Chapter 3 – The Tablet Tells of the Relic

Peeking from behind the curtain, Link looked at what was ahead of him and the end of the tunnel looked like this. It was a small space, with lanterns hanging on both sides of the walls and also hanging on against the back wall of the tunnel. In the middle of the area there was a wooden table. Laying on it was a candle and big tablet with the ancient language written on it. Reading the words aloud was Link's father, Laylon the Scholar.

What caught Link's eye more than anything was the other man with his father. No doubt he was owner of the big black warhorse Link had seen earlier. He was the biggest man Link had ever seen. He wore expensive clothes with some symbols on his shoulders and had dark, reddish brown hair with a pointy goatee of the same color. His skin was dark brown and he had the look of a fierce, proud warrior.

As he was reading, Laylon said, "This is the writings I was telling you about! The part that makes this finding so important!"

The man stood there quietly and said, "Then read it."

"These words serve as a warning," Laylon translated. "A warning to those seeking the treasure that causes treachery. The lives taken by it are many. If we could have burned it, it would have scorched us back. If we could have buried it, it would have opened up the earth to swallow us. So atop the ancient mountain of death it shall now forever stay hidden along with whom it is forever bound to. These words are not carved in stone for those to look for it. It is for a permanent reminder so this treasure of chaos shall never be forgotten. Other ages and generations have forgotten it and the chaos returned. If it is never forgotten then the lives of those lost won't be either. These are the words of the last Saints of the Sword in a final attempt to bring peace to the realm of Hyrule. Heed our warning. Do not forget."

Laylon looked up towards the other man. "So do you see…..Lord Dragmire?"

The tall man, whose name was obviously Dragmire, said to himself quietly, "At last."

Then Lord Dragmire looked up towards Laylon. "But what is this warning the tablet speaks of? This so called treachery?"

"It probably had something to do with their beliefs and their so-called 'gods'. The ancient artifact the tablet speaks of must have been a really important part of their religion."

"And the tablet speaks of the treasure being hidden in the mountains. That is where we shall start looking. We will shall head to the northern mountain range."

Laylon shook his head. "Lord Dragmire, you cannot be serious! The tablet itself is the ultimate finding. Each piece of artifact I have discovered over the years has step by step led me to this tablet. This is the proof I need to show that the history books are wrong! That there was a known civilization before Hyrulian recorded history!"

Dragmire laughed in a way that was meant to mock Laylon. "You are thinking small, Laylon. Are you so quick to give up on the hunt near its end? This tablet may speak saints and warnings, but that does not concern me. I do not care to prove anything. Especially to our idiot king. Nevertheless, your part in my search is over. I shall have my men take the tablet and we shall be on our leave."

"What? No!" Laylon angrily replied as he grabbed on to the tablet. "You may go, but I found this tablet! This is not your to take! My life's work dep----"

"YOUR LIFE'S WORK DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO ME!" Lord Dragmire shouted, towering over Laylon. "No one says no to me! You may have found the tablet, true. But who paid off the workers that helped you? You funded this whole expedition? Me! It is MY tablet!"

Laylon, obviously shocked out of his boots still tried not to lose himself. "You can't intimate me Dragmire. I don't care how rich and powerful you are!"

Calming down, Lord Dragmire gave Laylon a hard stare. Then he said coolly, "Then try and stop me, Laylon. You know, it is kind of pathetic actually. How at the end of a life's work of expeditions and digs, you suddenly went broke and had to crawl to me for financial support. I knew sooner or later that would happen, Laylon. And I knew that you would find what I need just for me."

"What? Did yo----you thief! It was you tha-----"

Lord Dragmire shook his head. "I did not say nor admit to anything. Now I take my leave."

Behind the curtain, Link was confused. Why didn't his father tell him about his money problems? His father also knew how much to spend on these expeditions. Link figured this Dragmire had been waiting for Laylon to come close to the end and somehow stole his father's savings, causing him to go broke. He wasn't going to get away with this.

At that moment Link cast the curtain aside just has Dragmire turned to leave. Link at once noticed this wasn't going to be a face-to-face confrontation. Lord Dragmire towered over him.

"Who are you?" Lord Dragmire asked angrily.

Shaking off Dragmire's intimidating presence, Link replied, "You're not taking the tablet."

"Link, what are doing here?"

Dragmire turned back towards Laylon. "You know who this is, Laylon?"

Laylon nodded. "He is my son."

"Then maybe you should have spent some time of your life actually teaching him to respect those higher then him."

Link smirked. "He did. That is why I respect him. It's the rats that get treated like rats, Dragmire."

Laylon couldn't help but feel proud of his son. Dragmire, on the other hand, had a look of unstoppable rage that lasted for exactly three seconds. Then suddenly he gave Link a cool smile.

"Like I told you're father, boy. Just try and stop me."

Just as Link took one step forward, everything blacked out.

The next thing he saw when he woke up was Laylon looking over him. His head was aching. "What happened father?"

Laylon shook his head. "Link, you must think before you act when you stand up against someone like Lord Dragmire. Yes he is a thief. But those who are that powerful must be taken down another way. We will find that way."

"No….what happened to my head?"

Laylon sighed. "One of his soldiers snuck up behind you."

"And the tablet?"

Laylon looked towards the table. It was gone.

Link struggled to his feet. "No."

"Link, you cannot bring force upon men like Lord Dragmire. Didn't you hear what I just told you?"

Link stood up angrily and pounded his fist onto the table. "What? You're going to let this man take you're life's work!"

"But Lin---"

Link threw the table on its side. He then turned to his father in a rage. "And now you're trying to preach to me! It's not like you ever did before! You loved that stupid tablet and all this old junk more than me! You didn't even know why I was coming here, did you? Huh?"

Laylon shook his head. "Link, pleas----"

"I came to say goodbye father. I was going to leave for the Royal City to join the army. You didn't even know that."

Link sighed sadly. "You didn't even know me."

Laylon put his arm on Link's shoulder. "Son, I'm sorry. You how it is. My life…"

Link shrugged him off and he turned to leave. "Yeah I know. Now I have to stop my plans because you lost control of your money and lost all that you've worked for. I have to clean it up. I have to clean up your mess."

With that said, Link took off at full speed down the tunnels and quickly climbed up back to the surface. He had to stop Dragmire.