Author's note all rights belong to Nintendo, including games, characters or system names recommended games for this chapter are Link's Awakening and Twighlight Princess. Inner dialogue is italicized with a single quotation mark, spoken dialogue is unchanged and receives two quotation marks, long distance dialogue is not italicized and has one quotation mark
Chapter 3 Haunting Treasure
Smoke thick and white envelops the ruins of Outset Outpost. The white vapor was the color produced by steam combustion, rather than the black produced by burning wood or charcoal. If Irene did not know better, she would think it was fog from the ocean directly south of their position. "I wish it had looked like this the day we landed we never would have disembarked. We would have kept on sailing; they would never have come, to this fate." The man in a sling continues to ponder that alternate reality seconds tick by, then he looks at his companion. 'We would never have met maybe it is not all bad. How many people would have helped dig that grave? Even fewer would have lugged my dead weight around, as she had.' "Irene what do you suppose we do in this smog? I cannot see the chu jelly I can barely see you." She grabs his arm her slim fingers clawing cloying to his wrist. 'Feels like a cat just tried to pull me in, or keep me trapped.' Shaking, the unflattering thought away, Link listens for her answer. As usual his enthusiastic partner surprises him. "Why would fog have kept you from sailing?" Whispering the question out of a respect for the fallen Irene looks up at him. He certainly saw her now. He saw her in a new light, for in that moment he realizes she knows nothing at all about boats.
"There are a few reasons not to sail in such dense vapor. First you cannot sail without being able to see the water, too easy to capsize. Secondly, we would have never sighted land and would have kept right on going. Thirdly my people do nothing in a foul wind it would be sacrilegious. When Link fails to elaborate Irene thinks. 'Winds are sacred to him. not maidens, or any of the Triforce gifts. Certainly, sounds more like witchcraft the spirits and the winds, omens in everything.' "Link who do you worship?" She had surprised him again that was the second time she had not called him Green.
"My people believe in the Windfish the one who brings clean air, favorable winds, the wish granter, a creator of islands, the beginning and end of dreams. Growing solemn he breaks off dismissing his soliloquy. "Here is not the place to speak of him, we are in a foul wind after all." "All right, can we plan in a foul wind Green?" He squeezes her hand in answer. That was all the 'yes', the pretty young witch needed. "I could cast a spell; it would enable us to, track your sister no matter the weather. I can prepare it several ways there are two possible ingredients we can use easily." Link replies promptly. "Use which ever one is the strongest." "I can do that, provided you have a possession of Aryl's that she treasured." "I do not, I do know where we can find one though."
When the wind blew the smoke away the true nature of the place reasserted itself. The rutted, scorched earth, and tilted or fallen over tents wrecked beyond repair. Irene led them to her stack of spears using some torn leather from tents she fastened one to her back it was the best made. Link barely looked at her while she put it on, "I made that one, fire sharpened deku wood from Outset. I gave it to a friend of mine they must have still had it." Irene shook off the spear, like a cat out of water. Then she threw the offensive piece in his direction, Link caught it in his good hand "No keep it, you deserve the best." Once he returned the weapon Link goes back to the pile. Stooping Link picks up a walking stick, Irene had thrown it in with the spears by mistake. 'That is exactly how I hold my witch bag. It must be his Gram's shame we are not looking for her. We know exactly where she is. We buried her yesterday, by the stars that was only yesterday!'
Leaning on his new staff Link turns to talk to her. "We have to collect a boat, we kept them in a cove to the southeast." "Hold on Green where are we going on a boat?" Irene glowers at the sailor, the idea of the open sea scared her. "To Outset we have to get our family heirloom for your spell." Irene stilled herself retied her sling and stabbed her spear into the ground. "We are not going anywhere, mister!" Scowls the sorcerous, her features lighten in the span of a moment. "Without replacing your sling first, that is." Smiling for the first time since they came to Outset Outpost Link salutes her. "Yes mam." With a fresh sling, now made of more salvaged tent fabric they were almost ready. Irene gathered more fabric stuffed it into her witch bag now the pair could continue. Southeast was towards Irene and Gram's cave probably the cove was on the other side of the strait. 'I was heading there after the battle. I was really out of it if I overshot the cove by that much. Today I am of sound mind, I even have the wind at my back.' Irene no longer has to support Link; his sturdy new cane had taken over for her. Thus, they proceeded in single file unlike yesterday. 'My shoulders feel so much better now. I could not have kept him on top of me much longer.' Link misses seeing Irene blush, at the thought, she was too far back.
"Green what is this heirloom exactly? If it is already ensorcelled, we will have to substitute the other ingredient." Link does not answer right away he is racking his brain for evidence of magic. I do not remember any special properties, to be safe I better tell you the whole story."
"There was a retired merchant ship captain, who settled on the beaches of Hyrule. He subsisted on shell fish collected from diving. He used an old spy glass to track the movements of gulls, would take his boat out to them and dive. After a good hall he would cheerily play on his mouth organ, he noticed the seagulls loved one particular song. On the Night of Eruptions, he took his one man dingy and sailed out in the bay to watch the fire fall, from what he judged a safe distance. When the fire faded from the sky and Mount Doom's first eruption subsided, he went back to his way of life. One day he spots an inordinate number of seafowl circling an object on the horizon. Unable to determine the nature of the object he investigates on his ship. As the Captain drew close to the object, he saw an ugly ship barely afloat. The Captain had just found a boat full of Ordonian refugees. "
"He encounters, shepherds clothed in rags of homespun garments, torn to ribbons. Burns of various degrees line the bodies of these survivors on the leaky vessel. A feeble sail had propelled the ship this far but, the wind was driving them towards shore and none were fit to rerig the hastily constructed tub. The Captain fixed their sail and using a chart began to pilot them to a nearby island. He added his own sail to the boat sacrificing his own treasured ship. Without the expertise of the Captain, they would have perished as many who fled to the seas did. "Wait you're not saying what I think your saying. You mean he piloted that floating ship during the star fall?" "Yes, When the top of Mount Doom rocketed into the sea The Captain saw it begin its flight path, with his trusty spy glass. He steered them to the island receiving a tail wind the whole way. When they made landfall, he sang the ballad of the Windfish. In the days that follow the Ordonians teach him how to farm they try to make him chief he refuses crediting the whole rescue to the fortuitous headwind and the Windfish. A village elder does accept, the role of chief, eventually the Captain marries the widow of the chieftain who died in the eruption. They pass on the eyeglass in a special case engraved with a seagull, to their child with the sharpest eyes. When that child grows up, she beseeches that all members of the family follow suit. Though the Ordonians intermarried with a tribe of locals they never forgot the tale of the Captain and his deity the Windfish or his eyeglass."
Back in the present the travelers had reached the cove during the telling of the tail. The cove the pair face does indeed have several small boats floating at anchor. It is shaped like, a teardrop, though the end tapered out to sea farther than any actual tear would. The sand was at least three different colors plus there were specks of glass embedded in the beach. The way down was clear and the cove is as silent as a thought. Once again Irene helps Link down the path leading to more small talk.
"I take it from your story that Aryl sees better than you." "That is an understatement she sees better than everyone. She can spot a fish in murky water, tell us apart in the dark, even recognize a person at a far distance just by the way they run. Give her the spyglass and you felt like she saw everything on the island." 'No wonder she was able to save Link seeing in the dark must have helped her cut the boar loose.' "Irene were there any other weapons at the site of the attack?" "No just spears, no bows slings or anything else." "Then where did all the swords go? "Good question, I can track a person with magic. objects are a little harder, unless it has its own magic." "I have a better question why did a bunch of mindless dirt eating Lizalfos take all our metal?" She had to admit it was a good question she had no idea. They fall silent mulling over the implications that it had been a targeted raid for the Outsetters' metal. They both had the same thought, at the same time. 'A raid made the most sense but there had to be some other explanation.'
Carefully avoiding the patches of glass, scattered on the beach, they trudge to the boats. Link inspects, each of the boats with ease. While he decides on the best sea-faring-vessel, to take Irene studies them as well. 'I have never seen any boats how did they cut the wood into that shape? It is a little smaller than I thought it would be. From the story there must have been dozens of people on one ship. No way these hold more than half a dozen each, that is good for us as long as no waves swamp the boat.'
"Irene, can you get us some supplies we are going to need at least two days' rations, to reach Outset. I should be able to take the sail from that ship and move it to this one while you are gone." Snapping out of her reverie the witch replies. "Aye Aye Captain Green." She saunters back up the hill in a rough approximation of a nautical walk. Both tasks take the better part of the afternoon. Irene returns with more small birds of several varieties. Killing any big game, would take more time and man power, than two Hylians could muster. After storing the game on one of the spare boats, they collect the best oars. The pair turn to discussing why Link and the others were creating Outset Outpost, while they work.
"I was selected to oversee the expansion project, a trading outpost for our merchants. They were growing tired of just servicing us. I was hoping, to be chief one day it was a natural thing to volunteer for, a good way to gain experience. It also gave us more pastures for our various types of livestock. "I understand the desire to expand trade. When Gram and I occasionally sold our potions in town it was tough to grow our clientele, towards the end I had to haggle with everyone Gram would get confused." Seeking to change the topic away from dour remembrances Irene asks a question.
"Link why are we preparing now, we cannot go out there till your arm heals, that will take at least a month? "No, I feel great ever since we started setting it in poultices at night I have more motion, it will take a few days at most." "That is just the quick set talking, without my help it would take two months instead of one. Even then you cannot get it wet."Link lets out a sigh indicating he had not thought of that he was not down long for he had an idea.
"The easiest solution would be to send you by yourself." "Great idea oh sage of wisdom, cept, I do not know where Outset Isle is." Could you create something we could use to communicate with over the distance?" "Hmm there are a few ways to do that gifted magicians can do it with no assistance. Certain songs allow for it but, we have no musical instruments. Do you play an instrument?" "I can play wind instruments, the ocarina, flute, and the mouth organ, if any one knew how to make them." "Crystal ball it is then, we practically tripped over them on the way in. 'He really must be lucky he led me to the one spot that has glass.'
After, collecting two small orbs of glass Irene chants around each crystal, while holding them up to the sun. Link is unsure how long she chants for, when suddenly both spheres turn black indicating an infusion of magic. "Huh huh. "She gasps heavily hands on her knees. "That took a lot out of me maybe I should have done one at a time. Sunlight allows you to crystal gaze if there is no sun then we cannot communicate." Looking at her intently, making sure she is allright, Link adds. "As soon as the sun sets you will have to drop anchor. With no chart or guidance from me we cannot risk it. "Your safety comes first. I need my healer so you can also take the bag." With half lidded eyes Irene replies. "Aren't you sweet?" She gingerly lays down and falls quiet. Before Link can discuss more of the plan his companion is snoozing. 'Any magic that did not use ingredients strains her overmuch. Usually she tosses and turns tonight, instant dreamland.' Feeling isolated in the cove, Link turns in as well
Before I you get in the boat you have to show me you can swim. She rolls her eyes at him and tosses her blue locks coquettishly. "Swim of course I can swim. I swim like a duck in fact, if you weren't in the sling, I would race you." "Sure sure, just show me. Please. I need to know you can get back on board the ship. Instead of getting in the water the witch stalls for time. "Green, I do not know about this, two days is a long time what if I drift out to sea, or hit something, something could hit me." Your fine all of those things or less likely than me getting wet. We have to weigh the risks sometimes is it a dangerous task yes, it is still our safest option. Besides you can row or tack a sail that and using the crystal ball will be all you need to handle. Link looks at Irene she is still nervous he takes her hand in his strong, unbroken, left hand. "Do not worry about me thanks to you I can swing a spear and will watch you the whole time. You, helped me so I can stand on my own now it is your turn to stand. "Right, cuz if I have to heal anything else of yours when I get back you are gonna wish I had gotten lost at sea." 'What a fire in her eyes that is what she is a little spitfire, a cantankerous, hellcat, that also cares for me. No, she cares for the good luck I can bring her.' Link evaluates that lost thought it never felt transactional to him, yet Irene had said as much. 'I do not really mean it, I will come back, if at all possible, just like he will for his sister.' When Irene had doused her fiery personality by swimming in the cove to Link's satisfaction, she dries off while he readies the boat.
"Are you ready? I can only check I brought everything so many times." The witch calls to her friend from beside the boat. She had left Link; a few of the spears, and pelts, retaining the remainder of those two items, the crystal ball, tent fabric, and her potion ingredients. Additionally, her two potion bottles from treating Link are now filled with water from the well by Outset Outpost Link nonchalantly, chides her in return. "Nope, it needs one last thing a good name." "Doesn't it already have a name?" "If it did it is not on the boat anywhere, I do not even remember whose boat this is." Link is rubbing his hands, in glee, Irene is starting to think naming a ship is a big deal to Outsetters. "How about the Hellcat?" "I would rather name it something witch related, besides cats hate water." "There goes my next suggestion the Black Cat. I do not have a lot of experiences with witches what would you suggest." "There are a lot of things we could use; I really like, the Broomstick." "The one you never got to make, it fits, I like it. Welcome to your ship captain of the Broomstick." Gallantly Link makes to lift her up, Irene gracefully, effortlessly, leaps aboard. They tool around the bay, when Irene is comfortable tacking the sail Link has her dock the vessel without assistance. Link disembarks; he tests out the crystal ball, establishing a connection before the ship sets sail.
'Irene, can you hear me?' 'Sure, can actually you sound a little loud, the volume correlates to your focus, relax everything is going as we planned.' The crystal flashes intermittently, as Link loses focus begore flaring back to a shining, translucent shade of white. 'Keep the sun on your port side for the next hour when you pass a large sandbar put it directly behind you.' With this and other directions Link guides her for the afternoon there comes a large stretch of no guidance for there are no landmarks in sight.
The sea is blue with small white caps rolling by, no other thing passes the Broomstick. Irene has been rowing for some time it was odd that she even had oars. Even the Outsetters; thought relying on the fickle wind, for every minute of the voyage pure folly. Though the wind was undoubtedly under the purview of their god. Irene is tempted to pray to the Windfish, rowing for two days was not her idea of a relaxing pleasure cruise. Settling down on the thwart she redoubles her rowing efforts. She is unaware that Link was already interceding to his god on her behalf he was still observing her despite relocating after the tide had come in.
Irene drops anchor at sunset so she can talk to Link before night renders the crystal-balls useless. 'Hey Green, thought I would check in before you know.' She shrugs looking at just the handsome face of her new friend. 'I did not mean to zoom in on his face, she had thought about looking into his eyes before she activated the enchantment. Wooh he has no idea my end is at this angle thank the stars.'
'Good thinking, you made great time it will still take another day. When you get there present that spear to the chief. The chief, the youngest kids, the farmers, and the other elders are still there.' 'If that does not work, I can always conjure you up to explain it to him. Wouldn't he rather here from you? Unless using magic like that, would freak them out.' 'I really need to get used to her using magic. Seems like every time I ask her to do something there are six other ways, she can do it with magic.' He pauses mulling over his next suggestion for a long time.
'You better show him the spear since it belonged to his daughter, and my fiancé.' She could hear the resignation in his voice before she can clarify the enchantment fades. 'He just lost his betrothed! Here I was admiring his eyes, like a besotted school girl! I don't think he noticed but now I have to be more considerate I get why he did not tell me that, is a lot to dump on a stranger. Oh! that is what the red from the vision meant. Now I know what the red passion in the vision was, it the end of their romance. No wonder he ended the communication spell early' Irene did not sleep well that night, she was suddenly nervous about the next day's events. Which did not help her already upset stomach.
'Nebulous nightmares, I lost concentration! 'Maybe if I clear my head …breathe just breathe.' That's it the magic is back I can feel it!' First her pelt, blue hair, oval face.' When Irene appears Link is looking up into her face which is hanging over the side. Closing his eyes Link decides he has bothered Irene enough for the night.
The sea sleeps like a baby in a crib, the water is pristine undisturbed. Unpacking the crystal ball Irene checks her reflection. Her skin has turned a little pink from the sun, it is not uncomfortable, yet. She looked fine, there was no trace of last night's seasickness. 'I did not want to give him any chance to make green jokes that is my department. I feel better, I cannot imagine I had much left to hurl over the side. Any minute now…it, must be important he knows I still have to inspect his arm.' While waiting Irene begins to play with her earrings. When Link's visage appears, he is on top of a bluff overlooking the ocean. "Climbing up here, took some doing, this spot is a lot easier to defend with the sling when compared to the cove. As long as you are anchored, we can start with my arm." Shifting Link tried to shove his broken appendage closer to the crystal, contorting into increasingly awkward positions. "Green, I appreciate whatever dance move you are trying to show me but, I can just point the crystal at your arm." Sheepishly he stops so Irene can inspect it. "Nothing is amiss your old dressing should hold till tomorrow. "Well, we better get you to that island so you can talk me through it. From here on, head due west, and keep a lookout from the crow's nest. "What exactly does the island look like?" "You should see dirt paths, a large crag, and the village huts. Unless you see the backside first, that is a ring of small rocks clustered around a small beach, or the side of a mountain. I do not remember any other islands west of your position you should be fine."
Setting course as directed was easy, when the wind became favorable Irene dug out the rations nibbling on a small piece of meat. Her stomach trouble did not return, maybe it had been nerves. Keeping course on the becalmed sea, she soon came upon an island. It had to be the island! 'Time to dock the boat. I am surprised; Link has not been pestering me, I know he is watching the crystal ball is still translucent. I must not need his help! Standing a little straighter the seafarer, began to row in, ready to drop anchor in shallower water. Collecting her gear Irene disembarks, she stumbles from the inertia of a firm world unable to walk a straight line. 'As soon as the world stops spinning, I can drop down to my knees and kiss it."
Unable to see the advantage of being stealthy she, treaded down the dirt path. Soon a group of three boys surrounded her, thin with big heads and sharp features they looked somewhat misshapen. "Take me to the chief I need to show him something." The boys debated something amongst themselves, sending their youngest member off at a run. "Nice try spy, bringing you to the village gives away the location but if we get the chief, you learn squat!" 'Infallible logic if you start with the premise, I am a spy. If I were an assassin, you would just be bringing me my target. Thankfully they did no think that or try to take my spear. This is all that is left to defend them boys playing soldier.'
When the leader arrived, he towered over the youths and over Irene, casting a wide shadow over them. Thick with muscle, his frame gave the impression of skin stretched to fit a too tiny model bulging out wherever it failed to fit properly. He had no wrinkles and a small neck, leading to his smooth bald pate. Steeling herself Irene, removed the spear, holding it horizontally. Aware of her grim errand she talks faster. "Chief of Outset I have come to retrieve an item you have kept for one of your families and to bring news of the outpost. Though I am a stranger Link has sent me for he is unable to come himself. This spear proves what I say for it is… "My daughter's" Finished the chief. Monotone voice, expressionless face, a slight furrow of his thick brow the only sign of his grief. "Who else is among the fallen." Swallowing hard she moves away from the children and tells of the late massacre. "Link wants the spyglass to aid in our search for Aryll, we shall return it to the tribe when they rejoin you." "You can have the spyglass but, neither Link, nor his sister are welcome here, they both fled from battle disgracing themselves!" His lips flapped as they expel venomous epithets at the siblings. "They should have died with the others they are charged with desertion and henceforth banished." Taking the spear from Irene he begins to lead her to the village.
On the mainland Link is nonplussed the world fades around him for a second, unfocused the crystal ball clouds over. 'Banished! I was the next chief, the outpost was essentially my trial run. I was set to move back when the Outpost became self-sufficient, we were almost there. The cliffs, the river, I may never even tend the pigs or fish the shore of Outset again. All my hopes are dashed when I find Aryll where we will go? Why is Aryll banished? She stopped the attack! The more Link thinks about it the more unfair it feels desertion was never in his mind the battle was finished. 'For now, I will save my sister then I can look to the future. A future without Outset Island in it,'
Irene accompanies the chief to the village. 'Would he have been that callous if Link had come himself? Maybe it would have been worse, he might've killed Green. I have to keep them from coming back here if they do, he will kill them both. The faster I get that heirloom the faster I can get back to my ship.'
The village was only a handful of closeknit houses around a river that flowed down to the sea. The houses are logs and thatch, there were even some waterwheels it was all very impressive, from a technical standpoint. There are no trees, various stumps remain from the aggressive lumbering of the Island. The chief proudly explains who lives in which abodes, all of them are occupied by at least one person. Not that Irene is listening to the chief.
'What a pompous windbag, I have no idea who any of these people are, not that he cares. Link was under the impression that they left to expand, but if that was the case he would have, reconnoitered the mainland before sending anyone. I bet the biggest house is our destination, where else would he live?'
Irene's prediction comes true, despite being unaided pure, speculation. The Chief did disappear before returning with a spyglass. "Where is the special case? Since that is also, handed down in their family I figured you would just give me both." "Ah yes, I was in such a rush I left it…let me go fix that." Mumbling this apology, the chief slips back inside. Recalling that Link had activated the scrying device on her way in she quickly pulled it out of her bag. Whispering she reached out with all her power. 'Green, was that the same spyglass?' 'No, despite its age ours is in much better shape. Grandma was very strict that we handle it carefully and clean it.' Hearing approaching footsteps the witch stows the crystal ball back in her bag. She receives the box taking it with both hands Irene examines it. The box was a dark black, metallic in texture, with a white bird in midflight, it is small enough to hold in one hand. Opening the box, she sees the replacement spyglass. 'Nice try, it barely fits in the box, now I just have to get back to the ship before he pulls anything else. I better anchor nearby to try the spell, surely this means as much to Aryll as the actual spyglass.' Putting a hand on her back the chief escorts her out of the village back the way they had come. Except now there is a hairy man with a sword on guard at the city gate.
It took all her self-control to walk nonchalantly to the Broomstick. Irene did cast one glance back, the men were on either side of the entrance, glaring at her back. Jumping in the boat the water displacement showered her in spray, uncaring Irene pulled around to the mountainous side of the island. 'I will put out to sea again; I would hate to wreck on those jutting, sharp, jagged, rocks.' A vision of her small boat dashed against the cliff face, reinforced the wisdom of her decision. Carefully Irene lays the box down, gently on the ship's deck. 'The spyglass in the box should not affect the spell. I would have to try to mess up a spell this simple. The sun is setting time to begin.' Pulling off both earrings, Irene set them on top of the box sighing she began the spell. "I sacrifice my treasure upon this totem, to find the one who misses it more than what I had to lose." The earing's give off black smoke as they sink into the box, immediately the beak of the seagull carving spun west away from the main land. With a big grin the spellcaster turns the now magical item around, following the seagull as it shifts to point in the same direction. 'I need to tell him it worked. Sitting down, heavily, and feeling slightly winded Irene has the crystal ball back in her hand as if by magic. 'I should not have done that right after casting the spell...Focus focus, looking at the sky, Wait what's that?' She sees the wind catch her sail; in her haste, she had not, retied it properly. The canvas snaps loose from its mooring, flowing away on a breeze. She was stranded, one thought echoes loudly in her brain at the realization. 'Thanks for nothing Windfish.'
Author's note
I had a few different versions and ideas rattling around on this one. I thought about having one of the kids from the village stowaway. I also had a version that, ended at the Island. Even considered having Irene faint at the end but, ultimately, I decided to end on a joke. Having her faint twice even with an in-universe reason was a little much. I have seen one volcano in real life and it had a lake in the middle of it, this inspired the white steam from the beginning. Comparing game notes, I finished Link's Awakening (the Gameboy version) for the first time, glad I did or the wish aspect would have been missing, and less seagull imagery. I do not believe the Windfish has anything to do with wind but, people who never encountered him would naturally think that. Especially generations later in an oral history retelling. For Twighlight princess I took that cast and one person from Windwaker to inhabit Outset mainly to gain a chief.