Nezzar

Part One: Do Me This Favour

Hazael settled upon the floor pillow next to Daniel and stared at the platter of fruits, bread, cheese, and vegetables upon the low table before them. His lips twisted in distaste. "We do not make it painful."

Daniel frowned, his hand pausing over a bowl of mixed roasted nuts. "Are you lost?"

"When we place tongs in the nose of the cattle we herd, we do not pierce the skin so it is not painful." Hazael lifted his eyes and stared at Daniel's profile. He took in his pale blue eyes, ruddy complexion, curly locks, and general sickening bright appearance. The corners of his lips dipped at the corners. This hate he felt wasn't his but he bore no desire to fight it.

"What do you want?" Daniel asked, before resuming eating.

It was evening, a time when their tables were heaped to bursting with all kinds of delicacies yet Hazael could not summon a puff of appetite. Since Marduk borrowed his eyes that one time weeks ago, everything felt pointless in comparison to his assignment. He was even beginning to lose his desire to find his sister.

Ziram and elevation in the Babylonian Court were the reasons he submitted to Marduk's control in the first place. But Marduk had other plans. Since that night Hazael tasted true blindness, Marduk had not felt the same. His presence was fleeting, weak. And there was anger too. The heavy bitter type that gave Hazael nightmares. Marduk wanted– no–needed Daniel dead. In the past, he only possessed a passing hatred for the boy but now, the hate was the acidic ugly type that turned his stomach.

But Hazael bore it down, choosing to hold on to the dying embers of concern he had for Ziram. She was somewhere out there in Babylon.

"There is a tong in my nose but..." Hazael clenched his fist and waited. No sense of Marduk's presence came. Releasing a long ragged breath, he unclenched his fist and wiggled his fingers. "Where I am led, I must go. But it is only for a while. Soon, I shall be free and most powerful." His sense of pride trickled back in as he spoke. "It would be in your interest if you fall in my favour before that time comes."

Daniel paused his chewing then turned to face Hazael fully. His raised eyebrow disappeared beneath the thick brown curls hanging over his forehead. "Please, state your business."

Again, there was that feeling of someone present with Daniel, someone Hazael couldn't see but sense. Hazael scowled as that now familiar kennel of fear flared to life. There was something unusual about Daniel. Swatting his worry aside, Hazael powered through.

"I have a fa–" Hazael paused, his fists clenching upon his thighs. "I understand you and your companions were selected to go beyond the school walls to explore the city. I–"

This was the part where his pride took a beating. Exhaling, he pressed on. "Can you ask Ashpenaz if he has any information on a certain captured princess from Kedar? Her name is Ziram; she is five. I–"

Just then, Daniel's three companions joined them at the table. The focus of the one they call Mishael immediately fell on Hazael. Hazael returned his gaze with a small satisfied smile.

Scowling, Mishael settled at Daniel's right. "What do you want?" Unlike the rest, he was larger and more outspoken, and he talked as if his entire body was speaking too.

"My business is not with you." Cooly dismissing him, Hazael returned his attention to Daniel. "All I need is the address she resides in. She is my sister." Pulling the wide sleeve of his robe up to his elbow, he exposed the tattoo of a full moon and star. "She possesses one too."

Daniel's eyes moved from the tattoo to his face. "Why should I help a person who so clearly hates me?"

Hazael shrugged as he stood. "If you help me, you are helping yourself."