Link left the forest again, and this time was harder than the last, because he knew exactly what he was leaving behind. There were still four more sages to find though… but first, he had something he needed to do.
Sheik slipped into the dark trees of the Lost Woods, the heart of the Kokiri Forest. She could feel the forest bristle at her presence. She should not be here… no sooner had the thought crossed her mind, when the silence was broken.
"Halt, and identify yourself," a voice barked. Sheik froze, and looked for the speaker, but she was not in her element.
"I am Sheik, a survivor of the Sheikah. To whom am I speaking?"
"Well, Sheik you have a most unoriginal name," the speaker confided.
"Coming from one with a name like Twig, Stick, or Leaf, no doubt," Sheik shot back, annoyed. She was fairly certain she was speaking to a Kokiri.
She heard honest childish laughter, and a shape stepped out onto a bough, and crouched, peering down intently at her. The face was inscrutable behind the snarling wooden mask.
"It is often polite for allies to share their names," Sheik pointed out caustically.
"Is that what we are, shadow-kin? Allies?" the kokiri cocked his head insolently at her.
"If you oppose Ganondorf, then yes, we share a common purpose," Sheik said.
"You claim to oppose the Dark-Man, shadow-girl?"
"As well as I am able. I do as I am commanded." Normally Sheik would not have been as free with her information, but she did not know how many bows were pointed at her, and the kokiri would die before swearing allegiance to Ganondorf, or even revealing secrets to him under torture. Such was to be expected of demons.
A second form appeared on the bough, and smacked the back of the first kokiri's head. A rapid conversation in their native tongue was whispered, and eventually the newcomer, a female, sent the male on his way.
"I am Saria, Sage of the Forest. Why have you trespassed here, shadow-kin?" the female said.
Sheik's eyes widened. "You… you are a sage?" the shadow warrior whispered, awed.
"Yes. I was recently freed, and the darkness expelled from our temple," the Sage replied curtly. It was strange to be scolded by someone so young… and so old.
"I beg your forgiveness in advance, but I must know. May I see your Medallion?" Sheik pleaded.
The small demon watched Sheik for several seconds, before slowly reaching under the belted flap of cloth that served as a tunic, and pulled fourth a small disk of glittering green metal. It glowed dimly with an inner emerald light, and Sheik could feel the pulse and flow of its magic.
It was true. "How was this miracle accomplished?" Sheik asked.
"If you truly serve the Princess of Destiny, then ask her. She will know," Saria replied coolly.
"With your permission," Sheik said, holding up her Sheikah gossip stone. Saria nodded.
"I have news, milady."
Link climbed the tree as darkness fell, and made himself as comfortable as he could in the dead branches. Navi stood watch for him, and he began to drift off to sleep.
"We've been waiting for you, Hero of Time…" a voice whispered in the darkness. Link's eyes snapped open, and he drew the Master sword, fatigue forgotten.
A shadowy figure crouched farther out along the tree limb Link sat on, partially illuminated by his glowing blade. The figure nodded to him, and Link recognized the
traditional sheikah garb…
Link saw the almost luminescent pink eyes that marked all Sheikah as different. The tightly fitted suit did little to disguise the gender of the female shadow warrior. A tanto rested against the back of the sheikah's belt, while a coiled chain was wrapped along one wrist. Sheaths with throwing spikes dotted her other wrist and thighs.
"Impa?" Link asked. The warrior shook her head, "I am Sheik, a survivor of the Sheikahs…" the woman replied, her arms crossed, as a sign of truce.
Link slowly lowered his blade. In a land of monsters, he would be glad to have an ally… any ally.
"You've been waiting for me? Why?" Link asked.
Sheik tipped her head to one side as she recited something from memory,
"When evil rules all,
an awakening voice from the Sacred Realm will call those destined to be Sages,
who dwell in the five temples.
One in a deep forest…
One on a high mountain…
One under a vast lake…
One within the house of the dead…
One inside a goddess of the sand…
Together with the Hero of Time,
the awakened ones will bind the evil and return the light of peace to the world…"
The woman explained, "This is the legend of the temples passed down by my people, the Sheikah."
"You know it doesn't rhyme… right?" Navi pointed out.
"It's a prophesy, not a tavern song… and that is a rough translation," Sheik said coldly.
Link nodded slowly, "You said you were a… survivor, of the Sheikahs?"
The woman's eyes tightened with pain, "Ganon was not merciful. Many of my tribe died, to keep the Princess Zelda safe, and hidden. Only a handful remains of our line… He made public examples of all who would not bend their knee to him. Monsters prowl the land, and the people cower in their homes. They have lost the will to fight."
"No one opposes him?" Link asked, surprised.
Sheik laughed bitterly, "Oh, we opposed him, we fought him bitterly, at first, giving ground in inches… but he summons monsters to his banner, uniting the evil that already existed in our lands, forging it into an army. Moblins, the undead, Lizafoes… together with his Gerudo… well, we have lost many battles during the seven years we have warred. Ganon rules Hyrule now. The Gorons are slaves, forced to mine the mountains for ore. The Zoras… are trapped within their domain, under siege, and we have had no word from them for some months now. Only the Kokiri remain free, but much of their forest has been felled, or burned down."
"The Kokiri will replant, the forest will grow again," Link said sharply.
"I hope so," the shadow warrior said grimly, "Come with me to Kakariko… there is someone who wishes to speak with you there..."
"Do you know of a girl, she would be a woman now, named Malon? Her father is Talon, he owns, or used to own, a ranch. She had fiery hair, blue eyes. Do you know what has become of her?" Link asked. Sheik shook her head, "I do not know of Malon, but Talon resides in Kakariko. He would know."
Link pulled his hood up, "Then lead on, Sheik of the Sheikah."
Navi darted into Link's hood, and clung to his earlobe.
It took five days and nights to reach the foothills of Death mountain, and approach Kakariko. As they drew nearer, Sheik grew more irritable, Link noticed. She halted them outside the broken gates.
"Draw your sword, Hero. As soon as we enter the village, we will be surrounded by evil on every side. Ganon was not kind to my home," Sheik said.
Link pulled out the Master Sword, and looked to Sheik. She gently pushed open one of the great gates, and slipped through the crack. Link followed, closing the door. He froze.
Everything was destroyed… if Link did not know better, he might have thought himself back in Castle Town. Eternal darkness hung in the sky here as well, corpses were left where they'd fallen… and once again the tortured wind moaned without a breeze.
"That's not the wind, right?" Link whispered. In the darkness, he saw Sheik shake her head, "Not everything stays dead here. Stay close,"
Link didn't argue. The sheikah obviously knew what she was doing. In the murky twilight, their footsteps, soft as they were, seemed to echo in their ears. Sheik scrambled up one of the destroyed buildings, and Link followed, sheathing his blade first. They leapt, from building to building. Below him, Link saw furtive movement in the shadows, and familiar gangly shapes, shambling without direction. "What are they?" Link asked. Sheik was crouched beside him on the wall, uncomfortably close, she smelled of steel and blood, "We call them ReDeads. Its Ganon's version of a sick joke, a taste of his "mercy." He took their life, then gave it back… twisted and broken." Link suppressed a shiver. This man would die.
"Come, we are near the well," Sheik whispered.
Link felt unseen eyes upon him as they approached the village well. When they came closer, Link saw that it was dry. Sheik slipped into the opening, and scrambled down the ladder. Link followed her, down to the bottom. They were crammed tightly together in the confines. One of her knives was poking him uncomfortably with the pommel.
Sheik whistled a short tune, and an answering tune came back. Link didn't see who had whistled. Part of the stone wall shimmered, and dissolved, revealing a small cave. Was it physical, or an illusion? Link wondered idly. Another sheikah, wearing pieces of armor over the standard outfit, with a pair of hooked swords strapped to her back, stood just inside. Sheik darted into the cave, and Link followed, glad for the elbow room. The guard raised her hand, and the opening seemed to darken, as if seen through ten feet of water.
Impa cocked her head, "So you are the hero?" she asked, appraising the young man before her. He had an odd look to his eyes, which set the veteran shadow warrior on edge. Something was not quite… normal… about him. Impa had good instincts, and she trusted them. "Hold, a moment, has he been tested?" she asked, worried. Could they have been deceived?
"He holds the sword of evil's bane," Sheik pointed out. "I see, but there is something… different about him," Impa murmured, only loud enough for Sheik to hear.
She shrugged helplessly, and the young man cocked his head. "I am a kokiri," he offered. To prove this, a small blue faerie peeked out of his hood, before disappearing back into his hair. Impa's eyebrows rose. An adult kokiri? Surely… this could not be the kokiri that aided the princess all those years ago?
"How have you grown past childhood, and where is your tail?" Impa demanded, curious. The peculiar markings beneath the young man's eye made sense now.
"I drew the blade, but could not wield it, so the blade… molded me into what it needed," Link explained slowly, and as he said it, he felt an echo of confirmation from the sword.
Impa looked at him, and with that new knowledge, figured out what had struck her. The young man's mannerisms were those of a child, forced onto the body of an adult. They didn't look right.
"You may pass, Sheik, and you as well, Hero," Impa motioned with her hand, pointing them deeper into the cave.
As Link followed Sheik, he realized that it wasn't a cave… but sort of a… tomb. "What is this place?" Link asked.
"It is a dark place. An Interloper was executed here, his spirit bound for eternity within the bricks and mortar for his crimes. Ganon's gaze cannot find us here. After the Shadow Temple fell, filled with evil creatures… we were forced to move our operations here. A select few who have fled the Dark Lord were given sanctuary. Talon is among them."
They made their way deeper into the gloomy base, passing sleeping forms in alcoves that had once displayed the dead, now equipped with bedding and blanket, giving rest to the living, instead. A few turned to look at them, disinterest in their haunted eyes. A witch was busy stirring a potion on a simmering cauldron as they passed, the crone leering at them in greeting, before her gnarled hands returned to brewing.
They reached the deepest room in the dungeon, and Sheik pressed her palm to the door, which trembled and opened. Link ducked inside.
A map table took up much of the room, made in exacting detail to the topography of Hyrule. Then Link realized it was enchanted. A woman was bent over the table, her bound hair tucked impatiently over her shoulders. She was studying the area around Hylia bay.
"Milady, I have brought someone to you," Sheik announced politely. The woman jerked, and turned. Link felt a lurch. "Princess… Zelda?" he asked tentatively.
The young woman smiled, the robes were Royal design, but influenced by Sheikah materials and tastes. It was… interesting. Navi darted out of Link's hood, and settled on the woman's shoulder, then darted back to Link, "It's Zelda," she whispered. Link dropped to one knee, his head bowed, "I failed you, Princess," he whispered with shame.
Zelda placed a gently hand on Link's shoulder, "Rise, Hero, if anyone has failed, it is I. You did as I commanded, faithfully carrying out your duties. If any should claim the blame let it be mine."
Link reluctantly stood, he needed to speak, "Princess, I did not open the Sacred Realm in the name of peace, as Rauru, Sage of Light, believes. I did it in the name of murder, to kill a man," Link whispered.
"You believe what you did was wrong and amoral?" Zelda asked.
"I know it to be so," Link replied.
Zelda turned to Sheik suddenly, "Tell me, warrior, from where does the magic power you wield originate?"
The sheikah shifted, "From darkness, pain, misery… death sometimes…" she replied.
"What is your purpose?" Zelda asked.
"We swore to protect and aid the Royal family, in exchange for being granted leave to live within these lands," Sheik answered.
"And the Royal family is charged with the safety of their subjects, so essentially, you protect and safeguard the people of this land. The innocent, and the weak," Zelda continued.
Sheik nodded her head reluctantly.
Zelda turned to look at Link, "Why did you wish to use the Sacred Realm for murder?"
Link's eyes flashed, "To eradicate something less than a man, who spread death and horror… a man with the blood of innocent's on his hands… for revenge."
Zelda nodded, conceding the point, "Link, if the triforce was yours to command, what would you wish for?"
Link didn't even have to think about it, "I would undo the damage and evil Ganon has done." I would prevent him from ever being born.
Zelda crossed her arms, going in for the kill, "When given unlimited power, you choose to protect the defenseless, whereas Ganon seeks to subjugate and destroy…. You opened the Sacred Realm, in order to murder a man, a man so dangerous, that he could not be allowed to continue living, for he would spread more death, pain, and destruction with every breath he drew."
"Just as Sheik is not evil, despite the dark magic she wields, because she uses it to protect and serve those who cannot defend themselves."
Zelda raised an eyebrow at him, challenging him to think it through, and consider her words. Reluctantly he did, and slowly he realized that she was right.
Link sighed, "Regardless, my actions allowed Ganon to take the Triforce."
Zelda smiled, "Ganon does not have the Triforce,"
Link looked at her, "What? Then how has he accomplished all of this?" Link demanded.
Zelda took Link's left hand. A small triangle began to glow on the back of his hand. Zelda reversed their hands, so he could see that she too had a glowing triangle.
"The full power of the Triforce can only be used by someone with an equal balance of Wisdom, Courage, and Power. When Ganon touched the Triforce, it shattered into its three components. Ganon has done all of this using only the Triforce of Power. If he possessed the entire Triforce, then we would not be having this conversation. I possess the Triforce of Wisdom, and you carry within you the Triforce of Courage."
Link considered this. He raised his chin, "What would you have me do?" he asked.
Zelda smiled, "Saving the kingdom seems like a good place to start," she replied lightly.
She clapped her hands, and a man in dented plate armor stepped forward.
He carried a sword at his hip, and a shield on his back. "I presume that you have had… difficulty… adjusting to your new body?"
Link nodded uncomfortably.
"This is Sir Donovan. He will help you… acclimatize." Link recognized the man after a moment, as the knight that accompanied the young princess in her flight from Castle Town.
"If I may, I was told that Talon was here," Link interrupted.
"Talon?" Zelda asked, distracted.
"The drunkard with the battle-axe," the knight supplied, his voice a deep rumble.
"Oh, he is on a raid, at the moment," Zelda answered.
"When will he return?" Link pressed.
"Hard to say, the Knight shrugged, "Shall we begin?"
"Again, damn you!" the knight roared, and Link snarled, dashing through the obstacle course. He was tired, sweaty, and bloody. Some of the traps were sharp. This was a Sheikah training ground, after all. He jumped over a short wall, tucking his body to slide beneath the swinging blade ahead of him, and popped up to his feet, spinning to his left to keep his feet under him, despite the lurching platform, and dove, latching onto a bar with his hands, whipping his body forward into a reverse somersault.
Donovan watched the kokiri navigate the sheikah training course. The young man's awkwardness was beginning to dissipate, replaced by confidence. Link was relearning the limits of his body. It would take several weeks… but Donovan was impressed with the clay he had been given. This one had agility and speed seldom seen among non-Sheikah, as well as keen visual-spatial awareness. In the knight's opinion, compensating for his increased mass and inertia was the hardest challenge for the Hero of Time. Predictably, as soon as the Hero found his rhythm, he slipped back into his old mindset… and promptly tripped.
"Again!" Donovan shouted, and the kokiri gave him a look that promised death and misery upon his children, his children's children, and their children. Donovan wasn't worried unduly. He doubted he would live long enough to have children.
"No, hold the blade like this. Main hand below the crossguard, and reserve hand gently grips the pommel," Donovan admonished, correcting Link's grip.
Link had never received formal instruction among the kokiri. There, you learned by experience, or from watching others… or you stayed in the trees.
He had used speed and strength to defeat his opponents thus far, but now, he must learn skill. The Master Sword could give him knowledge, and pointers in battle, but it was not as swift as the body instinctively moving with that knowledge. Also, the greater the wielder's knowledge, the more advanced the techniques Master Sword could channel to him.
Link stared at the enchanted map, "So we have not had contact with the Zoras for six weeks?" Link asked.
"Correct, the last word we received was of an attack on Zora's domain, but the messenger seemed confident that they would repel it, however, when no additional word came, I sent Sheik to investigate. The entrance to the domain has been frozen solid."
Link nodded unhappily. Zelda crossed her arms, "The Gorons used to be our staunchest allies, up until three years ago. Suddenly, all aid ceased, and Ganon's armies have received shipments of weapons and armor from Death mountain. The spies I sent to investigate reported of some new enemy, before contact was lost. I dare not send more. I would suggest seeking out the Goron's first. With their warriors, we could reopen at least two additional fronts for the enemy."
"Very well, Princess." He turned to leave, then remembered something.
"Before I leave Princess, I have something that belongs to you," he pulled the Ocarina of Time from a pouch on his belt, and held it out to her. Zelda shook her head, "You will need it in your mission, keep it until Hyrule is safe."
Link left the war room, a new spring in his step. Sheik ghosted along beside him, "Talon has returned from his raid. He is this way, down the east wing," she said. Link followed her, and they came to a small crypt. Link spotted Talon immediately. He approached the sleeping man, and shook his shoulder. "Talon," Link called loudly.
"Gah!" Talon yelped, his large hands flailing. Link dodged away, while the big man sputtered. "What do you want!? Disturbing a man's sleep, why, that's just… inhuman—"
"Talon. Where is Malon?" Link asked, the intensity of his gaze cutting through Talon's sleep addled wits.
"Mal-malon?" Talon asked. Link crouched next to the man, "Yes. Where is your daughter?" Link demanded.
"And who is she to you?" Talon demanded he didn't recognize the fighter. Link smiled, "Seven years ago a kokiri saved your daughter's life,"
"Aye, but that's debatable," Talon began to argue.
"In the process, Malon stole his heart."
Talon's jaw dropped. "No cotton-picking way…"
Link smiled smugly, "The bracelet was mine."
Talon's eyes grew large, especially when Navi darted out to stand on Link's shoulder, fists planted on her hips in challenge.
"She's… she was captured, in the last raid. We were already away, I thought she was with us!" Talon wailed, "They would not let me go…" this close, Link realized he could smell alcohol… a lot of it, on Talon.
Link's eyes grew cold, and Talon had no doubts that this young man was a demon. "Talon. Grab your things," he whispered.
"Why?" Talon asked.
"We're going to rescue your daughter. We're leaving, now."
Talon scrambled to his feet, following the demon.
Link stalked down the dark corridor, anger drifting off him in cold waves, even the ghosts kept their distance.
"You would risk our allies for the life of a single girl?" Sheik demanded.
"Yes," Link hissed.
"Then I'm coming with you," Sheik told him.
"Mounts would be helpful," Link responded, not really concerned.
"I'll see what I can do," Sheik murmured, literally fading into the shadows.
Twenty minutes later, three figures rode out of Kakariko at full gallop, as if the hounds of hell were nipping at their heels.
They only had two horses.
"You didn't say you couldn't ride!" Sheik accused. Link was riding behind her, his arms clamped uncomfortably around her waist as he held on for dear life. He would have rather ridden with Talon, but the horse flatly refused to take a second rider, probably due to Talon's size. It was awkward riding with a girl, especially one he didn't really know. He was eternally grateful that he was wearing pants.
"And when, exactly, would I have learned?" Link shot back. "I was asleep for seven years! Before that, I was too small to ride anything bigger than a wolfos, which is nothing like a horse!"
"You sit on the animal, and you tell it where to go! What is so different?" Sheik growled.
"You ride a wolfos bareback, and you aren't the one in control. You're just there to back him up!" Link replied, irritated.
Talon watched with amusement as the two demons bickered. It was almost cute, until you remembered what they were. Seeing a forest demon, so thoroughly terrified of a horse… well, it warmed the jaded little cockles of Talon's heart. Besides, Talon could lock Malon away from Link after, they rescued her. It was a nine-day ride… they reached their target in five.
Navi scouted out the perimeter of the fortified compound, which appeared to have once been a ranch, although much smaller than the one Talon had owned. She returned to Link after half an hour. The three rescuers had taken up position on a hill overlooking the enemy.
"There's a dozen Gerudo, a hundred moblins, eight prisoners, Malon, twenty horses, and sixty cows. I counted the chickens too. Want to know how many?" Navi asked. Link shook his head, "What's the layout?" he asked.
Navi landed on the crude map Talon had drawn in the dirt. She stepped into the box that represented the stables, "The prisoners are kept here. There's two Moblins in there at all times."
She hopped over to the farmhouse, "The Gerudo are stationed here."
She sketched paths along the wall, outlining patrol routes, "The Moblins patrol the walls in pairs here, always rotating their shifts, but usually they stay by the gates."
Link rubbed his chin. He hiked the quiver on his back a little higher. It felt strange to have such a large bow, when compared to the twenty-four inch Kokiri bow he used to carry… but he'd practiced religiously with it during the two day journey. It didn't behave drastically different, but he was still adjusting to its increased range and stopping power. He could consistently hit targets at thirty meters, but anything past fifty meters was relatively safe from him.
Link looked at the map… Talon eagerly fondled his axe.
"Sheik, I want you to scale the wall here, and create a diversion on the western wall, keep them occupied.
I will slip over the wall, here, on the eastern side, and kill the moblin sentries, then unbar the gate and let Talon in. We head for the stables, and get the prisoners on horses, and try to maintain the element of surprise.
After we've gotten the prisoners out, meet up with us three miles east, near the brook," Link told Sheik.
Talon tested the edge of his axe, "My part's simple. I like it."
Navi rolled her eyes, but due to her size, none except Sheik noticed.
Link perched atop the wall, and dropped another Moblin with an arrow through its eye. He drew again, sighting up on the Moblin beside his first target… and missed. In the dark, the moblin was still trying to figure out what had happened when a spike lodged in its throat. The poison brought the dog-faced monster down in a matter of moments. Link didn't see where Sheik had thrown the weapon from.
Talon waited outside the gates impatiently, nervous of stalhounds picking up his scent, now that Sheik wasn't concealing them. He really didn't like dogs, or dog-like things, not since childhood. Where was that damned forest demon? Talon had a sneaking suspicion that the kokiri might not open the gates, and might, at this very moment be carrying Malon over the northern wall. The fool girl would probably go along with it, just to spite him—
Wood was shifted quietly, and the gates eased open slightly. The kokiri stuck his head out, and motioned for Talon to come along. Talon continued thinking dark thoughts as he passed several headless bodies, before a couple of Moblins distracted him from his thoughts, and following the demon into the stables.
Link rolled under his opponent's swing, parried with the Master Sword, and spun, cutting the monster in half. The Master Sword could cut. He'd hardly had to apply any force to the strike… Link flicked blood off his sword and wiped it clean on the dead monster's jerkin. Talon barged into the stables, laughing, blood dripping off his battle axe. Upon seeing him, the prisoners cheered, "Talon!" they cried.
"You didn't think I just forgot about you ugly bastards?" Talon shouted jokingly.
Except at the bottom of a bottle, Navi thought snidely.
Link tossed Talon one set of keys. He saw a flash of red hair in the stable's gloom, and he headed right for it.
Malon looked up, seeing a young man bearing down on her. She didn't recognize him, but the intensity in his gaze scared her. He quickly unlocked the man next to her, then her own shackles, handing the key to the man he'd freed, never taking his eyes off her. "Thank you, sir, for your assistance. I will take my leave-" Malon, stammered, cut off when he wrapped her in tight embrace. "Please, sir-" Where's my bow? Or a knife?
"You're still wearing my bracelet, Malon," he whispered in her ear.
His bracelet? She only wore the bracelet the demon had-
"Link?" she whispered.
"I said I'd like to see you again," he replied, and she caught the smell of leaves after the rain…
"Link!" she cried, and returned the embrace.
Talon ambled down the line of prisoners, and found that a woman with red hair was very passionately kissing the demon. They didn't seem to be aware that everyone else was staring. Eventually, they did have to breathe though.
"Ahem, demon, that's my daughter yer kissing," Talon observed.
"Noticed that, did you?" Malon remarked snidely.
"Now listen here, girl," Talon started,
"No, you listen, papa. I've had to grow up the hard way. Who I kiss is my business, and none of yours," she seethed.
Talon was taken aback by the venom, but not surprised. She hadn't turned into a hellion over night.
Link looked at Talon, "Get these people ready to leave. We can't stay here."
He stood at the door, peering out at the fire that was threatening to consume the entire compound, starting with the crude leather tents of the moblins.
"I believe I might have been too successful in my distraction," a shadow said, peeling itself off the side of the stables.
Link shrugged, "We'll be gone before it reaches us."
Sheik nodded absently, toying with one of her poisoned throwing spikes idly.
Princess Zelda sighed, and massaged the bridge of her nose. "You are certain of this?" she asked. The Shiekah scout nodded slowly, "Yes, milady."
"Thank you, Lito," she said absently, and looked back at her campaign map. Dismissed, the warrior bowed, and left the room. Ganon's hordes had destroyed Ecilis, a smaller village near the edges of the Kokiri Forest… on suspicion of aiding the "enemy." She had failed her people again, and it would not be the last time… but others still needed her.
Sheik glared at Link, "We cannot accompany them back to the camps. It would add several days to our journey, and place both of us at greater risk."
He'd just found her again. Letting go…
"We go to face great evil. Would you endanger Malon simply to ease your own heart?" Navi asked, agreeing with the Sheikah. It took several more minutes of persuasion before Link agreed to Navi's advice… but watching the group of rebels and horses disappear over the next hill tore at several of the wounds that had begun to scab… wounds inflicted by the Phantom and his poisonous words. Others needed their help… and Malon could take care of herself, Link knew. The occasional rescue was tolerated, he had found. Protective smothering during the last two days had quickly earned her ire.
