastonishmentpassoverhisfaceashisshadoonthewall,trembledfaintly,hisheadcarefullysankdowntowardhismagnifyinglens,andhislipsfirsttorteddelicately,asifpreparingtorevealapleasa,thentwitchedashegazedianillustration.

    Aftertheportalwasshutagain,Iwanderedimpatientlybetweenroomsevermorerestless;Ithoughtnervouslythatwewouldn’thavetimetocullenoughinformationfromthebooksireasury.IsehatMasterOsmancouldn’tfocusadequatelyonhistask,andIfessedmymisgivingstohim.

    Likeageergrownacedtocaressinghisapprentices,heheldmyhandinapleasingway.“MenlikeushavenochoicebuttotrytoseetheworldthewayGoddoesandtnourselvestoHisjustice,”hesaid.“Andhere,amongthesepicturesandpossessions,Ihavethestroionthatthesetwothingsarebeginningtoverge:AsroachGod’svisionoftheworld,Hisjusticeapproachesus.Seehere,theneedleMasterBihzadblindedhimselfwith…”

    MasterOsmancallouslytoldthestoryoftheneedle,andIscru