The bird beastman watched her face and clearly understood that whatever she was thinking, it had gone deeper than simple village politics.
"You are planning more than you were told to," he said quietly.
Zara looked at him, and the look in her eyes made even him stop talking for a second.
Then she said, very coldly, "Do your part and leave mine to me."
That answer told him enough.
He did not push further.
Perhaps because he knew better.
Perhaps because whatever she had in mind did not matter as much to him as the larger purpose. Either way, he accepted it.
Then he asked for one last thing.
"The signal?"
Zara thought for a moment and then gave him that too.
She gave him a time, a sign, and a path. The deeper part of her plan stayed locked in her chest.
When she finished, the room felt even colder than before.
The bird beastman stepped back toward the opening.
Before he changed, his eyes moved to her once more.
"You are certain?"
