Link's Curse 10

   chapter 10

      Link sat alone in his new prison cell. At least this one had a bench chained to the wall. But it was made of stone
   and felt cold. He didn't know how long he sat been sitting there in the cell. He had stopped crying hours ago, feeling
   too angry to cry or grieve. He didn't know if Max was truly dead, or if king Icabod had lied. Either way, Link was
   determined to get revenge. The foolish old kind would pay for his crimes. For locking him and Max up, and for beating
   Max. The light from the four lamp stands still burned brightly in the throne room, giving Link a way to see. Then he
   remembered the key and wire he had tucked away in his tunic. "Yes!" he thought, excitedly, "the wire..." He might be
   able to use it to pick the lock and free himself. He reached into his tunic and pulled out the small wire. Then he
   went over to the cell entrance where the bars held him in.

      In the dim lamp light, Link searched the door way for and kind of key hole he might use to wire with. At first, all
   he saw were the thick bars. But then he noticed a thin layer of metal all around the base of the door way. He carefully
   examined all around the base for any nook or hole that a key or wire might fit into. He ran his fore finger along the
   smooth metal, until he felt a small indentation it in. "There!" he said aloud. He looked closely at the spot, and in-
   deed it seemed as if it were some kind of small keyhole. He quickly, yet quietly stuck the wire into the hole and began
   to move it around, hoping to unlock the barred door somehow. There was a sudden, loud clicking sound, followed by a low
   rumble. THen the bars began to slide upwards. He had done it! He was free! He stepped out of the cell, tucking the wire
   safely back into his tunic.

      Now that he was free, he wasn't sure where he should go from there. The obvious direction was to try and go back thru
   the door that led to this room, but first he wanted to check the first prison cell he had been in with Max. Link feared
   what he would find. But he had to know for sure if king Icabod had lied or truly killed Max. So the elf crept over to
   the first cell and found that the bars were blocking his way in, so he did the same thing, examining the base around the
   door until he found another keyhole. Link once again removed wire from his tunic and unlocked the door. He entered the
   door way when the bars slid open. Inside, in the dim light from the lamp stands, he saw only a pile on rags on the dirt
   floor.

      Link dropped to his knees and picked up the wad of old rags. He was sure they had belonged to Max. They were his old
   clothes before he had changed into Links spare set. It was true. The old man was gone! In anger, Link threw the pile of
   rags down in front of him. When he did, a single red rupee fell out from the pile of rags. It must have been hidden
   under the rags the whole time. Link reached out a trembling hand and snatched it up, tucking it into his pocket. Then,
   he exited the cell and quickly walked over to the door that the king had led him into the day before. This door looked
   about the same as the prison cell doors, except for the fancy golden trim around the edge.

      For a third time, Link searched the base of the door way and found another small keyhole. He unlocked the door easily
   and made his way down the long tunnel, lit only by the torches on the wall. He wanted to take a torch, but they were too
   high on the wall to reach, to he just continued on, back the way he had come. After walking a while, being careful not
   to make noise, he returned to the large room where he had defeated the two headed spider monster. The thought of that
   hideous creature still sent a shiver through him, even thought he knew it was long gone. The single lamp stand in the
   center of the room still burned brightly, and emitted some heat as well. It was pretty cold down here in this fortress,
   and Link couldn't wait to escape back to the surface.

      The elf made his way back into the darkness of the cave, away from the light, where the bats had swarmed him. But
   now he had no weapon, no sword to swat at them or cut them, and no shield to deflect attacks. "Even a sticks would do,"
   he thought, sadly. He crept into the darkness and felt his way around. Once or twice, he thought he heard movement high
   above his head, but nothing touched him. He was starting to feel extremely uneasy. Just then, he heard a shriek coming
   from far behind him! He turned suddenly back towards the distant light. Far away, he could see several armed moblins
   running and waving swords and clubs towards him. Link began to panic.

      More shriek's filled the air, and the sound of thunderous foot steps could be heard. It sounded like hundreds of
   feet stomping towards the weaponless elf. Link started to move again, as quick as he could in the darkness. But it was
   pretty useless to try running in the dark. He could easily get himself hurt. On the other hand, Link had heard that moblins
   could see almost perfectly in the dark. That gave them a major advantage over him. They were getting closer! Link
   knew he had to find the staircase quick, or he'd be a goner. He grasped about in the blackness around him, feeling only
   rock wall and the earthen ground. Then, as the moblins were closing in on him, he touched something else. It felt like
   rotting wood or something. It was the staircase! Or so he hoped.

      He scrambled in that direction, and sure enough the were wooden stairs leading upwards. Link dashed up the stairs,
   trying his best to avoid the missing steps. When he was about half way up the staircase, he suddenly saw sun light
   shining in through the opening in the tree stump. He hurried on up the stairs. By now, though, the moblins had reached
   the stair case and were running up after the elf. They snarled and snorted behind him, sounding very angry. He could hear
   their swords and clubs banging against the stone wall on either side of the stair case. The sound frightened Link for
   some reason.

      A large chunk of rock fell from the side of the wall and hit Link in the back. Then he understood what the moblins were
   trying to do. They were trying to cause an avalanche to trap him inside the fortress! Link fastened his pace. He was almost
   out! He could smell the grass just beyond the tree stump. It was a refreshing aroma. Then Link heard a loud crack, and seconds
   later, a large jagged stone fell into his arms. It slowed him almost to a complete stop. He had to think fast, so he turned
   and hurled the stone down the stair way. It hit the closest moblin square in the face, sending it tumbling backwards. There
   was a chain reaction, and all the moblins fell down the stair way, screaming in anger and frustration as they went. Now was
   Link's chance. He turned and run the rest of the way up the stairs and out of the stump. The suns was high in the sky, and it
   was warm. Trees and flowers were in full bloom and a warm breeze blew. It made Link think of home. The cries of the moblins
   jerked him back to the present, and he realized he still had work to do.

      They moblins were still coming up the stairs. Link could hear their heavy foot steps. Then link saw the large wooden treasure
   box. He pulled the key on the chain out of his tunic and ran over to the box. He put the key in the key hole and quickly
   unlocked it. Upon opening it, he found a large sword inside. "Is this..." he thought, "The one ...? The sword of prophecy...?"
   He quickly snatched it up just as the moblins came pouring out of the tree stump, stamping their feet in anger. When they saw
   Link, they snarled and surrounded him. They beat their clubs and swords together and stood ready for a fight. I seemed they
   had never seen or ever heard of the sword of prophecy, if that was indeed what Link was holding. So Link readied himself
   for the battle.