Thazard

Thazard lay on the ice shelf, watching the silly members of his clan hustle and bustle about in the throes of their great charade. They all tried to look miserable about it – each rolling their eyes and making faces when their guest’s back was turned, but Thazard knew them well enough by now to see through their grouching. They were having fun – it wasn’t every day that they got to pretend on such a grand scale – and a faux base relocation was a grand scale indeed. Adrak seemed especially pleased, barely able to keep the gleeful smirk off his face, enjoying his borrowed grandure even as he kept glancing at the two real council member to be sure he didn’t overstep his authority.

Thazard repressed a yawn. This was the hour of his long-anticipated mission, but…somehow, when he’d been given the task of ‘infiltrate the savage blood cult to keep an eye on the betrayer and the fleshweaver,’ he’d expected a more intimidating leader than this…buffoon. He watched as the fellow – Seven, was it? Pranced and waved and greeted all the “officials” of the clan. All pomp and no danger, that was Thazard’s impression. More interesting was the coward walking behind him, head bowed, ragged cloak utterly failing to conceal his identity.


Thazard snickered when they passed him, loud enough for the traitor to hear. The skydancer looked up with a jolt, failing to see that his mirror leader had stopped, and crashed right into the behorned fellow.


Seven whirled on his cowardly companion and grabbed him by the throat, “INSOLENCE,” He hissed, his voice a sudden departure from his good-natured façade. “You are walking the thinnest of lines, Watcher, and death lies on either side…” He suddenly shook his head, dropping the terrified skydancer and looking back at the curious assembly of Orchard members. “I can see why you got rid of this one!” He said with apparent cheer. “Clumsy with his words as well as his feet! Believe me, my dear friends, you are better off without him!” And he laughed in a way that sounded quite unstable indeed.


Thazard knew his cue when he saw it. He slid off his icy perch, allowing his glittering, god-crafted body into the light just enough to catch Sevens’ eye against all the whites and grays. “Indeed,” he purred, casting his voice sultry and light to mimic a female mirror’s tones, “You have a discerning eye and sharp tongue, sir…”


The antlere’d mirror did a doubletake, his eyes widening visibly through the mask. He struck a bow, his points near brushing the ice as he declared, “My thanks for the compliment, my lady!” He straightened with a smile. “My tongue has numerous talents, which I’m sure many could vouch for.”


Part of Thazard recoiled at this direction of conversation, but an equal part of him was amused. He was quick, this Sevens…and the distraction was working, he could see the traitor slipping away from his master’s side, making his way towards a shadow among shadows. Thazard forced himself to laugh, striding closer to the cultist leader. “Perhaps you should leave your clumsy friend here,” he said, with a toothy grin. “I’m sure you can find a much better replacement…”


“We have plans for him!” Sevens hissed, his voice shifting dramatically again. This time he clutched at his head, shaking it repeatedly before straightening one more with an unsteady laugh. “Ah, ah! Maybe you are right. Perhaps I should f-find myself a new watcher…”

Thazard felt pity for the dragon. He could see that his will was only half his own. He was fighting with all his might to keep control and…well. Protect the watcher. There was something….interesting, about that. Something Thazard had not expected. “Perhaps a probation,” he suggested with an understanding smile. “A temporary replacement would allow you to put him in his place without losing the benefit of all those extra eyes.”

“A brilliant proposal!” Sevens declared, spreading his arms wide. He knew he had a captive audience – all the Orchard members were silent, watching. “But who might you propose, my dear? Do you know of anyone with a sharp eye and a talent at standing still and wakeful for long periods of time?”


Thazard nodded! “I know someone who barely need to sleep, if the situation demands it.” He said. “Someone ready to get off this ice chip and ah…try new things.”

“A marvelous conversation!” Sevens exclaimed gleefully. “Who?”

Thazard took a deep breath. He looked at the grinning, skull faced, insane mirror. And he smirked. “Me.”