A Mountain

(While zelda legends has been down I have finished most of this story. And I have made some modifacations to the existing chapters)

Prologue

I have always loved a good story. A skillful storyteller can bring along with him to feel the cool, scented breeze of the sea on your face as you sail on the blue, shimmering ocean. Someplace you have never traveled, you can explore through a story. The power the storyteller has to make you laugh or cry is almost magical. The story weaver makes your hair prickle with excitement or shiver with horror. And maybe you learn something wove into the story, and never realized it until you think about it.

Maybe not all of the tales are true, but they can have truth in them.

Chapter 1

Daren could hardly stop shaking with fright under the eyes of the monk. “It’s the only way” he kept telling himself. But it didn’t help much. He was looking through some dusty wooden bookshelves to find the mark he was looking for. Of course the monk had treated him kind enough when he asked to search the monastery’s library. Knowing the boy for a long time, he felt it couldn’t hurt to let him look around. But that would know how to read hylian or gotish? The monk had thought Daren simply wanted to look around.

Yes! Daren had found it. That strange symbol, the bird with an arrow through its chest was embossed on the brown, leather book.

Daren climbed down from the ladder and called out “father I have found what I seek. May I take it with me?”

The monk roared his deep laugh, “Count on you to make me laugh in these dark times Daren,” The serious look on Daren face stopped him. He wasn’t joking. The kind old monk had known him since he was a baby. Daren’s parents had brought the wizened old man fruit and bread when the harvest was good, and the kind old fellow had read to him countless rainy days when he had nothing to do. Daren loved to pick a large, plump, green apple from the nearby trees and munch on it while listening to the monk tell exiting stories. The monk was very fond of Daren, but he had never asked to actually take something so valuable with him.

“Daren, you know these books are more valuable than silver! Even if you did want to buy them I wouldn’t sell them.”

Daren took out a dozen gold coins, and laid them on the table. The monk’s eyes nearly popped out of his head at the sight of the small fortune.

Where did you get these? He said with a suspicious glance, “This is more than your father makes in a year!”

“I didn’t steal it,” Daren said defensively.

I didn’t accuse you of stealing anything, but how did you get them?

“I... I…earned them. Daren said leaning on one foot uncomfortably.” He kicked himself mentally for not thinking of a story beforehand.”

“Did you now?” And what did you do to earn such a fortune?

“Uh, if you don’t mind, I would rather not say.”

“I do mind!”

“Must I tell you?”

“Yes!”

“Oh. Well, I was paid to run an errand.”

“A pretty expensive errand, don’t you think?”

“Yes, I suppose it was.”

“Daren! This is a serious matter.”

Daren kept his mouth closed.

“Daren,” the monk said with an exasperated wave of his hands, “have I ever told anyone about all those times you spent the night here when you father thought you were in bed? Have I ever told anyone that you were the one who put the frog in the governor’s hat, and made him fall off the platform at the annual feast?”

“Serves him right for being so fat,” Daren mumbled.

“Or,” the monk continued, “When you put tree tar, which, by the way, you borrowed from me, in your teachers ink pot?”

“Yes, yes, I know you didn’t tell anyone about those things, but this is different! I could get killed if I told you!”

“I’m listening,” the monk said tiredly, sitting down at the rough wooden table.

The monk’s voice was tired, but his keen, green eyes watched sharply from a grey, ageing beard that hung and swayed like moss on an old tree. “I am running an errand for Sir Mantra of Cloves.”

“Sir Mantra? I recall no evil deed on his part.” The old man laughed. “I know him quite well; he comes to buy some of my honey every fortnight. Always stops and talks with me. Not to rich and dapper to notice me, you know, as some of the lords who live here seem to be.”

“Nothing he has done. He is as good a man as you could ever want to meet. “If he was guilty of anything that bad I would never have helped him.”

“Yes?”

“I suppose I should tell you what happened from the start. Perhaps you will let me go Afterwards?”

“Tell your tale and we shall see. I cannot promise anything. I know absolutely nothing about this.”

“Well,” Daren said leaning back on his chair, “this is how it happened; I was making a delivery for my father in town three days ago. I was planning on making a shortcut through the forest, Ill regret doing such a stupid thing for a long, long time. I was walking along when I was attacked by six of the outlaws who live there. I’m sure you have heard of them. They are the ones who kill and take whatever they can.

“Yes, I have heard of them”

Well, they gathered around me kicking me and calling me names, I still have a bruise on my leg. I drew the sword I was delivering. I was planning to kill as many of the scum as I could before they could steal my package. Just then, a man rushed out of nowhere, and everything else was a blur. One of them ran when he saw the new man had the better of them. Four were killed. The last one looked like he was their leader. A squint eyed hateful looking man. Uhg! The horrible, twisted scimitar in his hand sent a shiver down my spine. The sword of other fellow seemed to glitter in response. It was quite a fight, when the squint eyed leader saw he was out matched, he pulled a dirty trick by throwing a fist full of dirt in the cloaked man’s face!

I had been sitting there with my mouth open like an idiot watching the fight, but when that villain was about to stab him, I jumped up, and swung the hilt of my sword that hit him right between his ugly eyes and knocked him out as cold as a fish. My rescuer threw the cloak off his head wiping the dirt out of his eyes. I helped him up thanking him many times for saving me. He was quite modest, telling me I was to thank just as much as him. I could tell he was rich, his fine clothes said enough on that. I introduced myself. He did likewise, very humbly I must say. When he knew who I was, he asked me to run an errand for him.

“To get this book you mean?”

Daren said nothing.

The monk smiled an amused smile and replied, “Suit yourself, but what happened to the thieves?”

“I was coming to that. You see, we saw a caravan of farmers coming to town; they were more than glad to help bury the dead. Most of them had been robbed by them sometime or other. We carried the unconscious leader to Mantra’s castle then the farmers went there way. Mantra wished to speak to me privately in his house. What he told me I will not say, but after I left I quickly went to town delivered my package which was none the worse for wear. But what was more important is that a day later an order, directly from the King! It said that sir mantra was to be killed. Also to execute anyone seen with him”

“I think I’m beginning to understand, why you are afraid,” the monk said slowly. “But you still are not telling me something.”

Daren said nothing in reply.

“Well?”

“May I take the book? Twelve gold coins are enough for the book.”

“No, you will not. Not until you tell me why.”

“Please!” Daren said pleadingly.

“No.”

Daren was silent for a moment, regretting what he had to do. “If you don’t,” he said standing up, and slowly drawing a long knife from his coat, “I will have to kill you.”

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