Lord Ganondorf looked back on regret to the Crimson city but then to determination to the northern shore. The Crimson city was on an island in the grand river at as close to the exact center of Hyrule as one could get. More elves lived in the south than the north. The north was more mountains and harder to grow the forest. In one of those hidden valleys stood a army of hundreds of golemns he had commissioned be built in case he could not make his brother see virtue.
Nicodemus had suggested assassination -- kill the Crimson Prince and the lawful rule of Hyrule would fall to him, allowing him the power to deal with her as needed. Lord Ganondorf refused, he would not be dishonest and slide through shadows to do what must be done. He would ride to the valley awaken the Golemns and march on the Crimson City with the power of Virtue behind him. It did no good to replace one man robbed of virtue with another one. For the sake of Hyrule he had to maintain his virtue.
He had hoped never to use the golemns. He had even had them built so that only he could awaken them. That way such an army could only be used for this one purpose and then destroyed afterward. He was grateful for the virtue of Wisdom that caused him to see the truth, that this was needed.
"My Lord." Nicodemus said to get his Lord's attention. Nicodemus was small for an elf, thinner than most and shorter to. He fidgeted with his left hand when it was not in someone's pocket. Ganondorf had first met him performing in an acrobatic show. Ganondorf was so impressed by their beautiful performance he invited them onto his entourage. As they were crossing through the blue desert towards Beisure, the city of the north, lightning sworn attacked the caravan. Worthless bandits remnants of a sad time for the elves when they served the Dragon's across the sea. They were nothing more than savage bandits no love, no nobility and certainly no beauty to be found in the lot of them. Despite being wounded by the attack, Ganondorf lived because of Nicodemus. He rescued him and hid him until golemns came to secure the scene and take them back home. He had risked his life for another there was no greater love.
"I have them, my Lord." He handed Lord Ganondorf a staff wrapped in cloth and presented his younger daughter. No more than 80 years old she was the joy of his life -- Galendrielle. She looked just like her mother before she was killed by the Lightning sworn all those years ago. "How are you my dear?" He asked his daughter and she smiled, "Well, father where are we going in the middle of the night, I'm tired."
"We have somewhere to be and I don't know if the city is safe for us any more."
"Why wouldn't it be safe for us father, its our home?"
Sadness touched him again as he decided to spare his daughter the horrors of what must happen. "If you are tired you can sleep most of the way my dear."
As she smiled and left to go below deck with he lady in waiting, Nicodemus extended the staff to him again, "So I got it, I must admit I'm a bit confused about your whole talk of marching with virtue and then you have me steal the staff of ruling from the Crimson Prince's throne room."
"The staff would just magnify her control over the good people, it is too dangerous to leave behind, besides I am co-ruler. The staff is as much mine as it is his." To be Noble is to be Determined.
"As you say, my Lord." and Nicodemus left the conversation at that and decided to look over the bow of the ship as the north shore approached.
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Tatyana took long gliding strides down the corridors to the tower of Wisdom. Though it had been many thousands of years since the Sun had caused her pain, she still greatly preferred the night. She was more comfortable with out the light of the sun glaring down on her.
The guards allowed her to pass freely, as ordered by the Crimson Prince. She needed his orders, the elves were more resistant to her charms than were the humans and dwarfs she encountered. She also noticed that these elves fell to her charms easier than did the elves in Jong Guo. Perhaps these elves were different, perhaps through time and experience she had learned how to more strongly control the will of others, or perhaps it was just the result of her gifts growing over time. Derick cast her out because he was afraid she would grow too powerful to control as she got older. She missed him, the love of the Crimson Prince dulled the pain of the loss.
Arithos's door opened when she approached. He sat reading but looked up from the manuscript to fully view her step into the room. "Good Evening my Lady. To what do I owe the pleasure of this company?"
She smiled and flutterred her eyes. "I have brought the item you requested. She was particularly beautiful and alluring if I do say so myself." She held forward a glass flask full of blood.
"Coming from you that is a heavy compliment." Arithos stood up and accepted the flask. She knew that he would do what she asked, his ambition to please the Crimson Prince was rivaled only by the lust he felt for her. She had even given herself to him to ensure the control was enmeshed so deep not even the great wizard he was could recognize or free himself of it. "I've been reviewing the notes on the Staff of Ruling as we discussed." He said staring at her bosom. She helped him by leaning forward slightly. He stuttered then continued. "Its ability to control and influenced others is both similar and different to the Anti-life equation you shared with me when we began."
The Anti-life was a project of Derrick's he thought he could master it to control all the way he controlled those he made immortal. Tatyana's version of the equation did not strive to replace the will of another, that was impossible, but convincing that person to surrender their will was possible. She did not know how to rewrite the equation, it was flawed to begin with and did not have the mind for such things, so they only thing she had to work with was Derrick's notes, "How so?"
"The staff of ruling inspires loyalty in people. The ability is locked to only be used by the rightful heir. The lock is separate from the enchantment one works with out the other. The equation you gave me looks like it attempts to dominate the will of another and replace it. With wildly unpredictable results. The staff generates devotion in those who see it, they keep their own wills but their wills are directed towards the leader. It attempts to create love and let that love create loyalty, as we are taught in the virtues."
"Can you use what you've found to correct the equation?"
"Certainly, that is why I needed the nymph blood. They already exercise the same principle we've been discussing. Beauty begets love and love begets loyalty. They entrance most men by their beauty. Using this blood as a component in the spell I maybe able to magnify it and get you the equation you want. Though I can't believe you need help making people love you?"
She ran her fingers through her hair and giggled at his comment. "You are took kind," she said from behind a coy smile. "It is the Prince's and my wish that you exhaust all things available to you for correcting the equation." Letting her hair fall from her hand she traced a line along her neck and to the top of her bosom. "You will certainly be rewarded."
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The ship made port along the north shore. It was covered in green grass and yellow stem lilies. Ganondorf unloaded quickly carrying his young daughter who was waking due to the jostling of being carried off the boat. "Are your awake sweet heart?" The question gathered only a low moan from the child.
The rest of the party except Nicodemus had previously unloaded and were loading the horses for the ascent up to the stairs. Previous rulers had built large stairs through out the mountains to make traveling and climbing them easier. Their efforts had led to slight colonization of the region, however, the creation of the stream gates seemed much more effective in opening the lands that were difficult to reach.
A concentrated twisted tendril of black smoke wound through the air over the water and landed a few yards from the boat harbor. The smoke condensed into an armored elf with pale blue eyes. He stepped forward with speed and purpose. One of the minstrels, called out, "excuse me, Lord Tyros did not expect to see you he..." Tyros's blade removed his head before he could finish the greeting. Another curved sword appeared, one in each hand, and he smoothly swirling and cutting through the entire party. Those who fled he let go his path was a straight line for Ganondorf.
Ganondorf dropped Galendriel behind him and drew his sword. He had never used it much, nobility promoted strength so he kept a sword with him. He doubted any swordsman or golemn in the kingdom could stand up to Lord Tyros. He was like her, fast strong and seemingly invulnerable to attack. But, he could not let his daughter be taken, even if it meant death he would try.
Tyros stood his armor reflecting the moonlight and curved blades dripping the blood of friends Ganondorf had just moments ago. Tyros looked Lord Ganondorf in the eyes squarely, "Feel blessed she did not chose you." Ganondorf was so surprised by the comment he felt his sword lower, and as the blow was coming Ganondorf felt his hair stand up. Lighting flew between the two men striking Tyros and driving him back.
Looking to the source of the lightning he saw Mervic on the bow of the ship sparks still flying from his fingers. Standing next to him was Nicodemus already holding Galendrial who was crying. It was Nicodemus who called out, "Get back to the ship!!"
Looking over his shoulder and running Ganondorf saw Tyros standing his magical armor fully absorbing the blow. Jianchilie wode boahuzhe thought Ganondorf awakening the golemn built to be his protector.
Springing from the deck of the ship the statue made life spun through the air spear in one hand sword in another and landed creating a crater on the beach between Tyros and the ship. Mervic wasted no time and spun an enchantment allowing the wind to drive the ship out into the river and away from the conflict. "Take us east, to the druid grove, his kind has problems with the running water we'll be safe their. East is Safe."
"East is safe" Mervic and Nicodemus said in unison as they watched Lord Tyros and the golemn protector battle. The stone body shatterred under Tyros's blows but by then they were nearly to the isle of the druids. There they would be safe.
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