The silence hit Valen hard. Silently swearing he would hunt down the 'noble' to the ends of the land if something had just happened to Sharille, he moved ahead to open the door while not moving forth past the doorway, looking beyond warily, hand risen, ready to use any of the magic at his disposal the instant he saw the bastard if he had done something to her.<br/><br/>He did not want to see a trap with Sharille dead in it, but he feared that would be the sight to greet him.