Among the Ashes
And you say I only hear what I want to:
I don't listen hard
Don't pay attention to the distance that you're running
To anyone, anywhere
I don't understand if you really care
Some of us hover when we weep for the other
Who was dying since the day they were born
And you say, "Stay"
Lisa Loeb "Stay"
Chapter 10
Answers
Even though he knew that Elice would not like it, Marth instructed Roy to bring her to the secure chamber deep in the castle once again. Their adversary showed no signs of returning, but Marth could not help but take the extra precaution. Healers attended to her wounds and assured Marth that, with rest, she would be perfectly fine. Elice hated being pampered and doted on more than anything else, so Roy expected her to put up a fuss, at least just for show. He expected anything but this numb silence.
Elice had not spoken a word since Roy had lifted her and carried her out of the forest. The cold, glazed look in her eyes worried him. She slowly blinked, staring straight ahead as though looking at nothing at all. A sudden rage filled him as he looked at her, recognizing her pain. He knew how much it must have taken to push her this far, to a point he had hoped she would never reach again.
Roy remembered that lifeless expression all too well, and looking at her now sent of chill of reminiscence down his spine. The last time this had happened, after her long, cruel captivity in the hands of the Dragon Medeus, he had avoided her completely. It had been too hard for him to see her like this. He realized now that he had been cowardly to leave her because of his own discomfort.
Of course, back then he had been in a full fit of denial of his feelings for her. Those days were long gone now. His love for her could hardly be considered a secret anymore, and he knew she loved him right back. He could be strong enough to stay with her during her time of pain now, because he knew she needed him. It came as an unexpected relief, this realization that somewhere along the line he had grown up, if only just a little.
Marth stood up suddenly, stifling a yawn. Roy's head jerked up. He had all but forgotten about Marth. Looking at him Roy could see now that Marth looked how Roy felt. With his eyes heavily rimmed and his face pale and worn he appeared to be dead on his feet. Dawn must have come and gone and Roy could only venture a guess at how long they had all been awake.
"Get some sleep, Elice," Marth said, patting her on the head, looking at her carefully for a moment before heading for the door.
"You're leaving me here?" Roy asked dubiously as Marth opened the door.
"I trust you," Marth replied, almost convincingly. "Besides, I've got a dozen soldiers standing guard out here with orders to shoot to kill," he added characteristically.
Roy smirked at Marth's feeble but appreciated attempt at humor as Elice's eyes followed her brother out of the room. She didn't move a muscle or make a sound. She sat with her back against the headboard, stiff and unnaturally still.
"Elice," Roy said quietly, getting up and taking a seat beside her on the side of her bed. He touched her forehead and ran his hand back through her hair. Her eyes closed then reopened, fixing on him. "I want you to sleep," he commanded firmly but gently. He knew better than to have the torches put out. He had been the one to ensure they had all been lit upon her arrival.
He leaned over and kissed her forehead, then made to get to his feet but her hand reached out and clutched his shirt, pulling him back.
"Or, I could just stay here," he responded.
"Don't go," she whispered, her eyes awakening momentarily. He could see the effort it took for her to break through this far.
"I'm not going anywhere," he assured her as he put his hand on her head, tipping it down against his shoulder. At first she sat rigidly beside him but as he gently stroked her hair she felt a gradual peace settling over her. Slowly she softened, her head nestling into the crook of his neck. Her eyelids finally slipped shut as she allowed exhaustion to take her.
"Roy," she breathed, so quietly he wasn't sure he had heard her. He looked down at her face, certain that she was asleep, though once more her lips parted and she mumbled softly, "Stay…"
Marth walked up the stairs and strode down the long, torch lit hall, making a straight course for the chamber which held their strange visitor. Brushing past the pair of soldiers outside the door he knocked once then stepped inside, closing the door behind him.
With his long awaited answers within his grasp he could not wait until morning. He needed to know now.
Marth stopped in the doorway, arms folded and expression firm. Ciara stood across the room with her back to him, looking out the window into the fading night. At the sound of his arrival she turned and stared right back without a hint of intimidation. He could see her features clearly for the first time. Her skin looked even paler under the brilliant torchlight. Her long face and gentle features did not quite seem to fit the intensity in her eyes. Indeed, she looked more like a queen awaiting her summoned servant than a prisoner facing her captor.
"Decided to take this seriously at last?" she asked. "I don't understand why you're wasting your time keeping me here like this when your true enemies continue to walk free."
"I will decide who is to be trusted and who is my enemy," Marth informed her, his expression never changing.
"I think I've made myself quite clear. How is your sister?"
"She is resting," Marth replied after a moment, not quite expecting this. "I suppose thanks are in order," he added awkwardly.
"Happy to be of service," she inclined her head in a slight bow.
Unexpectedly disarmed Marth fought to keep his voice strong and demanding. "You are going to tell me what I wish to know, and you are going to tell me now. Do you understand me?"
"That's why I'm here, now isn't it? What do you wish to know?" she replied calmly, unconvinced by Marth's commanding demeanor.
"Everything," he replied unequivocally, "starting with the obvious. Who are you?"
"Ciara, a priestess of the Gahlen Temple of Etruria. I was sent here to help you."
"By whom?"
"The High Priest Bailiff of the Grand Council of Etruria."
"Etruria is a long way from here and we have had little if any dealings with your country for many hundreds of years," Marth's voice remained hard and cold. "We are strangers to one another."
"You may not know us, but we know you. I have been watching you and your sister specifically for some time now. Believe me; we are well aware of Aritia's situation and what has been happening here."
"Aritia has been in turmoil for decades. Why would you come to help us now?"
"Because up until now Aritia's problems, while many, have had no effect on Etruria or anyone else for that matter."
"And how does a plot to kidnap my sister affect Etruria?"
"A plot to kidnap?" Ciara scoffed, and then she sighed. "Well, the council warned that you were probably not aware of what you held, and it appears they were right. That is why they sent me in the first place."
"And what exactly do I hold?"
"The Blood Pendant," Ciara replied, "the Dragon's Bane. You may know it as Anri's Emblem."
"How do you know this?"
"How do I know? You are Marth, aren't you? Son of Eleanor and Cornelius? Prince of Aritia? Heir to the throne of Anri?"
Marth made no reply, careful not to let any expression show on his face.
"You have it," Ciara stated confidently.
Her eyes followed him carefully as he paced back and forth across the room, his hand on his chin in thought.
"What happened to you?" she asked, her brow furrowed inquisitively.
"What?" Marth asked, looking up in bewilderment.
"You're limping," she commented. "I didn't hurt you, did - "
"No," Marth cut in more sharply than needed. He stopped moving, acutely aware now of his uneven steps. He could usually control it very well, so well that unless someone was already aware of his injury they would not notice it at all. He sometimes forgot about it himself, which could prove to be a problem at a time such as this. If he lapsed in concentration and forgot to consciously hide the impairment it became all too obvious, much to his chagrin.
"Oh. Well, I'm sure that has a pretty interesting story behind it, then. Such things usually do," she raised a hand and brushed her thick hair behind her ear, which Marth now noticed was missing its tip. Ciara caught his eye, her expression unreadable. Forcing himself to look away he pushed forward.
"I am not the subject of interest at the moment."
"Another time then."
"Anri's Emblem. Care to elaborate?" Marth said through gritted teeth, every line in his body tense.
"It is a long story."
"I have plenty of time," Marth assured her, folding his arms across his chest.
Ciara smiled slightly, took a breath, and started her tale.
Elice's eyes fluttered momentarily then shut again in protest. In a state of limbo between sleep and awake she struggled to figure out where she was and how she had got there. Brightness seeped in through her lids, though she couldn't tell what that meant. Whether time had passed to morning or night she did not have a clue. She had the distinct sensation that she had been sleeping for a long time – too long. So long that her body now refused to awaken from it's long dormant state.
Forcing herself to move she attempted to stretch but a heavy weight pressed down on her.
Strange, she thought. She tried to roll over but hit something bulky. She wriggled uncomfortably as she felt something lying under her back. Her still groggy mind fought to make sense of this but she could come to no conclusion. Finally her eyes pried open, blinked once or twice and then opened her mouth, a strangled scream flying from her lips.
She lay face to face with someone beside her, his arms draped around her, holding her so she couldn't move. At her scream his eyes flew open in shock. Not hesitating a second she thrust her arms out and shoved as hard as she could. The intruder flew to the ground with a rumbling crash. Elice drew back, clutching the covers around her.
"What was all that about!?" Roy cried from the floor, looking up at her in dazed confusion.
Elice stopped screaming and looked down at him, her expression softening from terror to innocent bewilderment.
"Roy?" she asked softly.
"Who else?" he grumbled.
"Princess!" someone pounded on the door. "Are you all right?"
Elice took a steadying breath, working her mind around the situation. "Yes, I'm fine. False alarm!" she called, then turned back to Roy. Slowly her brow furrowed and she looked furious. "Just what do you think you are doing?" she demanded.
"I guess I fell asleep," he replied hazily.
"Wrapped around me like a python?" she glowered.
"Hey, you're the one who grabbed me last night and wouldn't let me leave!" Roy retorted.
"I did?"
"What, you don't remember?"
"No," she admitted quietly, relaxing a bit momentarily then tensing back up. "Well, what happened?" she asked warily.
"Good grief, Elice," Roy replied as though scandalized. "I'm insulted! Just what do you take me for? You were laying there like a zombie, scared out of your mind and I was worried about you so I stayed, because you told me to."
She studied him for a moment and then softened. "Oh. Sorry," she added quietly.
Roy shrugged it off, getting up from the floor. "May I?" he asked with exaggerated hesitancy. Elice nodded and he sat down beside her. "What about you? Are you really all right?"
For the first time since she had woken up Elice's mind wandered back to the previous night and all that had happened. It came flooding back too quickly and with far too much clarity. She suddenly remembered why she had returned to the brightly lit dungeon chamber. Roy had brought her here. Roy had carried her from the forest where he had left her. He had dragged her there, hit her, hurt her.
Her hand moved instinctively to her swollen eye which suddenly throbbed with pain.
He had come into her room, attacked her. She could see his red eyes staring at her hungrily: vicious, cold eyes. She could feel his arms around her, taking her, dragging her away. Her own hands crept across her chest, crossing herself and clutching around her arms protectively.
He had tried to take her away.
Elice shivered once. Then again and then her body wouldn't stop trembling. She shook uncontrollably, though she was hardly aware of it. She didn't want to be aware of anything. Tears burned in her eyes but she held them back. She pushed it all back, not wanting to feel. She knew she could let darkness take her so she couldn't feel it anymore. The respite of numbness tempted her, but then she felt strong arms wrap around her and draw her in, pulling her back.
"It's all right, Elice," Roy's voice had never sounded stronger, though he barely whispered in her ear. "I've got you. You're safe. I won't let anything hurt you."
Elice started to cry, great sobs shaking through her. Her hands clutched at Roy's chest, clinging to him and refusing to let go. Fear rushed through her, stinging at first but she let it flow out. She could let him carry it for her. She didn't have to hide anymore, fight anymore. It didn't have to be like last time. This time she didn't have to stand alone. Roy held her close and she knew she could come to no harm.
Gradually the crying ebbed from a furious torrent to a gentle trickle. She closed her eyes and waited for it to stop, content in his arms.
"I'm impressed," she said finally.
"Hm?"
"I didn't think it was possible for you to not speak for so long."
"A joke!" Roy exclaimed excitedly.
Elice lifted her head and smiled gently, making Roy beam. While it comforted her greatly to know that Roy could take on the situation in all seriousness, she really preferred him smiling.
"I love you," she whispered.
"Don't go all sappy on me," he smirked.
Elice grinned back, "You're one to talk," she closed her eyes and kissed him.
"You know I love you, Elice," he replied with a crooked grin. His hand moved to her face, kissing her back, but she winced and pulled back.
"Ouch!" she put her hand gingerly to her injured cheek.
"Sorry," Roy apologized.
"We really should go, anyway," she said, pulling herself out of his arms. Roy sighed, resigned, and opened the door for her.
"Prince Marth wants to see you two," a nearby guard informed Elice as she passed. "He's waiting in the Council Hall."
"Thank you," Elice replied, and they made their way up the stairs to the halls above. One glance out of the windows at the deep sunlight streaming in told them that morning had passed long ago and late afternoon had settled in. They had slept nearly all day.
They found Marth standing before a window, hands clasped behind his back, obviously lost in thought. It surprised Elice to find him waiting, seemingly, so patiently. It took him a moment to realize Roy and Elice had joined him, and once he did he turned to his sister with concern.
"Are you all right?" he asked eagerly, glad but obviously surprised to see her so alert and calm.
"Yes," she nodded, almost fooling him completely.
"I'm glad you're here," Marth said. "There is much to do." Marth marched quickly to the door, opened it and called to a nearby guard. "Summon Link and Zelda and bring our guest here," he ordered. The soldier bowed then retreated, and Marth walked back and sat down beside his sister.
"I really am sorry, Elice," he said. "I should never have put you through that."
"I'm all right. I'll be all right. Besides, it was my idea. What happened… it's not your fault," Elice reminded him.
"Yes, but I shouldn't have let you talk me into it. That wasn't fair of us to risk you like that. When I think of what almost happened – "
"Nothing happened," she spoke, her voice tense now.
"What?" Roy broke in incredulously. "I was right about everything, I'd call that something. That whole idea was ridiculous. We're not making a mistake like that again."
"It wasn't a mistake," Elice insisted. "We have that girl, right? The one who saved me? Where is she? Let's talk to her and get some answers."
"Do you have any idea how close I came to losing you last night?" Roy burst angrily. Despite himself, her sudden resiliency infuriated him.
"Of course I do," she replied, fighting the chill that went through her. She didn't want to bring this up. "But you didn't. I'm here and I'm fine and – "
"Have you seen yourself?" he ushered her in front of a mirror but she kept her eyes down. "Look at yourself."
"No," Elice refused. She could feel the aching pain on the side of her face. She didn't want to see it.
"Look at what he did to you," Roy said more quietly. Elice's eyes flitted unwillingly to the almost unrecognizable reflection but quickly fell away. "And you got off lucky."
"Are you trying to scare me?" she asked in a furious, albeit terrified, voice, struggling to release herself from his grasp.
"Maybe I am," Roy admitted. "If that's what it will take."
"Once again the pot is calling the kettle black," Elice scorned, still trying to hide her fright.
"Is that what you want? For me to admit I'm afraid? Fine! After last night, I am afraid because I don't want anything to happen to you. I am taking this seriously now, even if you won't."
Elice had rarely seen him exhibit this strange intensity, but it didn't deter her.
"I am taking this seriously," Elice fired back. "I don't like this side of you," she added in a dark undertone.
"What side? The side that wants to keep you from dying?"
"This overprotective side that is treating me like a child."
Roy rolled his eyes. "First I don't take anything seriously and now I'm overprotective. Make up your mind! Do you want me to protect you or not?"
The door swung forward at that moment and Elice didn't reply. Link held the door open while Zelda stepped inside. Roy didn't even look up but continued to scowl at the floor. Marth silently got up and moved to his position at the head of the room.
Zelda smiled demurely as she took Link's arm and following him to her seat. They sat down, shoulder to shoulder, fingers entwined, resting on Zelda's lap. Elice, watching closely, broke into a wide grin at the sight of them.
Zelda and Link appeared completely oblivious to the fact that they had entered a room full of people. Zelda leaned ever so slightly closer to him as he played absentmindedly with a strand of her hair. Their reverie was hardly broken when Marth spoke.
"Now that we're all here," Marth said calmly, looking at no one in particular, "We have a guest waiting for us. I think you should all hear what she has to say."
"Yeah, bring her in," Roy sat up, watching the door.
"She's on her way," Marth replied, still carefully avoiding glancing towards Link and Zelda.
Zelda tore her gaze away from Link and caught Elice's eye. Elice smiled and Zelda grinned back, her eyes sparkling, but suddenly her expression fell.
"Oh, Elice!" she gasped, looking sympathetically at Elice's swollen face.
"It's not as bad as it looks," Elice replied.
Link shifted nervously. He could feel Roy's scowl on him.
"I am so sorry about that, Elice," Link said ruefully. "I really messed up last night."
"I'll say," Roy huffed.
"You did what you thought you had to do," Elice brushed it off, shooting Roy a warning glance. "I don't blame you in the least."
Link sighed, embarrassed at such unwarranted understanding.
"You don't have to worry about me being… well," he struggled to put his remorse into words, so he settled for, "I'm sorry for the way I acted."
"You're forgiven, Link," Elice replied, still simply gleeful to see that Link and Zelda were back to normal.
The door opened again, this time admitting a tall, willowy woman flanked by Jeigan and Kain, Marth's two most trusted soldiers. Zelda recognized the woman immediately as Ciara, Elice's rescuer from the previous night.
Ciara proved an imposing presence. She marched in gracefully, head held high, long silvery blond hair bouncing behind her. The soldiers sat her in a chair, standing sentinel on either side of her. She looked out over the room indifferently as Marth stood and took charge.
"This is Ciara," Marth began diplomatically. "I spoke with her last night and she revealed a great deal of very important information to me regarding Anri's Emblem and the recent attacks we have been facing."
"Do you know who is behind them?" Elice asked eagerly. "Who is that man who attacked me? What does he want?"
"If you would, tell them what you told me," Marth went on.
Ciara looked to Marth, her jaw set, then she looked over Elice, Roy, Zelda and Link appraisingly. She took her time, not starting until she was good and ready.
"Before I do, I would like to see it," she turned her head to Marth, though it sounded more like an order than a request.
Marth hesitated but put his hand in his pocket and withdrew the gleaming silver necklace, holding it out for Ciara to see. Ciara stared at it in silence for a long time, obviously awed.
"You have no idea," she said quietly. "You can't possibly imagine… my entire life is bound to this Emblem, to all of the Emblems. They have consumed my existence, and now here it is, Anri's lost Emblem, right in front of me. You cannot know what this means to me, and my people."
"What are these Emblems?" Zelda asked.
"You are Hylian, are you not?" Ciara turned to Zelda sharply, scrutinizing her.
"Yes, I am Zelda and this is my husband, Link."
"Zelda?" Ciara repeated and Zelda could see the familiar question burning behind Ciara's eyes. "Princess Zelda?"
"Yes," Zelda replied reluctantly.
"Royalty," Ciara gave her an appraising glance. "Then this story concerns you just as much as it does me, and our Aritian royals here," she inclined her head ever so slightly towards Marth then Elice. "In fact it you may find it holds particular interest.
"You see, you of all people should know the legend of the three Goddesses Din, Nayru and Farore. They created the world of Diem and every living thing within it. The Goddesses had other realms to attend to, though. Not wishing to leave their creation alone and unprotected they bestowed a gift upon the Dienes, the pure essence of their power and truth. They called it the Light. Trusting in the power of their gift the Goddesses ascended into the heavens, leaving Diem below."
"The Light?" Link interrupted. "I don't understand. When the Goddesses ascended from Hyrule they left behind the Triforce. Is that what you mean? Are you talking about the Triforce?"
"No," Ciara clarified. "If I had been speaking of the Triforce I would have called it the Triforce. I am speaking of the Light. You think the Goddesses were bound to leave only one emblem of power behind at their parting?"
"That doesn't make any sense," Link replied. "I've never heard anything about any light - "
"Typical narrow-minded Hylians," Ciara broke in. "For all of your powers of magic and mysticism you have a curiously limited memory. You have a way of rewriting history to shed light only on the events you wish to remember. All too often you forget that you are not the center of the universe."
Link scowled, obviously off put by her brash manner, but Ciara went on.
"The Light was placed under the care of the Enneaus, a council of the nine most powerful clerics of Diem. The Enneaus ruled all of Diem for nearly two thousand years, using the power of the Light to keep balance and order in the world. But, such peace could not last. Gradually discord spread across Diem and the people began to break into warring factions, finally reaching the Enneaus itself. Cleric turned against cleric, each fighting to take the power of the Light for themselves. In the chaos the Light was eventually shattered into nine pieces, or Light Emblems, and scattered throughout the world. The Enneaus disbanded and without the Light the peace that Diem once lived under was no more."
"Why haven't we heard any of this before?" Link asked.
"Actually, there are countless tales and legends from all over the world surrounding the ancient history of Diem," Zelda stepped in. "I have read almost every one of them at one point or another. I remember a verse about something referred to as the Great Light," Zelda looked down in concentration, drudging up some long forgotten memory.
"They were the Dawn
Bestowing Great Light
Greatest of power
Unto the world
When by chaos tainted
Falls under shadow
Broken, defiled
Truth is no more
Light we were given
Darkness we chose."
"What does that mean?" Roy asked in confusion.
"It speaks of a great power of the Goddesses given at the dawn of time, but mortal hands were unworthy of it and the power was lost. It fits with what Ciara has told us."
"It's vague enough. It could be referring to anything," Roy replied.
"I suppose you're right," Zelda admitted. "There are thousands of verses much like this about Hyrule, Diem, the Triforce, the Goddesses themselves and everything in between. It is hard to separate fact from fiction anymore."
"You have, however inadvertently, stumbled upon truth in this case," Ciara responded. "I know that verse well. I am impressed that your people saw fit to keep it amongst their histories, even if it has been degraded to myth status."
"If any of this were true, though, I think that we of all people would know about it," Link replied, looking to Zelda.
"Once again, Hyrule is not the center of the Universe," Ciara chided. "You must accept the fact that there are others who possess knowledge that you do not have. It has been the duty of my people, the Etrurians, to protect the knowledge of the Light Emblem and see that it is never brought together again by unworthy hands. Many have tried over the last three and a half thousand years to recover this great power, but due to the vigilance of my people none have come close. Unfortunately, the threat is rising once more, and this new power is drawing nearer to its goal than any ever have before. Someone is gathering the Emblems, and it is my task, my born duty, to stop them."
"Who is it?" Elice questioned. "Who is trying to gather them?"
"What do you know about the Black Fang?" Ciara asked.
Zelda and Link looked bewildered but Roy piped up, "That band of thieves from Bern?"
"Yes," Ciara replied. "They are the mostly highly feared, powerful group of thieves, murders and assassins in all of Elibe, and possibly all of Diem. They infest the mountains on the border between Bern and Sacae. They have a stronghold there, though no one can be quite sure of its location, because anyone who gets close enough to find it does not live long enough to tell the tale. We keep as close an eye on them as possible, but we still know very little. It is not wise to meddle in the affairs or stand in the path of the Black Fang. They control their lands with a fierce, uncompromising hand, but are still so seeped in shadow and mystery that no one really knows how far or deep their influence runs. Rumor has it that they have their hands in Bern's government, though, of course, no one can be certain. They are a dangerous group, to say the least, and we believe that they are the ones behind this newest crusade to reclaim the Light Emblem."
"So, they are the ones who attacked me?" Elice asked.
"The Black Fang is after your Emblem," Ciara pointed out. "Think about it, did that man who tried to take you, at any point ask for, inquire about or in any way show any desire for that necklace?"
"No," Elice shook her head, thinking back. She couldn't think of a single sign that would point to her assailant having any interest in the necklace. They had put the necklace under guard in the heart of the castle just to be sure, and he had made an attempt for it. "He only wanted me."
"Yes, which means that, whoever that man was, he was not working for the Black Fang to acquire your Emblem."
"But, then, what does any of this have to do with you, or that necklace or any of us?" Roy asked.
"Are you sure that the Sentei was the only one to have attacked you?" Ciara prodded.
"Yes, he was the same guy," Roy replied confidently.
"Every time? Are you certain?"
"Yes," Roy emphasized.
"No," Elice gasped. "Roy, think about it. He was the same man as that night in the snow, but that night he was only after me too, not the necklace. At that point the necklace was still in Hyrule. But that night last winter, that man in that awful silver snake mask, he was in my room, obviously looking for something. That happened twice where they didn't come anywhere near me but ransacked the castle, including mine and Marth's chambers. There were times when we never even caught a glimpse of the intruder."
"Black Fang," Ciara replied conclusively. "If they don't want to be seen, they aren't seen."
"Then the man who attacked me last night, this Sentei, as you call him, if he wasn't a member of the Black Fang, then who is he?"
"That is a very good question," Ciara replied thoughtfully.
Elice sighed. Having come so close to finding an answer only to have it pulled away left her feeling frustrated.
"You seem to be awfully good at making enemies," Ciara commented.
"Enemies…" Marth mused. "I suppose we have no alternative but to go back to our first suspicion then: Akanea."
"Akanea," Roy spat. "They're in shambles. Their country's falling apart at their feet. You really think they have enough time to worry about bothering Elice?"
"Maybe that's the reason they're in shambles," Marth replied significantly. "If they're spending all of their time concentrating on revenge rather than rebuilding their crumbling empire…"
"But if it is Zagaro - I mean, he wouldn't just be after Elice, he would be after - "
"Zelda and me as well," Marth finished rather regretfully.
"But," Roy tried to protest but his face fell in realization. "Oh."
"What?" Link perked up, looking from face to face and then to Zelda, instinctively pulling her tighter to his side. "What do you mean by that?"
For a moment Zelda was just as befuddled as Link, her mind wracking to think of what they were talking about, but all at once she remembered exactly. "That man who broke in," Zelda said quietly. "Before he took Elice he said he had been looking for me and he was surprised to find me here. Then he said he would be back, for Marth, and for me."
"What?" Link cried again. "Why didn't you tell me this?"
"Honestly, Link, so much has happened that I forgot about it until just now," Zelda admitted, though now that she did remember she felt a chill run through her and Link clutched her closer.
"Well, who is he? What does he want with you?" Link scrambled.
"I've been thinking about this since last night and I think I may know the answer," Marth started, "If he is Akanean he's probably seeking revenge against the three people most responsible for his country's downfall; Elice and me for killing their King, and Zelda for nearly annihilating their entire army."
"He's not Akanean," Ciara broke in. "I told you, he is one of the Sentei."
"What does that mean?" Roy asked in annoyance. "What is a Sentei supposed to be anyway?"
"The Sentei are a clan of nomads who roam around most of Elibe and even into Akanea. They are a highly trained race of warriors who pride themselves in being silent, lethal and unstoppable. Their skills in nearly every form of combat are unparalleled, though fortunately the one after you really is not the best example. As far as the Sentei are concerned, your friend was substandard, which would explain why he is here acting in the service of Akanea. In fact, the Sentei are waning so much these days that most of them end up selling their skills just to get by. The Black Fang is famous for recruiting Sentei. Their powers of obscurity and invisibility make them highly capable thieves."
"Then how do we know this man wasn't working on behalf of the Black Fang?" Roy asked.
"Because the Black Fang wants that Emblem more than anything else. It has been hundreds of years since the location of your Emblem has been known to anyone, and they aren't about to let it slip through their fingers this time," Ciara replied. "If he did not attempt to take it from you then he was not here on behalf of the Black Fang. You have two separate problems here, I am certain of it. However, fortunately for you our friend from last night won't pose you a threat any longer, not after what I did to him. He may not be dead, but he will be in no condition to come after you, at least not for a very long time. But, believe me, he is the least of your worries."
"He's trying to abduct my sister," Marth growled. "I find that concerning."
"Don't you understand?" Ciara's voice remained calm but punctuated emphatically, "There is something much bigger happening here than a simple plot for revenge against the three of you."
"What? This so-called Emblem?" Roy asked skeptically.
"Yes, the Emblem. The Black Fang will not rest until their have yours."
"So, we'll hide it," Roy replied simply. "You said that it has been hidden for hundreds of years and no one was able to find it, so we'll just bury it somewhere and no one will ever know we had it."
"Why am I even talking to you?" Ciara asked sincerely, looking at Roy with bewildered disgust.
"He brings up a good point, though," Zelda said. "This Emblem is referred to as 'Anri's Emblem', which would logically lead anyone looking for it right here, to Aritia. How did it manage to stay hidden for so very long when it was known to belong to Anri? And, if it was hidden so well how did the Black Fang learn of its location now?"
"It is a very recently acquired name," Ciara replied. "You see, it is the duty of my people to watch over these Emblems, so while we know more than most do of their shadowed past, there are still many mysteries. We are talking about over four thousand years of history spanning across all of Diem. Following the separate paths of nine individual Emblems across such an expanse of time and space is worse than attempting to find a needle in a haystack.
"This, Anri's Emblem, vanished from knowledge over two thousand years ago. It resurfaced in Aritia at the time of Anri. It fell into his possession, but we believe that he did not know what he had. No one did. History tells us that he had wielded a powerful magical weapon, but nothing more specific. Marth told me of the Falchion blade and the Fire Emblem which Anri used to destroy one of the Dragon Lords, but this history is incomplete. Anri also held something called the 'Blood Pendant' or the 'Dragon's Bane', though Marth tells me he knows nothing of this. Not surprisingly, if Anri ever truly discovered what he had he would have destroyed any record of it, which we are almost certain is what happened.
"However, this means that we now can only guess at what occurred next. What do you do when you realize that you hold one-ninth of the apocalypse in your hands? Once Anri knew what it was he did not want anyone else to know what he knew. He didn't want to use it, but he did not want anyone else to use it either. So he hid it in plain sight, in the last place anyone would look for something so spectacular. He concealed it within that necklace and passed it from generation to generation in the guise of a family tradition of engagement. Who would suspect it? Such a simple plan, yet so effective. It kept the rest of the world in ignorance for another thousand years. Not a bad plan at all, until recently.
"He may have passed on the truth of the Emblem to some of his closest descendents, but obviously that knowledge faded over the centuries, for you two, heirs of this great cataclysmic secret, did not even know what you inherently have charge over. It is here, with your carelessness in allowing the Emblem out of your Kingdom where folly takes over at last."
Marth's eyes narrowed at this last comment but he remained silent.
"So Anri's Emblem was exposed to the outside world for the first time in a millennium, and here we are. Its secrets, unfortunately, finally coming to light."
"But how," Zelda pressed. "It sat hidden in a trunk in Hyrule Castle for over a year. I told no one about it. I showed it to no one. How could anyone have known that I had it?"
Ciara's eyes flitted to Marth and he said quickly, "I told no one."
"I'm not accusing you," Ciara replied with a grin. "Though you certainly are quick enough to defend yourself."
"With good reason," Marth mumbled.
"No, I believe you," Ciara went on. "If you didn't know what it was what reason would you have had to tell anyone? No, this goes far deeper than that. This Emblem is a powerful magical entity, which holds many properties that even my people do not confess to understand. There is someone, though, who seems to know much of the Emblems. Too much. Far more than any mortal should know, things which have even been lost to the tomes of the Etrurians, and that is saying something.
"This man tracked the Emblem down in Hyrule when it was thought to have been lost for over a thousand years. He followed it right to your doorstep when he should not have even known what he was looking for, let alone where to find it."
"Vale," Zelda broke in, remembering Arda's frightened words in Kakiriko Village weeks before, I don't know how he knows what he knows, but you cannot hide anything from him.
Not even the lost Emblem, Zelda thought ruefully.
"You have met him?" Ciara asked.
"Yes," Zelda replied darkly. "Who is he? Do you know?"
"No one knows who Vale really is," Ciara replied helplessly, "other than that he is a terribly powerful member of the Black Fang, responsible for much death and destruction. He is far more open about his activities than his kind usually are; then again the Four Fangs have been known to act as flagships, displaying their power to put fear into their enemies."
"The Four Fangs?" Zelda repeated with interest.
"The four most powerful warriors, hand picked by the Black Fang's leader for their skills, their strength and their cold-blooded willingness to follow any order they are given. Like I said, they have been known to move in the open far more than any others within the cult, and certainly more than their leader ever would. We know who the Four Fangs are, or at least we are fairly certain we do, but no one, and I mean no one, knows who their leader is," Ciara explained.
"Sounds like a real coward, if you ask me," Roy sneered.
"A very smart coward," Ciara replied with a sharp glance. "No one can get anywhere near him. It is as though he doesn't exist. What I wonder, though," she went on quickly, "is if you came face to face with Vale, how is it that you are even alive speak of it?"
"He led the overthrow of my Kingdom. He held my father hostage to barter the Emblem from me, but I refused, so he murdered my father," Zelda's voice grew lifeless as she spoke. "Link and I were able to save the Emblem and flee, bringing it here, to Aritia. By all rights we shouldn't have escaped. We believe that he let us go," Zelda admitted.
"Curious," Ciara said with a furrowed brow. "We had hoped their influence had not yet reached so far outside of Elibe, but I suppose that was simply wishful thinking. And to set up such a strong presence in Hyrule…" she trailed off thoughtfully but changed directions abruptly. "I suppose there was no battle for your Kingdom?"
"No," Zelda shook her head, her eyes discerning. "There was no battle. They swept in so quickly that no one even knew they were a threat. One moment my father was in control and the next his own soldiers had risen up and supplanted him."
"Not his soldiers, Black Fang infiltrators," Ciara corrected. "You have seen first hand what the Black Fang is capable of. To call them simply a band of thieves is an understatement to say the least. I told you before that we believe they are secretly ruling Bern from within, and now you can see how that is entirely possible. It was a bold move, though, for them to take Hyrule like that. They must be growing far more confident if they are willing to act so blatantly. It seems no one is safe from them anymore," she sighed.
"You seem to know an awful lot about all of this," Link said shrewdly.
"We make it our business to know of such things," Ciara replied tersely. "This is the calling of my people, to protect these Emblems."
"You seem to be doing a pretty poor job of it," Roy replied.
"If you think you can do any better, by all means, your time to shine has come at last," Ciara said. "You now know you have an Emblem in your possession and you must now decide what to do about that."
"Like I said, we'll just hide it," Roy replied as though stating the obvious. "You said it was a clever plan before."
"Yes, when no one knew of its existence. The Black Fang know you have it. Vale knows that you took it out of Hyrule and no doubt he has followed you back here to Aritia. Hide it, indeed," she huffed. "You cannot hide this from them. They will not stop until they have taken this from you, and we cannot allow that to happen. Already they have more than one in their possession. If they obtain yet another one it is simply one step closer to their ultimate goal of the Light Emblem. If they have that they will control the power of deity itself, and then entire world will be securely and irrevocably in the palm of their hands."
Marth watched carefully as the realization which he had been hit with the previous night swept over the faces of the others. Elice looked alert and defiant. Zelda appeared thoughtful, taking it all in and processing it carefully. Link's expression betrayed nothing. Roy looked completely unconvinced.
"Where's your proof," Roy crossed his arms and stared at Ciara with hard eyes.
"Excuse me?"
"Why should I believe any of this?" Roy asked dismissively. "I want to see some proof."
"You want proof? The proof is right in his hands," Ciara pointed to the Emblem, still clutched in Marth's hand. "There is an Emblem, in this room, right before your eyes."
"I see a necklace," Roy replied.
"A necklace that people have killed to get their hands on. You have been attacked in your own castle on its account. You have seen Hyrule infiltrated and overthrown, its King murdered, all in the name of that Emblem right there."
"Coincidence. I see no reason to believe these fairytales you have been spouting. I would much rather deal with the real problem." He turned quickly, "Marth, let's stop wasting our time here talking about magic jewelry. Let's just march into Akanea and beat them into the ground!"
Marth didn't reply but kept looking thoughtfully ahead, playing with the Emblem in his fingers.
"What? You don't believe her, do you?"
Marth didn't answer but Zelda did. "Roy, I would have thought that with all that you've seen, you would more readily accept the hand of divinity in our world."
"It's a necklace!" Roy exclaimed. "I've seen nothing to make me believe that it is anything more."
"Appearances can be misleading," Ciara replied coolly. "I for one would not have believed that you were capable of shooting an inferno out of the tip of your sword, and you obviously were not under the impression that I could make my way through it unscathed. We both learned quickly not to underestimate each other. Many things appear simple at first glance, but that does not mean that your eyes are not deceiving you."
"Prove it!" Roy demanded.
"Once again, why am I talking to you? Who are you?" Ciara brushed him off dismissively.
"I'm Roy," he started emphatically. "The Royal Princess' boyfriend, bodyguard, captain, guy… thing…" He grimaced, wishing he had stuck strictly to his name.
"Oh, had I but known! I am honored by your presence," Ciara bowed with exaggerated enthusiasm, the crooked grin never leaving her face.
"Enough of this," Marth interrupted. "Roy, if you can't keep your comments to yourself you can leave. This is serious business we're dealing with and if you can't be mature enough to - "
"Fine, fine, fine," Roy grumbled, just to speed the lecture along. "I'll behave myself."
"Thank you," Marth replied.
"But say that this is all true," Roy immediately interjected, and Marth sighed in exasperation, "in theory," Roy stipulated. "What exactly do you expect us to do about it?"
"In theory, I would expect you to make a decision," Ciara replied, her voice unwavering in conviction. "You can allow our enemies to take the Emblem or you can stand and fight. There is no other choice – in theory, of course."
Ciara sat back, folded her arms and waited. Marth motioned for her to be escorted from the room. She had certainly given them a lot to think about.