Rat

The Rat is a sneaky informer in the land of Marus who resembles the creature named in his title. Conniving and loyal only to himself, he approaches Kyle when the boy feels abandoned by the Unseen One and longs to go home. Rat promises a way back, taking advantage of Kyle's discouragement and missing sense of warning. His offer convinces Kyle to slip away from his tutor and leave only a note behind. The supposed escape leads toward a cottage connected with a woman who claims to speak with the dead, placing Kyle in the same danger as the desperate king. Rat does not earn trust through friendship or sacrifice. He uses private fears as leverage, offering exactly what a vulnerable person wants while guiding him toward a trap.