We walk in silence for a while, the forest growing denser around us. Sunlight filters through the bare canopy in dappled patterns, dancing across the forest floor with each breeze.

"You never talk about yourself," I say, breaking the quiet. "Not really."

"What's there to talk about?" His voice is carefully neutral.

"Your family, where you grew up, how you came to Confluence..." I study his profile. "You know practically everything about me, but you're still a mystery."

He's quiet for so long I think he won't answer. When he finally speaks, his voice is low, almost distant.

"I had two siblings. An older sister and the brother I told you about." Past tense. The loss evident in those simple words. "My brother, Gareth, was the youngest. Serious kid, always had his nose in a book." A ghost of a smile crosses his face. "He wanted to be a scholar, not a warrior."

"Were you close?" I navigate around a fallen log, noting how Raith automatically extends his hand to steady me, then lets go the moment I'm secure.

"As close as brothers can be when one is destined to lead and the other to follow." Something dark flickers in his eyes. "I tried to protect him. Failed."

Uttering the words seems to physically pain him, and part of me is sorry for asking. I can see it in the tight line of his jaw, the way his fingers briefly clench at his side. "Destined to lead?" I ask carefully.

His jaw ticks. "This is why I try not to talk about myself. Too easy to say things I shouldn’t. I'm going to ask you not to press the issue, Nessa. Forget I said it."

I start to smile, but then realize he's serious. The earnestness in his expression and... fear there wipes the amusement from my face. I nod instead. "Okay..."

He looks relieved. "Good."

"What happened to Gareth? To your siblings?"

He's quiet for a moment, clearly picking through the truth and deciding which scraps he can share. "Fire." His hand rises unconsciously to the scarred side of his face. "Betrayal."

I choose my next words carefully, hyper aware that the wrong question or statement could have his armor back up in the blink of an eye. "Is that why you're here? Did the person who betrayed you and your family come here? Or..."

"Have you told your friends about being unbound, yet?" he counters.

I flinch. The question feels like a punch of guilt. Unexpected and unpleasant. "I haven't..."

"Because you care about them. Because the knowledge could put them in danger."

I feel another stupid smile crossing my mouth. "Are you saying you care about me?"

Raith almost rolls his eyes. "No. I just dedicate the majority of my waking hours to worrying about your safety. I spend hours training you, keeping an eye on you, and thinking about you because I don't give a shit about you."