11. Sidequest

Senza found himself dragged out from the inn into the cool, starlit street outside. "Link," he said, addressing his abductor. "What's all this about? What are you up to?"

"Something stupid."

The background buzz of the inn rose an octave as the door behind opened and someone slipped inside. A sign slowly creaked in the breeze above, proclaiming the name of the inn to be the Marquis of Meta.

"Stupid?" asked Senza. His scalp began to crawl, a common sensation when conversing with Link. He tugged on his shirt to straighten it.

"Yeah." Link stared out into the distance with his hands on his hips. "Just wanted to get that out there before someone complains. We're going on a short detour to see how far we can push this concept before people get annoyed. This is going to get a little crazy."

Now Senza felt his temples begin to throb. "Stop speaking in riddles, lad."

"We're going on a little side quest, Senza," he said.

"Why?"

"The narrative needs to delay to build tension around Tetra," he replied.

Senza's face darkened. "Tetra," he said. "We should never have let her go by herself. Who knows what foul things could happen?"

"Take that thought and shove it, Senza my friend," Link replied. "That's how Team Tetra rolls, remember? The captain will be fine."

Senza sighed. He had to dodge another new customer who entered the inn. "Explain it to me, lad," he said. "Why are you always in such high spirits?"

Link spoke in a quiet, firm voice. "I trust the one who has the keys."

"Huh," said Senza with a frown. "I never took you for the spiritual type. Keys?"

"Keys on a keyboard, Senza," he replied, his voice wistful. "Keys on a keyboard."

Senza's slowly shook his fast-aching head. "Sometimes I worry about you, lad." Another person came off the street to enter the inn. "Lot of guests today."

"Tell me about it," said Link. "Have you seen the reviews for this thing? Guests all over the place." Before Senza could even reply to that, Link went on. "I found out about a place. An Uncrossable Swamp in that forest over yonder." He pointed to the dark, jagged tree line in the distance. "And you know what they say about something uncrossable, don't you?"

"Avoid it at all costs?"

"Exactly," said Link, grinning. "We cross it."

Senza knew better than to argue. "If you say so, lad," he said instead. "Lead the way."

Link nodded. He took off his hat, and pulled a lantern free. It was already lit.

They took the dusty path that led from the town into the forest beyond. Dried leaves crackled underfoot. The undergrowth here was swarming with hissing, slithering and croaking things, all unseen, even under the lantern light. Once in a while the beam from the lighthouse would sweep across the sky.

"You've gone all quiet, lad," said Senza.

"Waiting for the description to finish," Link replied. "Builds atmosphere."

Senza's cheeks puffed as he exhaled. Link was hard work most of the time, but ever since he'd had to re-do his first Smash, he'd become nigh-on impossible to deal with.

"Link," he said. "That night where you went to find the last Stone of Katomb. What exactly happened?"

Link surprised him by actually replying. "There was a woman there," he said. "I don't know who she was. But she showed me the world as it truly is."

"And what would that be?"

Link shook his head. "I like you, Senza," he said. "So I'm not going to say. Most people would go mad with the knowledge."

"But you didn't?"

Debatable. But I have to ask.

"I wasn't meant to," Link replied in a soft, melancholy voice. "She thought I was worthy of the truth. I don't agree." He shook his head. "And our world isn't the only one, my friend. I saw them all. Every single world where things aren't really what they first appear."

He lapsed back into silence, and Senza knew he'd get no more out of him this night.

"Still," said Senza, mostly to himself. "This forest reminds me of my childhood. My Da used to take me camping to places like this. It was like the breath of -"

"No."

Senza looked up, puzzled. "Wh-"

"Don't say it."

"Wh-"

"Don't do it."

"Do what?"

"Don't say it."

"The breath of the wild?"

Link winced. "You said it!" he hissed. "Now I'm going to feel so insecure."

The ground shook lightly for a moment as the island's volcano rumbled. Leaves shivered. Flickering lantern light flashed over one of the gnarled tree-trunks lining the narrow path. Something caught Senza's eye.

"Hey, look at this," he said.

Link paused, then turned. "What is it?"

Senza gestured toward the tree. "We're not the first ones to pass by here," he replied. "People have left their mark already."

Link raised the lantern. The light revealed that the bark was covered with carved-out symbols, mostly names, and almost all romantic in nature.

"Here," said Link in a serious tone as he handed the lantern to Senza. "Hold this."

Senza did so. Link drew his sword and, tip of his tongue pressed out between his lips, he went to work. After a few minutes, he stepped back, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Let's go," he said, moving to rejoin the path as he slid his blade back into its boiled-leather scabbard.

Senza paused to raise the lantern closer to the tree. He heard Link muttering to himself.

"Breath of the wild," the boy said. "Doesn't even make sense."

Senza squinted to read what his companion had written. "Toon...Link...Rulez." He blinked in quick succession. "What?"

"Hey, Senza!" Link called."Take a look!"

The older pirate hurried over to where Link was crouched behind some thick-leaved foliage. He peeked over the edge. The purple ooze of a swamp lay beyond. Blocking their path, though, were two men in armour and holding spears.

"Do your talking thing, Link," Senza suggested. "No need for violence here."

"Might work," Link replied. "You take point. I'll follow."

Senza nodded, then stood up, lantern in hand. The leaves rustled. He stepped out in front of the guards. They reacted instantly, dropping into a fighting stance, spears at the ready.

"Halt!" one of them snapped. "Identify yourself!"

Link sidled up behind Senza. He waved his hand. "You don't need him to identify himself."

One of the guards looked up, confused. "We don't need him to identify himself?"

Link waved again. "These aren't the droids you're looking for."

The guard's befuddlement deepened. "These aren't the droids we're looking for?"

"He can go about his business."

"He can go abo-" He shook his head quickly, snapping to attention. "No, he can't!"

Link and Senza leapt into action, taking one guard down each with a swift punch to the jaw.

Link rubbed his fist. "So much for no violence," he muttered. "Sometimes I think the narrative enjoys fight scenes a little too much."

"What," said Senza, "is a droid?"

Before Link could reply, the swamp ahead began to bubble and hiss wildly, spitting purple-coloured sludge. A tall, bearded man in grey, his features wrinkled, rose from the gloop. He pierced them both with a sharp glare, then raised the knotted-wood staff he had clutched in one hand.

"You shall not pass," he intoned in a deep voice.

Senza pulled his flintlock pistol free with one hand, his other dropping to the hilt of his cutlass. Contempt filled the old man's eyes. "Fly, you fools."

Link replied in a dark voice. "Not another word or I'll end you."

Silver eyebrows arched. "Are you threatening me?"

"I'm warning you, Merlin."

The old man looked flustered for a moment. "My name...isn't Merlin."

"Right, you asked for it." Link had his hat off and was rummaging about inside. Steel whispered as Senza drew his blade with his free hand and aimed his gun with the other.

"Your weapons are useless against me," the old man said haughtily. "Pistols. Swords. None will have any eff-" He stopped short. "What in the blazes is that?!"

Senza spun around toward Link. The Outset boy was crouched, having found something from his hat that was now resting on his shoulder.

"Link," said Senza, his voice taking on a slight tremble. "What is that thing?"

"This," said Link calmly, "is called a bazooka."

The old man looked nervous. Senza looked confused.

"Taste. Justice." Link pulled the trigger. Fire erupted from the rear of the cannon as a humongous roar shook every leaf in the forest. The old man yelled. Senza yelled. Something flew from the bazooka's tip and ploughed straight into the bearded fellow. A huge explosion followed, mushrooming up into the dark sky.

Senza's jaw dropped wide open as a burnt orange glow reflected off of his eyes. "Great...balls...of...fire..."

Bits of debris rained down around the two of them. Senza decided not to look too closely at the burning fragments. Flickers of flame lapsed into darkness in the night sky.

Link stood, then placed the smoking weapon back into his hat.

"So," croaked Senza in a tiny voice. "Are we crossing now?"

"Let's not," said Link. "I doubt there's anything worth finding. Just pushing the concept, remember?"

"But the old man. The swamp."

"What swamp?"

Senza turned back toward the location in question. Except now there was no swamp. No debris, either. All he could see were rows and rows of trees, swaying gently in the sea breeze.

"Another gift from the lady who made me see the truth," said Link. "I can bend the narrative." He thought about this for a moment. "Well. Sometimes."

Senza stared at the boy. Link had a sudden weird tint to him, like he was a painting flickering in and out of focus. Senza's head was pounding now.

"Hey," Link went on. "Let's head toward the Grand-S instead."

"The Grand-S?" said Senza. "Why?"

"I think Tetra might be about to step into a little trouble."

Senza froze. "What?!" he cried, instantly forgetting everything that had just transpired. "But you said -" His eyes fluttered as the memory slipped out of reach. "Let's move, lad! Damn it, will we even make it?"

"Doubt it," said Link.

"Why so?"

"Because this chapter's about to fini-"