Prologue

"Travel with all possible haste, my dark child," The voice said, as dark and cold as a midnight snowstorm. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once in this place where the world of the spirits intersected with the world of the mortals. "You will find the stone passed the Gerudo Wastes and through the Hill Country of Merr. It sits on an altar atop the highest mountain of the Avakarat Ranges. It is protected by the Zarda tribe so take three fists with you, at the least."

"I'll not fail you, my lord." Zir replied, anxious to leave this strange place as soon as he could. It was within the dank recesses of a sea cave, the pinnacle lost in the darkness high above him. Bat guano covered every inch of black rock, and further down where the waves crashed in and echoed angrily black Narseals with long, spiraling tusk's lazed upon the rocks, barking into the darkness. His master's voice ushered from a dark pool, deeper than he would dare imagine. The water was so black that it could be easily spotted in amongst the lesser shadows of the cave, standing out like some evil omen.

"See that you do not, Zir. With this stone I can once again enter the living world and exact my revenge on all that wronged me. The bloodline of the Hero of Time has dwindled and died; there will be none that can stop me."

"I will see it done my lord." Zir said, twitching his long whiskers. He was a feline demi-human, walking as straight and tall as a man but having the appearance of a fierce tiger with red and white stripes.

"Good. Leave at once. It is a five week journey if the weather is good, seven if it isn't." The pool then swirled and his master's voice faded out, echoing for a moment as it disappeared.

At hearing this his brother and lieutenant Arck let out an exasperated sigh. He was feline as well, but he was white with black stripes. He stood next to his other lieutenant, a rare breed of bird demi-human. Vwalir was his name; he was tall, with the head of a bald eagle and the muscles of a blacksmith. Vwalir never had any expression; he was forever intent, his eyes and ears never missing a thing. He had developed a habit of always keeping one hand on the haft of his battleaxe, strapped across his broad back. Scouting would be much more helpful if he was born with wings. He thought, not for the first time. While sitting around a campfire once he had casually asked him if the peoples of his clan ever grew wings and the warrior had refused to talk about it.

Dismissing his thoughts, he signaled for the two to start for the cave entrance. They held up their torches and did so, gathering up the foot soldiers from the adjoining cavern in which they had sat down to rest. They were fifteen in all, making up a fist and a half. Some were demi-human's of varying types, others were men who had sworn themselves to the service of the Dark King. Most of them carried scythes, a few of them swords that had been stolen off of fallen corpses of warriors from sacked village's. Nearly none of them were armored, except for the occasional helm or leather breastplate.

"Up!" Zir commanded, his voice echoing throughout the cavern. As the men gathered up their things and made ready to depart his brother began to complain about this new order.

"...Ridiculous. It will take five weeks if we are lucky, seven if we are not?" He said, in his deep voice that was half roar half speech.

"I heard him, Arck. It is not for us to question our master's orders. This stone is apparently very important or else the Dark King would not be so serious about our haste."

Vwalir nodded in agreement, not speaking. He rarely spoke.

"I understand that, but I like not at all the sound of this Zarda tribe. What if we are outnumbered or unprepared? We will be two weeks journey from the nearest garrison. We will be unable to reinforce ourselves--"

"Enough, Arck," Zir said. "Concentrate on the task at hand. We know nothing of these Zarda; they could be merely a group of savages with clubs. Wait until we reach our destination. We will study these Zarda and determine the best strategy we can of annihilating them. We will even bring half of another fist to be safe."

Arck sighed in resignation, though Zir could still tell that his doubts and fears had not been extinguished. When the foot soldiers were ready to depart they marched down the cavern and came out into the cool sea air. The sun was already beginning to set, the west becoming a canvas of red and orange fire while east grew dim and purple, tiny blue stars winking into existence one by one. The waves were turbulent and splashed high, nearly overtaking them where they climbed single file up the side of the cliff along a tiny trail. Nevertheless they made the climb without incident, setting up camp behind a towering rock tower that provided ample shelter.

Tomorrow, the journey would begin.