The session floor had not quieted from what Mongke had put into it when Guyuk rose.
"The Toluid senior prince has asked this assembly to weigh capacity," Guyuk said.
His voice was even. It carried cleanly, the way it showed the was used to rooms larger as this one and had learned not to waste effort on volume.
"I don't dispute the capacity."
From the Ogedeid outer ring, a rider made a sound at that, somewhere between acknowledgment and impatience.
Guyuk's eyes stayed on the session floor.
"The western territories are a good base for the campaign." He paused. "I'm not standing here to argue against that, and I won't waste this floor's time on what has already been answered."
"Then sit down," someone said from the Toluid outer ring.
The man leaned slightly toward the rider beside him as he spoke, low enough to be directed but loud enough to carry six rows.
Nobody turned to find the voice.
Guyuk moved past it without acknowledging it.
