Pavillia's eyes swept over them first, landing on Rex, then shifting to Lilith with a momentary, calculating flicker, before returning to Rex. There was no fluff in her gaze, only the assessment of a high-level operative checking her primary asset.
"The brief was useful," Rex stated, his voice cutting through the heavy air.
He didn't say 'thank you'; that wasn't his way, but the acknowledgement was there, a subtle nod to her competence.
"Good," Pavellia replied, her tone as level as a horizon. "Cassandra and Gorvasha's copies are stationed just outside their room."
"They haven't been disturbed."
"I know," Rex said, his tone bordering on bored, though his eyes remained sharp, scanning the grandeur of the hall beyond the doors.
"The council members are already assembled," Pavellia continued, her voice dropping into a more tactical register. "Mordecai arrived eight minutes ago."
