You donât see the Mask Salesman every day. Kafei was surprised to hear his voice from the kitchen, shortly after the familiar sounds of a new arrival. As Anju greeted the fellow, he simply filed the encounter away as interesting.
Then the salesman asked to see Kafei, saying that the matter was urgent.
The three of them went to the library to talk, joining Anjuâs grandmother.Â
âLink is in trouble,â the salesman said matter-of-factly, with a pained expression. And that was a name Kafei hasnât heard in years.
Itâs strange to look back now and consider that only a few days ago, Kafei could have expected to predict his schedule from then until Cremiaâs winter party. Someone found an ancient library in an old house by the beach six months ago, and heâs been copying the most valuable of the badly-damaged volumes to fresh parchment. He told Anjuâs mother that he could paint the walls of the Knife Chamber, and that was eight months ago, and she can be so awful to him about it sometimes that his motivation just... oops! But he did really mean to get it done when he agreed to it, and he does still mean to get it done now. Before the party, even. He and Anju are taking martial arts classes at the Mighty Training Center, and Anju accidentally punched the instructor the old swordsman hired, so they were going to bring fresh bread next week (assuming she lets them in the building). Itâs been the life he dreamed of, the life he very nearly ruined the year the moon almost fell.
But he really would have ruined everything if Link hadnât helped him. And not a lot of people have helped him, really. Not like that. The way the Mask Salesman was talking, it was like Link had done so much more, too... was he the one who stopped the moon, then? He was from another world? Link hadnât been very talkative, which Kafei had respected. Just who was he? What was he doing there? Kafei doesnât like to look like he doesnât know whatâs going on, so he just nodded along with a serious expression. He has some questions for Link, though. Because of course heâs helping. Of course.
The Mask Salesman gave Kafei a cloth bundle and told him not to open it, just take it to Link, through the passage under the Clock Tower. When he opened it, on the other side and out of sight, it was just a plain, wooden mask. Kafei has known masks to hold great power. Considering the context, it surely couldnât be ordinary. He never put it on, despite a strong pull of curiosity.
Those warrior women have it now. That, and all of his supplies, and the knife in his boot. He hopes they donât think to put the mask on, if itâs powerful enough to give Link major support in his fight against... well, them, probably. This is just massively humiliating, to fail so quickly. But then again, it may not be over yet. He wailed a passionate and incomprehensible muddle of a story to his captors, something about bringing a present to his niece before her birthday. They were so annoyed with him heâs positive he didnât register as anybody connected to a military effort. He certainly doesnât have to act, to show them the picture of a scared civilian who wants to be let go. He hasnât lost hope that theyâll just give him the mask and boot him out of their camp sooner or later. He doesnât want to think about alternatives. Anjuâs mother was supposed to be the one to kill him, when he didnât paint the Knife Chamber before the party after all... it wasnât supposed to end like this.
Later in the day, when they tie Link, himself, to a pole next to him in the tent, he catches himself quickly before he reacts much. His âharmlessâ persona wouldnât recognize Link, but would have an important present to get to this niece of his in time for her birthday. He starts warbling about that, going on to explain how much fresh bread he can make for them in exchange for his release. So much fresh bread. The honorable warriorâs look of disapproval is almost fond, and she kicks him so gently itâs just a firm touch of her foot. When she leaves and the tent flap closes, the anxious neediness melts away and he turns to Link and stares, all sharp red eyes and intent. Are you okay? he mouths.
