Loreen's POV
The door opened and the next visitor walked in before Edgar, which was the first thing Loreen noticed.
He was a broad man, a beta, somewhere in his middle years, with the kind of face that showed he had spent many years outdoors under harsh weather.
He crossed the room and sat down in the chair across the desk without waiting to be asked.
Loreen looked at Edgar.
Edgar gave him a small shake of his head that clearly said, do not ask, and Loreen swallowed the words he had been about to say and decided to let it go. He was too exhausted to care much about proper introductions anyway.
He looked back at the lord and waited.
"I came to this palace today expecting to meet with the king," the man said.
There was no softness in his tone. He spoke like a man stating a fact that he believed should be recognized. "I was told that was not possible and that I would have to meet with you instead."
"Yes," Loreen said. "Lord…" He allowed the word to trail off slightly.
