Kingdom of Power, of Courage, and of Wisdom

The King's War - Lesson Learned

-Ryo's estate, Kanyou-

-Ryo-

"These are the teachers Lady Impa has requested to be Princess Zelda's teachers," One of Ryo's trusted officials handed him a paper. Ryo took it and glanced over the names.

"These are good names," Ryo said as he poured over them. "They should cover all the Princess needs to know to become a decent monarch. One wonders if she will even have time for the monarchy."

"Looks like you will be among her teachers for the next year. Are you up to it?" Ryo glanced toward a short older man. The old man had been his teacher once.

"Oh-ho, this will be fun. Never met with a woman monarch before!"

"Keep your perversion to yourself, old man."

"I know, I know." He chuckled.

Another of Ryo's official spoke up and asked, "Chancellor, why did you bring Zelda here? Why go through the effort of strengthening a lineage?"

"My reasons are my own," Ryo replied smoothly. "It's all part of my plan for my lineage to hold the throne. Kyou would have been easy on the surface to control, but to overthrow? One cannot overthrow divine bloodline so easily. All of his focus would have been on me, and that would have proven annoying. What I have done is put more pieces on the board. I assure you," Ryo smiled viciously. "I already hold checkmate."

-Zelda-

Zelda stood in her father's study- no, it was her study now. Her father was gone. How did she feel about it? She had no tender memory to rely on, nor was there a bad one. She didn't know him.

All she had to go on was that he had managed to escape Zhao's custody and requested Zelda's rescue. Was she appreciative? Yes. Zelda also felt it was a long time coming. The fact it required nine years was not an easy thing to overlook.

Her thoughts drifted as she examined the study. There was a set of bookcases, several tables, and a map nailed down to a long desk. Zelda walked to the map and explored it, walking around its borders in a circle. Despite her lack of proper education, she could read a little.

"Hyrule," Zelda voiced the most prominent word on the map.

"Ho-ho! So of everything here, it is that which draws your eye, hm?"

Zelda glanced over to see an old man standing before the bookcases. The man bowed as best he could. The shaking motion revealed wrinkles, and hanging skin was enveloping his body. He could easily be a hundred years old. He walked with a stick and feebly trotted over. His beard reached his ankles, so when he walked, his knees would periodically jut out of the hair as a curtain. What was this man doing here? She did not recall hearing the door open. How did he enter?

He answered as if he could read her mind, "Pardon the entry, my lady, but I was already here preparing for you."

"Who are you?"

"I am Abhdan: senior council member, former Chancellor of State, ambassador of Qin, Chancellor Ryo's tutor, and now yours as well." Ploddingly he made his way to where she was and looked down at the map with her. "I heard you lived in Kantan most of your life. Did you ever meet the king?"

"No. At least, not in my memory. I hope I never did."

"Ah. Well, I wouldn't either if I could. Oh-ho. The bastard has no respect for his elders. No, Ma'am!" He chuckled. "Tell me, what do you see when you look at the map?"

Zelda looked at him in confusion, "It's a map. It's a drawing. I merely see pictures and words."

"Did you not see the road you took to come here?"