Amal, gradually, in the silence of his cell began to understand what Malik intended. It was obvious that his intention was to sever the bond between him and Nasr in order to bring about the disclosure of something that he supposed they knew and then to set up a firm charge against the Sultana.

This became clear from the moment he stated that he had no interest in the issue of the Manuscript. Despite his break up with Sultana Amal had no interest in using the confidence she had given to him to hand her over. Besides, there was Jalila's involvement. He would not forgive himself if something happened to her because of him. He lamented the fact that in his meeting with the Abbot he has got a deeper knowledge of Subh's plans. Not knowing, he could reveal nothing if he were tortured.

Nasr had shown himself in the last twenty years as a faithful companion, while at the same time quite reserved. Amal knew little of his past. It was this nebulous terrain that contributed to generating some doubts in his mind.

Nasr had never been ambitious, seemed to settle for his position as the second man in the Library. He had been an effective and diligent adviser, and nothing indicated that he would use the current situation for a turnaround in his social position in Al-Zahara. But the solitude and the thoughts populating his mind contributed to creating elements of doubt. The dilemma they were exposed to was clever enough, and he understood that the more time passed, the darker thoughts would invade their minds, affecting the decision.

It was clear that accepting the agreement with Almanzor was, in both cases, bad: death or ten years imprisoned. He would never go opt to accept it, and he thought Nasr would reason in the same way. He was sure that he would not accept the agreement either and both would fall under the option of being held for a year.

Besides, there would be a chance that he would not be jailed for a full year. Had it not been said that the Manuscript did not matter? Would they really care about the fate of two strangers without political power, to the point of not accepting appeals? What if Subh were victorious?

All things were leading to a single decision: Deny the agreement and reveal absolutely nothing of what he knew, maintaining an alliance with the purposes of the conspiracy.

From the moment, he stayed convinced of his decision Amal reassured himself and waited for the moment to deliver his reply. He knew it would not be long, and his days in prison had become more bearable. After all, until now, he had not been mistreated and there was no indication that he would be tortured.

***

In a similar cell Nasr was engaged in the same kinds of thoughts. However, contrary to what Amal imagined his reasoning was a bit more tortuous.

For years, he served the caliph, which he hated, waiting for a moment when he could vent his inner revolt. For the last five years, he had served under the orders of a stealthy outsider who had taken advantage of a situation of nepotism to settle in the leadership of one of the most important organs of the Caliphate, at least until the death of Al-Hakam the Library held that position.

Amal was a naive, brilliant scholar, he acknowledges it, but who lacked the tenacity and leadership to deal with the dangerous situations he envisaged were about to happen. He was weak for the challenges ahead.

He even liked him, had been a faithful servant, but that moment could not be wasted. He would need to take a leading position. He had plans to make the Library once again important to Almanzor and thereby gain space. This meant sacrificing Amal and the proposed dilemma was the opportunity.

It had been a gift the fact that the Abbot meet with them and had revealed the essence of Subh's plan. He felt that he would not even be arrested one day after he had revealed, so his decision was clear, he had already made up his mind.

He was certain that Amal would choose not to agree, in the certainty that he would do the same and both would be punished with only one year in prison, hoping to even get a reduction of the penalty later.

No! He would use what he knew to set free, put Amal on the scaffold and take up a position in the Caliphate that he intended to destroy on the inside. I would make the agreement with Almanzor. After all, Providence smiled at him with the promise of a future in which he would be aligned himself with the powerful.

As soon as he had sure how to act, Malik was informed that he was ready to make his choice.

It was not twenty-four hours before his executioner showed up in his cell. He was led to the same room where he had been informed of the Dilemma and Al-Malik sitting before him asked:

— And then, it seems you have reached a conclusion.

— Yes, I can deliver the entire Subh scheme. Ever since I became aware of this, I was waiting for an opportunity to inform the authorities.

— Well, that does not seem to be accurate, since you did not state it the moment we presented you with the options. Why did you wait so long?

— There are implications. After all, I've worked with Amal for many years. It was not easy to conclude that his life was a lesser good than my loyalty to Almanzor. I have always been a co-operator, in all this. I have never had any active participation. I just was informed about the facts.

— I understand. And what do you know?

— Actually, I only got to know the main details, by pure chance, one day before I was approached by you and brought here. It was like help from Providence. This also explains why I did not report previously.

— Let's go to the facts. I am listening and I hope it's worth it.

— It will worth.

And Nasr began by reporting on Subh's plan since the camouflage of the meetings on the organization of the literary contest until the choice of the Library as a meeting place. The quarrel between Subh and Amal which culminated in his expulsion from the group and finally the visit of the Abbot who at his insistence reported the plans of withdrawal of resources of the royal treasury with the help of Hisham and finally the shipment to North Africa in barrels of Honey and provisions. He omitted the plan of murder of Almanzor's brother, for somehow, he understood that revealing it would not bring him benefits, and might even bring damaging consequences to him, who had somehow participated in the conspiracy. Almanzor could lose his rationality and his whole plan could go down.

— So, Nasr said at the end of the story, "do we have a deal?

— Let's see, I need to checkpoint your story. If they do, we have an agreement.

Al-Malik hurried away, ordering Nasr to be sent back to his cell.

***

It was not difficult for Almanzor to discover the veracity of Nasr's account through a simple and immediate summary audit in the Treasury. Unwarranted withdrawals were discovered that amounted to about 100,000 dinars and the worst contestation was that they could not have been executed without the approval of the Caliph Hisham.

Money was already on its way to North Africa when the pick-and-haul ploy was discovered. Almanzor was greatly alarmed at the Caliph's involvement. He summoned the whole counsel of Viziers and reported that in view of the fact that the Caliph, in his complete inability to deal with state resources, had permitted, with the help of Harem women, to plunder a large sum of money from the Treasury, He called for the Council's authorization to remove the state's money to a safer place. The warrant was granted, but Subh made arrangements for the Caliph to put oppositions to the order.

The situation was delicate and dangerous. Almanzor knew that he could not use force against the Caliph himself. This would be dangerous and could trigger popular uprisings.

However dangerous the situation was, she would not become critical until Ziri had landed with an army in Andalusia, and the Caliph continues to keep firmness in his determination. But Ziri was still in Africa and resources could be intercepted before leaving regions controlled by Almanzor. Therefore, the shrewd caudillo hid from Subh, who had already prevented the first attempt to move the treasure, a request for an audience with the Caliph.

Such was his ascendancy over that hesitant, timid and weak spirit that in a few minutes of conversation the Minister was again King. The Caliph confessed that he considered himself incompetent as ruler and authorized the definitive change of the Treasury. But Almanzor wanted to cut the root of the danger at once, and he was not content with the word alone and demanded a written statement.

The Caliph agreed to sign whatever was delivered to him, and Almanzor wrote a document by which Hisham renounced any administrative function from that moment on. The document was signed by the Caliph in the presence of several notable nobles of the kingdom who, acting as witnesses, placed their signatures on the document which Almanzor make efforts for giving the widest public disclosure. It was February 997 and the fear of a revolt in the Capital had been neutralized.

The Minister thought it appropriate to change the mood of the population and promoted a parade of the Caliph on his mount in his royal cloak, holding the scepter in his hand and his head topped with the cap only the caliphs wore. Almanzor and all the court followed in the cortege, which was accompanied by a great mass of the inhabitants of Cordova.

Subh bowed to his defeat, and somehow humiliated, she recoiled as if she were in religious contrition for his deeds. At first, he feared for his friends but soon realized that the stratagem of the Minister indicated that they would be free from retaliation, albeit under severe surveillance, deprived of any function and prevented from circulating at the court's facilities.

The only one to suffer the weight of his relentless hand of the warrior of old was Abbot Herrera and the Monastery of Tabanas. Using false accusations of heresy and insult against the Islamic religion, he ravaged the monastery by killing most of his monks and nuns and withdrawing the institution's operating license.

Hamid learned of the unfolding of events step-by-step through his informants, and not willing to risk, so he left with Jalila on his route to Sicily, without forget to inform first to Farouk and Benzecry about the danger that was running over their heads.

Almanzor did not want to believe in the participation of the doctor Benzecry who had already saved his life with his medical knowledge and who had accompanied him in some campaigns. He credited his involvement to the charm and influence of Subh and was determined to find Benzecry, which would not be difficult, as being a Jew did not have many options of refuge in Cordova beyond the Jewish communities. He intended to question him, to know his motives, and eventually to forgive him and even to reinstate him to court.

Regardless of his tame attitude toward the internal conspirators, his next act to Subh's public demoralization was to declare Ziri an outlaw and enemy of Cordoba, at the same time as he ordered one of his generals, Wadhih, to close the ranks against him by leading A mighty army. His solution to the previous quarrels with Ziri, who were treated with negotiations and titles, would no longer work. He determined the attack by camouflaging the main and real reason he was being fought; a conspirator against his government.

Although ordering the campaign against Ziri was in the interest of Almanzor that no conspiracy against his government could be disclosed and surprisingly, especially for his son Malik, he banned retaliation or openly accusations of treason against Subh and his group. He would take care of it personally. The punishments against the other conspirators and supporters who were little by little discovered he also decided to treat discreetly and covertly through a select group of collaborators.

Nasr's agreement was honored and as soon as his information was confirmed he was released and obtained his appointment as Chief Librarian, with direct subordination to Almanzor.

Amal found the worst of his nightmares in Nasr's betrayal. As soon as he was informed of his condemnation to death he entered a deep depression, not so much by his fate, but by the unexpected decision of his former faithful companion. He remained silent in his cell waiting for execution.

His martyrdom was a solitary act with the presence only of the executors and his body was buried without honors, as criminal. His family was warned to leave the area through Hamid, under Jalila's influence, before her departure for Sicily, by the same messenger who advised her own family to leave.