It was late when Jorick returned. Katelina asked him for details, but he only told her that he'd followed the Executioners until they left town, and not to worry. Despite those words, his thoughts were full of darkness and apprehension, though he refused to say why. As dawn approached she gave up and went to sleep, doing her best to ignore his still form in the chair across the room.

When Katelina woke, sunlight leaked around the edges of the curtain and the stack of dressers. ...