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Chapter Fourteen

Fortune smiled on the party, as they were able to sleep through an uneventful night. This was no small comfort to each of them given their prior ordeals. Link immediately recognized the aches in his body, a result of over-exertion, but persevered through them, telling himself they were only signs of his body becoming stronger and more able to keep up with the tasks that were sure to come. He looked to his side and saw Rukio unfold himself before letting out a loud yawn.

“Mornin’ brother,” Rukio said, wiping the remaining sleep from his eyes.

“Morning,” Link replied, beginning to rise to his feet before stopping mid-way to realize that Jenoa was not present. He began to look around slowly. “Where’d she go?” The two began to wander about the vicinity of their campsite before seeing her appear over a dune not far away. She had on her back some manner of lizard-like beast, no doubt indigenous to the region. It was clearly dead, and Link saw under her other arm dried brush. She approached and threw the animal’s body down near where their campfire had blazed through the night, took out a long, curved dagger, and began to skin the animal in front of them. Link and Rukio were speechless and couldn’t look away. Growing up in the forests, Link was no stranger to field dressing, but he realized that what he and Audwin did was child’s play compared to what he was seeing now. Jenoa, ever graceful, had clearly made the process into an art form. Before either of them realized it, she had already hoisted the lizard over a newly lit fire using some of the more firm bits of branches and brush she had found.

“Breakfast,” she said, having finally acknowledged the two. “It’s a bit tough to chew but it should serve our needs for the time being. It’s the best I could do given the circumstances.”

There was no argument from either of them, and before long, the three were picking pieces off the creature and getting their fill. Link didn’t mind that it was a bit bland and hard to chew given that he hadn’t had a proper meal in what felt like forever. The silence from the other two confirmed Link’s suspicions that they had similar sentiments. He glanced sideways at Jenoa, who had in kind done the same. Their gazes locked for a moment before both turned their eyes downward to finish their meal. Jenoa and Link took the time to give the plentiful remains to Epona and Iris, the dark steed that Jenoa called her own. They were all too eager to accept, and when all five of the companions had finished, they set out. Per Jenoa’s instructions, the ruins that they were going to be investigating were several miles due south. The Gerudo had not stepped foot within those grounds for years, and it was believed that the Poes made it a home, drawn to it by dark forces not unlike the magical woman of legend.

“When we arrive we must be cautious,” Jenoa said, loud enough to be heard over the pounding of hooves and rolling Goron over the sands. “While we Gerudo have an…understanding with the Poe, there is no telling what they may do given that we are essentially intruding into their home.”

“Can they be hurt or killed?” Link asked.

“I’ve heard some of my sisters say that the Poe have bodies underneath of those cloaks. The problem is getting them to sit still long enough to land a blow. They…vanish you see.”

“Vanish?” Link asked, cocking an eyebrow at Jenoa.

“Yes. Like smoke on the wind. You must be swift and try to anticipate their movements. If we are silent however, we may be able to enter the ruins undetected.” She glanced sideways at Rukio. “I worry about that one in that regard.” Link, out of reflex began to protest the insinuation that Rukio was a liability, but given his boisterous attitude and girth, she may have had a point.

“I’ll do what I can to be sure that he stays as quiet as possible,” he responded. She turned her head forward.

“See that you do.”

After some time, the trio began to see what looked like dilapidated ruins on the horizon. Jenoa brought a closed fist up. They stopped, and she gestured to a large rock to their righthand side. It was tall enough that it cast a generous shade from the midday sun, and they positioned both horses within it. She brought forth a waterskin from one of the saddlebags and gave each horse a plentiful helping to keep them hydrated. Link suspected that may have been the last of their food and water reserves given how flat the leather on each bag now appeared. It had sank in that this may very well be a suicide mission if they weren’t successful.

“We keep them here,” she instructed. “From here on out, we must move on foot. Be quiet and be cautious! We do not have the cover of night to assist us.” She looked at Rukio.

“What?” he asked with a slight shrug. “Why’re you lookin’ at me?”

“Rukio,” Link began. “It’s just that you’re a bit…bigger than we are so you’ll need to take extra care to not make too much noise.” Rukio looked downward at himself and scratched his head a bit.

“Guess I am a big guy, aren’t I?”

“Take pride in that,” Jenoa said, not taking her eyes off of the ruins. “You’ve been blessed with a form that can be used to protect this land and those you care about. It’s a gift.” Rukio looked back at Link. Link nodded at him in agreement with a smile.

“Yeah…yeah she’s right! I’m a big guy and proud! Alright, I’ll be so quiet even you guys won’t even know I’m there!”

“That’s the spirit,” Link said, giving Rukio a soft tap on the chest with a closed fist. He walked closer to Jenoa, who finally turned to face them.

“I do not see any Poe, but that doesn’t mean that we can let our guard down. There is still much that the Gerudo do not know about these creatures despite our years of co-existence. I cannot stress silence enough.”

They approached the ruins slowly, taking advantage of each bit of cover they could find until they had reached its perimeter. Moving in a line, they snaked their way around rubble and the remains of buildings, each step deliberate and soft. As they turned the corner of a mostly intact building, Jenoa raised a hand again. She peered around the corner and turned back to Link and Rukio.

“I see the entrance that leads underground,” she said in a hushed whisper. “However, it is out in the open. We must be swift.”

Link braced himself, digging the toe part of his boot into the cobblestone beneath him. The aches that assailed him earlier had gone by now, and he was back to what he felt was top form in spite of the heat that continued to pound down on them. He was quite proud of Rukio, that had made good on his word of being silent during their infiltration. He turned around slightly to look at him, and the Goron gave him a thumbs up, an indication that he was aware of the need for urgency. Jenoa nodded and stepped forward. A crack sounded through the area. She closed her eyes and bit her tongue from the sense of irony that was now washing over her. She looked down, and noticed that she had stepped on what appeared to be the remnants of a ceramic pot and broken it further. She took a deep breath and began to move forward again, determined not to face the two behind them that she had spent a fair amount of time warning against being careless.

Piercing screeches began to fill the air. Jenoa, broke into a sprint toward the entrance. Link and Rukio followed suit and were now able to see it for themselves. There was nothing of note about it, betraying the expectation that Link had in his mind of some ornately carved entryway that they would descend. A stone slab lay to its side, and Link assumed that was used to cover the entrance. Either something had gotten out at one point, or something had gotten in. There was no time to ponder which, as a surge of cloaks spun around the three, blocking their view of their surroundings. It was as though thy were caught in the eye of a storm, adrift on a lonely island with no one to aid them. One of the figures bolted outward, striking Jenoa hard in the chest and sending her flying backward into the maelstrom. No sooner had she disappeared from view, than several more rushed forward to give Rukio similar treatment. Link was now all that remained, and the cyclone of cloaked Poe was now circling in on him.

Jenoa, the breath knocked from her lungs looked up and saw the pitch black of a Poe wrapped in a plum-colored cloak drawing closer. Its eyes narrowed as it began to emit an echoing cackle; the lantern in its hand burning brightly. She flipped backward, got to her feet, and drew both scimitars. The Poe lunged forward, and she sliced outward at the creature. She was shocked to find no resistance as it dissipated before her eyes. It reformed behind her and sent her hurtling forward with a powerful blast.

Rukio, swinging viciously at the swarm besieging him was having similar luck, as each Poe vanished before his mighty club could find its mark. Their laughter was beginning to bring Rukio’s temper to boil, and his swings became wilder. Flaming circles shot out from their lanterns at the young Goron. He dodged several, but found his thick skin put to the test as one landed. It served as an irritation to him more than anything, but he knew that continued exposure would certainly do lasting damage or worse. The Poes continued to taunt him. They began taking turns vanishing and appearing on his blind spot before ramming him at full force, causing him to fight to maintain his balance.

The spiraling Poe continued to swirl around Link, inching ever closer. He held his ground, his sword and shield raised, batting away occasional swipes as best as he could. He tried his best to respond in kind, but his efforts were in vain. It was though he was swinging and stabbing at air. The assault continued, an eerie chuckle reverberated around him as they drew nearer. He began to feel dizzy from the movement around him, and he closed his eyes. It dawned on him that he wouldn’t be able to make any progress while they were spinning like this. Wait…spinning. That was it! He brought his sword up vertically, its blade resting on his forehead. He probably had one shot at this and needed it to count. He couldn’t risk the Poe having any indication of his actions. He took a deep breath inward, threw his right foot behind him and spun around, sword outstretched in the opposite direction of the Poes. A wailing screech took Link by surprise, but he knew he had found success. The funnel dispersed and Link was able to see his comrades locked in combat. He lunged forward and dispensed of two of Rukio’s assailants before he took care of the third with a mighty swing of his club. Jenoa had seized the opportunity the dumbstruck Poe she had been fighting had given her, and sliced upward, leaving nothing remaining but the plum-colored cloak she had seen more than enough of.

In unison, the three darted for the open entryway. The swirl of Poe began to reform, their livid screams thundering in the party’s chests. Rukio quickly grabbed the stone slab next to the entrance. As Link and Jenoa made their way inside, he followed, sliding the slab into place behind him with a deafening thud.

Bryan King is an editor for Zelda Dungeon. He loves writing about everyone’s favorite green-clad elfin boy, and thinks Zelda II doesn’t get the love it so rightly deserves. 

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