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'Yes,' said Hanton. 'It was the main reason why I did not make more of an effort to get involved with Lorentian affairs.'

'If you knew about it beforehand, then we would've at least appreciated a heads up,' said Garovel.

'And when would I have been able to do that for you?' said Hanton. 'This trip of yours materialized quite quickly, and I have been extremely busy.'

'Fine, but you could have sent someone else to tell us in your stead,' said Garovel.

Hanton fell quiet at that. 'You are referring to Pauline.'

'Well, I have not formally met her yet myself, but Hector here has. If not her, then were there not other Sparrows whom you could have sent?'

'Hmph.' A gust of wind caused the trees to briefly tremble as Hanton gave a single, harsh flap of his giant wings. 'You ask too much of me, reaper.'

Garovel didn't back down, though. 'My name is Garovel. And if we are to protect Atreya, then we should not ignore resources that are available to us without extremely good reason. I do not think that having your children serve as messengers for vital intelligence would be unreasonably difficult or dangerous.'

Hanton made no response.

'In fact,' Garovel went on, 'it may even be that their lack of roles to play is precisely what motivated Pauline to come all this way without your permission.'

'Do not presume to know my children,' said Hanton. 'They are not sitting at home doing nothing as you seem to think they are. They already have their roles to play.'

'Good to hear,' said Garovel.

It sounded like the reaper wanted to say more, like he wanted to question whether those roles were the "correct" ones, but for whatever reason, Garovel held his nonexistent tongue.

And the silence grew tense again.