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Hector decided to leave out some of the more confusing details, such as auras and Sparrows--and what Sparrows even were for that matter. He was a little torn on keeping that information from the Prince, but it was all rather complicated to delve into, and he didn't really think that David would be comforted by the knowledge that there were giant, invisible birds skulking around who were also capable of screwing with his mind in all sorts of terrifying ways.

Plus, Hanton had already tried to impress upon him the importance of keeping the Sparrows' existence in Atreya a secret. Hector had already made the decision to tell some of his closest allies about them, but if he allowed that circle of awareness to keep expanding, then it would only make things more difficult in the long run, he felt. Not to mention, Hector had an unpleasant feeling that such knowledge might in some way imperil Prince David.

In a background thought process, though, he kept thinking it through. This was someone he didn't want to keep secrets from, no matter how good the reason. He might change his mind, Hector felt.

They stayed up and talked for quite a while longer, catching up on more subjects and simply enjoying each other's company. The Prince spoke more generally about Intar, describing some of its lighter sides to Hector, including its food and entertainment. Hector ended up asking where David had been staying while in Intar, hoping to hear about a castle or two in the region, but sadly, the Prince's answer was a hotel.

The discussion of entertainment, however, bled into a more general one regarding Intarian culture, and the conversation began to turn more serious again.

"I remember you mentioning at the Gala," said Hector, "that there's some kind of big ideological divide in Intar, right now."