JAVELIN. Come to me. NOW.

"As you wish, my lord!"

The Dark Beast sat back against his throne, regarding the woman before him once more. She knelt before him, head bowed, having easily recognized her master's distracted state from the moment she entered. Smart, this one: she said nary a word without being spoken to, lest she betrayed his concentration. Unbounded intellect -- it was just one of the reasons she had lasted so long and risen so high in the ranks of his groups. He allowed her silence to continue . . . until at last her companion appeared.

He appeared in the midst of the throne room already kneeling, head bowed in respect. Even so, the beast could still feel the gleeful smile covering his face, a common mockery of his other servants -- those who felt such intense fear whenever they entered Ganon's presence. They were always abhorred at Javelin's childish attitude, and were even more shocked at Ganon's acceptance of such brashness.

Ironic how now no such beings were now present to see the Beast's anger directed at him.

"You are late."

Javelin scarcely flinched under the harsh tone. "It has been but six seconds, my lord."

"Five more seconds than were needed, Serul Tarduck."

The use of his full, real name was the key there -- the man sobered up instantly. "M-my apologies, Lord Ganon. I was in the vicinity of one working with the White Wing Order, and suspected they would be watching. A few seconds were required . . . to laugh in their face."

"I am aware of who you met."

He could feel the sudden fear growing in Javelin's soul. Always a delicious sensation, inspiring fear in those who rarely had reason to experience it.

But it was a sensation he could not enjoy now, due to Javelin's words and the implications they carried. His eyes widened and narrowed in a second's time as he recognized what his Assassin meant. With a gesture he had Javelin rise to his feet.

"What do you mean, the White Wing Order? Is he . . ."

The man hesitated, then nodded.

A giant fist crashed down against his throne. That foolish child! Wraith knew not what he was getting into. "I have explained the situation to him, my lord," Javelin spoke up. His glare turned towards the man, but again he failed to flinch. "All the risks and reasons why he should avoid the Order and abandon this foolish crusade of his right now."

". . . and he listened?"

"He heard my words. I don't know if he will heed them." The Zora bit his lip. "He is Wraith, after all."

A gasp came from behind, and both of them turned back to the woman who had been patiently waiting in the shadows behind them. The instant he laid eyes on her, Javelin's face turned merry again. "Hauntress! Oh, seven sins, it's been too long, dear! How've you been?"

She ignored the Zora's jolly tones, keeping her eyes fixed on Ganon. He gestured for her to step forward as well, and she hesitantly approached. "Is . . . is it true, my lord? Wraith has been found?" The Dark Beast sat silent for a moment; this was more than she needed to know . . . but she had served him well for a long time. Information was a reward most fitting for her.

"Wraith was never lost." He noted the look on both of their face: shock. "He has resided in Hyrule for several years now, where I have personally kept careful watch over him. But much like the case with Dogura Shadowclaw, your skills were not required. When the time comes, he shall serve his purpose whether in rebellion or submission." He looked to Javelin. "Provided he survives that long. The Order must not be allowed to take him out."

"He appears to believe," Javelin replied after a moment, "that they have the means by which his cursed scar could be removed. That is his motivation in working for them."

The Beast stopped.

He stared at them.

And then . . .

"Heh heh heh . . .

"Heh heh hah hah HAH!"

His roar of laughter carried throughout the entire chamber, slowing to a stop only after a good minute. All the time, his two Assassins watched on silently, at least Javelin perplex by the statement. If Hauntress shared his confusion, she did not show it.

"He shall find himself horribly disappointed, then. Heh heh heh . . . that scar . . . he still thinks it a simple curse? The goddesses themselves would struggle to undo the damage that scar has wrought! We need not worry about the Order destroying it." The humor died. "But his soul must not be allowed to be sealed. Too much relies on that child for them to take him from me.

"Soon . . . soon Shadowclaw shall rise, and the Order will be consumed by black fire. Wraith must persist until then, lest my greatest plans be for naught."

Hauntress was first to speak this time. "Shall we see to this, my lord? We have never faced the Order, but if it necessary . . ."

"Your powers may be sufficient to challenge them, but it is a risk we shall not take. Javelin's actions are far more appropriate in this instance." The man perked up, his juvenile joy returning in its entirety now. Ganon thought for a moment, then waved them away. "Leave me now. There is much to consider concerning this development. Hauntress, we shall continue our discussion later."

The woman nodded, but Javelin paused for a moment. With his jovial expressions returned, so too did his arrogant tendency towards risks. "Before I depart, my lord . . . a request." The Beast did not move or reply -- indication that the Zora could speak, but had best hurry. "Considering the rumors going around, and your own confidence in him . . .

"I request permission to present myself before Shadowclaw."

. . . it was not a wholly unexpected wish, though not one he had thought would come from Javelin. He took the necessary time to pretend that he was considering it, then responded:

"Do as you wish. The consequences of such be on your head, though." He paused. "And do not antagonize Wraith. If he comes to you, then so be it. Attempt to convince him too harshly, however, and he is likely to resist all the stronger."

"Yes, my lord," they replied in unison, before leaving through the hidden door in the wall of his chamber, one reserved for Assassins' use.

He sat back and smiled.

Let Wraith try his little games. Let the boy exhaust all possibilities of escape. One way or another, Ganon would have him.

Having him hopeless would make victory all the sweeter.

"You are far too rash."

Serul's head jerked back as he laughed. "Hihihi! And you, my dear, are far too serious!"

The pair of Assassins walked through the Underworld halls, mere minutes following their dismissal by the Dark Beast. Moblins and Darknuts and all sorts of other creatures passed them by, few ever giving the pair a second glance -- the title of Assassin was unknown to them, and as such neither 'Javelin' nor 'Hauntress' were recognized by either of the pair. The only querying glances came from the fact that they were walking through the Underworld freely rather than being tortured for eternity. But Ganon had many servants, so even those who thought something off dismissed their wonderings after a moment.

Nonetheless, the Zora waited until there was distance between them and all other beings in the hall before leaning over and wrapping an arm around his companion's shoulders. She shot him a harsh glare at the gesture, but he ignored it. "Honestly, Kyune," he muttered, "you've been at this nearly as long as I have! Learn to re~lax! Lord Ganon isn't going to punish us for a simple request."

"Simple?" The woman spun about now, breaking Serul's grasp and taking his shirt collar in her own. "You're talking about revealing the existence of the Assassins! Doing that to anyone, especially one of Lord Ganon's strongest warriors, is a very serious matter!" Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a pair of Wizzrobes approaching, and dropped the man. She spun about and starting walking again; after fixing his clothes, Serul followed suit. "What happens if we have to go after this Shadowclaw ourselves one day?"

"HihiHA! But wouldn't that just make things all the more exciting?"

Kyune was nowhere near as amused.

"Haha! Haha . . . hah . . ." The Zora trailed off and, abruptly, the smile faded from his face. "Hauntress." The suddenly serious tone drew her eyes to him, a bit surprised by it. "You know all about Wraith, don't you? Does that mean he would beat us any less soundly if we went after him?"

She blinked. That was actually a rather good argument. 'He's always such an idiot . . . it's easy to forget that Ganon picked him for more than just his skills.'

". . . Fine. Meet the Reaper, then." Abruptly, she spun her head towards him and flashed a mischievous smirk of her own. "But I'm coming too."

He was taken aback by that; she could see it on his face. "But Lord Ganon . . . h-he only said I could--"

She smiled all the wider. "He said that you could 'do as you wish'. You wish to meet Shadowclaw, so you may. And if you wish to bring me along . . ."

His laughter rang throughout the halls.