Ganondorf's practice sword broke on the target and he winced, knowing that he would get a lecture on pulling his blows during practice. At least he hadn't broken it on another apprentice during sparring this time. That little event had been added to the top of the other apprentices' "why all Gerudo are scum" list. It was a very long list.
Ganondorf heard footsteps behind him, but didn't turn around. Apparently it freaked people out when he knew they were coming while they were still on the other side of the court (another thing to the list). He only turned when the person was a few feet away from him.
It was another apprentice, Ganondorf thought his name was Armel. Ganondorf waited patiently for the standard speech about why he should go back to the desert, but that wasn't what the boy said.
"You defeated one of the knights yesterday right?" Ganondorf nodded, surprised the news had traveled so fast.
The boy's face showed his disgust at having to talk to a Gerudo plainly "Well… my older brother, Chariton, he isn't so great a fighter. Anyway I was wondering…" he gulped as if stopping himself from throwing up "If you could try and help him."
Ganondorf's expression turned to pure shock "Is this a joke?"
"Unfortunately no."
"Why are you coming to me about it?!"
"The knights can't seem to help. And Gerudo or not, your still the best apprentice that's been here in the last century"
Ganondorf just stared at the Armel for a moment, then he nodded.
Link and Midna were sitting at a table in the library, waiting for Zelda. The table was piled higher then death mountain with books, and both Midna and Link had one in their hands, which they would frequently exchange with one in the pile. The doors opened and Zelda came in, motioning for the servants to leave. She made her way over to the table and moved one of the pillars of books so she could see her two companions. Midna closed her book and looked Zelda up and down, making sure she still had all her limbs.
"I still think you should have left a little of the wound in his chest Zelda. It would give us a better chance of defeating him when this is over."
"We need him to be at full strength for the battle with Muerte."
Link was scanning a book, glancing at the two princesses every now and then. He gave a little shout of triumph and pointed to a line on the page. The two girls quickly rushed to his side of the table to see what he had found. It was under a book called Foreign Monsters. Zelda began to read it out loud:
One of the most dangerous creatures from over the mountains is the Muerte. There is currently only one of its kind in existence. It has twenty tentacles, each covered with poisonous quills. The body section is composed of millions on tiny eyeballs, each one under a usually closed impenetrable lid, and billions of fang-rimmed mouths in between. It is about the size of Hyrule Castle, and can travel at unrivaled speeds. During its only attack in recorded history, it would attack Hyrule in short, devastating spurts before retreating to the other side of the mountains. Three brave warriors called on the aid of the goddesses and became wielders of the triforce. They ventured over the mountains to defeat Muerte and used the Triforce Seal, the only way to stop the creature. Sadly they were mortally wounded during the fight and only survived long enough to personally return the triforce to the sacred realm.
The three were silent in shock, and it wasn't them that broke the silence.
"Over the mountains? That should be interesting."
They spun around to find that Ganondorf had come into the library. He laughed at their expressions, which, instead of surprised, ranged from scolding to murderous.
"I don't stay in a room just because someone wants to kill me. Any thief of worth can avoid servants and guards." He came over to look at the book "Anyway, I couldn't let you three have time to plot how to kill me when this is over."
None of them protested against the last statement, it was true after all.
He examined a map that was on the page opposite the paragraph about the Muerte. It showed the mountains in great detail, explaining the pathways out and into Hyrule.
"It looks like it's impossible to bring any horses. I suppose we must go on foot."
Midna glared at Ganondorf "I suppose you know all about traveling the mountains do you?"
Ganondorf replied without looking up, his tone musing "You know you aren't necessary for the triforce seal. It wouldn't be fatal to lose you."
His voice was emotionless but the threat was obvious. Link's looked as if he would like nothing better then to make a fresh wound on Ganondorf's chest. Midna snarled.
"I'd like to see you try pig-face."
Ganondorf smiled in mock innocence "Try what? I don't think I know what you're talking about, though perhaps I will figure it out if any on you three annoy me enough."
Even Zelda glared at him for that, but he acted as if he didn't notice "I see that Link hasn't retrieved the master sword yet. I assume his bow and arrows are also where he left them. Perhaps we should go there next, I believe there is a portal above the sacred grove?"
Midna glared at him "We don't take orders from you Ganondorf. Only Link and I need to go. You can stay here and marinate in your own filth."
Ganondorf looked up at her "No use at all… I have something I want to get from the temple of time, and as I explained earlier, I don't plan on letting you three have time to decide how to kill me."
"Well you can just 'plans' up your-" Zelda placed a hand on Midna's shoulder and gave her a meaningful look Midna gritted her teeth "Fine."
Ganondorf smiled smugly "I knew you'd see it my way. I'll meet you at the eastern gate."
He was gone before any of them could protest; it was amazing how quickly someone the size of a Goron could move.