Chapter 10

1

She was dreaming, there was no doubt.

She did not need to count her fingers, because she knew the dream very well. Through the window she looked out into the distance and saw the glow of the torch, and she heard the quiet voice.

"Come..."

She spread her wings and flew through the window, on and on. But when she arrived at the edge of the garden, she realized that something held her back. She looked around, and her mother was there. She also had wings and floated beside her.

"I can not allow this," her mother said. "It is not supposed to happen."

"Let me go," urged Impa and tried to break away from her. She looked for a connection that she could break, but she saw none.

"Let me go," she asked again. "I must go to him. He needs me. He is confused and sad. I must help him."

"He's fine," said her mother. You must forget him. We have prepared everything."

Impa recoiled gently and felt in her dream how panic spread within her.

"No!" she screamed. From all directions more winged creatures came and slowly surrounded her. Soon she would be completely enclosed in a ball of wings and feathers. They came closer and closer, the ball was growing tighter, and tighter still...

"I do not want this..." whimpered Impa.

"You need us..." whispered the winged ones and other wings caressed her cheeks.

"No..." she said softly. "No... I don't need you."

The ball loosened a bit, then came closer again. But Impa had understood.

"I do not need you," she said firmly. "You have guided and led me, but now I make my own decisions, and I choose him. I no longer need you."

Then, with a powerful flap of wings, she flew out of the ball and into the night. Deep down she saw the burning torch, and he was standing there. She sunk and landed beside him in front of the torch. She threw off her wings and shook her hair. He looked up from the torch, and his astonished, sad eyes stabbed into her heart.

"Who are you? And why am I here?" he asked. "Can you tell me?"

She saw the little pile of ashes in his burnt hand.

"I am Impa," she said to him, "and you are here to burn."

2

Gasping, he woke from his dream. He blinked and froze as he realized that it had been a dream. It had been so clear, so obvious, and so complete! He was sure that he had the answer. He just needed to be fast enough before it faded again. He had caught the moth, but his hand had got into the fire, and he had been burned anyway. And then the winged creature had come and had thrown off its wings. He had asked it... asked her...

Impa.

She had to be the one. She had been in his dream, because she had built the barrier in his mind.

Kendrice jumped out of bed like mad, and with trembling fingers he lit a candle on the small table. Impa wanted him to forget, but she also wanted him to remember.

She must have left me a key.

Frantically he looked around the room. She must have been there, otherwise she could not have built the barrier. She must have taken something that was here with him, something that he could find. With twitching eyes he let his gaze wander through the room. Nothing was different, everything was as it always was.

He listened. Was it perhaps a sound, a noise, a word?

He withdrew backwards to the little table, and the books fell to the floor. Without looking, he picked them up and put them back on the table. His fingers brushed over the familiar cover that he had worn with him almost constantly in the last few days, and his heart pounded as he turned and took the book in his hand.

Arut ill Siverdis. The Art of the Sword.

Two pages were left. He had read everything up to that point, but the key had not been there. With trembling hands he turned the last two pages...

And there it was.

Andyr.

Fire.

He knew it the moment he saw it. The barrier was destroyed.

3

It was the day of the exams.

Impa awoke at dawn and got ready for her work. In her bathroom she washed her body and bound up her white hair in a stern braid that would not interfere with the fighting. She put on her combat suit and tied both swords on her back. On her feet she pulled soft leather boots that clung to the fabric of the combat suit.

Ten candidates were on her list. She knew each of them personally and had seen how they were performing in the practice sessions. For each of them she had thought up a special test, which challenged his strengths and weaknesses alike. She put the ten medals in a small box. Ten fights she would have to perform, and then... she would leave.

Tomorrow.

She took the little box with the medals under her arm and went on her way. The tests would start at sunrise. She walked through the corridors to the rear exit of the castle. There were many people on the way, mainly servants and guests who were housed in the castle. Nobody paid any attention to her, much to her relief.

Outside, a fresh September morning received her. A slight breeze blew in the cool air, and dewdrops hung in the the closely mown grass on the wayside.

She didn't have far to go. During the night, the smaller arenas and grandstands had been converted to a large arena with high grandstands for the exams. Already from a distance she could hear the murmur and whisper of the spectators in the stands, who were waiting impatiently for the sun to rise.

At the edge of the arena, in front of the special seats which had been prepared for the royal couple and their guests, stood Impa's equipment table next to a bench on which the candidates sat. Captain Pierce had already arrived, and he came to Impa and placed a large hourglass on her equipment table.

"Good morning, Madam Impa," he said with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

Impa smiled and also greeted him.

"Good morning, Captain. Are your candidates ready?"

"They are, Madam. However, there has been a small change in their number."

Impa frowned. "What do you mean, has someone fallen ill?" She quickly looked to the candidates on the bench, but the group appeared to be complete.

"No, Madam, but someone has been added. He has just contacted me this morning and asked to be allowed to take the exam."

A strange premonition swelled in Impa's chest. She felt the familiar draw in her hands, and almost did not dare to ask.

"Who is it, Captain?"

Pierce's features softened, as he stated with a barely perceptible smile:

"Lord Richard Kendrice, Madam. He believes he's ready."

The blood rushed in Impa's ears as she heard the words she had feared. As if from far away she heard Pierce ask:

"Do you approve, Madam? Or should I decline him?"

"No..." she heard herself say.

Her eyes turned back to Pierce, who looked at her with a questioning face.

"I... do not understand, Madam."

"He... he can participate, Captain. "But only after I have tested the other candidates."

"He..." Pierce cleared this throat hoarsely. "He asks to be tested in the fight with two swords, Madam. I know that we have not yet had such a situation, but the law allows the candidate to choose the type of his exam if he wants to."

Impa barely understood what Pierce said. Had Kendrice not received her message? Surely he would have come to her...

What was he up to? Did he want to humiliate her in front of all the spectators? Did he want to take vengeance that she had hurt him? But he would not succeed.

I will take him apart, in front of all the people here.

"Madam?" asked Pierce, and Impa had to swallow the lump in her throat.

"Tell him, he can take the exam," she said to Pierce in a firm voice. "Two swords. Not less."

"All right, Madam." Pierce looked over her shoulder to the grandstand, and Impa turned and followed his gaze. Kendrice sat there with his swords on his lap, next to Link, Zelda and Jayrid, and she saw how he thanked Captain Pierce with a small gesture. Then his gaze turned to her and he bowed his head slightly in greeting.

Impa stared at him, then lowered her gaze with a beating heart.

He has not found the key...

Countless thoughts crowded in her mind, but she tried to focus on her mission.

First test the others. You can take care of him later.

The sun had now fully risen, and the first candidate came forward with his sword.

"Good morning, Mister Daren" Impa greeted him.

Daren gave a slight bow and drew his sword. He threw the sheath to Pierce, who caught it and nodded encouragingly to Daren. Then Pierce went to the hourglass on the table and took it in his hand.

"My Lords and Ladies," he addressed the audience and the candidates, "the exam begins. It is held by Mistress Impa, Royal Instructor and Examiner in swordplay. Each candidate will be subjected to the test she provides for him. Fighting is done with sharp swords under customary conditions of combat."

He gestured to Impa to announce her test. Impa turned to her candidate.

"The candidate will try to resist my attacks for five minutes without injury. If I succeed to hurt him, the test is not passed."

Impa drew one of her swords with her right hand and nodded to Pierce. He put the hourglass with the full part up on the table and a bell sounded. She turned to Daren.

"Defend yourself, Mister Daren" she said calmly and stood in her attack position.

The soldier knew what was at stake. He calmly waited for her attack and watched her closely. Impa knew where his weak point was – and slammed. But he parried, though just barely. She hit again, and then again in rapid succession. He parried repeatedly and tried to keep his eyes glued on her. Impa whirled and tried to hit him on the shoulder, but he squirmed under her sword and rolled over. When he realized that he had an advantage, he tried to attack, but he was too slow and Impa parried quickly. He continued to attack, but Impa drove him back and targeted his shoulder again. He wanted to duck down again, but Impa hit with a deeper blow, and he had to parry. They repeated their attacks again and again until finally the bell rang. Impa withdrew and nodded to Daren, who bowed again and went back to the bench to the other candidates.

Impa stole a glance at the stands to Kendrice. He watched her with a calm expression. The blood rushed to her face and she snorted.

Must he watch me all the time?

She tried to remain calm and turned her attention back to the test, as the bell rang out, and a new candidate stood before her.

4

Ten fights.

Each was different, and each called the best of the candidates. Daren was afraid of being hurt, Impa knew. Other candidates had other weaknesses, and during their trials she had confronted all of them with their weaknesses and led them to draw on their strengths. But all had done well, and all had passed.

And now the final battle lay before her. She was standing in the center of the arena, waiting for her... opponent. A deep breath cleared her mind and she straightened. With her chin up and a determined expression she turned her head to Pierce and nodded at him. She saw Pierce's look go to Kendrice, who received it and also nodded. Kendrice stood up and took off his cloak. Underneath he wore his red tunic, a white shirt and black trousers. She knew this attire well and a stab ran through her body.

Could it be possible...

A faint hope stirred within her. She followed Kendrice with her gaze, while he made his way down through the rows of spectators to the arena. The audience had noticed that something unusual was going on, and murmured and whispered excitedly.

And then he stood before her. His eyes were fixed on her and slightly narrowed. A small smile played on his lips, and Impa could barely avert her gaze from them. Pierce came to him and Kendrice gave him his sheaths, before he drew both swords from them. In his right hand lay Andyr, the fire sword. Pierce brought the sheaths to the table, then he addressed the audience.

"My Ladies and Lords, distinguished audience, Lord Richard Kendrice will take Mistress Impa's exam as an additional candidate. Fighting is done with two sharp swords, until the victory of one opponent."

The murmur of the audience grew louder, as never before had there been a fight like this one in the exams. The fighting took place usually between candidate and examiner, but this time two opponents would fight against each other, without consideration and without mercy.

Impa took another deep breath and drew both swords from her back.

"Defend yourself, my Lord," she said with a calm voice, and took up her attack pose. Involuntarily her gaze went to Kendrice's neck where a small scar was left from the injury she had done to him.

Kendrice attacked immediately. Impa had expected him to encircle her to find her weak spot, but he struck promptly with both swords at her, so she had to put all her attention into her defense. He struck with a force that Impa would never have imagined in him. Again and again he came upon her and gave her no chance to attack. The crowd was silent and all held their breath.

You must jump, he can not do that! Attack him from above! And duck, damn it.

Impa realized that confusion spread in her mind. He would not give her a chance. Her usual tactic did not work with him any more. She would have to come up with something. She let him come towards her, ducked under his swords and took advantage of his surprise to jump a somersault behind him. His back was not protected and Impa struck with all her strength. In the last moment he parried with Andyr and for an instant Impa saw the large ruby flashing before her eyes. In that moment she suddenly felt a part of her arm disappear. Startled she stared at it and saw that her sword was missing. The crowd gasped as her sword flew in a wide arc to the edge of the arena and fell to the ground with a clashing sound.

No one had ever disarmed her.

She looked at Kendrice, who circled her with a grim smile. His eyes bored into hers like two daggers.

"Come, my Lady," he said in a low voice. "One weapon you still have. Burn me."

"You..." she snarled furiously.

She flew at him, but he was already gone when she landed. His two blades hissed around her ears and she could barely fend off his rapid strokes.

You must concentrate...

But it was impossible. His words rang in her ears, over and over again. Her eyes searched wildly for a way, for a gap that she could use. The missing sword pained her, it hurt her.

Kendrice played with her. He circled her again with that same grim smile on his face, and his eyes were like the steel of his swords. Impa tried to attack, but he had expected it, and as she tried to parry his blows, he suddenly jerked his two swords in the air and hurled her last sword out of her hand.

Trembling she stood there, gasping for breath.

What was that? What had he done to her?

The crowd had grown deathly quiet. No sound could be heard, as Impa looked perturbed at her empty hands. She looked at Kendrice. A pained expression was on his face, and his lips quivered.

"How... how could you..." stammered Impa.

Kendrice was breathing heavily. He closed his eyes for a moment with an agonized grimace. Then his eyes met hers again.

"I read your book, my Lady. To the end. And then a little more."

Impa's eyes widened as realization struck her.

"You... You did..." Her voice trailed off.

Kendrice nodded slowly. "Yes, my Lady. I... remember."

Then he reached out with both arms and with a fierce motion rammed his two swords into the ground. He stepped up to Impa. With pounding heart and trembling lips she stood before him, not daring to look into his eyes. But he put a finger under her chin and lifted her face to his, and she saw his eyes, his lips, so close...

"Do such a thing again, and I will kill you," Kendrice breathed in a stern voice. She felt his fervent hand on her back, that pulled her closer, before his mouth came to her waiting lips, and finally freed her.

5

The audience was racing.

Hylians, Zoras, Gorons and Gerudos rose from their seats and shouted loud cheers, clapped their hands and stamped their feet, while down there in the arena two people melded together, who had found each other. Blinking and struggling against tears, Captain Pierce was standing beside Impa's equipment table and felt a sublime peace finally settle about him. As he turned, he saw Link in the stands pick up Kendrice's cloak and then come down the stairs together with Jayrid. As they approached him, Pierce raised both hands, palms outward, and Link and Jayrid smiling clapped his hands as they passed. Pierce put his hands over his face and slowly shook his head. Then he turned and looked back at the couple in the arena. Link and Jayrid had stopped at a respectful distance. Impa and Lord Kendrice were still kissing obliviously, but Pierce wanted them to have their togetherness. He stood beside Link and Jayrid and said:

"That I could live to see this..."

Link turned to him smiling and gave him Kendrice's cloak. He squeezed Pierce's shoulder friendly and said:

"You have done well, my friend. I am glad that finally peace will come. Hopefully."

Pierce took the cloak and went to Impa and Kendrice, who had parted and were looking smiling at each other. With measured steps he approached them and put Kendrice's cloak around Impa's shoulders.

"Come, my Lord," he softly said to Kendrice. "I believe, you have passed the test."

Kendrice took a deep breath and grabbed Impa's hand. He looked at his two swords that were stuck in the ground, but Pierce said:

"We will take care of them, my Lord. Bring Madam Impa home."

Kendrice nodded gratefully, then led Impa from the arena, while the audience slowly calmed down.

Pierce looked after them, remembering how it all began.

Kendrice's zeal had seemed suspicious to him from the beginning, and the better he became, the more his suspicion was confirmed that Kendrice was in love with Impa. Kendrice had never said anything, but Pierce had been watching him. As Kendrice then began to fight with two swords, he had been sure that his suspicions were true.

And then, last night...

.

A loud knock on the door to his chambers woke him. Roselyn, who lay beside him, was also awake and looked at him grimly.

"If it is that crazy Lord Kendrice again, I'll put the guards onto his neck," she growled.

"Quiet, my darling," Pierce tried to calm her. "Go back to sleep, I'll go have a look."

He lit a candle and stepped through the door. Lord Kendrice stood outside, with dishevelled hair and apparently dressed in a hurry. He had brought no swords, but in his hand Pierce saw the book Arut ill Siverdis.

"Do you want to come in?" he asked him.

Lord Kendrice nodded gratefully and walked past him through the door.

Pierce offered him a chair at the table in the living room, put the candlestick on the table and sat down opposite to Kendrice.

Kendrice put the book on the table, ran his hands over his face and took a deep breath before he began.

"You asked me yesterday about that fight, in which Impa wanted to teach me a lesson."

"Yes, I did," Pierce said calmly. "But you gave me no answer."

"I gave you no answer for the simple reason that yesterday I did not remember that fight," Kendrice said. "But I do now."

Pierce frowned.

"I do not understand, my Lord."

But Kendrice raised a finger to indicate that he was not finished.

"In fact, I no longer remembered because I should not remember. The memory was in my mind, but it was... surrounded by a barrier."

"But then..." Pierce began.

"Yes, Captain. Someone entered my mind and built a barrier there."

"Do you know who it was?" Pierce asked, looking at Kendrice attentively.

Kendrice nodded slowly and looked up at Pierce.

"Impa."

"But why? Does it have anything to do with this fight, my Lord?"

Kendrice nodded again, and a wistful expression came into his eyes.

"That night... She... was there. She had been waiting for me, apparently indeed to put a dampener on me. But the fight ended with a stalemate and..."

Embarrassed, he lowered his gaze.

"You... love her, Lord Kendrice. Am I right?"

Kendrice swallowed before he spoke.

"I have loved her for many years now. I never had the courage to approach her. You know how she is. Eventually I realized that I could only find her attention in one way – by impressing her, with something she is good in.

"Therefore the two swords."

Kendrice nodded. "After this had become clear to me, I began to act. Captain, you see a new person before you. Before I was an old, embittered man. But today I can compete with the best sword fighter of Hyrule. My body is strong and healthy, my mind is clear and my senses are sharpened. And that night... I conquered her. She was mine, and our souls united, but then... she left. She surrounded my memory of that night, and the fight – and even of my love for her – with a barrier – and disappeared."

"But how could you overcome the barrier, Lord Kendrice?" asked Pierce. "Impa is the strongest telepath I know, she would never be negligent in this respect. Unless..." He looked at Kendrice with wide eyes. "...she... wanted..."

Kendrice nodded. "Yes. She left me a key, before she went away. And tonight I found it."

"How?" whispered Pierce.

Kendrice took the book and opened up the last page. Pierce had also read the book and knew the last page. Under the last line, in the free area of the page, someone hat written a single word: Andyr.

"You learned Sheikan, Captain. Do you know this word?"

Pierce nodded. "It means fire, as far as I know, but also..."

"Ruby" Kendrice finished the sentence. "It is the name I gave my sword. I told it to nobody. No one. Except her. That night."

Pierce stared at the word on the page and nodded slowly. It was amazing.

"I have come to you for two reasons," Kendrice continued. "First – I need one last confirmation. You were the last person to read the book before me and you would have noticed this word, if it had already been there before."

Pierce looked in Kendrice's gray eyes that glittered in the candlelight, and shook his head. "When I read the book, it was not there."

Kendrice released his breath relieved. "Thank you, my friend. That means that Impa wrote it, and that she wrote it for me. And the second reason is – I believe, Impa also loves me. But something prevents her to reveal herself to me, so she took away the memory of it from me – and the knowledge. I fear that, if I face her alone, something similar will happen, and that she might then completely surround the memory with a barrier – or worse. And to prevent this, I need your help."

"My...?" Said Pierce surprised.

"Tomorrow... that is, of course – today, are the exams of the elite fighters, and Impa will conduct the testing. The stands will be full of members of all tribes of Hyrule. I want to ask you that you register me as a candidate. I must face Impa and – if possible – defeat her, before the eyes of the entire country. Do you understand me?"

For a long moment, Pierce looked smiling at his folded hands on the table. Then he looked back at Lord Kendrice and his face showed a broad smile.

"I feel honored, Lord Kendrice. And you are more than ready for this test."