When Katelina finally joined the others, Andrei was in the middle of his thank yous. He held a small box under one arm, and shook Verchiel's hand.

The redhead looked unusually serious. "I'm sorry we were only able to recover a body."

"A body is better than never knowing," Andrei said. "It will give her mother closure."

After he left, Katelina asked what was in the tiny box.

"Her ashes," Jorick said. "He didn't want Annabelle to see her like ...