Priam called the meeting for the second hour of the afternoon.
Not the briefing room — the council chamber, which Lysander had been in three times in two years. The council chamber was for formal deliberation. The briefing room was for decisions. The distinction told him something before the meeting began.
'He is treating this as deliberation,' Lysander thought, taking his position along the wall — observer, not participant. 'Not a decision already made. Deliberation. He is going to let them speak fully.'
'Which means he has already decided and he wants them to hear themselves.'
'That is either respectful or very unkind depending on how you look at it.'
The three councillors were already seated when Priam came in.
