Chapter 14 Reluctant Separation
The following day, Creon and Catalina were married at the Chapel of Wisdom. Catalina was delighted to see her sister at her wedding. To avoid suspicion, the sisters exchanged a few pleasant words and then continued on their way to other guests.
Due to the king's duties, a honeymoon did not take place, but the marriage was consummated as soon as possible. An heir to the throne was needed to ensure Creon's bloodline in case he died unexpectedly. Catalina begged Nayru for the ability to conceive a child. Her prayers were answered.
Impa's long awaited tryout was held at Hylia Castle's Training Ground. The young Sheikah was required to stay at the barracks for a week to undergo various trials. The other contenders were mostly Sheikahs and much older than Impa. Watching the older, more experienced competitors intimidated Impa, but nonetheless, she performed to the best of her abilities.
The trials were judged by none other than Zanos, the general of Hylia's army, who was also the landlord of Castle Town. The robust, blond lord had an eight year old son named Antony. Antony was an energetic boy who displayed courage and kindness to others, even strangers. General Zanos hoped that his son would follow in his footsteps as a skilled swordsman and eventually become the general of Hylia's army.
"All right, everyone!" General Zanos bellowed to the contestants. "Take a ten minute break!"
Impa and her fellow contenders stopped what they were doing and sheathed their weapons. Impa wiped the sweat from her forehead and then plopped down on the dirt.
The pages who were watching the tryouts brought the contenders' canteens to their rightful owners. After Antony served a canteen to a contender, he scurried over to Impa. The young boy could tell she was the youngest out of all the contenders. Excitement bubbled within the boy, for his father had given him a special gift and he could not wait to show someone.
"Hi!" the boy chimed. "I'm Antony. What's your name?"
Amused by the boy's friendliness, she smiled and replied, "Impa."
Antony's big blue eyes glittered with joy. "Nice to meet you!" he chimed again almost at a giggle.
Impa noticed the blond-haired boy holding something behind his back. She narrowed her eyes playfully. "What do you have behind your back?" she asked.
Antony shoved a small sword out in front of him. "My dad gave me this today."
Impa showed more enthusiasm to the boy than what she really felt. She smiled up at Antony. "May I hold it?"
He happily shoved the small weapon into her hands.
Impa held the brown grip and gently grazed the small ruby embedded on the crossguard. The blade was dull to prevent injuries during practice sessions. Impa handed the sword back to Antony. "That's a fine blade you have. Take good care of it," she said warmly.
"Antony!" Zanos shouted. "Leave her alone; she's tired."
Impa held up her hand. "It's quite all right, General. He's not bothering me."
The General relaxed upon hearing that his son wasn't being a nuisance. "Come along, Antony," he said to his son.
Antony quickly waved at Impa and joined his father.
Zanos examined a nearby sun dial and shouted, "Five more minutes!"
Ever since he gave Isamar and Dion bodies, Boris had become almost cold toward Durga. He had his doubts about Durga being an evil goddess, but to appease Dion and Isamar he had to distance himself. If he did not distance himself from Durga, they would harm her.
To clear his mind, Boris took his drums into his bedroom and began beating away. As he drummed, deep thoughts entered his mind. This is confusing, he thought. Durga hasn't displayed any signs. She doesn't even know how to use magic! Though, it is deep within her—I can sense it, but that does not mean that she's an evil goddess in flesh. He watched his skilled hands beat faster and harder. The spirits told me to stay away from her. Boris closed his eyes as he continued to drum. I know my distant behavior cuts her like a knife. I wish she knew I'm bleeding as well. Slowly he opened his eyes again. Why does it have to be this way?
Durga heard Boris playing from down the hallway and decided to join him. As she crept down the hallway, she squeezed her arms, dreading possible rejection. The very thought of his aloofness made her tear up. She sighed before entering their bedroom—the source of the sound. Quietly, she watched her husband pound faster, up to a speed that not even Durga or the other Gerudo drummers in the west could match. Then, he abruptly stopped once he felt her presence.
"That was incredible," she said in awe. "Mind if I join you?"
A shadow seemed to cast over his face. "Actually, I do mind," he replied coldly before standing and approaching Durga.
She looked at him painfully, grabbing his tunic. "Why are you doing this? Tell me why you are avoiding me." Her eyes flooded with tears.
Before he could embrace her, Isamar and Dion appeared behind Durga, shaking their heads in disapproval. "Send her away," they mouthed.
"Leave me," said Boris, devoid of emotion. He took her quivering hands away and stared off to the side.
Dion and Isamar moved away from the doorway.
Durga fled from the room, nearly colliding with the invisible demons.
Dion smirked. Their plan was inflicting pain on the person he hated most. Dion knew Durga had no idea who she really was, but watching the incarnation suffer pleased him just as much.
"Very good," Isamar purred. "You're standing firmly against that evil wench."
Boris's breaking point was near. "I can't do this anymore! Why can't I associate with her? How will that prevent her from awakening?" He held his forehead in frustration.
"Boris," said Dion, feigning comfort, "in order to prevent her from awakening, she must be distressed." Dion placed his hand on Boris's shoulder.
Boris slapped Dion's hand away and glowered at him. "I've had enough!" he bellowed.
"Calm yourself, Boris!" Isamar snapped.
Boris clenched his fists, resisting the urge to yell louder. He managed to calm himself by taking a deep breath. "I'm going to Goron City tomorrow. The Goron leader asked me to add another trap in their temple. If you cannot prove to me that Durga is an evil goddess by the time I return, I will take back your bodies and destroy both of you."
Dion and Isamar exchanged worried glances before making their exit.
Dion gave a backward glance and said, "Oh, we'll prove it to you."
The Sheikah trusted Durga with his life. He was certain that her soul was pure and could not be proven otherwise.
Boris fixed his eyes on where Dion once stood. A chill crawled up his spine—something that had not happened to the powerful landlord in centuries. What if they are right? He shook his head to remove the thought.
To his convenience, a maid passed by and saw the distressed look on her master's face. "Are you all right, my Lord?" she asked, holding a basket full of laundry.
He nodded. "Yes," he replied. "Send for Durga; I must speak with her."
The maid bowed before leaving. "Yes, my Lord."
Boris waited patiently for the maid to fetch Durga. He had planned a banquet not long ago and needed to inform her before going to Goron City. The sorcerer did not care much for Goron City. The Goron culture was bland to him, and of course he could not eat their food. The Gorons had a strange accent and were illiterate. Boris had a relatively stable relationship with the young Goron leader, Darunia. Sometimes the hot-tempered leader bothered Boris with his ignorant comments about the world or by his bluntness, but the Sheikah always remained civil. When the Gorons had celebrations, Darunia occasionally invited Boris to provide background music. But overall, Boris preferred other leaders and places in Hyrule.
"You sent for me, my Lord?" Durga asked with a hopeful glitter in her eyes.
Boris did not answer. He clasped his hands behind his back. "I am leaving for Goron City and I will be gone for two days."
"What about the banquet? Will you make it in time?"
He shook his head. "I'm not certain. It's very possible that I'll miss it or be late, which is why I'm leaving you in charge of the banquet."
She viewed it as an opportunity to redeem herself. Durga intertwined her fingers into a praying position. "I won't let you down!" she said.
"I know," he replied solemnly. The Sheikah couldn't resist. He popped his head into the hallway to see if Isamar and Dion were near. The coast was clear. Boris shut the door and quickly drew Durga close and kissed her passionately.
Surprised by the sudden change of heart, Durga couldn't help but to pull away. "M-my Lord...?" she stammered.
Boris wrapped his arms around Durga and pulled her to him. Their silent embrace lasted for a moment until Durga spoke.
"Why?" she whispered. "Why have you treated me so harshly these past days? What have I done to displease you, my husband?"
He caressed her back. "You have done nothing wrong, my love," he whispered, remembering that the demons were under the same roof. "The spirits are unhappy. They suspect you're not what you say you are."
Baffled, she cried, "Not who I say I am? What do you mean? What do they think I am?" she asked, now trembling.
"Hush, my darling. They're here in our house. Lower your voice," Boris whispered. "They think you are the incarnated form of an evil goddess."
Durga's eyes widened. "They're in our house?" she asked.
"They come and go as they please," he answered.
"And these spirits think I'm evil?" Durga inquired, patting her chest.
He nodded.
Durga clutched his arms desperately. "What are they going to do to me if I am an evil goddess?"
Slowly and sorrowfully, he turned his head away and fixed his vision on the rug-covered floor. "I don't know." Soft creeks sounded in the hallway. His heart pounded. "I must go," he said. "Goodbye, my love." Boris gave Durga a quick but passionate kiss before rushing into the hallway.
Fear gnawed at her mind. She could only pray to the goddesses that the spirits were wrong. Rama spoke of the Goddess of Sand incarnating... Maybe I'm—No! There's no way I could be Devi. But then again, Boris told me he could sense I was more than what I seemed. Not sure of herself, Durga made her way over to her bedroom window and stared at the night sky. When Boris returns, I'll go see Rama. Maybe he can tell me more about Devi.