Legacy

Chapter 2

Two days later.

Ashar waited in the dusk light, the forest was clear here, before him was a small hill, looking around he could see that the trees receded uniformly around the base. Whatever was before him within the hill, it was exceptionally powerful. Mae stood before a grouping of rocks, the light wind whistled through them as she recalled the last time she was here, her father had brought her to this very spot, it was the first half of his last journey. She remembered the tired look in his eyes, something that had not left him since her mothers death. She closed her eyes against a gust of wind and the memory.

The rocks parted with a slight grinding sound. Her mental call answered by the guardian of the pool. Mae motioned for Ashar to approach before walking into the cavern.

Mae observed the globe of light that stood out from the wall on stalks, these were everywhere in the complex, there was simply no need to carry a torch in this place, Mae's hand ran against the wall, its intricate carvings guiding her hand in swirls where she let them.

Greetings young Leander, you have been too long from this place . The voice of the guardian reverberated around Mae's mind, no matter the defences she in place, this alien voice still managed to get through "I came because you called me, not through any desire on my part. The land here is cold and unforgiving to someone used to more Southern climates." She said into the corridor.

Laughter echoed in her mind in reply. Mae reached the halfway point in the corridor, a door to her right was closed but still free, even after all the years. Mae opened the door with slight trepidation. Over one hundred years had passed since Mae had last stepped through into this room, its oval table exactly as she remembered it, not even dusty after a century of disuse.

Ashar walked in, he looked about as if trying to search out a potential foe. Mae picked up a couple of chairs that were neatly stacked in the corner.

"Sit down Ashar, you're safe here. No one will hurt you here."

Ashar sat in the chair his companion indicated. "I feel power here Mae, like nothing I have ever felt before. I'm not sure I like it."

Mae nodded, although used to it, from previous visits, there was still something about this place that made her uncomfortable.

"It'll get better with time Ashar, I promise."

Ashar nodded but said nothing.

Mae moved to one of the four doors in the room, two were bedrooms, the other was a kitchen and bathroom arrangement. Mae moved to the master bedroom, it had been her fathers on her last trip here, it seemed odd that she was now the holder of the title, even after all these years, and that this room was hers. She pushed the door open, two small globes of light lit the room in a soft pink haze, a large bed made up the centrepiece, must like the one she had slept in in what was her room, a small table and cupboard finished off the compliment of furniture. Above the bed hung a seemingly oversized breastplate, its inky black colour highlighted by the globes luminescence. Mae knew from what her father had told her, that the armour moulded itself to its owner, but was content with her own for now.

Mae walked back into the central room again, Ashar still looked uncomfortable, but at least had stopped fidgeting.

"Ashar, I recommend that we sleep now, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. I'd love to be able to tell you what lays ahead, but I can't - because I don't honestly know."

Ashar studied her carefully before replying, "As you wish, I assume that there are other quarters?"

Mae nodded and pointed to the other door, "There are, the bed will already be made, though don't ask me how or by who." Mae shrugged.