Jorick pushed the two beds in their room together. He snuggled next to Katelina and fell asleep while she speculated what the meeting with Malick would be like. Jorick's words kept running through her head, growing more terrible with every repeat:
"He makes what I do look like a child's game. If he chose, he could destroy your mind in a moment, without flinching at the effort."
How was she supposed to face that? The thought of someone so powerful made her insides quiver like jello. Despite the sickening horror, sleep eventually found her, whether on its own or with help from Jorick she didn't know. For once, she didn't care.
It was Jorick's warm voice that woke her the next evening. "Little one, your food is here."
She opened her eyes to find him perched on the edge of the bed, a soft
