Chapter Nine
Another Vision

The storm waves rocked hard against the body of the large ship, throwing the mighty vessel through the sea to the sound of thunder, racing across the ocean on powerful southward winds. Forks of lightning blazing across the clouds illuminated the night, and a sliver of pale light shone through the clouds from a window in the sky where the moon was clearly visible through a gap in the dense blackness.

Ralis stood firm on the deck of the ship, his hands clenched tightly on a thick wooden rail. His body was heavy with wet and cold. Fat raindrops slipped from his hair onto his face, his clothes were soaked through. "Mara…" he whispered into the night. He closed his eyes and saw his dead wife's face before him, still and emotive. "My life is lost…Mara, sweet Mara…I shall spill the blood of Hylia for what they have done to me."

Rael was suddenly aware that he was seeing through his brother's eyes. For a moment he held that image, seeing what Ralis could see, then almost as though concentrating made it harder to see, he felt himself sink suddenly, as the image of the ship on the sea flickered, and at once he was back beneath his rough blanket. The sea faded to be replaced by mountains, and the deck was replaced by hard desert earth. He shuddered as he slid from the realm of dreams back into reality. The biting dry of the desert tightened its jaws as a bitter wind drove a dust cloud across him. He buried his head into his sheets as the wind tore above him.

Eventually the night settled and he emerged from his blankets breathing heavily. He gazed up at the clear night sky, at the million shining stars of the heavens. A close footstep and the sound of breathing alerted him. He jerked his head around in time to see the blade coming down upon his throat. Link's eyes were blazing with malice and sorrow as his sword tore into Rael's mind.

Rael screamed into the night as his eyes burst open. Link was gone. All was still, save for his the echo of his voice in the night. Rael ran his hands through the dirty ground feeling for something real. The ground was coarse and dry, surely now he was not dreaming. But he knew even now, he was not alone.

He spun quickly where he lay and caught Jolane's sleeve. She had been watching him sleep again; he had known she would be there for sure. The last time he had seen thorough Ralis' eyes she had been spying on him, and once again here she was. The cowl of her hooded shrouded her dirty blonde hair, and dark eyes flashed as they met his own. After a moment of remaining still she tried to struggle free, but he threw himself on top of her and pinned her to the ground. "What are you doing to me!" he snarled at her. His voice was fierce and his breath was hot on her face. He could feel the beating of her chest against his own.

"Unhand me." Said Jolane. "Now."

Rael grabbed her wrists tightly, making it clear that he had no intention of releasing her. "No."

"I'm warning you-"

"Kill me then Jolane, if you can, but I'm not willingly letting you go until I know what is going on! Who are you? Why are you watching me sleep?"

Jolane relaxed, her eyes dropping as though she were bored. "As you wish." Her eyes searched about lazily, casually avoiding looking at him. "If you want to know Rael I will tell you all you want to know tomorrow. You have my word. Now is not the time."

Rael very nearly spat in her face, such was his anger, but he subdued his rage and let her go. He did not doubt that she could have killed him if she decided, but in the heat of the moment he did not care. He let her go and she picked herself up quickly, threw her dark robes about herself and swept away into the night, disappearing beyond the firelight.

Rael collapsed into his blankets and straightened his thoughts. His greatest concern was the dreams he was having about Ralis. He did not know whether what he was seeing was real, or merely his own imagination. His greatest worry now was that Jolane might be the one causing him to have these hallucinations of his brother, but even if that were possible what would she do such a thing for? If it was not her causing the dreams, then what? Link and Zelda had not said it but he knew in his heart of hearts that there was a bond between him and Ralis. Far from understanding it though, it only caused confusion. Furthermore, he had dreamed about Link killing him twice now, once in Hylia and now out in the desert. If any of his dreams were prophetic like Zelda's that meant he was in danger from Link, which was of course ridiculous.

Rael awoke early the next morning to see a bright sun shining through the mountains from the east. The campfire was freshly doused. Only Barl and Barark were awake, sitting side by side on a fallen tree trunk eating bread from their rations. Daran, Tabett and Elane were still curled up asleep. Link was laying on his back with his eyes open staring at the sky but Rael was quite certain he was asleep nonetheless. Nolin and Thoril were nowhere to be seen as they were out on watch duty. Jolane was also absent.

Rael did not feel as though he had slept, and could not remember dreaming at all between now and his dreams of Ralis and Link. He felt very dirty, inside and out, and so was happy when Link announced that they would reach water today. Link had called the company together as soon as Nolin and Thoril returned and said, "We are close to the end of our journey. Today we must make good pace across the desert as I fear the Gerudos may yet descend upon our position again, and we do not want to be caught in such a vulnerable place again. If the Gerudos come again, they will be in great numbers, and our chances of survival will be narrow." No-one responded to this. "Does anyone have anything to say?"

Heavily built Barl replied almost immediately. "Yes Sergeant. The girl Jolane has left us, and cannot find any trace of where she has gone." Rael felt his heart pound heavily in his chest. The group exchanged concerned looks. "Not questioning your ability to judge character sir," continued the large man, "but we should assume now that she is was a Gerudo spy." Rael's fists tightened.

"I agree sergeant," said Thoril, as the other two soldiers nodded in agreement.

Link ran a hand through his red and grey hair, rubbed his eyes and scratched at the thick stubble that had grown around his jawbones and chin. "I understand your concern, but no, I do not believe she is Gerudo."

"Not Gerudo by race sir, surely," said Barark "but-"

"We met her in Hylia." Said Link. "She was a simple street girl; there was no possibility that anyone could have known we were coming to the desert in time to commission a spy, much less the Gerudos."

"How can you be so sure?" demanded Barl. "What other explanation is there?"

"That will be all," said Link.

"Sir!" demanded Barl.

"That will be all, soldier!" shouted Link, "remember your place!" Barl turned away and went to saddle his horse. "That goes for everyone. Don't question my judgment, or we will all die out here. Saddle up."