There's still more to come and other characters to meet in the upcoming half of this story so don't worry… this isn't over yet.

Hai appeared to be melancholy as she watched the sun begin to set and the many Avians relish in its orange glow before night took over. She had been looking out the large window of the empty common room, completely unaware of who was near her, for almost an hour. Or at least she appeared to be for when Oliza came closer to Hai, she greeted her cousin without turning around. There was a faint glimmer coming from Hai's finger and Oliza noticed that it was the reflection of the sunset hitting the signet ring, trademark of the Cobriana line. The fact that she wore it reminded Oliza even more of their relation though it appeared hard to believe at times.

"Do I look so forlorn that you decide to come keep me company?" Hai had attempted to hide the disdain in her voice but failed terribly. Oliza stopped in her tracks and thought of leaving Hai alone as she did not want to upset her. Hai laughed. "Oh don't be so offended. I am not annoyed by your company. It is simply… thoughts." Her last words were almost wistful and Oliza looked out towards the window as she approached Hai.

"Of home?" she asked.

Hai kept her eyes locked at the sight of the many Avians flying before the sun began to withdraw. "It almost brings me back home…"

The way she said home left Oliza to wonder whether she had meant Ahnmik. It was natural for Hai to miss the place where she had been born and raised. At least Oliza knew that she could return to Wyvern's Court but Hai's circumstances were much different.

Hai closed her eyes and began to speak as if in trance. "The white city of Ahnmik, its beauty surpassing all that I have ever seen but cold and hard as marble... to me at least." Her words almost carried a hint of spite for the city that had seen her grow up. She glanced at Oliza and continued. "Not even Wyvern's Court could ever match it in splendor and beauty." She gave a little small private laugh.

Oliza looked out the window once more, to see what it was that had Hai so captivated that she could barely tear her eyes away from it. Was it the sun? The Avians? Or was she simply staring off into space, something that was not uncommon in someone like Hai.

"Do you miss it?" Oliza asked. It was a silly question but after the way Hai referred to her home, it made her wonder. Hai had rarely spoken of her life in Ahnmik.

Hai did not answer at first and remained pensive. Finally, her words came out almost soft, something that caught Oliza's attention. "Sometimes I do… I remember the dances I performed once and my life there was a child."

It was surprising to hear that Hai had been a dancer at one point. The way she behaved and her sometimes unsociable attitude had made it hard to imagine her as a graceful and beautiful dancer. Oliza knew of their beauty and power in dance when Nicias had mentioned it once.

Oliza's attention went back to Hai who had paused for a moment, almost as if lost once again in her thoughts. When she spoke again, her voice was not as soft as it had been.

Hai glanced at Oliza once more and then back at the window. The sun was almost fully setting in its place. "There is a story I know of. Two lovers, forbidden to each other and with duties of their own to care for." Hai paused for the slightest moment but her way of speaking unnerved Oliza. "And of course, then there is a child, a bit of both worlds and forever cursed to bear such a burden. My legacy and the reason why I am this." Hai raised her hand with the signet ring and contemplated it carefully. She laughed mockingly and then put her hand down.

Her story had caused Oliza to grow pale. For a moment, she had thought that she had been referring to Ulrik and everything that had happened. In truth, she had been referring to her own story, the story of her mother and her father Anjay.

Hai turned to face Oliza, they could easily pass off as sisters but they were far from ever being as close.

"You look pale." Hai said as she passed by Oliza and took a seat in one of the small settees in the common room.

Oliza shook her head and laughed it off. "It is nothing… I have not eaten well these past few days."

Hai raised a quizzical brow as she looked at Oliza and then looked away. "I have seen those symptoms in you before. Twice, in fact."

"Twice?" Oliza laughed.

Hai nodded. "Of course, the other two times you looked completely healthy… and this time," she paused as if to look for a better word, "you look practically sickly." Hai looked at Oliza and noticed that she had tried to suppress her nervousness. Hai laughed. "Oliza, I have seen you bear two children. How can you not expect me to not know that you are with child again?" She had tried to make her tone playful but it had only served to make Oliza only slightly more uncomfortable.

Oliza could feel Hai scrutinize her with her garnet gaze and she could not help feeling overpowered by her. She knew. Hai had always been quiet, always distant, but she had become a great observer and she did not need to words to find truths. Did she also know that the child within Oliza was undoubtedly Ulrik's? Oliza berated herself for ever approaching Hai but somehow she had wanted her near. Hai was the only person she had ever known to be a bad mix between kinds. She had suffered the consequences and the pain of being forever different and affected by her lineage. Would she know how to deal with a child not so different from herself? Even more, Oliza needed to know if Hai could be trusted. Once the child was born, the whole court would be in turmoil. Once the Falcons realized the child was born from Oliza, they would scrutinize her mistake. And as for Ulrik, the child could not go to him. His reign was still young and she could not burden him as well.

"I can see that something worries you." Hai's voice brought Oliza back from her thoughts. A bit flustered, Oliza did not answer and walked around the room in an attempt to be rid of her ongoing thoughts.

Hai laughed softly to herself. "I know that you don't trust me but you have come here not to keep me company." Hai stood from the settee and walked to the window again to look out. "You have something to ask of me and now I must be left to wonder what it is." She then turned to face Oliza, waiting for her to speak.

Oliza breathed in. Hai had completely unnerved her and the way that she spoke made her wonder if she could trust her at all.

Finally, Oliza managed to speak. "You are right… I do not think I can trust you and I dearly wish that I could." She said it almost as if she were defeated.

Hai only nodded knowingly, "It is natural. However, I must admit to you that I have no plans in taking your place."

"And how can I know that?" Oliza sighed.

Hai paused for a moment as she thought. "Nicias has sworn his loyalty you at all costs and above anything else. It is an oath I have made him swear." Hai looked around the room and then Oliza. "It was no secret among the court that there was a dissension between you and Avaram. I would expect for you to be able to conceal all your fears and emotions when needed yet it appears that lately you cannot. You look pale and sickly, almost as if the child you carry within you is clinging to your own life."

"What do you mean by this?" Oliza's reserve had begun to shatter as Hai continued to speak.

"What is it that frightens you and compels you to come to me?" Hai asked. Her question was a simple one and even then Oliza could not answer.

Oliza looked at Hai and she knew that she had the answer. Yet her fear prevented her from doing so. Feeling completely lost, Oliza walked to the closest door and tried to leave but Hai's words caught her attention before she left.

"You know that I can help… that is why you have come." With that, Hai was silent and a very tense Oliza walked out of the room.