Tharos sat quietly during Mariner’s speech, trying to make it seem like he’d heard all this before.
The Yohurian desert he thought, if half of what I’ve heard is true, that’ll be the most hazardous part of the trip.
His mind began to drift as Mariner carried on. Unbidden his recurring nightmare began to swim to the front of his mind.
a tall thin figure, with glowing green eyes, and pointed ears examines him. He seemed to be giant from Tharos’ perspective.
“hmm, not unusual when just born for the eyes to not glow. Not to worry old friend, you’ve got a good one here it seems”
The perspective shifted, as he was passed to another figure the same it seemed but for the eyes. These eyes glowed dark blue.
“What age should I stop waiting and start the Sevra?” A second voice asked. Dripping with disdain. As the words were spoken those blue eyes glared at him with open contempt. Something Tharos wouldn’t realize for years.
“oh till he’s about 4 years, I shall check in then.” The first voice paused. “best keep him out of sight till that time… Just in case”
Tharos successfully suppressed a shudder. Realizing there was still people around him. He braced as another scene came to mind.
Tharos sat on a rug by a fire, playing with some toys his mother had got him. One his favourite pirate hero, the other a brutish Winter Legionnaire. As he played he could just make out the voices from the next room.
“Absolutely not! He’s 5 years old and we both yet live!” His mother. He set his toys down clearly something was upsetting her. He was about to go see when he heard it. That voice.
“His eyes don’t glow! How am I to be sure he’s even mine?! Why he could be half human for all I know!” Tharos flinched upon hearing it. He had feared that voice his whole life.
There was a crack like a whip. “How dare you!? You insult me like that? Of course he’s yours, and I will not abandon our child because you can’t accept that.”
“Now, now Hethwn, no need to escalate too highly.” Another voice that made Tharos flinch. It was the Councillor, the creepy figure that came by now and then to examine his eyes. “The simple fact of the matter is, he isn’t one of us. He will be ostracized already by his lack of a glow. Your family has suffered enough shame on his account, it’s a kindness really.”
His mother was adamant. “No, there will be no Sevra”
The scene faded again. Tharos felt a tear welling up. That had been the last time he’d seen her.
Tharos was dragged roughly out of bed, he only needed to see the soft blue glow ahead of him to know who it was. He was lead out of his room, and through his house, still in his sleep clothes.
“Where are we going father?” He asked timidly. There was no reply.
They walked along in silence, down through the cellar. Eventually he was thrown forward. He looked up, and realized he was surrounded by robed figures. In the center was the green eyed councillor. He looked coldly down at Tharos. “In the case of this… Thing. The council’s vote is unanimous. To preserve the strength of our society, it must be removed.”
Tharos couldn’t remember what words they’d chanted then, but as a pool of light began to open at his feet. He cast his gaze around for the familiar blue eyes. “Father! Please, I’m scared.”
Those cold eyes met his, and completely deadpanned he spoke. "You are no son of mine.
The daydream ended as he fell through the pool.
Tharos tried to keep down his anger, as he remembered his father’s face. Unbeknownst to him however his eyes started to ommit a flickering reddish glow. It lasted for but a moment. He brought his focus back to the conversation at hand.
Tharos quickly adopted his usual tone. “Well as I tried previously, I think the decision might be easier, if we knew a bit more about each other. Perhaps our individual motivations? Speaking of, I’m not sure we’ve yet heard good Rooks reason for being here.” He gave a slight smile.
“Never mind it would appear. The bandaged one believes himself a captain already.” He quipped.