"Yes," Aldric said. Keeping his voice even required approximately the same effort as it required to address a rebellious noble council at full opposition. "Routine positioning."
"Yes."
"And there are more inside."
"Many more."
Aldric exhaled once, controlled. Then forward.
—------
Satou was at the gate when they arrived.
Aldric pulled to a stop ten feet out and dismounted immediately — not waiting, not performing deliberation. Coming to ground level before the demon lord could stand above him on horseback. Equal ground.
Satou noticed. Aldric could tell — a fractional shift in the quality of his attention. Something registered without being named.
"Lord Satou," Aldric said. "I'm Aldric of Aldenmere. You told my envoy that if my council wanted to discuss terms, the king should come in person." He held those flame-like eyes. "I came in person."
Satou studied him.
The silence lasted perhaps three seconds. Long enough to be deliberate. Short enough to not be hostile.
