“You Azzie Elbub?” Merioneth asked.
“Of course I am,” Azzie said. “Why else would I be here?”
“You could have your reasons. Got some ID?”
Azzie showed the black credit card with his name engraved on it.
“It doesn’t have a picture,” Merioneth noted, “but I’ll accept it all the same. Okay, where do you want it?”
Azzie looked around. The site he had chosen was rolling countryside. He looked it over critically.
“I want the castle right there,” he said.
“Over there on that flat piece?”
“That’s it. But first you must put down a glass mountain.”
“I beg your pardon?” Merioneth said.
“I want a glass mountain. The enchanted castle must sit on top of it.”
“You want the castle on top of a glass mountain?”
“Of course. That’s where enchanted castles always stand.”
“Usually, maybe even often, but not always. I can cite several traditional tales – ”
“This castle is going to stand on a glass mountain,” Azzie said.
Merioneth took off his pince-nez, polished them on his gray fur, put them back on. He opened his briefcase. It was made of well-tanned human skin, and its clasps were yellowed teeth. Azzie admired it and decided to get one like it when he had the time. Merioneth opened the case and shuffled through papers. At last he selected a sheet and read it with pursed lips.
“This is your original work order,” he said. “It says nothing here about a mountain.”
Azzie came over and read the work order. “It says here you will supply standard landscaping.”
“Standard landscaping does not include a mountain of glass. Why not have us move in an existing mountain?”
“It has to be of glass,” Azzie said. “As far as I know, there are no existing mountains of glass.”
“So why not take a dead volcano instead?” Merioneth said. “With lots of obsidian?”
“It won’t do,” Azzie said. “Glass mountains have been a feature of folklore since people began telling tales. Surely you have one somewhere in Supply?”
Merioneth pursed his lips and looked doubtful. “Maybe we do and maybe we don’t. The point is, it isn’t on the work order.”
“Can’t we put it there now?”
“No, it’s too late.”
“Can’t we get around that somehow?” Azzie asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll pay the extra myself. Can I put it on the card?”
Merioneth shrugged again. “It’s not a matter of that. The work order has already been filled out and signed.”
Azzie looked at it. He pointed. “You could write it in right there, just above the signature. ‘One glass mountain, and one enchanted forest.’ ”
“If my supervisor ever found out . . .”
“And I’ll make it worth your while,” Azzie said. He reached into a pocket inside his cloak and took out a small satchel. It was here that he kept his valuables. Here, in a chamois bag, he had the gemstones Rognir had invested with him. He took out a handful and showed them to Merioneth.
“So?” Merioneth said.
“Yours,” Azzie said, “if you write me in a glass mountain.”
Merioneth looked at the jewels. “I could get into a lot of trouble over this.”
Azzie added a few more gems.
“I guess I can do it,” Merioneth said, taking the stones. He bent over the work order and scribbled, then looked up. “But an enchanted forest-that’s another matter.”
“Enchanted forests are no big deal,” Azzie pointed out.
“They’re not rare, like glass mountains. Everywhere you go you find enchanted forests.”
“Until you need one in a hurry,” Merioneth said, his gaze on Azzie’s chamois bag. “I suppose you want a road through it, too, huh?”
“Nothing fancy. A dirt track would be fine.”
“And who’s to survey it, eh? I’d need a surveyor. And a surveyor’s services – ”
“I know, it isn’t on the original work order.” Azzie selected four more stones and gave them to Merioneth. “Will that do?”
“That takes care of the forest and the basic landscaping. But you also want it enchanted. Right?”
“That’s what I told you. What good would it be if it weren’t enchanted?”
“Don’t get huffy with me,” Merioneth said. “This forest is nothing to me. I’m just trying to understand the order. What sort of enchantments did you have in mind?”