A/N: Enjoy!

Chapter 11

Link

Vulpumbra had said he would get right to work planning our new strategy, but the poor kid collapsed halfway to his room, I told him to get some rest and left him feebly arguing in bed. I hurried along the damp hallways of Hyrule Castle; it was always so cold here, and despite the servant's best efforts, seemed perpetually dark and shadowy. And Zelda wondered why I chose to spend my time in the town or Kakariko village. I rounded a corner and found myself face to face with the Princess.

"Zelda! I need to talk to you about Vulp." I started.

"Who?" She said with a blank look on her face.

"Vulpumbra." I said.

"Who is he?"

"The Sheikah!"

"Oh, are you talking about my Shadow?"

I sighed, "This is exactly what I wanted to talk about. I owe my life to Vulp, several times over. If not for him, we wouldn't be talking here. For that, I came to beg a favor for him."

"Link, what in Nayru's name are you talking about?" Zelda laughed. "My Shadow is bound to me by blood oath. It is his job to save our lives, he should know better than to beg a favor and to ask you to do it…"

"He knows nothing of this; it is a favor for me concerning him." I interrupted. "I want you to manumit him, to free him from the blood oath."

"You would have me release the spell from my bodyguard that keeps him in check and loyal to the Royal Family? Freeing him would mean that I have no control over him, he could do anything he wanted with his power."

"He could, but he wouldn't," I said. "He just needs freedom, freedom he's entitled to by Farore! You treat him worse that a slave! You are always calling him "your shadow" as if that was what he really was, as if he were as expendable and worthless as a piece of dirt!"

Zelda took an unconscious step back, apparently startled by my outburst.

"Link, a Sheikah is a Sheikah; they may be more powerful than us Hylians, but the Goddesses made them bound to the Royal Family for a reason. We are just better than them, the "Shadow People" are not normal, they are practically freaks. Their whole species are nearly dead, and it appears to be the Goddesses' wish that us Hylians become the dominate species of this world." Zelda stated calmly, sighing almost impatiently. "But if you can guarantee that he will behave himself, I might consider freeing him."

"I'll take that," I said with a smile, "Vulp's a good person." At this Zelda blinked doubtfully.

Suddenly a high-pitched cackling sound filled the room. A Poe swirled into existence just below the ornate, brass chandelier. It cackled again as it dropped something onto the blue rug embroidered with the Royal Family Crest below. Before I could nock arrow to bow, it spun around on once more. I ran to the object and discovered it to be a plain envelope. I opened it and withdrew a letter; in the process of unfolding the paper something fell softly to the rug.

We must congratulate you, hero, on your noble yet ultimately useless resistance. We also commend the Sheikah, his bluff and the powerful fight he put up mark him as a worthy foe indeed. By this time you should have figured out what is truly at stake here. So here is your ultimatum:

Bring the Light Key to Kakariko Village by sundown tomorrow. There will be no fight, no struggle. Bring the Key and put it onto a small platform by the tree near the entrance of the village. After a few seconds, the Key will be brought to us. If it is indeed the real one, we will send you a key. This key is the only thing that can break the enchantment surrounding a friend of yours, who is currently tied to the tree. If you fail to break the enchantment, the unfortunate girl will die a horrible, pain filled death. If we get the Key, and subsequently our crown, we will release the girl to you. All we desire is our body back; although we admittedly bear you a considerable amount of ill will for the Hell you consigned us too.

If we do not have the Light Key by tomorrow night, your friend will be the subject of hellish tortures of the mind, body and spirit. We will make her beg for death.

On your hands be it,

Ganon

Zelda took the letter from my nerveless hands,

"Is this… is this blood?"

I bent down and picked up the other content of the letter, a single lock of long, flowing, auburn hair. Shit.

A/N: Racism is a horrible, horrible thing. Hug a Sheikah today