Master Shen arrived within the hour.
Kaelen heard him before he saw him. Soft footsteps on wooden boards. The rustle of heavy robes. A faint scent of medicinal herbs and old paper drifted through the door. Then Jun slid it open and stepped aside.
The man who entered was young sickly looking, but not fragile. He had the kind of presence that suggested he had outlived enough trouble to stop being impressed by it. His back was straight, his hands steady, and his movements carried an unhurried precision.
He was a handsome man, his features once sharp enough to turn heads in a crowded room. High cheekbones framed a lean face, and a straight nose sat above well-defined lips. His jaw remained firm beneath the faint hollows of his cheeks. Fine lines traced the corners of his dark eyes, deepening into crow's feet when he studied something with interest. Deeper grooves ran from either side of his mouth, lending his otherwise composed expression a permanent air of quiet severity.
