The committee room was smaller than he expected.
Twelve members along a curved table. A public gallery that was perhaps a third full — advocates, journalists, people who tracked these things. A recording system. His chair and the small table in front of it, alone in the center of the room like something placed there deliberately.
He sat down.
Arranged his notes.
He did not look at the gallery.
The chair of the committee was a man named Alderton. Late sixties. The specific bearing of someone who had sat in this room for many years and had developed a relationship with patience.
He introduced the session.
He introduced Seren.
He said: "Mr. Valez, in your own time."
Seren looked at his notes.
He did not use them.
He spoke for eleven minutes.
