[ azadeh bows, her skirts swaying as she departs. alhaitham has known her since childhood. she is trustworthy. this is not said lightly. but the knowledge of trust and the reality of the vissudha have always been two sides of a coin. there is simply a fundamental truth: whatever that alhaitham trusts is what azar will take away. he has not done so in some time. azadeh has been careful. but alhaitham has a contingency for when azar's eyes inevitably fall upon her; that day, he supposes that kaveh will blame him for it, too. that is none of his concern. from the day he enacted his plan, sitting on his throne observing the eleventh man in the room, alhaitham had known - he will bear blame. it hardly matters, for what he is about to accomplish.

the final missive is sealed, and signed. alhaitham leaves them in a pile on his desk; they can be tended to in the morning. kaveh addresses him once more, and he lets his pen rest as he stretches out his left hand. first thumb, then index, then in order the rest. his palm braces against air. alhaitham breathes out. he reaches for a book. ]

In two days' time. [ is what alhaitham says, as he flips the first page of a book entitled 'treatise of etymons from deshret-era runes'. his attention finds focus - that does not mean, however, there is less attention for kaveh. ] Both have been told there will be a meeting. Tomorrow, they will know when, and where, as will you.

Tell me of their strengths.