Lyra said yes before Marina finished asking.

Not the polite yes of someone agreeing to an obligation. The immediate yes of someone who had been waiting to be asked and had prepared the answer in advance.

Marina looked at her.

"You already knew," Marina said.

"Luna told me two weeks ago that I would be invited," Lyra said. "She was specific about the timing. She said within three weeks of Dessa's visit."

Marina thought about her daughter conducting a readiness assessment on her, managing information flow, and apparently also briefing Lyra on an invitation that had not been extended yet.

"She gave you time to prepare," Marina said.

"She gave...