A/N: I do not own Hawksong. If I did this wouldn't be on fanfiction would it?

Zane stood there for a while, staring into the trees where I had vanished. Then, just like that, he vanished. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up and whirled around. Zane stood silently behind me, eyes narrowed
"What do you want?" I demanded
"The truth. Nacola Shardae has—had—only two heirs, now one, yet you poses eyes that only a hawk-" Zane held up a hand to silence the protest rising in my throat "-only a member of the royal family by birth could have"

I bit my lip "What…what sort of intelligence do you have on the royal family?"

"As much as any of the flight leaders, with the possible exception of Andreios"

Hearing that name was like being stabbed in the gut with a red-hot dagger. My breathing became shaky and I squeezed my eyes shut as I fought for control. When I spoke, my voice was deceptively calm. I dug my nails into my palms. "Rei- Andreios is the only person outside my family that knows everything." My palms were bleeding freely now; I had sharp nails. Something very close to alarm appeared on Zane's face.

"What happened?"

I laughed. It was a hash, bitter slightly maniacal sound. Now Zane was defiantly alarmed.

"Iolana Shardae died of disease didn't she?"

"I remember, but I was referring to your hands."

"My nails; I dug them into my palms to keep from an emotional outburst." I glanced at my hands absentmindedly "If only mother could see me now." I laughed again. There was something desperate in the way I forced the sound from my throat. I needed to laugh. If I didn't, I would drown in my memories; go mad with the pain each day carried. Every second was a constant reminder of the betrayals, the prejudice, the lies of my past. They were reminders I didn't need.

"Imagine," I looked at Zane "Imagine one of royal blood fighting not only the enemy, but her own people as well." His expression was unreadable "Imagine a princess stealing for her survival, frisking dead bodies for supplies. It's a pretty picture, isn't it?" I collapsed on the ground, leaning against a tree "But I always was her own personal disgrace"

Zane knelt beside me. He'd found bandages somewhere and started wrapping them around my hands. I felt weak, defeated, like I could sleep for and eternity, but Zane urged me on.

"Princess?"

I took a deep breath, mentally debating. No one knew I was still alive. Not a soul knew who I was and yet…something told me to trust him. Our eyes locked, gold to garnet, and in that instant I knew my choice.

"I am Iolana Shardae."

What did I have left to lose?