'Than I saw?'
Simon kept his expression calm, but the words lingered in his mind.
Not "than I expected." Not "than I thought."
Than I saw.
What had the Sovereign seen? And how could he have seen something that hadn't happened yet?
Simon wanted to ask.
However, one look at the gold rings slowly turning in those dark eyes told him that he wouldn't receive an answer. Or worse, he would receive one he wasn't ready to hear.
He decided not to ask.
The silence returned. Ysolde stood motionless beside the dais. Lilith hadn't moved either. The pale light fell from the unseen source above, and the crimson veins in the walls glowed faintly.
Then the Sovereign spoke again.
"Tell me about Vhal-Sar."
Simon was taken aback for a moment.
He had assumed the Sovereign already knew. He had waited for hours after returning to the Abyss. Surely that time had been spent confirming whether he had truly completed the mission, through Veyra's report or some other means.
