Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda, its characters and locations are all property of Nintendo. Any and all OCs and original locations belong to me unless specifically stated to belong to someone else.

Soul Secrets

Chapter 25

The courtyard was filled with burning torches and the sounds of clashing blades and panting as three people attacked each other repeatedly, trying to find holes in each other's defences.

Sheik studied his students' forms carefully as he both defended and attacked each of them in turn, and when Eren and Nikal attacked each other. He found plenty of faults and possible weaknesses, but none that warranted him lashing out at them. At their level, they could probably take on fully trained soldiers and most likely come out on top, if a bit bruised or cut. Another few months, and they'd be ready.

He'd realised earlier that day that he had not been good enough at keeping his students busy. Gathering and delivering reports was all well and good, but without physical training they'd soon grow sloppy. He'd been sceptical of allowing Eren to participate just yet given his ordeal, but a good night's sleep (assisted by Kaura's vast array of various remedies for insomnia) had revitalised him at an astonishing rate, and he'd eagerly accepted Sheik's suggestion that they train.

He hadn't been counting on an audience, however, but Leonthal had been present when Sheik suggested a spar, and he'd asked if he could observe. Naturally, where Leonthal went, Rial followed...along with Zelda, and Kaura, though he suspected that the physician was there to ensure that he didn't hurt his students...or not too badly, anyway. She was observing him just as much as them, though, which only went to show that once Kaura had been someone's doctor, she never stopped. You were stuck with her until either of you died...which Sheik had, so...

Shouldn't I be off the hook? he wondered as he idly dodged under a wide sweep from Nikal and easily came too close for the reach of her sword and touched the flat edge of his blade against the side of her neck.

"Decapitated," he said quickly. "Don't let anyone come too close."

"Damn it!" she exclaimed, jumping three steps backwards and drawing a stiletto and keeping it in her left hand.

"And watch your language, young lady," he reminded her. "You're in the presence of royalty."

"You show that arsehole, Nik!" Zelda chose to shout at that moment from her seat next to Kaura and Leonthal. "Don't let him talk down to you!"

The faces of the three other spectators fell spectacularly at the princess' choice of words—Leonthal's in particular—and Kaura had to stifle a snigger once the initial shock wore off.

Sheik gave Zelda a withering glance, momentarily distracted. It was enough of an opening for Eren to approach from behind and slap the flat of his sword against the back of Sheik's knee, and for Nikal to give him two taps, once with her sword and once with the stiletto, to the chest.

"That doesn't count," Sheik announced. "I was distracted."

"Isn't that what you always say, Master?" Eren asked. "That distractions are everywhere and only the best warriors can filter them out to focus on the fight at hand?"

"Master, can it be that you are not perfect?" Nikal said with a mocking gasp, as if her entire world had been turned upside down by the revelation. "I don't know what to think about anything anymore!"

"Enough," Sheik growled, lashing out so that the tips of both his blades were half an inch from each of their throats. He wasn't in this to get made fun of by bloody children! "Back into initial positions, we'll start again." He made his voice as severe as possible, but neither of his students seemed all that bothered by it, smirking at each other as they pulled back and got back into position.

"I think he's mad, Nik," Eren quipped. "I guess it's tough to realise he's not the best anymore."

"You're right, Eren," she replied. "But we shouldn't make fun—after all, Master is old—"

"You do realise you're calling the princess and prince old by extension, right?" Sheik said, maintaining a sour face. "And I don't even want to imagine what that implies about Mister Vortan and Doctor Kaura over there."

The kids realised what they had just said, and after casting a glance at the spectators, knew they had just alienated themselves out of any support from them. Both coming to the conclusion that they had nothing to lose, they set their sights on Sheik again. He saw what they were planning, recognised the determined looks on their faces. He smiled under his mask.

Come, then, he thought.

They sprang forward at the same time. Eren attack high while Nikal went for Sheik's legs, trying to confuse him. He was supposed to attempt blocking both attacks, failing at both in the moment of indecision between protecting his gut, heart, and throat, and his...privates. Luckily, there was no need for that. He simply leapt backwards, somersaulting gracefully out of the way. They came at him again, but this time they weren't completely in sync, and that gave Sheik more than enough time to sweep Nikal's legs out from under her, and sidestep Eren's sword thrust, grabbing his arm and throwing him to the ground. They quickly rolled back to their feet, before he could 'finish' them off, warily trying to circle him.

Sheik had no trouble fending off their attacks as they came. They tried, and failed, to synchronise their movements again, but their timing needed work. They worked well together, but they still had to get used to each other during a fight. He made a note to drill them thoroughly in fighting as a pair.

Then it happened.

"Nik," Eren called. "The one-eighty!"

"One-eighty!" she called back, and they both began to run around Sheik in circles, suddenly coming to a stop.

They were on either side of him, perfectly mirrored so that Sheik had to stand sideways and look back and forth between them. They had tried this manoeuvre before, trying to take advantage of his blind side, but they'd usually underestimated his ability to overcome his handicap, spacing themselves too close to each other...but now they were at a perfect distance, forcing Sheik to continually turn his head to maintain some semblance of an overview of the situation.

They had him.

Shit, he thought.

Just as they began to move, a steward entered the courtyard. It was more accurate to say that he ran, nearly tripping over his own feet as he hurried towards the princess, waving a piece of paper in his hand. Eren and Nikal broke off their attack immediately, though Sheik saw the smug expressions on their faces as they regrouped next to him—they knew they could have beaten him right then.

"Your Majesty!" the steward exclaimed, panting and holding the paper out in front of him. "This just arrived!"

Zelda looked nonplussed as she took the paper and thanked the steward, who was taking a moment to regain his breath and his composure. Exchanging glances with the others, the princess unfolded the paper and read the message contained therein. The amusement and mirth that had been on her face a minute before quickly faded, her face growing pale. When she reached the end, her hands were shaking, and she looked close to collapsing.

"Zelda?" Kaura asked, reaching out to touch her shoulder. Zelda shook it off.

"Sheik," she said, her voice weak.

Sheik immediately strode over and took the paper from her offering hand, his eye scanning the neat lines quickly.

Princess Zelda,

Our campaign continues. The Sun will expose you for the traitor to the Goddesses you and yours are, and the hell to which you have doomed our world. The next stage of our plan begins now, and we have already achieved the first step. The Hero of Time is in our possession. Do not worry, you will get him back...after some modifications, of course. Do not bother searching; you will not find him in Castle Town.

We also have your whore. She will be treated as she deserves.

Until we meet,

The Sun.

Sheik's hand dropped to his side as the words sank in, his fingers slowly crumpling the paper. Link was...taken? When? He had seen him that morning, for Goddesses' sake! Noticing every eye on him, he slowly looked at Zelda, knowing exactly who this so-called 'whore' was. How could they have gotten to both Link and Tira in such a short amount of time?

"We need to talk," he said to the princess, not even noticing that his voice was strained.

Zelda nodded and retrieved her cane. "Stay here," she told the others. "Except Rial. You're coming."

"I am?" the former general asked, trying not to look at his prince to avoid the accusatory look. After a few seconds, the prince nodded, and the human hurried after the Sheikah and the princess.

They quickly ensconced themselves in Zelda's study, at which point Sheik allowed Rial to read the message. His jaw tightened as he read, and when he was finished he looked furious.

"Who the hell are these people?" he asked. "And how do they know—"

"It doesn't matter how they found out," Sheik interrupted. "What matters is that they have Link and Tira, and we cannot waste another second. We have to begin searching immediately!"

"Search where? Hyrule is big, and the only lead we have is that they're not in Castle Town." The former general clenched his fist. "Cowards, all of them!"

Sheik looked at Zelda, who had sunk into her chair by the fireplace and remained silent, staring into the air. How could she sit like that, after receiving such news? She should be moving mountains to find Tira by now!

"He's right," she said quietly. "I don't even know where to start." She looked at Sheik, her eyes wide. "Do you?"

Grinding his teeth, Sheik shook his head. "No, I don't, but I...we...something has to be done! I'm not going to sit around and wait while they have them!"

He punched the wall as hard as he could, his entire form shaking with anger and, to his horror, fear. Fear for Link, fear for Tira...and what would happen to them at hands of the enemy...the enemy who had proved on more than one occasion that they were willing to cross the line.

He needed an overview, he needed maps, he needed...he needed his own study. From there, he could communicate with not just the Castle Town network of informants, but the intricate and far-reaching web he had established all over Hyrule. It would take too long to speak to the agents directly, but if he could send just one carrier pigeon, and instruct the receiving agents to send their own...the news would spread like wildfire, and within days all of Hyrule would be searching for the missing Hero.

Straightening up, he took a deep breath. "Zelda, I will be taking a leave of absence," he said calmly.

"Sheik, you can't search for him alone," Rial said carefully, knowing how volatile the young lord could be at times.

"Oh, I won't be the only one," Sheik assured him. "I have contacts all over Hyrule...it'll be all hands on deck for this one. I just need to go to Kakariko—from there I can direct the entire effort." He was forcing himself to calm down, forcing his tactical, analytical mind to quiet down his impulsiveness, his desire to destroy the Sun...and the pain he was feeling in his chest. He looked at Zelda. "Do I have your permission? I will leave Eren and Nikal here to protect you."

Zelda looked up at him, seemingly at a loss for words. Sheik kneeled by the chair, taking her hands in his.

"I will find her, Zelly," he whispered. "I will find them both—I swear it to you."

Her lips tightening into a firm line, she nodded. "Do it...and bring me the ones responsible in chains."

"You have my word."

Rial followed him as he strode out of the princess' study and headed for the courtyard, barely stopping by his chambers for his travelling gear.

"What will you do when you find them?" the human asked. "Do you need backup?"

Sheik fastened his cloak around his shoulders as he walked. "The message sounded cocky—most likely they have a camp or settlement somewhere. It is better to infiltrate, I think. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. I will be sending regular updates from Kakariko until then."

Eren and Nikal gave him strange looks as he returned to the courtyard, dressed for the road. Stopping, he turned to Rial. "Please, don't tell the prince about what happened in Lumina...or the details of it, anyway. The last thing we need is for that to spread around."

"The prince wouldn't tell a soul," Rial assured him.

"I do not know him, and I do not trust him," Sheik said, shooting him down. "Not a word, understand? You can tell him about Link, but nothing else."

Rial looked ready to argue, but nodded in the end. "Fine, but I can't stop him from speaking to the princess."

"If Zelda chooses to tell him, so be it." He turned to his students. "Eren, Nikal, Doctor Kaura, please follow me."

The three fell in step as he marched towards the stables, leaving Rial to fill in Prince Leonthal on the situation.

"What's going on, Master?" Eren asked. "Are we going somewhere?"

"I am going to Kakariko, you two are staying here," Sheik replied.

"What? Why?" Nikal demanded.

Sheik didn't comment on the lack of respect there—he knew the news was sudden and unexpected...and they hadn't been raised like he had.

Instead, he said, "Link and Tira have been kidnapped by the Sun. I am going back to the fortress to direct my network in a search effort."

He was leaving a lot of questions unanswered, but he didn't have time to waste right now. He practically kicked open the stable doors, ignoring the protests of the master and stable boys and immediately began to saddle Maladict, who gave an annoyed snort at being awoken so suddenly. He patted his neck apologetically. "Sorry, boy, but it's an emergency."

"What are we supposed to do here, Master?" Eren asked, clearly shocked at the news, as was Nikal. Kaura's eyes had gone steely, but she said nothing as she watched Sheik prepare his horse for travel.

"Protect the princess with your lives," their master said, looking at them with the single most serious expression they had ever seen. His eyes had turned a much darker shade of red than usual, so dark that the milky white slit in his left eye became eerily visible. "That is an order. She is not to be alone at any time. Sleep in shifts if you have to. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Master," Eren and Nikal said in unison, saluting for good measure.

"Good, dismissed."

"Good luck finding them, Master," Nikal said, looking worried as she and Eren left the stables to assume their new posts.

Kaura waited until they were alone before speaking.

"What you're doing is reckless," she said neutrally.

"I am retreating," Sheik said, busying himself with fiddling with the various straps and buckles on Maladict. "Pulling back to gain a strategic view so I can act logically and not impulsively. How is that reckless?"

"I'm not talking about that," she said, moving closer. "I'm talking about what you intend to do once you find them. You're going to go in alone and try to save them yourself. That is reckless. And stupid. And likely to get all three of you killed." She scoffed. "You always think you can handle things on your own...you haven't changed at all."

"What am I supposed to do, then? Call in the army?" he growled. "They wouldn't lift a finger to help Link if they knew I was the one who requested it."

The physician sighed. "An army? Don't be daft—they'd move too slowly to be of any use, and they've got the finesse of a pregnant cow. I'm simply saying..." She trailed off once she noticed it.

Sheik had turned his back to her, seemingly focusing on tightening the saddle...but his hands weren't moving. His shoulders were shaking. With care much unlike that she usually showed her patients, she walked up to him, gently took him by the shoulder and made him turn around. The tears weren't falling, but she could see them in his eyes.

Men could act as tough as they wanted in any situation, but they all showed their true colours when it came to loved ones. He was terrified, she knew. Slowly, she brought him close and gave him a tight hug. It was either of great comfort or great shock—she wasn't sure which she preferred—but it had the desired effect. Slowly, his suppressed sobs stopped, and he seemed to snap out of the thinly concealed shock he'd been struck by the second he'd read the letter. Zelda had the same, and Kaura was going to see her next.

"Are you going to listen now?" she asked firmly, and Sheik nodded. "Good. I am not saying you need an army to free them. All I'm saying is don't go alone. If you have men and women you trust under your command, bring them. Don't try to do it all by yourself, or it'll end in tragedy. Do you hear me?"

"...yes, doctor," Sheik mumbled and finished saddling Maladict, his movements clumsier, but calmer all the same.

She followed him to the castle gates, where he mounted the large horse. The streets would be free of traffic by now; he could gallop out.

"Doctor," he said, looking down at her.

Beneath all his bravado and lordly bearing, she still saw the child he'd once been. Things never change, she thought.

"Yes?" she said.

"...will you look after them while I'm gone? All of them?"

She knew who he meant. He made it a point to show that he was a Master and teacher to his students, but he truly cared for them as well.

"I will," she promised. "The princess and your students are safe with me." She reached into her pocket and unfolded a collapsible scalpel she liked to keep on her person in case of emergencies, brandishing it as a show of force. "You can count on it."

"Thank you, doctor."

"Come back in one piece—all of you. I'm sick of sewing you back together and I have better things to do with my time."

With his mask in place, she only saw his eyes as the corners creased slightly from his smile. Without another word, he kicked Maladict into a full gallop and disappeared down the street. Kaura watched him until he was out of sight, and then began her trek back to the courtyard. Leonthal and Rial were nowhere to be seen, probably back in the prince's chambers of a briefing. Nikal and Eren were probably with the princess. She headed for Zelda's study, wondering why the few people she actually liked seemed to have the worst possible luck.

Link's head was pounding, and the world spun as he slowly came to. Opening his eyes was a herculean task, and it offered little in return as everything around him was pitch black. He tried to move, but his arms and legs were restrained, manacles digging into the skin around his wrists and ankles, with very little give, forcing him into an upright spread-eagled position against a cold wall of stone. His tunic was gone, as were his boots. The only clothing he'd been left were his trousers, which did little to stop his shivering. His throat was sore and ached like someone had tried to strangle him.

...which they had, he realised as the memories came swimming back, faint and foggy like they events had occurred ages ago. The Gerudo had been fast, much faster than any of the other swordswomen he'd practiced against...even faster than Ayla, who was one of the most ferocious sword fighters he'd ever seen. He'd barely been able to keep up with her, and once she began to utilise the crates in the alley to jump around and keep hitting him at blind angles...it was a lost fight. The last thing he remembered was seeing the strange Zora woman knock out Tira with her head tail...

Tira!

He began struggling against the manacles again; looking around wildly even though the action yielded nothing but more darkness as well as making his head spin even worse and his stomach roil. He groaned.

"Link?"

He was so relieved to hear her voice that he almost laughed. "Tira? Where are you?"

"Almost right next to you," she replied, her voice indeed sounding like it was coming from right next to him. As the dizziness slowly began to clear up, his spatial awareness was returning as well. "Are you all right?"

"Fine," Link replied. "Head hurts, I'm dizzy, my body feels like it's been beaten to hell and back...and my mouth tastes like...I can't even describe it, it's so disgusting."

"Probably whatever drug they gave us to keep us under," Tira surmised. "I tasted it too."

"Where are we?"

"I've no idea—probably somewhere far away from Castle Town, though, if they needed to keep us unconscious to get us here."

Her voice was strained, like she was in pain.

"...are you okay?" Link asked.

It took her a while to answer, and when she did her voice was quiet. "They broke my fingers. My sword hand is useless..."

"It'll be all right," Link said hurriedly. "Kaura'll fix you right up—she's brilliant!"

Tira chuckled. "I think you're getting a bit ahead of yourself, Hero...first we need to get out of here, and the chances of that happening are...slim, I think."

"We've been in worse trouble than this," the Hero of Time said, still optimistic. "This'll be a cakewalk."

"I wish I shared your optimism."

Now it was Link's turn to chuckle. "That's what Sheik keeps saying when he gets into one of his moods." He tried pulling at his manacles again, confirming that there was little he could do about those for now. He was still too weak. "How long have you been awake?"

"Couple of hours," she replied. "Someone keeps checking in on us every thirty minutes or so."

"Who?"

"No idea—they carry a torch and blind me every time. The only thing I can say for certain is that we are underground...though exactly where..." She sighed. "I'm sorry, Link, I wasn't good enough to beat her."

"You had a knife," Link deadpanned. "She had bloody arm blades—I'm surprised you're still alive...no offense."

"None taken...and that Gerudo—"

"Unlike any I've ever faced."

The room fell silent for a minute.

"How did they know we were there?" Link asked suddenly. "We didn't tell anyone where we were going."

"The same way managed to launch that attack on the feast," Tira said. "The same way they destroyed that border crossing, the same way they made an entire village's worth of people disappear without a trace..."

Link hung his head, feeling the strain of the position he was forced into beginning to wear at his shoulders. In a few hours, it would be agony. He could only imagine how Tira was feeling if she was in the same position.

"So," he said, "we're basically screwed."

"For the moment."

"Sheik will be here soon, though. Once he learns what's happened... Heh, I wouldn't be surprised if Zelda shows up too."

Tira didn't respond, and Link would have kicked himself if it weren't for the fact that he was tied up.

He didn't have time to apologise. The cell door suddenly slammed open, flooding the small room with blinding light so sharp that Link thought his eyes had caught fire.

"I thought I heard voices," the said the voice of the Gerudo, sounding smug. "About time you woke up, Hero. The boss was getting antsy." Link squinted, and recognised the shape of the woman in the painful torchlight. Her scimitars were still on her back. "How's your throat?" she continued. "Sore? I could have crushed your windpipe if I wanted...and would have, if I didn't need you alive." She glanced at Tira. "Why in the world you're still alive, I couldn't tell you."

"You've no idea how much of a mistake you've made, taking us," Tira said, glaring at her.

"Yeah, huge," Link intoned. "Really, you should just let us go right now and save yourself the trouble. You might even get through it all alive...if Sheik and Zelda feel merciful."

"Which they won't."

The Gerudo laughed. It was a shrill, unpleasant sound. "You two are so cute, thinking that anyone will ever find you here. Or, maybe they will, but not until long after we're done here." She turned to a second figure standing just outside the doorway. "Go tell the boss the guests are awake." She then entered the cell proper and put her torch in a sconce, stretching slightly.

Now that the room was lighted, Link could actually see what was in it. He didn't like what he saw. The walls were mostly raw dirt save for the load-bearing ones, which were of hastily constructed stone. Link and Tira were manacled next to each other on one of these. The ceiling was high and earthy, with roots hanging down, further cementing Tira's theory that they were underground. What caught his eyes, though, were the torture racks, the horrid-looking instruments the likes of which he had only seen in Hatra and, to a certain extent, Sheik's possession, and the old bloodstains.

"Welcome to our humble abode," the Gerudo said, noticing where their eyes were roaming. "Lovely, isn't it?"

"You'll get nothing from us," Tira said. "We're both trained to resist torture of any sort—"

"What could you possibly know that we would want? We know everything. You're not here to be interrogated."

"Then why are we here?" Link demanded. He really didn't like the look of those pliers...

"That, I will leave to our exalted leader to explain." Footsteps were approaching the cell at a relaxed, comfortable pace. "Ah, speak of the devil."

Three new figures entered the cell, leaving the already cramped room feeling even smaller...mostly because of the last arrival, an absolute giant of a hooded, robed man. He almost had to kneel to fit inside the room. The Zora from the alley was the second last, her eyes twinkling with amusement, the light of the torches reflected in her scales. The first arrival was clearly the leader—though it would have been evident without the verbal acknowledgement from the Gerudo. He had a bearing that told everyone in the vicinity that he was in absolute control of everything and that to speak or act against him would have dire consequences.

Link noticed first his tattoos, the intricate network of intertwined designs that covered the man's forehead, temples and cheekbones. They reminded him of the tattoo Lor had on his cheek, only much more complicated. His fiery red hair was the second thing that stood out, rivalling that of his Gerudo accomplice in splendour. Third, and most important, were his eyes. A most distinct shade of red, like rubies, which shone eerily in the light. He wore the robes that had come to be associated with the Sun members, which managed to make him look both fit and imposingly big at the same time.

He smiled as he looked over his guests. "Well, well, well," he said. "This is a moment I've been waiting for, Hero of Time, you have no idea how long." He glanced at Tira once more. "And Miss Siress...I was not expecting you, though I would hardly begin to complain about striking two birds with one stone, as it were. It makes this operation so much easier to have you here right now."

"You're the boss?" Link asked.

"I must be, otherwise I'm doing a very good impersonation," he replied, chuckling. "My name is...well, my real name is far too long and unpronounceable in your tongue, so I will settle for...Iari. Yes, that is a good name." He nodded to himself. "I am Iari, leader of the Sun, and the light that will shine upon the truth."

"And what truth is that?" Tira asked. "The slaughter of innocents?"

Iari gave her a dark look. "I would be very careful with lobbing such accusations, Miss Siress. Compared to you, I have barely killed at all." He swept an arm around the room. "Allow me to introduce my...remaining compatriots," he announced. "The lovely Gerudo you see, who is currently fiddling with what appears to be an eyeball extractor of some sort, goes by the name of Red, though I can reveal that her true handle is Zendine."

"Hey," Zendine protested. "I thought we agreed on no real names!"

"Given what is about to happen, I think they deserve to know that much, at least," Iari said. "The beautiful Zora is a dear friend of mine called Sapphire, and she has refused to tell even me her real name, which I will respect."

Sapphire smirked slightly at Tira. She was satisfied with her victory, it seemed.

"And the stout fellow behind me," the man said, gesturing to the giant, "goes by the name of Ogre."

"Are we really doing this?" Link asked, already tiring of the conversation. "What's next, explaining your master plan?"

Iari laughed, his voice echoing slightly along the tunnels outside the cell. "Aha, no, I'm afraid not," he said. "I am quite confident in its future success, but I have more sense than that." He looked between his two prisoners. "On the other hand, I'm sure you're curious as to why I am doing what I do."

He pulled up a small stool that had been shoved into a corner and took a seat in front of them. Zendine continued to busy herself with the various instruments of torture, while Sapphire reclined in one of the torture racks, looking comfortable.

"The Cataclysm," Iari began, sounding like one of the history teachers that Sheik had instructing his students, "do you remember it? Silly question. Of course you remember it. After all, you were both in the very centre of it...well out of danger, while the rest of the world burned, flooded and cracked apart. I'm almost surprised Hyrule made it out as well as it did...but then, this land always was blessed by the Goddesses, wasn't it?"

"Where are you going with this?" Tira asked impatiently.

"I am wondering why millions of innocents died in the disasters, plagues, and famines while those who caused it all didn't suffer at all," Iari said.

"What are you talking about?" Link demanded, all the while trying to suppress any signs that he knew exactly what Iari was talking about. "We didn't cause the Cataclysm to happen!"

Iari didn't seem fazed by the outburst. "Does the name Feror mean anything to you?" He nodded to himself when neither Link nor Tira said anything. "Your silence is worth more than a thousand words. Of course, had you said 'No', I would have been forced to punish you earlier than I intended."

"The last god," Zendine said. "Murdered."

"And now the world is dying," Sapphire continued.

"All because of you," Iari finished. "The Hero of Time, Tira Siress, Princess Zelda of Hyrule, Rial Vortan, Sheik of the house Sheikah, Jedistern Tadian, The warlocks Ard and Lorasi...the list goes on. Quite an interesting group of people, each as dangerous as the next, in their own ways. There were two soldiers with you on that day too...almost anonymous...but I tracked them down and...punished them."

"Who told you this?" Tira asked, her eyes having widened more and more for each name the man had recited. Link wondered the same—they had all sworn themselves to secrecy!

Iari did not look amused at her interruption, but smiled after a few seconds. "People's mouths move easily when money in involved. Those mouths spoke of a very mixed group of people taking an airship to somewhere in the middle of nowhere...which happened to be the location of an ancient fortress. Those same mouths led me to a specific member of that group." He sighed. "Mister Tadian was most difficult to crack. It is a shame, having to do such things to such a brilliant mind...but he broke in the end, and the names all came tumbling out."

"You bastard!" Link shouted. "What did you do to him?!"

"Nothing I wouldn't do to you," Iari said. "Not that it matters, he is dead now, and his suffering has ended."

"If he told you everything," Tira said, "then he'd also tell you that we weren't responsible for the Cataclysm. We stopped it!"

Iari didn't look surprised. "I know, he did tell me so."

"Then why are you doing this?"

"Because you stopped it," Iari said as-a-matter-of-factly. "Instead of letting the world end with a bang, you doomed it to a slow, whimpering demise with untold amounts of suffering. Had Feror had his way, I'm sure none of us would even have known what was happening."

"You're insane." Tira spat at his feet. "We gave the world a fighting chance!"

"Hmph, you are becoming impudent," Iari said. "And my patience is limited."

"You don't know that the world is dying," Link insisted. "What Feror did caused a lot of damage, but it will heal—"

"You have seen the ash rains, Hero," Iari said. "The dying forests, the poisonous waters that kills everything for miles around them. The storms that are levelling entire cities to the ground, the roiling and rising seas. Hyrule has been spared most of these symptoms, but everywhere else... And it is only getting worse. People are dying because of these things, and they will only get worse and worse. Perhaps one day it will all cease, but that will take a long time...and I'm afraid we do not have that luxury.

I am an agent of truth and justice, and my purpose here is to expose you all for the murderers you are to the people of the world...and then carry out your sentence. You, and all of Hyrule, will burn... We are all going to die, but at least the people you have condemned will have retribution."

He rose from his seat and moved the stool back to its place.

"Which brings me to the reason I have brought you here." He paused. "Well, technically only you were supposed to end up here, Hero. You, Miss Siress, for your prowess and involvement, are hardly one of the main prizes. Honestly, I find myself at a bit of a loss as to what to do with you." He shook his head. "I'm sure I will figure something out. As for you, Hero...I have special plans for you."

He snapped his fingers. "I just figured out what to do with you, Miss Siress," he announced and walked up to her. "It is so simple, too!"

"What, going to slit my throat?" she asked, glaring at him.

"Yes."

A knife appeared in his hand, and Link barely had time to cry out "No!" before he raked it across Tira's throat, opening it wide.

The warrior had a surprised expression on her face as she first looked up at Iari, then at the blood that was quickly pouring to the floor. She gasped, though it came out as a gurgle, and crimson droplets spattered the front of Iari's robe. Her eyes found Link's.

"Tira!" he screamed and fought against his restraints, desperately trying to tear himself loose. He felt the metal cutting into his wrists, but he didn't care. "Tira, look at me! Keep looking at me! I'm here, I'm here with you!"

Tira tried to speak, but there were only more gurgles, and her gaze was growing distant, her head slowly falling.

"I'm here, you're not alone!" Link shouted, trying to keep her attention. "I'll kill them all, you hear me?! I'll escape, and burn this place down!" He saw something in her eyes, and nodded as he felt the tears run down his cheeks. "I'll look after Zelda, I promise...she won't forget you."

Tira's eyes closed, and her chin came to rest at her chest...and she was gone.

Link stared at her body, jaw trembling. He couldn't believe it. She'd just been...no...gone...no... He should be screaming and fighting to free himself, but it was like all strength had left his body, and all he could do was look at her...

"Hm," Iari said, sniffing. "That was...anticlimactic. I expected more of a...triumphant feeling. That's one less name on the list, anyway." He looked at Link. "How are you feeling, Hero?"

Link didn't respond, his attention locked on his friend and companion. He couldn't even summon the strength to curse him.

"So that's what it takes to break you," Iari said, rubbing his chin. "Interesting. Well, that might make our job a little easier. Zendine, I believe that is your cue."

"About time," the Gerudo said, stepping forward and taking a tray of instruments with her. "You take forever."

"Careful," he warned her. "I know you're angry, but that does not give you the right to be insubordinate."

She rolled her eyes, but nodded. "Want to stay and watch the show?"

"No, but Sapphire will remain here to ensure you do not cross the line. We need him mostly intact."

"Right, right, mind first and all that." Zendine looked at the Zora. "Wanna participate?"

"No, I'm content to sit and watch the master at work," Sapphire replied languidly. She looked at Tira. "What about her?"

"I'm certain you can find some use for the body. The workforce is hungry, I think," Iari replied, already halfway out the door, closely followed by the giant named Ogre. He turned and looked back at Link. "Make yourself comfortable, Hero. You'll be here for some time."

The door slammed shut, and Link barely registered Zendine gleefully approaching him with one of the instruments.

He screamed.

To be continued...

...