Chapter 38: Know the Enemy and Know Yourself
"Nabs, listen," Makeela said. "You hear that?"
"Hear what?" Nabooru looked back to the battle. Not that she could see anything except the black smoke that drifted over the mountain. And even those dark clouds had started to disperse. "I don't hear anything."
"That's my point. No more of that strange magic thunder thing. Even the sound of battle is going soft."
"You think it's over?" one of the younger scouts, Nelania asked. The vai was a natural rider, and still had that glowing excitement about her for her first campaign. "Commander?"
"So quick?" Nabooru stroked at her braid while she thought. I need to stop doing that. She forced herself to let go of her hair. A leader can't show such obvious signs of uncertainty. "More likely the Gorons ran out of their weapon."
"Or they don't need it any more," Makeela laughed.
"You think that's what the sound was? The Goron's new weapon I mean?"
Nabs shrugged. "What else could it be? Come sisters, enough time wasted. We still have a job to do."
Some gave murmurs of disappointment. Freggia especially had taken to watching the way the smoke formed in an instant before it grew and dispersed through the air. Nabooru gave Honeyhoof's reins a slight tug and the scouts set off over the jagged rocks of the mountain.
Hours riding and breathing the mountain air calmed her down some from that morning. But she still wished to hit something, desperately. She would never refuse Gan. Most Gerudo would kill to hold her position, to be the king's eyes, ears, and hands. An extension of his will, trusted in the most dire of circumstances. A higher honor no one could ask.
But by the Goddesses, she still wanted to fight!
Ignore the rage. Focus on the mountain, try and figure out what you're looking at. That proved one more annoyance for Nabooru to work through. She'd fought through the desert and planes of Hyrule her entire life. Dunes and hills and treelines she understood. One could find a perch and see great distances. Send scouts to cover the larger hills to find the enemy. Use their shadows to move past their own watch in return.
Those rules didn't exist on the mountain. You climb one rock only to find a dozen more in your way. They hadn't even traveled all that far. Had the land been straight, she'd be able to see the battlefield. And her poor Honeyhoof. The noble warhorse already chased after the Gorons. If Nabooru knew the difficulty of the terrain she'd have taken a different horse. Now the mare huffed as they scaled the uneven ground.
Nabs rubbed at her mount's neck. "Steady pace, no reason to exert yourself." Honeyhoof snorted, and kept moving over rocky crevices and small peaks. It took climbing three more of the rough craggy hills before they found anything worth finding.
"Huh," she said as she pulled Honeyhoof to a stop. Within the small valley below lay the Lizalfos camp. In their march, the Gorons had been less disciplined than she liked. But compared to these lizards? They may well have been the Hylian Royal Guard. The camp had no defenses to speak of, only smoldering fire pits that dotted the land. Lizalfos scurried about them, the weak, wounded, and weaponless.
"Would you look at that?" she said. "If I saw a camp like this in the last war, I'd be leading you charging right now."
Some of the others gave their chuckles. Freggia nodded, "Then let us do so. We can ride through three times before they can even try to stop us."
"While I'm always happy to take an enemy unawares," Makeela said. "There's only a dozen of us. Might not be enough should we face one of those fire-breathing monsters."
"I don't see any of them," Nelania said, before she moved closer to the edge.
"I'm surprised," Freggia grinned. "Makeela the Summer Sun, deadly to all beneath her bow. I didn't think you'd be afraid of lizards."
"You don't get famous names, until you've lived long enough to become famous." Makeela said. A clever word, a bit surprising coming from Makeela. Of all the scouts, she was the only one along with Nabooru who knew the true alliance between Gan and the lizards. Under ordinary circumstances, Nabs doubted Makeela would have any hesitation charging the enemy.
"Don't get famous names by letting easy killings pass you by, either."
"As fun as shouting the warcry sounds, Makeela has the right of it." Nabooru cut off any further argument.
"Pardon commander," Nelania said and pointed down well below the cliff, "but what are those?"
Nabooru nudged Honeyfoot forward to get a better look. Below them, carved into the side of the mountain stood several massive holes. Each of them wide enough for Nabs to lead her scouts through three abreast with room to spare. One of the holes was twice that size at least.
"Good eye," Nabooru said to the young scout.
"Thank you," she squeaked, and turned a frightening shade of red.
"What do you think they're doing?" Makeela asked.
Nabooru cleared her throat and spat down the side of the cliff. Her spittle splattered dead center of the biggest hole, just as three Lizalfos clambered out. She missed them, sadly. They didn't seem to notice, though they ran to one of the larger fire pits, squawking at the few defenders. "No idea. But Gan will have to know about it. Nelli Eagle-Eyes?"
Makeela grinned as she picked up what was happening before the rest. The other vai all looked confused for a bit, before Nelania spoke up.
"Is that me?"
"Who else? How would you like to deliver your findings to Gan, personally?"
Her eyes went wide and she made a strangled noise that almost sounded like a thanks. "To the king?"
"Only Gan I know. Freggia, escort her. But this is her moment. I don't want you taking her water before she gets a chance to drink, ey? Unless she gets too flustered to speak."
"I'll speak! You'll see. I'll say everything he needs to know. Thank you, Commander."
"How can she see when she won't be there?" Freggia rolled her eyes, before she slapped Nelania on the shoulder. "Come on, Eagle-Eyes. Mustn't keep the king waiting."
As the pair rode off, Makeela nudged her horse closer to Nabs. "We're now down to ten. What's the plan?"
"We're splitting up. Each of you, pick a direction and go ranging. Ride around the camp and surrounding areas. Try and look for any clues what those holes are for. See if there are any more going any other direction. Stay safe, the lizards clearly see us, but they know we're too far to try anything. Keep it that way. If they advance on you, retreat. We meet back here as soon as we're done."
The party rode off in all directions. Most heading away from the camp, to safer terrain. Off looking for where those holes go, most like. Nabooru instead let Honeyhoof take a measured pace down the cliff toward the lizards. Not too close, but with a bit of skilled riding she might glimpse what's inside.
Halfway down and the lizards took note of her. First came the archers. A full volley may have caused problems, but against the handful of Lizalfos who could aim? She only nudged Honeyhoof to get her clear of the high arcing arrows.
"That your best?" she called. "At least give me a challenge!"
They loosed one more round of arrows before realizing the futility of their actions. From the encampment five lizards crawled toward her.
I can just ride away, find a new angle to approach. It was the better plan, the sensible plan. What she ordered her troops to do moments before. But then again, there were only five of them. And they had tried to kill her with those arrows.
She could take five. Honeyhoof, on the other hand, did not look fit for a charge. "You're doing well. Let's get you to some safety first, yes? Then I can have my fun."
The horse followed the tug of her reins back, away from the oncoming assault. She brought Honeyhoof out of range of the archers, before she dismounted and tucked the reins beneath a rock. "You relax. This won't take long."
She reached out for her weapons and stopped to consider them. How did she want to go about this? The spear would give her some reach, and along with a shield was likely the safest option. But if she wished for safety, she would not have decided to fight them. No this was not the time for safety.
The lizards were still a ways away, and they would be tired by the time they actually reached her. "Oh, why not." With a chuckle to herself she unsheathed her curved scimitar along with her backup. Two swords, she had not done this in awhile.
She stretched, and swung the blades, reminding herself how they moved together. A few swipes at the air and she had it. 'One of the most difficult of the fighting styles.' Poor Sir Godwyn told them as children in that emotionless voice the witches left him with. 'Less practical than fighting with a long blade and a short. For those who wish to show off their mastery.'
And that was exactly what she was going to do.
The lizards came to her without taunts or strategy. Rushing at her as soon as they drew close. All except one, who stayed at the back. A Lizalfos with one arm, Gan's little pet. If he attacked her, then Ganondorf's suspicions would be proved true.
A day for betrayals. Her jaw set, and she adjusted her grip on her weapons. She needed this.
The first that reached her rose high and swung an axe down. She stepped to the side, letting the heavy blade pass her by. Her sword cut up into the lizard's arm, drawing a line of blood across it. The spike of a halberd thrust toward her face. She batted it aside with her right. The Lizalfos' mad rush kept him charging forward. Nabooru twisted her shoulders and lifted her left. Letting the creature impale itself on her sword.
It screamed, but not for long. It would not matter if it squealed or begged. She would not hear it. Not now. Now when the drum of her blood filled her ears. And the air pierced with the song of clashing blades.
As a child, her mother once tried to teach her the dance of seasons. She mangled every step. When Jora first started to court her, he took her to a fancy ball. In it Hylians in ridiculous and restricted clothes moved to a courtly beat. She tripped over her own feet.
She never could get the feeling, the tempo didn't feel right and her body didn't move as she wanted. Those dances were not for her.
But the dance of blades? That she knew every step and she made no mistakes.
She spun and hopped away as another axe came for her side. A sword missed her by a hair's width, she sliced through the claws that held it. To become her dance partner meant death. But not fast, she did not need to kill them fast. Each flick of her wrist drew blood, each step forward claimed limbs. The enemy fell from her, bleeding and crying and slow. But the dance was not done.
Sidestep, swing, parry, and beat their weapon down. Skid aside and let another blade pass by.
Every move on tempo.
Every cut on the beat only she could hear.
Every partner bleeding.
They roared in their rage, and the dance picked up its pace. But she had faced more skilled dancers all her life. Anger made their movements sloppy and wild. Faster true, but they would not keep that speed long. All while her scimitars sang, urging her faster and faster. Let it never stop.
One partner collapsed in a puddle of red, twitching.
Another partner slipped on the wet ground, clutching at where its fingers used to be. One more swing and its dance was done forever.
Two partners remained. The axe with the bleeding arm, hissing and snarling at her, and another that scooped up the fallen halberd. Well, those two and One-Arm who had yet to enter her reach.
Axe came first, the aggressive suitor, two steps and swing. She spun away and let her blade rise high, letting her partner's blade touch her own. Its momentum spurred her on even faster. Her sword slipped around, and she placed it on his arm. Drawing it up as gentle as a touch along her partner's shoulder until she struck its neck.
One remaining. A second halberd, more cautious than the suitor that ran himself through. This one came forward slow and controlled. It thrust with its weapon, keeping Nabooru at spearpoint. Not rushing forward at all. A smart partner, a dedicated partner. How wonderful.
One-Arm crawled forward as well. Finally. He would not be a skilled partner, but a more satisfying one.
The halberdier turned to One-Arm and gave a short snappy squawk. One-Arm nodded and tightened the grip on his sword.
What was their plan? Try and surround her from two sides? No, that would be the smart play, but One-Arm didn't circle around her. He stayed by his allies side.
Halberdier returned his attention to Nabooru and took a step forward. The spearpoint came forth again.
Nabooru swung to meet the blade.
But the point dipped. The weapon clattered to the ground, followed a moment later by the halberdier. Its head splattered beside it. One-Arm stood behind with a bloodied sword.
"What did you do?" Nabs shouted at the lizard.
"What was necessary," One-Arm said as he walked away from Nabooru to another of his fallen. One of the Lizalfos she fought still lived. It struggled pull itself to its feet and grabbed for a weapon. One-Arm's sword pierced through its back, and it died screaming.
Nabooru's heart was still thumping to the beat of the dance. But there was no one left. No one but One-Arm. "Why?"
"I brought them out here to speak with you. I couldn't go alone, would be suspicious. King Dodongo has betrayed our king." It went to each of its companions to make certain they were dead. "King Dodongo burrowed holes deep beneath the battle. He burst up the ground right into the Gerudo forces, to kill our king himself. He even dug his own hole, I have never seen him work before."
Nabooru growled. "I need to get back there."
"It has already happened. The reports arrived moments ago." The lizard flickered its tongue at her. "The Gerudo and Gorons fled the field."
"What?" Nabooru turned on the lizard pointing her scimitar under his jaw. "You could have warned us! You spoke with Ganondorf before the battle!"
The lizard cocked its head to the side. "Then I would have died."
"And how many of my sisters are dead because you are a coward?"
"I do not know the exact number."
She could stab him here and now. Cleave off his head as he did with his own kind. "If it meant saving my sisters, I would have gladly warned them and suffered the consequences."
"I do not have sisters." The lizard hissed. He touched Nabooru's sword and nudged it away from his neck. "There is more. Our king lives, and the Dodongo have a plan to destroy what remains of the Gerudo and Gorons once and for all."
Nabooru took a breath to calm herself down. For now, this creature was providing her aid. She needed him. "Explain then."
"The Goron chief stayed behind to face King Dodongo himself."
"Darunia is dead?"
"No, the Goron escaped into the Crown, but he left some great weapon behind. King Dodongo plans on using this weapon to bring the mountain down upon Ganondorf."
"How?"
"I do not know. I can only warn you of what will happen. The rest is up to you and our king." The lizard nodded to her then stepped away back toward the lizard camp.
"Where are you going?"
"I have given our king the message. You deliver it."
"You can slink back into serving King Dodongo should we lose. No one knowing what you have done."
"Yes," the one-armed lizard nodded. "Exactly."
Vile creature. "If I arrive too late and my people are gone, I will hunt you down until my last breath."
It hissed. "More reason to stand beside King Dodongo."
Ganondorf sat on a bench and cleaned the gore from his sword. He sat in the middle of what remained of his army's encampment. He preferred performing these necessary repetitive tasks alone. Away from prying eyes and the problems of others. Simple work that let his hands move but kept his mind free. But in the Lizalfos assault on the camps, his tend had been destroyed. His desk broken, his chair torn to pieces. Even several of his scrolls stomped on and torn.
And worst of all, they freed his prisoner. Not taken, not killed. The bottle remained in one piece, opened on the ground, and no fairy corpse among the ruins of his things. Why would lizards free a fairy?
Stranger still, they did not take anything else. And one of the beasts had been killed by the axe of another. Did they turn on each other? Perhaps the fairy cast some spell to confuse them? But she could not have done so from within the bottle. His enchantments prevented it.
Which brought him back to the first mystery. Why had they released the fairy?
Bethmasse moved toward him wearing a deep frown, her squire a step behind her. Just what he needed. The back of his mind shouted of death and murder. He shut his eyes but beckoned for Bethe to come.
"What is it now?" Gan asked and laid the still filthy sword across his lap.
"There is news from the scouts, it is not good."
"Nabs?"
"No. One called Freggia, you know her?"
"I think I've spoken to her once."
"She arrived wounded and babbling about someone named Eagle-Eyes being slain. The healers have taken her to bed rest. No other sign of her."
Gan grunted. Two of the scouts accounted for and wounded. Did Nabooru lead them into an ambush? No, had he ordered them into one?
"Shall I send out other riders to find them?"
"We don't have the reserves." Gan shook his head. "Nabs has gotten out of worse scrapes than this."
"Of course," she said. Though she did not sound so convinced.
Gan went back to cleaning the sword. Please Nabs, I need you still.
"What if she's in trouble?" the squire asked.
"Hush, voe," Bethe said. "The king has made his judgment."
"But what if he's wrong?"
"He is not."
"If I am," Gan looked up from his work and met the hateful little eyes of the voe. "Then my oldest and dearest friend is lost to me. And I will mourn her. But I still will not have the reserves to both search for her and defend the camp should the monsters attack again."
"But this isn't right. What if they need help?"
"War is not about helping people. War is about killing people, and making certain you are not killed yourself."
The voe tried to keep talking, but Bethe silenced him with a light smack against the back of his head.
"We shall leave you to your work," Bethe said.
"No," Gan said as he watched a small procession approach. "I think I'll have need of you in a moment."
Two Gorons came to him, arguing loud with Desquesza. Chief Darunia's own favored servants given command over his forces. Had either of them taken part in plotting this disaster?
"We need to retreat," Desquesza told the Gorons. "It's unfortunate, but there's nothing for it. We find better ground. Thankfully, the Lizalfos are stuck up here. They will have to go through whatever defenses we set up down the mountain."
"And leave the Crown undefended?" Brodni, the biggest of the Gorons said. "Our chief is still out there."
Gan would have preferred to have this conversation in private somewhere. Or if anything let their arguments happen far away from him. Once more he cursed the lizards that stormed his tent. A crowd formed around them. Every soldier and camp follower eager to hear what would happen.
"As is one of our commanders," Dessi said. "That doesn't change that they outmaneuvered us. We find better position."
"That is your commander," said the other Goron, Dembugi, as he leaned heavily on his twisted stone cane. "Darunia is our chief. Would you so quickly abandon your king?"
"If it would save the army, yes."
"Then you Gerudo know nothing of loyalty," Brodni sneered.
"And you Gorons know nothing of war."
"Hmm, run if you want. We Gorons will reform and save our chief." Brodni thumped his chest.
"How? By the sands, you lost your leader, half your army, and that secret weapon you were so proud of."
"Then it will be a difficult fight."
Dessi made a strangled noise in the back of her throat, before turning to them and speaking in Gerudo. "Bethe, Gan do you two have anything you want to say here?"
"I will follow whatever my king decides." Bethe said. "Once he makes his decision, I will advise how best to accomplish it."
"Very useful, Bethe, thank you."
Bethe shrugged. And suddenly all eyes were on him and his sword was still not all the way clean. That was the issue with having such a large weapon. It struck fear into the eyes of everyone he fought, and it was a tool of war unlike any other on the battlefield. But was that worth it when he had to clean the thing?
"Gan?"
"If the Gorons wish to stay and try to save their chief, I won't stop them. I wish you both good luck. Dessi prepare for a retreat."
"You will not help us?" Brodni said, folding his arms.
"I am finding it hard to think why I should," there was a very well dried piece of blood near the edge that was not coming off with the rag. He scratched at it with his thumb. "Way I figure, we had a plan. A good one. The Gorons would take the defensive position where they could stand as a bulwark for my cavalry, and use that weapon of yours without fear of threat. While my cavalry had room to maneuver wherever I please. Your chief decided to change that plan at the last moment. Put himself in a position where he was open to the attack, and my cavalry unable to aid him."
"They came from the ground!"
"There we go," Gan said as the browning blood tore away in a thin chunk. "Almost got it." He continued to pry at the blade with his fingernail.
"Even if we had followed your plan, the Dodongo's assault would have disrupted us."
"True, but not to the same extent." He blew on the blade and saw another chunk flitter off. "Your chief would still have had solid ground, my people would have all been on horseback to make the retreat and maneuver easier. How many fewer casualties do you think we would have had?"
"Hundreds, maybe more," said Dessi.
"You cannot know that!"
"As my commander said, you do not know war. Not as we do. So, I wish you luck. But I think I'll be taking my people down the mountain. Maybe away completely. The Zora still need our aid, as does Duke Arlan. I've wasted enough time on people who do not listen to me."
"But we cannot save our mountain alone. Not after this."
"Now that is the first thing we agree on. Still, as I said, best of luck."
"What do you need?" Dembugi said. "What can we do, to keep you here to aid us?"
Gan, finally looked up from his work and smiled at the Goron. "Are you trying to bribe me?" He waved his hand in front of the people that surrounded them. "A bit bold of you."
"No, I am trying to make reparations for the slights my chief unintentionally caused."
"That's a clever way to get around it."
"Think," said Dembugi, "how much use could your army make from our bombs? How easily the rest of your war will be with our weapon. And we can arm you, our finest steel. The kind we've forged for Hylian knights for a hundred years."
"Hmm," Ganondorf said making a big show of his consideration. He had an audience after all. "That would alleviate some of the pain you have caused my people, my army. But not to my honor."
"What else do you need?"
"Have you heard the story of my predecessor, King Yesasorn?"
"The man who started the Hylian Civil War and slew a Hylian King on the field of battle."
"He was not the only one who started that war. But yes, that one. When the Hylians and Gerudo first came to arms, your people stayed apparent. The Gorons treated both equally and would not take up arms against either."
"I remember my history well," Dembugi said and leaned so heavily on his cane, Ganondorf thought it might snap. "It was King Yesasorn's avarice that turned us into your enemy."
Ganondorf waved the words away, "That is what your people would no doubt say. But the truth is more complex. My ancestor won a contest at arms against your chief a century ago. He was supposed to win a prize, and when he came to collect it, your chief refused to grant it to him."
"How do you know the truth of what happened so long ago?"
"Because I was taught by two cranky old women who were there." The Gorons gave each other an uncomfortable look. It is good to know that even up here in the high places the Twinrova still inspire fear. "Now, I am not here to accuse anyone's ancestors. I suspect it was a misunderstanding blown far out of proportion. Those things happen when the powerful feel they are slighted."
"Then why bring up this old story?"
"The Crown still holds all the greatest treasures of the Gorons do they not? Once this battle is over, and I have won it for you. I would like to enter the Crown and take something for myself, for my ancestor. That seems a reasonable display to me. Heal the wounds that caused this rift between our people."
"Ridiculous," Brodni grumbled. "We cannot hand over our greatest prizes, our sacred treasures. They are under the protection of our chief."
Dembugi took a long moment before he spoke. "Which item do you have in mind?"
"Well, there would be some justice in the one that my ancestor won, wouldn't there be?" He smiled as he weaved the lie into the story. "A large red ruby, hardly the most valuable thing in there I should think."
"Dembugi you cannot be thinking to accept this."
"What choice do we have?" the older Goron hung his head a moment. "As Chief Darunia's most honored advisor, with him gone I speak with his voice." He met Ganondorf's eyes. "Help us save our mountain and our chief and the jewel will be yours."
"Wonderful." Ganondorf stood up and sent his now clean sword away. "Bethe you will go with Brodni, I want you two at the front when me make our advance. Gorons in the lead, obviously. I want your toughest to be on foot with them. Brodni you will obey every order that Bethe gives you. Understood?"
"No," the Goron's brow furrowed. "Not understood. I am a Goron, I serve-"
"There are perhaps six people in all of Greater Hyrule who have Bethe's experience holding a position. I cannot be there, Commander Nabooru is missing, and the rest are not on this mountain. So, if you value your hide you will do, what?"
"Hmm," the Goron grumbled but nodded. "I will listen to Commander Bethmasse."
"Good. Dessi, I want you taking two-thirds our cavalry. You will be the hammer when King Dodongo commits his forces."
She frowned but nodded. "Two-thirds, so what will you be doing?"
"I will have the last third. My guess is our enemy will think me arrogant enough that I will need to make the killing stroke myself. I will have fewer cavalry, in a worse position. I want King Dodongo to see me, and send his best to route me. At which point, you will take them."
"It will be done."
"And you," he looked to Dembugi. "How many of your bombs do you have left?"
"Only what we held in reserve, and no catapults to throw them."
"You have hands don't you?"
"Yes, but, we would need to be-"
"Good, I want you to find all among your army with the best arms. If the Dodongo have half a brain they will hold the position I wished to deploy your forces on. Trying to break them from there will be near impossible. So we're not going to. As long as they're there I want you to lob your bombs on them. And if they should try and attack you, the terrain shall be to our advantage."
Bethe and Dessi both nodded to him, but the Gorons looked among themselves. They seemed confused.
"Is there anything else?"
"No," Dembugi said. "You had all that in your head, the whole time while we spoke?"
"As my commander told you. We know war. Now, to your duties."
They broke apart, each heading their own directions to get their warriors prepared. Finally, leaving Gan with his thoughts. For only a moment he was surrounded by the closest thing to silence one can have in the middle of an army.
He prepared his third of the cavalry. Gave orders where appropriate, but all the while he could finally think. What would his captive do? Would Telti survive the travel down the mountain to her Great Fairy? He would have to assume the fairy mound would be warned and defended when he sought to take the Emerald from them.
Why was this all going so wrong? Hadn't the Goddesses given him their prophecies? Hadn't they shown him the path to creating the better world? If they did not want him to do it, why had they let him go so far? Were they just testing him?
A horn sounded. One long note. Not the enemy then. Could it be her?
Gan gave command to one of the sergeants-at-arms to finish preparing the cavalry as he went to see. He walked through torn tents, and past forlorn soldiers bleeding, broken. Many with the will to fight beaten from them. He did not stop until he reached the remains of the outer wall and saw the them, ten riders, all in Gerudo armor.
He hoisted himself over the wall and jumped down before the oncoming cavalry. "Commander Nabooru!" he called as they drew close. "You're late."
"King Ganondorf," she said. "You're line is a bit further back than I remember." She swung herself off the horse and ran into Gan's arms. "Was it bad?"
"We've gone through worse. I'm glad you're back."
"I have news," she said as she broke the embrace. "I made my way to the Lizalfos camp. It's almost completely undefended, and they dug massive holes into the mountainside."
"Your information is a bit late on that one."
"I also found our one-armed friend. He told me Chief Darunia is alive, he fought his way to the Crown and is holding up with the defenders."
"My what touching loyalty that one has," Gan sighed. "So, he's trying to play both sides."
"And obvious about it. But he also gave a warning. King Dodongo has Darunia's weapon and if you attack him, he's planning on using it to 'bring the mountain down on top of you.' Any idea what that means?"
"Hmm," Gan rubbed the back of his neck before looking back up the mountain. "He's going to use the bombs in his tunnels. They're going to draw us in, make us march over their little trap and have the ground collapse in on us. Clever."
"You certain?"
"It's what I would do," he sighed and shook his head. "I thought of King Dodongo as just a big lizard, and look what it's cost me. He is far more devious than I anticipated."
"And how do we deal with that?"
"I have a few ideas. How would you like to be a hero?"
"Are you trying to hurt my feelings? I've earned that years ago."
"True, but the singers will have another song for your legends. They'll remember you for a century at least."
"Do I get to fight?"
"Oh yes, in probably the most dangerous position on the field. It will be difficult and dark."
She smiled wide at that. "How can I refuse?"