The child had grown within Oliza and her state could not be concealed to any in the court. As that child grew, Oliza grew weaker as if her life force was draining from her with each day. And Hai? She had learned half of the truth eventually and decided to stay with Oliza. She knew that the child was not Avaram's but Oliza had abstained from mentioning Ulrik to her or everyone else. She could only trust Hai so much. Hai had warned Oliza of the wrath of the falcons and she had berated Oliza for the mistake that could cost her much.

"How could you have been so foolish?" Hai's spat out. She was angry at Oliza's carelessness. "Can you not see the damage you have caused? I am the living proof that such mistakes have consequences. Once the child is born I am sure that Araceli will have no qualms in killing it and causing turmoil everywhere."

Oliza rested her head against the headboard of her bed and closed her eyes. Hai's words were always in her mind, haunting her. She had suggested at one point in killing the child while it was still possible but then retracted. Oliza had been glad that she had chosen to do so for she did not want to go through with it as well. They would have to wait until the birth of the child to decide what was best in the end. In the end, Oliza knew that the fate of the child she carried would only be left to Hai and Sive.

"Are you feeling well?" Sive's gentle voice brought Oliza back into her thoughts and into the reality that she faced.

Oliza nodded tiredly. "How are Loeiza and Bastian?" she asked.

Sive smiled. "Loeiza is with Xanthe and Bastian sleeps."

Oliza smiled feebly. It gladdened her to hear that Loeiza had slowly begun to open up once more. She was happy that Xanthe, Sive's daughter, along with Prentice had begun to bring Loeiza back. However, Loeiza was still so distant from her and now that Oliza was weakened by her state, it was better for Loeiza to not be near her.

"Do you know what to do with the child now that its time is near?" Sive's question caught Oliza off guard. Sive had also known of the child and the dangers it could carry and had often offered more sensible alternatives. Either way, Oliza had wanted to avoid the subject as much as possible. She would have preferred to be bed ridden than to part with the child. In the end, she knew she would have to for both Sive and Hai had agreed that the child held risks.

And of course the time came not after when Oliza gave birth. Her mother, Danica, had attended Bastian's and Loeiza's birth but had been unable to reach Oliza for the third. After all, the birth came a bit sooner than expected. She had been accompanied by Sive and Hai meanwhile Prentice and Nicias waited outside her chambers. Amongst them was an avian midwife that Sive had acquired by the name of Oilell. Only one physician, a Serpiente, had been allowed in as well and had been sworn to secrecy by both Oliza and Hai.

It was an excruciatingly long delivery and in the end, it had exhausted Oliza. Soon after it was all over and the child was born, she had grown weak. As for the child, it had been a completely healthy girl but its silence caused everyone in the room to believe it dead. Perhaps, it was best that way. Yet when the child was taken into another room and away from Loeiza, Hai noticed something strange. In the dark, the infant opened her eyes weakly and astonished everyone. It was an uncanny pair of eyes; one was the distinct garnet color of the Cobriana line, and the other a most strange silver grey. In that moment, Hai realized the identity of the father.

"I had thought the father was a falcon…" Hai said to herself in wonder. She had never guessed that the father would have been a wolf.

"She is alive!" Oilell whispered surprised. "I have never seen a child like this…" she said in awe.

Hai looked to the other room and noticed that Sive was tending to the ailing Oliza along with the physician. No doubt they too had thought the child truly dead.

Oilell quickly went to the nearest window and let the light of dawn come through the room. The light appeared to bother the child and so she closed her eyes once again. The infant was weak and almost cold. Hai held her against her and tried to give her own warmth. It was almost as if she was looking onto herself. Here they both stood as strange products of nature, both completely lost.

Hai spoke quickly, "Oilell, your Tuuli Thea has given her consent to be rid of the child and you know this. It is better if everyone truly believes her dead." Hai, who had been carrying the infant in her arms, gave her to Oilell. "She is alive but she needs care that her mother cannot give."

Oilell held the child awkwardly in her arms and then looked at Hai. "I cannot…"

Hai shook her head. "No… you must." She looked at the very worried Oilell and added. "A few years ago, you lost your child to death. This child that you carry here… her fate was death as well and she lives. I am sure Oliza wants her alive as well!"

Oilell's eyes widened in surprise and lowered her head. The death of her daughter had been something very private that only she and her family had known.

"This is the only contribution I can ever make to life… do not deprive me of that for I cannot give this child death." Hai insisted as she caressed the infant's forehead gently.

"What of my Tuuli Thea… and of the whole court?" Oilell asked bewildered.

Hai looked around the room and thought for a moment. She disappeared into the other side of the room and then finally came back with a bundle that looked like a child completely wrapped in blankets.

"This is Oliza's dead child. As long as no one looks inside, this is the dead infant." Hai said. "An illusion."

Oilell shook her head in disbelief but defeated. "This is madness!"

"You will take her with you in secret. I know that you have an aunt in the outer edges of Hawk's Keep… go with her and I shall care for everything else."

Oilell sighed and looked the silent child once more before looking back up at Hai. "What will she be named?"

Hai thought for a moment and then finally answered. "Name her… Haelori." With that she grinned and then walked out of the room with the bundle that was to serve as Haelori's replacement.