Another shortish chapter. And this chapter also reinforces my "I'm going to have change the rating to M" theory. I mean, it's not that bad in this chapter but... eh, it's going to get worse, I can easily say that.
And to clear up some words that Vega used in the last chapter: American English: Potty = toilet. British English: Potty = crazy. And just for everyone else, if you need translation, I suggest going to a website called effingpot dot com/slang/shtml. I am Cuban American. I was raised in American English. In order to get Vega's characterization down, I had to look up English slang and that website helped me out immensely. If you need help understanding some of the things Vega says, I highly recommend visiting it.
The council meeting had ended and Ganondorf was sure it was a meeting that would cause him to grow grey hairs. Worst of all, there were still at least two more to come. The province handlers were speaking softly among themselves and the representatives from the Zora and Goron races were walking out, discussing their own matters. Quinn had disappeared, to where he really didn't care, but it was probably to his study. The brat was always there. Odran had remained, however, which was good. He wished to speak with the veteran.
He stood up and gestured for the captain of the guard to follow him as he exited the chamber.
"Captain, I've noticed one of your pageboys is missing." He said simply.
The scarred man nodded. "Yes, ser. As soon as he heard that a star was going to be falling, he set off to where Quinn said it might land." He explained.
Ganondorf paused in the hallway and forked a bushy eyebrow. "That's very unlike you. You've always enforced strong disciplinary action against such things." The Gerudo commented.
"Very true, ser, but I know Link's not deserting." Said the military man.
"That isn't all."
Odran let himself frown slightly and said, "Ser, I've known him since he was a small lad. His father an' I were good friends, when he died I did my best to help him an' his mother. Then his mother went and died of the flux that same year. I been raising him like my own, ser, but he has his reasons for going after the star-mostly to do with his father. I figure it's best to let'im get it out of his system, ser."
"That makes sense." Said the dark man with a nod, "I was just curious. You're dismissed."
The scarred man saluted and then headed off his own way. He doubted the soldier knew about his precious page traveling with a witch and the very star he was after. He still had to find out more about that witch, as well.
At the sound of soft footsteps behind him, however, he knew he would have to deal witch a different kind of witch first.
"Lord Dragmire, I thought I would find you here." Came Anya's musical voice.
He turned and smiled at her politely. "And how would you know that, Anya of Eldin? This castle has many hallways." He said.
She smiled a lovely smile and said, "Just a hunch…"
"Then it must be the woman's intuition." He commented.
"It must be…" She said softly, getting closer than what would normally be considered appropriate.
It was like she was making a point to press her body against his. He had to admit, it was flattering… and very direct, but he wasn't stupid. He pushed her away gently and said, "Shouldn't you be chatting it up with your little wizard friend?"
She puffed her lower lip, making her look like an upset teenager and said, "He's so reclusive, he never talks to me anymore. I don't think he talks to anyone anymore, to be honest." She wrung her wrist around in that typically feminine way as she continued, "Ever since the king fell ill he has not been himself… It's disheartening, really. I would be lying if I said I wasn't trying to get a little bit of information from you."
"I make it a habit not to speak to Quinn often. He doesn't seem to like me and I can tell you that I'm not terribly upset by that." He said nonchalantly.
The dark man stepped around her and began to go on his way, but then she went ahead and said, "Quinn isn't the only reason… I'm sure you know that."
He paused, glancing only slightly at her before saying, "All too well."
She walked towards him, getting close again and said, "I'm on your side… I'm willing to help you in any way…"
"Duly noted." He told her simply before once again walking around her and going on his way. She did not follow or stop him this time.
He made his way through the winding halls of the castle, having no particular destination. Later he would have to see about talking to one of the maids, see if he could find anything out about the king's "sin", as he called it. It was probably nothing, but he couldn't shake the feeling that it was somehow important.
He paused for barely a moment as he felt something come into his shadow. Was it time for the daily report already? He just kept walking.
"Master…" said Zant from the shadows, "That woman could be useful."
"I don't trust her." He told his servant.
"I never said to trust her," stated Zant simply, "I merely said she could be useful."
Ganondorf just chuckled bitterly. "Amazing how when you're not truly around you grow a spine." He told the shadow in which Zant was hiding in, "I suppose she can be useful… But she is plotting something, probably under Quinn's orders."
"If you know this already, it can't be a very good plot then…" The servant said.
"You would be surprised how many have thought that way and died." He said, "Now, what's the status of the star?"
Quinn sat in his study, rubbing one of his temples in an attempt to relieve some stress. It wasn't working. Growling lowly, he flipped a page in the book in front of him. He wasn't seriously reading the book, but the girlish redhead had to look busy in case any officials came in. He had to ward them off somehow and reading up on "important" material usually helped in getting rid of them. His only priority now was figuring out what was wrong with the king… He had no time to deal with the frivolous wants of the other officials and nobles.
He sighed, glancing around the room. His bookshelves - crammed with all sorts of books: regular ones, spell books, magical theory, even foreign ones in different languages-, the trinkets he'd gotten from his father, he wasn't even sure what half of them did but he liked the memories they held, and then there was the staff in the corner of the room, the one he took with him mostly everywhere. Staves were more of a symbol of a wizard's power, one didn't really need them… but he needed this one.
Ah Father… if you were here, what would you do? He thought.
There was a knocking on the door.
"Come in." He said, knowing only one person who was polite enough to actually knock.
Anya entered the room, closing the door quietly. The brunette woman smiled widely at him and then quickly frowned as she looked around. With an annoyed mumble, she went to his window and yanked the curtains open, immediately sending a flash of sunlight through the room. Quinn immediately winced at the sudden shock of light and frowned…
"Sunlight isn't a new concept." Anya said in a rather maternal fashion
"I like my study dark." He said a little bitterly.
Ignoring his crass reply, she went and sat on his desk. "I did as you asked." She said, adjusting his puffy collar. Doing so was not hiding her ample bosom at all.
He brushed her hand away from him and kept his gaze focused on her eyes. "And?"
She frowned and then shrugged in defeat, "I have no idea. I put myself out there, whether he's going to take the bait or not is a whole different question unto itself."
"He'll take it." said the young wizard.
The province holder forked an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that?"
The feminine looking young man nodded. "The Gerudo are typically an all female tribe, with the exception of one male per century-their king. He is a Gerudo man, therefore king of the Gerudo. All kings have their advisors and he was raised around women. If anything, he'd value a woman's outlook more than a man's. He'll take the bait."
"You seem so sure." She commented. "What if you're wrong?"
"Hopefully there will be time to try something else in that case." He said.
"Speaking of surety," the woman started, "How do you know Dragmire's really planning something?"
"I don't." Said the Royal Wizard simply, "But it's just too suspicious. He just appears out of nowhere one day, works his way up the ranks, befriends the king and becomes his advisor… All this within six years when it normally takes someone else decades. The only reason I'm Royal Wizard is because I know everything my father knew and I can't say I've earned the position…"
"What did your father think?" Anya asked.
"When he died, Dragmire wasn't the friend of the king. There was no reason to be suspicious back then…"
"So then why are you suspicious now?"
"Because he's Gerudo." The wizard answered simply.
Anya snorted. "That's awfully racist."
He gave her a flat look. "You know as well as I do it's as good as any reason. If the Gerudo were friendly to Hyrule, I wouldn't give him a second thought, but they're not our allies and they attack frequently. Isn't it a coincidence that now, when their king is over here, their attacks have suddenly stopped? And of course, no one makes the connection because the Gerudo don't have sons, therefore Dragmire can't be one of them despite the fact he has all of their traits…"
"Some people are stupid." Anya said, examining her nails. "How do you think I got into my current position? Hard work is all well and good, but sleeping with the men in power helps. After that, they'll do anything to keep your mouth shut so you won't tell their wives."
The wizard just stared at the desktop and put a palm on his forehead. "I don't need to know that…"
She lay down on the desk so she was peering up at his face. "It's only the truth…" she said simply.
He scowled and avoided eye contact. "It's a rotten truth… Just because you're woman you shouldn't have to sell yourself like that…"
Anya flipped so that she was lying on her belly, then she extended her hands and turned Quinn's face so that it was facing hers. "That's kind of you… but I really don't mind." She lifted herself up a bit and then deeply kissed him.
He was quick to pull away, "Crafty as always, Anya. What are you planning?"
She frowned and then sat up straight. "That's the second time today a man's resisted me; I don't think I've ever felt more rejected in my life." She said in mock sorrow.
The wizard wiped his lips with his sleeve before he said, "Fine, don't tell me."
The Eldin native sighed and then changed the subject, "If you think Dragmire has really cursed the king, why not just kill him now? What is he waiting for?"
"I was hoping you could help me figure that out," He said, quickly adding, "If it fits within your own agenda, of course."
She crossed her arms and made it look like she was thinking it over. Then with a sly smile she says, "I'll follow whatever agenda you'd like me to… I'll end up gaining something out of it no matter whether it's your plan or my own, so I might as well follow yours. There's more good in it."
He nodded, "Thank you."
Surely none of you thought I was going to do the whole, men and women are equal thing. I said it before: I'm being realistic. If you're woman in politics (especially in a medieval setting), you're either a hard ass, born into it, or a conniving biznatch who sleeps around for higher positions. Anya is of the latter, but that's not to say she isn't smart. She knows how to play her cards, and you'll be seeing more of that later.
This is the kind of stuff they never get into in Zelda games: the intricate details of Hyrule's politics... Frankly, this is any politics really. But yeah, no one cares about the politics... Even I don't really like it. I'm only getting into it here because... well, the story calls for it... and I do so love conspiracies...