Numair left Hawk standing at the edge of the pond, and went to sit on the worn stone bench, back turned. Hawk let him, having been stunned into silence for the moment. A breeze rose then, rustling the trees, which whispered all around.

Hawk looked up through the trees where part of the Palace was visible. The windows he could see were dark. Moss grew on some of them, and on the eaves underneath the roof and the balcony. The sun was higher now and the sky blazed white and harsh, though the light that reached the ground where Hawk stood was dappled by the trees.

He went over and sat down next to Numair, who didn't object, but turned his face away anyway. Hawk clasped his hands together, wings tucked around his shoulders, and looked at the ground.

"...You got a lot of anger in you too, huh?" he remarked.