Ralph and the Pixie

Finding the colour he desired, Haloch said, ‘I was quoting from manuscripts so old and forgotten that I doubt if any but a few of our Loremasters know of their existence. I do not know that Men still tell this tale themselves, but elements of it remain in their culture.

‘You have no doubt heard talk about the sort of Good and the Evil that Men believe in, that they speak of the great Power of Lore, and the sense of utter helplessness and frustration which accompanies it. In the tale, Bellandor himself agonized over the fact that no amount of Power could simply turn the world into a better place . . . that Power has a way of luring even the kindest and the wisest down roads where vision and judgement are of little use . . . roads that carry the traveller always to ever changing kinds of belief and thinking and seeing and feeling, that such a traveller is forever in danger of becoming lost to himself.

‘Such was Morlock’s fate. In his way, Bellandor fared little better, as doubt, guilt, and fear for the future were his only constant companions. But where Morlock was blinded by intentions which were wholly selfish, Bellandor began with a good heart, and so luck or fate was more in his favour than his brother’s.’