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.


The Hunt
Chapter 28


Link's teeth chattered as another gust of icy wind seemed to blow right through his heavy furs and multiple layers of wool clothing, which he'd been guaranteed would keep him warm on their trek through the mountains. He had half a mind to turn back and demand his money's worth (technically Zelda's), but that would mean another thirty-two hours of walking back to that godforsaken sinkhole of a village. Somehow, he doubted the suggestion would receive standing ovations from the others.

Muttering insults to the valley they were skirting at the moment, through which the freezing wind was blowing, he glanced up ahead. He happened to catch Sheik's eyes (just about the only part of the Sheikah's features that were visible in his current outfit) and felt a smile growing beneath the scarf that covered his mouth. Sheik was too far away for Link to see, but he hoped that the hunter was smiling as well.

The night they'd spent in the forest after Ascal's attack had been...sobering, and something had changed between the two of them. Sheik didn't treat him any differently in front of the others, but there were no more secret kisses or murmured sweet nothings when no one else was listening. Link wasn't sure if Sheik was having second thoughts about their relationship, or if he was simply putting things off until they could get to the Studio and possibly talk things over, but...he found himself worrying.

But...Sheik didn't seem like the type to lead someone on, and his honour probably demanded that he'd end things with Link if...if he wasn't feeling anything for the Ordonian after Link had revealed...that.

He drew a sharp breath, willing away the unbidden images that always came to his mind whenever he thought of it. The worst part had been her smile, just before he'd pulled the trigger. Had she known that he'd miss? Or had she suspected what would happen, and already forgiven him before she wouldn't be able to? He groaned—why was he thinking about this?

He tried to focus on something else, and chose to observe the other travellers in their party. Zelda and Kaura were leading their horses by the reins, and Tao and Lor were sitting in the saddles, both bundled up to the point of being unable to move. It was almost comical, but given how miserable Tao was at night Link knew it was absolutely necessary to keep him as warm as possible. Lor was much the same, still weak and recovering from his injuries, though his leg was improving drastically.

Epona gave an unhappy snort when another gust of wind blew through the valley, and Link patted her muzzle. "Don't worry, girl, we'll find shelter soon," he muttered into her ear. Glancing up, he noted that it was hours past noon, and the sun was getting low. Drawing a breath, he called to Sheik at the head of their group, "Sheik! How long until we make camp?!"

"Another hour at this pace, and we'll reach one of our caches!" was the answer, carried on the wind. Link suppressed a wince. Sheik sounded tired, even when shouting. "It's in a cave, so it'll warm up quickly!"

Another hour sounded like torture, but the promise of a warm cave was more than enough to renew Link's will to continue for a while. It helped that the snow up here wasn't particularly deep, not even coming up to his ankle. The proper winter snow had yet to fall—he could only hope they would hold off until after they were safe and secure in the Studio.

Where he could stay warm with Sheik...


True to Sheik's word, the cave appeared around a bend in the road an hour later. Well, appeared was a strong word. It was hidden behind an outcropping that blended perfectly into the rock, only yielding its true nature when viewed from the exact right angle. Clearly artificial, the cave itself was smooth and polished, and tall enough for the horses to stand at full height comfortably. A thick wooden gate held shut by a massive padlock blocked the entrance to unwelcome visitors who'd stumbled on the cache by accident, the padlock's mechanism so complicated it was (more or less) impossible to pick open.

Or frustrating enough to drive even the most skilled picklock insane long before they actually managed to open it.

Reaching into his clothing, Sheik took out his special key and used it on the padlock, grunting when the mechanism resisted slightly. He made a note to oil it before they left. It finally relented, and he opened the gate.

"The stables' on the immediate left," he said, drawing a pistol and walking into the darkness. In theory, only hunters would be able to access this place, but one could never be too certain. Not after Ascal. "Should be a pump for water, but I don't think there's any feed."

Behind him, he heard the scuffling of boots and the clops of hooves on stone as the others put the horses in the small chamber by the entrance. A pair of boots caught up to him.

"So this is a hunter's cache?" Zelda asked, a hand on the knife in her belt, mirroring Sheik's caution. "Are non-hunters even allowed in here?"

"Not really," Sheik admitted as he led her further into the cache, which was larger than he remembered it to be. Granted, it had been at least ten years since he'd last seen it, and Impa had probably had it expanded at some point. "But I think a special exception can be made for the Princess of Hyrule." He kept his voice low—Lor still didn't know about Zelda's true identity, though he wasn't sure why they were still keeping it a secret from him. Maybe to preserve some semblance of belief in Zelda's skills at maintaining her disguise after Kaura had taken a sledgehammer to it.

There had definitely been made additions to the cave—it had been extended at least another twenty yards, with several side rooms added. Some even had doors! The last time he'd been here, there'd only been the main chamber and the stables!

He found a lantern and lit it with his tinderbox, shedding light on the central tunnel, causing Zelda to gasp. "This is incredible," she said. "The hunters made this?"

"We need places like this for the times when we're...less than welcome in towns," Sheik said, glancing into each individual room. Several sleeping areas, stoves, even a small workshop...definitely one of the better-equipped caches he'd seen. "Means we have somewhere to retreat."

"I see," the princess said, noticing another side chamber with a heavy-looking metal door, equipped with another complicated-looking lock. "What's behind there?" she asked.

"Armoury," Sheik replied. "Enough to equip more than a dozen hunters in case of an emergency. We're meant to be able to coordinate Grand Hunts from a place like this."

"When was the last Grand Hunt?"

"Oh, thirty years ago, roughly. I'm not entirely sure—records about it were sloppy. I'm not even sure what they were hunting, only that it was dangerous. Might even have been an extermination. Impa won't say much about it, nor will the others. I suppose it didn't go very well." He frowned. His aunt's expression always went wooden when he asked, and he never felt good about that. Pissing her off, however, was always an occasion to celebrate.

"I suppose I shouldn't ask when we arrive at the Studio, then?" Zelda said.

"I doubt it will be welcome conversation at the dinner table," Sheik agreed. He peeked into the last room (another sleeping area) and holstered his pistol, satisfied that they were alone. "Right, I think we'll be fine here for a night. We can even sleep in separate rooms, if we want, but I'm not sure it's a good idea to waste the firewood..."

"Maybe we can sleep in groups or pairs?" Zelda suggested. "I'm sure Link would appreciate a chance to snuggle up against his brave hunter—"

Sheik was certain the blush covered his entire face, and was thankful for his scarf. "Shush!" he hissed. "What if someone hears—"

"Half of us already know, Sheik, and I doubt the good doctor and Tao will care very much." She glanced back towards the others, checking. They were still tending to the horses, Lor and Tao doing their best to unwrap themselves from the many layers they'd been stuffed into. "Besides, I think the two of you need some alone time. I haven't seen you do anything together since the attack. I thought you'd forgiven him?"

Sheik found himself wishing he was back outside, braving the winter night instead of being questioned by his sister on the subject of his...lover?

"I have," he said quietly, continually looking towards the others, hoping they couldn't hear. "But...we talked a lot that night, and there were...Link told me some things about himself...some...very private things, and I feel like he's let me into a ring of confidence that I have yet to match."

"What did he say?" Zelda asked, eyes alight with curiosity. "Was it about previous flames? Quick tumbles during festivals, or...?" she trailed off, remembering the biggest secret she knew the Ordonian harboured. "...his sister?"

"Something like that," Sheik said noncommittally. He wasn't about to reveal such a painful secret without Link's explicit permission...or without letting the Ordonian talk about it himself. "Either way, we're on unequal ground at the moment, and I don't feel...right about acting the lover without being just as honest with him. And I've tried...Goddesses know I've tried, but the words just won't...come." He finished by letting his arms dangle uselessly at his side, the swinging lantern casting flickering shadows around them. "I want to tell him, but don't know how. It feels...awkward, to simply drop it on him out of nowhere, and it never feels like the right time. Not with..."

"Us around," she finished for him. "Well, it's not my place to tell you how to handle this, but I think Link is worried about where the two of you are standing at the moment, and I think he needs some sort of acknowledgement that you don't secretly hate him." She patted his shoulder, smiling. "And as for being equal...well, I don't blame you for finding it difficult to tell him. I'm sure he will understand when you finally find the proper time, though. Perhaps at the Studio?"

"Perhaps," he agreed. He blinked, lips moving before he realised what he was asking. "Why are you set on going to the Studio?"

"Oh...diplomatic business, very important," she said offhandedly, glancing away. Sheik narrowed his eyes.

"Yes, I know that, but what kind of business? Surely any business you have or would like to have with the hunters could have been arranged when Impa was was in Hyrule last? Or through me?"

Zelda looked positively uncomfortable now, which immediately set off warning bells in the back of Sheik's mind. "I...it did not become prudent until after Impa left, and it's too sensitive to go through intermediaries, even if it's you, Sheiky."

Utter shite, Sheik thought. That's a lie if I ever heard one.

"Look, it's a very sensitive matter, and right now we have enough problems on our hands without me adding politics to the pile," she continued, sounding a bit more confident. "Sheik, please believe me when I say I am keeping the matter to myself for a good reason. Have I ever wanted anything but what's best for you? For everyone?"

He had to concede to that, and nodded with a grunt of displeasure. "Fine...but I will be there when you discuss it with Impa."

"Of course," she said with a grateful smile. She glanced around, looking a bit impatient, probably eager to explore the cache. "Anything I can do to help?"

He handed her his tinderbox, pointing to the closest lantern. "Light the place up a bit, will you? I reckon we'll be using the two outer chambers. One for you and Kaura, one for the me and the boys."

She nodded and immediately went about her task, probably glad to have escaped the conversation that had turned against her in the matter of seconds. Nodding to himself, Sheik headed for the armoury door, unlocking it with his key. The door was heavy, and he had to put his shoulder to it to finally get it to move. It creaked loudly, revealing the dark room within. Stepping inside, he found everything to be in order.

Racks and cabinets lined the walls, locked and secured, containing pistols, rifles, blades, axes, and every other tool and weapon that could be used in a hunt. Several barrels in one corner contained the precious gunpowder that fuelled so many of the hunters' devices. Protective clothing was contained in a pair of chests under a wide table that occupied the middle of the room, covered in nicks and gouges from hunters preparing for a job. Sheik placed his lantern on the table and removed his furs and outer coat, realising he'd been growing uncomfortably warm before they'd even lit any stoves or fires.

Slowly, he disarmed himself, laying his weapons on the table top. Three daggers, two curved short words (one silver), and three pistols. He fetched maintenance supplies from one of the cabinets, and slowly and methodically began to clean his armaments. He hadn't had the time or supplies to do it on the road, and he was worried something might have been damaged after the battle.

There were some nicks and dents in his blades, and the handle of one of the pistols had cracked. He immediately discarded that weapon, replacing it with a fresh one from a cabinet. It probably wasn't dangerous, but Sheik didn't want to risk the damn thing exploding in his face the next time he pulled the trigger.

He cleaned and polished the silver sword first. He hadn't even used it, but it never hurt to properly take care of the most efficient monster-killing weapon in his arsenal. The regular steel one was next, and he noted with annoyance that a particularly bad dent had been put in its cutting edge near the point. This one needed a proper forge to be fixed, and he doubted he'd have enough time to get the workshop in the cache up and running in time.

Suppose I can only hope we don't run into something big on the way, he thought.

He doubted they would. The Studio was only a week or so away, now, and Impa kept the area clean with regular patrols and hunting parties, both for the Studio's safety and that of the nearby hamlet, Whiteridge, with which they traded regularly. It was an uneasy alliance, though. The hamlet's inhabitants did not trust the hunters (mostly the Sheikah ones), but they appreciated their coin and the utter safety of the area, from bandits and monsters alike.

"Hey."

Sheik paused. He'd been so concentrated on his maintenance he hadn't heard Link step into the room, looking at him uncertainly. "Hey," he greeted the Hylian carefully. "Horses settled in?"

"Yeah," Link said, breathing out. From relief? Sheik wasn't sure. "We found a bale of hay; didn't seem too old so they're having dinner."

"Good, good," Sheik said, indicating the table. "You should take the opportunity to look after your weapons. We're still a week away from the Studio; Goddesses know what we could run into on the way."

Link hesitated, but soon moved to stand next to him, cleaning his blades with a few pointers from Sheik as to what should be done. To Sheik's surprise, Link even placed his one pistol on the wooden surface, staring at it hard.

"Barrel's warped," the Hylian said shortly, pointing at the end of it, where the metal seemed to have bent slightly.

"Melted from the heat," Sheik said, examining it. "Sub-par alloy. Should never have been used." He removed the firing mechanism and tossed the useless hunk of metal and wood aside. "It can be repurposed, though. We'll leave it for the next hunter party to rest here." He unlocked the same cabinet from before and retrieved a new pistol for Link. "I know you don't like them, but...it makes me feel better, knowing you're carrying one."

Link eyed the thing with a hard look before taking it and putting it in his belt, unloaded. "Then I'll take it," he said."

They worked in companionable silence for an hour or so, murmuring tips and advice to each other. For a farmer, Link knew quite a bit about looking after swords, but Sheik supposed that was his father's influence, having been a soldier.

They only stopped working when the smell of cooking began to fill the cave, and Tao appeared in the doorway, looking properly warm for the first time in days. He made a few signs and rubbed his stomach, which got the message across.

Time to eat.

"Did Zelda cook?" Sheik asked nervously, to which the boy shook his head and indicated himself with a proud look, earning him a relieved sigh from Sheik. "All right, we'll be right there. Thank you, Tao."

When he disappeared, they washed the filth and oil off their hands. Link's stomach rumbled, which made him chuckle as he made to follow Tao, but Sheik's hand on his elbow stopped him. "What's up—mmph!"

Sheik stepped back, giving Link a small smile. It was sneaky, to kiss someone like that, but Link didn't seem to complain; just smiling widely. "I know I've been...distant, lately. Please, don't think it's because of...that. Or the other thing," he said. "I just...I need a little time, to prepare. When we get to the Studio, I promise that we'll...explore this further, all right?"

Link's smile was like the sun, and Sheik could only chuckle when he was wrapped in a strong (almost crushing) embrace and a quick peck was placed on his uninjured cheek.

"Take all the time you need," Link said firmly. "I'm just glad you haven't...given up on me." He practically skipped out of the armoury, towards the chamber where cheerful voices could be heard.

Sheik stared after him for a moment before following, murmuring, "I never could."


"What have you done?!" Camdessus stared in shock at the paper he held in his hand. It was a special evening edition, hastily made as the shocking news had broken. It was practically a flyer, with a single headline with some choice commentary.

FIRE CONSUMES ROYAL RESIDENCE, PRINCESS ZELDA CONFIRMED DEAD

There were no photographs; there had been no time to take or develop any in the rush to get the news out before anyone else. The young lord's hands were shaking, fingers crinkling the paper.

"There was a complication," Dehl said, leaning unsettlingly casually against the mantelpiece, having just arrived in the city on horseback. "The decoy fought back, there was a carpet, someone stumbled...and then there was a knife in her neck. We didn't have much of a choice, really. Had to burn the place down, or her identity would have been exposed."

Camdessus felt his legs give out, and sank into his armchair with a moan. "You've ruined everything...gods, this is a disaster!"

"I fail to see the issue," Dehl said with a shrug. "You needed her for leverage...but now you can bypass the issue of royalty entirely. She was the last heir, and it'll take forever to find out which noble family has the closest relation. In the meantime, the takeover of the council will be a breeze."

"The takeover...?" the young lord said, the stone in his stomach growing heavier by the minute. When Ascal had recommended the vampire in front of him for the job, he'd been so certain everything would be carried out cleanly and efficiently. They'd have the decoy under their thumb by now, ready to...ready to make changes for the better of Hyrule. But now... "What takeover?"

Dehl rolled her eyes, giving him a nasty grin that exposed her elongated incisors. Ascal never exposed his unless he was about to...to... "The takeover where you assume control of the council and, by extension, Hyrule," she said slowly, as if he was a child. "My men are already...er...paying visits to the other members, suggesting strongly that they should defer to every decision you make from now on. On pain of...well, a variety of things. Many of them have children, for example. Congratulations, my lord, you are now the ruler of a kingdom."

She stalked over and gave him a firm pat on the head, like a dog. "Or, I should say, the perceived ruler."

He looked up at her sharply, narrowing his eyes. "What is that supposed to mean?" he asked. He glanced at his guards, whose hands were surreptitiously moving to their weapons.

"Well, Ascal's plan was to put you at the top of the hierarchy," she said. "And you will be...but I have made some slight modifications to the original procedure. You will rule, of course...but you will do as I say."

"How will Ascal react to this?" he asked, wishing more than anything that the other vampire was in the room with them. Ascal was stronger than her; he could easily dispatch Dehl. He always made Camdessus feel safe. "I doubt he will be happy for the improvisations you are adding."

"With any luck, Ascal will never find out," Dehl said with an even wider grin. "He's off chasing after the real princess and the Sheikah whelp in the middle of nowhere. News don't travel fast out there. By the time he learns of this...well, it'll be too late."

The paper crumpled in his hand. "When he comes back—" he began.

"He won't," Dehl interrupted. "Because my men will be on the lookout for him...and will cut his head off the second he sets foot in Hyrule again."

That was it; he'd heard enough! "Guards!" he shouted, pointing at her. They reacted immediately, drawing their weapons and making to subdue her.

She must have expected it, however. With inhuman speed, faster than he'd even seen Ascal move, she whirled around the room, raking her nails over the first man's throat, cutting deeply into the vulnerable flesh and tearing it to pieces. As he fell gurgling, she'd already drawn her pistol and shoved it into the other man's mouth, angled it upwards, and pulled the trigger. The top of his head came off in an explosion of gore, splattering the ceiling with blood, brains, and bone.

With a shout, Camdessus rose and threw himself at her, aiming a clumsy punch towards her face. He had never been a fighter, but he'd be damned if he was going to let this happen lying down. She was a lot faster, however, and her backhand caught his cheek before he was even close to hitting her. He was sent flying back into his chair, her hand suddenly locked around his throat and her cold breaths next to his ear.

"I would be careful about suddenly growing a spine, if I were you," she hissed, smearing his skin with the blood of the guard. "I might not feel as charitable and magnanimous as I do right now, and something terribly unpleasant might befall the scion of House Camdessus. Such a shame; so young, too."

She let him go and stepped back, surveying his pathetic, shivering form with a triumphant glance. "There are going to be changes around here," she said. "And you will do exactly as I say. Is that understood?"

He could do little but nod, heart hammering in his chest. What else was there to do? She was a monster and could end him with her little finger, should she so desire. He didn't stand a chance...but perhaps the rest of his guards—

"Rovan!" she said quietly, and the door to the study opened. One of her men stepped inside, wiping his blade on a bloody piece of cloth. Camdessus recognised it. It was one of his guards' tunics. "Status," Dehl said.

"The household has been pacified," he said, giving Camdessus a grin. "Hardly even put up a fight."

"Good work," she said, gesturing to the bodies on the floor of the study. "Get rid of these, will you?" She then turned to Camdessus, and dragged him out of the chair by his arm. "Now, my lord, why don't meet your new household guard?"

"Mistress," Rovan said shortly.

"What is it?"

"We've also found several leads on the hunter's network. We're ready to unravel it."

"Then get to it. The sooner we wipe out the little rats, the better. Now, come along, my lord."

Feeling both anger and a desire to weep, Camdessus did as he was told, all the while thinking:

Ascal is stronger. Ascal is faster. Ascal is smarter. He will fix this. He will fix everything.

Ascal will come.


Tinn was finishing up his work for the night, closing the last stall and patting occupant's muzzle with a murmured good night. He put away the pitchforks and shovels he'd used to clean the stables and locked every door with the big iron key.

It was good to finally be done. The death of the princess had to be investigated immediately, and a report sent to Sheik.

He went for the main doors, but was surprised to see a pair of men wearing long coats waiting just inside. For a moment, he thought they were loiterers, but their faces brightened upon spotting him, smiling. He cursed his luck. Clients at this time of night...

"Can I help you, gentlemen?" he asked, approaching them.

"Looking to hire a horse or two," the one with the top hat said, while the other continued to grin.

"Well, I'm certain that can be arranged, but we're closed for the night. I suggest you come back in the morning, and you can deal with the master—"

"We'd rather deal with you, kid," the other man said.

"Me?" Tinn asked. "But I'm just a stable hand, I don't have the authority to rent out—"

"You're Tinn, right?"

He paused. His name was quite well known in the district, but only among the working class. These men looked to be in the employ of nobles...but their stances.

"Yes—"he began.

"Good."

Something struck his torso, just below his ribs, and twisted upwards. He gasped, the pain catching up with him as his entire body went slack. The top hatted man had moved so fast...and buried a large hunting knife in his chest.

He landed heavily on his knees, his hands numb. He tried to rise up, but his body refused to cooperate. He heard footsteps behind him, and then his head was yanked upwards and backwards by his hair, exposing his neck. He gasped, whimpering.

"Sorry, kid," Top Hat said. "Nothin' personal. Just business. And don't worry, we'll take care of your other friends as well."

He barely saw the other blade before it was dragged across his throat, and he saw his blood spray all over the cobbles as he was unceremoniously dropped to the cobbles, vision already going blurry.


From across the street, in his hiding place behind an outhouse, Eren's eyes widened as he watched the men cut Tinn's throat, discarding his broken body on the ground like a rag doll. He'd arrived a little earlier to deliver a message from Eileen, a maid in one of the minor noble houses, who'd heard something interesting regarding the princess that the stable hand might want to investigate a little further, when he'd spotted the suspicious men loitering around the stable entrance.

It had all happened so fast—he hadn't been able to react, and now Tinn was dead, blood running over the cobbles. The men offered each other congratulations and went on their way—where was the constant presence of constables on the street? Never there when you bloody needed them!

His breath caught in his throat when one of the men happened to glance into his alley...and spotted him.

"Hey, there's one of the rats!"

"Get him!"

Choking back a breath, he turned and ran for it, pulling down barrels and other detritus to hinder his pursuers' progress. He needed to get help; he had to get the others. He had to tell the boss, he had to...he had to...

He had to warn Nikal!

To be continued…


Sorry for the long delay, things have been hectic!