Thaddian had always been a thief, had always gotten himself into loads of trouble, caughte every which way and that doing the naughty things that the more wild bazaar brats do. He'd been young when Zingari leader Willimina had taken on his family and other refugees. Thad had always lived in the bazaar though. It was his home, and he knew every nook and cranny and hiding hole, or at least that's what he thinks. It'd been a turn or so since Navar had tapped Thaddian for spy training, and what a wonderful turn it had been! Thaddian could swear he's a better thief now than he used to be, and it's with this confidence that he slips out of a darkened merchant's stall, his rucksack bulging. He slinks to the shadows, eyes alert. After all, more danger than the guards resides here in Igen's seedy underbelly. Thad searches around the corners and shadows of the bazaar and decides that skulking here is a bad idea, he's alone, only his bootknife to defend himself with and with all the torches lit around the next bend, there are no shadows to hide in. So, he slithers up to the rooftops, making little noise as he goes. He may be quiet, but someone has something to learn about being unseen, as he makes a target of himself climbing up.

If Jhael wanted to be one of Willimina's spies he would be her best. Unless he wants to be seen, the dark young man is not. And unlike many, he has also learned how to disappear within a crowd by being visible in a way that people dismiss him without a second thought. His zingari roots show clearly when he tosses his firesticks up into the air, and catches them with obvious skill as they come back down. The role of entertainer comes as easy as breathing to him. Though he seems completely absorbed and focused on his task his eyes and mind are anywhere but on the whirling danger about his body as he watches. Thaddian gets noted and inwardly Jhael shakes his head. Willimina's little spies are beginning to bug him, the way they creep about so very poorly. (Yes, he knows there are better ones out there, but the bad ones make his teeth ache.) There is no pause in his performance as Jhael watches the little spy-thief make his way up to the rooftops. He must finish before slipping off.

Thad reaches the roof top and feels much better as the darkness of above swallows him in. He starts to make his way along the rooftop until a street display catches his eye. A young man sits on a corner displaying feats of illusion, making things seemingly appear or disappear. Thad stops to watch from above, admiring the fact that the young man robs his crowd blind without them even noticing. A red fruit is retrieved from Thad's pocket and he bites into it with a crunch, he may be a sticky fingered thief, but he really is a bad spy, standing there from above, leaving himself a target as he chews noisily on his fruit. If S'ayde was here, he'd be having a heart attack.

With one last flip Jhael finishes his display, and bows to the small crowd he has attracted. He chats with the women in the crowd, smiling easily at them, and making them feel flattered that the handsome young firetamer is giving them attention. It's work of moments for Jhael to pack up his act, now there are other things to attend to. Thad is an itch that he simply must scratch. Unlike the youngster Jhael climbs to the rooftops without a sound and completely out of sight. Noiselessly he advances on the young man, using his own sounds of chewing to slip behind him, a knife to his throat before he can protest he abrupt introduction to the Zingari's black sheet.

Thaddian chuckles at a stunt the young man below pulls and continues eating. He is not at all aware of Jhael's approach, so that when it happens, he's taken very much by surprise. Immediately he drops his redfruit and it rolls off the roof and falls to the ground below, though it doesn't seem to disrupt the crowd any. Thad's hands go to his throat, avoiding the knife and looking for the arm it belongs to. All of his self defense training flies right out of his brain and he yelps softly, thinking it might be one of the guard. "Oy now!" He says, voice low and strained. "Ye ain't got no right a grabbin' me ye' coward! On'y cowards sneak up from behin' like that. Wha's this all abou' anyhow?"

"Little boy," Jhael's voice is the kind that rings out from nightmares. It's hard as steel and without any amount of mercy or pity. "You are lucky I have not simply slit your throat already and left your body here to be found when the carrion birds come to roost." The knife presses against Thaddian's throat, only a hair away from piercing the skin. If he was to twitch the knife would find purchase. "You are one of Willimina's." Not a question, a simple statement.

Thad stops struggling, the bite of the knife when he swallows enough a warning to keep him from being a complete idiot. WHat was this??? Had anoter, bigger, stronger thief come to steal his haul??? The though angers Thaddian and he snorts. "I ain't no Zinger an' I don' belong their leader neither!" Thad says a bit desperately. Wasn't his fault his parents decided to stay on with the colorful caravan, the only cool part of it was spy school, and Thad would rather be thieving than skulking around and being a puppet, he only went to improve his cleptomaniac skills anyhow, and he's just smart enough not to admit he's one of Navar's spylings. "What's she got ter do wit' t'ings anyhow?"

"I've warned her. Perhaps it is time for something a little more direct." Those words should send a chill down Thad's spine, said as they are without any hint of pity, or response to Thad's questions. Stillness as Jhael ponders, before he makes a decision. "Yes, more than time." But not here, for Thad's cries would attract attention from below. "Walk youngling. You'll be useful tonight."

Oh Thad is chilled, plenty chilled. He swallows again, feeling the bite of that ever present knife. Wanred Willimina? Warned her of what exactly? And why does Thaddian have to be the example??? Jhael's silent stillness has poor Thad sweating, wondering if he might have just made a mistake coming up here, and chastising himself for being the biggest idiot. When ordered to walk, the teen does, praying to whatever energy is out there that he might be able to slip sway. Eyes dart around, looking for escape routes, knowing Navar had said something in the past about knowing where all your exits are. "Where we a' goin?" He dares ask.

"Shhh." Jhael says it calmly as he backs the teen upwards and then turns him about. His handling is brisk, poor Thad. If he tries to escape, Jhael will make him wish for his mother, and that he'd never learned to be a thief. This is the side Jhael hides easily behind his lies, the one that cares little for the pain of others. "To the alley way. It would be best is none could hear your screams."

Thaddian has no clue what Jhael will or will not do, and it is this uncertaintly that fuels the boy's need to escape. He allows himself to be backed up and moved around. Jhael's words send a chill down Thad's spine and he swallows. Now or never. 'Best if none can hear your screams….' The words bounce around in Thad's mind like a funeral dirge. No way is he going down that way! It's now or never! Thad kicks backward and then drops himself, earning a good gash along his neck from the knife as he does so. The blood seeps slowly as Thad stands…and bolts. He runs like a dragon is chasing him eager to eat him. Where is there aplace to decend??? WHere?? He looks around frantically, eyes not adjusting as well in the dark because of his panic. There! A little hidey hole, if he can get to it he might be able to hide it out until Jhael gets tired of looking for him. Maybe. He sprints, hoping to dear Faranth that he gets there before Jhael can find him.

Thad is fast. Jhael will give the young man that. But… Jhael is faster. He keeps pace with near silent steps behind the young man, allowing him to wear himself down before Jhael catches him. It's a game of cat and mouse, except that Thad never quite had a chance. As he goes for that hidey-hole Jhael ends the chase by slipping in front of him and sticking out a food to send the young man sprawling into the dust. Crouching next to him Jhael shakes his head slowly from side to side. "Sloppy youngling, sloppy. This is Navar's doing, isn't it?"

Thaddian becomes elated! He's going to make it! He puts in a burst of speed and runs for the hole….Only to find himself eating shingles as he trips over Jhael's foot and lurches forwards. Thad's chin hits the roofs and he can feel several of his teeth crack and break. He lifts his heads and spits detritus from his mouth, groaning as his chest explodes with pain. He may have cracked a rib or two going down. "I don' know wha' yer talkin' 'bout!" Thad croaks out, spitting the blood from a cut in his mouth out, adding to the pool that gathers from the gash in his neck. He tries to push himself up, tries to get up and get away again, but Thad can't breathe and if he can't breathe, he can't move.

"I'll take that as a yes." This is a side of Jhael that hides under his lies and pretty words, the side that is callously indifferent to human suffering. He doesn't use his knife, but instead his fist and boots to administer the beating that follows to Thaddian. The young man will be good for nothing for quite awhile after this, but perhaps it will make him be a better person?

Thad has no idea why this psychopath has it in for Willimina and Navar, has nothing to do with this problem whatsoever, but it is he who gets the beating. Out of air already because of the fall, Thad has no way to stand to protect himself and is forced to endure. One thing he and Jhael can agree on by the time it's over, is that he'll be useless for while. When all is said and done, the teen lays in a puddle of his own blood and mess, barely able to breathe and trying to choke down bile forcing it's way up. Barely concious he looks at his attacker and can only think: Why????

Jhael crouches beside Thad when the beating is done, resting his elbows on his knees. "I am sorry this had to be you. But this simply cannot continue. Tell Willimina that she will get her people killed next if it does. I am not the most dangerous thing upon this streets." Rising from his crouch Jhael walks away, leaving the poor pile of teen behind him to deliver his news to the caravan leader.

It takes quite some time for Thad to be able to get up, swimming in and out of consciousness. When he can get up, it's a long and stumbling journey back to the caravan grounds where he simply collapses in front of Willimina's wagon. He is found the next morning when one of the guards passes by. His message is passed along when he regains consciousness, though he doesn't stay awake long. He is then taken to a clean wagon, where healers are seen coming and going day and night. Willimina herself takes the reigns on this one, Jhael's warning heard loud and clear!!!