Lost in Time- A Zelink Story

Chapter Nine

Being set down is much more disorienting, like I'm energy being suddenly smashed back together into a solid. I land with a bit of a crash on a cool stone surface, groaning, and try to make sense of where my legs are, or at least enough for me to stand. Without warning, three other people materialize beside me, sending me off balance again. King Rauru and Queen Sonia look appropriately stunned and a little nauseated, but Mineru looks like this is the happiest day of her life.

"What an amazing piece of technology," she exclaims, and I grimace at the sudden loud noise, "I mean, how is it even possible for such a small instrument to... I don't understand it! This is amazing!"

We mostly ignore her as she goes on, theorizing and praising its creator (who I happen to know), focusing mainly on trying to get our wits back. We are standing on the pedestal of a shrine, glowing a soft turquoise color and decorated with intricate golden details. We seem to be in the area near where the Great Plateau would be in my time, facing south. The Gerudo mountains rise sharply up in front of us, red and orange, casting stark shadows on the land to the east. We are separated from them by a gorge, the mountains dropping sharply down into a canyon created by some long dried river. Grasses sway quietly at our feet, and scraggly bushes line the cliffs nearby.

A few small wooden buildings stand some yards away, lonesome on the barren field before the dropoff. They look hastily built, as if they've been set up in just the past few weeks. Soldiers move around us, carrying boxes, weapons, and beams of wood. A few stop to salute the king and queen, but most diligently continue their work.

From across the field, a few important looking soldiers approach, saluting us as they do. They're dressed in the trademark gold and green colors, and are painted with white symbols like Sonia and Rauru. The Hylian man in front is tall, lean, and scarred from battles sometime in the past. His mousy brown hair is pulled behind his head in a ponytail, and he carries a steel bow, its arrows sharp and menacing.

"Your majesties," he says, glancing quickly at me as if I'm simply a curiosity, "the base seems to be secured. We have noticed minor disturbances in the mountains directly across from our position, but it is being monitored. We have every weapon necessary to repel any possible attack."

"Thank you, Officer Walters," Sonia replies politely, "I am happy with the progress that's been made here. We are simply here to see for ourselves."

"Of course," he says, bowing again and turning to walk away, the two other guards flanking him closely. The four of us make our way into the largest of the three buildings, soldiers and officials streaming in and out of its wooden doors. The building is comprised of only one large room, most of it taken up by a giant 3D map of the area set on a huge table in the center. Chairs are set up around it, but most people in the room are standing, talking to each other and studying more maps that are pinned to the walls.

As soon as we walk in, everyone takes notice. King Rauru and Queen Sonia, as usual, are quickly overtaken by people wanting to hear about Rauru's journey, talk strategy, and brag about their work. Mineru sighs, and we stand to the side, waiting for the mob to die down. From out of the corner of my eye, I spot someone familiar off to the side; looking uncomfortable, but focused.

"Lord Iraza," I call, making my way over to him, "I didn't expect to see you here today. I thought you were back in Kakariko."

"Oh," he says, seeming to freeze, "I, uh, didn't expect to be here today either. I'm just doing a bit of work, um, scouting things out. I was told only the king and queen would be here. Why are you?"

"Oh, I just came along," I say, and he looks a bit horrified, surprising me. Why doesn't he want me here?

"If- if you'll excuse me, Princess Zelda," he says after a few moments pass in silence, preoccupied and nervous, "there is someone I must meet with."