Hecuba did not summon anyone.
That was the first decision. She made it sitting alone in her chamber with the tablet in her lap and the lamp burned down to a stub.
Three names. If she called them in, they would know. If they knew, they would stop. A spy who stops is a spy you never catch.
So she would not call them in.
She would watch.
She read the tablet one more time. Her eyes stopped at the second name. They had stopped there the first time too.
She folded the tablet. Put it in her robe. Went to find him.
Fylon was in the records room at the second hour of the morning. He was always in the records room at the second hour of the morning.
He stood when she entered.
"Queen Hecuba."
"Sit."
He sat.
She did not. She stayed standing near the door, where she could see the corridor.
"Your list," she said. "Three names."
"Yes."
"Your name is on it."
Fylon did not look away. "Yes."
"Why."
