Chapter Text
Mordecai huffed and adjusted his collar, pale fingers deftly wrapping a scarf around his shoulders.
“You should not be lecturing me, Dakestra. I know very well what I am doing.”
A final tuck and pull, and satisfied in the form he made in the mirror, Mordecai pulled his hood up. Back from the somewhat dusty, silver-edged mirror, stared his own pale, gaunt visage. Coppery hair framed a narrow face, and he was somewhat vainly proud of the meticulous small braid he’d worked his beard into. Deep-set eyes shone in the dim light of the small room the aasimar called his quarters. Mordecai turned away from the mirror and faced his mentor.
The shorter, more obviously human man bristled. “As long as you’re within the jurisdiction of this temple, you’re-”
“Your lesser. Yes. You have made this abundantly clear.”
Dakestra’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“Master,” Mordecai reluctantly added and lowered his eyes. The honorific almost made him gag as he pushed it through his teeth.
Temporarily satisfied, Dakestra nodded and folded his hands out of his voluminous sleeves. “Be as it may, here are the details for your upcoming assignment.”
Mordecai extended his hand and snatched the scroll. Without a word, he broke open the seal and began scanning the letter feverishly, eyes flicking back and forth.
The mission itself was of little importance - contract fulfilment to a lesser ally of their organization, but who had gone missing in strange circumstances. What was of most importance to him was the location.
He would finally get his chance without pulling the leash too far. A smirk rose to the surface, which he quickly concealed. A plan was starting to form. Pieces were falling into place, and with what he’d made from another mission, he could finally buy a vial of the poison he’d been wanting to get his hands on for a very special someone.
Dakestra made an impatient noise. He had refolded his arms and was gently tapping his foot against the stone floor.
Mordecai resisted the urge to sigh, and simply looked up with a nod. “Yes. I believe I might need to purchase something for the road, but after that I will be on my way.”
His mentor flashed a wry smile. “Mind you, that you will be joined by two others on this mission. Handle the fulfilment as you wish.”
“Of course,” the aasimar murmured and bowed, if a fraction less deep than was expected in this situation. Before his teacher could protest, Mordecai pushed past him, and grabbed his walking cane as he walked through the doorway to the hallway beyond.