The Tidebreaker may as well have been carved from stone, for all the movement in him. Even his chest barely rose and fell, his breaths shallow. Slow. Controlled. He watched Sohalia as she set down her bag and took the offered seat, and he made an effort to relax. To try and put her more at ease. It was not her fault that she was the messenger, after all.
But for once, he did not succeed.
The letter was set gently between them, Sohalia's hand holding it with care so that it was placed lightly upon the desk. Nevertheless, it fell with the force of one of his gravity spikes upon his shoulders as he stared at it, unable to lift his gaze as her explanation rolled over him.
Three days.
Fingertips flexed on the wood of the desk. A brief motion, no more, the flinch easily overlooked. "Thank you." The rumble was low and uncharacteristically rough. His jaw tightened as he swallowed and then forced himself to reach for the envelope. The soft clinking that he already knew the shape of chimed again as he reached for his letter opener and slid the blade beneath the flap. Flicked the wax back and opened the folded paper, tilting it to slip its contents into his broad palm, fingers closing immediately over the metal before he unfolded the letter and began to read in stoic silence.
But for once, he did not succeed.
The letter was set gently between them, Sohalia's hand holding it with care so that it was placed lightly upon the desk. Nevertheless, it fell with the force of one of his gravity spikes upon his shoulders as he stared at it, unable to lift his gaze as her explanation rolled over him.
Three days.
Fingertips flexed on the wood of the desk. A brief motion, no more, the flinch easily overlooked. "Thank you." The rumble was low and uncharacteristically rough. His jaw tightened as he swallowed and then forced himself to reach for the envelope. The soft clinking that he already knew the shape of chimed again as he reached for his letter opener and slid the blade beneath the flap. Flicked the wax back and opened the folded paper, tilting it to slip its contents into his broad palm, fingers closing immediately over the metal before he unfolded the letter and began to read in stoic silence.
