Legacy 3

Mariya's POV

I put my cloak around my shoulders before I climbed on Rose from the wooden box I stood on. Briam's claws gripped my shoulder.

"Will you allow a guard to accompany you? At least until you reach Du Weldenvarden?" My father asked.

The elves looked at each other. "We will, but once we near Du Weldenvarden he must turn back." Veraias said.

Father nodded and left the stables. Not long later a guard came out from the castle and quickly saddled and mounted his horse. He nodded to the elves once he was ready.

"Keep her safe." My mother said, looking at both the guard and the elves.

"We will guard her with our lives, your highness." Rysha said.

"Thank you." Mother said. She gripped my hand before stepping back.

We rode off then, Briam holding onto my shoulder with all his strength. You can ride in the saddlebag if you want; I left one empty for you. I thought to him, hoping he could at least understand.

We rode until nightfall, and the elves made camp. I sat near the fire. "How long until he's big enough to ride?"

"Not until he is four months old, Mariya." Veraias said.

I moved a bit from the fire and lied down, trying to sleep. "Could one of you tell me a story?"

Celeril smiled, and began reciting a story about how the riders came to be. I fell asleep not long after she finished. In the morning, Rysha gave me a piece of bread. I ate it and thanked her. I looked to the east. "Are those the Beors?" I asked, pointing to the hill's in the distance.

Veraias nodded. "They are much larger up close." He said.

Connack handed Illia a piece of parchment. He smiled at her, the same smile I often saw father give mother. Are they married? I wondered. Connack then said something to her in what I guessed was the ancient language.

"Be careful in the Hadarac . If you follow the route, you should be in the dessert as little as possible and not run into any trouble." Veraias said.

Rysha nodded. "We will contact Queen Arya as soon as we enter Du Weldenvarden." She said. "Come, Mariya"

"We are not going to the Beor's?" I asked.

"After you fell asleep we discussed it and decided that two of us will take you to Ellesméra while the others take the other eggs to Orthiad." Rysha said.

I nodded and then we departed and headed north. When we stopped that evening, we camped on the southeastern border edge of Tüdosten Lake. Rysha refilled our canteen and took out the parchment. When I looked at it, it was a finely-drawn map of Alagaësia which included the new border of Surda.

"If we keep up our pace, we can reach Furnost by tomorrow morning. And Weldenvarden in a month." Illia said.

Rysha nodded. "What is your name, guard?" She asked.

"Lucas Tomsson." He said.

"You must hunt for Mariya, Briam and yourself." Rysha said.

Lucas nodded, and looked to the lake. He drew his sword and stepped in, and looked down at the water. He stood still, sword ready to stab a fish.

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As soon as he caught enough fish for the three of us he cooked them and we ate. I pulled the meat off of one fish and laid it in front of Briam. He ate it quickly, and looked for more. I giggled. "Alright, alright." I said, and took apart another fish and put it in front of him again. Once he was full, he lied on my lap. I yawned and lied back.

"I will keep watch tonight." Rysha said.

"If you get tired, I will take over." The guard said.

Rysha's POV

I looked to Illia when the guard and Mariya were asleep. "I do not trust this guard." I whispered.

"I don't either." Illia said. "We must keep a close eye on him."

I nodded and looked around to the Silverwood forest and over Tüdosten.

Mariya's POV

When we were on the western border of the Hadarac opposite Bullridge, I woke with a start.

Rysha looked to me. "Stay still and silent, Mariya." She whispered.

I looked to where she was facing, and held back a gasp. In the distance stood two man-like creatures. Something in me told me they were not human and very dangerous. Lucas cursed, and the creatures looked towards us. The elves slowly drew their swords, and moved in front of me. I pulled Briam closer to my chest.

The one creature moved forward, but the other stopped it. Not long after they left in the opposite direction. The elves stayed still for a long time, never letting their guard down. When they finally relaxed, Illia murmured a word in the ancient language.

"What…what were they?" I whispered, still afraid.

"Ra'zac." Lucas said.

"You nearly killed us, Lucas." Rysha said.

"It slipped from my tongue." Lucas said.

"We should leave in case they change their minds." Rysha said.

Illia nodded. "Come, Mariya." She said She said, as she began packing her blanket.

I got up, and put Briam in the saddlebag, he was just barely able to fit now, and looked at him when he looked at me curiously. Stay. I thought to him before closing the flap. He poked his head out, but otherwise he did not move. I quickly folded my blanket and tied it behind my saddle. Illia helped me on Rose and she mounted her horse. She took Rose's reins and tied them to their saddle horn. "Sleep if you wish, Mariya." She said.

I nodded.