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The more he learned about this bird lady, the more Hector was curious to meet her.

Hanton was not yet finished. 'However, in the interest of full disclosure, she also... may have been spurred to action by another factor.'

"Oh?" said Hector.

'I had recently been dismissed from my position as the Director of the Agency of Foreign Affairs,' said Hanton. 'She was incensed by this decision and was perhaps looking for some manner of retribution.'

Hector was confused. "How did that qualify as retribution?" A thought occurred to him, and he blinked. "Are you saying that the Vanguard was involved in the AFA?"

'No, but it was trying to acquire influence in our government. I had long been an obstacle to that endeavor. And not just me, in fact. That has been House Gaolanet's mission for centuries. The preservation of this kingdom's sovereignty in the face of overwhelming foreign power.'

It sure sounded noble when Hanton described it like that. Hector had to wonder if it was really so simple, though.

But it did make a degree of sense. After all he'd seen and done during his time outside the country, Hector had thought it was a bit strange that Atreya and the nations around it could be so insulated from what was going on in the world. The Vanguard had clearly played a part in that to some extent, but it seemed evident now that House Gaolanet had been a factor as well.

Hector was still full of questions. There was so much more he wanted to ask Hanton, especially about how the Sparrows conducted themselves--if they abided by any kind of rules or "code" regarding the usage of their abilities.

But it was at this time when a knock arrived on the double doors behind him, and without even waiting for a response from Hanton, they opened.