Pelonides requested the private meeting at the third hour of the morning.
Not through the standard diplomatic channel — through a personal note delivered to Priam's administrative secretary, in Pelonides's own hand, using the specific phrasing that indicated he was speaking for Agamemnon's court rather than for himself. A small distinction with significant weight. Everything up to this point had been Pelonides. This was Agamemnon.
Fylon brought word to Lysander before the fourth hour.
Here it comes, Lysander thought.
He had been expecting it. Three days of observation, three days of counting, three days of polite conversation that said nothing — and now, the last morning, the real conversation. This was how it worked. The three days were the performance. This was the content.
He sent word to Hector and Ampelos and went to Priam's briefing room.
The four of them were there before Pelonides arrived.
