Tales of the Lorekeepers 01 - Rise of the Red Dragon

on the big tree in front of us. Do you see it? Good. Now put the arrow in your hand and pinch the string with your index and thumb. Relax your left hand. Just hold the bow, don’t make a tight fist. Now, raise the bow as you pull the arrow back. When the arrow is in line with your shoulder, align your sight with the shaft, aim the tip and gently release.”
    The arrow flew about ten feet before dipping and falling softly on the ground. Apparently, Samuel did not possess any unusual skills with ranged weapons.
    “Well, that was not so bad,” said Malloy with a friendly slap on Sam’s shoulder. “At least the arrow went in the right direction. Maybe with a little more training you could actually hit the target.”
    For a little while longer, they practiced shooting arrows at the trees, talking all the while. Samuel was glad to have made a friend in this harsh world. The thought of facing the many dangers of this world alone, whatever they may be, was enough the send cold shivers along his spine.
    When they realized that the army was almost ready to resume its march toward the mountain, they went back to Malloy’s tent to gather their things. A few minutes later, Malloy left to meet up with a group of soldiers who were waiting for him. Once again, Samuel found himself alone, but at least he knew that tonight he could stay with his friend again. Plus, he wanted to take advantage of his solitude to reflect on the events of the day, and possibly contact Angeline.
    As a group of loud archers passed, exchanging jokes and impossible tales, a frightening thought crossed his mind. What if warriors were not the only things from books that were real in here? What if other creatures, like the ones he had fought in his gaming sessions, were also real? Devilish monsters, each more terrifying than the other, looking to devour heroes like him.
    Suddenly, his pledge to be a man controlling his fears seemed almost impossible to follow.

    Later in the afternoon, after the morning fog had cleared and while the sun was still high in the sky, the Briton army finally reached its destination: the hills to the west. Upon arriving, the main body of the army was ordered to set up camp and wait for further instructions, while the king and his advisors, along with a small contingent of bodyguards, inspected the surrounding area.
    The region was rather dense and difficult to explore, filled with colossal boulders and surrounded by towering oaks and elms. On the ground, the slippery moss covering the stones offered little stability for the horses. A few cold streams cascaded down the side of the hills. Here and there, spiked speedwell spread violet petals among the trees, alongside magnificent yellow poppies.
    The riders’ progression through this forest was slow and strenuous, but they finally arrived at Dinas Ffaraon. The hill before them was steep and rocky, surrounded by sharp cliffs. It stood several hundred yards high and appeared to be three times as wide. At its foot, a few brave aspens brandished their leaves, but higher up the slopes, they were pushed aside by rocks and boulders. Streams ran down the hillside, becoming small waterfalls here and there, echoing along with the songs of a few hidden birds. It was a stern and beautiful place, austere yet majestic.
    “My king, this is the place I was talking about,” said Morghan to Vortigern. “Welcome to Dinas Ffaraon.”
    “You were right, my friend. This place is unrivaled for the construction of our fortress. With the help of God, it shall be a testament to our strength and determination, a majestic symbol that will stand for all eternity. In this place, we will defeat the Saxon army and honor our ancestors with our victory.” The king then turned to an advisor standing to his left. “Go back to the army. Divide the men into several groups and instruct them to gather the resources necessary to build this stronghold. We will need a lot of wood and many stones. Identify the masons and the carpenters within our ranks, and arrange for their transfer here. I want the work to be underway before sundown.” The king turned his other counselors. “The rest of you, come with me. We must reach the top of this hill and make plans for the fortifications we will build here.”
    The group slowly made their way up the hill, climbing around the trees and avoiding sharp boulders. The ground grew rapidly steeper, and their mounts had a difficult time finding footing. At last, it became