Chapter Fourteen – Red Eyes in the Darkness

Link concentrated again. The Staff became a large hammer. Link smashed it against the bars, but it only glanced off, almost taking off his leg.

Link returned the Staff to normal "What is wrong with this stupid prison?" he shouted.

"That Ganondorf did some magic on the bars. I told you that," Talon said.

Link sighed and sat down. "Yeah, I remember. So what, we're stuck here until Ganondorf shows up to 'rescue' us?"

There was a quiet chuckle on the other side of the cave. Link spun around and scanned the darkness. The drops of fire had quickly worn out some time ago, so all Link could see was the outline of some form, one he guessed was human.

"Who's there?" he asked.

There was no answer. Instead, a pair of eyes appeared. The red irises seemed to glow in the darkness. Link shuddered. Those eyes were familiar, but he could again not place them to their owner.

The figure moved, standing. It drifted silently toward the cage, coming into view just as Link stood up.

Link would have fallen back down had he not been leaning on the Staff of Nevara. "Sheik!"

The Sheikan warrior nodded. "Yup! I'm here, and I've come to fix all of your problems."

"How did you know I was here?" Link asked as Sheik walked next to the door.

With a sudden movement, Sheik popped the lock open. "The Owl here told Kaepora that you were here, and Kae told me."

Link chuckled. "Okay, good. We can use your help." He left the cell, followed by Talon. Sheik popped the second lock, and Richard was free.

Talon and Richard glanced at the Sheikan, then at Link. "You know him?" Richard asked.

Link nodded. "Remember when I said that during my adventure against Ganondorf the first time, I was helped by a mysterious warrior? Yeah, that's Sheik here. Um, Sheik, this is Richard. Richard, Sheik."

Richard nodded. "We've met."

"You have?"

Sheik nodded. "We met when he came to the castle per his father's orders to be one of Princess Zelda's suitors."

"Met? You dropped out of a tree, held a dagger to my throat, and said that if I even show one bit of interest in the princess, you'd make sure they could bury my head and body in different places."

"Ouch."

Sheik laughed. "You didn't even look at Zelda after that. Didn't even bother saying goodbye, either."

"Can you blame me?" Richard asked. "You terrified me."

"And you're not running now because?"

Richard chuckled. "This is my land. Try to kill me and my Iron Knuckles will make sure your head and body can be buried in different places."

Sheik pulled out a dagger. "Care to prove it?"

"Guys!" Link exclaimed, glaring at Sheik. "Calm down. We've got bigger fish to fry."

"Namely a loach named Ganondorf," Sheik said with a growl.

"And a grubfish named Dethl," Richard added.

"Well, then, what're we standin' 'round here for? Let's get going!" Talon exclaimed, heading toward the darkness where the Richard-looking Dethl had left.

Sheik, Link, and Richard followed quickly behind. They found a small side passage that led upward. Quickly erupting out the side of the mountain, the four of them fond themselves on a ledge overlooking Mabe Village.

"Mabe Village?" Richard said, surprised. "This cave empties out here? Why would Dethl and Ganondorf use a cave that has an entrance next to Mabe Village?"

Link knew good and well why. "Simple. It's close to their stronghold."

"Stronghold? In Mabe Village? There's not a well-protected place in Mabe Village."

"What about that stone building?" Sheik asked, pointing.

"The Dream Shrine," Link whispered. "Perfect for Dethl."

"Sounds good for Ganondorf, too. Only in his dreams could he beat us," Sheik added.

"Let's stop by wherever Malon is, then get going," Talon said.

Link nodded and led the way toward Marin's house.