“There’s a chill in the air,” Knob remarked. He slowed his pace for what seemed like the hundredth time; Rosered was having trouble keeping up. He shot her an irritated look, scrunching up his comically huge nose. “That’s a bad a sign, bad sign.”

“You think everything is a bad sign, Knob. ‘Oh, the fog’s come in, that’s a bad sign, the wind is strong tonight, that’s a bad sign.’ Give it a rest,” said Uno. “They aren’t around every corner, you know. And talking about Them only gets Their attention.”

Uno cast a glance around anyway, scanning the nearby alleys with his single bulbous eye. He shivered despite himself. It was unseasonably chilly, and if Knob didn’t shut his trap They could show up at any time. He forced a jovial expression and patted Rosered’s crimson hair. His huge paw nearly covered her entire head, but the gesture was kindly. She looked up at him with those big, honest eyes.

“Don’t you worry, little miss,” he said. “We’ll get you to the Court, and then we’ll figure out what to do with you.”