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dragmirc · 5 days ago

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Any attempt at rebuttal against the archivist was caught behind his teeth in the flurry of activity that followed. Ganondorf had taken it more or less for her committing the word of his homeland to memory. A test of syllables, perhaps, and the notice that the woman's advisor was quietly playing with it only helped to solidify his reminder to watch what was spoken around the young man.

However, he did not wholly expect the entire library to come alive with more of the occupation. Like glittering silken birds, they descended from the aisles beyond and the knowledge he was right in assuming they moved in synchronicity was paled at realizing how perfect the movement actually was. Like a well-oiled clock, pieces moving to advance rather than to hinder.

While he admired such fine motions, it also was a stern reminder that any rushed schemes he may have put together on the way to the library died in that moment. Taking the kingdom from these people was going to require more time. More effort. More patience. Who knew how many of them were still out in the world, and if they all moved like this, nothing short of a well-formed plan was going to move him forward from here. His jaw set in frustration at the thought.

A further blow was struck when she replied, turning down his offer as a part of her court. On a strategic level, he understood her choices. He was as much an unknown to her as she was to him. It didn't stop the chord from being struck however, especially with the added element of foreign eyes laid into him and his.

Memories of the prior court surfaced in his mind and he could almost hear them snickering behind his back. How it was a surprise that they dared to enter Hyrule looking like that it was the dry season they were doing their best how could they even call themselves a nation when there were no settlements to claim as center the desert is an unforgiving place the clans are nomadic to in order to follow resources how can they be considered polite society when there are rumors of bandits so strong in their numbers it's become a problem you forced us into it to survive...

While there were no mutterings that he heard from these foreigners, the remembered blows still remained. Logically, they were focused on the way their leader spoke, in such a fashion as to be commanding to them as it was to turn him down. It wasn't meant to be judgmental. It was precaution, preemptive. But even with his eyes lowered in feigned reverence, Ganondorf took the refusal as mocking. Perhaps he had more in common with the prior Hylians than he thought and as the thought surfaced, he felt disgusted by it. Yet it did not curb his subjectivity, a small twist of the lip and a clench of a fist the only evidence of his internal reprimand.

He did not rise when the Regent's name was called, though he did raise his eyes to see the distinct shift of the woman as her title was announced. She had been slouching earlier, relaxed perhaps. A veil to show she was still a force of presence but not enough to hide the much more human aspects of such a takeover. The workload would weigh more and more, he suspected, until she snapped. And he would be there to pick up the pieces of what was left and put everything he was meant to do back into action.

Just a little more time...

Although, he realized as he thought about it he had never heard of Sidhe. He knew most of, if not all of, the other races and territories that existed in broader Hyrule, aided by his mothers in their teachings and from his own researching into the world that directly surrounded Gerudo and its inhospitable desert. He studied what he thought of as his world, studied the Gorons and the Zora, delved into stories of Kokiri and the fairy children who lived there. Studied Hyrule Kingdom and all they had done. Even learned about a race of birdfolk who very rarely passed over the broader Field in their annual migrations, or what little he could find of them.

But Sidhe was a new name to him. As foreign as they were. It only proved in his mind that perhaps even the broad scope of the world he had studied and learned of throughout his childhood and even now was still so narrow. The world was a bigger place than he thought. And if the promises of the witches were true, someday he would rewrite it and rule it all...

Which brought his mind back to the occupation itself and the events that had transpired out of sight and out of mind as he rose to stand again, shifting the wrathful sneer into a soft and reverent smile by the time he was upright again. A hand flourishing in her direction with a single small step, the fingertips of the other against his chest in an attempt to convey he was speaking from the deepest reaches of his heart and concern.

"Ah, High Empress. You are very kind to still see to my prior appointments with the King, despite it being such a surprise on your part. If you do not mind my asking, as it is a point of concern for myself--

What happened to the young Princess Zelda?"

He played it thick, in his mind. And although he didn't try to backpedal against it, he only hoped his faux worry for the child would glean the hidden side of any true conquer.

"I can only imagine the death of her father would weigh heavily on her young heart. I seek only to--" Wrest that damned Ocarina from her. "--Ease her pain and suffering in such a tumultuous time in her young life."

The librarian looked up at being threatened, though he didn't say a word. Fariah was keenly aware he looked to her though, aware of his eyes on her back over his reading glasses. She was aware of his nervousness in the situation, perhaps silently pleading with her to keep him safe. Which she did. Arnie was, in her opinion, a fine archivist and considering how she saw Hyrule's inability to write unbiased records, that would be high praise coming from her.

"None who matter are missed."

It was matter-of-fact, flat with little emphasis. Her word, her will, and her will would be carried out even in times like these. Arnie relaxed a little at being indirectly assured of his safety. She knew he knew who this was, though, between the towering other's clear disdain toward the Hylian and Arnie's reaction.

Markesh tasted the word of the region once or twice, she heard him repeating it over her shoulder to himself. Committing it and the way it was spoken to memory. She knew he was already working to parse it out. He was left to his devices for the time being, however, as her attention was firmly on the Gerudo King himself.

"Gerudo."

The word seemed at first disjointed from the rest of the conversation, but the intent was clearly made in the following minutes. The Sidhe flitting through the rest of the library coalesced, pulling resources with them to show in small brief glances, a fine dance that seemed almost rehearsed between their Imperial and the other monarch. The agenda was lowered long enough she could skim words across a page here and there, the last one holding a map of the continent open to point to a flat region of what looked like wastes to the west. Almost as suddenly, the flurrying pack was gone and back into the bookcases with their prizes.

Cold gilded gaze continued to bore into his on being momentarily enlightened, taking notice first of the original hesitation earlier in his entrance. The clear sneer toward Arnie. The way he was quick to move in placating deliberate flourishing. How quick he was to bow, to emphasize his own roles within the prior kingdom's court.

'Anyone who claims power and prostrates either has no power, or is up to something.'

Papa's words came to her as he whispered them to his young Princess, sat on his throne to watch the monarch of a neighboring nation take a knee. No pride in prostration, the King of Hyrule must have been truly ignorant to allow this so close to him, while simultaneously upholding the bias of his ancestors against the Sidhe for being so militant.

To say such a move made her mistrust Ganondorf was an understatement. He had some form of power, or at least confidence enough to facade it well, so that meant he was sly. Best kept at arm's length.

She would have to see what she could dredge of this man and his entourage from others around her. Another job for Markesh; she used him so frequently in such conquests but his ability to charm his way into social circles was invaluable for information. Not everything could be found in writing, after all; word of mouth traveled faster and while some may be rumors only, they were still fine starting points. Gossip had source, after all, it was simply following the breadcrumbs to find out where.

She inhaled slowly, deeply, letting the entire display sink in before she spoke again, choosing her words carefully.

"My cabinet is full."

There might have been a little bit of ire set into a few of the syllables of so short a statement, wound around rich tones that fell like a blanket of ash on the room. It pulled Markesh out of his musings, stopped activity in the bookcases with a frizz and eyes peering through and around the shelves. Expectant. Waiting for the next command.

"Markesh."

The Regent's name was harsh. One that told him exactly what his next task was, and he straightened himself up immediately to step forward with a stiff flourish of his own, a waving hand to present his Empress properly.

"Her Imperial Eminence. High Empress Fariah Ariad of House Ariad, of the Clouded Isle of Imperial Sidhe. As Katya in War Aspect."

A good herald could make a bad monarch look good, and a good one look better than they already were. In her mind, Markesh fit the bill for the job, and she swelled in the pride he gave her. She moved just barely, straightening her shoulders and her back so as to appear the monolithic presence even veiled. Drawing upward so she may look more towering even compared to Ganondorf's obscene height.

"That being said. What else can I do for you."

#Thread #sanguinesorcery #First Arc #Landfall #ah here he is!#back on asshole schedule!

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