Myar

Myar

---

Myar was initially asked to be Suvi’s body double as a way of keeping Suvi safe from potential threats, but both he and Suvi have benefitted from the alternative ways they’ve utilized his role. When Myar is standing in Suvi’s place, Suvi can slip away from Rosvirein and the careful, overprotective watch of her clanmates, and Myar can bask in the attention and affection that Suvi usually receives.

The truth is that Myar doesn’t really look all that much like Suvi. Sure, at a glance, maybe, but at the end of the day, they aren’t even the same gender, and their coloring is only vaguely similar, and their fur patterns are wildly different. But they share the same shimmer in the sunlight, and the regal way they carry themselves, and the same kind gaze, and Myar can pitch and soften his voice to mirror hers, and that’s just enough to fool almost everyone, especially when Myar’s face is covered. Even Rosvirein and Anasa, whose job descriptions incline them to never leave Suvi’s side, find themselves falling for the switcheroo and never noticing the difference.

Of course, Myar is never left to handle Suvi’s diplomatic affairs, or any leadership roles. They will always swap back before then, and Suvi will seamlessly re-assume her own identity. But as far as social life in the clan goes, Myar has got it covered. He diverts Chalce’s attention away from Suvi, he keeps Rosvirein occupied so Suvi can wander, he entertains guests and attends high-society events, and generally grants Suvi her freedom.

And both of them love this arrangement. Sure, almost nobody really knows the real Myar — but they don’t have to, as far as he’s concerned. He knows who he is. He’s cool and charismatic and cheerful and enjoys a good practical joke, and if he needs to express that, Suvi knows his true self. The two spend a lot of time at the end of the day laughing and exchanging stories about what Suvi did on her wanderings and how Myar tricked everyone. And Myar is more than comfortable in a more feminine presentation; being perceived as a girl is no problem for him, and he even takes glee in it.

The primary exception to their clanmates never knowing who is who would be, obviously enough, their parents, Screechfang and Skytail. They were the ones who initially asked Myar to take up the role, and of course they know their own children. At a glance, they’re able to tell whether Suvi is Suvi or if Myar is Suvi — but they’ll only reveal this in private. They would be the last ones to force Myar and Suvi to give up this masquerade. They worry a lot about Suvi, especially when she wanders off, but their real interest is in her happiness. And if this switcheroo makes Suvi happy, then they’re more than willing to play along with a wink and pretend Myar is their eldest daughter.

The dragon who is most fooled by the swap is Chalce, and that would be entirely Myar’s fault. Myar, being the prankster he is, thinks it’s hilarious to lead Chalce on and pretend to be a version of Suvi who may or may not reciprocate his feelings. Suvi doesn’t know Myar is doing this to Chalce, and would disapprove if she did know; she would prefer to be the kind of dragon to let Chalce down easy. Myar, however, dislikes how Chalce follows Suvi around, and thinks toying with his feelings is a worthwhile punishment…Or so he says. It’s mostly just that he enjoys messing with him.

No one can tell whether or not Cadfael recognizes the differences between the two, and they are afraid to know the answer. After all, the biggest threat that Screechfang had in mind when appointing Myar as Suvi’s body double was indeed Cadfael. And Myar knows this, and tones down his own characteristics even further when Cadfael is around. Just in case.