Power

   “I think you are hiding something.”, he froze with his hand on the door handle. “It’s none of my business actually, but you’re hiding something.”

   “What are you talking about?”, he tried to sound as clueless as possible, though didn’t turn around to her.

   “Many times we would need you, you aren’t around. Kafei noticed it as well. But he didn’t say a word about it. If you don’t want to tell him, it’s on you. But if you need someone to talk with, I’m here too. He’s in town already. We’re completely alone. So nobody will hear it.”

   “Can you keep it secret in any situation?”

   “You know I can.”, Link took a deep breath, went over to the bed and crawled back beneath the blanket next to Anju, placing his head on his right arm.

   “I am being taught in the ways of the Suro.”, he waited for a reaction but Anju had decided to just listen. „I don’t want Kafei to know because he has a very split opinion about them. Sirileij is my Master. She teaches me what Kafei had taught her. Or at least that’s what she says. I don’t really know anything about the usual training. But I can do some things by now Kafei doesn’t really need to know yet. And I’m not talking about how I scared the living daylight out of Toru when he didn’t want to pay his debt.”

   “Those were merely your bowman skills, I know.”, Anju said blank. “Still I cannot express often enough how silly it was, doing it on market day, right between the stands, with dozens of people present, including Stockpot guests. You could have hit somebody else. Especially with that allegedly well aimed ricochet.”

   “It was purpose. My intention was no other than to nail him to that post and that was the only way I could hit his collar from the other side. I know my arrows and bow very well, thank you. Plus, there was no wind that day.”, gnarled Link. “You know perfectly well he would have never paid a single Rupee back, and you know it was also necessary to set some things clear, between not only him and me.”

   “Indeed. It did set things clear. Namely, that you have no less potential of madness as if your eyes were red. Maybe you should have considered a – real – Master. They might have agreed.”

   “Maybe. But she insisted. Now that we’re back at the original topic; also I want to tell him personally, when I believe the moment to be the right one. What do you think about that?”

   “If you really want to go through this education, continue. If not, stop it.”

   “Tz. I don’t want to seem like a coward because I give up.”

   “Now that is a ridiculous attitude. Ceasing doesn’t mean giving up and we both know you are far from being a coward, regardless of what Farore dictates you. You just need to tell Sirileij that you feel like you have learned enough. If she understood Kafei’s lessons, she will understand that as well.”

   “Fine. But I wanted to continue anyway.”

   “Then continue.”

   “Damn. You already talk like all those others who are blessed with wisdom.”, Anju couldn’t help laughing.

   “Perhaps. But I too have learned a lot by now. If you are together with a Sheikah for so many years, you indeed do.”

   “I take your word for that.”, Link smirked.

   “You know, I just noticed that we never had a proper conversation before. Just the two of us.”

   “True.”, he noticed likewise. „And what do you want to talk about?”

   “No idea.”, Anju sighed and snuggled up to him, her forehead pressed against his. “Do you mind?”

   “Er – no.”, he considered. “Strange, but no.”, thoughtfully he put his left arm around her back.

   “Your nose is warm.”, she aspirated.

   “Probably.”, he closed his eyes as he was still tired.

   “Kafei’s nose is cold most times.”

   “I know.”

   “Of course. What is she like?”

   “Who?”

   “Sirileij?”

   “Crazy. Somehow. But she’s all right. She doesn’t let up until I can do something with fullest conviction. That sucks, is exhausting, but in narrow sense, it’s good somehow. If she was sloppier, we most likely wouldn’t have gotten far. I’m simply too impatient.”

   “Are you?”, Anju giggled.

   “Yes. Stop laughing. I know it took me a long time to conceive that.”

   “So she keeps you busy.”

   “She does. Didn’t you notice when Kafei did the apprenticeship?”

   “Hm. To be honest, I felt something, but it wasn’t surprising that he was gone missing several times back then. Already as a child he had been untraceable for several days every now and then. His longest absence had actually been when Majora had cursed him. But other than that it had usually been just for a few days. It stopped when Ikana fell and when life came back to the land, it started again. So it was nothing to be worried about. Ikana is his home, after all. It never really surprised me that he had gone through the education. It just surprised me that they hadn’t kicked him out of the Canyon on the first day already. I am Queen now. The Masters talk to me as well. I don’t know how much of it is true, but seemingly he had opposed their methods vehemently.”

   “Sirileij confirmed that.”

   “He is a revolutionary. He wants to change the world for the better. He had already tried in his childhood. Constantly he had supported the weaker ones. Girls still aren’t allowed among the Bombers, but he had quite beaten them up then. Trashed the leader really hard several times when that one had refused to help others because he was too lazy for doing so. That hadn’t made him the other parents’ favourite, but after some time the Bombers had found back to consciousness and their original concept. At least for some years. They even wanted to make him their Boss, but he never consented. Instead he left the posse. Shortly after, his mother died. He never wanted to be Mayor. He never wanted to be King. Why do you think he is both if a post is no requirement for him to take responsibility? I never confronted him with this, but I guess he’s afraid of rejecting offered higher positions ever since. He’s afraid of losing someone if he declines.”

   “That is – an interesting perception.”, due to the proximity of her eyes, he looked a bit awry and so did she.

   “And you have interesting eyes.”

   “You’re quite close after all. That causes squinting, naturally.

   “That’s not what I mean.”, she smiled. “They look almost like Kafei’s eyes. Only the colour is a different one. If this has something to do with your destiny?”

   “I don’t think so. Zelda’s eyes are completely different. To be honest, mine look much more like yours.”

   “Oh. How was that for you, by the way?”

   “What?”

   “Kissing her?”

   “Strange, then it felt good – and then I knew that it was just wrong to allow it. I mean, yes – I like her somehow. But even if I wasn’t gay, I would never strike up a relationship with her. She’s just not my type. Her unnecessary jealousy is annoying on top of it.”

   “I can just agree with you.”, Anju smiled bitterly. “Never again will I share a room with her. I envy Vaati. She of all people. I wonder where this will go. Hopefully he can cross you off her mind.”

   “I hope so too.”

   “And what happened to that Sheik-imitation?”

   “As long as he doesn’t turn up again, I will ignore the whole matter. Maybe I was really just tired. It’s quite cold today, don’t you think?”

   “Yes. Winter is finally arriving. About time too. Or rather, a month too late. I suppose and hope as well, that there will be snow in a couple of days.”

   “Here as well?”, Link was a bit bewildered.

   “What do you mean?”

   “It seems odd. The thought that it could be snowing in Ikana. I mean, you do remember how hot summer here was, do you?”

   “Oh. Right. You never witnessed a winter in Termina. Yes, there is snow in Ikana as well. Just not in the northern parts of the Hinterlands. The desert winds are too warm.”

   “Really? There’s snow at Lake Hylia as well and it’s right by the desert. Though there are high rocks between, but it snows.”

   “First snow in Ikana surprises you and then you wonder why it doesn’t snow in certain areas?”

   “Er – oh. Sorry. I’m still a bit sleepy.”

   “Don’t worry. But your phenomenon may be explained logically. I think there must be a clear line between two wind currents. The snow line in Ikana is very clear in some areas as well. There is a village at this line. While its one half can get up to one and a half cubits of snow, the other half has never been touched by a snowflake.”

   “Honestly?”

   “Peculiar, isn’t it?”

   “And how! Nature is really weird.”

   “It is.“, aspirated Anju and stroked over his left cheek. “Kafei is the best example for this.”

   “But he’s strange in a good way. So is nature. And you. How can you accept me that much?”

   “You accept me as well, don’t you?”, she said softly. “I love Kafei and like you a lot as well. So why should I play the jealous wife?”, she placed a whiff of a kiss next to his lips. “I don’t have the slightest reason for doing so.”

 

 

~o~0~O~0~o~

 

 

   A little sceptical, Link looked at the man standing next to the Town Hall’s front door. It had taken him a long time finishing breakfast in the Inn. Anju had walked ahead to see Kafei, who had been in the office since half past five already. Apparently she had locked again since the Town Hall wasn’t officially open yet. The discretion of the obvious Suro who was wrapped in a warming cloak surprised Link. When he closed up, the man bowed faintly.

 

   “I wish a good morning.”

   “Same, thank you.”

   “They say in the castle, that the King has gone to town.”

   “Yes. Anju told me too. He’s got quite a lot of paper work to do today. A few crudities at the coast. Somebody allegedly anchored in the pirates’ territory without knowing and ran a shop on his boat, in which he is said to have illegally sold some treasures they of course want. Now it has to be clarified how illegal his business was, because then it wouldn’t look good for either party. If his business was legal, he’d only need to pay some bail to the pirates. And – ”

   “That – does not really interest me, to be honest.”, said the Suro disparagingly. “Somebody wants to cross the Hinterlands.”

   “Well, shall they.”, Link chuckled and unlocked the door. “Or are they on some list I don’t know about?”

   “He merely asks for an audience with the King.”

   “Oh. Why didn’t you tell me right away.”

   “If Thou had not gone about the pirates, I could have gotten to the point much sooner.”, the Suro followed him inside.”

   “I’m sorry.”, Link grinned embarrassed. “I’m still not fully there.”

 

   While Link already headed for the door, the Sheikah remained respectfully in the middle of the lobby. Link briefly knocked, opened the door lively – froze and slammed it shut right after. Squinting his eyes, he leaned himself against the door.

 

   “Link?”, Kafei asked loudly, but muffled by the door. “Was that you?”

   “Yes. I thought you normally lock.”, now he was even a little upset.

   “Sorry. We were in a hurry.”

   “Then please be in a hurry with getting your clothes back on.”

   “We’re done already.”

   “So may I?”, Link pushed the knob demonstratively.

   “Yes.”, he opened the door once more.

   “At least I have a vague idea now, what it looks like when we – on that desk – ”, sighed Link. “Never mind. There’s someone wanting to talk to you, Kafei. Somebody’s by a border guard and asks for an audience with you.“

   “Oh.”, Kafei aspirated, gave Anju a kiss and marched past Link into the foyer, where he briefly greeted the Suro and exchanged some words in Sheikjiarnjinnjú, whereafter both teleported off.

   “Link?”, Anju breathed barely audible, standing rather less than properly dressed in front of the desk and he turned to her again.

   “How far is he with that salesman? Did he do some bad?”

   “It doesn’t look good, neither for him, nor for the pirates. They receive a little reward for capturing him. But they would have needed handing him in, and most especially his goods. He does though claim to not have stolen a thing, but since he refuses to provide information on others involved, there’s no light for him. If he doesn’t blow the whistle, he will have to face death penalty.”

   “Dea- death penalty?”, Link faltered.

   “In Ikana, there is still death for high treason.”

   “High treason?”

   “He’s a Sheikah. If though allegedly from the other side of the ocean, he is to be treated as if he was from Ikana. The items were funerary goods from the Royal Crypt, as well as ritual vessels having belonged to Archpriests, which had disappeared decades ago.”

   “Death penalty?”

   “I don’t understand either, why Kafei didn’t abolish it. But some things are sacred to him, on principle.”

   “What else does he impose death penalty for, apart from that so-called high treason?”

   “Wilful murder. With child abuse and rape it depends on the case whether there will be torture, and which manner of death – let’s say, there are several different ways to execute death penalty. According to the circumstances.”

   “Which are?”

   “Gallows, drowning, guillotine, stake or poison. But the gallows is most common.”, she said as though she was reciting cake ingredients.

   “And – torture?”

   “There are many things I don’t want to know and what I know about them, I want to spare you. I never saw the torture chamber, but it is located deep beneath the castle and the entrance to the stairwell is a carefully secured, thick door. I only know that those who went down there during Igos’ reign, rarely came back. And if they did, they were entirely veiled, not even able to walk properly with support, trailing blood. Under Kafei it was only necessary a few times to reopen this door, but at least he didn’t have the criminals dragged back out in bright daylight like Igos, so everyone had their rewards.”, Link didn’t get a word out. “A slightly different Kafei as you know him, right?”, she added with a hagridden smile.

   “Phew. Yes.”, he only breathed in shock.

   “But no worries. People know to fear the consequences and therefore quite adhere to law and morals.”

   “Do these punishments prevail in Termina as well?”

   “Only Clock Town and the Field. The other regions majorly have their own laws.”, Link swallowed. “You don’t happen to have done something that would get you into such a situation, have you?”

   “No – I – I mean – it is only – the thought – that – Kafei – such a verdict – ”

   “Yes, he is a supporter of life. But whoever takes lives out of mere joy or other not justifiable reasons, atones.”

   “Do the kids know of that?”

   “Of the death penalty, yes. We raised them to understand and cope. But they don’t know of the torture. Neither from then nor today. For them the door leads to the dungeons. All they need to know at their age, is that if somebody hurts them or someone else badly, their father is there to punish that bastard. And that – before – in the castle – ”

   “What, before, in the castle.”, he huffed contemptuously.

   “I’m sorry, yes?”

   “We had that. Nothing happened.”

   “Link.”, she moaned.

   “I survived it. And partly it was my fault as well. So if anyone should be ashamed, it is me. Can we agree on that? Nothing happened.”, she briefly stared at him and curled her lips, but nodded. “Good.”

   “He didn’t notice a thing anyway.”

   “And he won’t, if we don’t give him a reason. If he can blanket torture, we can keep that a secret the more. Even if he notices that the vase is gone or if he finds stray shards, it’s no big deal. So let’s forget about it, alright?”

   “Fine.”

 

 

~o~0~O~0~o~

 

 

   Fear. Fear was a powerful weapon. Awe as well. But at the moment it was mainly fear Kafei saw in the eyes of the two men. One of them even carried a sword on his back. It was easily conceivable that they had heard stories. Igos’ trail of blood had reached far. Totally relaxed he sat on the throne, covered in an old dark magenta cloak that had once belonged to Igos. Even this redundant pomp rested on his head. He just felt like playing a little. So he wouldn’t be unnecessarily conspicuous, he had even retrieved his old washable black hair dye and secretly dyed his striking blue mane as well as eyebrows during the time it had taken them to cross the country.

   As relaxed as he was, as proud was his posture and as cold was his expression while he watched the men, flanked by two Suro, walk towards him. The Suro stopped in respectful distance and made the guests halt. Almost contentedly he studied their feeble bows, what appeared to be significantly difficult to one of them due to the circumference of his belly – admittedly, Kafei felt sorry for the horse he had arrived on. The other put down the thick linen sack he carried over his right shoulder, before he bowed.

   A barely catchable nod of their King was enough for both Suro to bow es well, before they vanished into thin air, much to the fright of the other two. A smile glided onto Kafei’s lips. His lips only. And it was by far not warm. It was cold and complacent. As fast as it had come, it was gone, with the rolling of the big stone gate behind the now even more visibly concerned men, whose looks mirrored nothing but the certainty to be locked in. Yet that was the grand hall’s nature. Despite its colourfulness, the wall art appeared nowhere near inviting to outsiders and the dull light of the already passed by winter’s sun created a cold that was in truth not present, due to the system of wall and floor heating.

 

   “To what do I owe the – honour – of your visit?”, Kafei asked, feigning ignorance.

   “We solicit for a trade treaty.”, spoke the skinnier man with the sword on the back, in perfect Hylian.

   “With Ikana?”, chuckled Kafei. “Ikana has everything it needs.”

   “With Termina.”

   “I understand. And then you thought, you just march straight through my empire and hope I will let you repeat so?”, his already piercing red eyes drilled into those of the speaker even across the immense space between them.

   “We – we’ve been granted passing.”, that one became panicky.

   “And you think, I don’t know that.”, Kafei aped his panic, but for that one sentence only. “What by all means does Ordon have, which Termina needs and is so important, that the mayor himself; who, as I care to mention, is not even capable of the general global language; simply comes walking towards my nose by winter’s edge with his bodyguard and translator and thinks, I clear the way for him.”

   “By Thy leave, translator, yes. But I’m not his bodyguard. I am the armourer of the village.”

   “Oh – only the armourer!”, laughed Kafei derisive, shortly throwing his head back, only to then stare at them with the previous cold. “So it is that. Therefore you feel safe in my country, with your rusty sword, heavy sack – and luggage? On your – you call something like that horses? Honestly. I would sell you two of ours, if though your whole village ever managed to gather the Rupees within a century, which one alone is worth.”, Rusl was more than perplexed and found no answer. “What does Ordon have to offer, now?”

   “Ptats.”, he gargled.

   “Come again? Or not, if you can’t manage,”

   “Potatoes.”, Rusl gained more confidence with sudden growing anger.

   “So has Ikana.”, Kafei remained indifferent.

   “Pumpkins.”

   “They as well, grow in Ikana.”

   “And the best goat cheese of the continent.”, Rusl almost gnarled already.

   “Tz. You believe that impresses me?”, demonstratively Kafei surveyed his left fingernails with boredom.

   “In addition we would be open to negotiate a collective contract with Hyrule.”

   “Now, the Princess of Hyrule isn’t here. Or can you see her”, Kafei took a glance around. “Believe me. Princess Zelda is a strong woman one is not to underestimate. If she is willing to sign a trade agreement with Termina, she personally gives me a shout and asks whether she may send her people through. And mind. If this happens, you may just as well use your village idyll to flatten your greasy hair. Because then, a broad, fat trade route will go straight through, across which not even a frog would dare to jump, because some frogs are indeed clever enough to not risk their lives unnecessarily.”

 

   From two of the words on his focus was explicitly on Bo, although he was ashamed of himself. In silence he let Rusl translate, who didn’t seem fine with the answer at all. Of course there already existed a trade agreement between Hyrule and Ikana, and naturally Termina. But the route lead, due to the reason mentioned, not through Ordon. Kafei knew that Link cared much for the village, which he after all had called his home for a year. If though this prudence meant days of detours. Yet none of the villagers knew of the silent messengers that used Ordon nevertheless. They were, simply too silent.

   Also Kafei discovered in their heads just now that they had not the slightest idea of what had happened in Termina since the attack. Why would they? After all he had shut the borders immediately and even once the order had been restored, he had known well to keep any Ordonian from putting a heel or toe onto ikana’n ground. The news of a new king in the country had scared them enough anyway. There was no need for them to know that the King of Ikana and the Mayor of Termina were one and the same person.

 

   “Council closed? Or am I allowed to take part?”, Kafei murmured spitefully. “Now then, I am willing to think about whether I am going to allow you to pass through to Clock Town.”

 

   While Rusl and Bo exchanged some looks, Kafei sent a telpathical message to Anju, enlightening her on the situation. He waited another moment for her approval and continued speaking.

 

   “Do you have samples of your products with you?”

   “In case former mayor Dotour still exists, he’ll certainly agree. Because in his days there existed a trade treaty between Ordon and Clock Town.”, if he had been anything like Igos, he would have had given each a magic blow for Rusl ignoring his question, and that although the sack Rusl had brought, actually had made the question quite irrelevant beforehand already.

   “I am well aware of that. But he is no longer in office. Now it is regarded to convince his daughter-in-law.”

   “Daughter-in-law?”

   “I just now had a nice telepathical conversation with Mayor Anju. Her husband is not in attendance at the moment. Therefore she consented to let me bring her here. Provided that you will not waste her time.”

   “Of course we won’t. We have excellent samples with us.”

   “Well, well. Or not. It depends.”

 

   All of a sudden Kafei was in Anju’s office and already wanted to give her his hand. But then he spotted her adjusting her tiara.

 

   “Take that off, will you! I told you, they haven’t got the slightest clue! I don’t want them to know what else I’m in charge of! Nor that you are my wife.”

   “Oh. I’m sorry. I – must have missed that.”

   “Everything alright? You seem to be all at sea today.”

   “I’m only – not fully awake yet.”, Anju breathed when Kafei helped her with the pompous headgear. “Thanks.”

   “Yet. It’s nearly sunset, you know. What about still and again?”

 

   She once again wiped her hair in order, put on a professional expression and within the fraction of a second both stood in front of their thrones. The Humans’ jaws dropped when they saw that.

 

   “Good afternoon, gentlemen.”, Anju started while Kafei sat back down straddle-legged and watched them silently. “I am Anju-Anila Maranóshu. Mayor of Clock Town and principal delegate of Termina.”, she spoke while approaching them and eventually shook their hands. “I have heard, this is about a trade agreement with Clock Town? Well? What can I do for you?”

   “To be precise, it is about the resumption of market approval at the grand markets in Clock Town.”, said Rusl. “Mr Dotour had once signed this permit and since neither you nor your spouse ever informed us on whether you are fine with the continuation of the treaty, mayor Bo thought he’d go and ask.”, he pointed on his friend who smiled lightly, in spite of not understanding a word.

   “Well, now that Termina has a reputable harbour and also a trade agreement going on with Hyrule – ”

   “What?”, it downright shot out of Rusl’s mouth and Kafei once again grinned gloatingly.

   “Did you honestly believe Zelda would steamroll her border village? You are the only defence of Hyrule, should Ikana be attacked. If the shields of Ikana can not be activated in time, someone sacrifices themself for destroying the bridge. Hyrule cannot gather enough forces to assist Ikana. The other way round, yes. And as you can see, there is another trail. Though a little dangerous, but Zelda has the Kokiri on her side. They guide the merchants safely through the Lost Woods to the edge of the Swamp. From there the Dekus take over – and the way to town is just a cinch then.

Yet should there exist an unprotected trade route between our countries, not imaginable the disastrous near future consequences. The ancient trees of our continent grow on holy ground which they must protect and the beings beneath their crowns assist them. Without their help nothing survives long in the devouring green. The biggest and most perfect barricade against evil forces. On the other side is the desert. And anyone who desires to survive a march through, cannot do it with an entire army. Except if you lead it along the fringe. Even there you will expect a deadly rain of arrows, spears and throwing knives. The precision and speed of the Gerudo-Nomades are quite a match for the Suro. Both stand on the great empires’ sides – if they aren’t cunning enough to evade the gallows on their own.”

   “Yes.”, confirmed Anju. “But what I actually meant to tell you, Clock Town won’t grow any bigger. The markets are always full up. Any stand or carpet more would contravene our security restrictions. And those are conceived thoroughly. I – am sorry. I would have really liked to offer you a constant pitch. But we would be forced to tear down the town walls, which would mean we’d have to sacrifice barracks, armoury, storage and prison. Of course you could try to negotiate the other merchants in Hyrule whether they won’t swap the one or other good that isn’t selling well in Termina for one of your products. Maybe one of them makes a compromise and shares a stand with you. I am so sorry. There is nothing more I can do for you. Of course you can leave the goods here which you brought along. I will buy them, naturally. I’m certain I can find use for them.”

   “We really thank you for your efforts.”, sighed Rusl and translated while Anju took a look into the sack and nodded.

   “Hm. Cheese, sourmilk, meat, rujenva, alandri, honey – good. I’ll give you two hundred Rupees for everything. Is that enough?”

   “More than enough, thank you!”, Rusl laughed delighted. “That’s thirty too much.”

   “Oh.”, Anju dismissed him with a brandishing hand. “That is for the circumstances. K-”, she stopped herself just soon enough. “Uhm – King Elej?”, with his third name, she could go less wrong, since it was his second-favourite anyway.

   “Yes?”, she pondered again, her eyes on him.

   “Would Thou be so kind and escort these to men including their mounts back to the border?”

   “Why is this my business?”, he replied feignedly unimpressed and again studied his fingernails, this time actually picking on one.

   “Please.”

 

   He raised and approached her arrogantly. Although she knew his expression to be canted, she was quite surprised how convincingly he could stage an indifferent, egomaniacal bastard. Holding the cloak with the left hand to the right shoulder, he put his other hand on his hip and, almost leisurely, halted by her side.

 

   “Wherefore.”, it was a slowly murmured, nauseated assessment.

   “To make up for the disappointment.”

   “What – ”, he lightly tilted his head to the right and stretched his right arm for her long crimson hair, of which he playfully twisted a wisp around his fingers. “Will I get in exchange?”

   “The appreciation of these two men.”

   “Uh?”, he raised an eyebrow, stepped behind her and laid his hands on her shoulders. “And you think, that is worth the hassle?”, he breathed into her right ear, if though well audible. “Tell me again. What, will I get in exchange.”

   “Appreciation.”, she said with a smirk. “Whose, does not matter.”

   “You may think, it does not matter to me.”, he brushed the hair behind her right ear and carried on in Sheikjiarnjinjú, however, with no change in his slimy tone. “You may think, it does not matter to me that the people of Ordon take me for a lecherous swine. That is not the case. But latest when they figure that the Mayor of Termina and the King of Ikana are one and the same person, they will realise that the King only flirted with his wife in a very impudent way.”, she just had to giggle.

   “Yes, if they knew.”, she only grinned and the scepsis of the men grew even more. “Then it wouldn’t be such good fun. The question is only, how are you going to justify it?”

   “I am the King of Ikana. I do not need to justify my preferences.”

   “Fine. You convinced me. But you’ll bring them to the border, won’t you?”

   “Thank you, also you have convinced me.”

 

   He let up on her and ordered one of the guards by the big round stone gate to bring in the horses of the men. The mounts were behind them in a flash.

 

   “Standing by your horses’ sides and touching them will suffice.”, said Kafei and Rusl translated for Bo, if however neither knew what to make of it.

 

   Utter confusion in their faces, each held a flat hand to the neck of his horse and Kafei stepped between the mounts. He as well laid a hand onto each horse and teleported himself with them all to the gate to Ordon and back to Anju alone that all Rusl and Bo were capable of was to give each other a flummoxed stare across the animals’ backs.

 

   “You blithering idiot.”, Anju chuckled.

   “What.”, giggled Kafei.

   “You’re really beyond help.”

 

 

~o~0~O~0~o~

 

 

   Ponderingly he stood by the window behind the throne-like chair and stared into the tiny back yard. Although the window was not exactly small, due to the adjacent town wall he had to crane himself in order to get a glimpse on a stripe of the grey early evening sky. Also the grass beneath was parched and brown. His condensing breath on the windowpane made him conjecture the cold outside. Out of pure boredom he had dug his way through all the paper work. Now he was done and Kafei had still not returned from Ikana. Again.

   Slowly he began to wonder how much longer this merchant in the cell wanted to maintain his silence. Tomorrow the deadline; literally; of avoiding execution was to going to lapse. Thinking about it raised Link’s hackles. Of course Kafei wouldn’t carry out the sentence, but passing it – that was very unlike the caring family man. But on the other hand – what did he know about this man? Possibly a handful from the giant barrel of knowledge that could be obtained about him. And that after he had been together with him for three quarters of a year. In a happy relationship.

   Without fully realising, his eyes followed a single shining white snowflake that gently sailed down to the barren ground. Only when a second landed by it, Link directed his look back up to see more and more snowflakes. Winter was here. Very quietly. So tender could a drastic change of nature be. Like spellbound he studied the flakes. For about a minute. Then an urge overcame him, the urge to do something. Anything. But what?

   There he already found himself covered in a grey cloak, in front of the Town Hall’s door. On the square below cheering children hopped. They celebrated the arrival of winter in their own way. He didn’t even notice the smile his own lips formed upon the sight of their happy faces.

 

   “Great, isn’t it?”, Tatl tore him from his trance

   “What?”, he hadn’t noticed she was standing in front of him.

   “Well – it snows!”, she grinned.

   “Yes.”, he only breathed, the look still directed down across the stairs.

   “What’s the matter? Did something happen?”

   “Wha- er – no. I – ”

   “Link?”, suddenly her voice was filled with bother.

   “I’m just bored.”

   “Then go riding Daddy.”, it burst from her, what woke Link at last. “Uh – with.”, her eyes widened embarrassed as she stared at him – her hands had clapped onto her mouth as fast as he had only known it from her mother so far. “I meant `with´. Go riding with Daddy.”, flashing red on the face behind the chalky white fingers she did several steps backwards and ran off.

   “Yes. Epona will certainly be eager to find a saddle strapped onto her back in this cold.”, he sighed after her.

 

   A ride though might not be such a bad idea. Nevertheless, since Clock Town finally had a warm stable, he didn’t want to take this privilege from Epona. He had let her out yesterday, but the mere hadn’t allowed him to convince her to stay outdoors.

   Not really abundant with ideas, he wiped a snowflake off his nose and considered what he could really do to relieve his boredom. Maybe he should help Anju. After all she had to wash some more dishes today and since winter season hadn’t started yet, she and the cook were alone in the kitchen.

   Finally stocked with a lead, he walked down the stairs and opened the door to the Inn. When he closed it again, there was nothing to be heard of the children’s laughter anymore. Only the ticking of the clock on the wall broke the silence. Then a jingling. Anju sat behind the counter and counted Rupees. She was so bound up with the settlement that she didn’t notice him. Not even when he hung the cloak onto the coat stand, sat himself onto the sofa opposite to her, flung one leg over the other and looked directly at her.

   She noted down some more numbers, locked the cash box, placed it in the small safe underneath the counter, locked the day books in along with it and left the reception to the back. Link heard her taking something from the broom cabinet. Then she came around the corner by the staircase with a bucket, a shovel in it and a broomstick. Since Link was hidden by a bigger indoor plant next to the sofa, she still didn’t see him. He only looked after her silently when she disappeared upstairs. Her steps deadened and Link crossed his arms with a sigh. The bell rang quarter to six.

   After about five minutes he solely retrieved a book from his locket, studied the binding for a while, but lastly opened it. Without actually looking at them, his eyes travelled over the characters until he reached the upper right end and flipped the page. That process he repeated for at least fifteen times. Then the scratching and brushing of the broom was loud enough he could tell Anju had reached the first floor. Though he had his face still on the book, he watched from the corner of his eye, how long it would take her reaching the bottom end of the staircase. Finally she appeared before his eyes again. Or rather, her back. When she arrived, she formed a heap, leaned the broom to the wall and went for the bucket to scoop the heap in. Then she swept on, towards the entrance door. Only when she swept around the pot of the bush, she noticed someone sitting on the sofa and startled.

 

   “My goodness, Link!”

   “Hello.”

   “Yes. How long have you been here already?”, she aspirated.

   “A while. You were so bound up with the settlement, I didn’t want to disturb.”

   “Link.”, she puffed with a smile. “You wouldn’t have. What do you need?”

   “Nothing. I’m just bored. So I wanted to see whether I can help you in the kitchen. But you’re apparently done.”

   “Yes. Quite some time, actually. Two can do faster than one. But you could check through Kafei’s schedule for the week.”

   “Did that. Checked, noted and sorted everything. Your stuff as well.”

   “Oh. Thanks.”

   “No worries.”

   “Legs up.”, he briefly did as ordered so she could sweep in front of the sofa but instantly put his legs back down after the broom was gone. “What are you reading there?”, he shortly held the book up. “`Concerning the Battles´.”

   “You can read that?”, her look was unmistakable.

   “I’ve known Kafei since we were four years old. Meanwhile I have been married to him for eight and a half years. What would I be if I wasn’t fluent in this language in speech and writing?”

   “Hmm. Stupid?”, Link considered. “Lazy? Disinterested?”

   “Quite true.”, Anju smirked. “If you need help, tell me.”

   “Actually I understand next to nothing. I only find the writing beautiful.”

   “Na chrephamna.”

   “Why don’t you believe me?”

   “So that, you understand.”

   “I was talking about the writing.”

   “Kheij sultha tharmujar lathé?”

   “Suithal.”

   “Considered that, your pronunciation is really well.”

   “Nani hala soluda khaijs.”

   “I rest my case.”

   “Yes. Still I would be glad to have anyone teach me this language properly. If Kafei talks to me in Sheikjiarnjinjú, his vocabulary is rather unvaried. And demanding.”, Link took his look off her in hope he would be able to reduce the warmth in his face enough she wouldn’t see the blush.

   “And very quiet.”, Anju continued his sentence and the sweeping.

   “Stop it, yes?”, Link hissed at the book.

   “Really the last thing you need if you’re already trying to not come before he does.”

   “Anju.”, Link now gnarled.

   “What?”, she giggled. “You started the topic.”

   “Yes, yes. It’s snowing, by the way.”

   “Really?”, Anju marvelled when she swept around the third pot as well. “It’s about time. Much?”

   “Enough to make children happy. I assume they ran on. Otherwise you’d hear them, right?”

   “The door is quite sealed and the clock is loud.”

   “I know. Noticed that.”, Link confirmed, raising his head and watching Anju again. “Fascinating.”

   “Yes. That a door keeps out more noise than this stupid wall on the first floor.”

   “That’s not what I meant.”

   “What then?”

   “You changed a lot.”

   “In what way?”, asked Anju, appearing confused.

   “Then – before the wedding – you were shy. Determined, yes, but also shy and restrained. Sure – it was three days constantly repeating. But now I’ve known you for a while. Already during those other three days you were a different woman than the one I had helped getting married. And then – a year later – Ikana changed you a lot.”

   “I know. Many things changed. I have two children, own the Inn of my mother whom I kicked out of the town, am Mayor and Queen. If that alone isn’t enough to change a person, I could name you a thousand things more.”, Link nodded and put the book into his locket.

   “But some things never change.”, he slowly raised and walked towards her.

   “What things?”, he now stood in front of her.

   “The way – you – ”, whispering reflectively, he laid the fingers of his left hand around the broomstick and stared on it.

   “Hm?”

   “Hold the broom.”

   “What?”, she chuckled quietly.

   “How you move when you sweep – the steps – how you put them – how your skirt swings with that – your arm movement – your looks while it when you are in thoughts – that – hasn’t changed.”, barely catchable he shook his head and looked her straight in the eyes. “Not after all these years.”

   “I didn’t even notice that.”, she breathed.

   “But I did.”, whispered Link, nearly drowned by the loud clacking of the clock when the day-night-disc turned and the muffled chime of the bell on the Southsquare. “I always studied you then. That’s why I know.”, she loosend her right hand from the stick and laid it gently onto his fingers, an uninterpretable, feeble smile on her lips. “Kafei asked for the vase.”, the smile vanished. “I told him I accidentally upset it and that it fell to the floor by that.”

   “How did he react?”, Link distorted his lips for a second.

   “He was a bit sad. Then he meant it isn’t that bad. Why does he say that? It was his mother’s vase!”, Link moaned, yet not raising the volume.

   “I know. Did he ask anything else? How exactly it happened?”

   “No.”, Anju sighed relieved. „He only said sooner or later he had expected it. That I after all tend to destroy vases and pots.“

   “He’s got a point on that.”, smirked Anju, however not really amused.

   “I know.”, grumbled Link. “Earlier, a letter came. It said I should treat Kafei to a drink and break gently that I’ve been told by reliable sources that his wife cheats on him.”

   “What?”, Anju was suddenly wide awake.

   “With the King of Ikana.”

   “Oh no.”, she sighed and let her head sink against Link’s chest but couldn’t help a slight giggle.

   “I presume, you know whom the letter is from?”

   “I guess I do.”, murmured Anju into Link’s waistcoat, the one hand still on his on the broomstick and the other directly on said.

   “Why haven’t you told me Rusl and Bo had come to Ikana?”

   “That is a little complicated.”

   “That’s what the letter sounded like.”, Link sighed as well and put his right arm around Anju. “Should I treat him to a drink?”

   “No idea.”, chuckled Anju muffled, Link’s head on hers. “You should know yourself whether you want to slap his face. I was close to.”

   “Was it that bad?”

   “No. But childish and silly. Such sprees can backfire easily. And suddenly you have to prove your innocence to all sorts of countries.”

   “Did something like that get him in trouble before?”

   “What?”, Anju looked up. “No. But I’m just saying. There are people who prevaricate whenever they can.”

   “I know that too well.”, sighed Link. “Because of someone like that I once spent a night in jail. Only because I bought some food at his competitor’s. He heard me telling that one that I pinched a nice sum from the Minish again. That patch of grass was quite full, you know, and I joked about it. That guy didn’t even know who the Minish are. But next alley the guards headed me off and claimed I had mugged that merchant. Unfortunately the content of my wallet at that moment didn’t coincide with his statement. So I would have needed to hide three hundred Rupees somewhere between meal-buying and an alley further. But I didn’t even have them prior to the purchase. Nevertheless they kept me imprisoned one full night until everything had straightened out.”

   “Did you claim damages?”

   “I couldn’t. Zelda had him thrown out of town before I could. But the musty straw bales down there are better than a number of caves. Back then I didn’t have a room in the castle yet.”

   “But at least I can assure you that this won’t happen to you here. Not even, if you really lift something. You can expect a lecture from Kafei though, but the guards have no right to arrest someone who under statutory protection without a direct order. Not even if you kill somebody in the open street.”

   “I’m under political protection?”, Link was visibly surprised.

   “The whole family is covered by immunity. As Kafei’s groomsman you are a lawful member of the family.”

   “So that means, Romani could shoot an arrow into my eye without flinching and wouldn’t get prosecuted for it?”

   “Prosecuted, yes. But the guards aren’t allowed to keep her from fleeing before Kafei or me, or Dotour or Esra; who you know are our deputies; order arrest directly on site. Family internal acts of revenge are none of their business. You could beat each other to death and harm as many civilians in the process as you consider necessary. They are not allowed to intervene.”

   “Seen that way, it is unfair.”

   “Well, but so far nobody objected to this law. Well yes – but that was when Igos was still alive. And Ilsharin was still Mayor.”

   “Er – now that you say it, I just remembered I never asked you about that. What was the name of his wife? Just to prevent future confusion.”

   “Kafei’s grandmother? Zthanuij. She’s the one who gave him the pendant.”, with the left index finger she briefly lifted the Pendant of Memories from her chest.

   “Oh. And I always thought it had come from Ajrini’s mother.”

   “No. It’s from the other side. The golden Crystalbug is the old heraldic animal of the Garo. The Royal Family always had the Phoenix. The immortal bird that raises from its own ashes, more beautiful and powerful than before. It will be reborn in the Fire of the sun. In the inferno above the sea it dies and arises in the rising sun’s ambers above the Stonedesert.”

   “And the bug?”

   “The bug is small and easily overlooked. It crawls into the Phoenix’s feathers and its crystals of never melting ice freeze him from inside. The gold has to be seen as both a symbol of power as well as the new sun.”

   “Slowly everything is starting to make sense.”, Link considered. “When did Dotour get tattooed?”

   “That was his wedding gift to Ajrini. It was the last in a number of things that convinced Igos that Dotour is different from everyone in his family; that he had turned on them. Igos had gotten to see it only about fifty years later, shortly after Kafei’s birth.”

   “He’d had the rising sun, the flames and the crest of the Royal Family on his body for fifty years and nobody noticed? I mean, his father would have surely cast him out, wouldn’t he?”

   “He’d wanted to do that after the wedding already. They had married secretly because they knew it would have ended in a massacre. But Ilsharin suddenly had seen it like Igos. The same, completely wrong way. He had seen the one in his son, who would overthrow Igos and claim Ikana for the Maranóshu at last. And for Igos, the roofs were burning. He had declared his grandniece lunatic. None of the two had considered love as the reason.”

   “And such a grand one.”

   “Probably exactly because of that. Maybe because they had met with refusal and reject to cut corners, this love is still sitting so deep in Dotour’s heart and soul. Maybe it was exactly that which has made this love even stronger. This love was a gift. Although not an easy gift to deal with, but a grand one. And I am grateful that such a gift has been given to me as well and that Kafei had inherited it. Otherwise we wouldn’t have made it.”

   “And then this.”, Link aspirated flatly with his look on Anju’s hand that still rested on his.

   “Yes. You usually don’t question so many things. Bigger things. Why this?”

   “You know what I’m talking about?”

   “Of course I know what you are talking about.”, said Anju, but shook her lowered head with closed eyes. “And let us be honest – we both know what Kafei did throughout those three years I was in Kakariko. If though he regrets some experiences for good reason, he does not regret any decisions. Is there a decision you regret? Any? Anywhen at any point in your life? And please be honest.”, Link truly had to think about it a while.

   “No.”

   “And what about experiences?”, their eyes met more directly than ever before.

   “No.”, said Link, understanding that he indeed didn’t regret a thing.

   “You see? That is the difference between Kafei and you. Kafei regrets some experiences. No decisions, of course. He acted with full conscience. The negative experiences were results of misjudgement. He had judged other people wrong and that caused him more harm than you can imagine. That’s why he represses. And he doesn’t grow with it. These things don’t make him stronger. They weaken him. Another thing he has got from his father. Unlike them, you don’t try to repress the memories of your anguishes. You use them as an advantage for yourself. Because you have the courage to face your fears. You dreamt that Kafei would die. He had the strength to convince you he won’t, although he had believed you even more than you yourself. In the end however it was you who was brave enough to dare fighting nevertheless. You risked your life to bring back Kafei’s. Believe me. Kafei knew that he would die that die. And then you had the dream.”

   “He never told me he knew.”

   “He’d felt it. I think, everyone knows when it’s over. Didn’t you, when you died the first time?”

   “To be honest, no. I was too busy trying to understand what was actually going on. The whole day long and also the preceding week. Additionally I was a child. And when I found Farore in front of me another time, I knew there was no need for me to be afraid. I mean, the second time I was certain it was going to be a tight squeeze. But after all I knew before the first time that Farore was on my side.”

   “Another difference between his death and yours. You knew that a Goddess was saving you and would bring you back. He had no knowledge of his fate. Not in the slightest. He was in panic. You know, he wanted to get all possible things over with. Settle all scores. He did nothing, because he was mentally finished. And hated himself for it.”

   “I think, I should really treat him to a drink.”, sighed Link.

   “What ever. Just understand that we have to help him be strong. We must help him on his path to his true power. Yes, he is very strong, but his self-doubts keep him from more. And maybe you should take Dotour with you. He seeks refuge in sport. If he continues like that, he’ll soon end up having legs like a frog and arms like a monkey. Should Esra be in the bar, throw her out before she forgets the smell of fresh air and grass.”

 

 

~o~0~O~0~o~