The three days ran at the pace of a camp that had decided to be patient.
Each morning Batu walked the southern face and watched the valley. The Guyuk faction was still. The Chagatai faction reorganized into a waiting posture that communicated nothing.
The Toluid banners on the northern margin were unmoved. The minor princes who had gone to the assembly ground on the first day were being very careful about what their camps looked like from the outside.
No movement toward the Jochid section, no visible realignment. It was the neutrality of men who had committed to something before the room showed them whether they'd committed correctly.
Siban moved through the spaces between the camps at hours when foot traffic was ordinary. He came back in the evenings with reports that were specific and brief.
Arghun was watching from where he was and he was watching carefully.
