Role

Chapter 6

Deep in a virgin forest, a little nightengale fluttered to a perch onto a
small tree limb before singing a short, happy song. In a flicker, Tomias
Jensin then hopped down from the branch and landed onto ground with two
humanoid feet.

Tomias found a nook against a nearby log and sat and rested. Flying was
the most wonderful sensation, but it was very taxing.

Suddenly, a tiny little hummingbird descended from the sunlit treetops,
before flickering into the now-familiar form of Tomias' father. He smiled
broadly at Tomias and approached him.

"Look at you, son!" bellowed the drow, his jewelery and silks glimmering
in the slivers of sunlight. "You are quite the little songbird! Have you
learned any other forms?"

"Just... a turkey," replied Tomias, softly.

His father snickered, then, with a toss of his long silver hair skipped
next to Tomias with swift, elven grace. "Ah, well, worry not, I am sure
your next form will be most marvelous! Now, tell me, how did you get
them to let you into the Fortress of Light?"

"I don't know, I just-"

"I mean, I did see you fall to your death from the sky no less than twice!"

"You saw that??"

"Well, I heard the first one. THUD! But, well, now you know, right?"

"I guess so."

"I am glad you are there, Tomias," said his father. "It is a very safe
place for you. Gods know I've never been able to sneak in. I just wish
you kept the alias we agreed on. What were you thinking??"

Tomias raised his eyes and looked at the drow. "I am going to be a Maran,
father."

The drow's eyes furrowed, then he sighed.

After a moment, his father again spoke: "They will try to make a murderer
out of you, son."

Tomias held his gaze. "Like you?"

The drow scoffed. "Likely worse than me. I am not so bad as you suspect."

Tomias challenged him. "Gramps and Gran always warned me about you."

"I am aware, Tomias."

"Who are you, father? Who tried to take me? Why?"

The drow stood up and glanced upward. "The Matron Mother of House
Vronzdir, Mirzaxa, seeks satisfaction for my so-called crimes against
her. I will give you my name when I believe you are not so foolish as
to share it with your new friends."

"I am not going to hide," replied Tomias. "I am going to become a Master
of Changelings, and I will burn her house to the ground, just like she
did mine."

The drow smirked. "First, it was only the barn. Second, best learn to
fly without dying before you get too excited, hm?" Then, in a flicker
he was a hummingbird again, but this time time, Tomias could understand
his chirps as words. "And please believe me, son - I will always be
here for you. I have been all along."

The hummingbird darted up and above the treetops, then became the
silhouette of two large flapping wings, shrinking away into the distance.