Chapter 2: Visions

The day of the Summer Festival dawned bright and warm. The dew from the previous night had begun to evaporate, throwing up a hazy mist that gave the town and its surrounding forests a surreal and gentle aura of light. Kaikara and her parents had just awoken, and for Kaikara, this was a wonder—she rarely got out of bed so early, as she preferred staying up late to getting up early. But today was different.

They did not eat breakfast; they intended to have their breakfast at the festival, where there would be at least two food tables set up to serve it. Kaikara hoped that their neighbor from across the street would be there with his waffles—Kaikara could eat those every day of the year. She and her family were walking, as they lived only ten minutes away from the town square. As they left their street, they caught sight of Nyree and her little sister and her parents, also walking; Nyree's family lived only down the street from Kaikara.

Nyree gave an excited shriek and ran over to them, nearly bowling Kaikara over as she hugged the older girl. Kaikara also laughed and squeezed Nyree around the shoulders, intentionally squishing her a little. Nyree cried out with laughing indignation and pulled away. "It's Festival, it's Festival, it's Festival!"

Nyree's excitement only made Kaikara's worse, and she laughed. "Yeah—hey I'll race you there!"

"Okay!" Nyree took off, and Kaikara let her get a bit of a head start, only glancing once at the adults to see if they objected. No one did, and Kaikara wasn't surprised; they were both allowed to go as far as the town square alone normally and the adults were probably glad to get some peace. Kaikara put her excited energy into catching up with her friend, and they ran the entire way.

Early or not, the town square was already bustling. Vendors set up their carts and opened their booths for those early visitors who had come to check them out. The sun shone through the mist, glinting off of shiny decorations and off of the merchandise that was already for sale in several booths—this attracted several customers. A gentle wind carried the smell of the dirt roads, and the stone of the square, and even the smell of the trees from the forests. They all mingled with the mouthwatering aromas from the food booths, and a thousand smells wafted around Kaikara as she and Nyree halted, panting, right in the middle of everything.

"Mmmmm!" Nyree exclaimed. "I smell sausages! And waffles! And crepes! And Cucco!" She was bouncing up and down, scarcely able to hold still, even after their run. "Are you going to eat here?"

Kaikara nodded. 'Yeah…waffles. Wanna eat with us?"

Nyree grinned. "Yes!" she said. "Let's go now, my tummy's growling!"

So was Kaikara's, but they both had to wait until their parents arrived to eat. And so they spent the time looking at the toys being sold in one booth (for Nyree) and the swords being sold in another (for Kaikara—her parents had hinted that they might buy her a blade that year as a late gift for her birthday celebration, which had been only the past month. She intended to join the youth warrior classes as soon as she turned twelve). She had to ignore the vendor here, who was giving her a suspicious look, and felt he had to remind her that she wasn't allowed to touch anything without an adult there.

"You're an adult,' Kaikara pointed out with a grin, but the vendor was not amused. Some people had no sense of humor.

The adults caught up soon, and they joined two or three other families at the communal eating area that had been set up. Kaikara ate her waffle with unabashed enjoyment, lifting the berry-covered food with her hands and taking a huge bite.

"Kaikara, will you please not eat like a wild beast?" her mother said, sounding somewhere between amused and exasperated, and Nyree giggled. Nyree's baby sister, though too young to understand what was going on, also giggled in imitation.

"Who says I'm not?" Kaikara asked, after swallowing her mouthful. "A beast, I mean."

Her father snorted. "You make an excellent point." He shook his head and did not try to convince her further. She figured since they were outside, he did not care as much about whether or not she made a mess.

Or maybe he was too amused.

By the time everyone was done, the sun had risen to its mid-morning position, and it had burned off the remaining dew from the ground, and what mist remained was blown away by the cool winds. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, just perfect for Festival. Just as Nyree's father finished his breakfast, a great horn sounded, its deep trumpet resounding across the whole town. Nyree's little sister, startled, burst into tears, and Nyree covered her wears with a wince. Kaikara did not cover her ears, but it was loud.

Through a megaphone built of polished wood, the master of ceremonies for that year's festival called everyone to gather for the opening ceremonies. Kaikara thought he might be the man who worked at the library, but she was not certain. Books were not her favorite things. "Come all, come all!" he bellowed, moving about the square, calling his summons to everyone. "Come all for the opening ceremonies! Please move to the firepit at the middle of the courtyard—come all, come all, come all!"

"What a big mouth!" Kaikara exclaimed, but she was laughing, and did not mind at all.

"You should talk," said her father, smacking her lightly in the back of her head.

Kaikara stuck her tongue out at him, then extracted herself from the bench she was sitting on before he could get revenge. "Come on, let's go!"

The Opening Ceremonies weren't anything special, so far as Kaikara was concerned; she had seen enough of them. But her parents preferred to be there to give their thanks to the goddesses for the harvests, and for the growing season, and for…just about anything, really. Kaikara wanted to get it over with. Still, they didn't usually last too long, so Kaikara was quiet. She noted that there was a roped-off aisle on one side of the stage, leading all the way back toward where the shops and inns stood, but her attention was drawn back to the stage before she could wonder much about it.

It started with the Master of Ceremonies returning from his summons and standing on the main stage, the circular one Kaikara and Nyree had watched being built. Kaikara had even helped construct it in the days previous. He spoke warmly, seeming to look at every single person in the audience in turn. "Welcome, all!" he cried, holding his free arm wide. "Welcome to the Summer Festival—as we give thanks for the blessings we receive throughout the year, and renew the bonds of friendship among our countrymen!"

The audience clapped, and despite herself, Kaikara found herself clapping, too. The man was an excellent speaker, and it was impossible not to respond. A few rowdy teenaged boys in the back whooped obnoxiously, and Kaikara giggled.

The Master of Ceremonies only grinned, bowing in their direction. "Yes, thank you, thank you," he said. "Well, this year I am thrilled to announce that we have some very special guests! They come all the way from Hyrule Castletown."

Some people in the audience began to cheer then, obviously understanding the significance of this, but Kaikara only looked blankly up at the stage. The Master of Ceremonies explained.

"They have come to give their blessing on the Festival, and to give their thanks to the Goddesses—we apologize for having kept this a hush-hush, but for their safety, this of course had to be done in secret." The Master of Ceremonies looked toward the aisle Kaikara had noted a moment before, and a brassy fanfare sounded in the still morning air. People shifted to get a better look, and Kaikara had to slip in between several adults in order to see what was going on. This put her fairly close to the aisle, and she saw four trumpeters marching in from town. She blinked; this was unusual.

Some people cheered, others watched eagerly as the trumpeters marched forward. Behind them came a complement of guardsmen, both from the village and those who wore a uniform Kaikara had never seen before. She was about to ask the lady next to her what the heck was going on, when a man on her other side whispered excitedly to his friend: "It's the king and queen!"

Kaikara's mouth dropped open—the king and queen had really come? The real king and queen? She looked hastily back toward the procession and saw an ornate coach being drawn by two sleek, black horses. She could not see inside it, but she assumed that the royals were inside it. Excitement twisted her stomach—maybe she could meet the king after all!

The man who had whispered had been only half right. As the guards spread out, their watchful eyes scanning the crowd, others gently pushing back the curious onlookers, one of the guardsmen opened the door of the coach. Out stepped a man in the fanciest attire Kaikara had ever seen: red, embroidered robes, gold trim (which looked like real gold), gems and rings and a high, white collar that made Kaikara think of a turtle's shell. She had to stifle a giggle. King or not, she thought his garb was a little silly. He did have a magnificent blade at his side, though, which Kaikara stared at with unabashed admiration. The hilt was black, and had a green, brilliant gem set into it. The scabbard was decorated with scrollwork and woodcuts.

The queen did not seem to have attended.

The king, who was called Zathimos Cararkan Hyrule, smiled at the gathered crowd. Everyone went quiet, expectant. The king spoke, and his baritone voice carried, even though he was not yelling. "My good people!" he said. "The best of mornings to you. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to be here to celebrate this most sacred of days with you!"

He seemed about to go on, when a very small boy in front waved up at the king and called, "Hi!"

The whole crowd laughed, as did the king, and he smiled kindly at the little boy. "Hello to you, little one," he said, bending down to pat the child on the head. "I am happy to see you here." Kaikara decided then and there that she liked the king. Her first impression was that he was fair and kind, and truly cared about the Hylians over whom he rules. Kaikara had read about tyrant kings in the past, and was glad to see their own was not one.

Zathimos straightened up again and went on. "My son, Prince Iskander, has joined us today as well." He nodded toward the door of the coach, and a teenaged boy stepped out, dressed just as ornately as his father. His hair was red, like the sun, and his eyes were dark and mysterious. He did not look as happy to be there as the king was, but he smiled all the same and waved to the crowd. Maybe he was shy.

Kaikara noted he also carried a sword, though it was a much smaller shortsword, and she felt a chill creep up her spine at the sight of it. The hilt was blue; the hand guard, also blue, looked like a pair of wings jutting from the hilt. A gold gem was set into the hilt, glinting clearly in the sun. She wasn't sure why she suddenly felt so stunned—but she did. She wondered what the blade beneath looked like. The prince looked around and caught her eye, and Kaikara thought that he looked surprised, maybe even afraid. But surely that was just her imagination.

The king went on and the prince looked elsewhere. "I regret to say that my dearest wife could not attend—she is not feeling well—but she sends her warmest regards. Of course I will not lead the ceremony—that is the duty of your honored Master of Ceremonies. But I will bow my head in prayer along with you and give my thanks to those who have blessed our land." Applause echoed in the town square as the king ascended the main stage, followed by half a dozen of the guardsmen. Kaikara was surprised to see that Notak, Trow's father, was among those who joined him.

The Master of Ceremonies bowed respectfully as the king and his son passed, then turned to the audience. "I know you are all eager to revel, but if you would, please, take a moment first to give your own thanks to the goddesses…to send your prayers, or just to say hello to them. We will all be silent for one minute…starting now!"

The crowd quieted at once, and as always, it was a little spooky. Kaikara peered up at the stage, where the king and his son were looking to the sky, their hands clasped behind them. There were dozens, probably hundreds of people there in the square and beyond, and not a one of them was saying a word. There were no shuffling feet that she could hear, and only one or two throat-clearings or coughs. It was all just silent. Kaikara, who was standing on the ground and thus could not see much except for everyone's torsos, moved silently a few feet away so that she could get a better look.

That made it that much creepier. As Kaikara watched the silent mass of people, she thought that maybe she should at least say hello to the Goddesses. She wasn't entirely sure if they really existed or not (it was a weird and improbable story) but it didn't hurt to be safe, didn't it? She looked up, as many people were doing, and waved.

What did one say to a goddess, anyway?

"Hi," she murmured, and then clapped a hand over her mouth. Only a couple of people looked at her, and they seemed more amused than angry, but Kaikara said the rest in her mind. "Um, I'm Kaikara. Guess you already know that. Um. Well…hope you like your festival."

That seemed okay. She looked up for a moment more…and then a strange and terrifying feeling suddenly came over her mind. It felt bright, and hot, and for a moment, she couldn't see a thing in front of her because of it. She tried to cry out, but was paralyzed as a shape unfolded before her eyes—and then two, and finally three. They were identical, human in shape, but inhuman all the same. Their legs were long, their bodies garb-less and made of what looked like crystal with flame within. Kaikara stood on nothing, staring, her mouth open, her eyes wide, and her heart pounding in terror in her chest. What was this? What was wrong with her? Was she going to faint, or, die, or something even worse?

Kaikara tried again to cry out, to alert her parents, or the militia, or someone that something was wrong, but she could not. She looked back to the forms before her, each glowing a different, bright color, and her fear began to ease. They had not made a move to harm her, and Kaikara did not feel faint or ill. In fact she felt a strange serenity emanating from them.

They did not speak, but they seemed to peer at her through eyes of pure light, and she felt a sense of sorrow from them. Sorrow—and pity. Kaikara didn't like it a bit; her stomach clenched, and a black shadow seemed to cloud her mind. Her fear came back with reinforcements.

She tried to say something to the three figures, but that painful light flared again in her mind, blotting the crystalline figures out—and when the flame died down, she was staring at some old man's rear end. She blinked, her eyes wide, her teeth and fists clenched, and for a moment she had no idea where she was or what had happened. Then her mind began to clear a little, and she took a step back. People were applauding again, and had milled about her, treating her to the not-so-glorious view she'd had a moment ago.

Kaikara looked around and spotted her parents, and Nyree's family, and none of them seemed to have noticed what had happened…if anything had happened. Already Kaikara was thinking she had simply had a hallucination of some kind—maybe she hadn't gotten enough sleep, or too much sun in the past week, or….

Shaking her head and feeling a little unsteady, Kaikara turned her gaze resolutely back toward the stage and tried to forget it. It was nothing. Just…nothing.

The prayers were over, and the child's choir stood on the risers they had brought from the music house, singing the song they had prepared for this year's Festival. The adult choir had already sung, it seemed, and Kaikara had not heard or seen a thing. She frowned, glancing once more at her parents, and then resolutely tried to put the whole thing out of her mind.

It was harder than she'd expected.

After the ceremonies, Nyree and Kaikara were turned out on their own, to explore the fair while the adults looked at all of the things that the girls found boring. Kaikara wanted to meet the king, but when she approached the stage, Notak told her that no one was allowed to meet him, at least not yet.

"Unfortunately, the king and prince have business here to take care of," he said. "Several nations' leaders are meeting here tonight, and they will be speaking of matters that pertain to the kingdom. Perhaps at some point the king will meet with some of the people." Notak looked at Kaikara's disappointed face and clapped her on the shoulder. "Tell you what. If the king has time for visitors, I will suggest you be one of them. How's that?"

Kaikara stared at him…could he really do that? She laughed, grinning widely. "Okay! Thanks, Notak!" She felt an urge to jump up and down, like Nyree did when she was excited, and managed to hold back. She didn't want to look stupid in front of the guardsmen.

"You're welcome. Now go on, kiddo. Go enjoy the faire."

Kaikara did.

She rejoined Nyree, who was more interested in the Festival than the king. There were games and performers, strange sights and animals and bright costumes, all perfectly designed to catch a child's eye. Overall, festival time was a colorful whirlwind of culture and camaraderie, where people of different areas and all walks of life came together to celebrate and give thanks for the harvest's bounty.

And the food! Nowhere in Hyrule could such grander sampling of foreign foods be tasted than at the summer festival. The cooks made exotic dishes and travelers brought samples of their local fare to share with the merrymakers. What better way to celebrate a good harvest than with a grand feast?

Kaikara tried her luck at the knife-throwing booth (the woman manning it knew that Kaikara was allowed to handle the weapons) and managed to get two of her four knives within the circle the vendor had painted on the wooden wall behind her. She won a prize for her performance: a wooden flute. It was short and round, and had only four holes, and to play it, Kaikara had to blow across its top as if it were an empty bottle. Its sound was true and pleasant, and sounded a bit like blowing across the mouth of an empty jug. Kaikara did not know how to play, but enjoyed making the sounds.

Nyree tried the ring toss and the ball throw, but she did not win any prizes there. She did, however, win a small, cloth doll at the "guess your weight" booth. Nyree was small and very thin, and the teenage girl running the booth guessed her too high. Giggling at the teenager's exaggerated dismay, Nyree trotted off, gleefully clutching her prize.

Kaikara noticed that there were a lot more guardsmen and soldiers in the town than were usually there for Festival, and she imagined it was because the king was here. They patrolled the streets, watched the revelers, and made their presence known. Kaikara wondered if they really thought someone might try to hurt the king. No one would be that much of a jerk would they?

When came the time to eat lunch, the two of them met their families back at the eating area. Kaikara had a large, hot sandwich with all the meat she liked, and a few vegetables. As she ate, she was surprised to see someone else nearby she recognized: Trow. He was sitting on one of the benches, happily munching a Cucco leg, while his father and mother ate some sort of stew from reed bowls. Kaikara nudged Nyree, who looked over at them.

"Hey!" she said delightedly. "Trow!" She waved as the little boy looked up at them and smiled. "Come over!" Nyree called.

Trow turned eagerly to his parents. His mother did not look happy, but Notak held his hand up, smiled at Trow, and nodded. Smiling happily, Trow grabbed his Cucco leg and ran over to them.

"Trow! Don't run, you'll fall and skin your knees!"

Kaikara looked at the woman in disbelief, and then looked down at the soft grass beneath them. She didn't think Trow could have hurt himself on that grass if he tried. Trow did slow down, though, as he reached their table. "Hi!" he said, a shy smile beaming from his face.

"Well hello," said Kaikara's dad kindly. "Come on up here and sit with us."

Trow smiled at him too, and climbed up carefully onto the end of the bench; Kaikara scooted over to give him room, but the boy was so thin that she didn't have to move far. Remembering her vow to try to be nice to Trow, she said, "Hey—do you like going to the Festival?" She could not remember ever seeing him at one before.

Trow nodded, taking a small, fussy bite from his Cucco leg. He chewed slowly and carefully, no doubt having been warned of the dire risk of choking if he didn't chew his food correctly. Trow's mother would have a heart attack if she ever watched Kaikara eat. She wolfed her food down like an animal, unless her parents scolded her for it. "I've never been here before!" Trow said, looking excited and happy. Kaikara might have been imagining it, but he also looked a little nervous. "It's so weird!"

Kaikara had to laugh. "Weird" was not the word she would use to describe Festival, but she supposed to someone whose mother hid him away most of the time, that it was a little intimidating. "Well—there are lots of things to see," she said, and the smile she aimed down at Trow was more natural. He was an adorable kid, and when he wasn't acting like a fragile knickknack, he seemed impossible not to like.

Trow nodded. "Yes, we're going to watch the sword dancers! Mama didn't want to, but Papa said I could. He keeps telling her to let me live."

Kaikara held back a snicker at that—she knew what Trow meant, but it had sounded funny all the same. "Living is good," she said with a mostly straight face.

"Yes! Papa says I won't get hurt just being here. He's the one who got Mama to let me come here. He's going to take me over to look at the weapons, too. But not until Mama goes to her weaving class." If Kaikara remembered right, Trow's mother taught the class, rather than attended it.

"Well if you'd like to join us at any time," said Kaikara's father, "You're welcome to. I'll have a talk with your parents. Just maybe they'll let you be away from them a bit. Teach your mama that you can be safe, hm?"

Trow gave him an eager grin and nodded. "Okay!"

They ate in companionable silence after that, and soon everyone was finished eating, and eager to get back into the thick of things. Kaikara's father did go and talk to Trow's parents, but Trow did not join them. His mother did not want her son to go with "strangers".

"As if she's never met us before!" Kaikara's mother said indignantly.

"Well, you know how she is," said her father, and the two of them exchanged an eye roll. Kaikara saw this and watched them in wonder—it had not occurred to her that even adults were exasperated with people like that. She looked at Nyree, and they both giggled.

The afternoon went quickly. Kaikara played games and watched shows. She helped Nyree climb the climbing wall they had set up in one corner of the square, and then made the climb herself, choosing the most difficult area. It had the fewest handholds, and was very high. She got to the top, sweating in the heat and with the exertion. She cried out in triumph and took hold of the string that dangled above her. It was attached to a bell that rang out to signal her success. A few people below clapped as she made her way slowly back down.

By the time the sun had set, Kaikara was tired, happy, and a little sunburned. Nyree, who was fair of hair and skin, was bright red, and her mother vowed to slather her with sun-blocking potion the next day, and Nyree fervently agreed. She looked like she was in some pain and Kaikara felt pretty sorry for her. Kaikara had dark skin, despite her white hair, and so did not burn easily, but there had been times when she had stayed out in the sun far too long, so she knew how it felt. She thought to put an arm around Nyree, but refrained. It would probably hurt.

The day's festival was nearly over. The last event of the day would be a story, told by one of the well-respected Storytellers of the realm. The Storytellers traveled the lands, both near and far, visiting strange tribes such as the Gorons, and the Ooccaa, and writing down their customs, and their legends.

Tonight would be the story of the Hero, of course; Festivals always began with that story, and Kaikara supposed she didn't mind all too much. She did not believe the story of the Hero was a true one, but it was a good adventure, at least.

The bonfire had been lit and its flames roared to the sky. Kaikara caught sight of Trow's family, who were not standing anywhere near the fire. Of course, to be fair, hardly anyone was; it was still very warm out. The Storyteller stood on the main stage, surrounded by people sitting on the benches and chairs that had been set up for the event. Some held glasses of lemonade or ale, others gnawed on Cucco legs or other portable food items as they listened.

The Storyteller was a good one; Kaikara had heard him before at other faires. He was from Kaikariko, the village after which Kaikara was named, and he wore a wolf's skin on his head. He was dressed in the combination of cloth and animal parts that was the Storytellers' traditional garb.

"The Hero," said the Storyteller, looking around at his audience, his bright eyes glinting from the light of the torches. They looked a little like a wolf's eyes. "No one knows where he came from, or how he came to be. There are even those who say that the Hero is not one man—but many—that it is a legacy that is passed down from generation to generation, and called into use when the lands have need of them."

Kaikara watched the man, who moved about the stage, peering at his audience with his intense gaze, and Kaikara could almost believe the story he told. She could almost see it.

"They say the Hero—or the first Hero—was but a child," the storyteller went on. "A child who was born different. A child who was born to a great destiny. A child who bore a very special power…." He paused here, and Kaikara leaned forward in her seat, shivering a little as the torchlight flickered on her face, as the cooling breeze riffled through her hair. It was a little spooky out here, and she loved it.

The Storyteller smiled, pausing a moment longer, before finishing with, "The Triforce." There was a murmur from the crow. This was a part of the Hero legend that she thought was silly, but she still listened with rapt attention. The Storyteller was very good.

"The Triforce," he repeated, standing up straighter, and looking to the sky. Kaikara followed his gaze, and when the glare of the torch had faded from her eyes, she saw the breathtaking expanse of stars above them—stars that almost seemed to illustrated the story being told. She could even see the constellation that was named after the Triforce. It even sort of looked like it, with three crooked triangles.

"The Triforce is said to give anyone who could handle its power the strength to change the world—for good or ill, the Storyteller continued. "And many have used it for both."

Kaikara knew the story well, almost able to mouth it word for word as it was told. The Storyteller spoke of a great Temple, through which the Hero was able to travel through time itself, fighting his enemy in different time periods. And once he had returned victorious, how he had passed his legacy down to his ancestors.

He spoke of tyrants and destroyers who had over the centuries claimed the Triforce for their own and wreaked terrible damage on the lands. Kaikara whispered to Nyree that it probably never happened—that it was only a myth that ancient peoples had constructed to explain things like hurricanes and tornadoes, and other nature disasters. Nyree rolled her eyes but said nothing, and Kaikara knew that she believed every bit of the legend.

Of course evil was never allowed to succeed, at least not for long, and the Hero always smote it, also using the power of the Triforce. Kaikara wasn't sure how two people could use it at once, but she supposed that myths were apt to get mangled over time.

The Storyteller concluded his tale by saying, "And the tales claim that the Triforce still lives on, kept in secret places, ready for he who will use its power to change the land." He smiled, looking over the audience, his gaze settling on Kaikara. It was a feral smile. "Perhaps one of you will someday bear this burden."

Kaikara shivered. Was the Storyteller really looking at her, or did it just seem that way? An optical illusion? She did not turn her gaze away, but her eyes were wide.

And then the Storyteller smiled, and stood up straight again. "And now, my friends let me tell of another legend, this from the faraway Oocca from the north…."

Several stories were told that night, but Kaikara and her family left after the second one. Kaikara was yawning by that point, and Nyree had fallen asleep. Trow was nowhere to be seen, and Kaikara imagine he had already been taken home. His mother wouldn't want her fragile little baby to be out too late, after all.

Kaikara didn't think she was going to make it home awake, and that she would have to sleepwalk the whole way, but she managed to hold on until she stumbled in their front door. She declared herself dead, stumbled over to the couch, collapsed on it, and refused to get up to change, brush her teeth, or anything else. Chuckling, her father left her where she was, and Kaikara fell asleep not a minute later.