Kiara shook her head slowly.
"No. Even if it takes time, I'll find a way to reach the High Mage without involving your father."
"He may find you before then."
"That's highly likely."
Another stretch of quiet. The moon kept its place.
The ache under Lor's ribs had not gone away, but it had changed shape, becoming something closer to attention than pain.
"Why won't you kill him?" he asked.
Kiara lifted her eyes and met his directly.
"Your father is a very good witch tracker. That means he has done the work before. He has almost certainly killed witches. He is not an innocent man walking through a quiet life."
She held his gaze.
"I know that. But I did not see him on the day they burned my mother. And more than that…" Her voice lowered.
"I have already caused you a lot of pain. I don't want to cause you more."
The words settled heavily on the roof.
Kiara's eyes dropped again.
Lor was silent too. Watching her.
