I should have known better than to trust a rogue, I thought to myself as I paced along the edge of the lake. She would apparently rather die by drowning than by my hands, which I respected in a way. I cursed again, even louder.

I could have easily grabbed her before she dove in. She was quick, but I knew that I was faster. Why was I hesitating so much?

I was just about to jump into the lake to look for her when a small dark head emerged from the ...