Chapter 17 - Domain of Water
A full day had passed since Isha had her run-in with the mysterious stranger who had ruined her night.
Though she had not seen or heard from him since, she couldn't completely shake the feeling of dread he'd left behind with her. His ability to simply disappear unnerved her, too. Where had he gone? Was he watching her? How long had he been watching her?
Telma had come knocking the morning after, insisting that Isha meet one of the members of the resistance, but Isha sent her away. Her fears kept her confined to her bed for a majority of the day. She only rose to eat and visit the bathhouse. Isha struggled to keep herself from glancing over her shoulder every few seconds the entire time she was out of her rooms.
The morning after a day of cowering in bed, Isha cursed herself for moping about. If that creature was so capable, he could have snuck in at any point and killed her while she rested. In fact, remaining alone in her rooms was probably the least safe option.
The young woman hurried through her morning routine, preparing herself to visit the sparring ring again. Perhaps she could see Ashei again, and apologize for her absence the other night.
Assuming the swordswoman had even remembered her.
Isha exited her room and turned to walk down the hall, but stopped after only a few steps. The hair on the back of her neck rose, and the unmistakable feeling of being watched washed over her.
The young woman spun around, her eyes darting around as she looked for any sign of that shadowy figure from the bar. The hallway was empty, with little place to hide, and yet she saw nothing. Her ears could detect no sounds out of place, and her eyes saw no movement.
You're actually losing it, Isha told herself as she quickly walked down the hall. Being alone for a day was a mistake.
Isha entered the main tavern just as the front door opened. A tall, lanky man dressed in a white undershirt and white shorts jogged into the room, removing his red cap from his head and wiping the sweat from his brow. Though he was inside, he continued to jog in place as he reached into the bag swung about his hip.
The man withdrew a letter and glanced between Isha and Telma, who had stopped wiping down a table to look at the newcomer. "I have one letter for a miss Isha of Kakariko, penned by the hand of Mikas on behalf of three Zora guards."
The Postman smiled as Isha ran up to him with surprising speed, all thoughts of strangers and unseen eyes melting away, replaced with the sheer excitement that her friends had replied to her.
He finally stopped jogging in place and nodded to Telma as she passed him a glass of water. He leaned against the bar and watched the younger woman's eyes light up as she took in the message.
Finally, Isha turned to Telma, beaming. "The Zora send their gratitude for the part you played in rescuing Ralis. Zepin sends his love and promises to pay his tab when he visits next."
"I wonder when that might be," replied the barkeep with an eyeroll, though her tone was full of jest.
"Sooner than you'd think, actually." Isha's smile grew impossibly wider. "They said they're coming to collect me tomorrow."
The Postman saluted and turned towards the door. "I must be off. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of such grand news!"
As quickly as he'd entered, the man left, leaving the two women alone in the bar.
"I'm glad to see you in such good spirits. You had me worried yesterday, you know."
Isha looked away from Telma's concerned gaze. "I simply needed a day of rest, that's all." She wasn't sure how much Telma knew about the forces at work in Hyrule, but Isha felt that the barkeep did not need to be worrying about magical, teleporting demon-men targeting Isha in her bar.
"Ashei came calling for you the other night, you know. I didn't know you two were already acquainted?"
Isha could not help but chuckle nervously. She remembered me. "I met her at the sparring ring. How do you know her?"
"She's one of us, honey," Telma replied with a wink, returning to wiping down tables. "The swordswoman of our little resistance group."
"So I'll probably see her again, then?" Isha tried not to sound too hopeful, but gods above, she desperately wanted a friend who understood her, and Ashei had seemed just the type.
Telma simply laughed and hummed as she cleaned. Isha did not mind the break in conversation, as she now had to prepare to leave, and she wanted to get to the bathhouse before time ran short.
A part of her was also grateful, knowing she would not have to stay in the bar any longer, where terrifying strangers leered and hidden eyes watched her every movement.
—
The next morning, Isha stood alone beneath the weak autumn sun in the southern courtyard, the chill wind tickling her cheeks as she waited for her Zora escort to arrive. She pulled her light shawl tighter about her shoulders, thinking wistfully of warmer seasons. I wonder how the Zora deal with such temperature changes, her mind wandered. Hyrule was not an arctic land, but their winters could be harsh at times.
The wind could also be cruelly persistent, especially in this flat courtyard at such high elevations. Isha found herself missing the woods of Ordon, where long-lived trees sheltered inhabitants from the harsher impacts of the weather.
Can't really get views like this from the forest, though, Isha's thoughts continued as her eyes gazed upon the far-off silhouette of the Great Bridge of Hylia. On such a clear day, she could nearly see the carvings that decorated the sides and supports of the ancient bridge. If she dared to walk to the edge of the courtyard, Isha would be able to look down over the cliffs into the rushing current of Zora's River far below, and perhaps even be able to see the shimmering blue Lake Hylia.
"She really is alive!" A voice calling out grabbed Isha's attention. She spun on her heels to see Zepin walking proudly along the main road, spear held comfortably at his shoulder. His bright cyan scales were near-blinding in the sunlight, and he was adorned in the Zora royal crest. Behind him trailed a female Zora who matched his stride with ease, her own spear slung across her back in its holster. She sported royal purple scales and similar adornments to Zepin.
Isha ran to greet them, a wide grin upon her face. "I'm glad to see you in high spirits."
The soldier gestured to his companion. "This is Nuvoro. She's a public officer and frequently heads escort parties, so I figured there would be no one better to bring with me."
The two women greeted each other with polite bows. "Pleasure to meet you, miss. And thank you dearly for saving our lost prince."
Isha blushed. "I couldn't just ignore a child in need. Besides, I had plenty of help."
"Please extend my thanks to them as well. Now, Sir, shall we get going?" Nuvoro turned and gestured towards the cliffs. The young hylian woman stiffened.
Nuvoro noted Isha's sudden change in attitude. "Don't worry, we take this route all the time. We will make sure the water welcomes us," she added with a smile.
Isha looked helplessly at Zepin, who laughed in response. "Trust us. You've survived worse." He ruffled her hair and followed Nuvoro to the edge of the plateau.
Bracing herself, Isha joined them and peered down over the ledge she was expected to jump from. The river below was fast-moving, though it definitely seemed to have calmed down from the initial flood all those days ago. On either side of her, the Zora took her hands and Zepin gave her the courtesy of a countdown.
Then the command to jump came, and Isha was pulled off her feet and over the edge of the towering cliffs. It was all she could do not to scream as the air whipped around her and the river rushed up to meet them - literally.
A blue flash came from Nuvoro's place at Isha's side, and a wave from the river below rushed up towards them. The young Kakarikan barely had time to take a breath before the wave wrapped around them, cradling the trio as they plunged beneath the surface of the river.
It all happened within a few seconds, but Isha felt as though she was under the water for an eternity. The comforting scaled hands left hers as soon as they submerged, and she had just enough time to begin to panic when she felt a large body push into her from underneath, and her head broke the surface of the churning waves.
Purple shimmering beneath her told Isha she had not been abandoned. She blinked away the water from her eyes, clinging to Nuvoro's back as the Zora navigated her territory. To one side, Zepin leapt from under the river and shot Isha a wink as he flew by.
"Not so bad, right?" he called.
And Isha had to admit, it really wasn't so bad. The cold wind was nowhere to be found in this river that snaked beneath the mountains, and though it certainly wasn't warm, the water wasn't as icy cold as she'd feared it would be.
Now that she had time to take in her surroundings, Isha could finally appreciate how clear the water was. The riverbed sank deeper as they traveled further into the cave, but luminescent plant life and the occasional break in the rocky ceiling above made sure that the party was never truly in darkness. Isha watched Zepin with little-contained admiration of the Zora's natural proficiency for swimming, diving so deep that he disappeared into the inky shadows before suddenly rushing up into a beautiful arched jump above the waves. Water droplets scattered about, twinkling in the dim light.
They traveled for a good hour through this underground river, dodging the occasional rocky outcropping or particularly long stalagmite. Isha's face was stinging from the spray of the water, but she remained quiet and observed how the landscape around them changed as they exited the tunnel. The party came out into a large lake surrounded by mountains that seemed to rise straight from the river itself. A few flat areas created natural paths alongside one part of the lake. It was here that the Zora decided to rest for a moment.
Isha was relieved to have a break from the river's abuse. Her eyes were stinging and dry, her lips chapped, and her skin stung from welts created by the spray. Still, though, she found herself nearly unable to speak from the excitement and awe that was bubbling within her chest.
After the short break, they jumped back into the lake and continued up the main channel of Zora's river. Sparse forests made of tall triangular trees unfamiliar to Isha and steep, smooth cliffs all flew past in a blur.
Nuvoro turned her head back to her passenger after a time. "You're almost there!"
The young woman smiled and looked ahead where the base of the mountains seemed to grow together. The river forced its way through, creating a natural arch that separated Zora's Domain from the rest of the world.
They passed under the arch.
It was all Isha could do to keep her mouth from falling agape at the mystical landscape that opened up before them. Towering waterfalls tumbled from the cliff walls, feeding into the central pool they were now swimming through. Carved into the rock faces were intricate glyphs and symbols that resembled shells and fins, the ridges and bumps shimmering in the afternoon sun with spray from the waterfalls. The water here was as crystal clear as the rest of the river, but also carried with it a strange, ethereal glow upon its ripples and waves. Far below the surface, Isha could see the shadows of many Zora gliding by, dodging coral and rock formations with the ease and grace she admired so.
All around the central basin were massive walkways carved from the rock itself, allowing for ease of travel by foot between the many levels and crevices of the Domain. Soldiers patrolled these walkways, their bronze helmets and coral-tipped spears surprisingly dull when compared to the variety of color in the Zora themselves. Some Zora were uniform in their colorings and markings, their scales sporting deep rich reds, blues, and purples. Other Zora had a multitude of colorings, some with patterned stripes and spots, and some whose scales shone in every color of the rainbow.
Under the roar of the many waterfalls, Isha's keen ears picked up a few notes of a joyous melody. Her eyes darted around as she tried to search the lower thoroughfares for its source. As they crossed the center of the crater, she caught a glimpse of some performers surrounded by spectators down a side street playing instruments of shining gold that Isha had never seen before. She strained to hear more, but their party was approaching the bottom of the largest waterfall and its roaring wake dominated her senses.
"Up we go!" Nuvoro shouted over the clamor. Isha took in the height of the waterfall they were to climb and clung tighter to the Zora. She squeezed her eyes shut against the fierce spray, despite her desire to watch this mystical world whirl past as they ascended.
The falling water stung her raw face and threatened to pull Isha down, but she held tight to Nuvoro. Detecting her passenger's fears, the Zora placed a reassuring hand on the arms that hung about her shoulders. Isha took a steadying breath.
Suddenly, the water disappeared.
Isha's eyes flew open to find that they'd cleared the crest of the waterfall, and Nuvoro was now arcing gracefully as they reached the apex of her leap. The scattered water shimmered around them, reflecting the sunlight and the purple of her scales in a dazzling display.
The young woman could scarcely catch her breath before they plunged head-first back into the water, though Nuvoro did not keep them underwater for long. As they surfaced, Isha caught sight of Zepin at the riverbank, grinning wildly.
"Showing off a bit?" he asked as the women drew closer.
Nuvoro assisted a wobbly Isha onto dry ground. "You mentioned it would be her first visit. I wanted to make it memorable… Sir," she added quickly, checking her casual tone.
Zepin rolled his eyes and put a webbed hand on Isha's shoulder. "What do you think? It's no Hyrule Castle, but I like to think we have our own charm."
Isha looked around and realized they were standing at the highest part of Zora's Domain. The white-capped mountains that had seemed to tower before them earlier now seemed miniscule in comparison to the one they had climbed. The bank they stood upon connected two large caverns, one that seemed to continue on dry land, and the larger that housed the headwaters of Zora's River.
I'm standing right outside their palace!
Isha parted her lips to respond, but found that words escaped her. Her heart was still pounding in her chest. The beat nearly drowned out her thoughts.
Say something!
But her voice had been left behind, lost somewhere between the rushing water, the bright and dazzling colors, and the cacophonous sounds of a fast-flowing river. Her lungs felt tight, as though the air around her was in short supply.
"Speechless, really?" Zepin continued to tease her. "What happened to that sharp tongue of yours?"
Isha stared at the soldier with wide eyes, searching desperately for her ability to make any sound. Her stomach twisted, and she began to wonder how much of the moisture on her brow was the river, and how much of it was a cold, anxious sweat. Gods above, he's going to think I'm scared stiff…
Another arm slid across her shoulders and pushed Zepin back. "Give her a moment to catch her breath," Nuvoro admonished him. "She's got a lot to take in."
"Our hero has arrived!" a familiar, joy-filled voice came from the shadows of the larger cavern. The trio spun to see Peras leaping from the river, a blur of green-gray scales and shining blue jewelry. "I hope the journey wasn't too rough."
Relieved to have the attention off of her for even a moment, Isha took a steadying breath and finally felt her lungs free from whatever had constricted them so fiercely. She ran a hand over her sopping wet hair and smiled. "It was amazing," she finally croaked. "Better than I dreamed."
All three Zora wore matching, proud expressions. "Well, allow me to show you your room," Peras gestured to the palace entrance. "Once you've had a chance to put your things away, we'll give you a tour of the Domain. There are many, many Zora who want to meet you."
"I must return to duty, but it was a pleasure meeting you, Isha," Nuvoro said with a polite salute. "Please enjoy your stay."
Isha rushed forward and hugged the Zora, who recovered quickly from the shock of sudden contact and returned the embrace. "Thanks for catching it, seriously," she whispered.
"If they overwhelm you again, just punch one of them. I find that helps me." With a sly grin, Nuvoro fell back into the river and returned to the central basin.
Isha straightened and turned back to Zepin and Peras. "Well, I'm eager to see what Zora hospitality has to offer."
—
After depositing her traveling cargo and her weapons in her room, Isha regrouped with Peras and Zepin for a tour of the domain.
They took her through most of the main streets, introducing her as they went to any Zora who stopped to listen. Upon hearing that Isha was one of the Hylians responsible for saving their prince, she was met with thanks that never stopped making her blush. Isha did her best to swallow any objections she had - after all, it really should be Link, Ilia, Telma, and Renado receiving the thanks.
They aren't with me, so I'll just have to accept the gratitude in their stead. The thought did little to ease Isha's struggle with receiving praise.
The sun hung low in the sky by the time Isha broke away from her friends, who really needed to return to their regular guard duties. Before they left, she made sure to get instructions on how to find the blacksmith, Dento.
"If you're looking for a new weapon, might I advise you ask him to forge you a trident," Peras suggested with a smile. "I might be partial, but they really are fantastic weapons!"
Isha laughed him off. "I might just do that."
She made her way back down towards the central basin, recalling that Dento's workshop, the Hammerhead, was located down one of the side streets there. Thanks to some very well-placed signage, she found her way to the front door with little difficulty.
A navy-scaled Zora greeted Isha just as she went to open the door, a scowl quickly falling across his aged face. "I'm about to close up shop, what do you want?"
The young woman blinked at the cold tone. "My name is Isha, and I had a request to make of you."
Dento rolled his eyes. "Yes, I figured as much. What do you want?"
Isha reached into a pouch at her hip, withdrawing the two Zora sapphires she'd brought with her. "I'd like to cash in a favor for two sets of Zora armor. I was told you were the best."
The elder Zora's cold eyes widened at the sight, and he reluctantly stepped back, holding the door open. Isha stepped into a darkened workshop filled with weaponry and tools alike. Dento hobbled towards a counter at the center of the room. Isha trailed behind.
"You better have a good explanation for why you have those, girl."
"I do, but whether or not you'll believe me is another story." When Dento offered nothing more than a bored stare in response, Isha continued.
"I was one of the ones who escorted Prince Ralis to Kakariko Village, where our Shaman is currently treating him. I know Kakariko is sacred to the Zoras, but what I did not know is that your Queen's ghost is haunting the local cemetery. She appeared to me and one of my companions after we arrived in town, and gave us these in return for Ralis' safety. She said that if I bring them to you, you can make us sets of Zora armor. Then she passed on to the afterlife.
"I want to help you guys with the monsters infesting your temple. I am from Kakariko, and through a series of absolutely horrendous events, I wound up at Lake Hylia when the river was frozen over. You can ask Peras, Zepin, Mikas, or Valan, and they'll all tell you I'm telling the truth. I met them there, and became friends with them. They saved my life and I feel that I owe it to those four to do everything I can to help them out. Please." Out of breath, Isha held out the sapphires once more. "You've gotta believe me."
Dento's expression remained neutral throughout Isha's long-winded explanation. After a moment of silence, he reached out and accepted the sapphires. "We Zora are very in touch with our ancestors. A visit from the recently departed is not as strange a story as you seem to think." Was that a bit of amusement in the grouchy Zora's voice?
"I will make your armor and honor our Queen's promise to you and your companion. I trust you have the other person's measurements, or has my reputation finally exceeded my abilities?"
Isha fumbled at her pouch for the slip of paper with Link's very-approximate measurements. "I hope this is good enough, I've never had to do this myself."
Dento looked over the numbers. "Fairly tall, lean muscle, broad shoulders?"
It took Isha a moment to realize he was asking about Link. "Um… yeah I'd say that's about right. He grew up working on a farm."
"I suspect this'll do. Go stand on that stool over there, and I'll take down your measurements. And, let me be clear miss, I am only agreeing to make the armor. I am not giving you permission to enter the Temple. Were it up to me, I'd fill the whole thing in and ban anyone from going anywhere near it. It's far too dangerous. I don't get why we risk our guards' lives protecting it now."
Isha obeyed the Zora's instructions, her heart sinking. "Who's decision is it, then?" she asked.
"Since you're so friendly with our Royal Guard, you might try asking them." Dento approached with a tape measure. "Hold your arms out straight."
Isha fell silent and allowed Dento to work quickly, her mind already working out how she might approach the subject with Peras. Maybe Zepin or Valan would be better to ask first? Isha feared Mikas might feel that she was only being friendly towards him to gain access to the temple, which would send the wrong message entirely. Especially since I still haven't sought him out to say "hello"...
With her measurements and Zora sapphires in Dento's possession, Isha found herself being ushered out the door with a vague promise to contact her in a few days when the armor was complete. The streets outside the Hammerhead were growing dark in the fading evening light. The stones around Isha seemed to be glowing faintly, as though they'd captured some of the sunlight that had bleached and weathered them over the years. The young woman resisted the urge to reach out and run her hands along the glyphs that adorned the walls around her, recalling that Zepin had informed her they were sacred to the tribe.
They look so smooth, though… her intrusive thoughts beckoned, but were quickly drowned out by a growling stomach. Recalling that she'd been shown several excellent food shops on her earlier tour, Isha worked her way back to the central basin.
Once out in more open air, it was Isha's nose that took the lead. Lost in thoughts of new and exotic food, she nearly ran straight into Mikas, who had stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the small Hylian approaching him from across the road.
Blinking her eyes in recognition, Isha clasped her hands together. "Hey! I'm so glad I ran into you!" She waited for Mikas to smile. "I was just about to find someplace for dinner. Would you like to join me?"
The soldier nodded and pointed at a cafe behind Isha. She'd passed it without realizing, so focused was she on finding a different restaurant she recalled Zepin specifically recommending. "Is that place good?"
Mikas gave an enthusiastic nod with wide eyes, which drew a small giggle from Isha. "Alright, I'll trust your judgment." She held her hand. "Come on, then!"
