Aldren then turned towards him and Lance's eyes narrowed at the sight of the hatred directed at him. Was the man planning to challenge him? Lance smiled. It seemed he'd figured out Emira's identity.
But instead of issuing a challenge, the councilman lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, I request a private audience with you, please."
Lance nodded as he stared at the man. So Councilman Aldren could still speak without leaping straight into a death challenge.
At his agreement, most of the other councilmen began to leave the chamber, relieved to slip away. Two of them lingered near the doorway, pretending they were still needed, but even they could not justify staying any longer. They walked out quietly, unable to listen to what was coming. However, they did feel an urgency. They needed to find out if Aldren had found out the mole.
The moment the door closed behind the last councilman, Evan Aldren's submissive attitude vanished.
