Ilyan put the rival historian’s note behind his own interpretation.
He did it while sorting sections rather than while speaking, and for a moment no one noticed. The packet remained complete. Her words had not been removed. Yet the order would let a hurried reader encounter his version as the account and hers as an objection placed later for specialists with enough time to reach it.
She noticed before the seals went on.
“Together,” she said.
Ilyan looked at the two sections.
“The references are in order.”
“The dispute concerns the same timing term. A reader needs both readings at that term, not after your conclusion has already done its work.”
He began to explain the structure and heard himself defending convenience as though it were neutrality. He moved the note beside his reading. The reference order could be adjusted. The disagreement would travel at the place where it mattered.
