Sophitia spent most of the journey from the Wind Temple to Medoh in the back of her carriage, alone with Liliana. No matter how much her bodyguard had tried to comfort her the night before, the princess was still significantly demoralized from the events of the previous day. It had only been one outburst from one Rito, but she knew the bird man's sentiments were shared by many throughout Hebra. Convincing the Rito people that she was there to help was going to be quite difficult if half of them saw her as a tyrant seeking to control them.

"Where are we now?" Sophitia asked. The sounds the carriage was making had changed. It sounded like the wheels were rolling over wood instead of pavement.

Liliana slid open one of the windows on the left side of the carriage and glanced outside. "We are crossing Kolami Bridge, Princess," the retainer replied. "See? That must be Strock Lake."

Sophitia looked out the open window. "Beautiful," she said. Sliding along the seat to the other side of the carriage, she opened the window on the right as well. The view was quite different. They were already quite high up on the bridge, but she could see another steep dropoff further out. That would be Tanagar Canyon, the great divide that separates Hebra from Hyrule proper. They had crossed it before arriving at the Wind Temple the other day, but the princess still could not handle heights very well. She shuddered a little, then shut the window.

"Shall I tell your driver to go faster?" Liliana offered.

"That will not be necessary," Sophitia replied, moving back to her seat across from the other girl. "But thank you, Liliana. Oh, and once we make it to the other side of the bridge, send word to my brother and to those at the front of the convoy that we should stop."

"Stop?" the round-eared girl asked in confusion. "Are you feeling sick?"

"No, I am well. There is something I need to do to prepare for our arrival."

"Very well, Princess."

A few minutes later, Liliana opened the door to the carriage and leaned outside. "Oi!" she shouted, waving over a nearby soldier riding on horseback.

"Yes, my lady?"

"Inform the prince and the lead riders. We are to stop immediately," Liliana commanded.

"At once, dame." The man rode off, and Liliana shut the door.

"He called you 'dame,' did he not?" Sophitia asked with a playful smile on her face. "You have the presence of a knight already, my dear."

"It's not a bad assumption," Liliana replied. "I'm in here alone with you. Many would think I'd have to be either your knight or your handmaiden. Or your whore, I suppose. But of the three, only a knight would carry a sword."

"Liliana," the princess replied with shock, even though this was by no means the first time the other girl had made a joke such as this. "By Nayru, what would your mother think if she heard you speak in such a way?"

"You say that as if my mother doesn't talk this way, too."

Sophitia laughed haughtily. "Well, I suppose it's best that you get it out of your system while we have the privacy of my carriage."

"I shall be the pinnacle of politeness in public as always, your highness."

"You have my gratitude," Sophitia said with a nod. Her hand moved to her chin as she thought of something. "Ah, and you've reminded me. You simply must introduce me to your family one of these days."

"I'd like that, Princess."

The carriage slowed to a halt. Liliana climbed outside first, then held out a hand to escort Sophitia down the few small steps on the side of the carriage. Prince Lancel's retinue was further up in the convoy, so the two of them walked together in search of it.

When they found it, the door was still closed. Sir Anselm was outside atop his horse, but Lancel was nowhere to be seen. "Brother?" Sophitia called out. "Are you in there?"

"Yes, yes, one moment." The door flung open and Prince Lancel climbed out, adjusting his clothing and buttoning his shirt as if he were just getting dressed. Before he reached the ground, two women leaned out the door and wrapped their hands around him, urging him to come back inside. "Terribly sorry, my darlings. Two seconds, that's all." The prince managed to disentangle himself and shut the door behind him.

Sophitia glanced at the ground awkwardly. She felt Liliana elbowing her in the side.

"I did not see them carrying swords," Liliana whispered.

"Hush."

"Your highness, please put more effort into how you present yourself in front of your sister and this young lady," Sir Anselm urged Lancel, looking down at him with disappointment.

"Well, excuse me, Sir Killjoy," the prince replied. "I project the next few days to be a never-ending deluge of work, work, and after that, work. If I do not make time for recreational activities now and again, I am liable to expire from sheer exhaustion."

Sir Anselm sighed, but had no response.

Turning away from his bodyguard, Prince Lancel cleared his throat and approached his sister, smiling apologetically. "Right. Now then," he said, clapping his hands together. "Greetings, sweet sister. Why have we stopped? Was there trouble on the bridge?"

Sophitia blinked, taking a moment to get her mind back on track. "Yes. Well, no. What I mean to say is, Lake Totori is just beyond this pass, correct?"

"It is indeed," Lancel replied. "But that is a reason for us to continue moving, which, if my thinking is correct, is the exact opposite of stopping, yes?"

"Makes sense to me," Liliana concurred.

"I said hush, darling," Sophitia repeated. Brushing her hair aside, the princess took a step forward. "I have a suggestion, Brother. We should take only our essential personnel beyond this point, and leave the rest of our retinue to camp here for now. We can rejoin them on our way back to the Wind Temple."

Lancel looked confused, glancing about the area. "This seems a rather odd location to set up camp, Sister," he replied. "Right next to Tanagar Canyon? And so far from the city? No doubt there are monsters nearby. Meanwhile, the lush green meadows and forests surrounding Lake Totori await us just beyond the pass. It would be rather rude to leave our guards and attendants all the way out here, I'd say."

Sophitia pursed her lips as she considered how to put this. "What we have here," she said, holding out her arms to gesture to the soldiers surrounding them, "is an army. A small one, perhaps, by our standards. But regardless, it was enough to frighten some of the residents at the Wind Temple. We are here to help the Rito, and to make peace with them. We cannot give them the impression that we are an invading army arriving at their doorstep."

"Her words have wisdom, my prince," Sir Anselm concurred. "With only a small security detail for the princess, the governor, and yourself, we should be able to handle your protection more than adequately."

"Yes, indeed. That is good thinking, Sister," Lancel said, nodding his head in agreement. "I suppose Father would be livid if he knew we did not have the entirety of our guard with us at all times, but what he doesn't know, won't hurt him."

Sophitia's ears burned with shame at the suggestion.

Would Father think me a fool? Am I being irresponsible? Am I endangering the governor?

However, Lancel was praising her for her suggestion, so perhaps she was doing something right. "It is settled, then," she said, trying to sound confident. "I'll inform the governor. Sir Anselm, would you kindly give the command to set up camp?"

"At once, your highness."

Had she attempted to give a command to any of Percival's subordinates, Percival would likely have been angry with her. However, Lancel did not seem to mind. "Very good. Now, if you'll excuse me," the prince said, turning his back to them. "I have my own duties to attend to." With a wave of his hand, a gust of wind blew open the door to his carriage, and he climbed back inside to the sound of ladies giggling.

Sir Anselm grunted disapprovingly and rode off. Sophitia's face grew red with embarrassment.

"It was rather unfortunate timing that we interrupted your brother's fun," Liliana pointed out.

Sophitia shuddered and stomped off. "Let us not speak of this. It is unbecoming."

As they walked through the convoy in search of the governor, they observed many soldiers and servants waiting around in confusion. Some had already gotten word of the new plans and were setting up camp, while others sat atop their horses patiently. "Liliana, go find Captain Reede," Sophitia commanded. "Tell him to assemble a dozen of my guards to accompany us to Medoh."

"Yes, your highness." Liliana put her hand on her sword and bowed slightly before departing.

The princess found Governor Koridai a few moments later. He was standing beside one of the supply wagons and speaking with some of his servants, one of whom was nodding and jotting down his orders in a ledger.

"Governor Koridai," Sophitia greeted him as she approached, drawing everyone's attention.

"Good day to you, Princess," the governor replied. "Give us a moment," he said to his subordinates, waving them off. "May I ask why we have stopped? Is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine. No need to worry," Sophitia assured him. "However, there has been a slight change of plans."

"Oh? How so?"

"You, my brother, and I will be continuing on to Medoh with only a small, private guard, and the rest of our soldiers are to remain here for the time being," she explained. "We merely wish to avoid frightening the locals."

Governor Koridai furrowed his brow and put a hand to his chin thoughtfully. "Are you sure that is wise, your highness?" he asked, clearly doubtful of the idea. "I realize this is your first time visiting Medoh, but as the governor of this province, I can tell you on no uncertain terms that there are many in the city who wish us harm. We may be putting ourselves in danger if we leave part of our guard behind."

Upon hearing his response, Sophitia mentally scolded herself for informing the governor of the decision as a fait accompli instead of consulting with him first.

He had every right to be involved with the making of this decision, even more so than my brother and I. Have I slighted him by doing this?

Perhaps the right thing to do at this point would have been to reconvene with Lancel and discuss it amongst the three of them. However, she couldn't do that now.

The decision has been made. The order has been given. Going back on it now would surely make me appear spineless, would it not?

"Fear not," Sophitia said, smiling to hide her uncertainty. "My brother and I have brought with us some of the finest knights in the kingdom. I am more than confident in their ability to keep us safe. Our visit will be a short one as it is."

The look on the governor's face made it clear that he remained unconvinced, but he did not express any further doubt. "Very well, Princess. I shall inform my guards."

"Thank you, Governor." Sophitia bowed and excused herself as quickly as possible, heading off to find Liliana.

If only he'd reacted as favorably as Lancel did…

Liliana spotted her first as she was walking back to her carriage. "Princess," her retainer said. "Captain Reede has assembled your guards. Your brother is ready as well."

Sophitia nodded. "Good. Let us depart as quickly as possible, then."

"Very well. Shall we return to your carriage, Princess? Or do you require a horse?"

"The carriage. Please, join me." Liliana could probably tell by how Sophitia's face was still slightly red, but the princess was still embarrassed by her recent faux pas, and she really wanted someone to talk to.

After returning to the princess's carriage, Liliana helped Sophitia climb inside before joining her, shutting the door behind them. "Is something the matter, Princess?" Liliana asked immediately.

Sophitia ran her hands through her hair nervously, unsure if she was going to appear whiny. "Liliana, be honest with me," she began.

"I always am."

Despite herself, the princess managed a slight smile. "Sometimes regrettably so," she quipped. Then she took a deep breath. "Do you think it is a good idea to bring only a small number of guards with us?" she asked.

Liliana looked at her with half-lidded eyes. "A dozen guards is a dozen more than most people have," the round-eared girl pointed out.

"Yes, and most people do not have a significant portion of a province that wants them dead," Sophitia countered bluntly.

Liliana pursed her lips. "The way you explained it to your brother made perfect sense to me," she said. "What is this about?"

"The governor is not happy with the arrangement," Sophitia admitted. "He did not say so in as many words, but he expressed great fear for our safety, and he knows Medoh better than any of us." The princess pressed her hands to her face and groaned. "I should have asked him before making the decision."

"You and your brother both agreed to this course of action," Liliana pointed out. "The responsibility does not lie with you alone. And you've said Lancel is the smart one in your family, so I doubt you could both be wrong."

It made Sophitia feel somewhat better to hear that, but something was still eating at her. "You may be right," she said. "But I was still the one to come up with the idea, and I was the one to tell Governor Koridai about it. He will respect me less now. And if anything does happen, he and his entire House will blame me. I came here to win the support of Hebra. If I keep acting so thoughtlessly, not a soul in this entire province will recognize me as their queen."

Liliana drew her sword and rested it across her lap, tapping it idly as she thought. "Well, once you are queen, it will not really matter what Governor Koridai thinks of you, will it?"

"Once I am queen, his opinion of me shall matter exponentially more than it does now, as will the opinions of everyone else in the kingdom!" Without realizing it, Sophitia had begun to raise her voice. "And if I lose the people's respect now, it will ruin whatever potential I had at winning the throne in the first place!"

"Sophitia, please, calm yourself," her retainer, holding up one hand. "You fret over nothing of consequence. If anything is to ruin your bid for the throne, it will certainly not be something as minor as this."

Sophitia slumped back into her seat, trying to calm herself with deep breaths. "Yes. Yes, I suppose you're right." She could still feel the anxiety that had overtaken her a moment ago, but Liliana's words had soothed her somewhat. "I think I shall rest for the remainder of the journey. Please wake me before we arrive."

"I shall, your highness."


When Sophitia first laid eyes on the city of Medoh, she was amazed. Lake Totori was large and oval shaped; about the size of the island on which Hyrule Castle was built. On all sides, it was surrounded by a ring of lush green grass dotted with trees and small forests, all of which sat at the base of the surrounding mountains. It was like a little hidden paradise. With how isolated it was, the princess could more easily understand how the kingdom had gone so long without making proper contact with the people who lived there.

In the center of the lake was a tall island jutting out of the water, with steep cliffs on all sides. Leading up to it were three smaller islands connected by wooden bridges. Most of the buildings were wooden and shared similarities to the Rito architecture Sophitia knew from the Rito Post Office back in the capital. However, the most striking thing about the city was how vertical it was. Even with the four islands together, there was not much surface area with which to build outwards. Since the Rito could fly, it appeared as though the obvious solution was to expand upwards instead. Even from a distance, as she and her retinue approached the cliffside around the rim of the lake, Sophitia could see the Rito flying between buildings, going about their day as usual.

At this point, Sophitia, Lancel, and Governor Koridai were traveling on horseback. A mix of their guards rode in front of them, while another group of their guards rode behind them, followed by their personal carriages. Liliana and Sir Anselm rode alongside their charges as well.

Up ahead, a pair of Rito men stood guard at the bridge. Both of them held wooden spears. The weapons struck the princess as rather primitive, but the feather decorations adorning the spearheads were strangely beautiful for a killing implement.

A few meters away from the bridge, the Hylians dismounted and approached on foot. When the front line of guards reached the Rito, they crossed their spears to block the path.

"A moment, please," one of the Rito guards said in accented Hylian, clicking his beak.

"Is there a problem?" Sophitia called from behind the guards, taking the initiative. The soldiers standing in front of her parted, allowing her, Lancel, and Governor Koridai to approach, although Liliana and Sir Anselm stayed between them and the Rito.

"There is no problem, madam." The other guard gestured behind him with his wing. "Someone has been sent to escort you."

Sophitia looked across the bridge and saw no one, but then she heard the flapping of wings. Tilting her gaze upward, she saw several Rito lowering themselves from the air. A moment later, five of them landed on the bridge. Four of them carried shortswords and shields that looked like kites, while the one in front carried no weapons at all. Several Rito remained flying overhead, some of whom had bows and quivers on their backs. It made Sophitia somewhat nervous, but none of them made any hostile moves.

"My greetings, Governor Koridai," the lead Rito said, walking forward as the guards parted their spears. "Chief Kanelo wished for me to receive you and your guests upon your arrival."

The governor nodded. "You have my thanks. I would like to introduce Prince Lancel and Princess Zelda Sophitia of the Royal Family," he said, gesturing to the royal siblings.

"How do you do?" Sophitia curtsied as gracefully as she could. Lancel said nothing, but smiled and bowed.

"You honor us by coming here," the Rito man said. "I am called Mazli. Please allow my friends to tend to your horses while I escort you into the city."

"Your assistance is most appreciated, Mazli," Sophitia replied. "Please lead the way."

After crossing the bridge, they arrived on the first island. The pathway led them between groups of buildings stacked on top of one another on either side of them. There were doors on the ground level of some, but not all of them. There were also many staircases spiraling upwards among the wooden buildings. Oddly, there were no people. Other than the princess's party and Mazli's party, the street was deserted.

That was until Sophitia looked upward. Rito heads resembling all types of birds were peeking out of various windows and from atop the many rooftops. Some of them were only visible for a moment before pulling away out of sight, which left the princess wondering if they'd become scared once spotted. It reminded her of how many residents at the Wind Temple had reacted to their presence, and it was certainly not the best feeling in the world.

On top of that, the princess realized exactly how vulnerable they would be in the event of an ambush. The look on the governor's face suggested he was worried about the very same thing. Beginning to feel nervous, Sophitia glanced at Liliana beside her. The round-eared bodyguard put her hand on her charge's shoulder. Her other hand rested on the hilt of her sword as a silent reminder that she was there to protect her.

"Our apologies for making you walk so much," Prince Lancel said to Mazli as they made their way across the second bridge. "If I had the aerial capabilities of a hawk or an eagle, I'd scarcely imagine spending even a single second on the cold hard ground, knowing the boundless heavens available for me to explore."

"It is no trouble at all, Prince Lancel," the Rito man replied. "Believe it or not, flying all the time can be quite tiring."

"So the bridges and staircases were not constructed for the benefit of human visitors?" Sophitia asked, having assumed that to be the case.

"Some accommodations have been made for our earthbound guests," Mazli explained. "But no, by and large. Our children are not able to fly until their wings develop, and those who are sick, elderly, or injured may not be able to leave the ground either."

"Oh. Yes, of course." Sophitia brushed her hair in front of her face in an attempt to hide the redness in her cheeks.

After all the research I did about the Rito, how could I not have learned their children couldn't fly?

The princess was worried she might make more comments that made her appear ignorant, but she was not going to stay silent and let her brother receive all the attention during this visit. "I imagine it must also be quite helpful in the case of unfavorable weather," she said, trying to think of other reasons for the layout of the city.

"Yes, indeed," Mazli agreed.

Lancel laughed. "Does that mean Ol' Cyclos is still stopping by now and again?"

"He does not grace us with his presence, but he certainly curses us with his weather from time to time," the Rito man admitted. "Luckily, today appears to belong to Zephos," he said, commenting on the clear skies and gentle breeze.

"High Chieftain Kanelo is expecting us, correct?" Governor Koridai asked.

"He is in a meeting of the Chieftains' Council at the moment," Mazli replied. "But that is where I was instructed to take you."

The princess was intrigued by this. Perhaps they would get to observe how the Rito's limited self-government functioned. It also might reveal who the allies and opponents of Hyrulean Unification were, which would make this meeting easier to navigate.

The second and third small islands were similar to the first, but it was the main island where most of the city stood. It was significantly larger, both in diameter and in height. The most notable feature was the massive spire of rock that rose from its center. A great spiral staircase ran around it, weaving into hundreds of buildings branching out from the central spire. It was truly an awe-inspiring sight.

"The chieftains hold council at the very top," Governor Koridai explained, informing the prince and princess of their destination.

"We have to climb that whole thing?" Liliana whispered to her charge, her head tilted upwards.

The princess chuckled. "You've climbed my tower hundreds of times by now," she pointed out. "Think of that as practice."

"I wish I had wings. Or magic," the round-eared girl mused.

"Even with magic, flight is no easy feat."

Despite having climbed the steps of her own tower multiple times a day for most of her life, the princess ended up being less prepared to climb the Medoh spire than she thought. She only managed to make it about a third of the way up before she started to get tired. Her solution was to lean on Liliana every now and then for stability, but she tried to avoid doing so whenever someone looked her way so as not to appear weak.

However, the higher she got, the more beautiful the view became. At first, she could see the surrounding islands and the whole of Lake Totori. Then, the Tabantha Frontier to the south, where they had come from, came into view. The Wind Temple could even be seen in the distance. To the north were the icy Hebra Mountains, the largest mountains in all of Hyrule, except perhaps for Death Mountain. To the east sat the city of Snowpeak, the primary Hylian settlement in Hebra. Much of it was obscured by a snowy hillside, but Governor Koridai's palace could be seen sitting atop the small mountain overlooking the city. Finally, to the west, there was only a short stretch of land between them and the abyss that separated Hyrule from the Outer Continent. On the other side of the great gap, massive ice shelves loomed in the distance, as large as the Hebra Mountains. The princess shuddered at the thought of what unholy monsters lurked in the mysterious, unexplored lands.

"We are almost to the top," Mazli called back to the group after what felt like an hour of climbing.

"Oh, thank the gods…" Sophitia muttered under her breath, feeling an ache in her legs.

"If the chieftains are still conferring, we should remain silent in the audience," Governor Koridai suggested as they neared the final steps. "While the general public is permitted to observe the proceedings, it is expected of everyone to not speak out of turn."

Prince Lancel grinned fiendishly. "Of course. I wouldn't dream of it."

Sir Anselm sighed.

At the top of the stairs was a large, flat, wooden surface. It looked like a dock intended for naval ships, but it was way up in the air, likely to provide an easy landing zone for the Rito. However, the real feature was what was atop the center of the great spire. It was a great wooden structure resembling something like a bird nest or a giant basket. It had no roof, and the only ground-bound entrance was an opening that led out to the sky dock and the staircase.

"Right this way, please," Mazli instructed, gesturing for everyone to enter the council chamber. Sophitia, her brother, the governor, and their guards slowly entered, walking as quietly as they could.

Inside, there was a crowd of Rito standing in a ring around the edges of the nest-like structure. Some of them seemed surprised to see Hylians, but none of them said anything, and many stepped aside to allow more people to enter.

Most of the area of the stone ground was taken up by a large, three-foot deep, circular depression in the center of the room, with the crowd merely standing on the rim around it. Down in the depression, there were a number of wooden thrones arranged in a circle, each decorated with a different Rito symbol, and upon each sat a Rito dressed in flamboyant chieftain's attire. In the very center of the circle was an even larger wooden throne that seemed to be designed with some sort of swiveling base. Sitting on the central throne was a rather plump Rito who resembled an owl with brown and white feathers. Sophitia presumed that Rito was none other than High Chieftain Kanelo.

"As of now, the only Hebra lands the Hylians claim for their own are in the Tabantha Tundra," one of the chieftains announced, responding to a statement that must have been said before the princess and her party had entered the council chamber. "Their crops do not grow, and their people freeze. Why not allow them to move further into the Frontier, if only to save their lives?"

"I do not follow," another chieftain said from the other side of the circle. "Why should the Hylians claim any Hebra lands? If they are starving in the Tundra, let them return to Hyrule where they belong."

Sophitia did not like the sound of this already. Clearly, her people were the subject of the current debate, and some of the chieftains were openly opposed to their presence there.

"Hebra is a part of Hyrule," the High Chieftain replied, swiveling his chair to face the last Rito who'd spoken. "We all belong here."

The princess was glad to hear that the High Chieftain truly was an ally of theirs. However, she furrowed her brow in confusion upon realizing something odd. Sidestepping her way through the crowd, she approached Governor Koridai and leaned in to whisper to him. "Why do they converse in Hylian?"

"Because it is the only language they all speak, your highness," the governor replied.

The princess nodded, stepping away to return to her previous place in the crowd.

How many Rito languages are there?

She knew there were multiple, unlike the Gorons who had only one language across three continents. However, she had thought that perhaps there would be a singular Rito dialect that was more prominent than the others that could be used for formal meetings like this.

I suppose a common language with which to communicate is but one benefit the Hylians have brought to the Rito.

"If the Hylians in the tundra wanted to simply live there and mind their own business, I doubt any of us would care," one of the Rito chieftains began, standing up from his throne. This one had majestic blue feathers, a sharp beak, and an arrogant gleam in his piercing green eyes. He reminded Sophitia of a falcon. "But that isn't what the Hylians want, is it, High Chieftain?" He spoke his superior's title almost mockingly, as if he did not truly recognize it.

"They wish to work with us, Chief Revalco," Kanelo replied. "As our peoples did in ancient times. The letter I received from the Hylian princess is proof of this."

"Oh, a letter, was it?" Revalco asked, his voice again filled with mockery as he took a few steps closer to the High Chieftain. "A letter delivered by one of our people, no doubt. That's all we are to the Hylians - a source of cheap labor. Glorified messengers. Soldiers to be conscripted, subjects to be taxed." The blue-feathered Rito spread his wings and turned to address the crowds surrounding them. "How much have we given the Hylians over the years? How much have our mothers and fathers given then? And their mothers and fathers?"

Cheers from the crowd demonstrated that this chieftain had a staggeringly large amount of support from the Rito observing the deliberations. Many of the other chieftains voiced their agreement as well.

"And with all we've given them, what have they ever given us in return?"

"The roads," came a voice from the crowd. Sophitia could hear it clearly, as the speaker was quite close by.

The Rito chieftains all turned their heads towards the source of the noise. "What was that?" Revalco asked, looking quite peeved to have been given an actual answer to his question.

The Rito in the crowd as well as the Hylian guards stepped back from the one who'd spoken. Standing there was Prince Lancel, wearing a playful smile on his face. "The roads," he repeated.

Oh, gods. What are you doing, Brother?

They had been instructed not to interrupt the Chieftains' Council, but the prince did not seem to want to listen.

Nonetheless, Revalco did not seem too bothered. He chuckled at the answer as if it were ridiculous. "Roads your people built for themselves," he said. "Unlike you, we can fly. What use would we have for your roads?"

"I happen to know the Rito have been making use of moose-drawn carriages to transport supplies too heavy to carry in flight for centuries," Lancel answered, stepping forwards. When he got to the edge of the pit, he hopped down like it was nothing, much to the surprise of Rito chieftains.

"Your highness, you mustn't-" Governor Koridai tried to warn him.

"Relax, Governor." Lancel looked over his shoulder and raised a hand to silence him. "I am more than capable of having a civil conversation with these most esteemed chieftains." He turned back to Revalco and continued forward. "Now, where were we? Ah, yes, the roads. Just as you use them to move supplies, we use them to transport goods to trade with you. That's another benefit us Hylians have given you, by the way. Ample trade opportunity and prosperity the likes of which this fine province had never seen."

Several of the Rito chieftains nodded and voiced their agreement, and there were murmurs of reluctant concession in the crowd as well. However, Revalco was not pleased. "Perhaps you are unaware, but it is actually possible to conduct trade without conquering your trade partners."

"That's true," another chieftain chimed in. "Hebra traded with Hyrule for years before we were part of your kingdom, even after you failed to conquer us the first time."

Lancel held out his hands and shrugged. "My great-grandfather conquered this province, yes. He did so through bloodshed, yes. But at the time, your great-grandfathers were warring with one another's tribes as well, were they not? And look at you all now! Go ahead and add 'tribal unity' to the list of things the kingdom has given you, Chief Revalco."

Despite the severity of the topic at hand, Lancel appeared relaxed and confident in a way Sophitia could never hope to emulate. Had she been in the center of all those watchful eyes, being scrutinized for possible war crimes, she imagined she would be struggling to form even a single coherent thought.

How does he do it?

The falcon-headed Rito still appeared displeased, however. "I imagine it is quite easy for you to speak of 'unity' when we are all unified beneath your heel," he said. "Perhaps we do not fight amongst ourselves quite as much these days, but all we've done is traded one enemy for another."

"The Hylians are not our enemy," High Chief Kanelo reiterated. "And Prince Lancel is right. To reopen old wounds would cause nothing but suffering for us all. Let us use this time of peace the gods have granted us now to build a better kingdom for us all."

Princess Sophitia glanced between the high chieftain and the governor. Kanelo seemed extremely supportive of Hyrulean Unification, and he also appeared to be a wise and competent ruler, at least from what little she had seen in this meeting.

Perhaps awarding him the governorship truly is the solution.

However, if they chose to pursue that course of action, the majority of the Chieftain's Council would still be against him. If someone like Chief Revalco were to take Kanelo's place the next time they chose a High Chieftain, that would make him the governor, and he would no doubt declare independence immediately.

It is still worth considering…

"The Hylian prince chose to be combative when he rudely interrupted our council," Revalco argued, dramatically swiping his wing through the air for emphasis.

Lancel put his hand to his heart. "Oh, did I do that? My apologies, I suppose I made the mistake of genuinely answering your question. As I recall, you were the one who asked what the Hylians have ever done for the Rito," he pointed out. "So far, I've listed the roads, trade opportunity, prosperity, and tribal unity. And while we're at it, we might as well throw in medicine, education, employment, a common language, protection from monsters, and the favor of the gods themselves. But, yes, I suppose, other than that - what have the Hylians ever done for you?"

There was much laughter and humorous chirping from the crowd at Lancel's words. The pro-Hyrulean chieftains all nodded and expressed their agreement. Chief Revalco and his followers seemed upset, but none of them were able to formulate an immediate response.

Lancel had made his point, and perhaps he had convinced a number of those in the crowd who had been on the fence. However, Sophitia got the feeling that the room had become more tense, like a fight might break out between the two factions at any moment. Perhaps sensing this, Governor Koridai stepped up to the edge of the council's circle. "High Chieftain, if I may?"

"Of course, governor," Kanelo replied, gesturing with his wing. "Please, join us."

Koridai made his way over to Lancel and stood beside him. "Prince Lancel has come here with a proposal," he said to the circle of chieftains. "As you have no doubt been informed, the City in the Sky will pass over Hyrule again in a few days time. The city has great cultural significance to both our peoples. And, given that it has been abandoned by the Oocca who once occupied it up until the Twilight War, we believe it has come time for us to reclaim it."

"Naturally," Revalco replied, sounding rather deadpan. "The Hylians see a city and wish to claim it as their own? Color me surprised."

"But we do not wish to claim it as our own." The princess felt all eyes on her as she spoke up for the first time since they'd arrived. Deciding that now was her chance to have some impact on the proceedings, she stepped forward as her guards parted from her.

Revalco sighed, putting his wing to his face. "And who is this?" he asked, clearly annoyed that yet another Hylian was joining in.

As if sensing that Sophitia would have trouble gracefully dropping down into the circle, Liliana hopped down into the ring ahead of her, then held out her hand to help her down. The princess gave her a smile and a nod to indicate her thanks as she took her hand, then continued speaking as she stepped down to the ground below her. "I am Princess Zelda Sophitia," she answered, doing her best to project her voice for the crowd.

Lancel waved her over. "Yes! Come, sweet sister. This shall be a family event!" Governor Koridai did not speak, but Sophitia could tell he was getting nervous about all three of them stepping into the circle like this, even if their guards were only a few meters away.

"Then tell me, Princess," Revalco continued. "What do you intend to do with the City in the Sky?"

"Just as Governor Koridai has said, of course," she replied smoothly. "We wish to join forces with the Rito and reclaim the city together, just as the Wind Tribe did in ages past."

"It makes no difference," the falcon-headed Rito countered. "In the end, the city will be both of ours in name only, just as all of Hebra is. You can say otherwise all you like, but Hylian rule will always take precedence over Rito rule."

Sophitia regarded her opponent. He was brash and opinionated, perhaps even a little arrogant, but that was nothing she had not seen before with her brother Percival. But besides that, everything he said appeared to come from genuine concern for the well-being of his people, and he was not without legitimate grievances. If she wanted to convince him that the Rito were not intended to be second-class citizens in her kingdom, she would have to do something to gain his trust. And, seeing as he was the most vocal leader of his faction, winning him over would be a significant victory for her cause.

"How would you like to be put in charge of the City in the Sky?" Sophitia asked Revalco. Immediately, there were murmurs from amongst the crowd. If what she'd said was shocking and unexpected, perhaps that was a good sign. "Once the city is reclaimed, I can make you a lord, and you will have full control over it."

"Princess, perhaps we should not be too hasty…" Governor Koridai's face was filled with barely-concealed worry. Her brother, on the other hand, was stroking his chin and eying her like she had just made an interesting move in chess.

"Well, I think it is a splendid idea," High Chief Kanelo said, chirping happily. "Surely Chief Revalco would be honored to accept such a distinction."

Revalco crossed his wings, staring down at Sophitia with the eyes of a hunter. He seemed quite skeptical, as if he expected her to retract her offer at any moment. However, he was on the spot now, and needed to give his answer in front of his peers and his enemies. "You would allow me full control over the city's restoration?"

"Yes," the princess replied simply. She kept her voice calm and steady, but she was already nervous enough just from the governor's reaction. If Revalco rejected her offer, his relationship with him would begin on a bad note. But, if he accepted, what if allowing him to be Lord of Skyloft was a mistake? Only time would tell.

"I would appoint my own advisers?" Revalco went on.

"Whoever you so choose," Sophitia answered.

"And what of taxes?" he asked.

Sophitia's confidence faltered, and she glanced at the governor. "The city would be considered a part of the Hebra Province, so taxes must still be paid to Snowpeak, but you will decide how the funds are collected," she offered as a compromise, knowing she could not allow him complete independence.

Revalco clicked his beak, as if he'd found the catch in her offer. However, after a drawn out sigh, he gave his answer. "Alright, Princess. I'll play your little game. We'll see if you can make good on your promises."

The crowd was once again abuzz with hushed murmurs or squawks of surprise. Sophitia smiled, feeling as if she'd helped the Hylians and the Rito take a big step forward in their relationship. "Splendid, Chieftain," she said. "I look forward to working with you."


The accommodations the princess and her companions were given for the night were not quite what Sophitia had expected. On the inside, the building looked normal enough. It had the same aesthetic as a log cabin, with both the building and all its furniture being made of wood. It had a common area with a table where they could eat or hold meetings, and the guards on duty could keep watch there while the VIPs retired to their respective bedrooms. The rest of the guards were given a barracks further down the spire where they could sleep while it wasn't their shift.

However, the whole place felt much less quaint whenever Sophitia went near the window. It reminded her that they were a great distance from the ground, and the building they were in was merely attached to the great spire by a series of supports beneath them. She would feel much safer back home in her tower where she didn't feel like the floor could give out or the whole building could wrench loose at any moment and plummet to the city below.

The princess's hands were shaking when Liliana grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her away from the window. "Sophitia, are you alright?"

"What? Oh. Yes, yes, I'm fine," she said, smoothing out her clothing and trying to hide her awkward expression.

"Shall I request accommodations on the ground level instead?" Liliana offered, obviously able to tell what it was that had put the princess in a trance for a moment.

"That will not be necessary, I assure you." She would be fine so long as she didn't look out the window, and even if she wanted to spend the night somewhere less high off the ground, she could not afford to show that kind of weakness.

"Then perhaps I could-" There was a knock at the door. Liliana's hand quickly moved to her sword.

"Who is it?" Sophitia called.

"The one and only Prince of Hyrule!" came Lancel's voice from behind the door.

Liliana raised an eyebrow. "There are two princes of Hyrule."

"Ah, I see you've spotted my mistake. Very well. It's the handsome one."

The round-eared girl shrugged. "Fair enough." She turned to Sophitia. "Shall I let him in?"

"Of course," the princess replied with a nod.

Liliana opened the door, and Lancel stepped inside. "Thank you, my darling," the prince said as he slid past her. "Might I have a moment alone with my sister?" he requested.

Sophitia's retainer looked at her, and she nodded her permission, figuring her brother needed to discuss more private matters. So, Liliana left the room, shutting the door behind her. Sophitia stayed where she was, looking to her brother expectantly. Lancel moved into the room with a thoughtful expression on his face. He was smiling, but Sophitia couldn't tell if he was happy. "Is there something you wish to discuss with me, Brother?" she asked in confusion.

"There is indeed, sweet sister," he replied. Lancel pressed his hands together, then pressed his fingertips to the bridge of his nose, exhaling in frustration. "My, my, my. You must be playing an immensely dangerous game, huh?"

The princess blinked. "What do you mean, Lancel?"

"What, I wonder, is this gambit of yours?" he asked, wearing an odd expression of both admiration and annoyance. "You would give that which I have explicitly told you is quite possibly the most powerful weapon in the world to our most vocal opponent in Hebra?"

Sophitia remembered her brother's crazy theories. He believed that the City in the Sky housed ancient weaponry that would make it a floating fortress - one that would ensure peace throughout the land simply by virtue of Hyrule being in possession of it. Obviously, he was quite perturbed by her promise to make Chief Revalco lord of the city.

"He will not be our opponent for long," Sophitia assured him. "With this gesture of goodwill, I believe we will earn his trust."

"Ah. But that is thinking much too simply," Lancel insisted. "You're only looking at the next move. What about your opponent's next move? What about the move you wish to make ten moves down the line? Or have you thought of this already, Sister?"

The princess was more than a bit confused. She nervously toyed with a strand of her hair as she considered what to say next. "I assure you, I have thought this through. And there is no deception here, Brother. I wish for peace in Hebra, and this is how we will achieve that end."

"Oh, sure, sure." Lancel began pacing up and down the room, gesturing with his hands while he spoke. "We reclaim the city. The falcon-headed one rules it in your name. He and his followers come to love the benevolent Hylian princess who gave them hope and freedom. Peace falls across Hebra. Kanelo is made governor. All the other chieftains convince him to endorse you for the throne. And suddenly, you are Queen of Hyrule, with a loyal lackey commanding a sky fortress above all our heads."

Sophitia was taken aback. "I-I, well, perhaps some of that is what I had envisioned, but the way you put it-"

"It will not happen that way, Sister!" Lancel raised his voice just enough to interrupt her. "Make no mistake. Revalco despises us. And if he controls Skyloft, even if it has no weapons of its own, it will still serve as an aerial, mobile fortress for the Rito. It would be enough for him and his followers to reclaim all of Hebra for themselves, and perhaps even the Ridgelands if they're feeling bold. The entire northwest quadrant of our kingdom - gone. Just like that."

Sophitia's cheeks burned red with shame. It was clear at this point that he was scolding her; letting her know that she had done something profoundly idiotic, and it presented potentially catastrophic consequences. All of it hinged on whether or not they could trust Chief Revalco to rule the City in the Sky peacefully. She had assumed he could, but what if she was wrong? What if this led to the very war she had been sent to prevent? Not only would she never become queen, but thousands could die.

"It does not have to be that way, Brother," Sophitia said defiantly. "You may believe yourself to have all the answers, but even you cannot foresee the future. The horrid outcome of which you speak can be easily averted. We simply need to be the true friends and allies of the Rito that we have always claimed to be."

The prince met her gaze, tilting his head with curiosity for a few moments. Sophitia wondered if she had made him angry, but then he laughed. She wasn't sure if that was any better, since she figured he was probably being condescending in some way.

"Very well, sweet sister," Lancel said, placing a hand on Sophitia's shoulder. "Perhaps your optimistic outlook is a tad juvenile, or even naive, but I am not entirely opposed to seeking the greatest possible outcome, even if it means betting against the odds." He took a step back and adjusted his collar. "Plus, I know Sir Anselm would agree with you, and I'd hate to have to endure another lecture from him."

The princess felt somewhat relieved. "So… You will support me, then? We shall move forward with the course of action I have laid out?"

"Certainly. I will assist you," he said, raising a finger. "But, while you hope for the best, I shall plan for the worst. Do your best to befriend the falcon-headed one, while I do my part in preventing the city from becoming a threat to Hyrule."

Sophitia wasn't sure what he meant by that, but she was glad he was on her side again. "Very well."

"And, in the future, Sister, please consult me before making such a brash move," Lancel continued. "I can't directly oppose you in a setting like that council meeting, so let us always be sure we're on the same page first."

Sophitia nodded. "I understand, Brother. I apologize for having spoken out of turn."

"Oh, not at all!" Lancel assured her, clapping her on the back. "There would be no use having you here if you weren't going to participate." With one last hearty chuckle, the prince turned and headed for the door. "Good night, sweet sister. Let us hope the journey back to the Wind Temple will be as pleasant as the journey here."

"Of course. Good night, dear brother."

Lancel exited the room, and Liliana immediately returned. "Is everything alright, Princess?" she asked. "I heard shouting."

Sophitia smiled with slight embarrassment. "I am fine, Liliana. My brother and I merely had a slight disagreement, but we are aligned in our goals now."