The tavern's common room was busy. If the tavern wasn't filled to capacity already, then it must have been close, concluded Zelda. They found a small table wedged in a corner. It appeared to be the only empty space available so they took it. A barmaid spotted them almost immediately and came walking up to them.
"Some ale for you two?" asked the barmaid.
"Wine actually" said Zelda.
"We got some wine in the back" said the barmaid. "But it's a little pricey. I hope you have the money to pay."
Zelda discreetly handed her a purple rupee. "If you know where we can trade for supplies discreetly, I would be appreciative." Zelda leaned closer so she could speak more quietly. "And generous" she added, flashing another purple rupee. "But we just keep this between us, understand? Our business is our own and we value privacy."
The barmaid nodded and walked towards the back of the tavern. Link leaned closer to Zelda. "You didn't ask me if I wanted wine" he said.
"Trust me" said Zelda. "You do. The wine is expensive so it's going to only be ordered by customers that they want to really take care of. Ale is cheap, and we aren't used to the ingredients they use here. I don't want to have a bad stomach reaction to bad ale."
Link suddenly buried his face in his hands. "Oh no..." he mumbled. "Zelda, you bring up a good point about the local ingredients. We aren't from here so we don't know what they use. That made me realize that there are a lot of other things that we don't know. For example, we know that rupees are also the accepted currency in the Sacred Realm, but what is to say that the value of those rupees is the same as what they are in Hyrule? Fifty rupees is generous in Hyrule, but what is fifty rupees worth here? You may have just handed her a fortune or you may have given her an insultingly small amount."
Zelda winced. "Good point. She didn't give us much of a reaction, which means she is used to matters of discretion. That's what I was hoping, but it could also be bad for us too."
"What made you decide to bribe a barmaid for information?" asked Link.
"Simple" replied Zelda. "Taverns on the outskirts of any city, especially a city like this, are often more likely to engage in illegal business than establishments closer to the scrutiny of authorities. There are a few such taverns in Castle Town that I have my spies keeping an eye on."
"Why would you knowingly allow illegal activity to go on right under your nose?" asked Link.
"You will understand more with time" replied Zelda. "For now, it should suffice to say that such underground channels have allowed our spies to gather enough information to stop several serious threats to Hyrule."
The barmaid came back, pitcher in hand. She set down two goblets on the table. She whispered to Zelda as she poured. "You said you wanted to shop discreetly. Does your shopping list include weapons?" she inquired.
"My shopping list is diverse" replied Zelda cryptically. "If you know someone who specializes in diversity, then I wouldn't be opposed to the inclusion of weapons in our business."
"Then Sir Gamelon is the person you want to speak to" said the barmaid. "I will send him a message right away via a courier about your generosity. He will be happy to meet with you. He receives guests looking to conduct business in the early morning hours at his house near the center of Mormaht. It's actually located very close to Count Munro's palace. I can pass a message to him to let him know to expect you."
"Thank you for the information" said Zelda. "I always remember to repay hospitality." She slipped the barmaid another purple rupee.
Zelda and Link remained at their table for another hour to keep up appearances before retiring to their room. The next morning, they set out for Sir Gamelon's house. The barmaid had been telling the truth. They were expected. A servant greeted them at the front gate of the massive house and then led them into Sir Gamelon's library where Sir Gamelon was expecting them.
Zelda had long ago surmised that Sir Gamelon was a member of the Knight Council. The man was older than she had anticipated though. He was sitting in a leather chair, staring pensively at the paintings on his wall. He smiled when he saw them.
"I'm so glad you could make it, Queen Zelda. And your companion must be Link, the one who defeated Ganondorf in a swordfight. Even an experienced duelist like myself cannot help but be impressed."
Zelda's fingers brushed the hilt of the knife she had hidden in her pocket. She looked taken aback. "How do you know who we are?" she demanded.
"Few noteworthy people escape my attention" replied the old knight. "Nothing eventful happens without my knowing. As you have already learned, I am a man who has a talent for acquiring items of value. I know of a means of traveling to and from Hyrule. I don't know how you came to leave Hyrule to come here, but there is more than one door between worlds. I happen to have my own door. So yes, I am familiar with your homeland, having been there and back numerous times. In fact, I personally attended your coronation. Such a magnificent event that was!"
"How are you able to travel to Hyrule?" asked Zelda.
"By the Count's good graces" replied Sir Gamelon. "Count Munro is a powerful wizard. It's not exactly a secret but it also isn't something that he publicly displays either. He possesses an enchanted mirror that allows for travel to Hyrule. Use of the mirror is a privilege he grants to only a select few people who have his favor."
"You seem very forthcoming with this information" said Zelda. "Why?"
Sir Gamelon grinned mischievously. "Let's just say that Lord Ghirahim has been bad for business. I am being helpful because it would benefit me greatly if you were to eliminate him. And if something were to also happen to Count Munro, I wouldn't be displeased."
"I'm not going to be your hired assassin!" Link said, practically snarling.
"Pity" muttered Sir Gamelon. "I have employed the services of hired assassins in the past. You are an assassin in a way, but you are motivated by justice, not money. That's fine by me as long as you work towards my purposes. Count Munro and Lord Ghirahim are both objectively wicked tyrants that both need to be disposed of."
"Lord Ghirahim is obvious but what has Count Munro done?" asked Link.
"How do you think he has managed to prosper so close to the Forsaken Lands?" asked Sir Gamelon rhetorically. "There used to be more human settlements nearby. When the moblin population began to surge in population, most people saw that as a crisis. Count Munro saw it as an opportunity. He made a deal with the moblins. He would provide them with a steady supply of slaves from other settlements. He made towns and villages bid on their freedom. Some places were left destitute after giving Count Munro everything they had in exchange for their liberty. Other places weren't so lucky, and their populations were either enslaved or sometimes tortured to death just for the moblins' sick amusement!"
"Your moral outrage is very convincing" said Zelda. "If I didn't know any better, I might think you were sincere."
"Mock me if you like, Queen" spat Sir Gamelon. "But I am the one who sees the world with clarity. You may be a Queen but I'm the one who knows how power really works. It is I who will always come out on top. Don't ever forget that."
"Let's get to the point" said Link. "What do you want us to do for you and what are you offering?"
"The primary thing of value that I have to offer you is information" replied Sir Gamelon. "I am just pointing you in the right direction. As for what I want you to do, that's a little more straightforward. I want you to break into Count Munro's castle, find the Enchanted Mirror, and bring soldiers back from Hyrule to oust the Count from power. I will then assume control in the interim until the Knight Council officially appoints me to be the new Count."
"You are a devious man" said Zelda. "But your plan won't work. We had to pass through the Spirit Realm on the way from Hyrule to this land. The spirit of Ganondorf would have killed us if we hadn't had the protection of the Triforce. If I try to bring an army of soldiers with me, they would all be massacred instantly by his allies."
"Ah, but what if you could get to Hyrule without going through the Spirit Realm?" asked Sir Gamelon. "You used the Spirit Realm as a tunnel of sorts to get from one place to another. But imagine if the starting point and the ending point were to be compressed until they were directly connected with each other with no space in between? Despite his faults, Count Munro is a genius. Normally, the Spirit Realm would act as a connector between the two, but Count Munro enchanted his entire castle to allow it to absorb the essence of the Spirit Realm into the very walls of the castle. In a way, the Spirit Realm coexists with the Sacred Realm within the confines of the castle. By absorbing the Spirit Realm into itself, the enchantment on the castle enables the enchantment on the mirror to connect directly to Hyrule bypassing the Spirit Realm."
"Interesting theory" said Zelda. "But why go through all that trouble? If Count Munro is really so powerful, couldn't he find a way to protect himself while traveling through the Spirit Realm?"
"But the mirror isn't for him only" replied Sir Gamelon. "It's also for his soldiers. Count Munro eventually plans to send his army through the mirror to invade Hyrule when the opportunity presents itself."
"Say no more" said Zelda. "If he plans to threaten my homeland, we will stop him."