Lorryl stood across from Jolthar and said nothing.
Not nervous silence — deliberate silence, the kind a man maintains when he has already done what he came to do and words are now irrelevant. He listened to Jolthar introduce him to Milan with the casual dismissal of someone describing furniture, and he absorbed the slight without a flicker crossing his face.
Jolthar watched him the entire time.
"Long way to come for a quiet evening," Jolthar said pleasantly.
Lorryl smiled.
"Congratulations on your elevation, Count."
He dipped his head once, turned, and left with the others trailing behind him. No argument, no parting remark, no visible reaction to anything that had happened since he'd walked through the door.
The courtyard watched them go.
"Strange man," Andrion said once the entrance was clear.
"Who was that exactly?" Jazmin asked, looking at Jolthar with genuine curiosity.
"Nobody worth your evening," Jolthar said simply and reached for his wine.
Milan caught his eye.
