What's this? An update so quickly!? Witchcraft. Ah, well I'm happy to have finished chapter 18 so here you go! Important information is told to the Resistance and the Hero's quest finally begins.
15
A Sheikah. Shadowy Refuge. Taking Off.
Ashlyn had gone out in the morning to walk around town. The plan wasn't until around noon, so she had to pass time. Out of all the things she expected, seeing the very person they were going to rescue in front of her was at the far end of her list.
''How did you get out?'' she asked more clearly.
''A secret passage. But that's not important,'' he answered.
She frowned. ''Not important? You were in that castle for days! We were going to rescue you! Today, in fact. We had a plan!''
''Thank you. I'm sorry your efforts are now wasted.'' Link was touched that they had formulated a plan to get him. ''Ah, well... I found out something very important while I was there. We need to get back to the Amalgam.''
She notice the urgent look on his face. ''All right. Come on!''
Princess Zelda had been in the throne room when news reached her. A soldier ran into the room as though something was chasing him.
''Your Royal Highness, the boy is gone! He attacked us and went to the lifts. We looked for him but...''
She stood up. ''Have a castle-wide search immediately.''
Her soldiers had searched the entire castle. Every single floor, every single room. It had taken a while, of course. The castle was enormous.
''He can't be found, Princess. The Royal Guards on the twelfth floor reported that he had gone to see your father,'' Captain Rusl said.
''My father?''
He nodded. A man wearing the Royal Guards' uniform entered and bowed to her. ''Princess.''
''He went into my father's chambers?'' she asked the Royal Guardsman.
''Yes. He initially lied, claiming you had sent him. When I questioned him, he said he had something that might cure your father. Being who he is, I let him in. It seems he lied about that as well.''
She took a breath. ''What did he do?''
''Your father said the boy threatened him, demanding to know where a passage was for him to escape. He gave him the location of one and the boy fled.''
''Thank you,'' she said curtly. Inside she was seething.
Captain Rusl noticed her change in demeanor. ''Shall I send men to search Castle Town, Your Royal Highness?''
''No. Summon two of my Sheikah guards.'' Her tone was frosty.
A shocked silence followed her command. The Sheikah were a race of elite people who had served the Royal Family as bodyguards and spies since the kingdom's founding. They had served the Goddess Hylia, whom the Royals were descended from. They were not for ordinary law enforcement.
''...Are you certain? Surely they don't need to be called in for this.''
''You heard what I said. Fetch two of my Sheikah,'' she snapped.
Captain Rusl bowed. ''Yes, Princess.'' He sent a regular guard with the Princess's summons. ''Is there anything you want me to do?''
''You may continue seeking out the rebels.'' He nodded and left the room.
Barely a second later, two Sheikah warriors entered, a man and a woman. They dipped into low bows before straightening fluidly. ''How may we serve you?''
''Link has escaped the castle, as I'm sure you already know. I want you to recapture him. No harm is to befall him. You may use reinforcements if you need it.''
The woman nodded. ''It shall be done.'' Both she and her partner teleported.
Link and Ashlyn were walking down a side street, looking around for any soldiers. When they had verified that none were present, Ashlyn turned to him.
''Did they treat you badly?''
He shook his head. ''No. I was allowed to walk around the castle with an escort. They didn't even ask me about the Resistance.''
''Did you see Princess Zelda?''
''Yes.''
Ashlyn's next question stemmed from her childhood, when she had wondered what it would be like to meet the Princess. ''Was she pretty?''
He nodded. ''I would say so.'' He gave her a confused look. ''What was with that question?''
''Just satisfying my childhood curiosity. There was a time that I would have loved to meet her,'' Ashlyn replied awkwardly. ''So what did you find out?''
''Something that changes everything. I don't think we should discuss it here. We need to get to the headquarters first.''
She whistled. ''That big, huh? I'm really impressed.''
Link would have replied to her, but he noticed that they were being watched. A woman was standing on a street corner behind them. Her hair was sandy colored and she had pointed ears; he would have thought she was Hylian had he not noticed her eyes. They were red. She was a Sheikah.
A sense of dread came over him and he grabbed Ashlyn's arm. ''We're being watched.''
She turned and saw the woman at the corner. Her gray eyes widened. ''Oh shit! A Sheikah!? This is bad. Real bad. If Princess Zelda sent them after you...''
The woman started walking towards them with the cold grace of a predator. She was wearing a blue skintight outfit with the red Sheikah symbol on the front. The was a sword sheathed horizontally at her lower back. She was wearing some armor too; metal bracers covered her arms and tassets connected to a belt protected her hips. Her shoulder length hair was loose.
''Link, you have to get out of here. Use the alleys in the bad parts of town. Get to the Amalgam. I'll hold her off.''
He turned to her, startled. ''There's no way you'll...''
She nodded grimly. ''I know I won't be able to defeat her. I'm just going to buy you some time. Go.''
Link took off, heading towards the poorer areas on the current side of the city.
Ashlyn planted herself in the Sheikah's path, drawing her sword. The woman stopped a few feet in front of her, a grimly understanding look on her face. She reached behind her and drew her weapon.
The sword was unlike anything Ashlyn had seen. It had a curved, slender, single-edged blade with a circular guard and a long grip to accommodate two hands if desired. Such swords were used by solely by the Sheikah.
The woman swung and Ashlyn barely managed to parry. She gritted her teeth; the Sheikah certainly lived up to their reputation. Her strikes were quick, fluid, and masterful. She was just able to continue parrying them, struggling to keep up. Ashlyn attempted to land a strike, only for the woman to lithely move away. The fight continued for a few more minutes.
A fast, sweeping slash was all it took to send Ashlyn's sword flying from her hand. It clattered to the cobblestones with a metallic ring. Ashlyn fell backwards from the sudden force. The tip of the woman's sword was at her throat in an instant, one of her feet on Ashlyn's right hand to prevent her from trying to grab her sword. For a moment, all she could focus on was her own ragged breathing. It's over...
Abruptly, the woman sheathed her blade, though she kept her foot on Ashlyn's hand. ''An admirable job. You fought well, all things considered.''
''...You're not... going to kill me? Arrest me? Do you... not know who I am?'' Ashlyn gasped out, shocked.
''I am quite aware of who you are. However, it is not my job to bring you in. I have one target and that is the boy.'' She removed her foot from Ashlyn's hand and started to walk away.
Ashlyn sat up. ''Hey, I don't take defeat lightly! Tell me your name so I can remember who I lost to.''
''Shara.'' And then the woman melded into the shadows.
Link had gone into a place that served as a safe house. He sat at a rickety table in the dilapidated building. The place was where stolen goods from wealthy people were sold and stored. It was not owned by the Resistance, but the criminals that did own it allowed them to use it as a place of refuge.
When he had first arrived in Castle Town, he never would have entered such a location. How quickly things change. He would stay there for a bit and then head to the Amalgam.
He glanced in the direction of the counter, where a man was talking to a customer. Well, customer was a loose term for the people who came to buy and sell stolen goods. Honestly, the place set him on edge. But it did provide shelter from those hunting him.
''Oi, you need anything else?'' one of the underground men asked him.
''All I need is shelter. Thank you.''
The man grinned. ''You Resistance people are great. You're standing up, and we can respect that. That's why we allow you to use this place. Besides, according to the law, you're all criminals. Who would we be to turn away other lawbreakers?''
Although Link knew that being a part of the Resistance was breaking the law, not mention the raids on military armories and fights with soldiers, it pained him to be in the same classification as people like them. Still, he appreciated that they opened their doors to Resistance members.
The door opened and the man turned, thinking whoever had entered was there for business. The person, who was Ashlyn, shook her head. She spotted him and walked over to the table he was sitting at. ''Link.''
He hadn't expected to see her again. Not after a fight with a Sheikah. He had resigned himself to the fact that his best friend had either been arrested or killed. But there she was, a few scrapes and bruises present, but mostly unharmed. ''You got away?'' he asked, thankful.
''No. She let me go. I wasn't her target, she wasn't required to arrest me, so she left after she kicked my arse.''
Link let out a relieved breath. ''Thank the Goddesses. That was really risky, Ashlyn.''
''Oh, I know. Honestly, I was expecting to get arrested or even killed outright. But thankfully, I'm here now.''
''That you are.''
She sighed. ''It's been a while since I've lost a fight. I expected to lose but... I couldn't even land a single hit on her. Not one. I could barely parry her strikes. She had disarmed me in about three minutes. I was lucky that I lasted those three minutes.''
''You did well enough. I was able to get away because of what you did,'' he said quietly. ''Do you know where she went?''
''No. We should get back to the Amalgam quickly.''
Link stood up from his chair. ''Right. We do need to hurry.'' He turned to the people who had let him in. ''Thank you. We have to leave now.''
''Of course. Stay safe, Resistance members.''
They exited the building and walked cautiously down the street. They took a few other streets before coming to the Amalgam. Ashlyn hurriedly opened the door, and once they had stepped in, she closed it with a bang.
The others were staring at them, shocked. No one spoke for a moment.
''Link? How...?'' Risbon said, breaking the silence.
''I used a secret passage. But that doesn't matter at present,'' Link said.
''Boss, Link has some very important information that we need to hear. Important enough that the Princess sent a Sheikah after him. I fought her while he slipped away. She let me go because he was her target.'' Ashlyn's voice was urgent.
The others looked startled. ''A Sheikah? Good grief, you two are lucky to have gotten away,'' Tancred said.
''What did you learn?'' Risbon asked Link.
''We were wrong. Princess Zelda is not the tyrant you think she is. She is under a dark magic spell. I don't know who cast it... But today I noticed her acting very oddly...the spell was wearing off. She left me a book with the spell's details. I think she was trying to warn me.''
Another shocked silence pervaded the room. Everyone exchanged glances, having not expected such news.
''How did you learn this?'' Risbon questioned.
''I was allowed to walk about the castle with an escort during my imprisonment. The Princess was in the library when I saw her today.''
Lux stepped forward. ''You said there was a book. If you still have it, may I see it?''
Link nodded and pulled the book out of his tunic, where he had stored it in absence of anything to carry it in. ''Here. I marked the pages where the spell is.''
Lux took the book and read the pages carefully. When he was finished, he looked up. ''This... this is very dark magic. The spell alters the victim's thought processes, convincing them to act differently.''
''So she's being mind controlled?'' Ashlyn asked.
''Not exactly... Whoever is doing this is not putting the thoughts into her head. The spell simply causes the person to want to behave differently. The spellcaster does not actually change the person's thoughts. Under the influence of the magic, the person wants to do things they normally would not.''
Risbon took a breath. ''Well, this does change everything. Should we warn people?''
''No. If we do, whoever is doing this will realize that we know and probably do something worse,'' Ashlyn said.
Link nodded. ''I brought the book to the King. He asked me to stop this.''
A third silence enveloped the main room. Worried glances were exchanged as well as accepting ones.
''It has been a hundred years since the last time darkness fell. And so it begins again,'' Lux said, almost in an intonation.
The others nodded solemnly. ''So Link, how are you going to go about this?'' Yost asked.
''I need to obtain the Master Sword to help the Princess. If I do that, whoever is doing this to her will have to show themselves.''
Lux gave a sound of agreement. ''Yes. Being the most powerful holy weapon in existence, it should certainly remove the spell. But... you need to get into the room where it is enshrined first.''
Link pulled out a beautiful blue transverse ocarina with a silver band around the mouthpiece, which was emblazoned with the Triforce. ''The King gave me the Ocarina of Time and told me where to find the keys.''
''Keys? Do you mean the Spiritual Stones?'' Lux asked, confused.
''No. King Herbert told me that they don't use the stones anymore because of what happened before. There are keys now. The stones are used as decoys.''
Glurak nodded. ''That makes sense. So you'll be going to acquire these keys.''
Yost, who had been mostly quiet, spoke up. ''You'll need to get supplies and leave the city before soldiers start having a mass hunt for you.''
''Not to mention the Sheikah,'' Tancred pointed out.
Risbon sighed. ''I know this is something that you must do, but... It's dangerous to go alone.''
Ashlyn raised her hand. ''I volunteer to go along!''
Link fought the urge to smile and failed. ''Well of course you would.''
''I'm coming whether you like it or not. I'm not about to let my best friend go on a hero's quest by himself, especially after you were in the castle for days.''
''I don't want to go by myself. I'd be glad to have you along,'' Link said.
Glurak frowned thoughtfully. ''I can sense that you used magic at the castle, though it wasn't elemental. However, you don't know any healing magic, which might be a problem... I would accompany you.''
''Is that a good idea? He's the healer here in headquarters...'' Tancred commented.
''We can get someone else to be temporary healer, if that's the issue,'' Risbon said.
''Are you sure?'' Yost asked.
Glurak nodded. ''Of course.''
Risbon clapped his hands together. ''Well, I don't think anything more needs to be said.''
''Hey, Link, before we go, there's someone here who wanted to check on you,'' Ashlyn said.
A girl came out of the sparring room. Malon. ''So I see you escaped yourself.''
''Yes. How are you doing?'' he asked her.
''Better, now that you're out of that castle. I don't have to tell my father or yours bad news,'' the farm girl replied.
Yost smiled. ''She's going to be helping us out.''
Malon nodded. ''I am indeed. I'm training how to use a spear.'' She pulled out the weapon from behind her.
''Be careful,'' Link advised. ''It's great that you're helping out.''
''I will. You be careful on your quest.''
Link turned to Risbon. ''Keep up the Resistance activity, act like none of you know the truth. I'm not sure whether you should tell the other safe houses or not.''
''I intended to mention it to the head member of each safe house but instruct them not to say anything to the other members. We'll definitely continue helping the poor and interfering with soldiers.''
''Thank you. Well, I think we should get supplies before there is a hunt for me,'' Link said.
''We'll split up and meet at the city gates,'' Ashlyn agreed.
Glurak went to his parents' house. He had packed what he thought necessary from his room in the Amalgam, but now he needed money for the journey. A servant greeted him and opened the gate for him.
He walked up to the front doors and pulled one open. He hailed a passing maid. ''Excuse me, miss. Do you know where my parents are?''
''Your Lord father and Lady mother are in the dining room. They just finished lunch, Young Master.''
He thanked her and headed into the dining room. His father was conversing with his mother, both sitting at the table. Food was laid out. His mother had a teacup nearby. She was wearing a foam green gown and a pearl necklace. His father was wearing an ornate olive colored tunic with silver trim, tan breeches and polished boots.
''Glurak,'' his father greeted him.
''Welcome home.'' His mother sounded pleased.
He bit his lip, unsure how to tell them. His father noticed his hesitation. ''Is there something you want to tell us?''
He nodded. ''I am leaving on a journey. I don't know how long it will take or when I'll be back...''
His mother almost dropped her teacup. ''Where?''
''All over Hyrule.''
She frowned. ''Does this have anything to do with the rebels you associate with?''
''Something to that effect, yes,'' he answered.
She turned to her husband. ''He's on the run from the law now, I just know it. Good grief.''
Glurak sighed and shook his head. ''No, mother. I am not on the run from the law. My friends are.''
''And that makes it better?'' she demanded, hands grasping the skirts of her dress.
''I'm sure it will be fine. A journey sounds nice,'' his father said calmly.
Glurak had always appreciated his father's outlook on things, now more so than ever. ''Yes. I've already packed.''
''Well. You'll need money, then,'' Duke Romswind said. He stood up from the table and left the room briefly. He returned and handed his son a case.
''Thank you, father.'' He embraced his father.
Glurak walked out of the room. When he reached the front doors, he heard the rustling of skirts. Duchess Romswind had followed her son into the foyer.
''You be careful. If you and your friends find yourselves in over your heads, go to our estate in Mansfield.''
''I will,'' he said seriously.
She wrung her hands. ''If I had something to give you as a reminder to stay alive and come home...''
''I don't need one. I have this.'' He reached under his collar and pulled out the chain with his ring.
Her eyes widened. ''I... I didn't know you had kept that.''
''Why would I throw it away? It was from you, mother, so it is worth more than anything.''
Duchess Gertrude felt tears welling up. She hugged her son tightly, though he was slightly taller than her. ''...Stay safe.''
He smiled at her before he opened the doors and left the house. He headed for the city gates.
Ashlyn had grabbed spare clothes and money from her room. She went to buy a few things at the market, keeping an eye out for soldiers. When she had purchased what she had come for, she went to her house.
Her mother was sitting in the main room, sewing something. ''Ashlyn, what-''
''I'm leaving on a journey. Just wanted you to know. I know it's dangerous for me to be here, but I wanted to tell you. I love you,'' Ashlyn said, hearing a slight waver in her voice.
''Be careful. Please try not to get caught.''
Ashlyn scoffed. ''Isn't that what I do every day?'' She shrugged. ''Eh, you know I'll be cautious.''
She had almost reached the door when her mother's voice stopped her. ''You look so much like your father with that sword.'' There was...pride...in her tone.
''Heh, thanks.'' Ashlyn thought it was funny; she didn't look like either of her parents. Her father had brown hair and her mother was blonde. But she was glad that her mother was proud of her, despite the fact that she didn't want her to be a soldier.
Link grabbed his spare clothes from his room before heading to the square to buy supplies. He bought medicines and a few red potions as well as food. With all of that done, he went back to the Amalgam's stable and fetched Epona. He put the supplies in her saddle bags, strapping them to the saddle.
He mounted her and rode out to the street. He came to the city gates, where he spotted Glurak and Ashlyn. Glurak was, surprisingly, mounted on a gray horse. He was wearing a cloak to hide his identity.
''There you are. We're ready!'' Ashlyn said.
''Do you want to ride with me?'' Glurak asked her. She didn't have a horse and it might be slow going if she had to walk.
''Eh, sure.'' She got up into the saddle behind him. ''I didn't know you could ride,'' she said to the mage.
He scoffed. ''Despite my reluctance to admit it, I am a nobleman. My father hired an instructor to teach me to ride at an early age.''
''Well.''
All of a sudden, they heard a commotion. Some soldiers had noticed Link and Ashlyn. ''There! Rebels!''
''Go!'' Ashlyn shouted.
Not needing any other incentive, Glurak and Link spurred their horses and went quickly through the city gates.
From a rooftop, two Sheikah guards watched the fleeing horses and their riders. ''Well, looks like we'll be going after them,'' the man said.
''That we will, Ruhi,'' Shara agreed.
King Herbert felt better than he had in weeks. He had given the boy the Ocarina of Time. When Royal Guardsmen had entered and asked about the boy, he couldn't tell them he had let him escape. So he had lied that Link had threatened him into giving him the location of a secret passage. Not necessarily the one he had told the boy about.
He did feel a bit guilty for lying to his soldiers, but if it kept Link out of harm's way, he would do it again. He knew that the journey ahead would not be easy for the boy, given what his many ancestors had gone through.
He scoffed at the glorious stories told by the ordinary citizens. The Royal Family kept records of what really happened on those quests. The Heroes also passed the truth down in their family. The legends that people tell about the heroes... They don't have a clue of what those boys really go through.
Captain Rusl heard that Link, the girl, and a cloaked figure had left the capital. He went immediately to the throne room.
''You Royal Highness, Link has left Castle Town.''
Princess Zelda gritted her teeth. ''I assumed he would. If you'd like, you may send a company of men after him. Was he alone?''
''No. Ashlyn Hayward and a cloaked person were with him.''
''Ashlyn Hayward... She is one of the rebel higher-ups, correct?'' she asked.
He nodded. ''Yes.''
The Princess twirled a strand of her hair in thought. ''She is the daughter of Kellen Hayward, I do believe?'' It wasn't really a question.
''Yes,'' the Captain confirmed anyway.
''He is a good soldier. It must pain him greatly to know that she is one of the rebels.''
The Captain gave a sound of agreement. ''Are you sure you want me to send out a company?''
''Yes. If you'd like. I know you want to do something about him. They can aid my Sheikah, I am not against that.''
''I will send men out, then. Should the rest of the kingdom be alerted?''
Princess Zelda nodded. ''Yes. Have wanted posters made and sent out. People must know about these dangerous rebels.''
''Of course.''
So, there are different groups of elite soldiers. There are the Royal Guards, who serve as the official bodyguard of the Royal Family. Then there are the Sheikah, a race of deadly people who also act as bodyguards and spies. And finally, there are the Knights of Hyrule, who will show up later. They're more of a sub group. A soldier can be promoted to Royal Guard or knighted, but they can't be made a Sheikah. You have to be born a Sheikah.
The quest begins! Now Link will be going to collect the keys. I also kind of added a hint of RPG here, Link is going to travel with a party for a bit. They won't stick around for the whole journey (hey, there are things the Hero has to do himself) but he will get aid from various others too.