Young, younger than Ren had expected, with the face of someone who had processed the terms of the arrangement and arrived at the conclusion that it was the best deal available in his situation: survive the crystallization, which Ren would reverse afterward, and have his family's remaining penalties reduced by half.
The sad math of someone who understood they were not in a position to negotiate and had been offered more than their situation strictly justified.
Arguably a generous deal.
It was the deal that corresponded to what they had done and what they were able to offer.
The Astor tamer was watching the door with the attention that came from not being able to look away from something one very much wanted to look away from, the fixed gaze of someone applying the full force of their willpower to remaining still.
It was a very convincing argument to stay still.
