Chapter 4: The Winds of Change

　　Morgan sat quietly at the table, listening to the dry conversations that Lucille and her sister, Bel, tried to convey to each other. He kept his arms crossed like a vest and his hood tightly secured. Rightly so, as when he heard what that woman told him, he knew, from firsthand experience, that when someone talks about danger and does not rightly fear it, that this was suicide. He would have to wait for a better time, perhaps it may be linked to his own danger...

　　A waiter crept in to serve seafood, bringing with him a cart of food. He elegantly placed two plates of pasta on their table, and a refill of the flatbreads served to them earlier. Then, he neatly and competently dressed their fishes with a yellowish-green sauce mix, as well. He also placed a few orange beverages around.

　　Food was vivacious temptress, but Morgan wasn`t in the mood to eat. Information about these two women is fuzzy, and he was not willing to do anything that invades their space. Doing so would be against what he stood for. The questions he wished to asked were close to what he wanted to know. And perhaps that was what a journalist`s job was. At least, from what he understood from when Lucille interviewed him. She asked him so many questions, unfazed by his sloppy responses. It creeped him out a little, that someone was willing to pry him open.

　　Morgan noted mentally, "As long as my job is being performed well, I can gather more information&" He read the newspaper Lucille had given him. The latest edition had stories telling of many daily happenings. The front page was front and center. The story of capital punishment at the capital was as sensational as it gets, the second and third are not as well-known. An obituary for some people would show up, but the articles were filled with information about the dull moments of life and sometimes an illustration pops in. It was clear what these newspapers were most interested, and he would often talk with Roland or Lydia with such things.

　　"Unfortunately, this is as good as it gets." He muttered quietly. Once done reading, he put the paper down and stood up from his seat.

　　"What are you reading there, Morgan?" Lucille chimed in. She had a fork full of pasta dressed in a b閏hamel dress. "You haven`t touched any of your food? Their paellas are exquisite! You should at least try some."

　　"No thanks, darling." Morgan replied in a sort-of flirty way. "I`ve got something else I need to do... If you need me, just head to the guild on the western side."

　　"Morgan, could you please sit down here. I would like to introduce you to my sister." said Lucille, placing her fork down. "Morgan, this is my sister Bel. She works as a photographer, helping me with my articles. Just like the one you read. Did you know that I wrote the front page?"

　　Morgan responded with a silence. Lucille`s words made him think that she was proud of her work, and he didn`t want to ruin that moment. He nodded politely and sat back down.

　　"Make this quick, please. I haven`t got all night to talk to you two ladies."

　　Lucille giggled a little, while Bel stared with a ferocity at Morgan. Morgan noticed the stare, it made him a bit nervous. Bel had a pretty face, prettier than her sister, but that was not to say that he did not like Lucille`s looks. He looked back with an almost expressionless face.

　　"So Morgan, as I was saying." Lucille spoke up. "I work as a journalist along with my sister. We have not been feeling safe for a while, maybe a criminal unhappy with the way I portrayed them or something. Since you agreed to work as our protector, I`d like you to know that we plan to pay you for a good price."

　　"Price? I`m no commodity, darling."

　　"So, where did you two meet?" Bel suddenly spoke up. "You too seem like you`ve been getting along well."

　　Lucille suddenly stopped talking, and she sat on her seat pondering for a moment. Finally, Lucille spoke up. "We met somewhere by a bar. When I met him, he was breaking up a fight between two drunken fools."

　　Bel raised an eyebrow in surprise. "He did not do something to you or anything? No magic spells or anything?"

　　Lucille hesitated for a moment before replying. "No, not really. He said he was bored and that he agreed on doing it for free if it meant there was something to do. But, tell me. Have you seen those men again?"

　　Bel nodded, understanding. "That`s good to hear. It`s always important to have someone you can trust."

　　Morgan looked at her face. She seemed on edge, and definitely told a lie to her sister. Her cheeks puffed up in a way that reminded him of Lydia when she lied. But, she was different. There was gaze of suspicion that lay over him, like he was being warned not to do anything to them. She probably heard the rumors about him&Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

　　"So." Morgan spoke up, calmly fixing his prudent gaze to the two women. "I start doing the job tomorrow and it ends when the festival ends next week? If that`s the case, then we may need to build our trust in the group. I cannot state why, but this is important."

　　"Indeed, Morgan." Lucille calmly spoke. "However, in the case that we may need your services. We must make ourselves clear; Bel and I of course. You must call this number specifically."

　　She hands him an index card with a telephone number scribbled in. Morgan took the index card and examined it closely. He could feel the weight of Lucille`s words and knew that whatever was on the other end of that number was of great importance. He did not know why it felt like it, but the way that he viewed these two women. There something wrong with them. Something very, very wrong...

　　"Do not let anyone else that you trust have it, because if you do... It`ll have far reaching consequences that may tear this place apart." Lucille finished.

　　"What do you mean?" Morgan pressured, standing from his seat. "Is there something you haven`t told me yet? What`s with the secrecy?"

　　"Mr. Morgan, will you please sit down?" Bel spoke up. "You`re making a scene... This has nothing to do with you."

　　Morgan hesitated for a moment before sitting back down. He could feel the tension in the air and knew that there was something they were not telling him. All eyes were on him, and he did not like the feeling it gave him. Makes him feel like he had bought something that nobody cared about but when he did it suddenly mattered. He had a bad feeling about this whole situation and wondered if it was worth the risk.

　　"I understand that you may have your reasons for secrecy," Morgan spoke, trying to keep his voice calm. "But, I need to know what I am getting into. I do not want to be caught up in something that I have no control over."

　　Bel let out a deep sigh and looked at Morgan with a serious expression. "You are right, Mr. Morgan. We have not been completely honest with you. There are things going on in this town that are not for the faint of heart. Things that can put your life in danger."

　　Morgan`s heart sank as he heard Bel`s words. Lucille stared at Morgan. He could almost sense that uncomfortable feeling that reeked of those eyes. He knew that he had to be careful, but he did not expect to be in danger. "What kind of things?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

　　"This business has nothing to do with you."

　　The conversation with the two women continued far longer than he expected, and he never got an answer for the questions he asked. Morgan felt empty, and he spent the rest of the night strolling around as if he were a policeman on his beat. The path to the beach was not straightforward, and the winding streets of town seemed to try and enclose him within town. Morgan checked his surroundings, the dark figures kept hurrying towards him. Their identities remained unknown, but there was a sense of anxiety that gripped him like a wet sponge. Horrible. Carefully, he went down the stairs on the western port and ran to the beaches.

　　He kept running along the coast for a while, his dark boots leaving a hard reminder of his presence on the soft white sand, the moon shining its graceful white glow. It was as if he was living in the perfect moment, where he felt free from it all and not weighed down by life. The echoes of seabirds and the wind`s ballad sang of great change, and it was good. Morgan`s hood then unfurled itself, and laid the features of his sad face and pointed ears bare. His thoughts raced around like a horserace— at one moment he is thinking of his first impression on those sisters, the next was the pleasantries he received when he came back home, and the deep ponders that held his mind hostage.

　　At last, he made it to his destination. A shack was waiting for him at the end of the beach, and he knew it well. It was his secret hideaway, where he could be alone with his thoughts and emotions. Morgan stepped inside and took off his boots, feeling the coolness of the wooden floor against his bare feet. The shack was small, but it had everything he needed - a bed, a table, and a small stove. He lit a fire and sat down at the table, staring out the window at the endless expanse of the ocean.

　　Morgan looked up from his belongings as he heard the sound of whimpering at the door. Curiosity sparked within him, and he rose from his seat, making his way to the entrance of the shack. He opened the door, revealing a yellow Labrador standing before him, wagging its tail eagerly.

　　"Well, hello there," Morgan said with a gentle smile. "Did you track me down with my smell, Milou?"

　　The dog was happy and wagging his tail profusely, and Morgan rubbed the pleased dog silly. He laughed a bit, and then took out a piece of meat he`d smuggled from the restaurant earlier.

　　"Do you want it?" He said excitedly.

　　Milou barked in response, wagging his tail even more vigorously. Morgan laughed and tossed the meat to him, watching as the dog eagerly caught it mid-air.

　　"I guess that`s a yes!" Morgan exclaimed with a grin. "Well, you`re welcome to stay here with me if you want. I could use some company tonight."

　　Milou barked again, as if in agreement, and followed Morgan back into the shack. Morgan settled back into his chair, Milou curled up at his feet, and together they watched the waves crash against the shore under the moon`s watchful eye. It was a peaceful moment, and for the first time that night, Morgan felt truly content. Strange feelings embraced him, and Milou`s company helped him feel more welcome.

　　A man`s best friend is a dog after all, but he wasn`t Morgan`s best friend. A tall man with a great beard comes to mind. Morgan felt the breeze touch his hair, which flew along the wind`s cool breeze, and his earrings jingle. As he sat there with Milou, Morgan felt a sense of calm wash over him. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, letting the sound of the waves and the scent of the ocean fill his senses. He felt grateful for this moment of solitude and for the company of the loyal dog at his feet.

　　In the stillness of the night, Morgan`s thoughts began to settle, and he reflected on the events of the day. The more that he recalled his past, the more it hurt. But the present seemed more lively than ever before. The question of who he was still remained unanswered, Morgan thought. Marred by that single question, he ignored it for a while. As the night marched on, Morgan drifted off to sleep, still wrapped in the peaceful embrace of the ocean and the company of his furry companion. He knew that tomorrow would bring new challenges and new questions, but for now, he was content to simply be, to exist in the present moment, and to enjoy the simple pleasures of life.