Tales of the Lorekeepers 01 - Rise of the Red Dragon

I was and where I was from.”
    Angeline crossed her arms over her chest.
    “Morghan is a veteran warrior and a wise man,” she said. “Maybe he just felt there was something odd about you.”
    “Maybe, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Just thinking about the way he was studying me, I still have shivers running all over. And when we parted, he said he was ‘looking forward to our next meeting.’ Do you think he meant anything by it?”
    “You could be right. I still don’t think he is the Yfel agent, however, simply because he is part of the original story, and always has been.”
    Samuel tried to shake off the memory of his meeting with the advisor.
    “What exactly is his role in the tale?” he asked.
    “Morghan usually plays a major role in the story. He’s the advisor who chooses the site of Dinas Ffaraon for the future fortress. He’s also the one who suggests they search for the boy in order to rid the hill of the curse.”
    Samuel sat on a boulder, careful not to rest on the damp moss that partially covered it.
    “If he’s already a character in the story and he hasn’t done anything different so far, doesn’t that mean he’s merely playing his part?”
    “Perhaps. I guess it could eliminate him as a potential character under the influence of the Yfel. What about your companions? Do you think the Yfel could have infiltrated your group?
    “I doubt it, but I guess it could be possible. I’m sure Malloy is genuine, and I’m confident that Darroch and Atwood are as well. Maybe it’s the movie fan talking, but I don’t believe any evil foe would talk that much and attract that kind of attention to himself. Freston, on the other hand, is rather enigmatic and keeps to himself. I guess he fits the stereotype of a bad guy.”
    “What about your leading officer?”
    “Kaleb? I don’t think so, but then again, he is sort of strange. He told us a story last night, about first impressions and how sometimes who you think is your enemy turns out not to be. Maybe he was trying to hint at something.”
    Angeline flew over to Samuel and sat next to him. Unlike the boy, she sat directly in the moss, opting for its comfort.
    “Well,” continued Angeline, “it sounds like our best candidate is still Morghan.”
    Samuel thought about the old advisor and they way he had looked at him. Although it was clear Morghan was a character in the story, something was strange about him.
    “Maybe he isn’t the agent, but couldn’t he be involved with the Yfel side on some level?” he said out loud.
    “I suppose it’s possible. But what do you mean exactly?”
    “Couldn’t the advisor be influenced in some way by the Yfel’s recruit?”
    “Hmmm. Maybe you are on to something. Your nemesis knows the entire legend, including everything Morghan is supposed to do and his exact role in the story. Unlike the Lorekeepers on the Virtus’ side, agents of the Yfel are told the myth in detail as soon as they step on Metverold, simply because they don’t care if they change something. It’s what they are here for.”
    “Well, that’s unfair,” Samuel pointed out.
    “I never said it was fair, but if I told you everything and you decided to act on one aspect you are not supposed to, that would defeat your purpose here. We would be no better than the Yfel. You can still defeat this nemesis of yours, Samuel. Have faith.”
    Angeline took off and flew in little circles around Samuel’s head.
    “I think I may have an idea of the role Morghan might be playing in this particular version of the story,” she announced. “Hear me out and think about it for a minute. What would be a better way to gain someone’s trust, if not by giving them ideas you know they will have by themselves anyway?”
    Samuel immediately understood what the fairy was getting at.
    “So, the agent reveals a plan to Morghan, which he claims is his own,” he said. “That way, the advisor can do nothing but agree, because in fact, it’s his own plan, which he simply has not come up with just yet.”
    “Exactly. This would be a sure way to take control of the legend. In order to do so, we have to assume the enemy is already very close to the advisor. By now, he may already have the old man entangled in his evil web. He is probably even threatening the advisor by now.”
    Samuel thought this made a lot of sense, but it did bring up another question.
    “So, if the agent has the advisor on a string,” he said, “what does he plan to do