Upon opening the door of the laboratory, we found Dr Mizumi squatted on a plank of wooden boards nailed together. His tongue stuck out as he pressed his thumb against a thick red line painted at intervals to make a numerical scale.
"Eight metres exactly," he confirmed, before scooping up some water and moistening his lips. "Chalybeate content is palatable. Beetroot combination perhaps?" He looked up as the door closed. "Ah, hello you two. I've left some stew in the pot if you're hungry."
I wandered over to the fire and ladled some of the brown, sticky gravy into a bowl. "What type of stew is it?" I asked, poking at the contents.
"Nothing untoward," the Doctor promised. "I suspect you haven't eaten anything in a good while. I'd make the most of it if I were you."
The tender beef stew, if slightly spicy, slid down to my stomach without complaint. Kilton sniffed around for titbits, but once I started eating, I couldn't stop.
Yasei's eyes widened. "Seconds?"
I thrust out my empty bowl. Mother would have been amazed, as I was always the last person at the dinner table to finish. I used to drive father mad and had no need for extra portions. A tall glass of Lon Lon milk completed the meal perfectly.
A rap at the door almost made my stew come back up. With lips pursed, I sensed a familiar energy. A hint of recognition about the steely flow, yet I still couldn't place it. I felt neither queasy or at ease, but something else…
"Open up in the name of the King!"
My eyes narrowed. Of course, it would be about him. The hammering of a fist on the rattling wood wasn't going away.
Yasei opened the door a fraction, a thin beam of sunlight pierced the gloomy lab. "Yeah?"
"Are you the sender of this?" the low voice enquired.
She dashed out in such a hurry that the doctor's papers flew off the desk. "Put him down, you're strangling him."
Mizumi and I followed her outside, only to be greeted by unfriendly spears and Hylian soldiers in full battle armour. Memories of that time in the army hit full force; the oversized helmet and thick boots that chafed as we marched across the fields.
"General Impa," I choked.
The Sheikah held a struggling young man by the scruff of the neck. "Let them through," she said. "I want to get a good look before I slice them up." As the weapons lowered, she continued, "Which one of you jokers is Ronri Okane?"
An unwelcome shiver jittered down my spine. "Ahem, that would be me."
"Come here."
Those piercing red eyes watched my every move as I stepped forward. Her prisoner was dressed in a white athletic singlet and caligae sandals.
"Let me go," he pleaded, cycling legs desperate to run away. "This is nothing to do with me. I told you; I only delivered the letter as a favour. I had no idea what was in it."
Yasei grimaced.
"You sent a message?" I asked flabbergasted.
"Don't act so surprised. They were your last words, what did you expect me to do?"
I hadn't appreciated that Elrora would mark my words so, nor that Yasei would actually follow them.
What in Ganon has she written and signed in my name? I hope she addressed the King as His Highness. Oh dear, what unsightly ink blots must have stained the parchment! I put my head in my hands. Goodness, her spelling is atrocious too!
"So, a shadow beast is about to attack the new born princess?" Impa raised an eyebrow.
"It's the truth. We both heard him say it in The Spirit Temple."
"Well, you can both explain yourselves back at the palace then."
I tugged at my gold collar. "With the greatest respect, I don't see why. The letter informed the King of what Ganondorf threatened to do. There's no need to bother him with an official audience, surely?"
"Let me be frank, Mr Okane, this is not a discussion." Impa set the Running Man down. His knees went crunch on the gravel. Massaging his neck, he glared at Yasei and pointed.
"You promised me a live rabbit, trader. The animal of legend."
"Yeah, yeah." She held out her hand to help him up. "I'll sort it, alright? A Muryō pays their debts, jeez."
When the reins of a magnificent white mare were handed to me, I blinked at them dumbly. Yasei rolled her eyes and held the stirrup as I hauled myself into the saddle. She soon joined me, with those lovely, but dangerous, legs easily swinging over. Unlike with Kavia, I wrapped my arms around my love's waist without hesitation. I snuggled my head between her shoulder blades, which made her giggle. We waved farewell to Doctor Mizumi and set off late afternoon. Running alongside, Kilton chased the dust trail left behind by the General.
Having an escort felt strange and some of the guards cast curious looks in our direction. I was used to such things as the residents of Castle Town were never shy when gossiping about others. But I could hear Yasei grumbling under her breath.
"What's their damn problem?"
We followed their line of sight. With the sleeves of her yellow jumper rolled up, it revealed Ganondorf's mark. The revered Triforce was worshipped by so many and perhaps they saw this dark triangle as desecration of such a symbol.
"Does it hurt?" I asked.
Yasei tried to wrench the sleeve down. "No, I just feel… dirty."
"You're not dirty." I kissed her arm, which was bold even for me. "You're beautiful."
She turned her head away to hide a smug grin. "And you're as soppy as a Zora."
As we neared Hyrule Castle, the air shifted, becoming heavy and oppressive. Clouds gathered around the drawbridge to the town with the threat of rain. Impa spurred the horses to go even faster.
"Soldiers, don't let your guard down," she warned. "There's something coming."
Kilton's tongue flapped in the wind as he sped forwards; white pawed legs beat against the ground. His pointed ears were ragged back and fur rippled in several directions. I had to admit, his stamina always amazed me, keeping up with the horses took some doing.
When Impa's horse reared everyone came to a complete stop.
"Hey, if you squeeze me any tighter, am gonna pop," Yasei moaned.
"Sorry." I relaxed my grip, slightly.
I remembered the city walls as a child; white, pristine stone that stretched so far above me I couldn't see the top. They protected the people and nothing could penetrate them, at least that's what I'd thought. Shrouded in shadow, they seemed smaller and more fragile somehow. The flames of the mounted torches fought against the wind as the promised rain fell. It made the grass sodden in moments.
In a flash of ominous lightning, someone waited on the drawbridge. A man with an impossibly long beard and clad in armour of black and gold. His physique suggested a swordsman, backed up by a company of around two hundred men.
"Have you located him?"
General Impa gave a 'come hither' gesture with her hand. "Tell the King all you know," she instructed.
He may have been older than Ganondorf, but I couldn't help but wonder who would win in a one-on-one fight. I buried my face into Yasei's hair and whispered, "I could always hide in the dimensional realm; he shan't find me there."
"Sweetheart, you can't ignore the King," she replied, through gritted teeth.
"But it won't end well. The filter between my mind and mouth is quite broken when it comes to him."
Her shoulders became rigid. "So, you'd rather be an outlaw?"
"I'd rather be an outlaw than thrown in prison, tortured by the Sheikah or beheaded. All quite reasonable concerns when faced with the Royal Family." She tutted. "See? I've already said something treasonous."
"Don't be so dramatic. I reckon he wants to thank you for the warning. Ask him for a new wagon as a reward, then we can go to Kokiri Forest."
I shook my head. "Your optimism is sadly misplaced, I -"
An alien sound; half way between an aggravated swoosh and violent rustling leaves stopped my babbling.
King Hyrule snapped at the reins of his own steed and made his way to us. Without hesitation, his soldiers marched out with military efficiency to form lines of defence. "Raise the drawbridge," he barked at the watchman.
"Just a moment, shouldn't we get inside first?" I said, as the rattling chains squeaked.
The King and Impa nodded to each other.
"Young man, you wrote this letter?" He rattled the paper in his hand. His tone hardly seemed thankful. It was suspicious, accusing. "As a father, I have not only to protect my own family, but my people and their families. You say Lord Ganondorf of the Gerudo sent a beast to our lands? You realize such an accusation could start a war? This isn't a game."
Kilton looked over his shoulder and growled.
You can sense something, can't you boy? I thought. I can feel it too.
"Your Royal Highness, believe me, I'm not accustom to playing games."
"You own the mask shop in town." He brought his face closer to mine, his voice conspiratory low. "The Queen's lady-in-waiting, Lady Mila, mentioned you closed to go travelling."
My palms began to sweat. "Yes, yes, that's right. My partner here has a trading wagon and I tagged along, heh."
"She told me something else as well." He seized my wrist. "Apparently, I signed a death warrant for the Interlopers - blindly followed the will of the Goddesses. Do you remember proclaiming that in the middle of the street?" Now he twisted at such a sharp angle that I gasped. "Are you an Interloper sympathizer?"
"No. Never. He isn't - your kingness, highness, sir," Yasei protested. "If he wanted to turn against the Royal Family, why would he send a warning in the first place, huh?"
Your kingness, highness, sir? A fuzzy warmth spread across my chest. Her face had become a contorted mask of serious wrinkles. Trying to defend my honour against the most powerful man in the entire kingdom. However, my heart clogged with guilt.
I told you the truth, so long ago now and you didn't believe me, I thought. It wasn't in jest, my dear. I did make a promise to steal the Triforce. Foolish, very foolish I know. I'd loath to hurt anyone, honestly. It's just he won't leave me alone if I don't. When you put it like that…Perhaps I am a traitor after all.
A quirky movement caught my eye. So quick, that trying to follow it made me dizzy. Specks of purple, red and grey flew across the fields. "Sir, I suggest we focus on the monster at hand."
"What monster do you speak of?" King Hyrule huffed. "I see nothing."
"A thousand pardons." I yanked out of his strong grip and dismounted. With squelching steps, I searched for the unknown entity. I couldn't see it all, but my stomach recognized this queasy energy. I swallowed my spit as revolting as the cold evil, scrambling across the peahat fields.
"Do you hear that?" Some of the foot soldiers mumbled amongst themselves. They shuffled their feet.
I let out a strangled laugh. It isn't just me? Good to know!
At first, the chanting had been drowned out by thunder claps, the same four sombre notes repeated over and over. The chanting grew louder. "What in Hyrule is it trying to say?"
"I never thought he'd have the gall to return here." I hadn't even heard General Impa totter up behind me. Her cheeks grew ever paler as she continued, "He won't have it."
"Sorry, what does it want?"
Now, those strange coloured specks rose high. They swayed, turning one way then the other, before honing in on our position. Impa reached for her sword.
"What does he want?" she corrected. "The thing he created and abused no doubt. The hidden treasure of the Sheikah."