AISLYNI choose the moment carefully.

Truth delivered without preparation becomes chaos. Truth delivered with intention becomes control. Elliot deserves neither mercy nor cruelty, only accuracy. And accuracy requires that I wait until he can no longer dismiss what he hears as coincidence or resentment.

I summon him to the inner study at dusk, when the packhouse settles into its quieter rhythms and interruptions become unlikely. The room is neutral ground. Stone walls. Low fire. No council ...