Chapter Three: Drawing Out the Dark
I had little peace to grieve. My attacks came one after the other. At first I could stand them as long as I stayed in my darkened room, my meals brought in by Malta. Everyone thought I was mourning and except for the occasional sympathy visit, I was left alone.
By the third day it was unbearable. I thought I was dying. Malta insisted I see the doctor. I struggled to sit up as he examined me, my eyes watering in pain. As I predicted, he could do very little for me except prescribe something to make me sleep. I was at least grateful for this and even though it was the middle of the day I desperately downed half the potion and managed to sleep fitfully until nightfall.
I thought the rain woke me, my bleary eyes opened and my stuffed up ears just barely heard the water drops pounding on the tin roof. I saw Malta in the dim light of her lamp. I sat up and a searing stab of pain followed; I winced. The woman clucked in sympathy.
"Child, I've brought someone who can help," she said in a whisper. She sounded so sure I allowed a shred of hope to lighten my heart. I nodded frantically, unable to hold back a sob of agony. She moved back to the door to let in a hooded figure, rain dripping from his cloak. The hood was pushed back to reveal the face of the Hero and my heart fell. I did not believe he could do anything for me and I already felt despair as well as a little hatred because of Keith's preventable death. He took Malta's lamp and set it on the little bedside table, sitting down on a stool across from where I sat on my bed.
"My name is Sangrel," he said softly, withdrawing from his dripping cloak a small ebony case. "I was told you are very ill, and have been so for some time." He nodded to Malta and she left, closing the door behind her.
I said nothing, but watched as he opened the case to reveal a round piece of glass, a little smaller than my palm, amber in color and attached to a long gold chain. The Hero took it out of its velvet wrappings and held it with his gloved fingers by the chain, the glass turning slowly.
"This lens of truth is used by my family to see that which hides from us," he explained. "I will use it to direct light into your eyes to see if anything is there."
"Do you mean," I gasped, "there's something in my head?"
"It's my guess," he answered, "if nothing else has helped, it is not a sickness. There is some evil residing within you, hindering your every move. Are you ready?"
I watched the amber lens on its chain, seeing Sangrel's eye through it, polished smooth so it impossibly picked up the lamplight like a mirror. It got brighter and brighter, the light blinding me. I couldn't see for a moment as the amber cast its brightness seemingly into my mind and I heard an angry cry ring in my ears. Sangrel took the light away and the pain left as well. I sighed, holding my head.
"Thank you," I said, my feelings of dislike melting.
"It is not gone," Sangrel warned. "I could only let it know I am aware of its presence. For now it hides and hopes we think it gone."
"What is it?"
"A type of poe, called a shadow poe. It temporarily takes up residence in a human mind and when its host is weakened by sickness or grief or fear, it feeds on the available energy to grow in strength. But from what I've seen, it has stayed for some reason. How long have you had these same headaches?"
"Since I was four years old, I believe."
The Hero seemed perplexed, a grim look fastening itself to his features.
"This poe does not normally stay that long. Three days at most. It kills its victim."
I felt nauseous and weak after hearing that. The Hero waited patiently while I collected myself.
"Why am I still alive? And how do I get it out?"
"The answers to both your questions lay in Hyrule Castle Town," he said. "I can take you there."
I thought of the meager savings my brother had in the Kakariko bank and my prospects if I stayed here. Keith had always spoken of the opportunities that could be found at the central city of Hyrule and I felt he would want me to go there.
Two days later, early in the morning, I stumbled outside, all my possessions and money packed easily into a rough cloth sack. Sangrel and his horse were already waiting. Alongside them stood Malta as well as Siko holding the reins of a fat brown horse I recognized as the one who did nothing but eat grass in his pasture all day.
"He's yours now," said Siko, handing me the reins. "All those years of beautiful music and I never gave you a single green rupee. He's a good, sound animal, he just needs someone to use him."
I thanked him, warily touching the animal's soft mane and climbing clumsily onto the horse's back. "I have not ridden much," I admitted.
"This is good way to learn," the Hero said smiling and turning his horse to exit the village. I waved goodbye to Siko and Malta as the horse, called Kuma, lazily rocked into motion, following the horse of the Hero.
It normally takes a half day to travel from Kakariko to what is called the center of Hyrule. I held us back, mostly due to the few times I fell off and had my horse run away from me, or the frequent rest stops I required. After a lifetime of limited activity I was still weak and had poor balance. We arrived very late in the night. Sangrel saw that I was exhausted and got rooms for us at the Blue Cucoo, easily found by the swinging wooden sign with the freshly painted figure of a bird on it.
It was not until morning that I had an opportunity to look at my surroundings. It was a very fine inn; I could easily see minor nobles staying here. The roof didn't leak, the wallpaper was tasteful and the food was savory.
The Hero was treated with respectful courtesy, but obviously to his pleasure, no one fawned over him nor bothered him about his fame.
Over our mugs of spiced cider he told me we would be seeing the Princess Zelda. I fought to keep myself from spitting out my drink with excitement. Unfortunately that tinge of surprise was followed by nervousness. I knew nothing of palace etiquette, not to mention I had no good clothes.
"The Princess is not someone who only sees a person's manners," Sangrel assured me. "Besides, I will buy you a new tunic, the one you currently have is gathering holes."
"I am immensely grateful," I said, "but I feel I am taking advantage…"
The Hero interrupted me.
"I have too much money, more than I know what to do with. You have no idea the relief you bring me when I can spend a little of it on someone other than myself."
I couldn't help but return his smile.
I assumed we would take care of the poe after he paid his visit to the princess, so I set the matter in the back of my mind. I was already feeling better than I had in years. I let the sights and smells of the market take over. I saw fruits and vegetables I didn't know existed and smelled delicate exotic flowers. I was soon wearing a brand new gray tunic and eating sliced roasted rosemary herb potato off a skewer.
"Zelda will be holding audience with the public this time of the day," he said a little before noon. "Perhaps we can take a little time from her upcoming lunch break."
His last words struck me as a little informal, but I was eager to see the palace and its treasures and followed his quick footsteps.
The princess sat in a small room, her seat on a raised dais, surrounded by guards and councilors. A young woman was standing before her, holding a collection of lace in her arms. The princess was listening attentively to the woman, her rounded face resting on a tanned hand.
I saw the Princess wore a riding outfit, and had dust on her black boots. A jeweled circlet rested atop her reddish gold hair, but other than that, she did not quite look like the image of a princess I had in my mind. She was not stunningly beautiful, as I had been told. But she was approachable, had kind brown eyes and nevertheless pretty in appearance. She drew people to her with her friendliness.
The woman with the lace bowed and exited the room. The Hero quickly made his way to her side, whispering in her ear. The princess looked at me and I reddened, managing an awkward bow. She smiled and stood, making her way to the back door.
"Her Royal Highness is calling a recess," Sangrel announced. He bid me follow as he walked out with the princess.
We walked some ways, up and down stairs and hallways, through magnificently decorated sitting rooms and portrait galleries.
Finally we stopped in a fairly large room, full of light from the high windows but otherwise empty.
"My princess," Sangrel began, "This is Link of Kakariko Village. Link, I wrote to Zelda about you and have brought you to her to be cured. She is young, but the best in Hyrule as far as healing magic is concerned."
I was stunned at first, but my curiosity overcame me. I bowed more deeply and thanked the princess for her willingness to help me. To my astonishment she took my hand and smiled at me.
"I am pleased to meet you, Link. Call me Zelda, and please tell me of your trouble."
I repeated what I had told Sangrel, and Sangrel told her what he had seen. The princess agreed with the Hero's assessment.
"Now the hard part will be extracting it," she mused, although unable to keep the nervousness from her voice. She looked briefly at Sangrel, who smiled encouragingly. "We don't know how strong it is, so when I draw it out, you must be prepared, Sangrel."
The Hero nodded, unfastening his cloak and drawing his sword. I knew it immediately as the Master Sword, a magnificent weapon, the hilt a startling royal blue-violet set with gold and the blade shining like a mirror. I felt some small relish at my knowledge of Hylian legends. Reading Malta's books had come in handy.
Zelda pushed her white sleeves up to her elbows and suggested I sit down. She lowered herself to the cool tile floor across from me as Sangrel prowled slowly around us.
Cool fingers touched my temples and the princess looked into my eyes, and then past them. I felt nothing, other than a light feathery touch on the edge of my mind. In the quiet moments that followed I fought to keep back my own nervousness. Our surroundings slowly changed, the smooth stone floor and walls fading, replaced by a forest clearing. The princess and I looked about us, a heavy mist rolling in and a heavy blanket of stars above us. Sangrel continued circle us, disappearing in and out of our sight amongst the trees, oblivious to what we saw. I realized we were in my memories, perhaps at the moment I had encountered the poe. An owl cried out, followed by a few other night noises before a wretched scream broke the silence. My worst headache followed and I struggled to keep from fainting from the stabbing pain that reverberated against my skull. Black smoke rolled quickly out of every pore on my skin. It streamed out of my nose and mouth and I nearly retched at the rotten odor that followed.
The ebony mist collected and formed itself into the shape of a hovering hooded body, twice the height of a man, decaying yet immaterial, ragged and vaporous, with glowing eyes and clawed fingers grasping a rusty sickle and a fiery lantern spilling with ghostly flame. It turned to me and I felt weak. I struggled to stand, my sweaty palms sliding on the floor that I could still feel but not see. Sangrel quickly stepped between us, his shining sword ducking into the dark cloudy form. The shadow poe cried out as the metal seemed to eat its dark body and retreated a ways, swinging its lantern threateningly. The unearthly flame spiraled out, just barely missing the Hero's sleeve with its black tongue.
Sangrel did not back down, he struck out at the creature, the poe repelled by the pure material that the sword was crafted from. I was stunned by the Hero's fighting ability. He was agile and precise, deadly and frightening. He moved confidently, as if he had fought such a creature time and again. He struck out with his hand and a red flame came forth from it. The poe shrank from the Hero's magic before it was run through by the sword, dissolving into ghastly fire, it's battered lantern shattering on the floor.
I stood, dizzy and excited by the battle I had just witnessed. The princess dusted her clothes. The forest faded quickly, leaving the three of us alone in the empty room.
"You should be feeling much better after this," she said. She seemed suddenly distracted and turned away from me as Sangrel came back to us, smelling slightly singed.
The Hero spared a worried glace at the princess.
"Your Highness," he said gently. "Are you weary from drawing the monster out? Shall I ask your secretary to cancel your appointments?"
The princess nodded. As she was leaving I thanked her again with all my heart. She gave me a sad smile.
"I was only the least I could do."
