The Man Behind the Masks
Chapter 21 - Whole thing
Author note - As Zelda FFF has a 1000 word limit, I'll be tagging the second part of each chapter and reposting. Hope this doesn't cause too much confusion!
"No need for death? And what could you offer me instead, disciple of Azamuku?" Ganondorf looked down his long, pointed nose at me. His furrowed eyebrows curved to join his flame red hair that reminded me of a volcano.
"The Sacred Realm," I said simply.
That got the Gerudo King's attention. "The Sacred Realm? You? And how could you hope to find it?"
"Azamuku told me of the legends and gave a few clues. I just need to work it out."
Ganondorf's mocking laughter rang through the entire chamber of the Spirit Temple. Combined with the cackling of the witches, the obnoxious sound swarmed around me. The candles flickered, casting further unnerving shadows. As a child, I considered the darkness an artist's canvas for the overactive mind. Clinging to woollen blankets in the safety of bed, I would paint pictures of such horrendous things. Now, I stared into the hateful eyes of a true monster and swallowed. It would do no good to panic here, not with Yasei's life at stake.
"I see. And what would you expect in return?"
I smeared the sweat across my forehead. Such evil power pressed down relentlessly on my shoulders, as the dark sorcerer demonstrated his supremacy. I have to stay calm, but how?
Suddenly, I thought of my mask shop and the customers I didn't like very much. How did I survive them? At once a smile crossed my lips. I could wear my smiling mask. The smile that had been described as 'disturbing' and when I wore it, no one could see what Ronri Okane thought or felt.
Ganondorf smirked. "Well?"
"I am but a humble travelling mask salesman." I rubbed my hands together and smiled straight back at him. "So, all I ask is for my assistant to be set free."
Yasei's mouth gaped open. "By the merciful Goddesses, don't be a fool."
"Impossible," the King replied. "I spared the life of this woman. She has my mark. She belongs to me."
I glanced at Yasei's arm. The last time I'd seen it, a poisoned arrow had pierced and shattered the bone. Now, healed miraculously, a black triangle tattoo remained. Immediately, she tried to hide the mark, making the chains on her wrists jingle.
Well, it's not like I expected him to actually agree, I thought. "Surely, the life of one slave is nothing compared to The Sacred Realm?"
"You dare bargain with me?" Ganondorf's voice grew dangerously low as he leaned forward on his throne. "You are nothing. The woman stays."
"That is regrettable," I replied, shuffling back ever so slightly. I threw out my arms, the intense tingling felt like hot pokers stabbing into my fingertips. But I was used to this sensation and I knew what to do. Curving my hands into a circle, I focused my attention. "Oh, mighty King, receive this then as our parting gift!"
A grey spiral appeared, morphing into a glowing portal. The same portal that had swallowed a certain dark magic from before. "Yasei, to me."
I jumped as the fizzing sphere came hurdling out, straight at Ganondorf. The intense explosion of purples and yellows made quite the spectacle, sadly I had no time to admire it. Having only just caught my childhood friend, we tumbled down the altar's steps together.
At the bottom, I felt a heavy weight on my bare chest. Upon opening my eyes, they became locked with a pair of peridot green ones. "Erm, hi."
After a pause, Yasei appeared to realise where she was and blushed. "Sorry," she squeaked, before rolling off me.
"Quite alright," I said, dusting off my gold necklace. "That distraction won't last long though. Kilton. Kavia. We need to go – now!"
An icy blue head of hair flew above the smoke. "We underestimated him sister, this time we need to get serious."
"Yes," Koume agreed. "What an outrageous fellow to attack our lord. I'll burn you alive."
Missiles of fire and ice were hurled in our direction. Those that hit the floor either froze on contact or baked the sandstone so it burned bright red. We ducked and danced around the troublesome magic. Fragments of stone exploded mere centimetres from our heads. As we raced towards the door, a familiar bark joined the chaos.
"Kilton," Yasei cheered with delight. The husky, beyond excited to see his master once more, swished his tail manically. "You been a good boy? You miss me? You miss me? I bet you missed me!"
"Touching… perhaps we could save this for later?"
By the time we reached Kavia, the Gerudo Commander was already standing up. She nodded in greeting before drawing her attention back to Ganondorf. "You are brave my voe, however, that will not be enough to stop him."
Sure enough, an almighty roar shook the whole temple. I turned around in horror, watched as the smoke cleared and a great hulking figure stalked towards us. Even though the attack had taken him by surprise there wasn't a mark on him. Did he use some sort of shield?
"Geh, heh, heh! I commend you, little maggot, for such back handed tactics. Perhaps I might have a use for you after all. Shall we discuss new terms?"
"I'll have to decline, your Majesty. You see, I'm a very busy fellow."
"Kavia, arrest those traitors in the name of your King," Kotake ordered.
"But Vaba Kotake-"
"As Commander it is your sworn duty," Koume butted in. "Do you still wish to marry this Hylian filth? He already has a woman. He used you."
The Gerudo warrior glared back at the old hags. Her blue painted lips turned down into a frightening frown. Despite being injured, she cracked her knuckles and turned towards me.
"Kavia, please," my voice rose several octaves. "I can explain…"
My 'fiancée' wore a nasty look that could kill a thousand bokoblins. Despite her injuries, she scooped up a large chunk of rock near where she had landed. A simple blunt weapon. This didn't matter though; whether run through with a sword, or bludgeoned to death – the bloody result would be the same.
"I think I understand now why you wanted to thank me," I said.
She drew the stone up high.
"This marriage. You wanted a way to escape."
"You know nothing of our ways," Kavia growled. "You must die." But her arms froze.
Is she really that torn? This came as a surprise to me. In the time we had known each other, it was blatantly clear we weren't compatible. Perhaps the robberies and other demands of Ganondorf weighed so heavily that she would do anything. I gave a deep sigh. What a messy state of affairs!
"Come with us," I suggested. At that, Kavia laughed haughtily. "You could start a new life."
"Is that your logic at play, little Hylian man? Do you remember what I said?"
"Of course, being logical in a world of chaos is like trying to fight the wind."
Her stern face softened ever so slightly. "Ah, so my clever voe understands."
Not really…
An icy blast from Kotake reminded us that time grew short. I drew my hands together to compress my magic into flat discs and sent them flying. The witch swerved around them easily, Koume threw a larger fireball that slammed into the entryway.
The columns shook. Cracks zigzagged down the snake like faces chiselled into honey-coloured sandstone. Somehow, they remained firm and my heart quaked in relief. I wanted to kiss the Gerudo architect responsible for such a miracle.
But then, a much stronger blast came from the direction of the throne. An almighty boom resounded throughout the chamber. I went to ground and covered my head. Yasei threw herself over Kilton trying to shield the husky from falling debris. That unbelievable dark power tore through the columns like paper.
An uneasy silence followed. My legs cramped from being tucked in so tight. I lifted my head and scowled. He's insane! I thought, looking at the sorry pile of rubble.
"Seems you have nowhere to run," Ganondorf announced. He paused, no doubt to savour the panic he'd created.
"Moron." Yasei scrambled over to my side. "Leave me, dammit. He might let you go if-"
"No." I shook the dust from my auburn hair. "What would your Pa say if I returned and told him you were a slave? I thought you wanted to travel across Hyrule together?"
"I did… I mean, I do." She stood up, long black braids swaying. Her teeth clenched, making her jaw jut out. "Fine, have it your way. Get us out of here then."
Ah. I didn't always have the foresight to think several steps ahead. My brain had a knack for figures and opportunity, not bouts in a battle arena. Still, even I could see our only way out and it filled me with dread. The unfamiliar and the unknown. My stomach started doing backflips.
"My voe," Kavia cried out.
I'd dallied too long. As icy missiles came hurdling towards me, a large rock flew across my vision. It shattered into a million pieces.
Okay, enough stalling! Do you wish to die?
"Yasei, I'm going to need you to trust me."
"I don't like the sound of that," she replied. "What are you up to?"
I clapped my hands and another ball of grey magic materialised in my palm. I kneaded it slightly and threw it into the air. It stopped, before expanding into another portal. Peeking inside, the same purple sky and white stars swirled endlessly. It looked like a dream world; a place that called out to the curious and adventurous. Very pretty indeed, however, what dangers do you hide, hmm?
Yasei stepped back. "By Din's fire, I'm not going in there."
"We haven't got a choice," I insisted.
"Sorcery is evil, who knows where we'll end up? It could kill us!"
She wasn't wrong. What if I can't find the way out? Or leave someone behind?
A slow scraping sound set my teeth on edge.
"You shouldn't take your eyes off the enemy, Happy Mask Salesman."
The Gerudo King drew his sword and charged at the group. He reminded me of a raging boar. I prepared to intercept, but my head spun and the ground wobbled under my feet.
What's going on?
I tried again. This time, a sharp pain shot through both hands. It felt like they were on fire. On the third try I screamed. My entire body seized up and the portal flickered. Through heaving breaths, I managed to get it back under control. Thus came a stark realization. "Yasei, I can't maintain this and fight him too. You have to jump in."
"No!" She clung to Kilton, who sniffed at the swirling mass and whimpered.
"I've crossed sand rivers, been attacked by monsters and nearly sliced to bits to find you. I refuse to let you die now. Kavia, take her with you, please."
"Hey, let go of me!"
"A Gerudo vai is strong and protects her voe. Instead, you make your voe protect you. Such a feeble Hylian woman." The Commander gave Yasei a smug grin before tossing both her and Kilton into the starry depths. As they disappeared, she turned to me. "Ronri."
"Yes?"
"Remember, not all Gerudo are the same as our king."
What?
"Sav'org."
She pushed hard and I found myself plummeting. Seconds after, a sword gleaming with crimson blood stabbed in vain through the swirling grey. But just as soon as it appeared, it was gone, and the Spirit Temple faded away.