"Very well. Time to go home." Kolkhis took Mildmay's other hand. Between one breath and the next, they left the inn behind and appeared on the roof of a cathedral looking out over the poverty-riddled warren that was the Lower City.

Keeper didn't do nothing outta the goodness of her heart. Mildmay wasn't convinced any more she had one, no matter how much he'd wanted her love and approval growing up. If she'd brought 'em here, on top of Min-Terris, there wasn't nothing good to come of it.

He knew that, but the real bitchkitty was, winter fever or not, he almost felt like he could breathe easy for the first time in indictions.