Lancel's funeral was held a few days after his death. His body had been interred alongside King Tychon and Queen Elincia. The funeral rites for a member of the Royal Family would ordinarily have been performed by the Sage of Light, but since the position was still yet to be filled, the highest-ranking bishop available had performed it instead. Sophitia, Victorique, and Percival had all been in attendance, as had a great deal of the nobility in the region.
"Are we sure Toren Remoth's whereabouts on that night are accounted for?" Sophitia asked, trailing her eyes over the documents she'd laid out across the floor of her bedroom.
Liliana stood behind her, arms crossed over the small of her back. "He's got dozens of witnesses placing him in his wing of the castle, both his own subordinates and others."
"But that is odd for Remoth, is it not?" Sophitia asserted, looking over the written statements she'd collected from his witnesses. "He is normally a quite private person. On most nights, surely he would not have half this many witnesses to his whereabouts, especially not so many who are not under his own employ. He is too paranoid for that. It is as if he was trying to make sure we knew of his whereabouts when the demon attacked."
"Agreed. However, if this is true, it does confirm the true demon is another individual, even if they are working together," Liliana pointed out.
"Not necessarily. The Remoth everyone witnessed could have been a phantom, or some other sort of illusion," Sophitia reasoned.
There was a knock on the door.
"Liliana, be a dear." Sophitia never looked away from the papers on the ground, offhandedly gesturing behind herself in the vague direction of the door.
"Yes, Princess."
Sophitia put her hand to her chin. "There must be some way to confirm it. Could any of our mages detect traces of illusion spells at this point? How many of the witnesses saw him up close, or made physical contact with him?"
The sound of footsteps signaled Liliana's return. She appeared at Sophitia's side, holding out a piece of paper in her hand.
"What is it?" the princess asked, not looking away from her investigation.
"It's from the Grand Minister. He has questions about the election," Liliana replied.
"Oh, to hell with the election," Sophitia told her, waving her hand dismissively. "It does not matter who is voted onto the throne if the demon is simply going to crush the winner the moment they claim it. We must deal with this now."
"Don't you have a Grand Protector and a Grand Watcher for this kind of thing?" Liliana asked, placing the minister's message on Sophitia's desk. "It does not seem like a princess's duty. We should be thinking about relocating you out of the castle until it is safer."
"Are you mad?" Sophitia asked, looking up at her retainer for the first time in a while. "I cannot leave now. Everything that matters is happening here."
"I do not want you getting hurt."
The princess opened her mouth to argue, but she stopped. Liliana's face never betrayed much emotion, but for some reason, Sophitia could tell what she was thinking. This was about more than just doing her job.
"I know," Sophitia said gently, meeting the other girl's eyes meaningfully. "But I cannot leave. This… thing – it killed my brother. It's responsible for the death of my father, and perhaps even my sister. Not to mention Laemora, Aurun, and potentially countless more. It must be stopped."
Liliana paused, then nodded her understanding. "Fine. We shall stay. Do you have a plan to kill the demon once we find it?"
"My sister's bow should be able to kill it. The Twilight Princess was able to wound Ganon with it," Sophitia replied. "I suspect our rapiers and my brother's sword may be able to harm it as well, given the blessings Sage Aurun placed upon them. If all else fails, my sister knows the location of the Triforce. But that must remain as a last resort."
"Your sister knows where the Triforce is?" Liliana asked. "Do you?"
Sophitia shook her head. "Father only told Victorique. The rest of us have instructions for how to find it, as a contingency in case she and Father both died before passing on the knowledge."
Liliana raised an eyebrow. "You know how to find the location of the Triforce, and you haven't done so?"
Sophitia could tell why Liliana found that odd. The princess was curious by nature, so the thought of her not going out of her way to discover one of the kingdom's greatest secrets must have seemed quite strange.
"The process is a bit… convoluted. And very time-consuming," the princess admitted. "But never mind that right now. The demon is our priority."
"Very well." Liliana looked over the closest set of papers Sophitia had laid out on the floor. "If it isn't Lord Remoth, who else could it be?"
The princess considered the question. "Difficult to say. It is likely someone with access to the castle, but not necessarily, since the demon makes use of portals. It is likely someone with authority, given the number of guards and watchers who allegedly attacked my father and sister during the Blood Moon. But that is not necessarily the case either, since the demon could have been giving them orders from the outside. I would also suspect it is someone who practices shadow magic, but they may keep that skill hidden while disguised as their public identity."
Liliana walked across the floor, stepping between the papers as she looked down. "If you are having trouble narrowing it down with the evidence available to you, then perhaps you can think about how to draw the demon out. What does it want?"
"I am not sure of that, either," Sophitia admitted. "So far, the demon and its followers have killed my father, my brother, the Goddess of Light, and the Sage of Light. One would think they hold a grudge against the gods and the Royal Family, but if that is the case–"
"–then what are they waiting for?" Liliana finished, evidently following Sophitia's train of thought well.
"Precisely. Victorique, Percival, and I are still here. Why did the demon appear only to kill my brother and then retreat? Why not try to kill the rest of us now?" As she spoke, the princess could feel her frustration mounting. She hated the hopeless feeling that came with knowing precious little about the situation.
What the hell am I supposed to do with this little information?
There was another knock at the door. Liliana went to open it without question. However, Sophitia overheard the conversation.
"The princess's presence is requested."
Sophitia stepped over to the door, but kept a few feet behind her bodyguard. One of the castle's stewards was there. "Yes, what is it?" the princess asked.
"A woman carrying the Master Sword has arrived on the castle grounds," the steward informed her. "It would appear that the Hero requests an audience with the Royal Family."
Despite the supposed importance of this meeting, it was not to be held in the grand throne room. Apparently, Victorique had decided the meeting should be more discreet, without the Grand Council or any of the other nobles in attendance. So, Sophitia was brought to a smaller audience chamber adjacent to the courtyard. It was a long, narrow room with a red carpeted floor and stained glass windows decorating the wall. Six thrones stood at the far end of the room, raised up by a short staircase.
When Sophitia arrived, Victorique and Percival were already there. The two of them sat to the right of the central throne, where their father would have sat. The seat to Percival's right was empty, reserved for their younger sister, should she ever return to them. Sophitia understood the setup immediately, taking a seat at the far left, leaving Lancel's seat and their father's seat between her and her siblings. It felt a bit lonely, but at least Liliana stood by her side. Sir Onnick and Impa Ayako were also standing beside their charges.
"Where is the Hero at the moment?" Sophitia asked her siblings.
"She is in the company of the Grand Protector, but I have sent for her, so she should be here shortly," Victorique explained.
"Perhaps now we will be able to rid ourselves of that accursed demon," Percival commented. "If the gods have chosen this moment to send her, then it can only be for that reason."
"Yes. She may know the demon's true identity," Victorique added.
"And if she does not, perhaps the Master Sword may be used to identify the demon," Sophitia suggested, knowing a demon would have a strong adverse reaction to the Blade of Evil's Bane.
Soon after, the doors to the audience chamber opened wide. The Grand Protector walked inside, followed by two columns of three royal guards, each carrying a large golden halberd. Sophitia had trouble spotting the Hero at first. The girl was quite short, and she was walking in the middle of the procession. As she entered, her eyes gazed over the room, and she smiled with wonder at everything she saw.
The Grand Protector and the royal guards halted when they were near the thrones. The Hero took a few more steps forward before she noticed the others had stopped.
"Princess Zelda Victorique, Prince Percival Seliph, and Princess Zelda Sophitia." Grand Protector Brigo addressed the three of them, bowing respectfully. "I present to you - the wielder of the Master Sword." Brigo stepped to the side, gesturing towards the Hero.
Now that Sophitia could see her a bit more up close, she was surprised by the Hero's appearance. The girl appeared to be even younger than Sophitia was. She was pretty and somewhat tomboyish, with bright blue eyes and golden blonde hair that was cut kind of short, aside from a pair of braids that framed her youthful face. She wore a thin choker around her neck with a small blue pendant hanging from it, and she also wore a necklace from which hung a golden compass. Her outfit consisted of a white shirt, an orange skirt, and a short blue cloak that she wore with the hood down. Additionally, she wore some brown leather armor, including a chest guard covering the upper left portion of her chest, a kidney guard wrapped around her waist, and a pair of gloves. Her boots were also brown leather, coming up to mid thigh and decorated with a pair of feathery white wings. She carried a sheathed sword, a shield, a small crossbow, and a quiver on her back, along with a hookshot that dangled from the side of her belt. Despite her youth, the Hero certainly carried the gear of a seasoned adventurer. Perhaps more surprising than the Hero's youthful appearance was her expression. Between her big eyes and her excited grin, she looked both awed and ecstatic to be in the throne room, even if it was only a minor audience chamber.
The girl took a moment to look between the three siblings, staring at each of them in turn. Sophitia found it odd. The Hero did not seem to have the greatest grasp of noble manners.
Perhaps she is from a common family.
"Young Hero." Victorique was the first to speak. "It is an honor to have you in our court."
All at once, the girl seemed to remember she was in the presence of royalty. With a flash of embarrassment on her face, she began to kneel, then quickly stopped herself. Reaching behind her back, she drew her sword, then got down on one knee, bowing her head as she held her sword tip-first down into the floor.
Sophitia leaned forward in her seat, wishing she could examine the sword up close. The princess had seen the Master Sword depicted in paintings, murals, stained glass artwork, statues, historical documents, and storybook illustrations. The girl's sword appeared to be a perfect match for how the Master Sword was traditionally depicted - same size, same hilt, same engravings. It even faintly glowed with a white light the way it was supposed to. That could only have been the real Master Sword.
Then she truly is the Hero.
"I-It's an honor to meet all of you!" the Hero said, speaking quickly and slightly stumbling over her words. She sounded equal parts nervous and excited. "My name is Linkle of Hateno. I have come here on a quest to save the kingdom!"
"Rise, Linkle of Hateno," Victorique commanded.
"Y-Yes, Princess!" The Hero seemed eager to obey. She scrambled to her feet, standing at attention. The look on her face reminded Sophitia of how her younger sister looked when she was hoping to be praised.
"We are pleased to have you here. You and your sword will prove to be invaluable assets in our struggle against the Headless Demon," Percival said.
Although the prince had referred to her as an 'asset,' the Hero seemed to take his words as praise. "Thank you, your highness."
"I, too, would like to extend my personal welcome to you, Hero," Sophitia joined in. "Tell me, what news do you bring from the kingdom? Where else is the demon's presence being felt?" The princess had been feeling stifled by the slow drip of information she'd been receiving ever since she'd returned to the castle, and she was eager to get an update on the state of the other provinces.
The Hero smiled at her, apparently just as happy to be welcomed by the younger princess. However, her smile soon faded, as if remembering something unpleasant. Linkle glanced nervously between the three of them before taking a deep breath. "Your highnesses, I'm afraid I bring bad news. The demon's minions are everywhere. They have been hunting for me, and they are searching for a number of objects that serve as keys to open the way to the Triforce. And it is not just monsters. The Sheikah are working with them, probably led by the Sheikah Shogun and the Sage of Shadow. The Sage of Time is working with them as well, and gods know who else."
The Sheikah Shogun? The Sage of Shadow?
Sophitia, Victorique, and Percival all turned to Impa Ayako at the same time. The Sheikah woman narrowed her eyes in a confused glare, but she said nothing, not being one to speak out of turn at a royal audience.
"We were aware there were traitors in our midst working with the monsters," Percival stated.
"The Gerudo are working with them as well," Sophitia pointed out, having encountered the Gerudo prince traveling with several monsters.
Linkle gasped. "That makes sense! My brother and I ran into the Gerudo prince the first time we visited the Temple of Time."
"However," Victorique interjected, "Impa Sadashi and Impa Ichika are both loyal servants of the kingdom. The Impa Family has long been one of our greatest allies. What evidence do you have of their involvement in this conspiracy?"
Linkle eyed Impa Ayako suspiciously for a moment, then lifted her hookshot in her hand to present it to the royal siblings. "This is one of the keys that opens the way to the Triforce. Sage Impa sent me and my brother to get it. They also wanted me to find a sword that belonged to the Sage of Forest's brother, but it was stolen by a Kokiri named Mila. A dragon named Volder stole one of the other keys, and the Sage of Time gave another to the monsters. After I pulled the Master Sword from the stone, I was attacked by Sheikah who worked for Sage Impa as soon as I left the forest. And before that, Impa Ichika and Impa Sadashi both gave me a quest to destroy the undead plaguing the bottom of the well in New Kakariko. I think it was a set up to lure in adventurers while they searched for the Hero. They were oddly interested in my hand, like they were checking if the mark of the Triforce of Courage was on it. And also there was this mask salesman who told me-"
"Slow down," Percival told the girl, raising a hand to stop her.
Linkle stopped talking. She looked very eager to continue, but it was clear she hadn't realized just how much she'd already said.
The Hero had made many claims that warranted further investigation, but Sophitia thought it best to hear from the Impa in the room. "Sister," the younger princess began. "May we hear your retainer's thoughts on the claims regarding her family?"
Linkle's eyes went wide, looking at Impa Ayako in shock.
"Yes, I wish to hear this as well," the elder princess agreed. "Aya, is this the first you are hearing of this?"
"Of course, your highness," the Sheikah woman replied emphatically. "It is no secret that my family and I have not seen eye to eye on a great many things, but they would never betray Hyrule. Everything they do, no matter how underhanded it may be, is always intended to benefit the kingdom."
Sophitia nodded her understanding. Hypothetically, if the Impa family had betrayed the throne, the princess could have believed that Impa Ayako had not been involved nor made aware of it. Ayako was apparently considered the black sheep of her family, and as much as Sophitia may not have liked her personally, she couldn't deny the Sheikah girl was fiercely loyal to Victorique.
"I do not doubt the Impa Family seeks what they believe is best for Hyrule, but I think we can all agree that their mentality of 'the ends justify the means' could possibly have led them to do something we would not view as entirely just," Sophitia asserted.
"Agreed. We must question Impa Shiho immediately," Percival added.
"I will speak to her myself," Victorique said quickly, giving Percival a look that politely told him to leave it to her.
"Does the Impa Family have any connection to Lord Remoth?" Sophitia asked. They did not yet know if the Impa Family was guilty of anything, but it would be revealing if there was a connection between the Impas and their current prime suspect.
"Remoth?" the Hero asked, perking up at the mention of that name.
The girl's response had Sophitia interested. "Yes. Do you know of him?" Many in Hyrule knew of Lord Remoth, but a peasant girl from the east was less likely to be familiar with one of the western lords.
"No, but Sage Lucrezia mentioned that name in the same breath as the name Impa," Linkle replied. "She said she only wanted to protect the timestream, but that Impa and someone named Remoth wanted me gone."
"Well, that settles it, then," Percival decided. "We should have Remoth executed for treason immediately." He turned to the Grand Protector to give him orders, but Victorique held up a hand to stop him.
"Let us not be hasty," the elder princess suggested.
"He killed Father and Lancel. If that is not treason, what is?" Percival replied, clearly letting his anger seep through.
"That isn't what she means," Sophitia argued. "We do not yet know the extent of his involvement, nor do we know the extent of this larger conspiracy. Even if he is to be put to the sword, we still need to question him first."
"And when he changes into his demon form, do you still intend to question him then?" her brother asked.
Sophitia did not answer him. Instead, she turned to Linkle, whose sword still faintly glowed with a majestic light. "Hero, we wish to place Lord Remoth under arrest. But, if our suspicions are correct, it may mean he is the demon we have been fighting against. Can we count on you, the wielder of the Blade of Evil's Bane, to help us fight him if need be?"
Linkle's eyes opened wide with wonder and excitement, as if that were the greatest thing anyone had ever said to her. "Yes!" the Hero replied, her voice cracking with eagerness. "That is my destiny!"
Sophitia and her siblings decided to move quickly. Together with the Hero, the Grand Protector, and a number of royal guards, they made their way to Lord Remoth's wing of the castle. While they still did not have any direct proof of his involvement, the lead provided by the Hero gave them a good place to start.
Since the Impa Family had been implicated by the Hero's testimony as well, Victorique and her retainer planned to corner Impa Shiho and ask her a few questions afterwards, but they had decided that Lord Remoth was the higher priority.
When they reached the door to Lord Remoth's office, four black-cloaked knights stood in their way. All of them readied their weapons upon the approach of the royal siblings and their armed escort.
"Halt! What is the meaning of this?" one of Remoth's guards demanded.
"Step aside," Percival ordered. "We have business with Remoth."
"He is in a meeting. You can speak with him afterwards."
"Are you disobeying an order from your prince?" As Percival spoke, Sir Onnick advanced on the black-cloaks. The giant man's suit of armor rattled with each step, and Remoth's guards shrank back in fear.
"There is no need for this to turn violent," Sophitia reminded everyone. "Simply step aside and let us see Lord Remoth, please."
The guards held steadfast for only a moment longer, but being stared down by Percival's bodyguard proved too much for the one closest to the door. The black-cloaked knight undid the door latch, shoved the door open, and stepped to the side. His cohorts followed suit.
"You have our thanks," Victorique told them.
Together, the royal siblings and the Hero entered Remoth's office along with half of their guards, while the other half remained outside to guard the door. Inside, they found Lord Remoth sitting at his desk, with Lady Shadowgale sitting on the other side of it.
Lord Remoth barely reacted to their sudden entrance. With his hands clasped in front of him while he rested his elbows on the desk, his eyes looked up at the royal siblings with mild annoyance, clearly dismayed to have his meeting interrupted, but not enough so to express his immediate displeasure.
Lady Shadowgale looked shocked to see them. She reacted by immediately climbing to her feet and standing at attention. "My prince. Your highness. Your highness," the Kokiri girl said, bowing to each of the royal siblings in turn.
Percival raised an eyebrow, perhaps somewhat surprised to run into her there, but he quickly disregarded her and turned his attention to Lord Remoth.
"Good day, your highnesses," Remoth said in a tone of voice that betrayed no sense of urgency. "To what do I owe the pleasure of having my guards ignored and my meeting interrupted?"
Percival took a step forward, keeping his intimidating bodyguard at his side at all times. "Toren Remoth, in the name of my father, King Tychon Aldoranus Hyrule, I hereby place you under arrest for treason, conspiracy, demonic activity, and regicide."
Lord Remoth looked unimpressed. "Is that right? And how have you determined this?"
Before any of the royal siblings could explain, Linkle pushed herself to the front of the group. "Sage Lucrezia told me you and Impa were trying to get rid of me!" she said, pointing at him with an accusatory finger.
The dark-haired man eyed her with similar disinterest. "I don't even know who you are."
Linkle drew the Master Sword, brandishing it with pride. It glowed even brighter than Sophitia had seen it glow earlier. "My name is Linkle. I'm the Hero," the young girl declared.
For the first time since they'd entered the room, Remoth actually looked interested. His eyes opened ever-so-slightly wider in surprise upon seeing the Blade of Evil's Bane, setting his gaze upon it immediately. He then locked eyes with the Hero, staring deeply into her. "Very well, then." Lord Remoth stood from his seat, rising slowly to his intimidating full height.
The Hero and the royal guards all raised their weapons expectantly, stepping forward in front of the prince and the princesses. Only Lady Shadowgale shrunk back, as if to avoid the coming battle.
Is he going to transform? Now? Right here? What do we do?!
Sophitia focused herself, ready to call upon her defensive magic as soon as Lord Remoth changed into his demon form. However, he did not.
"If you are to detain me, I shall expect reasonable accommodations befitting a man of my station," Lord Remoth said simply. "I wish to speak with Grand Arbiter Pelletier, as I also expect a fair trial. I will need to send several messages as well. I expect they will not be interfered with."
There was a pause. Everyone else in the room had been prepared for a fight, so it took a moment for the tension to fade. Sophitia breathed a sigh of relief, feeling Liliana's hand comfortingly placed upon her back.
"That is quite a lot of expectations for one in your position," Percival remarked. "I hope our dungeons do not disappoint. Guards, take him away." He then turned to Lady Shadowgale. "You. Wait here. The Hero needs to talk to you."
"Y-Yes, my prince!" the Kokiri girl replied.
Sophitia watched as Lord Remoth was led out of the room, escorted by several royal guards. As he left, he gave Linkle one last look. The princess could not help but see it as threatening, and she didn't like how easily he'd given up without a fight.
He's up to something.
"Hero," Percival spoke to get Linkle's attention.
"Yes, my prince?"
Percival gestured to the Kokiri girl standing at attention before them. "You said something about a Kokiri named Mila having one of the keys. This is her."
Mila looked shocked, glancing between the prince and the Hero rapidly. "I- What?"
"You're Mila?" Linkle repeated, walking up to her.
"That's right," the fairy child replied. "And you're the Hero?"
"Yes. My name is Linkle. Do you still have Saria's brother's sword?"
Mila stared at her for a moment. "You know about that?"
"It's okay. Saria didn't send me. You're not in trouble or anything," Linkle went on. "But I need her brother's sword. It's important."
"Do as she asks," Prince Percival commanded.
Mila looked offended for a moment, but quickly hid her expression. "Y-Yes, my prince." She begrudgingly reached behind her back and unstrapped her sword sheath, handing it over to the Hero.
Linkle looked excited. She happily accepted the sword and pulled it part-way out of its sheath to examine it. The sword was ornately decorated with gold leaf, appearing to be very expensive. "Amazing! Thank you, fairy child!"
"I expect to be properly compensated," Mila said, ignoring the Hero and addressing the prince.
"Speak with the Grand Treasurer. He will see to it," the prince assured her.
"Good." Mila gave one last barely-concealed glare to everyone in the room, then marched out the door.
"That went well," Sophitia commented. She knew little of the keys Linkle spoke of, but if this development meant their enemies were now further from the Triforce, then it was certainly good news.
After the arrest of Lord Remoth, Sophitia and her siblings brought the Hero and the Grand Protector to a council chamber for a short debriefing. However, given how smoothly the arrest had gone, there was not much to talk about other than what they'd agreed upon beforehand.
"He is quite clearly still scheming," Percival declared, speaking of Lord Remoth. "We need to keep a detachment of guards on him at all times. Any messages he wishes to send out should be examined by the watchers and then tossed into the fire. And the second he gives up his co-conspirators, he's dead."
"He will not give us anything if he believes he will die immediately afterwards," Sophitia pointed out.
"Obviously," the prince replied. "But the Lord of Spikes, of all people, should know there are ways of making someone talk regardless."
"We must not attempt to harm him," Victorique asserted. "He likely retains the ability to shift into his demon form, and he will do so if directly threatened. We must handle this carefully." She turned to Brigo. "Grand Protector, head down to the dungeons and begin the interrogation process."
"At once, your highness." The Grand Protector bowed and left.
"Ayako and I shall find Shiho and speak with her now," the elder princess went on. "Brother, why don't you handle the detainment of Lord Remoth's subordinates?"
"Fine."
"Thank you. And sister–"
"I shall show the Hero around the castle grounds," Sophitia said, glancing towards Linkle. "I would very much like to speak with her. Would that be alright?"
Linkle glowed with excitement. "Yes! Of course, Princess."
Victorique nodded. "Very well. I shall report back with my findings later."
With that, the siblings split off, each headed to perform their own tasks.
"This place is so amazing," Linkle proclaimed as Sophitia led her down the hall, followed closely by Liliana. As the Hero walked, she constantly moved from one side of the hall to the other, taking in every detail of the paintings and the other decorations as they passed by them. "I couldn't believe it when I first got here. The castle is so big. I've dreamed of coming here ever since I was a little girl. It's even better than the stories say!"
"You say you are from Hateno," Sophitia commented. "Are you acquainted with my aunt Celessa?"
Linkle shook her head. "I've seen her, but I've never met her."
"I see." Sophitia led the Hero to a doorway that opened to the garden in the courtyard.
Linkle gasped once again, drinking in her surroundings with excitement. "It's beautiful!"
"Yes, it is quite lovely out here," the princess agreed. Back when things were more peaceful, she'd often enjoyed reading out in the fresh air of the garden. "I am interested to learn more about your life as the Hero, if I may ask you a few questions," Sophitia told Linkle, hoping the Hero would allow her to satisfy her curiosity.
"I wanna know more about you, too," Linkle replied. "What kind of divine powers do you have? Can you talk to the spirits of your ancestors? How come your sister isn't queen yet?"
Sophitia blinked, taken aback by the sudden barrage of questions. "Um. May I take that one question at a time please? Let's see… Well, divine powers, I suppose my magical ability stems from my divine ancestor, but I must admit I am not nearly as accomplished as my siblings. I have never communed with any of my ancestors. Such a power is not among my talents. And, well, my sister is not queen yet because my siblings and I decided to hold an election to choose who would inherit my father's position upon the throne, but the matter has been put somewhat on hold after my brother's death."
Linkle's face had been beaming with excitement up until Sophitia's last sentence. Her expression melted into one of shock, and then one of sympathy. "Oh. Gods. I'm sorry, I–"
Sophitia raised her hand and gave the other girl a weary smile. "Think nothing of it." The princess stepped in front of a large hedge trimmed into the shape of the goddess Farore, tilting her head to look up at the Hero's patron. "As I've said, I wish to know more about you," she went on. "When did you know you had been chosen to be Farore's champion?"
"I've always known." Linkle took the golden compass hanging from her necklace into her hand and held it up. "Ever since I was a kid, I've loved exploring, fighting monsters, and saving people. It's just what I was made for."
"So it was just a feeling, then? No gods or spirits ever spoke to you?" Sophitia gestured to the hedge, as if to ask if Linkle recognized the figure.
Linkle shook her head. "The first god I ever met was the Great Deku Tree."
"I see. It must be nice to have known one's destiny from an early age." Sophitia sighed lightly. "If only Nayru would grant me that kind of clarity."
Linkle looked at her kind of oddly, but the Hero seemed to realize what she meant. "You know, once we find the Triforce, we'll need someone to wield the Triforce of Wisdom," she pointed out, speaking as if she were about to make her an offer. "In the stories, it's usually Princess Zelda."
That made Sophitia chuckle. "There are three Princess Zeldas in Hyrule at the moment. But the sentiment is appreciated." She cleared her throat and resumed walking through the garden path, wishing to steer the conversation away from herself. "So, tell me, why was it that you left Hateno? Was it because of the quest Impa Sadashi gave you?"
"Nope." Linkle shook her head, practically skipping alongside the princess. "I didn't know about that at first. I heard there was war coming, and that lots of new opportunities for adventurers were popping up in the capital. I didn't wanna stay in Necluda and be a farmer all my life, so me and my brother hopped on our horse and set off."
"You have a brother," Sophitia restated. "Has he come to the castle with you?"
Linkle abruptly stopped in place. "We, uh, kinda got separated when our ship was attacked by pirates. And a giant Octorok."
"Oh."
Has she recently lost a brother as well?
"I am sorry," the princess said sympathetically.
"He'll find me, though," Linkle said, her optimistic smile returning quickly. "He always does."
Sophitia nodded. "My little sister is missing as well. But I know the gods will return her home safely."
Are we both merely deluding ourselves?
"Now, why don't you tell me the rest of your story?" Sophitia suggested, hoping to obtain certain details. "I am particularly interested in your encounters with the Impa Family."
"Okay! Let's see…" Linkle tapped the tip of her boot against the ground as she thought. "Well, after me and my brother left, we wanted to take a shortcut through Old Kakariko, but we got attacked by bandits. A Sheikah showed up to help us, but then more of them showed up and kidnapped us."
"Kidnapped you?" Sophitia was taken aback. "Were you harmed?"
Linkle shook her head. "Not really. We got teleported to the dungeons under Impa's castle, and they asked us a bunch of questions about what we were doing there. They said they mistook us for wanted criminals, but like I told you before, I think they were trying to see if either of us was the Hero. That's gotta be why they checked the backs of our hands."
"Interesting. Would the mark of the Triforce of Courage appear on the Hero's hand if the Triforce is still safely sealed away?" Sophitia asked, thinking it was a strange thing to check for given the circumstances.
Linkle looked at the back of her hand, as if to check if the mark was there. "Hm. I dunno. Maybe not. But maybe they thought it would." She shrugged.
"I suppose. And it was Impa Sadashi you spoke to?" Sophitia continued.
"Yeah. Well, her and her daughter."
Sophitia was surprised to hear this. "Her daughter Shiho? Was she there as well?"
"Yeah, that was her name." Linkle's eyes opened wide as she remembered something. "That Sheikah woman who was with your sister - isn't she an Impa, too? Is your sister safe?"
"I trust Impa Ayako. She is loyal to my sister, not to her family," Sophitia asserted. "Impa Shiho is also in the castle. She is the one they are speaking to right now."
"If you say so, I'll believe it, Princess," Linkle replied.
"Now, what happened after you spoke to the shogun? She simply let you go?"
"She gave me and Link a quest."
Sophitia raised an eyebrow, taking a second to realize Link must have been her brother's name.
I suppose my family is not the only one with a naming tradition.
"She wanted us to go talk to her mother, the Sage of Shadow. She said there were a bunch of undead monsters infesting the well in New Kakariko," Linkle explained.
As they spoke, the princess and the Hero arrived at an outdoor table set up in the garden where Sophitia often sat to have tea. The two of them sat down. Liliana, who was still following them, chose to remain standing some distance away.
"Yes, I believe you briefly mentioned that," Sophitia reiterated, remembering what the Hero had said in the throne room earlier. "You believe it was some sort of test?"
Linke nodded. "We figured out there must have been a necromancer intentionally raising the dead whenever they sent adventurers down there to deal with the monsters. As soon as we said that, the sage basically kicked us out. She said she would deal with the necromancer, but I think she was worried we were onto her. And when we came back from hunting the dragon, the well was completely gone."
"That does sound suspicious." Sophitia put a hand to her chin. "So the Impa Family has been manufacturing problems to draw in adventurers in hopes of discovering the Hero. And now that the Hero has awakened, they are attempting to kill you."
"They're not trying to kill me," Linkle corrected. "They keep trying to capture me alive. The Sage of Time said if she killed me, I would just be reborn."
Sophitia was confused. "So what is their goal, then? What would they do with you if not kill you?"
Linkle shrugged. "No idea."
Sophitia brushed her hand through her hair, considering the situation.
If they are worried about the Hero's reincarnation, then their plans are clearly long-term. Is that why the Sage of Time is involved? They are attempting to steal the Triforce, so theoretically they could do almost anything if they succeeded. Do they plan to wish the Hero out of existence? But why? They are working with monsters. Do they merely serve the demon? Did it promise them something in return for the Triforce? But what could the demon offer them that the Triforce could not already give?
After taking a moment to think, Sophitia turned back to Linkle and noticed the other girl was staring at her oddly.
"Sorry, I was lost in thought," the princess apologized.
"Don't be sorry. You're really pretty when you're like that!" Linkle said with a smile.
Sophitia blinked, taken aback by the comment. Instinctively, she glanced over at Liliana, who had an eyebrow raised but gave no other reaction. "Um. Th-Thank you for saying so, Hero," the princess replied. Then she cleared her throat, taking a moment to gather her flustered thoughts. "Now, then. Tell me about these keys you mentioned."
After hearing the story of Linkle's journey up to that point, Sophitia felt she had a better understanding of the Hero. As a lover of knowledge, the princess enjoyed having a real live Hero right in front of her, giving her the opportunity to ask the many questions she had. She knew the story of the Hero of Twilight and many of the previous Heroes quite well, but it was a very different experience to meet one in the flesh.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about this Hero was how normal she seemed. When legends spoke of the Hero of Twilight or the Hero of the Sky, they seemed like very larger-than-life characters, embodying every ideal that would be held as virtuous in the eyes of Farore. From her stories, this girl certainly seemed courageous, but she was still very human in Sophitia's eyes. Her lowborn background reminded Sophitia of Liliana. Her energetic attitude was somewhat similar to Mina Remoth's. Her attachment to her brother made her quite sympathetic. Everything about Linkle seemed much more down-to-Earth than any Hero Sophitia had ever heard the tale of.
"Hey, did your friend there want to join us?" Linkle asked. As she and the princess had spoken, she'd glanced over at Liliana a few times, noticing her waiting patiently. Perhaps she was worried that they were being rude, likely because she was not used to being waited on by guards and servants the way Sophitia was.
"She certainly can," Sophitia replied, turning to Liliana with a smile. "Dear, come and join us."
Liliana nodded. She uncrossed her hands from behind her back and approached the table, taking a seat beside her princess.
"Sorry, I do not believe you have been properly introduced," Sophitia said, gesturing between Liliana and their guest. "Linkle, this is Liliana. She is my personal retainer, and my old friend from the Royal Hyrulean Academy. And Liliana, this, of course, is Linkle, the latest reincarnation of Hylia's Chosen Hero."
"Hi!" Linkle greeted her happily.
"That's quite a title," Liliana said.
The Hylian girl laughed, but she clearly wore a look of pride. "Well, guarding Princess Zelda is a noble role, too."
"It's not nearly as glamorous as you're imagining," the round-eared girl replied. "You should see her when she first wakes up in the morning."
"Lili!" Sophitia said indignantly.
Linkle seemed to find it funny, however.
"So, what's been going on around here?" Linkle asked. "I only stopped by the capital for a bit just before the Blood Moon, so I feel like I've missed everything."
"Oh, dear. Where to begin." Sophitia tried to think of where the trouble had all started, and her mind went to the day of the summit. She intended to begin her story there, but before she could, she was interrupted by an approaching servant.
"Princess Sophitia."
Liliana stood from her chair and moved closer to the princess.
"Yes, what is it?" Sophitia asked.
"Princess Victorique requests your presence. And yours as well, Hero."
Sophitia nodded. "Well, it sounds like my sister has finished speaking with the Impas," she declared, standing up.
"Aw, I wanted to hear what you were gonna say!" Linkle said as she stood along with her.
"Another time," Sophitia promised.
Sophitia and Linkle had been called to another of the castle's meeting chambers. When they arrived, Sophitia's siblings and the two Impa sisters were present. Percival sat at one end of the meeting table, while Victorique sat on the other end with the Impas standing behind her.
"Great. They're here," Percival said as soon as they walked in. He then turned to Victorique. "Now, would you kindly tell me why this one is not in chains?" he asked, gesturing towards the girl in the mask.
"Gladly," Victorique replied. She gestured to the open seats next to Percival, then waited for Sophitia and Linkle to sit down. "Brother, sister, Hero. I have spoken to Impa Shiho. Shiho, would you care to explain?"
"Yes. Thank you, Princess." The masked woman gave a bow before continuing. "Prince Percival, Princess Sophitia, young Hero. It is clear to me that someone from the Sheikah Tribe, and perhaps even the Impa Clan, has been working with the enemy. If an Impa is truly involved, it is likely a member of one of our cadet Houses. Regardless, this is a tactic intended to deceive and divide us. My mother, my grandmother, and I remain as loyal to the kingdom as ever."
"Well of course you'd say that," Percival was quick to respond. "What proof do you have of your innocence?"
"I could have killed any of you at any time, but I have not," Shiho replied coldly, her voice muffled by her mask. "I also aided in the protection of Princess Victorique on her way back to the capital, and I was the one who informed her of Lord Remoth's treachery in the first place."
Sophitia tilted her head. She supposed the Sheikah woman made some valid points, although the actions she described were not necessarily proof of anything. "Linkle," the younger princess said.
"Yes, Princess?"
"Was this woman one of the Sheikah who abducted you and your brother early in your journey?" Sophitia asked, wishing to hear Shiho's explanation.
"Yes, she was!" Linkle replied, pointing a finger at Shiho in accusation. "She and her mother held us in their dungeon. Not for long, but still. What the hell? You said you mistook us for criminals, but that was ridiculous!"
"You and your brother were spotted prowling around the graveyard at night," Shiho replied. "You also came close to our borders carrying weapons. My agents were suspicious, as they had every right to be. Especially during times such as these."
"Bullshit! We were in the graveyard killing ReDeads, and then we were attacked by bandits while trying to get to Kakariko. We weren't doing anything suspicious," Linkle argued.
"Our people are cautious," was all Shiho offered in her defense.
"What about your grandmother?" Sophitia asked her. "The Sage of Shadow hired Linkle and her brother to clear out an undead infestation at the bottom of the well in New Kakariko. When they expressed their belief that a necromancer was behind it, they were dismissed, and then the well was filled in and removed. That is rather suspicious, is it not?"
Sophitia could not see Shiho's eyes, but she felt the Sheikah woman's gaze boring into her regardless. Looking at that oddly-decorated mask was giving the princess a headache.
"I received updates about that matter long ago," Shiho replied. "Once it became clear that a member of Grandmother's clergy was the culprit, she found it prudent to investigate the matter internally. The culprit was identified and dealt with, but the well was deemed too cursed to be fit for use anymore. That is all."
Sophitia did not like that answer, but she did not see any holes in Shiho's story.
"Then why were your mother and grandmother so interested in our hands?" Linkle asked.
Victorique raised an eyebrow. "Hands? What does she mean?"
"The Hero means she and her brother were examined to see if they bore the mark of courage," Shiho explained. "The Hero often bears the mark. Identifying the Hero is crucial, so adventurers are often examined in this way."
"That's what I mean!" Linkle replied. "I was kidnapped and lured in with a quest that might not have even been real, and they checked to see if I was the Hero. And then, as soon as I showed them I was the Hero," she went on, drawing the Master Sword to emphasize what she meant, "I got attacked by more Sheikah!"
"The timing is rather suspicious," Victorique agreed.
"I have little doubt the Master Sword was being surveilled by Sheikah," Shiho admitted. "But they were not my agents. The ones who attacked you were members of the traitorous splinter cell within our midst."
"But–" Sophitia wanted to question that, but she was interrupted by Victorique.
"Shiho offers a reasonable explanation for the situation," the elder princess asserted. "Given her family's history of loyalty to ours, perhaps it would be best to let the matter be settled once further evidence makes the reality of the situation more clear."
The younger princess opened her mouth to reply, but she caught the look Victorique gave her. She thought she understood what it meant.
Obviously we do not believe her, but we need more evidence. Harming the Sheikah shogun's daughter without due cause would be considered an act of war, after all.
"I don't like this, but fine," Percival said, speaking before Sophitia did. "Rest assured, Sheikah. If Remoth names you and your family as co-conspirators, no amount of historical loyalty will save you from just punishment."
"I accept your terms," Shiho replied, unfazed.
The prince stared at her masked face for a moment, then abruptly stood up and left.
"Very well," Sophitia agreed, nodding her ascent.
"But she–" Linkle began to complain, clearly not wishing to back down yet, but Sophitia put a hand on her shoulder.
"Fear not, Hero," the princess assured her. "We shall discover the truth together in time."