He kissed her back in full when she pressed in, and as they parted a flicker of warmth filled his gaze. He watched until she was out of view, then turned back toward the Wood House. It was the work of minutes to return there and find the notes there, and as he browsed them he realized more and more. The Huntsmen weren't all that removed as they seemed. Not mere raiders, but--if Carson was interpreting Gregor's coding right--another branch of the Vanguard. An experimental one, a group of men designed to hunt and gather and scout regions ahead of the main force. That still didn't explain why one of them had murdered Greagor, though--or Oliver.<br/><br/>There must have been a falling out, he reasoned. The Huntsmen were asked too much, pushed too far, and they reacted. They may have thought that Greagor had already corrupted Oliver, and moved to kill him too. Only guesswork, of course. He would have to extract the answers from whoever would die last in the coming fight. He pocketed the notes and left the house, leaving the secluded patch of trees and cutting through town on his way to the front gate. His feet slowed, though, and came to a stop, and when he looked up he was in front of Malia's old home. He remembered how her mother had looked at them, how she had dared to imply that Carson would never stay.<br/><br/>Before he could help it he pushed the door open and entered, six feet of stormy expression and cold eyes that was no doubt terrifying to a common townsperson. He found her mother sitting just within, sitting at a table with a plate of food and a book in one hand. She looked up with a scowl, but her eyes widened. "Strider," she said quietly, as though it were a curse, "why are you here? Have you come to tell me my other child lies dead thanks to you?"<br/><br/>"No." He stayed where he was, in the doorway, simply watching her. She was shorter than Malia, uglier. Her hair was brown and mousey. He hadn't know Oliver well, but the boy had taken more after his mother. Malia must have looked more like her father. "No, I came to tell you the opposite. Over the last week, Malia has been an incredible human being. She's led me to places I never knew existed, she's spearheaded efforts to unify people who had sworn never to trust one another, and she has made my very lonely, very sad life into one so worth living that I can't imagine what it would be like without her at my side."<br/><br/>He leaned forward and put his hands on the table, allowing her to see his face and the conviction in his eyes without the obscuring backlight of the sun outside. "I know your cruelty was born of grief and loss, but if you don't make an effort to speak to your daughter again the next time you get a chance I will personally ensure you never have another opportunity to make her miserable. And don't mistake me--that is no threat on your life. Your life isn't one I consider worth taking to begin with. No, I would simply take her away from you, from this village, and from all the other people who have made her doubt herself and her worth to surround her with those who would love and care for her like she deserves."<br/><br/>Carson stood back upright and turned to leave, but paused and looked back as he stood sideways in the doorframe. "By the way, she's going to go risk her life now to try and find her brother's killer. I'll be at her side--now, then, and forever. Think on what I've told you. Think on whether or not it's really worth losing your daughter to mourn your son." He turned away entirely then, shoving the door closed behind him. He turned down the street and returned to the gate, where he found her waiting.<br/><br/>"Letto's going to be just outside," he told her, signaling the guards to let them back out. He stepped outside the walls with her, and they found the other Strider a little ways further down the path, sitting on a fallen log with a handful of berries. He stood and threw the rest into his mouth, hands flying as he signed.<br/><br/><i>Found their trail. Shouldn't be too far in the forest. I think they must live on the lake, too.<br/>
</i><br/>Carson translated for her before he nodded. "Lead on, then. Greagor's notes confirm what you found. They should be about ten to fifteen miles from the town, in the forest still, and on the shore. We'll come up on them unawares and take them down before they can blink."