The Waters of Nayru
Chapter 21: Web of Lies
By, Frank Hunter
After the initial sense panic and yet another sleepless night, Rigo finally burned himself out. Too much had happening too quickly, and he couldn't continue trying to keep up with all of it. He'd been operating on fight-or-flight for too many straight hours, and it was in his need to get out of that mentality that he had a self-preserving epiphany.
What he realized was that these people needed him.
If they didn't, he wouldn't be here. They wouldn't have reason to keep him alive, they wouldn't have reason to help him heal up, and they absolutely wouldn't have reason to mislead him about where he was or when he would be able to leave. The thought brought him a sense of calmness and clarity, which was what he needed most. They needed him. He didn't know what for yet, but he had a feeling he'd figure it out soon. Until then, he was safe.
That's probably the case, Nabooru confirmed when he shared the suspicion with her. Though I wouldn't drink any more of their potions if I were you.
The first foul-tasting drink hadn't had any odd effects. It may legitimately have been a painkiller, but Rigo didn't trust it anymore and took Nabooru's advice when Ilsa came back the following morning.
"I'm feeling better," he said when the medic offered him another cup of green medicine. "Don't worry about it."
Ilsa looked unsure of herself. "But…they said that's your medicine. You have to take it."
"I get it, but I'm not hurting anymore," Rigo said. He flashed a smile at Ilsa and the young woman blushed. "Really," he added. Ilsa took the cup and left the room, not pushing her patient any further. She came back periodically throughout the day, each time again trying to get him to take the medicine and each time not having the backbone to press the issue when Rigo refused.
"You're gonna drown me in this stuff," Rigo told her after the fourth visit.
"I'm not trying to drown you," Ilsa uttered as she again shuffled away. Rigo decided that the reserved nature must not have just been a Hylian thing. The girl was especially shy, would probably have been this way around him even if there was not a conspiracy in place. It was entirely possible she didn't even know what was really going on here.
She also might have a thing for you, Nabooru suggested.
Oh, give me a break, Rigo said.
No, really. Hylian women aren't quite so disciplined when it comes to guarding their emotions, and you're something of a looker, kid. That kind of behavior is a clear-cut example of infatuation. You should think about feeding into it.
Rigo's heart clenched at the suggestion. I'm with Amili, he told Nabooru. The mention of her brought him a fresh wave of heartbreak. They'd never actually talked about it, but the love and companionship they'd shared on their journey had brought them together in that kind of way. It was something that, under other circumstances, could have led to a happily ever after.
Nabooru, of course, trampled straight over his protest with straight rationality. I'm not suggesting you go picking flowers and catching butterflies with her, stupid. You're gonna need to find a way out of here. She might be able to help.
You mean…lead her on? Use her? Rigo asked.
If she can get you out of here, yes.
Rigo hated to consider it. That seems cruel.
No crueler than getting locked up without committing a crime, Nabooru retorted. Any chance you see to get out of this place, you take it, or you're gonna wind up regretting it.
Right, Rigo said. Right, okay.
Ilsa continued to turn up to try and persuade him into medicating and to change his bandages, but Rigo was hesitant to put this first plan into effect. He continued to do little else but smile and decline the green liquid, which she continued to respond to with apparent embarrassment and sadness. He tried to joke with her again, but the whole conversation with Nabooru made it feel awkward and uncomfortable.
"Maybe you and I could share one," he suggested at one point.
Ilsa raised an eyebrow at him. "I…don't really need it," she said.
Smooth.
The young medic was Rigo's only visitor for several days, until the Major came back. When he did, he was still all smiles. It was difficult for Rigo to look at the man, knowing what he'd said while Rigo slept. The phrase "like a cockroach" played over and over again in his mind. He would never have believed it had he not heard it from Nabooru.
"Shaping up nicely," Tydus said as he settled down next to Rigo again.
"Yeah," Rigo agreed. "Still not sure when I'll be able to get moving again. The nurse won't give me an idea."
Tydus nodded grimly. "Yes," he said. "A broken arm isn't something to fool around with. Speaking of which, I've seen from Ilsa's reports that you aren't taking your medicine. You know that would help you get onto your feet quicker?"
"I think I'll be alright without it," Rigo said pointedly.
Tydus looked like he was biting back some kind of retort. Rigo guessed he wasn't the kind of man who was used to being told "no." He let it go, most likely for the sake of his kindness charage.
"I thought that maybe this would be a good day for a chat," Tydus went on, amiably enough. "I'd guess you know, the Hylians and, uh…Gerudo," he gestured first at himself and then Rigo as he said this, "have not been in contact for some time. And the last meeting was not exactly peaceful."
"No, it wasn't. But that was almost two centuries ago," Rigo said, quoting what he knew from his history scriptures and trying to sound knowledgeable. "Ancient history."
Tydus cocked his head and gave Rigo a concerned look. "Seventy years," he corrected.
"Excuse me?"
"You meant to say seventy years."
Rigo thought on it, but that wasn't the case. "No…" he said. "Two hundred. That was when the Ganondorf War ended. And my people…"
"The first Ganondorf War. You're forgetting about his return to Hyrule seven short decades ago."
"Re…return?"
Tydus crossed his arms and fixed Rigo under his stare. Rigo couldn't hold the stare. He felt vulnerable as he lay in his bed, as though a hungry vulture circled over his head.
"When Ganondorf came back to try again to conquer Hyrule. And the Sages again saw fit to banish him for it, a mistake they seem to enjoy repeating. Which is when he, while in another world, was able to amass an army of dark creatures and shadows the likes of which Hyrule has never seen, and unleash them here, covering the world in darkness and terror once more."
The mirror… Nabooru scowled. Rigo had a flash of the shattered mirror atop the Arbiter's Grounds, and remembered what Nabooru had told him about it.
Is…is all of that true? he asked, unbelieving.
If it is, kid, it wasn't me or my group of Sages. My time as a Sage was already done by then, so I can't say for sure. We never used the mirror.
"I…I don't…"
"That's fine, Rigo," Tydus went on. "It's possible that Ganondorf made his return from the realm of Twilight without the aid of his own people. It's, I'm sure, very likely that the Gerudo people remain ignorant of the activities of their King. Why should you be aware of these things? They weren't big problems, after all. Not a global threat or anything."
"I…" Rigo stammered. "But…but I really didn't know."
"You have to understand my position," Tydus explained. "Every time we see a Gerudo man emerge from the desert, our realm goes into a state of open war. It makes us somewhat nervous."
"But it's only ever been one man who's caused it."
"Now there are two," Tydus said.
It took Rigo a moment to realize the man was referring to him. The statement took him aback. "What exactly are you accusing me of?"
Tydus put his hands in the air. A smile returned to his face. "Absolutely nothing. We're just talking. Like you said, m'boy. Ancient history. The relationship between the Hylians and Gerudo today doesn't need to be hostile. The Dark King," Rigo cringed at the degrading title, "is dead and gone. We can begin to mend the rift that has formed between our people. But that mending will only come by way of complete honesty between one another. Do you understand?"
Lying, poisonous snake, Nabooru muttered. Rigo forced himself to conceal a grin. He was glad to have the spirit on his side.
"The Gerudo people value honesty," Rigo said, fixing the Major with a gaze of his own. If the bigger man had any insight into Rigo's knowledge though, he didn't show it.
"Good. Then I think we're understanding each other," Tydus said. He leaned forward. "What else can you tell me about the Gerudo people? How many have come back to Hyrule with you, Rigo? The truth."
There it was. Rigo now knew what it was Tydus needed, and why he was still alive. He was hoping to get information on the Gerudo. He was expecting Rigo to be the first scout in a new invasion from the desert, and wanted to know what kind of forces were coming, what to expect.
He was paranoid. But if that was the case, why did he not want to inform the Royal Family about this kind of potential problem?
Rigo decided to string him along a little longer. "Major, I really look helping the Hylians and Gerudo grow back together, but I'm…tired. I think I need to rest for now. And think about what I should be sharing with you so soon. I'm not an elected emissary, you understand. I might need to go back to my tribe even, and talk over the idea of a renewed relationship with them."
A ripple of frustration passed over Tydus's face, but, as he was still attempting to maintain an air of compassion, he tucked it back again. He stood up and nodded at Rigo. "I know you're still recovering, and that's fine. We can resume the discussion tomorrow. But, I'm afraid I will need to know something of where you're coming from or going to before I can see to it that you're able to leave the Castle Town."
Rigo put on a look of confusion. "I don't think you have the right to stop me from checking out of a hospital, Major? Or do I misunderstand Hylian custom in this?"
Tydus again smiled a dangerous smile, nodded, and went to open the door.
"I'll be wanting to leave here within the week," Rigo called after Tydus as he stepped into the hall.
"That's reasonable enough," came the reply as the man stepped out.
"And I want my things back," he added, thinking of his clothing, cloak, and silver gauntlets. But the door slammed shut on his sentence, and he didn't know if the security chief had heard the last bit.
Nabooru broke into a fit of giggles. 'I want my things back,' she said. Priceless.
Rigo grinned. A thought occurred to him. You can still pass back into the gauntlets, can't you?
If I wanted to, Nabooru said. They're stuffed in a locker somewhere. Not exactly the most scenic digs, if you follow. Better for me to be your headmate just now.
You can't see where they are? he asked.
No. What, you want to try and use them to break outta here?
Yeah, Rigo agreed. If we got the chance to try. Would it work?
Hard to tell with those things. I'd say about a fifty fifty chance they'll be useful outside the Desert Temple. But it's another plan. Can't have too many of those just now, can we?
Guess not, Rigo said. He took a deep breath and settled back. He was just about tired of sitting still.