Chapter five

Ruto glared at Riordan from across the fire that night, "He changed me into a Hylian!" Riordan frowned as he tried to tune her out as he adjusted the strings on his lyre, But she was impossible to ignore for long, "Did you hear me, Barb!"

He didn't look up, but continued to tune his lyre, 'Spoiled inconsiderate little...' "Yes, my lady, I've been paying attention," He glanced up at her, "Though, I'm tired of hearing you squawk about the obvious."

"SQUAWK!" She jumped to her feet, "How dare you talk to me like that! I'm Royalty!"

He laid his instrument aside and sprang to his feet, "Listen, Zora! None shall ever be your equal! Until you learn a thing or two, Everyone will be higher than you!"

"I have royal blood!"

In his anger he spoke before he thought, "You're not the only one who has royal blood!" He froze a moment, 'Oh No...! Farore's Wind!'

"Am I to believe you have royal blood, Barb!"

His mind raced for an answer, "I merely meant that one of these days you'll meet a royal in disguise and insult them!" 'Like me.'

She crossed her arms and glared at him, "I can tell when someone has royal blood!" As he suppressed the urge to laugh in her face, She raised her nose in the air, "And you don't have it and must address me in the proper fashion!"

He folded his arms and looked at her with cool eyes, "And when did I sprout gills and scales?"

She stomped her foot, "You have to obey me!"

"Right now, I doubt even one of your subjects would!"

"Why you little..."

"Is there a problem here?"

They both jumped at the sound of the new voice and whirled toward it. A man who wore a green tunic over a white shirt and leggings looked down at them from horse back. His serious blue eyes swept over them as he leaned on the pommel of his saddle. His blonde hair was swept back from a triangular shaped face and an earring winked from his ear. Riordan heard Ruto gasp, "Link!"

Link glanced at her and then looked back at Riordan, "The lady knows of me, but the two of you are strangers to me."

The barb glanced at Ruto and saw her starting to turn red. He put on his most cheerful expression and did an elaborate bow to Link, "Sir, We are merely wandering minstrels and performers. She has no doubt heard tales about you and hence recognizes you by you're description."

The man snorted, "I doubt that. I don't even recognize myself from the tales," He looked over at Ruto, "Is this man with you or is he causing you trouble?"

She stared at Link, "You don't recognize me!"

The man groaned and leaned back in his saddle, "I've traveled the length and breath of Hyrule numerous times. I have lost track the number of pretty young women who expect me to remember them!" He paused and slight smile tugged at his lips, "Well, except Malon."

She raised her nose in the air and sniffed, "Hmpf!"

Link sighed and rubbed his face, "Will I get an answer as to who the two of you are or should I forget about it?"

Riordan grinned broadly and placed a hand on his chest, "I am known as Riordan the wanderer and this beautiful lady is my loving sister– "

"SISTER!"

He frowned as he glanced at Ruto, "Do you want him to know the truth or ...?"

She locked gazes with him for a moment and at last scowled and looked away, "Anything except sister!"

He rolled his eyes and turned back to Link with a wicked smile, "Very well, This charming lady is my fiancee."

"WHAT!" She glared at him, "I'd sooner wed a..."

Link dismounted with a groan, "At the moment, I could care less how the two of you happen to be traveling together. I only want to share your campfire for the night." He looked at Riordan, "Would that be possible?"

Riordan looked past Link to see Ruto vigorously shaking her head no and looked back, "There would be no problem that I can for see."

She scowled at him and his sharp ears heard her mutter, "I can think of several..."

Link turned toward her, "And what is your name?"

She opened her mouth to answer when a shriek filled the air above their heads and made them look up, "RIORDAN!"

Riordan stepped back at the cry and stared as a Rito about the same age as himself plunged down to the ground before them. The Rito's bright eyes were too wide in his face and the barb could see the creature's beak trembling. His gaze fixed on Riordan as he rushed toward him, "Stone! They've been changed to stone!"

Riordan dodged his old friend's grasp and gave him a stern look as he folded his arms, "Karu! Have you forgotten!" He gestured toward the others, "And we're not alone!"

Karu glanced around and saw Link and Ruto. He looked back at Riordan and his face twisted up with indecision, "But you're the only one left!"

The Barb's eyes narrowed, "Only one left?" He raised an eyebrow, "There's the chieftain and shaman Darrti..." He trailed off as the Rito frantically shook his head and he furrowed his brow, "If they and not available, then there is Valoo..."

Karu wrung his hands as he shook his head once more and Riordan felt the blood drain from his face. He staggered back from his old friend, "Valoo has been..."

The Rito swallowed hard and nodded slowly. Riordan felt his head whirl and suddenly felt strong hands grabbed him by the shoulders. He glanced up to find Link supporting him, "Here. Sit down," He glanced toward Karu, "Sit and tell us what happened."

The barb found himself steered to sit down next to the fire as thoughts flooded his brain, 'Father? Darrti? Valoo? Who? How?'

Karu sat down across the fire from him and Ruto sat between him and Riordan as curiosity filled her eyes. Link settled down opposite from her and looked at the Rito, "Since the barb seems to know about your kind..."

Karu looked across the fire at Riordan, "He should know about us. He's..."

"Karu..." Riordan jerked his head toward Ruto and Karu glanced at her.

He nodded, "I'm sorry," He turned his attention back to Link, "Yes, he knows our ways because of his wide travels. He has met our kind on numerous occasions."

Link nodded, "He seems to have made friends among your kind from his reaction."

"He has very...close ties to us."

Ruto scowled at Karu, "So what happened? I know you can't ruffle him easily."

"To him?"

She shook her head, "Those people he mentioned."

Karu stared into the flames of the campfire and folded his arms, "Much."

"That narrows it down!"

The Rito glanced at her with a raised eyebrow and then back to Riordan, "Is she the one?"

The barb shifted as if he were uncomfortable, "What happened to the tribe?"

Both of Karu's eyebrows shot up, but the rest of his face was expressionless as he continued, "I arrived back at the roost late this afternoon and discovered..." He shuddered, "Every member of the tribe and the great Valoo had been changed into stone!"

Riordan's eyes widened, "Who could accomplish such a thing!"

Link stared into the fire with a frown, "There have been recent reports of someone who shows powers similar to Ganondorf."

He had heard this name spoken of with fear before, but had never been able to figure out who it was. He raise an eyebrow at Link, "Ganondorf?"

Ruto's eyes widened and she stared at him with her mouth open, "You've never heard of Ganondorf!"

He sighed, "Yes, I've heard of him, but I don't know who he is."

Link looked him straight in the eye, "He is a being of pure evil who wished to rule all of Hyrule."

"What happened to him?"

Link stared into the flames, "I and the Princess Zelda defeated him."

"Then it can't be him...Can it?"

The green garbed man rubbed his chin, "I doubt it, but that is why I'm traveling close to the mountains," He turned his gaze off toward the fields of Hyrule, "Zelda wanted me to try and discover who this is, before the wedding."

Karu glanced at Riordan nervously, "There is one other thing I learned before I left Dragon Roost Mountain..."

Riordan looked over at him with a raised eyebrow.

The Rito sighed, "Our tribe's treasures are missing."

"The pearl and the Wind Waker!"

He nodded and Riordan stared into the flames with a frown, "Those are artifacts of great power..."

Ruto jumped to her feet and looked down at Riordan, "We have to get them back!"

He looked up at her with wide eyes, "And why would you..."

"I was going to ask for the Wind Waker!"

Karu glanced at her and then back in time to see the disgusted scowl on Riordan's face. A slight smile tugged at his beak, "She reminds me of someone–"

"Oh...Be quiet!"