Cedric did the talking first, which was the right call.
He spoke to Rowan directly, clearly, without softening anything. He explained the arrangement with the station contact. He explained what the execution would look like from the outside and what it would look like from the inside, which were going to be two different things. He explained the timing, what Bennett's paper would print and when, and what Rowan would need to do, which was primarily to continue existing without anyone outside this room knowing that he was doing so.
Rowan listened.
He asked two questions. Cedric answered them till Rowan understood everything.
Then he nodded once.
"I understand," he said.
Cedric looked at him for a moment.
"Good," he said. He stood and saw Noel looking at Rowan. No, they were basically looking at themselves.
He could tell what Noel wanted, so he looked at Noel. "Five minutes."
Noel looked up at him. He smiled softly at Cedric.
"Thank you," he said.
