Helmis stood first, his posture sharp and confident, though the glint in his eyes betrayed the impatience that still burned within him. The frustration of having to wait, of having to act with such caution, was a burden he clearly resented. But now, the waiting was over. He glanced toward Ryline, his usual swagger tempered by the recognition that the decision had been made, and he would now play his part, as much as it irked him to be held back.
King Varion rose next, his movements smooth and measured, as though the decision to wait for the right moment had been exactly what he had expected. His mind, always calculating, was already moving ahead, plotting the next move, always ten steps ahead of the others. There was no triumph in his eyes, no satisfaction in the victory of persuasion. Only the cool certainty that the game was far from over.
