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tired of the war we have been fighting for most of the good years of my life, and very, very tired of explaining everything I do, especially to people who should know better. However,” Hsin put down the final page of the report, “I can see that you have an issue with the soldiers’ actions. I take it you have spoken with the Captain. Ah, I can see from your eyes that you have. He is a good man, he knows when to follow orders and when to keep his mouth closed. You could learn a lot from him. The soldiers are operating under my orders. The man they are talking to, a Donny Yuen I believe, is known around the city as an honest tradesman. We had word on the road that he may be able to give us information about the Yaart situation. I take it you saw the tents at the entrance?” Hsin paused, “Good. There is hope for you yet. We do not know what prompted this overture for peace. The war has been in stalemate for the past five years. Something must have changed. We need to know what that is if we are to get the best terms for the peace treaty. Yuen may be one piece in that answer. There you go, a long explanation but you can see now, I hope, the reason for the fraternisation you saw.”
    “Yes, Senior Hsin.” Zhou bowed low again, “My apologies for disturbing you.”
    “I will explain no more to you. You are young, inexperienced and only here because of your father-in-law. If you are to be of any use, keep your mouth closed and your eyes and ears open. If you challenge me again, I will have you sent home in disgrace. You are dismissed.” Hsin picked up a new sheaf of papers and began reading again. He didn’t look up as Zhou backed his way to the door and out of the room.
    # # #
    Zhou slept fitfully that night and woke too early. He had a quick wash and breakfast before following Hsin’s wagon to the castle. Once Hsin had dismounted, a slow affair with lots of cursing, they were guided, as they were every morning, to the meeting room. Zhou helped Hsin settle onto the cushions and organise his papers. A few minutes later servants brought hot tea and then the Yaart negotiators filed in, arms laden down with scrolls. As they sat themselves down, Hsin turned to Zhou.
    “I don’t need you today. Please wait outside until this session is complete. You are dismissed.” Hsin turned back, slowly, to face the other negotiators and raised his tea in a gesture of welcome.
    Zhou felt the blood rush to his face and ducked his head to focus his gaze on the scrolls in front of him, certain that everyone in the room was staring at him. The humiliation at being publicly chastised in front of the enemy set his heart beating loudly in his ears. The raised veins on his clenched hands pulsed in time with his heartbeat. He jerked, bowed to all in the room and left. He made sure not to slam the door; Hsin was not going to have the satisfaction. Outside, Zhou slumped against the wall. The heat drained from his face and his skin became cold.
    “Old fool. Negotiations are going nowhere fast and he reckons he can do it all on his own. And, he’ll take all the credit,” he muttered.
    There was a plain wooden chair outside the door which he collapsed into. As he sat there he dwelt on the insult that had just been delivered. ‘That must have been because of last night. I have to ask questions, that’s my job, to make the Senior Diplomat sure of his actions. I have to know what is going on. If he dies, I take over. He’s made it clear he doesn’t want me but these meetings can’t happen without two diplomats, it is not protocol. How long does he actually expect me to sit here? An hour, two, four. Bloody old fool.’
    The guard passed Zhou on a regular patrol every six minutes. He started counting the seconds after the first three passes but by the tenth go round he was bored. The anger was still there but it was just smouldering embers now. On the eleventh patrol, Zhou stood up and walked off down the corridor.
    “Sir?” the guard