A knock came on the door. Jorick pressed a kiss to the back of her hand, then pulled loose to answer it.

Ume stepped inside with a nervous smile. "I wondered if Katelina would come with me to see Fethillen?"

Katelina's first thought was, "Why me?" but she swallowed it down and managed a halfhearted smile. "Sure." She glanced at Jorick and he shrugged.

The women headed to the elevator in silence. Katelina tried to think of something to say and finally managed, ...