The door barely shut, and Jamie scarcely gone, when Katelina stood and demanded to know what was going on.

Jorick sighed and dropped to the couch. "It doesn't concern you, little one. It's boring Guild business." He patted the couch next to him. "Come."

"If it concerns you, then it concerns me. I know you think you're shielding me, but I don't want to be shielded. I don't need to be protected like Velnya was."

He asked coldly, "Did it occur to you that I might be ...