Hello all!

It's been a while since I've uploaded. I had most of the chapter done for awhile but just never settled down enough to finish it. So it turned out longer than normal, which I think is a good thing.

As always, please review if you have the time, I always appreciate constructive feedback! If my flaws are pointed out, I can learn from them.

-Ice

Chapter Nine—Clashing Views

As their ragged but vigilant group neared the Sheikah village, Zelda wrung her hands. Her people slaughtered theirs with no remorse, and now she was going to ask for their help. Though Link was back in their ranks (with an unusual sword strapped to his back) she couldn't find peace. Their awkward encounter after she woke at the camp a few nights ago put distance between them.

After losing Bridget, Captain Evans and her other loyal knights and being forced from her castle, she missed the grounding security that those and the walls around her gave.

Zelda winced at the thought of those she left behind. While she was in her long sleep, dreams of seeing the blade plunge into Bridget's chest replayed over and over. Captain Evans' screams as he fell upon the enemy rang in her ears. She longed to give Bridget a proper goodbye, as due her station and lasting loyalty. She could only hope that Captain Evans and the remainder of his guard were still alive but chances of that were slim.

Shaking her head, Zelda trudged on. Each step bringing her to salvation or destruction. I must try, for the sake of my people. And perhaps, the sake of our land.

"My Lady, we will have to warn them soon." Dorian's voice cut through Zelda's dark thoughts.

Impa acknowledged his words with a nod. "Scout and report." Dorian returned the nod and rushed off, using the sides of the small valley they were in to get to higher ledges. Besides the occasional sound of loose pebbles tumbling down, his exit was silent.

The sun moved steadily as the afternoon wore on. When the shadows were long, Impa cast a look at Cado and he nodded, then rushed forward ahead to scout the path they walked.

His figure was small up the trail, but Impa focused on it intently. Zelda noticed her face growing increasingly dower. She reflectively pulled a dagger halfway from its sheath when Cado's figure went down to one knee and stopped walking. Zelda held out a hand to stop the knights behind her and Link moved over in front and had his hand on the hilt of his unusual sword.

Another figure moved from the side of the mountain in a series of hops to join Cado and knelt beside him. This must be Dorian.

Impa dropped into a crouch but didn't motion for anyone to copy her. Her eyes were still sharply focused on the pair.

Then slowly, coming out of the shadows that now covered the valley, were several figures. One lift an object to his lips and blew a commanding note followed by three short ones.

Impa sighed and cursed but relaxed her grip on her weapon. "What is it?" Zelda whispered.

"No danger, to the Sheikah at least." Impa glanced her way but said nothing more. Zelda turned a questioning eye to Purah.

"We're fine, Zelda." Purah said in her peppy voice. "That signal was from our father's guard. Cado and Dorian were kneeling in respect."

"It's also a problem." Impa said impassively, giving a frown to Purah. "Your arrival here was not going be met with any sympathy from my father or our people. But now my father will believe that you have brought darkness to our village."

"I would never wish darkness on any people." Zelda forced through tight lips. She had to keep her quick anger under control. She expected to be judged and ridiculed but Impa's words implied that her father had already made the decision to not let Zelda even make her plea.

The remainder of the walk towards the Sheikah Chief's wary guard was silent. Zelda told her knights to relax and not go for any weapons. Groose looked mutinous but bit back any retort, he thankfully realized that now is not the time to be seen divided.

Link walked coiled with obvious tension and Zelda used his body's movements to numb her mind to her anger. She needed to clear all emotions.

When Link halted, Zelda realized that they had met with the other group. Purah immediately went over to the Sheikah's side, Impa took a few steps forward but stopped in front of the chief. Link moved last, backing up until he was at Zelda's shoulder before slipping slightly behind her. He was so close that any small movement he made brushed up against her.

Upon a first look, the Sheikah Chief was a clearly a warrior that had seen his people through many skirmishes. Scars seemed to cover most of his skin, shining almost white in the fading light. He was dressed similar to his daughters and the remainder of the group, white jackets with dark pants and a pointed hat made of straw.

The only sign of his age were the small wrinkles around his eyes. His face was hard and unyielding. Other than having the same color of eyes as Impa, Zelda saw no familial resemblance.

After studying Zelda for several long moments, the Chief's eyes moved to Impa. "Explain yourself."

"There was a coup, father, she did not consent the attack on our people."

He scoffed. "Our people are still dead by her family's hands." Behind Zelda, Link stiffened. "Your heart is too soft, Impa. You believe anything they say to you?"

"I believe her eyes."

Someone behind the Chief gave a small gasp. A few others looked shocked. Cado and Dorian only nodded. The Chief frowned more still.

"I also believe her eyes." Purah said as she peeked out from behind Cado. "Some things are falling into place."

Falling into place? Zelda almost frowned at the comment but managed to keep her expression neutral.

The Chief studied both of his daughters, one at a time. Then gave a small growl and turned from the group to stomp back the way he came. Impa released a breath and fell back towards Zelda. "That could've gone worse." She whispered. The Sheikah warriors surrounded them as they moved closer to the Sheikah village.

"Your father still believes I am guilty."

"Yes, but now he will listen to your words. I suggest you choose them carefully."

Zelda could only nod, her throat tight and breath shallow.

~§~

The silence that greeted them as they walked through the village hung with the knowledge of death. Many houses were in disrepair. Workers shifted around, putting the supplies and tools away for the night. Some fled at their presence, others stop and glared.

Zelda expected this and walked with her chin perfectly level. Moving it high would give the impression she thought she was better than them, too low would tell them she was weak to lead her own people.

The Chief dismissed various people from his guard when they entered an elevated building surrounded by waterfalls. Cado and Dorian took up positions outside the front door.

Guards took up posts by stairways and exits as the group filed in a larger room with square cushions organized in a neat semi-circle. Some Sheikah were already settled and eyed the Hylians with distrust.

Purah and Impa kneeled on either side behind the Chief.

Wanting to look accepting and respectful, Zelda motioned for her knights to kneel as well, though no cushions were provided for them. Link was still almost pressed to her back, so she moved forward to get some space. She needed to be seen as acting alone. She heard him huff in irritation. Groose settled beside Link at her other shoulder.

Zelda's eyes never strayed from the Chief's and a small movement flickered at the edge of her vision. Impa had nodded, Zelda did the correct action by sitting as an equal.

The silence dragged as both leaders studied the other. Zelda knew this was the first rule in a political conversation of two different peoples. If she spoke, she could risk disrespecting their ways. If she gestured, she could risk insult. If she made any noise, she could offend. As the party that was in their territory, she had to wait.

The Chief seemed contented to wait and they were locked in this struggle until the oil lamps had to be lit around the edge of the room. Zelda's knees were aching but still she did not move.

He cleared his throat. "You are a young Queen but are wise." He beckoned and four Sheikah women moved forward and stacked cushions at the edge of the group. Zelda leaned back to signal Link and Groose to pass the cushions out but she kept her position, as much as her body protested.

A half-smirk formed on his lips at her lack of relief. "I am Chief Anaar. I have protected my people for many moons." His smirk dropped and brow furrowed. "My people will expect payment from you at the lives taken."

"In what way does your people want payment?"

The smirk returned but with a darker glint. "With our ways, we expect more than you will probably want to give, Queen."

Zelda refrained from showing emotion. Life for a life was not unexpected. "I wish to end the violence in another way."

"Oh?"

"I wish for our people to come to an agreement. To become allies. To trade goods or food, only if agreed on. At the very least, to not be hostile towards each other. To right the wrong my family made against the Sheikah in the time of my grandfather's reign."

There were a few soft hisses at her words. "We were blamed for a crime we had no intention of ever committing. We were forced to hide for our protection and survival. Generations of hate will not go away because you wish it, Queen."

Chief Anaar's use of her title was starting to sound like an insult. Zelda had to bite down a retort. "I am aware of the situation involving my family, Chief Anaar. My title is not needed here, my given name is Zelda."

More murmurs filled the room. Purah looked worried, looking back and forth between Zelda and her father. Impa adopted her father's half-smirk and their familiar resemblance became more pronounced.

Chief Anaar didn't seem inclined to comment on Zelda's reply but looked furious at her tat. He had expected her to grovel. "My grandfather unfortunately passed from this world before I had a chance to acquire any memories of him. My father had me later in life, as his wife was unable to conceive early in their marriage. In my childhood, this history of our peoples did not shape decisions in my life as it had my father's. So, I am as far removed from the events as one can be in my family. I can see the wrong that was committed. I have chosen to forge an alliance, not continue the violence."

Zelda gave a slight bow. "I can offer my sincerest apologize and remorse on behalf of my family. I do deeply regret that this is all I can offer at this time. I do understand if my apologizes are not welcomed."

"You only wish to apologize because of the state your homeland is in." A Sheikah on Chief Anaar's left growled. "We know more than you about this coup you have found yourself in."

"Hush, Olkin."

They know more? Zelda couldn't help the frown that crossed her face. "How is that possible?"

"We know of your coup from messages, we have many villages throughout the kingdom. The one closest to you sent word." Chief Anaar waved a dismissive hand. "I will be forward now. Do you expect the Sheikah to fight for you? If you truly want an alliance, it shall be in peace first. It will be many moons of peace between our peoples before warrior help is given."

"I am not here to ask for your warriors, as strong as they may be. We wish to rest and recover—"

The room shook violently with the loud toll of a bell. Some of the knights jumped to their feet, weapons half pulled from their scabbards. Link had put a steadying hand on Zelda's shoulder. Zelda was surprised that the Sheikah had reacted in much the same way.

"What was—" She started but another toll sounded. Impa had shakily made her way to one of the staircases and was now attempting to climb. She was halfway up when the tolling bell stopped at five. She quickly disappeared to the upper floors after regaining her footing.

Zelda and her knights were all but forgotten. Some Sheikah had broken down in prayers. Purah was talking rapidly to her father, who's frown had deepened into a scowl.

The Sheikah guard had noticed that the knights had weapons almost drawn and Zelda motioned for them to return to kneeling before a fight could break out. "Be calm."

Chief Anaar had turned from her and was still in conversation with his oldest daughter. None of the Sheikah seemed to care to explain the sudden interruption.

A ripple effect took place as each of the Sheikah faced the staircase in which Impa had taken.

"My Queen," Groose whispered at her ear. "Do you know?"

"No."

A few more moments passed before Purah nodded at her father's words. He faced Zelda again. "It seems our discussion will have to wait until tomorrow. My guards will guide you to a place you can rest for the night." Not waiting for thanks, he and Purah followed Impa up the stairs.

Zelda allowed herself and the knights to be ushered from the building, noting the worried looks on the faces of every Sheikah she passed, including the warriors escorting them.

What or who did that bell toll for?

~§~

Despite only exchanging heated words or glances, Sheikah warriors provided blankets and provisions. Ever cautious, Groose set up a rotating guard when they were settled in an empty house at the edge of the village. The knights quickly set up a pallet for their queen. "Goodnight's" were bid and soon all was quiet.

Tossing and turning had Zelda up within a few hours. She needed air and was grateful at the cool night when it hit her face. Most of the village had settled, the torches lit around building entrances flickering into long shadows. It took a minute before Zelda had convinced herself it was not Sheikah spies. Though she was sure there were some around.

Dangling her feet off the raised porch, Zelda tried to relax, taking in the nighttime ambience. "Your Majesty, is everything alright?"

Groose had tried to whisper but he had a voice that carried no matter what. Which is why she left the leadership of her remaining knights to him. They seemed to snap in line and obeyed the orders his loud voice commanded.

"I am worried."

Groose made a sound that stated he clearly wanted her to elaborate but Zelda ignored him. She replayed the Sheikah chief's words in her head. He knew that Zelda and her people were at his mercy but chose to not exact his revenge, at least for now. His people were trained and strong, even though few in number.

He did not immediately ask for her blood in penance. He was a good leader. He cared for his people just like Zelda did. She sighed. Groose took this opportunity to speak. "Do you need anything, my Queen?"

"No, Sir Groose, I would just like to reflect in the quiet."

After a few more moments, Groose's footsteps retreated and Zelda sighed in relief. Soon her thoughts turned to the ringing bell. What did it mean? Why was it so important to stop a discussion with an outsider? Zelda stared into the night, combing and racking her brain for answers.

It took a few hours before Zelda realized the stiffness in her lower body had come from sitting on a hard surface. The night was deeper now and there was movement in front of her.

Zelda blinked and shook her head. Silver glinted in the firelight as her tired mind fought to understand what she was seeing. Soft grunting reached her ears as she followed the flashes of silver.

The silver connected to a hand, then a strong figure.

"Link?" Zelda whispered. The quiet knight was practicing various forms with his new oddly colored sword. It seemed to fit him. It almost appeared to glow in the scarce light.

Zelda watched Link's smooth movements built from years of training. When he was finished, he lifted the sword skyward and exhaled. He held the position for almost a minute, like he was waiting for something.

The faint glow Zelda thought she was mistaking started at the sword's point and moved slowly downward moving faster and faster until it hit the guard and then—

Scch-wing!

The blade glowed with such a bright blue light that Link's shocked face was fully visible. She heard the jangle of chainmail behind her as a knight jerked in reaction. "What the—?" The knight exclaimed.

Exhaustion forgotten, Zelda struggled to get on her feet and rushed over to Link. He didn't seem to notice her until she touched his sweaty arm. "Link, what sort of blade is this?"

Link just shook his head and then continued to study the light; he rested his hand flat on the fuller. The light glowed a little brighter as if accepting the touch.

"The forest gave you that blade."

Both Link and Zelda started and turned to the voice. Impa was leaning against the side of a house, underneath the torchlight, arms crossed. She walked over to them, a frown on her face, highlighted by the sword's light.

"This sword chose the person that was born with the spirit of the hero."

Zelda snorted. "You believe those old stories?"

Impa's gaze hardened and Zelda almost took a step back in surprise. "There is nothing false about the legend of the hero and his goddess, reawakened into a human form." Impa sneered.

A flash of anger travelled up her spine and Zelda stood tall, her back ramrod straight. She was used to the sweet lies that were said to her face, not this condescending tone. "I was taught this story from a young age, my family line is deeply tied." Zelda fought to keep the anger out of her voice, using her regal sound. "Neither I or my mother ever demonstrated this "divine power" that our bloodline is said to possess. I prayed every day for years, only giving up when my father became sick. And I—"

"Why have you been so suddenly thrown out of your castle? Why were those monsters released? Why were you asleep for so long after the monster attack? Do you recall the bright light that blinded everyone when you awoke? Even injuring the very knight that has been chosen?" Impa gave a short, humorless laugh. "Darkness is coming, Queen, and there is nothing your power can do to stop it, we can only prepare the chosen hero for his eventual quest."

The use of her title the same way Impa's father used it tipped Zelda over the edge and she took a few steps forward, invading Impa's personal space. "I—"

"Lady Impa, come quick." A Sheikah warrior burst out from the small alleyway between two houses. "Enemy attacking."

Without a word or glance, Impa followed the warrior back up the alleyway and to the village beyond.

Anger kept Zelda frozen in place. How dare she talk that way? They had just walked through that enchanted forest, who knows what magic rubbed off on them?

Something has changed. Zelda thought. It was the only explanation for Impa's sudden change in demeaner. Even when Link was missing, she showed compassion and never spoke this harshly.

The ringing bell.

Zelda jumped when Link placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Your wish?" He said softly. His sword was still glowing. Groose was barking orders and Zelda recognized the sounds of knights arming themselves for battle.

"Put on your armor Link, let us see what this is about."

~§~

Within minutes, Zelda and her knights had moved through the tight house alleyways back towards the main village clearing. Grunts and shouts of battle were guiding their footsteps to the source. Zelda prayed that these were not Hylian knights.

They arrived in a clearing and Zelda's worst fears were confirmed.

Bodies seemed to be everywhere at once, both on the ground and struggling against the other. The Sheikah were battling their hardest but the hoard of Hylian knights had no mercy.

"No!" Groose cried. "Strich, Cawlin, what are you doing?!" He ran towards them.

"Wait!" Zelda called. A few more knights ran ahead to guard Groose's back.

"Your orders?" Pipit asked Zelda, extreme discomfort on his face.

"I don't want anyone else killed for this. Protect both sides, knock out the knights, do not engage the Sheikah." The remaining knights nodded and fanned out to quell the fighting. Link stayed with Zelda.

Without a weapon, she could not fight. Her rusty skills were useless, no knight had a bow or quiver when they escaped the castle an they had no spare swords.

"Cawlin, wait! Stop!" Groose's voice rang out and Link dropped into a battle-ready stance. There was a loud clank and Groose was thrown backwards back toward Zelda.

"Groose!" Zelda ran to him, Link keeping pace. Zelda removed Groose's helmet and blood trickled down the side of his face. "Speak! Are you able to move?"

"Something's—wrong." Groose gasped, his strangely yellow eyes begging her to understand. "They would never hurt me. Wrong. Help." Zelda struggled to unbuckle his crushed chest plate. "Help them."

Zelda finally was able to release the clasp and pushed the armor piece off him. Groose wheezed and Zelda pushed him to a sitting position. He gasped for air for several minutes before finally able to completely breath properly. "They didn't recognize me, my Queen. We've been through too much, their eyes, they were…full of rage."

"Link, can you spot Impa?"

Link knocked out a Hylian soldier with the hilt of his sword. The soldier fell like a sack of rocks. He scanned the battlefield, then focused on a section to his left. Pulling a glove off, Link used his bare fingers to pierce the battle sounds with a familiar bird call. It wasn't quite the same as his signal before.

Panting, Impa appeared almost suddenly at their sides. Clothes splattered with blood. Zelda chose to ignore that for now. "That signal is not—"

"Stop! There is something wrong with the knights. Groose said his fellows didn't recognize him. Have you seen that before?"

Impa's angry expression cleared at once and she jumped back into battle and grabbed the nearest Hylian soldier. She thrust him into Link. "Hold him." Link forced the knight's arms behind his back. The knight snarled and struggled; rage etched upon his face.

Taking a deep breath, Impa folded her hands quickly into five different shapes. A moment after the last shape was formed, three glowing blue symbols Zelda didn't recognize appeared around her hands. Impa pushed all three into the soldier's chest.

In a poof of red smoke and paper, the knight transformed and shed the silver metal armor for a red material that was formed to the body. The face was covered by a mask with a red-colored Sheikah eye. But it was flipped.

"Yiga!" Impa snarled and jerked the man forward out of Link's hold.

"What are—" Zelda started.

Impa punched the man in the stomach and he doubled over then reached over to remove the mask, but the Yiga man laughed and vanished. He appeared behind Impa and kicked her forward into Link before disappearing again after blowing into a whistle.

Impa growled as she untangled herself from bemused Link and dashed forward to another fake Hylian knight. But the whistle had alerted the remaining fighters and they all disappeared into a cloud of smoke.

The slips of papers floated to the ground, making the sudden silence deafening. Breathing heavily, Impa sprinted forward. She moved from each downed Sheikah and even sent over a healer for Groose. Zelda watched as Purah bandaged and applied medicines with ease while Impa's ordered were followed without question.

Chief Anaar was near the middle of the bodies, kneeling but with no movement. His hand was on the hilt of a long, skinny sword strapped on his belt. "Bring the salts." A warrior rushed off to complete his request.

"Queen Zelda," Purah touched her arm to get her attention. "Groose will be alright, he's breathing normally now. Pipit has a cut on his arm but I've patched him up. I don't think any of your other warriors were hurt."

"Thank you Purah, for treating them." She smiled at Zelda and piled her leftover supplies into a bag at her hip. Pipit gave her a nod, his right arm wrapped from wrist to elbow. Groose was examining his chest plate, attempting to bend it back into shape. His eyes were hollow, but his mouth was set with focus on his task.

"Sir Groose…" Zelda couldn't think of what to say. He paused, nodded his head and then continued his task. The shock of this battle had given him much to think about.

The warrior returned and handed over a small bag of smelling salts to the Chief and he took it without a change of expression. He opened the bag and tilted the head of a long brown-haired individual that Zelda felt she recognized.

The body jerked and more Sheikah warriors crowded around. Zelda could no longer see what was happening.

"Wha-What's this? What happened?"

"Why do you attack us?" Chief Anaar stated in a firm voice.

"My-My father ordered it. I did not know whom we were attacking." The shaking voice seemed unable to catch his breath.

"Who is your father?"

"Earl Kohan of W-Wasteland."

This is Soren! Why would his father order such an attack? Zelda frowned. The Earl was slimey and his son was charming but niether of them gave any indication that they wanted to end the Sheikah.

"Impa, bring the queen."

Impa stomped angrily towards Zelda, whom quickly rose to her feet. Impa's change in demeanor scared Zelda and she was quite sure she would drag anyone to where ever her father ordered at the moment.

Zelda rushed forward, hoping that Impa wouldn't drag her. She moved to Chief Anaar's light of sight and kneeled on the other side of Soren. "Queen Zelda? We heard—we thought—"

"Why is a member of your court working with the Yiga Clan?" Chief Anaar's voice was dangerously low.

Zelda met his angry gaze. "I do not know the people you call Yiga. This is Soren, and he is the son of the Earl of Wasteland. I met both him and his father for the first time right before my flight from the castle." She opened her mouth to say more but the Chief held up a hand to stop her.

"Impa, is it foretold?"

Impa let out a sigh of defeat, her shoulders sagging. "Yes, Papa." She whispered.

"Then come, Queen Zelda, we have much to discuss."

~§~

Mind whirling, Zelda followed Chief Anaar, Impa, Purah and a few Sheikah guards back to the elevated house where the bell tolled. Only Link was at her back. A quick glance around showed Zelda that her knights were helping the Sheikah carry the wounded indoors or moving lost weapons into a pile. Training automatically kicking in.

The Chief guided Zelda to a cushion he dragged and placed in front of his own. He unstrapped all his weapons and set them aside and then turned his gaze to Impa, who also relieved herself of weapons. His gaze landed on each person until all were weaponless. A nod of satisfaction was given when Link removed the blade from his back and placed it behind him.

Zelda realized that this was the actual meeting of peace.

"I do not like to reveal anything about my people and our traditions to an outsider, but many things have happened tonight that have been foretold. So I will tell you of our legends as I will not go against the will of Hylia."

Zelda blinked in surprise. Chief Anaar's demeanor was solemn and he looked at Zelda with something akin to pity. But his face hardened as his eyes slid over to Link, who met the gaze unblinkingly.

"With your lineage, I am assuming that you know about the war between our peoples and the Gerudo ten thousand years ago?" Zelda nodded. "And because of our peoples past, we are aware that your bloodline holds the reincarnation of the Goddess Hylia."

"I am not sure that is true, I have prayed to awaken the goddess power and nothing has ever happened. I have wondered if we were told this in order to secure our family as the royalty to Hyrule."

"Purah."

Purah turned and leaned over to grab a small very battered bound book from behind the Chief, a wooden snap told Zelda it was hidden in the floor. Purah turned pages wordlessly then placed the open book in front of Zelda.

Zelda peered at the pages. The dialect was unfamiliar but it was the drawings that caught her eye. It was a forest scene; the trees were full of oddly shaped leaves. In the center, a long-haired figure was pulling a sword from a pedestal.

"What—" Link's voice was hoarse and he reached toward the page but his hand hovered over the figure. Purah gently turned the page. The sword was pulled now and the figure held it above his head, light shimmered from the blade. The figure's face was obscured but the blonde hair and pointed ears were very clear.

Something was different though; the blade's guard and grip were larger and purple. It matched the tapestries that hung in the castle, not the short bluish blade that Link now carried.

"Ten thousand years ago, there was an evil unleashed into our world. Only after the Gerudo King was subdued did we find out that he was a reincarnation of something ancient." She turned the page and the forest scene was repeated, this time in a white room with a statue of the Goddess Hylia. "This evil continues to be reborn. A pattern emerged. A queen or a princess that lost all her family, the last in her bloodline…a knight that stays by her side." Another page flip, another purple sword, a temple this time.

Zelda's eyes snapped up from the pages to stare at Impa. "I still have living family."

"Not of your direct bloodline, you are the last royal." Impa turned the book towards the front of the binding. "This is the original sword that was left to the hero." The picture was an exact match to Link's new blade.

"The first hero managed to prove his warrior spirit and transform the blade. It has been unchanged since. We don't know why the blade has reverted. It has not been this way since the beginning of the cycle."

Zelda's mind whirled. The feeling of wrongness became more pronounced, it had been unsettling her stomach since the moment she was crowned. The Sheikah had been on edge since the bell tolled.

"Why did your bell toll?"

All three of the Sheikah shared a look. It was filled with pity, despair and, in Impa's case, raw anger. Impa's face grew darker, this omen she did not like.

"That bell is connected to the spirits." She spat out through gritted teeth. Zelda expected her to continue but she only balled her fists and turned her face away.

Purah patted her sister's shaking hand. "Each of our villages have a bell. They toll only when death approaches. It usually only rings when the Chief has reached the end of their life cycle. But other deaths that the spirits deem important may also trigger a ringing." She took a deep breath. "Our village has three bells whereas all the others have one. The largest bell has been silent since the day it was hung."

"But it rang yesterday." Zelda whispered.

Purah only nodded.

Impa let out a noise between a snarl and a sob. "All three rang." She choked out.

Zelda's blood ran cold.