“Darkstar,” a voice called softly.
She flicked her hand at the source of the voice as a warning, but her movement was lazy, and her hand was caught.
“Darkstar, please.”
She opened one eye, thoroughly annoyed, to see Nasir beside her. She moved her hands and, to her surprise, found that she had been freed from the rough rope leash.
She smiled maliciously. “You do know I could kill you, right?”
“I won’t stop you,” Nasir said sadly. “I deserve it.”
This took Darkstar aback. She stared deep into his eyes, trying to detect anything that should make her suspicious, but found nothing but sincerity.
This doused her anger like water on a flame. She suddenly became aware of the deep lines in his face, only made deeper by the light of the flickering candle in his hand. “Why did you come back?”
Nasir smiled. “I felt guilty, first and foremost of all. I saw your pendant,” here he pulled out the golden symbol on the chain and placed it in her hand, “and I remembered the history of your people.”
Darkstar looked away.
“And I didn’t want to be one of the ones responsible for the death of such a proud and beautiful race.”
There was silence for a long time, and when Darkstar looked up, there was the faintest hint of moisture in her eyes. “I am…the last one then?” she asked.
“Even Lady Impa has disappeared…” He laid a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
Darkstar didn’t reply, but closed her eyes for a long while, breathing slowly.
“But,” Nasir continued, “I was searching through some old documents of mine and I found a note on why you are wanted by Ganondorf.”
She smirked, chuckling bitterly. “How much did it tell you?”
“Only of a prophecy, and a vague one at that. But still, if you are the one foretold, then Ganondorf will have reasons for wanting you.”
“I doubt it,” Darkstar said simply. “I make it a point to ignore prophecy. I think he just wants me because of all the information I stole.”
Nasir smiled genuinely. “There’s a way to find out. Go to Hyrule. If you find the one called Anay then…”
“It’s a moot point,” she interrupted angrily. “I’m not going back to Hyrule.”
Nasir opened his mouth to object, but closed it as he saw the look in her eyes. There was so much anger, hatred, fear, and sadness. Nasir knew all too well what it was that made her hate the golden land so strongly.
“Then I will help you escape.”
Darkstar looked up, an eyebrow raised. “At the expense of your life? You’d be willing to risk a fate worse than death for me?”
“Why else do you think I came back?” Nasir stood up and began to pace. “Before King Ganondorf came into power, I was a wealthy seaman. I traded with Calita, and when I came home I always had my wife and daughter to keep me company.”
“And then the Hero of Time was exiled…Ganondorf came into power. The king’s men, in his conquest to take over the village of Kuato, murdered my wife and daughter. I still served him out of fear like the coward I am. But I’m tired of…”
He stopped and took a deep breath. “That man…no, that monster…does not deserve be the king. If you are anyone that stands even a chance of putting a just ruler on the throne once more, then I will give my life to assist you.”
“Even if you hold the willpower, how do you plan on doing it?”
Nasir gestured for her to stand as he pulled a large map from his cloak. He laid it on a table in the corner, putting heavy items like candles and shells on the corners to keep it from rolling up on itself again.
“The pact I made with the captain of the other ship was simple; I offered the added protection of my ship in exchange for you staying aboard. I said I would escort you to the shores of Lake Hylia,” he gestured to a point on the map, “at this port.”
He moved his finger southward along the map until he reached a narrow river that connected the open sea to the enclosed lake. “This is Zora’s Pass, the only way into Lake Hylia by way of the sea. Despite its appearance on the map, it is wide enough for two ships to sail abreast and is easy sailing. Once we go through the pass and get to about here,” he pointed to a small dot of land in the center of the lake, “I will be able to deposit you onto this little island. Beneath the surface lies the Water Temple, a haven for all those who oppose Ganondorf. The Zoras will be there, and you will be able to seek their aid.”
“But the other ship?” Darkstar asked.
“I have planned it so that you will be able to get onto the island itself unseen, and we will continue on for a little ways. Once we reach the port I will flee, but if worst comes to worst, this ship is well equipped for battle.”
Darkstar ran her fingers along the map. She knew Nasir was lying. The ship was already gravely wounded from their assault earlier; even with the best crew, such damage would take time to mend that she knew could not have passed. He could not hope to best the enemy ship, should it come to a battle. The risk to Nasir was far greater than he admitted.
The question, then, was if she cared.
“I will not ask this of you,” she said.
“I will do it either way,” Nasir replied, his resolve unwavering. “This war has to end.”
“You will be a fugitive. He will hunt you.”
“I have nothing left to lose.”
The Shekiah silently rolled up the map. “…I will do it, then.”
Nasir clapped her on the shoulder, a gesture that Darkstar did not respond to. “Then it is decided.”
Both the captain and the Shekiah were unaware that Caspian was outside their door, listening in the shadows.
~*~*~*~
It was two days before they reached Zora’s Pass. At the latter end of their journey, Darkstar found enjoyment in watching the sleek bodied Zoras zip through the waters, their bluish bodies invisible to untrained eyes. The river was pure, she noted, much purer than the moat that supplied Castle Town with water. She had heard rumors that the Zoras had created tools to help the air-breathers swim as she did, and she decided that she would like that. She made a note to ask them.
She had played the part of helpless maiden to fool Caspian, but inside she was confident and serene. Freedom, she told herself, was only days away. Nasir never mentioned their scheme again, but she could tell that he hadn’t forgotten by the wink he gave her every now and then.
After half a day’s sailing the reddish walls of the pass gave way to endless cerulean waters. In the distance was the silhouette of a single tree, marking the small island where Darkstar was to go.
“Caspian,” Nasir called. “Go to your ship and tell them we are running low on fresh water. We’ll stop at that island and look for an inlet.”
Caspian raised an eyebrow. “I thought we had plenty…”
Nasir shrugged. “Check for yourself, if you will.”
Darkstar smirked, remembering how last night she had carefully poured all but a little of the water overboard while Caspian and the crew were asleep. Her smug expression was hidden behind her scarf. Though everyone knew by now that she was a Shekiah, she preferred to be hidden. She despised the way people looked at her markings, for one, but the Shekiah had also always been known as the shadow people. Darkness was her element; she was most at home enfolded in the shadows.
After being satisfied that their rations were indeed low, Caspian flagged down the other ship and conversed with the captain. He returned with the captain’s consent, and they altered their course to reach the island while the second ship stalled a ways away.
Darkstar felt as if sparks of life has been scattered throughout her veins. She tingled with anticipation, barely able to contain herself.
The Zoras would take her to Calita, she was sure of it. Perhaps with their aid she could swim there herself. She would never have to live under the harsh Hyrulean sun again. She could leave, and eventually, perhaps she could forget her dark past as well.
When the anchor was dropped and the crew on the island, Nasir put a hand on Darkstar’s shoulder.
“Make Ganondorf pay.”
Darkstar nodded silently, certain that she would do no such thing.
“Go along,” Nasir whispered. “Goodbye, and may the goddesses protect you.”
She ignored the comment. The deities had been nothing but cruel to her thus far, she saw no reason to put her faith in them now.
Darkstar walked away slowly, and removed her boots so she could feel the grass in between her toes. She went over and lounged casually by the tree, seeing the enemy’s ship in the distance, but not caring. They could not possibly see her.
“Come aboard!” Nasir shouted to the crew. “Break’s up.”
Darkstar took this as her cue and she shimmied, unseen, up the tree. Using all of the energy she possessed, she called on the power of her ancestors to shield herself from the eyes of the sailors.
Once the anchor was lifted, she removed her shield and gracefully slid to the ground. She looked up at Nasir, memorizing his face and vowing to repay him, should the opportunity arise. She owed him that much. She raised her hand in a simple farewell.
From a distance, she could Nasir’s expression of worry as his lips formed words that she couldn’t hear. She tilted her head to one side, showing confusion. He repeated it, this time moving his lips more frantically, waving his arms. It was many moments before she could read the word on his lips.
Caspian!
The implications hadn’t even registered in her mind when she felt cold steel against her throat and a hand lock around her wrists in an iron grip.
She could only watch in despair as some sort of flare went up, alerting the other ship to Nasir’s betrayal. The enemy ship turned around, approaching at full speed, and Darkstar saw the side panels of the ship slide away to reveal canons.
“Nasir!” Darkstar screamed at the top of her lungs. “Nasir, leave!”
But her ally ship was sailing toward her, Nasir’s eyes full of concern.
“If that’s the way he wants it…” Caspian hissed into her ear.
Darkstar jerked to her right as if to attempt escape but Caspian pressed the knife closer to her throat. “I really don’t want to kill you, missy. That’s the master’s job.” But she could tell that he would love nothing more than to take her life that very instant.
“Darkstar!”
Nasir was on the island now. Behind him were his ship and crew, fighting a battle they could not possibly win, while he stood with his saber bared and gleaming in the fading sunlight.
He advanced toward Caspian slowly, keeping in mind the current status quo.
“Caspian,” he called. “Please, you have no quarrel with her.”
He didn’t reply, only tightened his grip on her wrists.
“At least fight me honorably in combat!” Nasir cried desperately.
Caspian raised a single eyebrow. “Is that what you wish? I would have thought you valued your life more than the pittance this girl is worth.”
Nasir didn’t answer, but held his battle stance.
“Nasir…” Darkstar began, but Caspian kicked the insides of her knees and she fell to the ground. She felt his hands leave her wrists for only a split second before another binding took their place.
She gaped as he walked in front of her, and she experimentally tried to stand, thinking herself freed, when her chains shot a strong jolt of electricity through her entire being. She screamed, not so much out of pain as of shock, and fell flat on her stomach. She moaned as she felt the paralysis seep throughout her body.
The two men had gone on without her, each lunging and blocking in turn, neither holding the upper hand as of yet. Nasir’s mouth was set in a grim line while Caspian smiled jubilantly, as if he had already won.
But Darkstar, who was highly trained in the art of swordplay, noticed that Nasir’s strokes were far more fluid, while Caspian’s were jerky and powerful. Even with grace and poise on his side, only one of Nasir’s blows seeped through Caspian’s defenses, which only tore his sleeve from the elbow down.
There was an insignia tattooed on Caspian’s arm…
Darkstar curled up, wishing it all would end. The home she had known was all in flames around her, the ash and smoke stung her eyes, and her life flowed away with her blood. A beam had long since collapsed, barring the door. She sat in the corner of her closet crying, waiting for death to come…
But a man with a mark on his right forearm somehow managed to reach her. While half of her was thankful for the rescue, the other half recognized him as the man who had murdered her family…
“You’re…” Darkstar stared for a while, as if unable to speak. “Wait, Nasir he’s a Crimson Follower!”
Nasir turned to her, and then back to Caspian, but his opponent had taken advantage of the brief lapse in Nasir’s concentration. A flaming ball shot out of his palm and hit Nasir squarely in the chest.
Time did not slow as she had heard some describe; it all happened so fast. Darkstar screamed something but couldn’t hear herself. But Nasir could, and he smiled at her. “I regret nothing,” he whispered weakly before his eyes closed and he collapsed on the ground.
Caspian was now advancing toward her, and she drew herself up to her feet. She stared at him, not even aware of the tears that spilled from her eyes. “I won’t let you take me…” she choked.
Caspian only extended a hand. “Try to stop me, Shekiah.” The next words were muttered under his breath softly.
And then all Darkstar could see was black…but she could hear a blood-curdling scream.
Her scream, she realized with a shock.
And Hyrule awaits…
