Victor Cormorant

****V******ictor Cormorant**, or **The Snakebird**, is a legendary master carrier who lives in the Liberty of Gammerbund. He is the grandfather of Tasha Cormorant.

## Biography

### *The Thief Knot*

Emmett Syebuck asked to be put in touch with the Snakebird, and after trying to claim that he didn't exist, Mrs. Hakelbarend agreed to talk to him if she thought it would help. She decided to try to call his granddaughter Tasha, because the Snakebird himself probably would not take her call. When Marzana, Nialla, Emilia, and Meddy broke into Mr. Otterwill's file, they found that he had been recommended to teach by Victor Cormorant, a name that both Emilia and Nialla thought they recognized but could not figure out from where. Marzana then read *Stanton's Aviary* to try to find out about the Snakebird, and Emilia saw the word "Snakebird" at the top of the entry (which also mentioned cormorants) and realized where she'd known it from. Marzana had to go, however, and did not get to hear. She met Nialla and the two of them asked Mr. Otterwill some questions, and learned that he was staying with his great-uncle who had recommended him for the position. Marzana realized that Victor Cormorant was Mr. Otterwill's great uncle.

Marzana speculated about what Emilia could have realized, since she had pointed to the word "snakebird" and not "cormorant", wondering if Victor Cormorant was the Snakebird. When she met Emilia, the other girl confirmed this, and at the meeting of the Thief Knot she shared this information: Victor Cormorant was a very powerful carrier. They wondered if he had supplied the information needed to make the kidnapping happen. Emilia knew about the Snakebird because her father, Alexander Cabot, had also been a carrier. They then found out that Ezra Cormorant had worked on the Belowground Transit System. Marzana asked Peony if she'd heard the name Victor Cormorant. Marzana later told her mother how they had found out about Victor Cormorant, and her mother commented that Victor Cormorant had pointed them to the place where Peony had been found.

The Snakebird showed up to Hedgelock Court. He addressed Marzana's mother as Barbara, though he made it clear that he knew that wasn't her name, and it seemed silly to say it, but it was polite. He congratulated her for recovering the kidnapped girl, then asked why Marzana had asked Peony Hyde if she'd heard 'Victor Cormorant'. Mrs. Hakelbarend explained why that was perfectly legit: the students at Marymead knew something was wrong about Mrs. Agravin's absence, and had investigated Mr. Otterwill and found that he had recommended him. Victor Cormorant then (addressing Mrs. Hakelbarend as Violet) said that Tasha was doing well, and left with a threat that his name had better not come up otherwise.

Mrs. Hakelbarend supposed that Victor Cormorant had been a pawn, perhaps for the first time in his life, but still. Marzana later realized that Tasha Cormorant, Victor Cormorant's granddaughter, had orchestrated the kidnapping of Peony Hyde. She probably had all his information, and probably only a family member would be able to manipulate the Snakebird.

## Physical appearance

The Snakebird has a young-sounding tenor voice. He is tall and looks young like he sounds, wears a pale linen suit, carries a walking stick, and has a straw Panama hat.

## Personality and traits

Victor Cormorant is legendarily knowledgeable. He communicates his power with very little speech, in knowledge and threats, and seems aloof.