-Kanyou, Country of Qin-

The day was bright and colorful. King Xiang was on his death bed. The birds sang. The people mourned. The land was ravaged by war and loss while the prince eagerly waited for what would become his.

Impa stood by him, always vigilant, ever silent. The king gasped softly, and though the doctors worked vigilantly, the agent knew the shade of death when she witnessed it.

The people kindled torches and mourned in open anguish in the streets, for the king was mysterious and rumored to represent a god among men. Not right, of course, but an isolated monarch gains and encourages many myths. The prince- the heir. He did not mourn. What scared Impa to her core wasn't how he did not cry, but rather the glee the prince had as he observed his father's difficult breathing and pale complexion.

Impa left when the time was appropriate, but couldn't ignore the hunger in the prince's eyes. The anticipation. She had seen the same look in the eyes of another king before the purge. She had witnessed him grow up, and the thought that this brat would be king sent chills down her spine. This child was never denied a desire.

Impa tried calming herself. She paced the royal gardens, called for a harpist, even sparred with her clan. Nothing appeased the fear that festered in her gut.

The generals were indifferent, the council looked on the youthful prince as an opportunity they could exploit, and the prince, most of all, looked forward to the rod changing hands. Corruption and power-grabbing were all there was in the capital anymore. They were all too short-sighted to recognize what it was causing.

If the kingdom of Qin became weak and rotted from the inside, Impa could say goodbye to her nation and the millions that called it home.

When sleep provided no comfort, Impa rose and sought a venue that might offer her something, a place she had not entered in years.

Impa entered the temple. After exchanging short pleasantries with the nightly caretaker, she offered a donation and requested to be left alone. The temple sparkled. The floor was polished marble, the red rug leading from the door to the pedestal was clean and without a stain. The windows emitted an almost holy ray of light from the moon that made the statue of the three Goddesses glow.

Time wasn't a factor here. Dust and decay and rot would not approach the domain of the Goddesses.

Impa bowed before the statues. "Nayru, Din, Farore," she prayed. "Qin is in jeopardy. No! All of Hyrule or what exists of Hyrule is in jeopardy. War ravages the countryside. Where once was a grand nation that reached to the ocean, there are now seven. For five hundred years, there has been constant war. Thousands die every day. Peace is a lie, a mere illusion in our lives now. The monarchs last mere years, and even now, the king dies."

Impa paused, realizing there were tears in her eyes, but she also felt better. "I fear what will happen when the heir assumes the throne. The king, bless him, is a gentle soul and is a good man, but is a coward, foolish and weak. The king does not possess the wisdom to know what to do, the power to do it, nor the courage to even try. The prince is spoiled and will think nothing of letting the kingdom crumble so long as he feasts!"

Her praying reached such a point that she openly sobbed or laughed like a drunkard in disbelief. Impa pleaded. The agent prayed as if she had never prayed before and released burdens going back years. Most of all, she prayed for hope, for salvation to Qin.

After a long time, she was satisfied. There was nothing more to say. She was exhausted, physically, and emotionally. Even so, she felt better. Impa tilted her head from the floor to look at the statues. They had not moved. There wasn't a sound. In a way, it was as if they hadn't heard. As if they were merely statues.

Impa sighed, wondering if it was a waste of time.

Her thought was disturbed by the sound of a man entering into the temple. The newcomer was armored and in a hurry. He slowed as he neared and stopped to regain his breath.

"What is it?" She summoned the soldier to her.

"My lady, Impa, I have searched for you! First, your estate, then your usual places. It was only just after being informed you were seen here that I came."

"My apologies for sending you on a chase," He looked like he had spent hours running around. "What is so important?"

"The Chancellor, Ryo Fui, wishes to speak with you. He did not mention what it was about, but that the meeting is extremely important and to be in secret."

"Ryo Fui?" She clenched her jaw. Her hackles rose at the mere mention of his name. The king was on his death bed, and rather than mourn his friend the Chancellor was making his move! "That filthy, slimy, arrogant, PIECE OF SH-"

-Later-

"Dear Ryo, oh, it's been far too long!" Impa greeted cheerfully.

He smiled widely. "My lady Impa, you look..." He paused. Impa knew she looked like a woman who had spent long hours crying and that to say she appeared lovely would be a flat out lie. "... like you are feeling the loss of the king greatly."

Impa found Ryo Fui looking out over the city from the upper palace. He was drinking tea and was unattended. Ryo had a scroll in his hands, which he continuously thumped into his palm.

"I am," The man was alone. It was moments like this; he was his most dangerous. She was not suspicious he would strike at her, but she maintained her guard. His weapons were not of the blade, but of the word and politics and connections and wealth. "I fear for how far Qin will fall in the upcoming days. The six kingdoms will seek to test the strength and resolve of the unknown king, in war and schemes."

"At that time, it will be all the more important we provide a proper pillar for the king to lay his head," Ryo replied smoothly.

"Indeed."

Ryo motioned openly to the chair before him. "Share some tea with me? It has been a pleasant day and a beautiful night, despite the current events. It would be a waste to let such a day go by."

Impa spared the cup a glance. "That depends, is it poisoned?" Her bluntness defied the broad smile she wore.

Ryo laughed deep from his belly, "You wound me, dear Impa! Straight as an arrow and just as lethal! What kind of man do you take me for? No, I assure you! This is as genuine a gesture as any other." She didn't budge, so he shrugged. "But if it suits you, I'll drink it." He reached across and drank from her cup just as well, and served himself more.

Impa decided he wasn't trying to poison her. The court would soon be in chaos. His attention was better put on the rest of the court and stabilizing his foothold than one Sheikah. She sat down but did not touch the cup.

Ryo shrugged and took one more gulp, "Impa, it is funny you would say you fear what will happen when the new king rises. I, too, share this fear. The prince is childish, foolish, and stupid. He may have an education, but he has no brains between his ears to use it."

"It is all well and good to hold these opinions, but to say them out loud is treasonous."

"My opinions won't be until Kyou is king. If they are, then what I have planned is far far more treasonous. If only it wasn't from Xiang himself."

"You have orders from the king?"

"Of a sort," Ryo gazed at the liquid in his cup swirl around. "You see, the king, Goddesses bless his soul, is not as ignorant as he pretended to be. Xiang knew his fallacies, so while his officials led much of the country for him, he too dreaded what his son would do with the kingdom."

'You mean while you led the kingdom for him.' Impa thought. She asked out loud, "So the king is afraid of his son?"

"It is something a parent holds when they look back. They will either be ashamed or proud of their children and of what they will do with their lives. In this case, it is anything but pride. With that in mind, the king has decided to take up... an investment of sorts."

"Investment," Impa echoed.

"Indeed." Ryo extended the scroll he held. It was unopened and sealed with the king's stamp. Impa warily glanced between him and the manuscript before reaching out and grasping it. Ryo did not let go, yet. His smile dropped, his bright eye disappeared, and using nothing more than a look conveyed the importance of this meeting. "If you choose to read it, your life is on the line. If the new king learns of this, the penalty for us both is death."

Impa glared at the Chancellor. "The scroll bears the signet of the current king. This is his will, yes?"

"It is."

"Then I accept reading it."

Ryo nodded and released his grip and returned to his tea. Impa opened the scroll. He said, "It would appear our dear king has left another child with his concubine in Zhao, and my spy has found they are in the capital. Xiang would like for you to retrieve her."

"The king has another child- an older one," Impa could barely grasp what she was reading. Her eyes snapped up when his words registered. "A girl?"

Ryo nodded. "That is why the king has never mentioned her before the court. A female monarch? Who has heard of such a thing! The woman would find herself at odds with everyone just for being one. None of the less, the king fears the dark potential his son has so much that he is willing to select the one over the other."

"What of the concubine?" Impa asked.

Ryo hesitated. Emotions passed over his face too quickly for Impa to read, and he composed himself before she could. He said, "Retrieve her if possible, but the vital one is the girl. To help form some sort of peace in the king's reign, he had visited Zhao with them as honored guests. When the latest war broke out, he was able to escape, but not so much the mother and child, and it soon turned to them being little more than political hostages. They were assumed dead until recently, and my spy does not speak favorably of their situation. They are in danger."

"Then I should hurry," Impa rose. "I will leave at the first light after preparations."

"Indeed! The sooner, the better. Remember: this has to be in absolute secret. If Zhao learns of it, they will stop you and torture you. If the prince learns, he will stop you and silence you. Your mission is to the find the girl and escape with her to the border. I believe General Kanou is near the border. I will send him a letter forewarning him to expect you with a child, possibly with pursuit. Race to him for retrieval."

"Thank you. I will be expecting him. What is the girl's name?"

Ryo took a moment to reflect, "I believe her name is Zelda."

(Grammarly edited 8/19/2020, scribens edited 3/11/2020, Gradeproof edited 3/12/2020)