Tales of the Lorekeepers 01 - Rise of the Red Dragon

who shrank back. It had been a week since the stranger had first come forth. He had approached the advisor on a moonless night, infiltrating his tent while the old man was sleeping, undetected by the guards. Morghan had initially thought the stranger was an assassin sent by the enemy, but the mysterious man had started to talk about the war and Vortigern. He had given the old advisor directions and suggestions on what to do next. So far, everything he had predicted had come to pass, and it was partly because of this dark figure that they had been able to flee from the Saxon’s army. They had even been able to put some distance between themselves and the enemy.
    However, Morghan did not know the true intentions of the black-hooded man, and that made him particularly anxious. What’s more, he could not even be sure that it was, in fact, a man standing before him. For all he knew, it could be a demon sent to doom them all, or a spirit assigned to guard over them.
    Still, no matter what the real plans of the hooded man were, Morghan did not have any other options. He had to take all the help he could get in this time of unprecedented crisis. Vortigern was trying to be a righteous ruler, but he seemed destined to always make the wrong decision. His actions had caused nothing but grief and troubles for the Britons. Morghan would welcome any ideas that this stranger might offer that would give them the edge in this war.
    “The Saxons still think you are progressing north, to meet up with other divisions of your army,” continued the dark stranger. “It will take them a few weeks to realize their mistake and turn around.”
    “What about their scouts? Surely there must be a few of them following us and keeping Hengist informed on our movements.”
    “I’ve dealt with the scouts. Believe me, when they find them, no one will volunteer to take their place.”
    Morghan could not help but shudder at the thought of what this man was capable of doing. He would hate to make him angry, that much he was sure of.
    “Good,” he mumbled. “But what about our people, the villagers that the Saxons will meet? What about the army divisions stationed north, which will have to face them on their own, separated from us? They won’t stand a chance against these barbarians, especially after they find their scouts. They won’t be inclined to show any mercy toward our people.”
    The hooded man turned his hidden face toward Morghan. The advisor could feel the eyes of the stranger peering into his own, seizing his will with an iron fist.
    “Sacrifices must be made in times like these, advisor. You of all people should know that. The actions that your king will undertake in the coming days will help him solidify his position as the leader of his people. Follow my advice and you will obtain an overwhelming victory at Dinas Ffaraon, one that will send the Saxons scurrying back to their continent. It is what you desire, Morghan, is it not?”
    Of course it was what the advisor wanted: to save his people. When the dark man had first approached Morghan, it was with promises of handing him the throne, offering to overthrow Vortigern and put the advisor in his place, but Morghan was not interested in such a proposition. The Kingdom of Britain needed a stronger, more experienced leader, one that could unite the troop with his words and his military accomplishments. The advisor thought himself too old to be a good leader, preferring to work in the shadows of someone like Vortigern. The king was far from perfect, but he was not afraid to make bold decisions when needed. The last thing the island needed was another conflict, on top of the war they were already waging against the Saxons and the northern tribes. A war for the throne would only mean the end of the Britons.
    “The king has more concerns than he had previously shared with me,” said Morghan, trying to change the subject the best way he could. “As well as the Saxons, he is afraid of old, hidden enemies who could be plotting against him.”
    “Constantine’s sons.”
    “Yes, the brothers of Constans. We have not heard from them in many years, and Vortigern thinks they could take advantage of the situation to try and murder him, hoping to seize the throne for themselves.”
    “He must not be concerned with the brothers. If you follow my plan and listen to my every command, you will never have to worry about those two again.”
    The hooded man moved closer to Morghan, now only a