The courier was sitting on the floor of the northern room with his back against the wall and the dispatches clutched against his chest.
He was young, younger than Alistair had expected, early twenties at most, with a face that had not yet learned how to hide its emotions.
His eyes were wide, and they had been wide for a long time.
He had the look of a man who had been afraid for so many days that fear had become the default setting of his features.
He flinched when the door opened.
"Sovereign Record courier?" asked Alistair.
The courier nodded, and his grip on the dispatches tightened.
"We're Sun Harvest," Alistair continued. "We were sent to recover you and the dispatches. You're coming with us."
The courier didn't move immediately. He looked past Alistair at the others, Due in the doorway, Elara behind him, and Silas, a presence he couldn't quite focus on.
