Chapter 32: Between Two Masters
The lizalfos reached toward the deer carcass, cooking over the fire. Nothing happened. It was then he remembered his right arm was not there. It had been over a month since he lost it, and Rithfus still had not grown used to its absence. Perhaps he never would. May Demise come upon the boy. May his life come to nothing and may the fae that follows him turn trickster upon his mind.
Some of the other Lizalfos watched him wave the stump of his arm toward the meat. They hissed in laughter to themselves. Rithfus snarled at them, then grabbed at the food with his left claw and tore some of the meat away. Even with one arm, he could hurt them. Make them pay for their laughter. For how they did nothing to help him.
But could he win if he attacked them? Obviously not. Maybe if he attacked quick and fast he could cut one of their throats. Then what happens? The others jump on him, and then they would have more meat to cook than one thin deer.
He stuffed the strips of deer down his throat. Enough to keep his strength up, but never enough to be truly full. He did not know if he had ever been full in his life. Full was for the biggest and strongest, those that could demand more food and fight off those that would take it from them. Perhaps he would have become one of them as he got older. Some in his clutch had grown strong why couldn't he have as well? And you only needed to grow a little stronger than the others. Just enough that they don't want to fight you when you take more than your share. And if you take more of the food you will grow even stronger.
But those dreams were gone now. He only had one arm, even a weaker Lizalfos could challenge him for food. He would never become the biggest or the strongest. Rithfus looked around him, all the others eating around the fire were focusing on their own meals. Fast as he could, he cut off a second piece of deer and shoved it down his throat before anyone objected. That was as best as he could achieve. Wait until they're distracted, and take small enough so no one wishes to take it from him.
From beyond the fire, someone shuffled closer to them. Another Lizalfos, her bronze scales turning a sickly gray at the tips. Her frame was thin, even thinner than Rithfus's had become and it was easy to see why. She was small with a crooked leg. How had she even survived this long?
"I see you have more food," her tongue flickered out, tasting the air around the cooked meal. "Do you have any to spare? I have not eaten today."
"Away!" shouted Sressith as he stood up. By far the largest of the Lizalfos at the fire. He would get enough to eat. "We already are feeding one weakling. No more." He grabbed at a leg of the deer and tore it from the rest of the carcass. Most of the meat had already been eaten by the others, but what little was left he shoved in his mouth, crunching through flesh and bone all together. He towered over the female as he sloppily devoured the leg before her.
"I hunger," the female said, lowering her head in submission. "I do not need much."
"I said away!" Sressith swung around, whipping his tail at the female. It hit her in the side and sent her flying. She bounced and rolled among the rocks, until the light of the fire no longer reached her. The only part of her that remained was her moans of pain.
Rithfus burst into laughter along with the others that hissed around the fire. It was good to see others be miserable for a change.
"What are you laughing about?" Sressith turned to Rithfus. "You should be out there with her. You did not hunt for the deer. You did not make the fire. You can no longer fight."
"King Dodongo placed me with you," Rithfus said. "If you refuse me, go tell him."
Sressith snarled, but he did not do anything more but take another large piece of the kill. Rithfus thought of taking more himself, that would infuriate Sressith. Perhaps it would make him do something stupid. Maybe he would complain to King Dodongo and get eaten himself. But more likely, he would simply attack Rithfus. What good is another piece of meat if you break a bone for it? He had eaten two fistfuls of fresh meat today. That was better than most.
The light of the fire went dim, as did the stars in the sky and the glowing moon.
"What is that?" Another of Sressith's clutch asked, as she backed away from the fire.
"He is coming," Rithfus said, he touched the back of his head, remembering the shock the new king used to always find him.
Sressith snarled again, but this one felt empty. Pointless bravado to show the others he was not afraid. But he was. They all were, Rithfus could smell it on them. Or perhaps that was his own fear? Would this be the day he displeased his new master? Will this be the day he sends magic to burn through him until there is nothing left?
A darkness deeper than all the night sky tore open the air before them and out stepped their king. But he was not truly there. He never was. Rithfus' tongue flickered out to taste the air, it was nothing but magic. But who knows what dangers could come from even the phantom of this new king? Rithfus bowed, along with the other Lizalfos.
The King of Gerudo, Moblin, Lizalfos, Dodongo, and Octarok looked upon them with burning blue eyes through a skull mask. "Leave us," he demanded.
It was not without pleasure that Rithfus noticed it was Sressith who left the fire the quickest. Rithfus knew better than to laugh, Sressith would simply make Rithfus pay for the mockery later. But he could still silently take joy in the big Lizalfos cowardice.
When all the other Lizards were out of earshot the image of Ganondorf spoke. "Soon, the host of Gerudo and the Gorons will be leaving for the Crown. We will arrive in three days. Then we will ave a battle whether you are prepared or not. What progress has been made?"
Rithfus breathed deep, it was difficult getting Hylian words to come from his mouth. His tongue did not wish to shape itself to hit the sounds they made, nor did his lips form the words. But if he concentrated he could get most of it sounding right. "Your small raids were… good. We have found a secret entrance to the Crown."
"That is what I'm looking for. Do you know their numbers?"
"Not many. But," Rithfus stretched his jaw to get the shape right. "Does not matter. One could hold the entrance against many. Assaulting the Crown is suicide."
"Good. Tell King Dodongo to attack the Crown in three days. When our forces arrive, have him fall back, about face and start to fight us. His main army should engage the Gorons, they will be stationed on his flank. While my Gerudo will be on the right. Closest to the entrance to the Crown. There will be violence between our armies, that cannot be helped. But I will sound a steady retreat. It will appear as if you army is winning. When that happens the Gorons in the Crown will try to save their Chief. They will abandon their positions to attack you in the rear. Do you understand?"
"Yes. This will make the Crown weak. We can make a break for the Crown. King Dodongo will crush whatever resistance remains and take the Ruby for himself."
"Precisely. After that, his army will retreat, safely. There will be no more need for them on the mountain. And he will bring the Ruby to me."
It was clever. That was one thing that Rithfus had to acknowledge with their new king. He may be a filthy Gerudo, without scales, and as big a brute as he had ever seen, but he was smart. Rithfus wondered how many meals he had torn away from those that served him to grow so tall and strong. But that was the way of life. You either grew large with food, or you served those who grew large and hoped that the ones you served were stronger than the others and generous with their scraps.
With Ganondorf, Rithfus knew he was serving one of the strongest there was in the world. But he had seen no scraps so far.
"About that other thing. Have you done it yet?"
"I am sorry, my king. But one does not simply lay their hands upon King Dodongo. I have tried many times." Though each time he had been too fearful to do it.
"This is your last chance. When you deliver my message, you will touch him. I do not care how. I do not care if it costs you your other arm. You will do it or I will find you and someone else will deliver my messages. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes," Rithfus bowed once more. But even if your master is the strongest, one is always one misstep away from a claw to the throat. Such is life for the weak.
The skull head nodded, then darkness surrounded it and he was gone. The light of the fire grew brighter, and Rithfus could once again see the stars. The others would be coming back, soon. But until they did, the food was still right there in front of him.
He carved off three more pieces of meat and devoured them as quick as he could. It paid to serve the strongest. Especially when death was all around.
The Dodongo had their own camps with their own fires and their own slaves to tend to them. Most of them Lizalfos, occasionally one could find a Moblin or even a Hylian doing this work for them. Rithfus had not thought much of Dodongo's intelligence, but King Dodongo must have known bringing Gerudo slaves would displease their new master. He did not know what happened to them, but he suspected Ganondorf would like it even less than their slavery.
King Dodongo had the largest fire of all of them, of course. His slaves gathered wood and dropped them into the great pyre before him. All he needed to do was breath upon the wood to make it burst into a fire. But that was the life of a Dodongo, everything always came easy to them.
Every one of them ate better than any Lizalfos. It made sense, they were all bigger, all stronger. Their scales were harder, their claws longer. The biggest among them could eat an entire Lizalfos in one bite. And from what Rithfus had heard of King Dodongo, that was something he had done more than once to a Lizalfos that displeased him.
King Dodongo lounged by the fire, lying on his side. His belly pointed toward the flames. His great head resting on the ground while slaves ran about to bring more wood for the flames. One large Moblin stood in front of his head with a massive pile of charred meat. Rithfus could not tell what animals they were before, and he did not think he wished to know. King Dodongo would open his mouth and the slave would throw a piece in.
This is what power looks like. Power that Rithfus would never have in his life. Could never have. But how glorious it would be if he did?
King Dodongo's eyes found him, as he approached. Rithfus bowed as low as he could.
"One-Arm. Did he speak with you again?" The Dodongo spoke in grunts and roars and the releasing of specific odors that none but other lizards ever seemed able to understand. To others King Dodongo must look like a wild animal, roaring and growling at everything. But even though most Dodongo were fools Rithfus knew they were not animals. He could smell the disdain that laced the king's words.
"He did. He gave me a plan for our battle. In three days, he wishes for us to assault the Crown."
"He gave you a plan," the Dodongo snarled. "He gave me an order. He did not speak to me. He did not ask for my guidance. He did not see how my army moved or what they need. He only gives orders. Through you."
Anger poured from him. And of course it did, King Dodongo was used to ruling himself. One does not live their life feasting as they wish to enjoy taking the scraps offered by the stronger. He did not like living like a Lizalfos.
"I am sorry, my king," Rithfus bowed even lower. Until his belly touched ground like he was some unintelligent iguana. "But I am only the messenger. I do not mean to offend."
"I know how little you mean, but you offend just the same. Your humility is the only reason I allow you to speak to me." The massive creature took a deep breath, small spouts of flame came from his nostrils. He seemed to decide something, he rolled from his side onto his feet and shook himself. "Walk with me, One-Arm."
"Of course, my king." Rithfus scrambled to his feet as he followed the king away from the fires and the slaves and the others who fought in Ganondorf's army.
"You know our new master better than anyone else in my army." King Dodongo said.
His army, you mean. "I believe so, my king. But I am not certain I truly know him."
"What do you think of your new master?" King Dodongo said.
"What am I supposed to think of him?" Rithfus said. "He spared my life." Could he touch him now? Rithfus looked around him, there were still others from the king's fire that stared at them. They would know. What if something happened? What if it cursed him in such a way it was obvious? That would get him killed. Either from King Dodongo or form the others. No he needed to wait a little longer.
"He has no respect for us. For our ways."
"His kind never do." But what difference was that than you? He wanted to say. When King Dodongo ruled alone did he ever ask his Lizalfos for their opinion, or did he order them about or threaten to eat them? One master was much the same as the other. They walked in silence until they were far away from all the fires.
"Did you know, he led a moblin tribe into Castle Town?"
"I had heard of that venture."
"He led them inside, and they all perished. Every one of them. I knew the chief who led them. He was a great warrior. Bold. He was planning to challenge Morqut the Thrice-Cursed himself before our new leader killed him."
"Your ally?"
Dodongo snorted a spout of flame. "No. But I respected him and his tribe. We traded at times, and now they are all dead. Because of our new master. Slaughtered by his own hand."
"You think, he will discard us the same way?"
The King stopped and looked to the top of the Crown. "I do not know. But he does not care for us. And I mean to make certain I come out of this alive."
You will. But nothing about me. Nothing about those you consider your army.
"But how can you guarantee it, my king?"
"I have not ruled so long by strength alone." But the scent coming from him. It wasn't what Rithfus expected, it wasn't confidence and anger. It was confusion, sadness, doubt.
Now, it has to be now. "I have been told, to rule is difficult. To know the right path, uncertain." Rithfus reached out, and let his hand rest on the side of the great creature's neck. A shock went through his hand to the king.
"Do not touch me," he snarled.
Rithfus pulled his claws away, and lowered his head. "I am sorry, my king. I did not mean to offend you in any way. I am-"
"Quit sniveling. Tell me his battle plan, One-Arm. And I will see what I will do."