There was nothing left on the mainland. After a good night's rest it was time to head towards Eastern Island. Link had been warned that the demonic presence was twice as strong there. It was the very seat of power for the Holy Legion of Ganon. When he had returned to Mido, Marcellus had offered to send an entire platoon of soldiers with Link. But no. This was something he had to do himself. So he headed for the dock.
"And where do you think you're going?"
Link turned to see Impa behind him. "Have you forgotten already?" asked Link with a grin. "I've got a quest to finish. Man you really are senile."
"Nice raft," said Impa.
"Yeah," replied Link. "And that's something else I've got a problem with. I HAD a raft already but you didn't let me take it. And I HAD a candle but…"
"Oh shut up," replied Impa. "Like I know every damn thing that you'll run into. Why didn't you just buy a raft here in Mido?"
"I'm broke," replied Link angrily. "Damn Error and his bar tab. You'd think they'd give me one for free but no. Hey, what's this?"
A large group of armed men was leaving Mido. They were being led by Marcellus.
"What's all this?" asked Impa.
"It's begun," replied Marcellus. "The Cult of Ganon has attacked Ruto!"
"Impa, are you sure that force field of yours over the North Palace will hold up?" asked Link.
"Of course I'm sure," she replied.
"Just like you were sure I wouldn't need to take anything with me?"
"Oh shut up!"
"Marcellus, I'll come with you!" said Link. "I owe you that much."
"No," replied Marcellus. "Winning the war is more important than winning the battle. This can't be stopped by mere force of arms now. The Triforce must be recovered and if possible the Cult Leader must be slain. Go! That's all you owe me. God be with you."
"Same to you," replied Link. "Good luck."
"Link, I'm coming with you," said Impa. "It's not safe anywhere right now. I don't know what help I can offer you but whatever I can do I will."
"Hope you can paddle," replied Link.
The two launched the raft and crossed the sea. It was odd not to see any Zolas out here. The waters were calm and the breeze was light. But as they came closer to the island the waters kicked up. The evil that he had felt in Saria was all over this place. A cold wind was kicking up.
"You holding up OK there granny?"
"Better than you, I bet," growled Impa. It was clear the paddling was taking a toll on her. The water itself seemed to resist their paddle strokes. Oddly enough, Link could see his reflection as clear as day. Hey, what the…
"Hey Link! Do I have to do all the work here? Why aren't you paddling?"
This wasn't just paranoia. The image in the water wasn't his… was it? Something was horribly wrong here!
"Link! Wake up!"
The reflection grinned evilly and suddenly a pair of hands shot out of the water and pulled him in. Link struggled like a mad man. He couldn't hear, he couldn't see, just total darkness. Then just as suddenly as it had begun, he was alone in the water. Whatever it was had gone.
Link emerged from the water coughing and breathing hard. "What happened?" yelled Impa.
Link swam up to the raft. "I don't know," he replied. "I can't get back on. I'll tip the raft." He grabbed the edge of the raft. "Stop paddling, I'll get us the rest of the way there." He towed the raft the rest of the way to shore.
"Brrrrr…. Damn it's cold!" muttered Link as soon as he emerged from the water. "Lousy day for a swim."
Impa sighed. "AITE!"
The heat from her spell caused most of the water soaked into Link's clothes to evaporate. His outfit was steaming.
"Well that's one way to take care of things," grinned Link.
"I'd like to draw your attention to the fact that there's no path here," warned Impa. "Keep your eyes open. And you still haven't told me what happened back there."
"I'm as puzzled as you are."
"Why did you jump in the water?"
Link was stunned. "Jump in! Are you senile AND blind?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You telling me you didn't see that pair of hands come out of the water and pull me under?"
Impa was silent for a moment. "Are you feeling OK?"
"Why?"
"I'm telling you Link, I had a perfect view and there were no hands. You jumped in."
Link was silent. He wondered if he had finally lost it. But he couldn't dwell on it long. In a matter of moments they were attacked. This time it was a pair of Tektiles.
"Hey granny, wanna see what I can do now?"
Link jumped up and flew down faster than lightning in a downward thrust. To his horror he bounced right off of it. "What the…" This was a Tektile! These things were supposed to be wimps. The evil had made it strong now.
"Very impressive bonehead," replied Impa. "Do something!"
Link turned around. Just as he did something else unexpected happened. The Tektile opened its mouth and fired a beam at him. Link blocked it with his shield and then attempted to stab its face which was not protected by a shell. No dice. "What do I do now?" he yelled out loud. He turned to see Impa running for it. "Good idea." The two of them ran all the way to the nearest town with monsters hot on their heels.
They nearly collapsed from exhaustion by the time they reached their destination. If Link had hoped for any anonymity in Nabooru he was out of luck. No sooner had he entered the city streets than he was nearly mobbed by women begging him to save their country and their town. Impa practically had to beat them off with her stick (in fact I'm not entirely sure she didn't get in a couple good swings).
A fountain! Oh boy! They were both parched.
"I am thirsty."
Link and Impa turned to see a young woman standing outside her house a mere fifty feet from the fountain.
"What are you, some spoiled little princess or something?" growled Impa angrily. "Go get your own damn water!"
"I'll get it for you," said Link. The girl smiled and slinked back into her house.
"What was that?" asked Impa. "What, are you hot for her or something? If you're gonna fall for someone other than Zelda, at least fall for someone with an ounce of class. That lazy spoiled little…"
"Save it granny," said Link. "So far every good deed I've done has been repaid. But I'd have to agree with you on this one. It's obvious that girl has been using her good looks to get every little thing she wants from men for years now. Sadly, I'm guessing it works."
Link and Impa approached the well and drank to their hearts' content. Then link picked up a jug nearby and filled it with water. "You ought to let me take a leak in it first," said Impa with a grin.
"You can be a crass old lady when you want to, you know that Impa?" said Link with a chuckle.
"Well at least let me spit in it."
"No."
"Can I throw it in her face?"
"No."
The two of them came back to the house where the girl stood coolly waiting for them. Link handed her the water.
"Will there be anything else your highness?" asked Impa sarcastically. Link nudged her to keep quiet.
"You have water," said the girl as if she was somehow pleasantly surprised by the gift.
"Well duh," muttered Impa. Link nudged her again.
"Come to my house," said the girl.
"I smell an Oracle," said Link with a grin. "Come on granny."
"Can I push her down the stairs when we get inside?"
"No."
"'Cause you know there won't be witnesses."
"No."
"We can say it was an accident."
"No."
The two of them descended to the basement where the Oracle stood waiting for them. "You should have told my granddaughter to get her own damn water. She's a spoiled little brat."
"I told you so," muttered Impa.
"I certainly hope you have expanded your magical endurance," continued the Oracle. "You'll need it with the spell I'm about to give you. Hey wait a minute…" He stared at Impa. "Aren't you a member of the Chancellor's House of the Southern Royalty?"
"I see you are familiar with my family," said Impa. "Yes, for years we served as wizards and advisers for the monarchs of Hyrule. The head of our family always served as Chancellor, second in power in government."
"You never told me that," said Link.
"You never asked," replied Impa.
"So how come you got stuck being a nursemaid then?"
"The moment I saw that little girl all I wanted to do was to care for her," replied Impa with a sigh. "Let someone else get swept up in running a country. I had my priorities and I don't regret it."
"And now she's gone," said Link. "Gees, and I thought I was the only one who took it hard. It must have been twice as bad for you."
"It would have been hard no matter who she married, but to a loser like that, I nearly threw up. Well let's focus on the matter at hand. What can you do for us, Mr. Oracle?"
"Have you found the monsters on this island to be difficult?" asked the Oracle.
"Difficult? Try impossible," replied Link.
"Well if all else fails…"
"Use fire," said Link suddenly understanding the earlier message.
"This magic will make your sword shoot fire. ARSTA!"
"Will that work with my staff?" asked Impa. The Oracle shook his head. "Rats."
"Young man I would warn you about two things. The first is the River Devil. It is a gigantic creature that blocks the path to the southern half of this island. Both sword and flame are useless against it. I have no idea how to defeat it. The other is Darunia. The Cult is strong there. Trust no one. The people here were eager for you to save them. You will find the people of Darunia twice as eager to see you fail."
"Thank you for all your help sir," said Impa. "And if I were you I'd take a rod to that granddaughter of yours. Feel free to borrow mine."
"No, I'll just marry her off to the poorest, laziest guy in town."
The local chieftain was a young fellow who told Link of a magical pair of boots that could be used to walk on water and that they would be necessary later but could not tell him where they were or give any other useful advice. The people outside had a lot more to say.
"The River Devil eats those who are weak."
"See a man in Darunia before the islands."
"Jump in a hole in the palace if you go."
"You are persistent. Find heart over ocean." (another demon friend of Bagu)
"Gee I love vague advice, don't you Impa?" complained Link. "Listen, I'm going to Darunia right now. Stay here."
"Be careful," she replied. "And keep an eye on any activity in that town. I don't want those people attacking this place like they did Ruto. These people aren't half so well-armed and have no neighbors here to save them."
This time Link ignored a patch of forest in the distance. He couldn't waste time now looking for a P-Bag or an unnecessary fairy when things were going downhill so fast. But he did want to make sure that these Tektiles could be defeated. He left the path and waited. In no time two Tektiles attacked.
"ARSTA!"
Just willing it caused fireballs to erupt from his sword. The Tektiles seemed to have some endurance but after a few hits they were toast (pun intended). But what on earth was that strange demon that was approaching so fast? I looked somewhat like a Patra but much bigger. It was a Boon.
The Boon was not a strong enemy necessarily but it was agile. Link launched a flame at it. Whoa, it was more than agile. It could teleport! And it spit rocks out as it flew. Link must have missed it three or four times. He jumped up intending to launch another fireball at it but it unexpectedly appeared right in front of him. He stabbed it. So these things didn't require fire after all. Good to know.
Luckily for Link he did posses a map to this region. He had never visited this place before. He had grown up on a group of islands to the west of mainland Hyrule. He didn't feel at home on islands. Not one bit. His homeland had utterly rejected him.
There was no place to the east to launch a raft and they had already warned him not to mess with the River Devil to the south. That left the north. Darunia was up that way anyway. But he'd have to go through a cave first. Link hated the idea. He didn't know what sort of unpleasant surprises might be waiting for him up there.
What was waiting for him were three Achemen and a Basilisk. Now the Achemen were no challenge but the Basilisk was a different story. Like the Tektiles, this thing was invulnerable to stabs and required fire. It could fire beams of its own and could stand on its hind legs. Its pattern made offense difficult because Link had to concentrate on bobbing up and down at the same time as the Basilisk to block its beams. This thing too could take a great deal of damage before it died.
Link emerged from the cave into a grassy field surrounded by woods on all sides. He headed towards the northwestern part of the woods. A group of monsters similar in appearance to Moas attacked. They were Eyes. Link found that they couldn't be harmed when their eyelids were closed but at least they didn't close them often nor did they have the mobility of Moas. These were weak enemies.
The land was getting higher. Link found himself going farther and farther uphill all the time. The trees seemed shorter and the treetops weren't that far from the top of his head. He hiked further and further continually checking moss on the trees to keep his directions straight. The ground was getting rockier too. Pretty soon the woods ended and he was standing on a sandy mountain pass.
Another familiar foe decided to drop in at this point. Blue Leevers. Well all of these old monsters had shown up more powerful here. Maybe these were super intelligent or could fly or could shoot fire from their asses. But no. There was no improvement in them. If anything he was more easily able to take them on now that he had the downward thrust.
The trail continued to wind upwards with rock and sand as far as the eye could see. Pretty soon Link had to deal with more water pits which were fiercely guarded by Blue Octorocks. The first set of pits wasn't that bad. But the second, well he should have predicted that coming that close to a Cult stronghold there would be foul magic afoot. Indeed those nasty old bubbles were waiting for him. As if this wasn't irritating enough already.
At long last he reached Darunia. It was already late in the day but the sky was an evil shade of dark over this town. Link could smell the danger. He tightened his grip on his sword ready for mortal combat right here in the city streets. Good thing too.
"You must save Hyrule!"
"I'm not falling for it!" snapped Link. "I can smell the evil all over you."
The Cult member immediately transformed herself into an Ache and attacked. Bystanders ran in terror. Link slew her with one stroke. And then it happened.
"Did you come this far just to die?" Link turned to see the first Cult member he had encountered back in Parapa wrapped head to toe in rags. "Blasphemy and sacrilege will not be tolerated. Especially by those not even worthy to oppose us. I've been waiting a long time for this, boy." The Cult member drew a sword. The blade was surrounded by a blue flame. "Come embrace your death. I'll send you to hell by my own hand. Feel my hate."
"We aim to please," replied Link. The two rushed at each other. The Cult member was an excellent sword fighter whoever he was. He leapt over Link to avoid a lunge. He could also fire energy beams from his hand. Link blocked them then flew at him with all his speed. The Cult member could run backwards just as fast as he could run forwards.
"You're slow boy!" he sneered. "Perhaps this will slow you down some more." He chanted a spell under his breath. Immediately an extremely powerful blast of wind nearly knocked Link over. The Cult member took this opportunity to charge at him. Big mistake. Link sidestepped him and tripped him, knocking the blade from his hand. Immediately its flame was extinguished.
"You've pissed me off long enough," snarled Link. "I'm giving you a chance to live. Run. Run like the devil was chasing you and don't stop for even one moment and you will live. Don't and you will die right here."
"Oh that's so generous, you worthless beggar," mocked the Cult member in a tone that was both unpleasant and unpleasantly familiar. Link had heard this voice before, but where? "Run like the devil was chasing me? The devil wouldn't chase me. I know the devil too well. Good friend of mine. He is so eager to meet you face to face." The Cult member pulled off the rags covering his face.
"NO!"
"What's the matter Link? Surprised?"
"ZELDA!"
It was the same Zelda he had originally rescued from Ganon. The same Zelda who had been forced to marry that ass from the Western Islands. The same Zelda he had once loved.
"Zelda what happened to you?" cried Link in anguish.
"What happened to me? I stopped lying to myself. For the first time in my entire meaningless life I stopped lying to myself. I have to thank you Link. It never would have happened without you. You made me realize just how much my lot in life sucked."
"You want to worship Ganon?" asked Link in disbelief.
"I want to be on the winning side," she replied. "When this war is over and won I'll kill the Leader and then I'll rule this world. Why not? I'm royalty, aren't I? And the first person I'll eliminate is that crappy little brother of mine. I already took my first step in the right direction."
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean? Here's what I mean!" Zelda pulled out an article wrapped in cloth and tossed it over to Link. He cautiously opened it. It was her husband's head. "Don't tell me you're not a wee bit pleased to see that. The thought of that man intimate with me was enough to make you insane with jealousy wasn't it? Well he never got the chance! Aren't you just so glad?"
Link felt like throwing up. "Zelda, please listen, this isn't you…"
"The hell it isn't!" she interrupted. "I'll tell you what isn't me. Being weak. First I get kidnapped by some SOB like Ganon, and I find myself in the stupid damsel in distress role. Then some bloody IDIOT like you shows up and does what I should have had the strength to do myself. Oh it gets better. Then for the sake of diplomacy I end up marrying some hog I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. I turn him down the first couple of nights and… AND HE TRIES TO GET VIOLENT! " At this point Zelda couldn't stop herself from letting out a few angry sobs.
"He did WHAT?" Link was pissed now.
"THAT'S NOT YOUR DAMN CONCERN!" screamed Zelda at the top of her lungs. "I don't need you saving me! At that moment it all became so clear. After all this crap I'd been through and instead of living happily ever after here I was about to get raped. NO! I wanted you, not him. So I killed him. I did it for you. I DID IT FOR US! BUT THERE IS NO "US" ANYMORE, NOW IS THERE? Now I find out you've betrayed me. What's she like, this vegetable you've given your heart for?"
"Zelda…"
"NO! NO MORE! Admit it, you knew this day would come, didn't you?"
Link hesitated and finally he weakly nodded. "In my coma. I saw it in a dream playing out before me. I knew everything that was about to happen but in spite of everything I was powerless to stop it. I was just a bystander."
"Not a good feeling is it?" asked Zelda. "That's how I've felt for years. Never again. No. One of us is going to die today."
Link took a step back. "No. I won't kill you Zelda."
"Damn right you won't!"
She raised her hand and the sword flew back into it. She flew at Link with fire in her eyes.
"Zelda, no!"
Too late. She was too close. There was nothing else he could have done. Though the thought of letting her kill him tempted him for a moment, he knew the course of action needed to save Hyrule. His blade impaled her with a thud.
"UNGH…"
"ZELDA!"
Zelda fell to the ground. She looked scared. "What have I done?" she murmured. Link saw a crowd gathering.
"GET THE HEALER!" he screamed. To his horror not one of them moved. "ARE YOU DEAF? GET THE HEALER!" Oh no! They were smirking at him. They were all Cult members.
"He lied…" murmured Zelda. "He…lied… I'm so sorry…"
"Who? Who lied? Was it the Leader?"
Zelda weakly nodded.
"Who is he?"
But she could say no more. She died right there in the streets of Darunia. Link was nearly blinded with rage. He had no time to grieve. In the moment his attention was diverted ten Cult members with daggers attacked him all at once. The death they suffered was not a pretty one. Link was nearly mad with hate and cut them to bits. This wasn't like when demons die and merely disappear. These were elves.
"I WANT MORE!" he screamed. "COME OUT YOU BASTARDS, I KNOW THERE'S MORE OF YOU!"
No one came. That sickening feeling came to him again. The one when he'd almost lost Impa. The fear that he'd lose his very self in his grief. He knelt down next to Zelda and gently kissed her lips which were still warm and wept as he'd never wept before. He had the terrible feeling he was being watched but he didn't care. What a horrible journey this was that could bring him so many tears.
Link spent that night in the house of a sympathetic villager. He cried himself to sleep. Why her? Why couldn't those psychopaths have just left her out of it? He hadn't dreamed of just how far they would go. It was just staggering to see the sort of evil there was in the world.
Of course the villagers knew who she was. She had not been their princess but she was dear to all of them. They hadn't seen how it happened. Link lied to them. He told them she had been murdered by the Cult. He just couldn't tell them. He wasn't sure they'd believe him anyway and he might be arrested as a murderer. When asked what she was doing in Darunia in the first place he simply said he had no idea. The village mourned for her as if they had lost a daughter. Sympathetic citizens came to encourage Link in his quest and offer advice (what else is new?).
"The Palace has a false wall."
"The Devil does not like noise." Best piece of advice he'd had so far.
"A powerful knight lives in this town."
He'd almost forgotten that Marcellus had an old army buddy living here. But the boy who had told Link of his whereabouts also explained that he was somewhat of a recluse and wouldn't open his door for anyone. No problem. Link went through his chimney. He wouldn't take no for an answer.
"No!"
"I won't take that for an answer."
"You've got a lot of nerve, you know that kid," said the knight angrily. "Trespassing in other people's houses and then demanding favors from them."
"What are you doing?" replied Link. "Are you trying to hide from the world?"
"That's right," replied the knight.
"Who are you?"
"Lemus," answered the knight. "I'm sorry I'm not as helpful as Marcellus but I suppose he was the lucky one."
"What do you mean?" asked Link.
"He found God," replied Lemus. "He's got something to believe in. Something goes wrong in his life and it's all just part of some divine plan that will work out for the best in the end."
"But you don't believe that?" asked Link.
"How could I?" replied Lemus. "Kid, when you've seen all I've seen you could never believe there's a loving creator up there in the clouds who makes everything work out for the best. You live, life sucks, you die. That's all."
"OK, fine, you're an atheist," replied Link. "You're entitled to that. But that hardly explains why you won't help me."
"Because I'll have nothing to do with war anymore. I won't do anything to take sides or to aid or hurt either side. I don't want any part of it. War ruined my life. War killed all my friends. War tore this nation apart. I don't want anything to do with war, period."
"Too bad because war is coming whether you like it or not, exclamation point," replied Link.
"Doesn't mean I have to be part of it," replied Lemus.
"And when Ganon's troops invade this city? What then?"
"Let them kill me," said Lemus. "I don't care."
"LIAR!"
"You know, you're awfully bold for a trespasser, you know that?"
"Am I?" Link described to Lemus in detail everything he'd been through, how he lost Zelda and nearly lost Impa. "Don't you see what will happen? War is the lesser of two evils here."
Lemus sighed. "The lesser of two evils is still an evil."
"One that absolutely can't be avoided," replied Link. "Do this. Do this for the friends you couldn't save. There are men women and children out here that you can still save who are someone's friends."
Lemus stood up. "This is on your conscience then, not mine. Got it? I swore I'd never have anything to do with war again but I just can't keep it away. I'm sick of this world. I honestly don't mind dying. If it means so much to you then fine. But I'll never fight again."
He took Link's wrist and muttered some words under his breath. The room flashed. "OK, try it kid."
Immediately Link soared upwards much faster than anyone could jump and thrust his sword straight up with enormous force. "Thank you so much," said Link. "Once this war is over I hope more than anything that you'll finally find peace."
"Yeah, maybe…"
Link ran up the stairs and out of the house. Sadly, Lemus felt at that moment like he'd given the world all that he had left to give. That night he slit his wrists. Link never did find out and maybe it was for the best. It factors very little on the story and I don't wish to dwell on it. Some people never find their way and that is the single greatest tragedy in all the world.
This was a sad time and it seemed sadness couldn't be avoided. Link found a woman in the street crying hysterically. Even as he had slept the Cult of Ganon had been at work the night before. They had kidnapped the poor woman's child with a note telling her exactly where to find him. It was so obvious. It was a trap. They were baiting Link and he had no choice but to take the bait. But there was something he needed to do first and it was one of the hardest things he had ever had to do in his life.
"NOOOOO!" screamed Impa in anguish. "You murderer! You lying murdering rat! I hate you!" She fell over and sobbed.
Link grabbed her and held her tight. "I would have conquered this entire world to save her, you know that. I couldn't do anything. They poisoned her mind at the worst moment of her life. I would have died for her if my death wouldn't doom Hyrule. You have to believe that."
"She was my life," sobbed Impa. "I have nothing to live for. I might as well be dead."
"DON'T SAY THAT!" yelled Link. "There's been so much death and misery already. Don't you die on me too. You're like family to me. I need you. Don't say that, please."
Impa was inconsolable for hours. The whole town of Nabooru reacted with grief as well. Zelda had been loved by all who knew her and even by those who only knew of her. This time Link had forgotten to lie. It was alright. No one blamed him. He couldn't stay. He wanted to but that kid was depending on him. He took his leave of the sorrowing Impa after making her swear an oath that she wouldn't hurt herself. Impa was the kind of person who would not under any circumstances break an oath. Link headed back up north and to the east.
Elezaar had built a clever maze on this island designed to make it difficult for an enemy to even approach the palace. Even in his time this place must have been pretty dangerous. Link had no map of this place. He stumbled around this enormous labyrinth for over fourteen hours. He didn't find the boy, only numerous enemies and a bottle of fairy water. After all that he found himself right back at the entrance tired and completely depleted of magic. Was there any path he hadn't taken? As a matter of fact, yes, he hadn't taken the bottom one. It was dark and he had reached the end of that path and he still hadn't found….
"AAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Link fell down a hole in the ground. There was the little boy, tied up in a corner. His eyes were red. It was obvious he had cried until he was too tired to keep it up. He must have been here a while. His lip was swollen from a pretty vicious smack to the face. He had wet his pants. He couldn't have been older than three or four. But they weren't alone. Link was about to face his first Lizalfos.
This was truly an intimidating creature. It was immune to the Sting and to either thrust. Its spear gave it a better reach than an Ironknuckle and it was far better with its shield. Link tried both the Stalfos and Ironknuckle techniques but each one gave him limited success. In the end sheer determination won the battle. Link kept at it and the creature was defeated.
Link had no time to celebrate. He had to get this boy back and he had to do it fast. He walked over and cut his ropes.
"What's your name?" asked Link gently. The boy fainted. "Never mind, just please don't turn into something awful on me or nothing."
Link ran. He ran like a maniac. It was already night and he had to get this kid back home right away. And he was vulnerable. With a child in his arms all he could do was outrun enemies which got to be difficult as the terrain headed uphill. Link ran up the hills and through the mountain passes. It was 4 AM by the time he arrived in Darunia. He pounded on the woman's door. She opened and…
This time it was Link's turn to faint. He couldn't help it. He was tired enough but he had run so hard over all that terrain. For the second time he woke up in an unfamiliar home. Link was starting to realize that his body might not hold out. The toll this quest was taking on him was just too much. Even at sixteen he just couldn't keep up.
The woman's gratitude was overwhelming but something about her words fell flat. Her brother's gift of the Reflect spell was essential but something just wasn't right.
The way Link was acting you'd think he was being punished or scolded instead of rewarded for valor. Why?
The kid. The kid had sensed something he didn't like about Link. Link was feeling it too. Maybe it wasn't his body that wasn't holding up. What was happening to him?
Once again, it was night when he reached his destination, the Labyrinth Palace. Big deal.
End Chapter 9