Author's Note: This fic is meant to tie into the Zeldanime webcomic. Familiarity with the comic is not required to enjoy this fic, but it is highly recommended
Chapter 1
The Sword and the Mask
Near the western border of the kingdom of Hyrule lay the rolling vineyards of the Otten family, an old but small family of lesser aristocrats who spent many generations perfecting the art and craft of the vintner. Despite their established status, the Ottens could not be said to hold much influence except at the dinner table, where the emblem of crossed swords over a grapevine laurel guaranteed that the contents were a product of their considerable skill.
Miles, the youngest member of this worthy family, dismounted from the carriage that brought him from the military academy in Calatia and looked up at the aging manor that he called home. He was by all accounts a model specimen of the Hylian gentry: trim, straight-backed, clear-skinned, neatly-groomed, and finely dressed.
A pair of servants opened the doors for him and he exchanged enthusiastic greetings with his parents. They retired to the parlor with a bottle of dessert wine that he brought back from the academy, and while he told them of his time abroad they all sampled the drink and agreed that while nice, it couldn't compare to what their grapes could produce.
Sir Sigurd Otten relaxed in his chair as the conversation started dying down and laid his walking stick across his knees. He smiled as he thought that his son might one day be leading armies rather than fighting in the rank and file.
"So lad, what are you going to do that you're back? No doubt you'll be summoned to serve at court when the king learns of your newfound education. Most lads your age want to be knights or adventurers, not a lot of competition for officers these days."
"I dare say he will be summoned to court, but not because of his ability to make war," argued Lady Olivia Otten. "Those fencing lessons and officer school might impress the men, but what this kingdom needs more than ever is someone who knows courtly etiquette and how to properly manage their underlings. And thanks to me he has those qualities in spades."
She ran a hand through his light brown hair as he looked down into his glass with a carefully neutral expression. He loved his parents dearly, but the obligation to elevate the family name weighed heavily on him at times. He wouldn't mind it quite so much if his parents didn't have conflicting ideas about how to best go about it. He sometimes regretted that he didn't have any siblings.
"What's he going to need all that for? With Ganon trying to start trouble I say we need a hero and commander more than anything."
"I'll tell you what he needs that for. The king has only a single heir and an urgent reason to make sure that number is doubled. He's not going to let some unwashed libertine carry on the royal line now is he. Besides, Miles and the princess are only two years apart."
Miles put down his glass. "Actually, I was planning on taking up her request for a bodyguard."
He took a weathered piece of parchment from his pocked and unfolded in so they could see. It advertised that Princess Zelda was offering the position of her royal protector to anyone who traveled to the capital and bested her in single combat.
"I was declared champion in the academy dueling club. I'm confident can best just about anyone in a fair fight."
His parents looked at each other uncertainly, then turned back to him.
"You didn't hear about it then?" his mother wringed her hands.
"Hear about what?" his heart dropped.
"Someone else already won."
A silence descended on the room. Miles took a deep breath. So that was it then. His one chance to satisfy both his mother's desire to get close to the princess and his father's desire to get some sort of high-ranking military posting. Gone.
"Who?"
"A traveling adventurer of some sort. His name was...Slink, or something like that." his father explained with a sour tone. He had very clear views about adventurer's role in the world and it didn't include royal patronage.
"It's a travesty really." his mother said, "Letting just any vagabond who can swing a sword get that close to her highness. I heard that they didn't even let any of the knights compete! I'm sure any of them could be up to the task."
"A travesty." Miles agreed quietly. After a moment he stood up. "I think I know what I'm going to do next."
"What's that Miles?" his mother asked rather worried. She rarely heard her son use that tone.
"I'm going to show this 'protector' what real swordsmanship is."
In a moonlit clearing in on of Hyrule's darkest forests, a robed figure stood waiting. His dark robes and gloves seemed to make the rest of him fade into the shadows, seemingly leaving a gleaming, face-obscuring white porcelain mask suspended in midair.
He shifted imperceptibly as a number of moblins entered the clearing, each wielding a weapon whose points or edges gleamed dangerously in the moonlight. The largest one, easily seven foot tall, stomped up to the masked figure and said, "You've got a lot of guts, coming back here after what you pulled Seele."
"As thrilled as I am to see your porcine countenance again Othrac, I didn't come here of my own accord. Your master summoned me." Seele replied levelly.
"That he did. But I don't think he'll mind if we beat a little payback out of you for running out on us first." His companions, six of the meaner moblins he'd seen, stepped forward and brandished their weapons and grunting at the chance of spilling some blood.
If Seele's expression changed, they didn't see it. He waved a hand and there was a flash of light. A dark fire enveloped the approaching moblins and they squealed and ran about slapping at their clothes in vain as they tried to extinguish the magical fires that engulfed them. Othrac stared on in mute horror as he saw his fellows succumb to the black flames and collapse to the ground in piles of ash. He felt a hand on his arm.
"On to business then?" Seele asked as if nothing had happened. Othrac hefted his axe, then thought better of it.
"Lord Ganon wants someone taken care of: the princesses new 'protector'. Kill him, and Ganon's willing to overlook that you didn't hold up your end of the bargain last time." He shook Seele's hand off.
Seele crossed his arms. "And what's to stop me from refusing and going back into hiding? It's not as if I need his forgiveness."
"Perhaps this might entice you?" Othrac smiled. Everyone had a weakness, especially Seele.
He pulled something wrapped in cloth from his pouch. He unfolded it to reveal what looked like a piece of eggshell about the size of a knuckle bone. Seele held it in his palm and shuddered as he felt the power in a fragment even this size run up his arm.
"You can have that now, and the rest of it when the job's done." Othrac said smugly. He looked forward to watching the sorcerer squirm as he struggled between self-preservation and greed.
Seele hesitated. It was entirely possible that it was a trick, and Ganon wasn't as forgiving or desperate as the situation would suggest. On the other hand, if he did have the rest of it...even the little fragment was an unexpected windfall. It wasn't as if the artifact was of any use to Ganon, he lacked the patience and finesse to fully realize its potential. But even so, he wasn't just going to give it away like that surely? And yet, when was he going to get another opportunity to collect another piece...
"I...I'll do it," he relented, "but I have to be allowed to do things my way."
"But of course." Othrac smiled. It unsettled Seele somewhat.
"If Ganon's desperate enough to re-recruit me, then that means a frontal assault won't work. I'll need time to assess the situation and plan the best method of removal. All that will take time." Seele said.
"Take as much time as you need. There's just one catch."
"Of course there is." he sighed.
"Lord Ganon's patience is not infinite. If he's able to get rid of the boy before you do, then the deal is off, and I hope you've got a good hiding place then." he held his axe up so the moonlight gleamed over the razor sharp blade.
Seele sighed, deeper this time. "Not a moment to lose then is there?"