Tales of the Lorekeepers 01 - Rise of the Red Dragon

laughing.
    “Well, of course they would, what do you think? However, they’re not aware that they’re playing out the stories again and again. It’s a little hard to explain, but most people in this world are simply not conscious that they’re actors, endlessly rehearsing the same play. And it has to remain that way for the sake of both of our worlds! I know this is very confusing, but in due time, I’ll explain more about the relations between our two universes.”
    “Please, don’t do it right now. My head is about to spin out of control,” said Samuel. “But I have to ask one last thing. Will I be able to get home soon?”
    Angeline paused to look directly into Samuel’s eyes.
    “Sammy, you will get home eventually, I promise. However, I cannot tell you when.”
    She pointed at his pockets.
    “The dice have chosen you, Samuel, to be the Lorekeeper, and the fate of both of our worlds rests on your shoulders. It is an honor to be selected, but also a very serious position to be put in. You must accept that you cannot go home right now. You have to perform your duty here first.
    “If you do not take your role seriously, you will fail and chaos will ensue. Our world’s safety is in your hands, Lorekeeper Samuel.”

CHAPTER 5

    Heavy clouds followed the Briton army for the entire day, filled with cold rain and casting dark shadows on the world below. Occasionally, a few drops fell on the men, a reminder that at any moment, nature could unleash a chilling deluge on their bruised and tired bodies.
    When their shadows stretched out behind them and the sun caressed the mountains’ crest, the men cleared a space in the underbrush and built a new camp in the heart of the dense forest. As they worked, wolves prowled around them, hoping to find injured or weakened prey to drag back to their den. The soldiers were remarkably efficient at building their temporary settlements, a skill they had learned from the Roman legions a few centuries ago. With thousands of able bodies working toward a common goal, the camp was completed within a few hours. Shortly after, dozens of bonfires were lit across the camp and the smell of cooked meat filled the air, followed by the laughter and chants of men enjoying a few hours of rest.
    Somewhere in this camp, unnoticed by surrounding merrymakers, a boy was sitting by himself. He was tired, alone and completely broken.
    Samuel could barely walk anymore. All day, he had followed the army and the soldiers, blending in with the crowd so as not to attract any unwanted attention. For hours, he had walked laboriously in tattered boots too large for his feet. By the end of the morning, he could feel the blisters on his soles. By mid-afternoon, the blisters were patches of raw flesh, burning with each step he took.
    The hardest part was following the hundreds of horses that preceded the common soldiers, leaving the ground furrowed from their hoofs. Each step was a battle to keep himself upright.
    The worst was that everyone else seemed to be handling the challenge just fine. On several occasions, he had paused to rest for a minute and gather his energies, but every time he did so, no one had stopped or even looked at him. Samuel had quickly realized he needed to stay with the group, or he would be left behind without anyone even noticing he was missing. The prospect of getting lost in this world had been enough to overcome the pain of his feet and the cramps in his calves.
    Alas, he knew that the pain currently paralyzing his body was not the only problem he was facing. For starters, he had not eaten anything all day, and his stomach was grumbling almost louder than the barking of drunk men around him. Then there was the cold. Already, he could feel the icy fingers of the night running up and down his spine. Without anything to cover himself, he dreaded the moment of the night when the bonfires would go out, and the men would be asleep in their tents. If the wolves around did not seize him first, surely the cold night would claim him as its victim.
    He suddenly realized that tears had rolled down his cheeks. Samuel quickly dried them off, before anyone noticed.
    “Let me guess, you don’t have a pelt or a cloak, do you?” asked a voice from behind Samuel.
    Turning, he saw Malloy, the man who had saved his life that morning. The warrior had his arms crossed on his chest and was looking at the young boy with exasperation.
    “Do you have anything to sleep in at all?” asked the