Chapter 36
The Tower of Hyrule swayed in the wind, the makeshift gallows erected on the platform at the top creaking under the pressure. The prisoners stood before Redstar Murden, their hands manacled, shuffling their feet in misery. Most of them hung their heads low, waiting for the inevitable to pass. Not Ruto though. She kept her back straight, her burning eyes fixed on the Morolak man, her mouth curling in anger. She knew from the uncomfortable look on his face that it disturbed him. She took a small measure of satisfaction from that.
"Why did the King do this to us?" a prisoner moaned at her side. "I don't understand. Did the Hero of Time compel him to do this?"
The Zora Princess let out a breath in annoyance. "Link is not to blame for this. Neither is Zelda. Neither have done anything wrong," she said. Seeing the look of disbelief in his eyes and noticing that others in the crowd had looked up to listen, she continued, "Do you still believe the King's lies after this? After having your homes burned and your families killed? He was nothing, but a weak, power-hungry charlatan."
The prisoner opened his mouth to let loose an instinctive retort, but then paused as her words sank in. She nodded at him as she saw realisation dawn in his eyes.
Another prisoner was pushed to the front and she saw it to be Mayro, her husband. She tensed as one of the soldiers dragged him to the gallows and slipped the noose around his neck.
Redstar eyed her with a morbid grin. "Your last chance, Princess," he drawled. "I was going to torture him, soften him up. But out of compassion for you, I decided to wait until this moment."
"Compassion?" she spat. "Let me take his place and you would have showed me enough of that."
He wagged his finger, a bandage still around the flesh where she had bit into it. "Ah, why be noble when we could have a lot more enjoyment doing something else?" His mouth took on its usual lecherous expression that she had grown to hate.
She was tired of the implications in his words. "You're mad. I would never lower myself to that."
"Oh?" he said, holding up a hand. She flinched, seeing one of the soldiers rest his foot on the crate under her husband, ready to kick it away and send him to his death. "Not even to save your dear husband?"
Anger darkened her face. "You wouldn't let any of us live anyway."
Redstar shook his head. "You wound me, Princess. Do you think so lowly of me?"
She couldn't resist. "Yes."
He laughed. "Last chance, Princess. Yes or no?"
Ruto stood, the wind rocking her from side to side, as all eyes turned towards her. She kept her gaze on Mayro, the frightened look on his face splintering her heart. He was not nobility, nor was he the type that had engaged in any battles or disputes. He was not weak though, an accomplished member of the Zora tribe, famed for his level-headedness. It was precisely that that had attracted her to him.
"Would you let all the prisoners go?" she said, feeling disgusted at herself for even considering his idea.
Redstar's eyes sparkled with triumph. "Of course, my dear. You have my word on it. I can even let you watch as I settle them in the land, so that you will not doubt me."
Ruto waited a moment, a hot tear forming in her eye. The Morolak watched, his lips twitching in anticipation. She opened her mouth to give her answer.
A rumble rolled through the air. Ruto blinked as the others looked around in confusion. She thought it was thunder. Distant thunder. But there was not a single cloud in the sky and the setting sun was pulling the light away, revealing the twinkle of a thousand stars.
Ruto looked up, catching the sight of a cloud of dust on the horizon. Murden followed her gaze, his mouth falling open and his arms shaking. Despite the fading light, Ruto could see clearly what was causing the noise and her heart turned in hope.
An army was approaching Hyrule Castle.
*
Zayna stood, trying to stop her legs from trembling. Her mind was aflame with swirling thoughts. A dead weight settled on her heart.
A lie. Her entire life had been a lie.
She did not understand. Why had her mother done this to her? Why had she told her she was the Key? Not even realising it, the words of the Freelander Wise One floated into her head. Are you so certain that you are the Key?
Grief clashed with relief within her. All the nights she had spent awake in fear, all the times she had denied herself the chance to get close to anyone for concern that they would want to take advantage of her, all the times she had been hunted and chased – all of it had been for nothing. And yet, another part of her mind sighed with joy. Her self-hatred melted away at long last, her disgust at her role in life. She was normal. Normal.
Dimly, she was aware of Chalance Vance muttering to himself.
"A girl, born not long after the Counter Key. A girl whose mother would be stricken. A girl cut from the same cloth as the Counter Key itself, and beloved to the Royal family." He looked up at Zayna, his eyes wide with distraction. "We were wrong. We thought that you, because you were an Advisor to the Princess, because your mother had died at the gates of the castle, because you had been born after the Counter Key, we thought that you were the Key." He turned to regard the unconscious form of Tessa. "Cut from the same cloth. They were both born in Lon Lon. They were both farmgirls. We thought it was you because we traced your family's history, found it to have originated in a village that had once stood where Lon Lon Ranch now resides."
"My mother," Zayna said. "She had dreams. She was certain that I was the Key."
Chalance Vance narrowed his eyes. "Your mother," he spat with a laugh. "Was an insane fool. Her dreams were delusions mixed with an element of truth. You see, your mother was stricken – she suffered from madness. We thought it was somewhat fitting. And all the interesting things we found out about your family." His lips curled with contempt. "Let us just say that if one is looking for healthy - and sane - offspring then one should not mate with a Goron like your ancestors did."
Zayna's cheeks burned and she snarled in fury. "You lie!"
"It matters not now." He grabbed Tessa by her hair, but she did not stir.
Clenching her fists, the apprentice took a step forward. "Leave her alone."
"How will you stop me?" he replied with a sneer.
Her eyes flicked to his staff, still lying on the floor. Before he could react, she leapt, landing with a roll, and scooped up the Staff of Insight.
Vance dropped the farmgirl as Zayna swung the staff like a weapon. He ducked, angry that she was using it in such a manner. He pounced at her, but she spun on her heel, dodging the attack. Zayna waited until he had regained his bearings and had turned back towards her before thrusting the staff into his face with a crack, breaking his nose once more. She grinned as he howled in pain.
The sorcerer held out his hand, muttering some words. Zayna waited in uneasy silence, wondering what he was doing. A movement from below made her look down. The staff was trembling in her hands as though it were alive. She gripped it tighter, not willing to let go, but it began to glow red, wisps of smoke curling off of it. Unable to endure the heat any longer, she opened her hands with a yelp and it flew into Chalance Vance's grasp.
A bolt of crackling, blue energy spewed from the orb and pinned Zayna to the ground. She tried to struggle, but every little motion made her bonds tighten, sending rippling pains through her body. She watched in horror as Vance strode towards Tessa, finally able to drag the farmgirl over to the hole. Retrieving his dagger, he turned to Zayna one last time and gave her a grin of pure triumph.
A quick slash with his knife opened a slit in Tessa's throat. Hot tears sprang to Zayna's eyes as she watched the farmgirl's body convulse violently, the life seeping out of her. Vance lost his footing, stumbling when the platform and the Gate began to shudder, like a ship caught in a storm. The energy bonds sloughed off of Zayna, but it was too late. Tessa slumped to the floor lifelessly.
A low creak tore through the air like metal nails scraping on chalk. The noise made Zayna flinch in pain and the shaking platform sent drilling vibrations into her teeth. There was a final heave, the sound reminding Zayna of an immense beast taking in a deep breath, before a heartbeat of pure silence fell. Then she was flung to the floor as the Gate burst open.
*
"Anyone who is still alive," Link said dryly. "Raise your hand now."
His head still groggy, he stepped away from the twitching carcass of the Dragon, looking in awe at the deep cut the falling creature had gouged into the land. A trail of snapped trees and churned earth led back towards the Gate. Ironically it had been the serpent's massive bulk that had saved them, its body absorbing most of the impact.
He sensed Zelda's presence and he looked up with a smile as she ran into his ready embrace. Curling his arms around her, he breathed in her scent with closed eyes, letting himself taste this simple joy.
The sound of clinking armour broke his attention and he saw Chizan waiting, Chitz at his feet and a scowling Milledra at his side.
"Anyone hurt?" the Hero asked.
"Nothing that we won't recover from," the Prince replied.
A low growl rolled through the air and dark clouds swarmed over the spot where they knew the Gate was standing. Link looked down at Zelda, each sensing the other's apprehension. There was a hint of steel in their hearts and they built upon it, each of them strengthening the other.
"Enough time has been wasted," Chizan said, resting a hand on Link's shoulder and glancing over at the Queen.
Zelda nodded. "Agreed," she said, taking in a deep breath. "Let's go."
Link turned to the other two. "You," he said, pointing at Milledra. "You're coming with us."
The Queen of the Dead flushed in anger and opened her mouth to protest, but he drew his sword to silence. Her mouth snapped shut, but her eyes smouldered with anger. "As you wish, Hero of Time."
Link did not let his surprise show on his face. So she did know who he was after all.
The Hero of Time shifted his attention to the Imp. "Chitz, stay here," he said. "We'll be back for you, I promise."
Chitz sat down, the relief obvious from his face. "Haha. You're the boss, boss."
They ran, their limbs still protesting with pain. But pain was of little consequence to them. They knew, and accepted, that their lives would always be one continuous struggle. There had to be a counterweight for all the evil in the world, there had to be a dam that would rein that evil in, and only people with pure hearts and a desire to sacrifice that which was dear to them would be the ones that could fulfil that role. And at this juncture in history, at this turn of the pages of the book of Hyrule, the task fell to Link, Zelda and Chizan. They knew it, and they were prepared for it.
As they neared the valley of the Gate, they scrambled down a ditch in order to hide themselves from the soldiers they had spotted on their run in. Link looked up, catching sight of forked bolts of lightening splitting the sky, through the dark green foliage of the trees.
"Look!" Zelda cried.
The vines crawling up the Gate burned, then withered into ash. At the top, screaming in victory, stood Chalance Vance, his bloodstained dagger thrust skywards. A body lay at his feet, unmoving.
Link saw Chizan's face ripple in shock just as he himself realised who it was.
"It can't be," the Prince gasped. "Tessa?"
He looked around at the Hero and the Queen, his eyes pleading for them to contradict what he had seen. Not receiving any comfort from their confused expressions, his surprise melted into anger and he darted forwards.
"Wait!" Link called, but he himself froze as he felt a stab of anger radiate from Zelda. He turned towards her, noticing the crease in her features and the gleam in her eye. He followed her gaze.
"Cyle!" she spat.
The King stood in front of the Gate, his arms outstretched, bellowing with insane laughter. Chalance Vance climbed down beside him and raised his staff. An orb at the top of the wooden pole glowed, then a bubble of green energy flowed over the two of them, no doubt some sort of protection for what was to come. Howling winds curled out from the Gate, malignant voices catching in the air and floating over all of them, chilling them to the core.
A hiss followed, announcing the presence of those that lay within. Things stirred in the darkness beyond the Gate. They waited, all of them, the heroes, the King, the soldiers. Misshapen shadows appeared at the blurry line between the Sacred Realm and their world.
"Herzindi!" Chizan's voice cried out from ahead of them as the creatures appeared, grey, with forked tongues and rusting, blood-drenched axes. The Herzindi pounced, landing on soldiers' heads, sinking needle like teeth through their helmets and jumping off to hunt their next prey. Some of the Morolak warriors scattered in fright, while others stood their ground, swinging their swords and screaming.
Link and Zelda ran up to join the Prince. Cyle and Vance entered stepped over the line and entered the Sacred Realm, their bodies shimmering as they crossed between worlds. A female scream made the Hero turn on his heel, and he saw Milledra be engulfed by a group of the Herzindi, dragging her to the ground as they tore at her face and neck. He did not pity her.
A figure somersaulted in the air above them, momentarily blocking out the light of the sun. Landing on her feet, Zayna looked up at them, her smile in stark contrast to the haunted expression etched on her face.
"Zayna!" the Queen cried with genuine delight. "What happened? How did they open the Gate?"
The apprentice's eyes lingered on them for a heartbeat, and Link saw the sadness swimming inside them. "I was never the Key," she said, her voice quiet. "It was Tessa. It was Tessa all along."
There was not even enough time to acknowledge their shock as the Herzindi swarmed around them, clawing and spitting. The four of them of them waded through the melee, swords at the ready. They moved as one unit, deflecting blows that were aimed at their friends in between thrusting their own attacks. The Herzindi managed to get close enough to tear at their tunics and scratch their armour. Claws ripped at bare skin on their face and caught at their hair. Things flew through the air, and it was a while before Link realised that they were bloody limbs. A trail of blood streaked through the air in the wake of a decapitated head or a severed hand.
Screams and growls rang out, merging with the sounds of tearing flesh and slicing swords. A cacophony of madness assaulted their ears.
The ground became thick with viscous liquid, an eerie mix of the red Morolak blood and the green of the Herzindi. It started to congeal under the last rays of the sun as it disappeared under the horizon, and the resulting stench almost made the heroes gag.
At last they reached the portal. Link peered in, seeing swirling shapes and colours that did not hold in one position. There were no more words to be said. He felt Zelda's intent like a crystal needle in the mind. Not even waiting for the others, she stepped through. Chizan and Zayna followed. Closing his eyes and trying to shut out the insanity from behind him, Link slowly took the last step into the world beyond, piercing through the shimmering barrier. A cold film clung to his skin like a blanket and he felt all his senses contract, then expand as all the familiar dimensions of his world evaporated.
*
"It's time!"
Malon sprang to her feet, tearing her eyes away from the sight of the Herzindi flowing through the Morolak army like lava cutting through grass. Lorfor and Navi fell away from her. She glanced at the old man, giving him one last smile. He responded in kind, but his smile was a sad one and watered with tears that fell from his eyes.
"Goodbye, Navi," she said to the glowing sphere that was frantically streaking across her vision. "Have a good life."
"No, no, no," the little faerie cried, her emotions getting the better of her. "Don't go. You can't."
"I have to," Malon replied, the hollowness in her heart filling with grim resolve.
She flung out her arms and threw her head back. Opening her mind, she channelled the portion of her soul that had lain dormant for all these summers directly at the Gate. None of her blood was needed for this task, unlike that which afflicted the Key. Briefly, her thoughts flicked to Tessa and Malon felt a tug of sadness. She had known who the Key was, of course, even if her friends had not, but it pained her that such an innocent person had to have died for so base a thing as power. Malon knew that in a gentler world, she and Tessa may even have ended up as friends.
Malon stilled her heart as it threatened to overcome her with a sob. Her thoughts still whirled. Her Papa throwing her in the air as a child as she squealed in delight. Zelda's grin as the two of them had once sneaked away one night, hoping to run away and join the travelling dancers that were putting on shows all through Hyrule. Finally, her mind turned to Link and she remembered his anguished expression as he held his bow in shaking hands while she dangled from the roof of the cavern, the Princess fading away behind her.
A dazzling light seeped out from her limbs and she rose in the air, incandescent like a piercing star. The battle below paused as all eyes turned towards her. Her flesh burned away and her bones crumbled to dust. Her spirit soared free, and with a slow wave of her disembodied arms, she let loose a tidal wave of pure energy, full of life and hope. The crest of the wave twinkled like diamonds before it poured into the valley below engulfing both Morolak and Herzindi alike. They were thrust apart and then flung into the air, the Herzindi being sucked back into the Sacred Realm, the Morolaks fading away from the valley and reappearing in their homeland, confused and dazed.
The wave continued in its path, scaring birds out of trees and shaking the island with violent quakes. It loomed over the Gate for a moment, paused, then fell upon it, tearing it from the earth and splintering the wood. The columns of rock collapsed in on themselves, grinding into fine dust. The wave faded, then shimmered out of reality.
And then there was calm.
Malon's spirit floated in the air, caught between heaven and earth, life and death.
There was still one thing that remained for her to do.
*
Redstar Murden gripped the edge of wall that lined around the top of Hyrule Tower, reeling from the sight he saw below. The army surrounded the Castle and the Market Town now, their archers picking off his soldiers easily. What had shocked him most of all was the fact that the invaders were all Morolaks. It could not be possible. His own King and Queen could never have known about his plans, so well-placed were his bribes and the knives to the back if those concerned could not be swayed by greed.
Slowly, he lifted his head and saw that the throng of soldiers stretched away into the horizon. Whoever had amassed this army had come well prepared. He was paralysed with fear and indecision. Nothing had readied him for this.
Cupping his mouth with one hand, he sought out the leader. "Who goes there?" he shouted, as he tried to still his trembling voice. "Who dares attack me?"
One horseman trotted out slowly in front of the soldiers. "I dare, Redstar," a female voice called. "Your illegal occupation of this land is over. Hyrule belongs neither to you nor to Cyle. Hyrule only has one ruler – and that is the Queen, Zelda."
He recognised the voice, but he waited until she revealed herself. Lifting the hood from her head, Redstar was taken aback at how different she now looked. Her skin was scarred and a black eye-patch hung over one side of her face. He noticed that she was missing a hand too.
"Duchess Toriya," he said with distaste. "Not as dead as I thought you were, it seems."
"No, I'm not," she said slowly.
"And Skulljack?"
"Sadly, he did not survive," she said, not sounding in the least bit aggrieved.
"Does the King and Queen know that you've taken their army?"
"They know and they approve," she replied. "They received the scroll I sent out when I was attacked by Cyle's forces. They gave their full backing to return Hyrule back to its rightful ruler." She paused, a calm smile on her face. Redstar heard a commotion behind him and saw his soldiers make for the stairs out of the corner of his eyes. His mind race, wondering what to do. "They also know that you took your traitors to aid Cyle. They are not very pleased."
Redstar started to tremble. Anger and fear whirled around his head. He raised a clenched fist and shook it at the Duchess. "You will not win," he said uselessly. "You will fall."
"No," a voice said from behind him. He spun around to come face to face with Ruto, her eyes narrowed into sharp slits. "Here you fall."
He did not have time to react before she struck him with a swift quick. His heart caught in his throat as he realised what was about to occur. His mouth opened, but no words came out. Arms flailing wildly, he fell backwards over the edge, his vision tearing from the Zora Princess' face to the starry night sky above.
With a scream, he plummeted to the ground.
*
They ran, though direction seemed to have no meaning here in the Sacred Realm. Chizan could not even make sense of what was going on around them; never mind trying to ascertain where they were heading. Twisting paths of tightly packed sand threaded through the air and hung over a vast expanse of nothingness. He did not even know what was holding them up. Sometimes the paths would curve around until they were running upside down, and yet they did not fall.
When they had entered the Herzindi were ahead of them and then, without exactly knowing how, the creatures had been displaced and were now chasing. In fact, they were almost gaining on them. Lights flashed and images hung in the air before dissipating. Once he saw the large, bulky figure of Ganon chained to a wall, his face a picture of misery. Other times, more images came and went, some familiar and some unfamiliar.
Ahead of them, they saw the floating green bubble containing the King and the sorcerer speed onwards, the blows of the Herzindi having no effect on the magical shell. Chizan almost felt sick. This whole place smelt of magic. Every time he breathed, he thought he did not take in air, but despair and hatred itself, thick as congealed liquid.
In the centre of the Realm, an immense city hung there, seemingly held up with its own power. It was bigger than any city he had ever seen in his life, silvery-grey and tall, it bristled with a thousand thousand lights that were too strong to have been simple oil-lit fires. It had a haunting beauty to it as well, and Chizan found it difficult to tear his eyes away.
There was a pang of sorrow smothering his heart. Tessa was the Key. Tessa was dead. Racked with guilt by how he had treated the hunter, Chizan had secretly vowed to protect Fran's daughter from any harm. She was like a pearl, pure and unblemished, hidden in an oyster. It was a Heroic Deed that he was dedicating to a fallen friend and now he had failed in that task as well.
The Herzindi growled behind them, snapping at their heels.
The Prince saw Zelda cast a fearful glance over her shoulder. "We're…not….going…to…make…it," she said between gasps.
"Don't despair," he shouted, slowing so that he was at the rear of their party. Perhaps he could fend a few off. He drew his sword, and looked behind. What he saw almost made him stumble. There were far too many of the creatures, their yellowing teeth grinning, their eyes devoid of any emotion. Chizan looked ahead again and saw the Hero take Zelda by the hand, pulling her onwards. Link's apprentice maintained her own pace, her face looking focused as she offered no words.
He realised, with a sinking weight in his heart, that the only way they would get away was if the Herzindi were distracted long enough for them to gain a little more distance. And then he knew exactly what had to be done. He knew what he had to do to redeem himself – to finally be worthy to Zelda, to finally apologise to both the Queen and the hunter for his actions towards the both of them. To sacrifice oneself for your friends was the ultimate Heroic Deed. With ice-cold certainty he knew he would not fail this time. A smile touched his face.
"For you, my friend Fran," he whispered. "For you, Tessa. For you, Zelda."
He spun around, swinging his sword up. The Herzindi were not expecting the manoeuvre and at least three collided into his blade, sending their heads flying into the abyss. He continued with his swings and thrusts, desperate to give his friends a chance before he was overwhelmed.
"Chizan!" He heard the Queen's voice behind him. "What are you doing?"
"Go!" he screamed, not wanting to look back. "Don't stop, just go!"
He could not resist though. Flicking his head quickly, he glanced at his friends. Zelda's face was pale with shock, and his heart trembled in pain at the sight. Link watched him calmly, and Chizan saw the understanding in the Hero's eyes. The Prince gave him one last grateful smile, and Link responded in kind. Zelda took a step forward, her face creased in hesitation, but Link grasped her wrist once more and tugged her on.
Chizan turned back to his attackers as they engulfed him, claws and teeth snapping and scratching. He fought, until his blade was dented and covered in green slime. He held his ground, needing to keep the creatures at bay for as long as possible.
Finally, the inevitable happened. Weakened from fatigue and too many wounds, he fell back and one of the Herzindi tore through his left arm. Drops of hot blood flew into his face and he grit his teeth to keep from crying out. Next, his sword arm was ripped from his shoulder as he fell to his knees. Despite it all, despite the pain that made his head swim and begged at him to close his eyes for one final time, Prince Chizan of the ultimate Heroic Deed managed to fix a grin firmly onto his face.
The Herzindi pounced, tearing, ripping, howling in victory, until all that was left was an empty shell.
*
Zelda's vision contracted and she almost stumbled. Too much. There was just too much to take in. She thought her heart might burst from grief. She felt a tendril from Link's mind wrap around her heart in a hug, and she looked up, catching his smile. There was pain in his mind too, but he was controlling it, though the effort showed on his face, where the skin around his eyes were tight. He still knew that there was a bigger task ahead, and he tried to encourage her to keep focused.
Her mind was playing tricks on her again; as she saw the path beneath her crack, then splinter apart. It wasn't until she caught the expressions of horror on Zayna and Link's faces that she realised it was real.
"What's happening?" Zayna cried.
"The path, the bridge," Link replied. "It's collapsing."
Zelda looked behind and saw that he was right. The path was crumbling away, spilling Herzindi into the darkness below. It would only be a matter of moments before the ground beneath their feet would dissolve.
"We have to keep going," said Link with a strained voice.
"It's moving too fast," Zayna replied, her own voice starting to tremble with panic. "We won't escape."
"It can't end this way," Zelda said, feeling the burn of anger within. "I won't allow it." She snapped her head forwards, seeing Cyle's bubble in the distance. "I won't let him win."
Suddenly, the path lurched under their feet and they were thrown into the air. Zelda sensed the fear in Link's mind and it mirrored her own. If they fell here, there would be nothing but a chasm of darkness to swallow them.
But they did not fall.
They were rising, and gaining speed. The city at the centre of the Realm loomed larger and larger in their sight. She could see the green bubble hurtling towards it as well. Now her worries shifted, and she thought they would collide into the tall buildings that jutted up from the darkness like slender mountains of ice.
A flash of light made her shut her eyes instinctively.
When she opened them again, she found herself in a large circular room. At its centre, ghostly light fell on a tiny platform, wide enough for one person. Link and Zayna were beside her, looking around in bewilderment. Opposite them, Cyle and Chalance Vance got to their feet. She felt a stir in her heart at seeing her old husband again, and it prompted Link to send her a questioning nudge.
Cyle looked up and flinched when their eyes met. "Zelda," he spat.
"Cyle," she replied, the name tasting hollow on her tongue.
The King's eyes flicked to her two companions. "Who is that?" he said, nodding at Link. Zelda realised that he had never seen him in his Oni form before.
"I'm hurt you don't remember me, Cyle," Link said, drawing his sword.
"It is the Hero of Time," Chalance Vance hissed. "And this is the Chamber of the Joining."
"Indeed it is," a voice growled. A figure stepped from the shadows, a hideous minotaur with green eyes. "Welcome to Jaroga, my city." His gaze shifted to the sorcerer. "Isn't that right, Chalance Vance?"
Vance replied by raising his staff, the orb atop of it flickering before letting loose thin fingers of energy. The Emperor of the Sacred Realm held up a hand and caught the blow without showing any hint of being harmed. He pushed, and the sorcerer fell back.
"Now," the Emperor said, his gaze lingering on each one of them. "If I wish to be Joined, I have to slay you," and here his eyes rested on Cyle. "And you." This time he pinned his lizard-like green eyes onto Zelda herself. She shivered, feeling a tingle of revulsion.
Link waved his sword in front of her protectively, but the Emperor merely smiled. At a click of his fingers, the floor beneath Link, Zayna and Chalance Vance fell away, and the trio plunged into the darkness below. Zelda reached out uselessly, but a quick scan with her mind revealed that the Hero was unharmed.
Cyle looked at both of them and drew his own blade, a sparkle of fear in his eyes. Zelda reached for her belt and pulled free the short sword that Chizan had given her.
"Good, good," the Emperor said with a chuckle. He cracked his knuckles, and Zelda saw the muscles in his arm twitch in anticipation. "Let us finish this, shall we?"