Katelina was soon ready and she followed Jorick out the door and into the night. The velvet sky spread above them and snowflakes drifted down like bits of discarded feathers. Her breath puffed in front of her face in white clouds, and she hunkered down inside the too large coat to hide from the biting cold.

They walked in silence. Jorick led her through the snowy yard, and the stand of icy trees, to the grassland beyond. Despite the clouds, they could see the moon hanging low ...