The Kiriko Sword

Author's Note: I've been working on NanoWrimo.

Chapter 4: A Time of Consideration

"I will save Rumeria." Link proclaimed. Rehen smiled to himself.

"Link, are you sure about that? It is quite dangerous. I believe that you should get stronger. Maybe wait until you're eighteen?" Rehen knew perfectly well that Link would say "okay" just to please him. He also knew that, more likely than not, Link would slip away into the night and go to the first spirit, Kinetha, and her temple, Riyanthus Palace. There Link would seek the Kiriko Sword and strive to free Kinetha. Rehen knew this as surely as he knew his own name.

Just as he had suspected, Link bowed his head and said, "Yes, I will wait for three more years. Good night, Rehen."

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'Link... Link...... I am Baarucah, the master of this island. You are cruel, to think of leaving the old man. You are cruel.... Link.......'

Link woke up in a cold sweat. Sunlight streamed through the open window and lit up the dust motes. He remembered the dream as though it had been imprinted in his brain with a fire brand. Link couldn't shake off the memory of that cold, terribly deadly voice. For the first time, he wondered if he was being cruel to the man who had sheltered and fed him for nine years.

Link got out of bed and dressed himself in the Lincoln green tunic that he always wore. He walked to the bathroom, and gasped. Instead of his face, there was a black, demonic face looking back at him. The face was handsome, with a close-cut beard and ebony black hair. But underlying all that was the essence of evil, evil that had rotted away the soul underneath the skin. Link reeled away from the mirror. Instantly the demon was replaced by a glittering fairy. Its seraphic wings slowly fluttered. The fairy spoke in an angelic voice, with a hint of fear in it.

"Link. I am Kinetha. I need your assistance. I am slowly being drained of power. The other spirits are too. I am trapped in the Riyanthus Palace. The Kiriko Sword is here too. Help us, I beg of you." Briefly, five other fairies appeared on the mirror, one white, one red, one blue, one green, one purple, and the speaker yellow. These Link knew were Kinetha, Isthman, Remhet, Iyonti, Korinke, and Okasi. All except Kinetha disappeared, and she spoke one last warning.

"Link, that was Baarucah. Do not listen to him. Do not be ashamed to leave Rehen. He understands better than you think. Ask him..." Kinetha's voice trailed away. Link stood, dumbfounded, until Rehen tapped upon the door.

"Link, are you okay?" He asked. There was no answer, but the door opened. Rehen took that as permission to come in. He saw Link sitting on the floor. "Link, I think I know what this is about." The old man sat down next to Link and sighed.

"Link, you were visited by the spirit of Southey, were you not?" Link nodded. "Well, I'm sure Kinetha told you that I understand?" Again, Link nodded. "I do. You see, my true name is Gerkiln. I forged the Kiriko Sword."

Link was amazed. "You- You forged the Sword.? That would make you five thousand years old!" Rehen laughed.

"Yes, I guess it would. But, on to other business. I know that you want to leave. I will not stop you. In fact, I will help you to get started. Wait here," Rehen commanded, leaving the room for a second. He returned carrying a sword and a shield. "There you go. My old steel sword and the shield from the Kiriko metal."

Link was even more amazed. "You're giving me your only protection?"

"No, I'm not. I have magic up my sleeve. Don't worry about me. Here, have this, too." Rehen handed the boy a rolled-up map. "On that map is the land of Rumeria, with the palaces of the spirits labeled. The first place you must go to is Riyanthus Palace, home of Kinetha. This is where it is," Rehen said, pointing to the map.

Link started to speak his thanks, but the man stopped him. "None of that, young one. Now go, finish what Gerkiln started." Link saluted, and raced down the stairs and out the door. Rehen went to the window and saw the dust flying from Link's feet. He said to himself, "Finish what I started, and break this curse upon the land, and me."