The session broke for recess at midday.
Not a long one. Thirty minutes for the Council to confer privately, which was standard procedure after a major evidentiary presentation, built into the process so that no one could accuse anyone of rushing a decision.
Aelara had known the recess was coming. She had prepared for it. She had a place to go and a thing to do there and a set of people to do it with, and when Vaelor caught her eye across the table she gave him the small nod that meant: I saw it too.
He gave her the one that meant: I know.
They did not speak in the chamber.
She walked out of the room behind Maren, not quickly, not slowly, matching the pace of the other Council aides leaving through the side corridor, and she did not look at the gallery above as she passed under it.
