Once more, Kir found himself frozen.
"Explain yourself! You said you were of no House!" Amarena demanded.
"I said it and I meant it. I am Kir Gale, son of Bridget and Darlae of Darlbridge," Kir said.
"Then why was your name on Maledict's lips when he tried to tempt me into his house? Do you deny he is your father?"
"What?!" Kir said, his surprise absolute. "My only relation to Maledict is by blood, and because he contracted me to find my birth mother for him. I just want him to leave me and my family alone."
"You mean to say you didn't know? Your father sought to win me to his side before he cast me down here. He proposed we wed."
Kir went slack-jawed.
"Fuck that!" he declared, one eye twitching. "Look, I don't know what Maledict said to you, but I want nothing to do with his schemes."
"I find it an impossible coincidence that we should meet at random, Son of Heresy."