Chapter 1: Shadows in the Water
Keo wiped the sweat from his forehead. He had been working as a ranchhand for over five years, ever since Malon had found him lying in the middle of the Lon-Lon ranch horse enclosure. He had been wounded badly, and because of her bountiful kindness, he recovered. Of course, Ingo, the newly appointed owner of the ranch, had put a price on her sweetness, and made the young man a slave to his petty ambitions. It was because of Malon that Keo had not swiped off Ingo's head in one swing of his hand. Now here he was, partially wounded still, and working off his "debt" to that stingy rancher.
He had no recollection of how he had wound up on Lon-Lon Ranch. He just remembered darkness and torrents of rain. Other than that, he remembered nothing. His black horse, Nihil, stood beside the blood red sorrel whose name as he recalled was Epona. He smiled as he went with his brush over to Nihil and tended to his coat.
"Well Nihil, you and I will have to practice your jumps more, because I plan to jump that fence with you and get out there again."
Nihil nickered in response and Keo brushed.
"Yeah, I know." Keo smiled, "We would have been out of here by now had-"
He heard a sound, one that was of a horse running. It came from the Lon-Lon Ranch entrance, and his eyes narrowed as Ingo quickly stumbled out of "his" doorway and adjusted his outfit. That only meant one thing. Ganondorf was coming for a visit. Keo threw the brush and grabbed Nihil by the mane, directing him over to the lean to where he could hide behind the wooden sheet that he had propped up in there. Stowing Nihil behind it, and covering it with an extra blanket and propping a few bales of hay to make it inconspicuous, he sprinted to the gate and fumbled with the keys to undo the locks. He didn't fear Ganondorf, but something in him told him to not be of Ganondorf's knowlege. But then, a shadow fell over him, and he froze. His emerald green eyes slowly turned upwards to look up at Ganondorf's face.
Ganondorf looked down on him, leering with an evil smirk on his face. Keo looked down immediately, but Ganondorf's chuckle was enough to freeze Keo to the soul.
"I see you have a new slave, Ingo." Ganondorf sneered, "Where did you pick up this rat?"
"He was attempting to steal the horses, milord. I punished him with a life sentence of service."
"...Hmm.." He said, "You should have just ended his life. Rats breed." His evil eyes flitting to Malon who stood in the doorway of the stables. "You don't want his blood migling with that filly of yours. You could fetch a few good rupees for her on the market. You don't want her pregnant before she can earn you a pocket full."
Keo remained silent, though a small ember exploded within that made him want to slice Ganondorf's throat. It would be quick, but there was so many problems with the plan that caused him to rethink it.
