Where Heroes Unite (Rewrite)

Chapter 7: The Gale of a Good Deal

As it would turn out, King Caudalis "finally knowing what to do with Percy" meant dragging the demigod in question up several flights of slippery stairs.

They were beautiful stairs — just like every other part of the domain — and sculpted out of glowing blue stones and glass that would make Annabeth jump for joy. Afternoon mist and rain clung to the railing and steps, challenging Percy to a high stakes game of slip n' slide. King Caudalis politely ignored the boy nearly eating his own teeth several times behind him.

"Here we are," Caudalis said, outlined by the light at the end of the stairs, "Rutela Dam."

If Percy wasn't busy trying not to trip, fall, and die, he might have giggled.

As he neared the last step, Percy realized that the stairs weren't just slippery from the weather; water poured over the edge of the staircase, pooling several hundred feet below. King Caudalis ignored it, splashing forward in several inches of rainwater.

"Oh, gods," Percy breathed.

The dam seemed to be minutes away from collapse, the glass-stone platform they stood on awash in flood water. Across the reservoir small hills like fish heads emerged from the dark water. Several waterfalls dripped from the slate blue cliffs behind tree tops flickering in the waves.

King Caudalis sighed, slowly loping to the end of the flooded dock. "I know. And the weather only draws our doom closer."

"How long do you have?"

"I don't think you have to ask."

He was right, of course; Percy could see the dam straining against the buildup. The scaffolding cloaking it would only prolong the inevitable collapse by seconds at best.

"So . . ." Percy began, "you said that you had something to do with me? What do you mean by that?"

The king's eyes remained on the dam as he said, "I received word from Hyrule Castle that they require Zora aid."

". . . And?"

"I have no people to send," he murmured. "Everyone is along the river, keeping monsters and travelers away."

Percy waited for him to say more, but King Caudalis remained silent as ever. "But. . . . What does any of that have to do with me? I'm not a Zora."

He turned away quickly, as though he couldn't bear to look anymore. "Given your circumstances, Young Percy, I feel that it would be in your best interest to go to Hyrule Castle. I'm afraid that the princess is better equipped for your situation than I am."

"So you're sending me away?" Percy tried not to sound hurt; he failed.

"That's what I'm going to do — at some point. But as I said earlier, I have no one to send with you. The postman is already on his way back with my refusal as we speak. The princess might send a Zora embassy or trader afterwards, and when they arrive you will return with them."

Percy glanced warily at the cracked dam. "That could take days."

"Yes."

"You don't have days."

"No. By the time the princess arranges for someone to come to us, the entire kingdom will be flooded." King Caudalis glared skyward; he flinched as though every rain drop stung like acid. "Unless this storm leaves us . . . all we have is hope."

"Don't sound so down, King Zora."

Both turned to the intruder behind them. Standing politely at the end of the stairs was a short, stocky old man with a sharp goatee, a hat as bowed as his frame shading his narrow face. The cold rain rolled off of his peculiar robes, colored an oddly pleasing combination of beige, navy, and crimson. To Percy's despair, he wasn't human; he had the right face and body, but his ears were pointed instead of round. Despite his confident interruption, his smile was both warm and awkward; Percy had the impression that he didn't quite know what to do in front of the king.