Valttair did not follow Elenara as she walked.
He remained where he was, rooted in place in a way that had nothing to do with the garden. When he spoke again, the faint traces of courtesy drained from his voice, leaving behind the tone he used for negotiations, for leverage, for matters that decided outcomes rather than sentiments.
"Let us speak plainly," he said.
The words cut cleanly through the air.
"The Thal'zar are not retreating out of fear. Nor because they lack resources." His gray eyes sharpened, fixed on Elenara's back. "They have consolidated their forces. They are waiting."
Elenara slowed, though she did not stop.
"For what?" she asked, her voice neutral.
"For stability," Valttair replied. "For the moment when the board settles and they can act without interference."
He took a step forward then, closing just enough distance to make the shift deliberate. "They are not stalling blindly. They are protecting something."
That made her turn.
