Legacy

Chapter 10

Mae woke slowly, her senses alerting her to a closing danger.

Looking around in the low light of dawn, she saw that Mirage too was awake and looking about the camp for this unknown threat.

Ashar sat squat, his head fixed in position, his hand resting on the ground beside his sword.

Without words both Mae and Mirage silently made their way toward the ancient elf.

Across the stream, was a human in black, Mae studied the formless clothing that he wore then looked over to Mirage, who nodded. This was the enemy. The steep bank would protect them to a degree, but it was questionable whether it would completely conceal them.

Mae closed her eyes and sent out a mental probe around the area, beyond that one by the river, she felt no others.

Ashar watched her intently as she did so, feeling an ever so slight sensation of power being emitted by her.

A questioning glance by him as she opened her eyes was enough, she nodded and pointed away from the stream. Mirage saw the motion and nodded, slowly, the three withdrew from the edge of the bank, collecting their belongings and hiding evidence of their passing, they drew back into the forest.

After a few minutes, Mirage whispered "I am to assume that this way is safe for us?"

Mae nodded but said nothing.

Continuing to whisper, Mirage said "And why did we not attack this individual?"

Ashar whispered the reply "I am tired, and neither of you two are fully awake yet, there is the possibility that that lone soldier would be missed, alerting them to our presence."

"And besides," whispered Mae, "you yourself said that normal weapons were not effective against them. Most of the abilities I could employ against him would make an awful lot of noise."

"I guess there are limits to your powers after all." Whispered Mirage with a small smirk.

Mae ignored the barb for what it was, but replied, "No ones power is infinite, not even mine."

"One thing bothers me though." Ashar mumbled, "We are a only day away from Fort, still well within her borders and patrol routes. And yet there is a scout that would appear at least, to be Darkmass."

"It would seem they are getting bold to come this close, even my people avoid the fortresses of man." Nodded Mirage.

Mae placed her hand on Ashar's shoulder and whispered "Guide me", then closed her eyes.

Mirage looked at Ashar and the half elf and asked "What?"

Ashar turned and replied in hushed tones "She is seeking to see where the soldier is, and perhaps where we are in relation to the young lord, her gifts allow her to... feel... others at a distance. She has done this many times, but she must concentrate in order to do it, and close her eyes if she is not to become disorientated."

Mae's mind hunted out the soldier they found earlier, he had located the camp, but was otherwise not concerned with the former inhabitants, as he left the way he came, further, there were dark elves plotting their next move after suffering a similar loss to Mirage, further still, two pathfinders were following the trail of someone who had passed through, then, there, right on the periphery of her senses, she felt Mithrilaxe, his camp was packing up and headed out for the same location they were.

Mae's eyes opened after a an hour or so passed.

"Well?" asked Mirage impatiently.

"Our camp was apparently of little consequence to the soldier, there are a band of your kin about five miles to the south of us. A few trackers, the young lord is unharmed, and we have covered almost twice the distance that he has. And finding that out, has given me ever such a slight headache." She smirked.