But before the murmurs could grow—
The air shifted.
It was not loud, and it was not visible.
But Jolthar felt it all the same, like a pressure settling in his chest.
He turned and saw a figure entering the hall just like a normal person, except that he was not.
Normal people couldn't tell, but he could.
The man was like water contained in a dam; his aura was so controlled and so strong that Jolthar felt it. His senses picked up easily.
He walked towards where three of his members sat and went ahead to sit a little away from Raayani.
Raayani's fingers paused on the armrest. Her breathing slowed as she saw the man sitting beside him.
"Akopa."
The man beside her inclined his head.
He was broad and solid, his skin darkened by sun and years of campaigning. His black hair was tied back neatly, streaked with faint silver. A thick mustache with edges curling up dominated his face, trimmed with military precision, and his eyes were calm—too calm for a mere officer.
