Fan Fiction Friday: The Man Behind the Masks – Part 12

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“After all this time, I finally get to see it,” Yasei squealed with delight. She ran to the top of the hill, cornflower blue skirts billowing in the wind. “Isn’t it beautiful? Like something out of a fairy tale with all towers and turrets reaching up to the sky. How much stone do you think it took to build that? Hey, look at the shimmer on those flags, not just some tacky bits of cloth, I reckon that’s sapphire silk.”

I could not deny it. “Hyrule Castle is an impressive piece of architecture.”

In the midday sun, the white walls shone gold and could look rather mythical, at least, that is what I had heard. But currently, my gaze was fixed on the nearby dandelions, and then on the beetle crawling across my shoe. I did not want to look upon the place that housed that man.

“Funny to think of you having the King as a neighbour. Must be nice to get waited on hand and foot. What do you think he eats? The innkeeper told me he’s partial to a bit of fruit cake. I like apple pie myself…”

Why should I care what he likes to eat? I thought as Kilton’s wet nose sniffed at my pockets. How could the King even have an appetite after bearing witness to the annihilation of an entire magical race? My last biscuit fell helplessly towards the husky’s throat before the enormous jaws snapped shut. A shiver went through me.

Back down the cobbles towards the main square, we saw Old Man Shikashi, shuffling along, hands clasped behind his back. A trio of children came bounding up to him, desperate for one of his stories. “Have you heard the legend of the “Shadow Folk”?” he asked them. Heads frantically shook. “They are the Sheikah…the shadows of the Hylians. They say they have sworn allegiance to the King of Hyrule and guard the Royal Family.”

Having seen General Impa in action on the battlefield myself, I knew how strong she could be. Her use of magic and incredible strength had to be seen to be believed. The Royal Family had chosen their bodyguards very well.

We came upon one of the Gossip stones, or Sheikah stones as they could be known. “You see that weeping eye?” I crouched down and swept away some of the dirt from the chisel work. “That means the Sheikah live in the shadow of the Royal Family and will go to any lengths to achieve their goals.”

Yasei raised an eyebrow. “You know, Pa said something like that once, sounds a bit dark, doesn’t it? I mean, hiding in the shadows that’s what assassins do, gives me the creeps. You wouldn’t think the Royal Family would get mixed up in business like that.”

“No one is perfect,” I muttered.

Yasei knelt down beside me and traced the outline of the tear. “I’ve seen these stones all over the place on my rounds. What do you think they’re for?”

“Apparently, you can talk to them and they will tell you interesting secrets.”

“Really? What does this one say?”

The coolness of the stone felt quite nice against my ear, so I remained there for a minute. My friend waiting patiently for an answer. “They say… Yasei from Kawaranai snores in her sleep.”

“They say what?” She punched me hard on the shoulder. “I do not, Ronri!”

It was a relief to hear my laughter. Genuine, blissful laughter coming out of my mouth. In recent months I thought I might never laugh again and it had scared me. I’d forgotten how easy smiling should be as if spreading butter on toast, not trying to climb a mountain.

We sat on a bench near the pathway that led to the Temple of Time. Another of the town’s impressive buildings with high marble arches, chequered floors and beautiful stained-glass windows.  Yasei tilted her head up like a flower towards the sun’s warming rays. Some of the local women loitered near the fish and vegetable stalls, sneaking glances over their shoulders.

Her eyes narrowed. “What are they staring at?”

“Probably me.”

In truth, folk around here thought I was a bit, strange. Someone nice enough in small doses, but when talking too much about my masks, I saw how their eyes glazed over. I used to feel deflated but had learnt to ignore them. Still, there was the odd friendly soul. A young man sauntered over wearing a tatty green waistcoat.

“Surprised to see you out and about, Happy Mask Salesman,” he said.

“Hello Kusuri, how are your studies coming along?”

“Just great, Granny says I can mix red potions without poisoning anyone now.”

“That is…reassuring to hear,” I congratulated him. However, I would not be volunteering to try said potions anytime soon.

Kusuri, although highly enthusiastic, was still new to medicine. He had been left far too long unsupervised to tinker with ingredients to his heart’s content. That was until he had a near-fatal bout of food poisoning. It was Akisin who concerned for his health, had introduced him to Granny, an experienced botanist.

“Granny, bless her.” The medicine man put a hand on his heart. “Do you know what she said?  That I’m her gift to the next generation of healers, imagine that!” He swivelled around as if expecting some agreement from passers-by. None was forthcoming, so he returned his attention back to us. “Still won’t let me anywhere near her blue potion though. At the experimental phase,” he whispered conspiratorially.

I nodded with a complete lack of understanding. Medicine and mask making didn’t seem to have much in common, except perhaps the creation aspect.

“Anyhow, enough about me.” Kusuri wriggled into the space next to Yasei and swiftly took her hand. “Who do we have here?”

She giggled at this, but I did not appreciate the intrusion. The aroma of freshly cut herbs still clung to his clothes along with other curious, but pungent smells. My nose wrinkled. Kilton began to growl. I agreed with the dog, Yasei was here to visit me after all. When Kusuri went to kiss her hand, the husky pulled roughly at his trouser leg.

“Kilton, no. That’s naughty, let go!” She stood up, dragging her overprotective companion away. “Sorry about that, Yasei Muryō. I’m a friend of Ronri’s.”

“Friend, eh?”

“Yes.” I frowned, beginning to tire of the ‘friendly’ interrogation. Why can’t people just mind their own business?     

Kusuri laughed. “How do you like Castle Town, Yasei?”

“Amazing, you’ve got the trade market going on, games and so many people. Food stalls, the tavern, weapons, musicians and the library. King Hyrule on your doorstep, protecting the realm, very impressive.”

“He’s a good man. We’re lucky he drove off those Interlopers, hate to think what could have happened.”

A good man? My hands balled into fists.

“Ronri did his bit in the war too. That’s why I’m here, checking up on him.”

“Is that so? I’d never have known. Keeps to himself this one, always hiding away in the shop.”

A good man would have granted Azamuku an audience with the King. A good man would have tried harder to secure peace, and I would never have had to see or hear the things I did.

In the sunshine such dark thoughts were unwelcome, but the more I tried to block them out, the worse they became. As the two conversed, their words faded into incomprehensible warbling. I retreated to the ornate fountain; its fine spray made me blink rapidly. Circular ripples drew away from each other and I took a deep breath. How pleasant it would be to just stay here, listening to the water’s gurgle and gargle.

“Oh, you just have to get to know him, right, Ronri?”

“King Hyrule does not deserve the praise he gets,” I snapped. Instantly regretting it when two guards turned their heads in our direction.

“Hey now.” Kusuri strode over and hissed in my ear. “Don’t go saying things like that. You’re not against the Royals, are you?”

Confused, I touched my forehead, it felt clammy. “No, I have nothing against the Royal Family, it is just King Hyrule signed the Interloper’s death warrant because he blindly followed the will of the Goddesses.”

“What are you talking about?” His face twisted in shock.

Ah, did I just say that out loud?

“Ronri?” Yasei squeezed my shoulder. “You’re not making a lot of sense.”

An awkward chuckle followed. “Sorry, I do not know why I said that. I am not myself today.”

“Right.” She grabbed my wrist. “Nice to meet you, Kusuri, but we have to go, now.”

“Wait, where are you taking me?”

But Yasei said nothing as we left Kusuri behind with the watchful eyes and gossiping tongues.

We came to a large wooden door and she bashed it open with her shoulder.

“You don’t have to treat me like a child,” I said. Yanking down my shirt.

“Moron, what was I supposed to do? You were causing a right stink out there. Do you want the guards to arrest you or what?”

“Of course not, it would completely spoil your visit if I was locked up.”

“Ronri, for the love of Hyrule-”

A loud cough interrupted us. “You want to play a game? It’s twenty rupees per play.”

In all the kafuffle, I had not considered my current surroundings. Flickering lamps partly illuminated a large painted screen of cacti and rolling sand dunes. Pairs of antlers were haphazardly nailed to the brick walls and Kilton licked his lips at the sight of dusty cattle skulls.

Yasei smacked down two red rupees on the counter.

“Bow or slingshot?” The enormous man with thick black chest hair grinned.

“Bow for me. Slingshot for him.”

“Will you just-”

“No.” She thrust the slingshot into my hands. “Stop thinking and shoot things.”

At the gallery platform, I pulled back the rubber band. “I hardly see the point of this.”

A shrill whistle sounded as a green rupee popped out from the nearest wooden block. I honed in on the middle and smashed it into a dozen shards. Two blue rupees swooped in, I managed to hit one on the left. Yasei quickly nocked up an arrow and took care of the one on the right.

“The point,” she grunted, “is to snap you out of…whatever was going on out there.”

“Nothing was going on out there. I am just a bit tired.” My eyes trailed a red rupee moving at speed along a length of overhead rope.

“Spacing out in the middle of the street? Trash talking the King?”

More coloured jewels shattered in quick succession.

“I am perfectly fine.”

“Yeah, your last letter said things were just fine, but Guru-Guru tells me different.”

My deku seed missed and smacked into the backdrop. “There is nothing for you to worry about.”

“Liar.” She loosened her arrows dispatching three more. “You hide things, you always have.”

This remark may have been true, but it still stung. Back in the village, when mother died, I put on a brave face because father had expected nothing less. But Yasei knew the truth. She knew that skimming stones hour after hour had been my escape. She had watched me until my arms ached so much that I could not throw anymore.  Yet so much had happened since then…

“It is none of your concern.”

“None of my concern?” Yasei growled.

As the final whistle blew, the gallery owner peered over to count the tally. “Eight outta ten. Too bad, practice hard and come back, eh?”

Yasei, however, had lost all interest in the game. “None of my concern?” she repeated, giving me a long, cold stare. She stayed on the platform and nocked up another arrow. Deep rumbling breaths dragged through her nostrils. “None of my concern?”

“Watch where you point that thing!”

Sensibly, Kilton had taken his place by his master’s side out of harm’s way. He yawned and turned his nose up at me.

Well, thank you very much. No more biscuits for you.

“You got two options, Ronri.” She pulled the bowstring back. “One, stay here and try to muddle through this by yourself.”

“And the other?” I gulped as the pointed tip aimed directly at my nether regions.

Yasei gave an evil smirk. “Come on a little trip with me.”

 

Featured art: Alison Brunyee via Canva.com

Alison Brunyee is an Original Content Editor for Zelda Dungeon. She likes reading manga and collecting Japanese wind chimes. Her favorite Zelda game is Ocarina of Time. For a bit of escapism during this tough time, check out more fan fiction from her alter writing ego – Otwl. Stay safe x