Cyprus addressed the guards, while Jorick gave each a hard stare. Katelina could almost feel the new memories he was pressing into them. When they'd finished, one of the guards hit a button and the opposite wall slid open to reveal a slice of dark, damp alley.

"Danke!" Verchiel chirped and pushed ahead. They followed him out and into the artificially lit night. The side of the building snapped closed and suddenly they were alone in the alley. Tiny flakes of snow dropped from ...