The Legacy of Myriad

Book Two:
Rise of Power

Author's Note

This is the second book in The Legacy of Myriad Series, so if you haven't read Book One: Mark of Wisdom, you may need to check it out before digging into this story, otherwise you'll be a bit lost!

I'm also posting this story differently than I posted Mark of Wisdom, which is chapter by chapter instead of uploading all of the edited chapters at once. So this will come a bit more slowly! In the meantime, if anyone has any questions or comments, please feel free to drop me a note, or just leave them as a review! Thanks so much everyone for being so patient!

GieGie

In Loving Memory
Debbie P.
1982-2018

Prologue

With the first of Dragmire's dark orbs destroyed, Ganondorf was retaliating against Hyrule itself.

His blows against the kingdom would come slowly, their impact not immediately noticeable. Yet the lingering effects would quickly culminate—and Roshala Village was the King of Evil's first target.

Lyonel packed his things in his satchel before making his way outside in the direction of the stables. The sun was only an hour away from rising, but soldiers from Hyrule Palace wouldn't wait, and the former royal guard moved with haste.

Loading his saddle with everything he could feasibly carry, he commenced with opening the doors of each horse's stall and led the animals out onto the road. There, he sent each into a gallop and took no time to observe them running free before returning to his own horse waiting at the post in front of his home.

Taking the reins, he patted the silver stallion's nose with the words, "It looks as if we're to be lone friends once more."

Mounting the animal only a moment later, his hooded head tilted to regard the home he'd lived in alone for so long now. With all his valuable belongings safe within his satchels, there was nothing left for him here, and soon, there would be no trace that he'd ever been around.

It was time to say goodbye.

Lifting his hand toward the structure, his palm began glowing red, the brightness growing in strength until a burst of fire erupted. Flying through the air in the direction of his home, it slammed into the front of his house and instantly engulfed the front wall.

With the windows exploding on impact, the fires began to lap at what was left of the abode as Lyonel delivered the same fate to the stables across the road.

Waiting just long enough to ensure both structures would eventually collapse, he then goaded his horse into a gallop, taking the west road leading away from Roshala Village.

As he rode, a small group of soldiers arrived at the top of the hill overlooking the now burning structures from a distance. One by one, they drew to a stop, regarding the flames as smoke rose high into the atmosphere.

"This was recent," one of the men observed. "He could still be close by."

Arden didn't respond, scanning the area beyond the flames and smoke just in time to spot a rider disappearing into the trees shrouding the west road.

Shaking his head, the captain scoffed. "Lyonel, you old fool."

"Are we pursuing, sir?"

"Of course we are, you idiot. But at a distance," he answered, explaining, "I want to know where he's heading off to."

"We do have the advantage, sir," another soldier remarked. "If he knew we were so close, he would've left earlier."

"Exactly," Arden confirmed with a devious smirk, then gave the command for everyone to ride.

Unaware of his pursuers, Lyonel didn't stop moving for quite a while, staying off of the beaten path in favor of taking roads less traveled. His current trail west from Roshala led the long way around Death Mountain and would eventually bring him to the Kokiri Forest where a race of perpetual children lived.

Thought to be the keepers of fairies, Lyonel knew the Kokiri merely got along well with the race of tiny fliers, knowledge that came after establishing a friendly relationship with them during his service to the former King and Queen. However, since their passing and Ganondorf's rise to power, the Kokiri had withdrawn from the kingdom.

Still, they remained friendly with those loyal to Hadinaru and Nissandra, meaning that if trouble came his way, it wouldn't be difficult to make anyone following him believe he'd cut through the forest to hide—not that burdening the Kokiri was his aim.

Instead, Lyonel had an entirely different destination in mind—Lake Hylia.

Ever since Link and Zelda destroyed the dark orb, rumors had spread like wildfire. Most people wanted to speculate over the source of the strange light seen above Death Mountain, and with the Myriad Stones working once more, several believed it was a sign that the Sages were returning to Hyrule, which wasn't entirely wrong.

Yet the more interesting rumors told of a resistance starting that was hidden along the shores of Lake Hylia and the Zora River, and some of Lyonel's personal contacts confirmed those rumors to be true. So for now, that was the best place to go, and it was simply a matter of taking the long way around to prevent anyone from following him.

Eventually, he turned east at the first stream available, riding through the gentle waters to hide his tracks in the hopes of making potential followers believe he'd gone toward the Kokiri Forest instead. Hours passed afterward with no sign of trouble, leaving his travels blessedly peaceful as he finally turned onto a familiar dirt path splitting in two directions.

Heading right would eventually lead to the heart of the Kokiri's domain, and left traveled to Hyrule Field.

Taking the latter option, Lyonel moved on in the hopes of gaining ground as swiftly as possible. Yet, as soon as he reached the top of the hill, he drew back on the reins, coming to an immediate stop at what he saw just ahead.

A Myriad Stone glowing softly against the midday sun.

He hadn't realized any of her stones were located in the area. Still, it was far from any centers of civilization, so Dragmire had likely overlooked it. Regardless, Lyonel approached the pedestal with his heart in his throat and dismounted, unable to pass up the chance to touch it despite his need for haste.

It was the first chance he'd had to speak with Myriad since her awakening, and he reached out slowly, letting his fingers gently contact the smooth surface.

Hood hanging low over his downcast face, he closed his eyes and spoke her name softly.

"Myriad … ."

Instantly, the surrounding area darkened, and for the first time in years, he heard her voice saying his name, her tone just as soft as his had been a moment before.

"Lyonel … I was hoping to hear from you soon."

Her words had his lips curving in a small, sad smile. "I wanted the same, though I don't have much time. Ganondorf's soldiers are likely on my trail. Rumors have recently spread through Roshala about many things, including the tale of a woman taken prisoner at the Temple of Time, which had to be Impa. She's also the only one who knew where I was hiding, and we both know Ganondorf possesses numerous ways to make people talk."

"Yes," Myriad replied. "Impa is resilient, but if innocent lives were at stake, she would try her best to safeguard them."

"She would," Lyonel agreed. "I can only pray she'll fare well in the meantime, and for as much as I wanted to hear your voice again, I also needed to tell you that a resistance is forming near Lake Hylia. So the next time you speak with Link, let him know that's where I'll be should he need anything."

"I will," she promised, silence ensuing her words as both knew their time was already up.

Still, Lyonel felt as if his hand was glued to the stone, and when he didn't immediately pull it away, Myriad added, "Go swiftly, my love, so that we might speak again sooner rather than later."

Taking a deep breath, he whispered three words he'd ached to say.

"I love you, Myriad. We will speak again soon."

Eyes still closed, a swell of remorse and anger had his fingers clutching the stone more tightly, as if he could reach into the Sacred Realm and free her through will alone. But he finally released it and mounted his horse again, abandoning the stone that served as his only means of speaking with his lost wife by goading the stallion off into a hard gallop.

Were it possible, he would've camped by it just to keep her company. But telling her of his love and promising to speak with her soon would hopefully bring her some form of joy after all her years of imprisonment—it was the absolute least he could do for a woman who'd sacrificed so much for so many people.

In the meantime, he'd keep his promise. He would not be caught on the way to Lake Hylia, nor would he fail to honor her sacrifice. He would help build the resistance and even lead it if necessary. Whatever it took to create a safe haven for those standing against the King of Evil until Link could end his dark reign for good.

A short while after his departure, Arden arrived with his men. Trailing his former comrade hadn't been easy—Lyonel had always been a slippery one. The fact made Arden grateful for his time spent in service with the Hylian. Those years had taught him a great deal about the way his former captain thought, and he managed to follow Lyonel's tracks right to the Myriad Stone.

Smirking, he scanned the heavy horse tracks leading away from the pedestal, remarking, "So, we're stopping to speak with the old ball and chain, hmm?" Chuckling, he mused, "She was a looker."

"Who was?" one of his subordinates asked in confusion. "Myriad?"

"No, the Queen," Arden replied sarcastically, rolling his working eye.

"Lyonel was married to Queen Nissandra?"

Arden exhaled low at the confused question, then glanced at the man and lifted a hand to crook his finger in the silent command to lean in closer. As soon as the soldier obeyed, the captain balled his fist and sent it sailing into his subordinate's jaw.

The blow knocked him out of his saddle, and Arden sneered down at his reeling form.

"You dolt! Don't speak unless spoken to!"

Quickly attempting to work his way back up, the soldier instantly complied with a subservient, "Yes, sir!" that Arden ignored.

Instead, he ordered everyone to move on, still curious to see where Lyonel was heading. Judging by how heavy his horse's tracks were, the Hylian was likely pretty far ahead, but it didn't matter. Arden was fully prepared to put every tracking skill he had to use—including ditching the fools accompanying him as soon as they reached Hyrule Field to prevent them from hindering his progress.

After all, his old friend had been attempting to misdirect potential followers since he left Roshala, which could only mean Ganondorf would be very interested to know his true destination.