Tales of the Lorekeepers 01 - Rise of the Red Dragon

few minutes ago, even as the thunder rolled over the mountains and they were still prisoners in this tent, awaiting their fate, Myrddin had kept humming and smiling. Up to this point, he had felt safe.
    However, his certainty was all gone now. Nothing was sure anymore and anything could happen, including their own deaths, if they were not careful. Probably for the first time in his short life, Myrddin felt what every human feels on a daily basis: the uncertainty of our lives, never knowing the time of our passing and what the future holds for us. Some people believe it is a blessing, allowing oneself to enjoy life to the fullest, living every day with welcoming hands and accepting every surprise that life throws at them. But for Myrddin, it was an unfortunate wave of reality, overwhelming for sure, and probably terrifying to him.
    “We’ll be fine, kiddo,” said Samuel, passing an arm over the young boy’s shoulders.
    “We’ll be fine ?” yelled Angeline. “How can you say that? You’re all stuck in here, while our enemy is making his move outside! If anything, we’re far from fine!”
    Samuel looked at the little agitated fata and frowned heavily, inclining his head toward the scared little boy. Myrddin as well was staring at Angeline.
    “I mean, of course we’ll be fine!” corrected the fairy. “There’s nothing to be scared about, really, we’re all heroes here, and one of us is even a wizard. We should be able to find a solution. I hope.”
    Naturally, the words of Angeline failed miserably at reassuring the young boy. To make matter worse, just as she stopped talking, a shriek was heard by all four of them. The scream appeared to come directly from under their feet, from within the hill itself. It lasted for nearly a minute, before things returned to normal again.
    “What the hell was that?” asked Samuel.
    “That would be one of the dragons,” answered Myrddin, his face now pale.
    “My God,” said Ambrosius. “He has actually done it. He has found the dragons, and now the fool has loosed them upon us.”
    Screams and shouts erupted from outside the tent, the guards yelling orders and instructions at each other. Shortly after, Samuel and his companions heard swords hitting swords, barely fifteen feet away. The brawl went on for a minute and then it was quiet again, except for a final complaint by the unfortunate side.
    Ambrosius grabbed the first item at hand, a heavy metal cup, and raised it above his head, ready to hurl it at whoever crossed the tent’s flap. Myrddin hid behind Samuel, along with the little fairy, who was clinging to the boy’s hair as hard as she could.
    The door of the tent flew open and Malloy appeared inside, followed quickly by Uther and the rest of the rescuers.
    “Brother!” exclaimed Ambrosius.
    “Before you chew me out for not following your plan,” said Uther, “we had better get out of here without wasting a moment.”
    “Am I ever glad to see you, brother!”
    Myrddin ran toward the newcomer, throwing himself into his arms. Uther lifted the young boy, looking at Samuel and Ambrosius. Malloy walked over to the Lorekeeper.
    “Are you all right?” he asked.
    “I am, but we can’t stay here. We need to hurry before it is too late.”
    “I know. Uther told us about Vortigern’s plan to free a couple of dragons. We have to hurry and get off this cursed hill. Hell is about to burst open on this place, and we need to be as far as we can from it.”
    “No! You don’t understand,” cut in Samuel. “We have to find a man first. I don’t have time to explain, but trust me, we cannot leave before we stop him. He’s going to kill the red dragon and we must prevent it at all costs!”
    Malloy, Uther and the others who had come in to rescue their friends looked at the strange boy, trying to make sense of what he was saying.
    “I don’t fully understand it either,” said Ambrosius, “but I trust this young lad. Tonight I have witnessed many strange things and learned a good deal about the forces that surround us in this world. This boy speaks the truth, Uther. I believe him.”
    “Then so do I,” Uther said. “What do you propose we do now?”
    Suddenly, the hill shook so violently it knocked everyone to the ground. Before they could understand what was happening and get back on their feet, the colossal tent fell over their heads, trapping them in heavy folds of damp and soiled fabric.

    On the eastern side of the hill, where, just a couple of hours