Rise of the Champions - Chapter Ninety-Six

Author: Milady Dragon


"Well," the woman sat back in her chair, "it looks like you have a job."

Loki barely contained the smirk that wanted to display itself. It had been ridiculously simple getting a position at the traveling show, once he had disguised himself and manipulated events in order to make such a position available.

Hydra had known much about the Dark One, and Catherine Hale had delighted in sharing her knowledge with Loki, as if she was attempting to prove herself the better person by her acts of braggadocio. Loki had feigned being impressed as he absorbed the information she was imparting in such dribs and drabs that was designed to keep him interested and in line with her aims, even as she was keeping the man's true name from him.

Those plans had not worked out so well, to be sure, given that Hale was now a prisoner of the Wizard's Guild, along with the rest of her failed Hydra cabal.

One of the many tiny items of information Hale had shared during the weeks Loki had been in her company had been the names of the Dark One's cohorts. Imagine his surprise when he'd been informed that one of his former slaves, the mercenary known as the Hawk, had been one of those cohorts! Loki had only wanted the Hawk for his fighting skills, not his knowledge, and had not asked personal questions of the Elf's associates.

In the light of that revelation, Loki had figured out why the Dark One had challenged him…because he had taken one of the Dark One's own. This made much sense.

Hindsight is, of course, the clearest sort.

Hale had done a little research on the Hawk as well. Hydra had had many ways of discovering secrets; Loki wished he had had access to that sort of ability, now lost as Hydra no longer existed. Which was a shame, as it could have been of so much use.

Still, he had gained a few insights on the man known as the Hawk, although at the time it had actually mattered very little to him. Which now he knew had been a mistake. Loki hated making mistakes, although he could admit to himself that he'd done so.

And one of those insights had been that, as a child, the mercenary had performed within this very traveling show as the Amazing Hawkeye.

Loki had been surprised, and had doubted it; however, much of what Catherine Hale had imparted had had the ring of truth to it. So, when Hydra had been at last defeated and the valley taken, Loki had chosen to hide amidst the very people who had once raised a young Hawk, seeing the irony in the situation and enjoying it very much.

Laura Barton was smiling. "We're lucky you came along when you did," she said. "When our last illusionist quit…"

"I am glad I checked, then," Loki simpered, his assumed voice sounding strange in his head. "I'll be honest…I hadn't considered a traveling show until I saw yours."

Laura Barton cocked her head. "Then why now, Mistress Amora? I'm curious." Her eyes were quite discerning.

Loki was going to need to stay on his guard with this one.

Taking on the form of a woman was, for him, an old trick and yet one that always seemed to be successful. He had managed to fool many a one who should have known better, and in this place there was no one who should have done. As Amora, he felt perfectly safe.

"I've always believed in broadening one's horizons, and this seemed as if as good an opportunity as any. Besides, I think I have something to offer." He gave her a winning smile, brushing a lock of his blonde hair out of his face. "I don't really need the coin. But I'd like to try my hand at entertaining."

Sleipnir laughed in his mind, and it was all the Wizard could do not to do the same outright. Playacting could be such fun, despite the reason he had to do so. He reached down and stroked his dragon's head, green and black scales hidden behind his own Illusion spell, scales now completely emerald in hue. The spell was a simple one, even with his own magic so compromised, and would have no problem keeping both his and Sleipnir's disguises intact.

The woman was looking at him closely, and Loki relaxed even further into his new persona. It would take someone with much more discernment to catch onto him, although he knew he would have to be cautious. He could not afford to give himself away, not with the current search for him ongoing.

Staying in the Western Lands was most certainly a risk, however Loki believed it was the best one to take. By now, surely the government would have a watch on the ports of exit from the country, as well as the borders. And, while he was certain there were places he could slip through and escape, taking that chance did not seem worth it, in the Wizard's estimation. Lying low, as these uncouth people called it, seemed to be the best solution, until such time as the search flagged on its own.

Until that time, he would stay with the same traveling show that had once housed the Hawk himself, and see what sort of mischief he could raise until boredom once again set in.

And, as Amora the Enchantress, a humble illusionist and Mistress of Magic, there was much mischief Loki would achieve.