A knock came at the door. Torina motioned Katelina to handle it. Her first impulse was to say, "Do it yourself," but she was on her way out. It would be a good excuse to escape.

She looked through the peephole to see Verchiel dressed in fresh clothes, his wet hair gelled at the usual odd angles.

"Helloooo," he called.

"Oh, it's him." Torina leaned back in the chair. "Tell him to go away."

Katelina readied to do that, when she heard another door open. She ...