Jo had actually been expecting Merlin when she opened the door, given how audibly she could hear voices. Or what she'd thought was voices, given she opened the door to Thorfinn's room -- after pondering interrupting or not interrupting, and how she was fine, he was alive, she didn't have to keep coming back, and he was busy besides already -- to an empty room, with him turned to the wall.

"Thorfinn?" It was a light question. Not enough to wake him, if he was sleeping.


But the room was empty, and there had been voices.