"I accept."
Valttair watched him a moment, with no satisfaction in his face and no attempt to dress the agreement up as a victory. Men in their positions had no need to celebrate once the choice had already been made by circumstance.
"Then we have an agreement. The public wording will be fixed before anything is placed before the Sages. Everything else we discussed remains between our Houses for as long as Vaelion honors its side."
Roderic stayed in his chair. "I will review that wording before it reaches the chamber. I accepted responsibility under terms we have agreed upon, not whatever version sounds most useful once six other Houses are listening."
"You will see it first. I have no interest in changing the agreement after making it."
That was enough for both of them. Valttair rose, straightened one glove and looked down at Roderic across the table.
