The first face that I saw was that of the doctor who had attended me earlier that day. She looked stressed but regal, holding herself staight and looking ahead without seeming to focus on anything. I could tell that she didn't really want to be here, a summons from the emperor was never something courtiers looked forward to.
The second face was that of The Rus. I noticed that he too was looking away from me, but unlike the nurse, he was very carefully focused on something behind me, Aata I came to realize after a few moments. The rage and anger on his face as he saw the person bringing up the back of my group was surprising and very ugly. He looked like he had been drinking as well, his face red and swollen. I almost missed the black eye he was trying poorly to hide with his large cap pul
