An icy blast of wind shook the trees and rattled the dry grass eerily. Katelina shivered, and it seemed to draw Jorick back to the present, to the tatty yard and the small house he called home

With another wordless grunt he took her hand and led her slowly to the front of the house. "Look at this," he muttered. "Look at the state of this place."

Katelina didn't reply, only followed him onto the small porch and waited as he fished a ring of keys out of his pocket. She ...