It was almost three when a vehicle pulled in. For the first time, Katelina was happy to see Oren. She dropped the book she'd been reading on the nearest stand and stood, just as a purposeful knock sounded at the door.

Jorick calmly finished his paragraph, and then answered it. His lion-maned fledgling pushed his way past him. He glanced at Katelina and uncomfortably adjusted his long gray coat. "I assume Jorick mentioned that you'll be driving?"

She suddenly realized ...