Chapter 8: Request

Every warrior in the Gerudo Fortress was on their highest level of alertness once they heard of the fate of the patrol. By the time word had reached them, a week had already passed. It might have been even longer, but the Gorons had left one of their victims, a twenty year-old swordmaster, alive in their haste to flee. The survivor, seriously hurt in the first charge of the Gorons, had been knocked unconscious for the rest of the fight. Waking up with multiple cracked ribs and broken bones, she had waited only long enough to identify the four corpses before heading south immediately. The body of Nabooru had not been found.

Among the elders of the tribe, there was no question about what action would be taken. While casualties were occasionally sustained on the yearly raids, they were almost always at the hands of the Hylians. For any of the other races to intervene and meddle with the desert tribe was unheard of. The only possible solution was war. Other matters, however, were not so clear, as was the case when Ganondorf submitted his request to the council.

"We're terribly sorry," Elder Kiraya told him, "but what you ask is impossible."

"You're not sorry at all," Ganondorf responded. In the past few weeks he had begun to develop a cynical nature, and even to the elders spoke as though they were constantly acting in their own best interests only. What startled the tribal leaders more than his sudden change in nature was how right he often was. "Tell me, why won't you let me go?" It was not a question.

"You will not go because you are not needed," Richou told him. Of all of the elders save the headwoman, she was the only one who never reacted differently when Ganondorf began to act unpredictably. "Since you are not needed, sending you north with the army is an unnecessary risk. To eliminate the risk, you will remain here."

"My job is to lead the warriors into battle."

"Your job is to lead the tribe into prosperity. The warriors have their own commanders who are more than adequate for the task."

"Your commanders are used to leading raids," Ganondorf pointed out, "not wars"

"By the same reasoning, you are used to leading neither raids nor wars," Kiraya replied. "You have received no more tactical training than them, and you have not shown yourself to be of significantly higher intelligence. You will remain here, and that decision is final." She glared at him, as if daring him to raise more objections. Ganondorf ignored the look, instead staring directly at the chief elder, who was sitting quietly with her eyes closed. The others may raise objections, but all real power came from the headwoman. There was no chance of convincing her to relent.

"You're all fools," Ganondorf announced before turning and walking briskly out of the chamber. As he passed the barracks, all of the warriors were preparing to set out as soon as possible. Only one was idle, sitting with her back against the wall.

"Terai," he called softly. She looked up at him, a young woman just in her twenties but so young looking that many in the tribe thought of her still as a child. She may have said something to Ganondorf, but her lips barely moved, and no sound reached his ears. She turned back to stare at the stone floor in front of her.

"I want to ask you something, Terai." She ignored him completely, but he maintained a gentle disposition. Losing his patience would do nothing to help him in this situation. He decided to risk the chance of her becoming annoyed. "Are you listening to me, Terai?"

"What is it?" He voice was so soft and quiet that Ganondorf had to strain his ears to be able to understand what was being said.

"I want you to remember," he explained. "Do you remember anything that might help us to find Nabooru?"

"I…" She began to tremble, and tears began to form in her eyes. Her head sank even lower. "I'm sorry."

"That's okay," he said. He reached out and put his hand on her chin, gently redirecting her gaze upward, toward him. "You did well, Terai. The elders have decided to let you remain here while the armies go north, so that you can recover. Rest well."

A few days later, the warriors left to head north. The women who did not excel in fighting, as well as some who remained behind as a guard force, remained behind with Ganondorf, Terai, and all of the Elders except Richou. The corridors of the fortress were empty, so it was a few days before anybody realized that Ganondorf had gone missing.