-Kanyou, Zelda-

Zelda paled in horror at the words written in the message. Ryo and Impa stood by, patiently waiting to hear of it, provided Zelda wished to share. The ministers could not see the change in her composure, but her chancellors could. Impa and Ryo shared a knowing glance signifying they saw it. Ryo was patient, and kept his thoughts hidden. Impa gulped, wondering what had drained the colour from Zelda's lips.

Zelda carefully rolled the small scroll and extended her left hand. Impa, standing by her left, took the scroll and unravelled it. She closed her eyes upon reading it.

She said loudly, "Spies from the country of Zhao report Zhao is marshalling an army of one-hundred thousand to invade under the leadership of the newly appointed general, Harken Dragmire."

Immediately the ministers were in an uproar of activity, wanting answers from each other as well as the chancellors.

One-hundred thousand was no small army. The largest countries could only afford to marshal a few one-hundred thousand men generals, and the smaller countries could only marshal one. Zhao was a country equally large to Qin, but had suffered a near apocalyptic defeat of four-hundred thousand only a decade ago. With there an estimated six-hundred cities across Zhao, they would not recover for generations.

But to Zelda, it seemed they did not care. She remembered her life in Zhao. The hate they held in their hearts, the looks, the resentment. And now Zhao was coming for her. Her curse continued to play out over Qin. She could not escape Zhao so easily, it seemed.

"I did this..." Zelda whispered to herself.

"Silence!" Ryo barked. His voice swept over all of them and halted their speech. Zelda pulled herself from her thoughts by his voice. Never had she heard him sound so commanding and powerful.

"All of you, who quiver in fear, remember we are Qin! It was we who defeated four hundred-thousand man generals and all their armies! Did you all think for a moment Zhao would forget their humiliation?! That they would forgive!? Did you? If you did then you were delusional. I hold no guilt in admitting the pain they feel is real, the slaughter of four-hundred thousand who had surrendered is an unprecedented evil. But that general had been punished; and yet they seek further bloodshed. Not on the guilty, but on the innocent! On our woman and children. If they are such fools and warmongers as to seek to throw their men to the slaughter once more, we should welcome this chance to give them a lesson of war!"

Zelda felt the atmosphere change. Her ministers were inspired with confidence from his words and presence. Her heart fell with it, knowing Ryo had claimed respect from her own men and in doing dealt a blow to her. But she had more pressing, and less selfish concerns to focus on. She stood.

"Ryo. Impa. Gather two you trust well and come with me. We have much to discuss. Everyone else, seal the Palace! No one leaves, no one enters, no one talks, no one sends any messages." Zelda commanded. She left the throne room and entered the main study. She ordered everyone out and taking a map of Qin and Zhao, threw it on the main table.

Ryo and Abhdan entered. Impa and the Fae Elder entered, as well as the Majora ambassador.

"Not to be rude, Elder, Majora, but do you have experience in wartime?" Ryo questioned. He meant to stop them from entering.

"I have little understanding of your ways, but this matter concerns us." Elder said.

The Majora ambassador said, "The Majora know war of the mountains."

"Then your input is welcome. Speak freely." Zelda said over Ryo. Ryo stepped back to show consent.

They all assembled around the table. Zelda said, "First thing I want to know is, why now?"

"Isn't it obvious? Because of the recent turmoil in the Qin palace, as well as the near civil war. Zhao smells blood in the wind." The Majora elder said. "And like angry wolves, they are drawn to it."

Abhdan hummed. He had no smile, no laughter on his lips. He looked burdened and old, ancient even. "Not so obvious. If anything, the Zhao had the opportune moment to strike, as well as a reasonable reason to, years ago. But they did not."

"What do you mean?" Zelda questioned.

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"Ryo." Abhdan said. "It was your scheme. Why don't you explain?"

Ryo sighed. He rubbed his forehead. Seeing Zelda's open confusion, Ryo said, "Princess, what is a political hostage to you?"

"A prisoner. A... bargaining tool." Zelda said, glancing at Impa uncertainly.

"Both are correct, but it is far more than that. They are used to prevent war. The two main ways of holding peace is a political marriage or hostage exchange. Not the exchange where we give up prisoners, but take them."

"What?" Zelda asked, confused.

"When two countries give to each other a person of value, normally a member of the royal family, it is with the understanding that if you go to war either them you will lose a member of your family because they will have the right, and the contracted agreement, to... execute the prisoner."

Zelda felt herself pale. She put a hand over her face. "And that was me."

"That is right. It was an unusual case, but can be seen as acceptable by the other nations. You and your father and mother were taken hostage while visiting. In return, we took four-hundred thousand men hostage."

"No, we killed them." Impa said.

"That is the official story." Ryo said, "but it happened so quickly, that it is understandable for even the Sheikah to not know. We did bargain. We were willing to form the four-hundred thousand into a sort of hostage city. Zhao called our bluff. The rest you know. A lot of dead people and I rescued your father in the chaos."

"But they still had me." Zelda argued. "Why didn't they just kill me then?"

Impa looked to Ryo. "Is that why we had the Zhao man?"

Ryo nodded. "Zhao had every right to execute you, but your father and I bargained for a formal hostage, as well as the exchange of a few cities to assure peace... and your life. It took all of my skill, the Zhao king has never been known as reasonable, but as you can see it worked."

Zelda was beyond words. She had no idea. She had never been told of the details that went into keeping her alive. This was the kind of world she was in, where lives were bargained and exchanged like currency, but also where enemies and allies were not so clear. Her family she could not trust, but her dead father did more for her than anyone ever had. How sad and pathetic was that?

And Ryo, her rival and enemy, one day had tried to have her assassinated, and another had worked to keep her alive. One day had weakened her standing in the eyes of her own, and another taught her lessons.

"You have my heartfelt thanks, Chancellor." Zelda struggled to stay composed.

Ryo nodded. A moment of silence passed before he continued, "with the death of your father coming, we had a choice to make. Zhao had its greatest generals on the eastern border to hold back the Qi. Zhao had been on the defensive for years. We used the opportunity to rescue you and violate the hostage exchange pact. We expected two possibilities. Either Zhao would throw caution to the wind and invade, and spread itself thin enough to crumble under its own weight; or they would be wise, a rarity with the Zhao king, and sit to lick their wounds."

Impa said, "I see now. I did expect for Zhao to instigate war or call Qin out on dishonour, but I did not know the details. They did not attack. Now they are."

"Indeed." Ryo replied.

Abhdan said, "You are right to assume the timing is no coincidence, but everything about this army is more than it seems. The fact they waited so long is... frankly it is wisdom and patience beyond what the Zhao king is capable of. Not to mention why are they taking their time to form a new army instead of invading with one they already have? They want us to know they are coming. And why Harken Dragmire? This is no coincidence either."

The name drew an effect from everyone in the room, but Zelda did not know why. "Who is he? Is he related to Ganondorf Dragmire?"

"He is," Fae Elder said.

"I take it you know him, too." Ryo said.

"I did," The Fae said. "Not the most pleasant of a man."

"Who is he?" Zelda repeated.

They looked between each other, and Impa was the one to speak up, "Harken Dragmire was one of the leaders of the Dragmire clan at the time of the Dragmire rebellion, and was the champion of the Dragmire in war. A Qin general lead the fight against the Dragmire in the rebellion, and defeated them."

"Not just any general, Kyou Mitagi. Ouki's lover." Ryo inserted.

Zelda's eyes widened. She had heard of Kyou Mitagi. He was a general on par with Ouki Mitagi. She knew Ouki was into men, but she had not imagined he was lover with another general.

"Years later, Kyou was gravely wounded in battle, and returned to inner Qin to rest," Impa continued. "While he was vulnerable, Harken came out of hiding and killed Kyou Mitagi."

Ryo scoffed. "You do not give it justice. Harken, alone, entered into combat with Kyou's army, pierced his way through it to the general's tent, fought Kyou Mitagi in single combat... and killed him."

"Alone?!" Zelda exclaimed.

Impa nodded. "He was the champion of the Dragmire for a reason."

Zelda looked to the Majora ambassador and Fae Elder. Both seemed to be in agreement. The Majora said, "The Dragmire were legendary for a reason."

"Following the death of Kyou, Harken went on a rampage. Of the six great generals of his generation, Harken Dragmire killed four of them. Ouki Mitagi flew into a blind rage, tracked down Harken Dragmire, and fought him. Ouki reportedly killed him after hours of endless combat. Harken would have defeated him, probably should have, but Ouki's rage gave him the strength to defeat him."

"Clearly not strong enough to kill him." Ryo said. "Harken has returned."

To think such a man so powerful could exist. Zelda thought Ouki was the greatest, and perhaps Ouki was. Ouki had defeated a man who had killed four of his equals.

"When Ouki hears of this he will not just stand by and do nothing."

"And that, I fear, is what this is about." Abhdan said. The old man groaned painfully. Ryo pulled up a chair and the man sat in it. "The timing. The army. The general. It is all intentional. This is a challenge. Zhao is challenging Qin. Harken Dragmire is challenging Ouki Mitagi to a duel. He is coming to finish what he started."