The Legend of Zelda: The Magnum Opus

“That still doesn’t explain your knowledge of my actions,” Link was visibly growing impatient with his company. His endless pacing was beginning to wear a path in the floorboards and a kink in Corbin’s neck.

“Calm yourself Master-“

“I’m not a Master!” Link’s temper was reaching its limit. “I am a peasant! If I know anything, I know that I am a worthless peasant!” Link was clutching his fists as he spoke. He did not care about the eavesdroppers outside his door. This harper had come to his town and exposed the story that was to be lost forever.

“I apologize, sire, but are you not this town’s Lord Holder, by action if not by title? Do you not keep watch over it? I watched you that night. I saw the passion in your eyes. This place is in your soul.” Corbin’s words drained the anger from Link’s veins. The man was certainly a Masterharper. “Worthless? My good man, you are the most valuable of all these peasants…” The harper’s teasing caused a grin to momentarily appear on Link’s face before he forced it away.

“It is I who should apologize, Corbin. I should not scold you for your ignorance nor your enlightenment. I simply cannot understand your resistance to my questions,” Link’s tone eased to allow a less callous conversation. Corbin shook his head in thought before looking through the window at the cold rain. The tone of his voice darkened to match the shadows of the clouds.

“Link, I wish not to argue further. These rains are unnatural. I fear not for my city, for Outset rides high above the seas. I do fear, however, for Hyrule. The lake’s surface is rising, Link, at a dangerous rate. I believe that I was called to find hope for Hyrule. I believe that I was meant to find you,” Corbin looked sternly into Link’s eyes. Link shared the gaze for a moment before turning towards the window. He approached its hard, transparent plane and placed a hand upon it.

“I cannot return, Corbin. It was too long ago. Hyrule has changed. They have found new leaders. They have found new heroes. The Hero of Time has been lost in time. He is a part of the past and there he will stay,” Link’s words came blandly as if he were reciting them. He turned to the Masterharper with the intent to continue speaking, but something caught his eye. The light from the fire reflected off a sphere that hung from Corbin’s neck. Link instinctively neared Corbin to get a better look.

“What is that ornament on your collar?” Link reached for the blue orb but Corbin swatted his hand away while pulling his lapel over the round object. “It was a gift!” Corbin shouted in detest. “A gift from whom?” Link swirled around Corbin, hoping to catch another glimpse of the stone. Corbin protested Link’s attempts by holding a hand out to his host. “I am growing tired of your scrutiny, Link. Our pleasant days have come to an abrupt end,” Corbin’s words halted Link’s endeavors as the Masterharper rose from his seat and attempted to head toward the door. Link positioned himself between the harper and his destination, “Corbin, you have yet to answer one of my questions. Please, answer this! Who gave you that stone?”

Link’s stubbornness was well known to all he met. If his mind was focused, there were few arguments that could sway it. Corbin had come to understand this well during his time with his host. Link hadn’t gone a day without presenting the subject of the ballad’s origin of which he sang. The harper took a long sigh at the idea of Link’s insistence on the disclosure of yet more information. Realizing that he wouldn’t leave the room without an explanation, Corbin ceded to Link’s demands.

“A wiseman presented me with this pendant many moons ago. He was to be taken by the Knights of Fortune and tried for heresy against the King. I… convinced …the knights to return without the man. In return, he awarded this pendant to me,” Corbin’s last sentence coincided with the revelation of the orb for Link to view. Link stepped closer and, upon a longer glance, his eyes widened.

“Corbin, did you write the ballad before or after the pendant was entrusted to you?” Link knew the answer before the Masterharper said a word. Corbin’s response bounced in and out of Link’s ears while the Hero of Time turned from his guest. “Corbin, that blue stone hanging from your neck is the Pendant of Wisdom. The power of Nayru has granted empathic abilities that have allowed you to know of my deeds. That old man’s name was Briton.”

“Yes, that’s right! How did you know that and what is the Pendant of Wisdom?” Corbin’s question was answered without delay.

“It is a key, Corbin. We must-“ Link’s words were broken by the village alert horn. Before Corbin could turn his head towards the sound, Link had grabbed his sword, spear, quiver and bow and sped through the door. To the streets he ran, speeding towards the headchief. “Dartimus, which direction!” Link screamed without looking up at the man in the watchtower. “South-southeast!” Link, never recognizing the mud under his feet or the rain on his brow, sprinted to that corner of the village. Upon reaching his standpoint, he stopped to witness the anguish of three of his kinsmen, barely of age, being chased by a horde of knights. Behind them laid the bodies of two other men and three women, presumably trampled. Link didn’t have time to grieve as he laid his spear to his right and readied his bow. The arrow was pulled from its quiver and released from his bow in a fluid motion that sent the stone tip through the center of a knight’s plate mail. The man inside felt his left arm go numb before watching the world turn black.

Noticing that they now had a threat, the knights released their targets and redirected their horses towards the little man in green. A second arrow swished passed the lead knight, and he heard another of his men hit the ground behind him. Even with just the four men, surely they would demolish the light opposition of one. Closing the distance quickly, one more arrow could be bowed. It was so. This rural peasant had quite a skill in archery. He would’ve made a fine addition to his lord’s army. The third arrow struck another target. Three arrows traded for three knights. Simply uncanny. The lead knight kept his steed in line and readied his sword for the attack. He and his two troops had crossed the plains and now stormed upon their new target.

Dropping his bow, Link picked up his spear. As the three knights neared, he bent to a knee and leaped into the air. Flipping his feet over his head, Link watched the horses pass under him. While over the third knight, he thrust the spear downwards. The shaft of his weapon stood straight in the air as a flagpole. Imbedded into the knight’s lung through his collarbone, the spear quickly absorbed the man’s vitality and he slumped forward. The two remaining knights turned to watch the smaller man land squarely. They expected him to turn, but his back remained to them. They nodded to one another before splitting to either side of their foe. With their horses positioned to his left and right, The Hunter again bent at the knee, closing his eyes and grabbing the hilt of his sword. The two knights neared him on their steeds and pointed their swords at his chest. Without an emotion on his face, the man in green sprung from his position, unleashing his sword’s wrath in a spiraling motion towards the heavens. A beam of light followed close behind the tip of his blade that momentarily blinded the knights. The knights looked at one another before they noticed red liquid seeping through fine gashes in their armor. They saw the better halves of their swords laying on the ground. The last thing they heard before being consumed in darkness was the soft feet of Link landing in the mud.

Link sheathed his sword and looked around. Several people were sobbing as they ran towards their loved ones in the field. The three men cowered behind trees, afraid to reveal their trouble-bringing identities. Link looked down, grabbed his bow, and walked from the scene. En route to his quarters, Link was thanked by his townsfolk. Corbin ran to his side, out of breathe and nerves. The shaky voice of the Masterharper whispered to Link through the pattering rain.

“You still have it, don’t you?” it was more of a statement than a question. “You have the Tri-“ Corbin’s words ended when Link wheeled, grabbing his arm with a vice-like grip, and ushered him off the street. Corbin’s shoulder socket nearly detached at the force which drug him between two buildings. His next attempt at diplomacy quickly failed with Link’s sword pressed sharply under his chin. The words that Link delivered drew a blank stare of shock from his new companion.

“Masterharper, you don’t seem to understand what’s happening. Even with the pendant, you are blind to the darkness. Those men were trained by Arcadians. They donned Hyrulean armor, but they were no countrymen of ours. Do not speak another word within this village. These people are content with their ignorance. They cannot handle the truth. Let them grieve thinking that our King is an unholy monster. With the next bounty for hunting these lands, they will have forgotten these events and behold the King under favored scrutiny. Go to your room, gather your belongings and ready for travel. We leave within the hour.”

“Where are we going?” Corbin’s question was barely audible under the pounding storm.

“To see an old friend.”

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