For several long heartbeats no one within the Great Hall uttered a single word, because the expression upon Henrik Frost's weathered face carried a gravity that chilled even warriors accustomed to meeting danger without hesitation, and as the old Alpha lowered the parchment with measured care, the crackling fireplaces suddenly seemed far quieter than before while every leader instinctively sensed the message contained far more than an ordinary summons from Regina.
Alexander remained motionless where he stood, resisting the urge to demand immediate answers because years of leadership had taught him that hurried questions often produced incomplete truths, yet Diego noticed the almost invisible tightening of Alexander's jaw and understood that his commander had already begun preparing himself for the worst before hearing a single line of the letter.
