At his questions, Kiara too felt like a failure. It was obvious that he had wanted her to be able to fight, though she could did not know his reasons. Admitting her weakness to him made her feel small and fragile. "Ostus was my guard on the trip here. He was supposed to go back home, but your mother wants him to stay and train you. If... that's what you want he would be good for it. He's more skilled than I and he can actually fight still. As for the way I move... we were ambushed and one of Callum's assassins did something to my shoulder. I couldn't move my arm for a week, and even now I can not lift high enough to be skilled in any version of combat. I'm sorry. I know... that no one was expecting me to be able to fight, but I feel like I've failed somehow. People are after me and I can't even fight them off..."

She shook her head, thinking for a moment about his earlier statement: how people thought he was less of a man.

"As for you, if you do not find me less of a woman because I do have scars and muscles and know how to fight, how could I find you less of a man because you don't. But I agree with your father... More than anyone else, he and I know the danger you are in. People will try to kill you, and trust me they will be able to get to you wherever you are. You need to at least know how to get away from an assassin."

Kiara was quiet for a bit as she tried to think of how to phrase her next statement. 

"I don't know if you've ever had someone try to take your life but it is terrifying. Not knowing how to fight back only makes it more so. In the days to come... Callum will be desperately trying to get to us both, so it's important. Aren't you afraid for your safety?" Her voice was barely a whisper as she added, "I am."