They would have to come up with a solution, but at the moment he was quite glad to count smaller amounts. Jangling, the last Purple Rupee fell into the casket and he noted down the number. Also it didn’t take hours, like with the tax revenues. The sum was checked several times and enframed within less than a minute. Softly he blew the ink dry, shut the balance sheet book and stored everything duly, if though a little disappointed of the actually substantial amount Aana had stolen, although she wouldn’t have needed to at all. Nevertheless relieved that she wasn’t a Sheikah and Anju had had been able to simply fire her without bigger consequences, he locked the safe.
Then he took out another book he still didn’t understand. But he wanted it. He wanted it so bad. It was as though the solution was hidden somewhere in the signs with the unusual reading style. The understanding bringing answer. Not to the silence. To act, emotion, way of thinking. Simply everything. And yet he knew, that this was not the case. Frustrated he slapped the book shut and leaned back in his chair so quick he had to catch himself on the counter’s edge to keep himself from tilting over backwards.
Angrily he huffed a thought towards the sofa, which he though forgot immediately as the door was being opened. With the howling of the wind and several snowflakes, four white blanketed figures came in and spread all the snow in the reception room upon taking off their massive hooded cloaks and backpacks, which frustrated him even more, since it was him who would have to clean up the mess made by the molten snow later. Nevertheless the obvious plight of the women worried him. In a Hylian dialect he had never heard before, they adjusted each other’s clothes, yet froze when he greeted them with a not fully fake smile.
“Good evening, dear ladies and welcome to the Stock Pot Inn. If you would please be so kind as to close the door, thank you.”
Abashed, one of the women hopped over and did what he had asked for, mumbling an excuse with an accent. This accent however, was not due to her dialect, yet more to her eyes, Link noticed. Those very eyes widened with shock when another pair of such appeared in the door and downright slammed it shut behind.
“We are really sorry. We will clean this up, if necessary.”, meant another of the women, now in perfect colloquial Hylian.
“No need.”, murmured Kafei more to himself, lovelessly swung his hand and the floor as well as their clothes were dry before he disappeared upstairs without further words.
“Ladies,”, Link hectically drew their attention on him when the bang of another door made them wince, “As I said, welcome. You may make yourselves at home later. Yet one of you – ”, he retrieved the register, “Should probably tell me whether you have a reservation or – no.”
“No, we not have.”, confirmed the Sheikah including the accent she couldn’t fully hide.
“But you’re lucky that it’s a tougher winter than expected and that the Art Market has been cancelled.”
“We noticed that too, although it would have been nice to see it.”
“And what brings you into this snow chaos?”
“That was her idea.”, said a different woman and pointed on another.
“What’s that now! We all had that idea!”, the latter protested laughing.
“Well, we are on big journey.”, the Sheikah continued. “Half a ch- ahm – year – past we set off.”
“My goodness. Do you want to circumnavigate the world?”, Link smiled astounded; all four nodded. “No. Well, then you truly deserve a cosy bed. I suppose you don’t mind bunk beds?”
“What kind of beds?”, asked the woman who hadn’t said anything until then.
“Bunk beds – er – ”, he tried to somehow explain with his hands, “One bed above the other?”
“Oh – ladder beds? No. Or? Do we mind?”
“Anything as long as it’s bed. And please something to eat.”
“Of course. Dinner time is already over, but the cook is still here and writes the grocery list. Surely there’s some supper left for you. Yet I’d need a name I can register you with beforehand.”
“Uhm – under which name do we do that now?”
“Dunno – Ssanmek? What d’you suggest?”
“Ahm – Inmadiri.”
Link dipped the quill, but with an arched eyebrow he let the ink drip back down.
“Yes?”, asked the Sheikah who finally closed up. “How one writes it? Well – ahm – that would be – then – ”
“It is rather, I mean, it’s all very well, but I asked for a name. Because meanwhile I did learn how to count.”, he gave her a slight wink from below as he had already bent down.
“How? What do Thou mean?”
“I can count. And that all of you are actually woman, I simply take it. Nevertheless I’d need a name Anju doesn’t double up laughing about.”
It took her a moment to figure. But her confusion quite rapidly changed into delight then.
“Hacharan Inananth!”
“Oh no. Even more dialects.”, chuckled Link, accidentally aloud. “But I think the Goddesses thank you for conceding them their powers.”, also the other three women laughed, understanding.
“Na drarmu – ”
“I don’t know where you’re from, but if you believe I understand every single Sheikjiarnjinjú-dialect, you’ll need to wait some more years.”
“It – I am sorry. It is only – one does not meet many Hylians who – ”
“That, is something I can understand pretty well by now. It’s not exactly a language you can learn in one night.”
“That Hyliash too is not.”
“Well, since I grew up quite bilingual, I can’t really assess that. But yes, they are two entirely different languages.”
“Oh yes.”
“And a lefty isn’t something you see every day either.”, interrupted the woman who had been accused previously, with a smirk.
“But I do.”, meant Link dry, which filled the room with laughter once more.
“And good at repartee as well.”
“Only as a Goron. Otherwise I’d rather pick a sword, bow or boomerang. Now – shall I really note that down? Transscribe? Or in Shi-”
“Write what Thou like.”, to annoy himself, he went for the last, but was done sooner than he had expected.
“Good, and since you’re all still so cheerfully on your feet, I suggest we drop the formalities. I’m Link. You are?”
“Doridan.”, the very woman who had defended herself earlier rushed forward and immediately wanted to shake his hand.
“Pleasure.”, grinned Link and accepted under general laughter. “Yes? Go on?”
“Alur.”, meant the second; the accuser; with slightly darker skin than the others, but strawberry blonde hair, yet preferred to briefly raise her hand.
“Nastari.”
“And Szanmekh.”, completed Link.
“There! You hear? He speaks mine name right.”
“He just wants to impress.”, Alur grinned impishly.
“No, I solely know my manners.”, he pouted artificially. “I see, you’re only here to antedated the Carnival.”
“That would be nice. But thanks to Dori’s speed we arrived moons earlier.”
“Well, I don’t fancy bogging down.”
“My goodness!”
Anju had entered the inn lively and had nearly stumbled over Szanmekh’s luggage. Flabbergasted but glad to see guests at the same time, she scanned her surrounding.
“Me sorry – I make – ”
“No harm done. Uh, Link?”
“Yes?”
“I only heard the doo-”
“Which?”
“How many has he slammed shut?”
“You tell me. Does he want to free the roofs from snow?”
“I don’t know.”, she sighed. “Has he gone upstairs?”
“Of course. Triri’s is – ”
“Yes, yes, sure. Oh – and I’m sorry as well. Anju-Anila Maranóshu. I may welcome you to the Stock Pot Inn. How long would you like to stay?”
“I was about to ask that.”, Link inked the quill anew.
“If possible – and not too expensive, a week?”, asked Nastari.
“Per person per night, breakfast, lunch and dinner included, fifteen Rupees. In a group of more than three it is ten. And should you stay longer than four days, it’s only seven.”
“So that means, for six nights and – ”
“Breakfast on the day of departure is also included, additional meals have to be paid extra. We defray necessary provisions for a week, for up to five people.”
“Since when?”, Anju blinked confused.
“Since I say so. That little slip in the school and Kafei’s move – you know when – brought me the need to spread sympathy. Also it’s been a while since I heard disparaging words echoing through the alleys.”
“You never told me of that!”
“I’m rather ashamed of it. But yes, now I said it. And hundred and twenty-eight.”
“What? Oh yes, that would be hundred and twenty-eight Rupees.”
“Can we change money somewhere here? We haven’t gathered so many Rupees yet.”
“We have a bank. But there’s no need to pay until you depart. Especially in light of the weather, nobody reckons you do a runner without paying.”, smirked Link.
“Oh my goodness, where do you come from? Far south?”
“Let’s say, Rupees rarely reach us. They are so wonderfully clear that I don’t want to part from them anymore.”
“As I said,”, Link jested on, “The weather. But I don’t mind having the same experience with Opal Beads.”
“You’re quick at learning, Link.”, Anju noticed.
“Let’s say, Alur here isn’t the first Ghasni I met – if though the number has but raised to three.”, said was visibly charmed. “And the second only desperately tried to ransom her friend. Not that I mean to judge anyone – ”
“It is fine; not all understand our polite customs as polite and the other way round. There are often reports about issues in other countries.”
“Now – I’ll show them their room, Anju. If you’d please be so kind as to tell Nana that we have four stragglers?”
“Actually I wanted to – ”, she pointed to the stairs.
“I’ll take care of that. Two in one.”
“If you say so,”
“Yes. It’s the same floor, you know.”
“That’s not what I meant.”, she sighed, not really sounding like in for jokes.
“I don’t know. But there has to be the point at which he will have to talk about it to someone. And he doesn’t want to talk to you.”
“Usually he does, but you’re right. This isn’t usual. And maybe he rather listens to you. After all it doesn’t happen all too often that I castrate something.”
“Would be too bad, if you could cook. Castrated boar. We need to put that on the menu inst-”
“Link,”
“Listen, it’d be really wonderful if you’d let me joke. Just like that. So I don’t have to chop the tables in the dining room into pieces.”
“Very well. And – what ever you might think now – ”, she addressed the women, “It certainly isn’t what – ”
“Anju,”
“Yes?”
“Leave it, please.”, said Link definite. “Nana surely wants to go to bed while it’s still today.”
“Yes, yes.”, she sighed. “Please excuse me,”
Anju walked towards him, yet merely tilted up the board in the counter, opened and then closed the small door behind and let the board fall shut spiritlessly. With a tender hand to her shoulder, he stopped her. Little silent tears glistened in her eyes, up to him.
“Anju,”, he whispered softly, but she shortly closed her eyes, whereupon a tear fell onto her timid smile.
“I kow.”, she breathed against his chest, when he placed a brief comforting kiss on her parting. “I know, Link.”, he cautiously brushed down her arms when he let her go.
“And thanks,”
“What for?”, she stopped but didn’t turn.
“For shutting,”, Anju only groaned, letting her head sink back, mumbled an apology and disappeared to the kitchen. “Well then,”
He stored register, ink and quill, snatched the master key as well as the four keys for the room so he wouldn’t have to bother during breakfast and swung himself across the counter under instant amazement. Ignoring it, he locked the front door and picked up a backpack of the perplexed women after another. Two over each shoulder, he marched to the stairwell. He didn’t want to show off, but only mean to not appear impolite – and maybe also provide them with a better topic.
“If you would follow me discreetly,”, he smiled cordial.
Glad to not have gotten stuck due to the luggage’s extra width, he sat it by the next staircase and handed each woman a key.
“Breakfast is from seven to nine o’clock. And that one is hanging on the wall. I hope you’re tired enough for the every-minute-ticking to not keep you awake for too long. Anju will have the meal being sent up. Enjoy it, and have a restful night.”
With a tentative smile while walking off he received their wishes in return. Again he ignored their interested looks. This time when he came to halt at the door by the bottom staircase, took a deep breath – and unlocked it quietly without knocking. Should Kafei had fallen asleep, he didn’t want to wake him.
And indeed he laid in the bed at the window, facing it and buried beneath blankets. His boots and some clothes had been scattered carelessly over the floor. As quiet as he had unlocked it, Link locked the door behind and silently approached him. Whether he was actually sleeping, Link couldn’t tell. He knew that Kafei could feign it very well. For a moment Link only pondered, then he undressed to his shirt and underpants; he didn’t want to appear inappropriate. Carefully he lifted the blankets and slipped in, yet didn’t dare to touch Kafei in any way.
Somewhen the wind stopped howling. All that was left was his own heart’s beat and Kafei’s steady breathing and Link knew that he had fallen asleep at last. Nevertheless he didn’t risk it. It was still too early, he knew. Kafei wasn’t ready yet.
And somewhen, Link heard a voice.
The voice sounded familiar to him. Soft, not commanding, but still she wanted his eyes to open. The voice addressed him by his name. He should wake up, but he did’t wan– immediately his body obeyed. But it hadn’t been the voice. His surrounding had suddenly felt different. He didn’t know what it was, but his body felt a bit numb. Just as if he had slept way too long, yet woken up right in time – he panicked. It wasn’t a bed, he laid in.
Strangely enough he didn’t try to fight the idleness, but rather the urge to fall back to sleep. Because it had felt like he had woken up in some kind of liquid. Also the bed beneath him was as hard as stone. Very obviously, it was a dream. If though due to his dizziness he saw her multiple times, Navi floated above him.
Slowly he though realised that it was either several blue Fairies – no. The lights didn’t move. Confused he sat up. Actually he laid in a stone tub, in an otherwise dark room that was filled with fog. Yes, the room was dark, but there were those strange lights all around that let the fog glow blue. Before he knew what was happening, his body climbed out of the tub on its own and – stood. Just like that.
Now he also noticed that he wore nothing but short, tight pants. There wasn’t much time to wonder. His look was distracted by a pedestal in short distance. It too bore lights. They attracted him like magically. Yet still he was too confused to startle when a mechanism jumped to life and the pedestal lifted something inside itself.
Again the voice spoke to him, causing even more confusion. Told him, that this thing would be of help, so he could find his way, since he had slept for so long, of course. Eventually he decided to attend to the matter and allowed the dream to continue. It simply didn’t make sense and he currently didn’t feel like seeking sense much. He only wanted to know what his brain would come up with next.
And apparently it was utterly enterprising, because when he picked up the also glowing object, a peculiar door made of several latches opened. Curious he ran towards it and found himself in what seemed to be the strangest storage room, if though the content couldn’t have been more ordinary: wooden crates, chests, a few damaged barrels. Unsurprisingly he caught himself heading for one of the chests. Surprising though, was the content.
Assumingly he had accidentally pushed the blanket aside and now pulled it back over, because the chest contained an old shirt, which he naturally put on at an instant. There was nothing more in it. Also the other chest was filled in an expectable way. Now his legs must have gone back under the blankets, since he took out the old pats and put them on likewise. And poof, his feet stuck in a pair of ugly boots, down to which the pants’ length hadn’t exactly made it.
Disgruntled he went on to another pedestal, only to receive more instructions of the voice. This time he should hold the object from before to the lights. But where was it? Link lightly distorted his lips when he found it on a belt that he couldn’t remember having seen before, let alone having adjusted it.
This time too, a gate opened, the sign of the Sheikah lighting up on it. The sun must have risen those minutes and its light must be reflected by something in a way it shone right into the room, as the light behind the gate blinded him. Or was it part of the dream? Because as far as he could tell, he was not yet about to wake up. Most likely it was his curiosity – but also a suddenly rising despair and some frustration. The voice – now he knew whose it was. Not only due to her words. Despite all he followed the sunlight like a moth the moonlight. Up over several steps and a destroyed section of the staircase which eventually lead out onto a faintly ascending meadow. Birds sang and something strongly reminded him of what had happened back then when he had followed Majora’s Mask. Only now there were other trees as well; the big one on the horizon was missing.
Instead a wide land spread and he could just slid to halt in time not to tumble down a cliff. Before him laid – it looked a little different, but he had expected exactly that view. In some distance – he perceived the sound – of –
Now his eyes actually stood open. Before him laid no country. Neither Kafei, only a hideous wallpaper. Immediately he sat up, but regretted it at the same time. His head spun like he had rolled against a tree. Hastily he looked around, but only found his own clothes – folded on a chair, the boots attentively put down in front. The key stuck in the hole on the inside. So Kafei had gotten up without a word. Whether the thing with the chair should worry or simply embarrass him, he didn’t quite know.
In fact as stiff as in the dream before, he let himself fall onto his back and closed his eyes again. Not for long. His bladder reported with inappropriate mental comments of his brain and forced him to get up.
And then, somewhen between the try to analyse and push the dream aside at once, he nearly crashed into the dining room’s door. With a waking shake of his head he finally knocked himself out of the skies and opened the door, if yet for a split-second, he meant to search for a glowing pedestal.
The guests, he wished a good morning. Apart from the four women, only two other guests were up already. They sat separately in corners, visibly meaning to avoid conversations. They weren’t alone with that. Kafei didn’t even look up from his sparsely filled breakfast plate. Only when Link sat down at his left at the small angular table with his own breakfast, he privoted his eyes to him and stopped doing what barely was meant to resemble eating. How those measly bites should fill his stomach, Link couldn’t yet fully estimate.
Kafei’s look was empty, more empty than he had ever seen, and soon directed back down to the plate. Both decided not to bother the women’s whispers. But Link knew he needed to break the ice.
“Which colour?”, Kafei didn’t react to the quiet words, if though he had heard them and Link knew that. “You know. The dress.”, for some moments Kafei just continued eating.
“You will see.”, he responded very late and – downright mechanical.
Link only nodded shortly, but curled his lips. This distraction had backfired. Another plan was long in coming. In the end it should fail as well. That Link wanted to reach for his hand, Kafei felt. Instantly and demonstratively he reached for his teacup, brought it to his mouth with both hands and leaned back with it. For how long he intended to hold it without drinking from hit, Link was close to make a bet with himself about it. Finally Kafei took a nip of the tea. Very briefly and Link wasn’t sure whether the tea had actually touched his lips. They didn’t even shine. With a quiet sigh Link ate on.
“Anju had breakfast already?”
“Even before the guests.”, at least that response-thing worked a little faster already. “She needed to go to the harbour.”
“What for?”, Link now pricked up his hears, but Kafei just shrugged.
“Pirate clobber. Iceberg murder. What do I know.”
“She didn’t talk to you about it?”
Link guessed that she had told him but Kafei drank up and meant to go. The plate, he; much to Link’s wonder, for the first time since he knew him; simply left behind. Ponderingly Link stared at the leftovers.
“I’m sor– ”
“No need.”, Kafei said curtly and left the room.
“What happened to that one?”, chuckled Doridan.
“That’s what I just wanted to ask.”, meant another woman who had entered the dining room right then. “But hasn’t he been like that since – ”
“Yes, since then, he’s been that way.”, Link only confirmed, so Doria wouldn’t utter the e-word – and suddenly he realised that there were now two women with as well similar names as apparently similar personality staying in the inn.
“Aryll’s still in bed.”
“Of course.”
“Neither do I think she – ”
“She won’t. She ate so much yesterday that it’d surprise me. Erm – could you please wake her up shortly before eight and ask her to wash the dishes and take over the reception for me?”
“Why?”, Doria suspiciously narrowed her eyes.
“Anju’s at the harbour and I need to do something real quick.”
“She won’t like that,”
“She’ll survive it.”
Link ate the last bite, carried his and Kafei’s dishes into the kitchen and, if not carelessly though, simply set them aside.
~o~0~O~0~o~
If he had known that, he wouldn’t have asked for it. But he would continue the search after lunch. Maybe he would have more luck then. Or whatever. If that could be called luck. Epona sympathetically looked at him from the side while he brushed her fur. How she would always push the old straw together so he could heave it onto the pitchfork more easily. The stable work gave him time to think. Too much time, in his opinion. Too badly he wanted to know what the dream – and not. No, he didn’t really want to know.
Since he was already at it, he decided to clean Ijaron’s empty box as well. It seemed Kafei had gone for a ride. Somehow it bore Link up a little. And not. The thought that he rode around somewhere out there, aimless in the cold, it brought him slight worries. On the other hand Link though knew that Kafei was rational enough to not let himself go in the end. Nevertheless he actively hoped to get the measure of the situation right.
With a last pat on her neck he left Epona, threw over his thick grey-green winter cloak and trudged through the fresh snow back into town which had become a little more busy in the meantime. Right when he wanted to enter the inn, the door opened. Likewise thickly wrapped but in a jovial mood, the four women shambled out, ready to explore the town. He heard them praise lunch. Already Link wanted to join them, as he wasn’t really hungry. But he also wasn’t fully sure whether they would accept his services as a town guide. Though it became superfluous as they downright impertinent confronted him with it.
“How do you – ”
“We read the leaflet.”
“Oh. So Aryll found them.”
“This Aryll – she looks – ”
“Much like me?”
“Yes!”, all four gasped at once.
“Well, perhaps because she’s my sister.”, something though pulled their attention to a matter behind him to his right.
“Why do you let her do your work?”
“Why do you run around naked?”, huffed Link without turning around to Tatl.
“But I’m not naked?”
“Why else do they stare at you then?”
“Maybe they never – oh.”
“What did you want to say?”, he finally turned.
“No need anymore. You, do you happen to know,”
“He went for a ride. And – ”
“Is at the harbour, yes. And that Daddy went for a ride, is no news to me.”
“How do you know?”
“He told me?”, she murmured.
“So he does talk to you?”
“Er – ”, Tatl questioningly stared straight into his eyes.
“Stop it, that’s scary.”
“Sorry. But why – doesn’t he talk to you anymore?”
“I thought, he doesn’t talk to anyone anymore, really,”
“Hmm. Maybe none of you speak his language,”
“Don’t you dare getting sarcastic now.
“And I wanted to know whether you know by chance, why the Bombers changed their password again?”
“Does that stop you?”
“No, but – ”
“Did you – by chance – consider that they give you the runaround because you’re a girl? Or too old?”
“Damn it, it’s about my brother! I refuse to tolerate any intolerance!”
“If they take him under their wings,”
“Shut up, if you have no idea.”, Tatl only grumbled.
“Then why do you ask me?”
“Because you were one of them?”
“For the entirety of three days? Nearly nine years ago?”, chuckled Link.
“Go have some bite and then relive your sister, before she starts cleaning up.”
“Cleaning up?”, but Tatl had already vanished into thin air. “Tz.”
“She is – quite peculiar,”, meant Doridan.
“No, only out of balance, like all of us at the moment. I hope that settles.”
“Oh dear. Winter depression. I heard about that.”
“No. More like I-am-as-bad-as-the-rest-of-the-world-coping-issues. Perhaps she’s right. I’m sorry, but I should really – yes?”, Tatl was back.
“During the time he didn’t talk to you, did he at any rate happen to mention,”
“No.”
“Link, he disappeared!”
“Yes, I know that much.”
“Not he! HE!”
“Then I congratulate you to your ambiguity.”
“What? Oh.”
“And why should I know where your brother is? Or why should your father know that?”, for a second they just silenced at each other. “Mountain Village.”
“What?”
“Darmani’s grave. That’s where I would go if I wanted to be completely alone in winter without having to freeze to death.”
“Thanks.”, sighed Tatl and teleported off again.
As empty as her footprints now were, as empty Link felt instantaneously. Reflectively he looked down onto the tracks, followed some further away. At the back of his head he felt the piercing, asking eyes of the women. But not only them: another watched him. Guessing, he turned his head to the stairs. On the topmost step stood an almost entirely blue figure. Dotour’s hair blew in the icy breeze. The incisive red like two lonely drops of blood in snow, so pale he was already.
An eternity long, so it appeared to him, they just looked at each other. Then Dotour unexpectedly stepped down and approached him.
“Lunch should still be warm.”, meant Link as gingerly as he could.
“I am not hungry.”, replied Dotour, who seemed to age more and more with each new day.
“Do you need something?”
“A grave would be nice,”
“Then you should go looking for your grandchildren,”
“So soon already.”, he chuckled brief but slack, with a faint smirk. “No. But for a change an other woman than Anju or Ydin who listens to me. I don’t want to burden Esra with additional matters she more takes as given than she understands.”
“If I’m too less of a woman for you – Aryll could need some company. I sentenced the poor to do my duty.”
“What?”, now Dotour’s smirk became a little bit amused.
“I – don’t know – I’ve set out to do something that could go totally flooey, but – ”
“What is it?”
“I don’t think the ears of our guests would like to hear that.”
“Will – will he understand it, in your opinion?”
“How do you know it’s about him?”
“Link,”, admonished Dotour.
“Yes. Why shouldn’t it.”
“If you are under the impression that it is the right thing, he will appreciate it, even if it was the wrong thing.”
“And that, you know.”
“I know my son better than I prefer. And as you know, I have made every effort to bequeath him my isane world of feelings. So yes, you would be surprised.”
“And if it’s ever so sick?”
“Sicker than his sudden vengefulness?”
“I don’t know – if I keep thinking about it, it’s actually disgusting. But on the other hand, only bizarre. Maybe it’s less disgusting for him than for myself, even though I also rather – ”
“You may forget, where we come from.”
Inevitably Link’s lips opened a tad as well, when he saw him standing there just like this, with the same abiosis that Kafei had shown him today already.
“Just continue to consider for a while, how many there were present, even knowing what they could potentially get to see, and how long they actually stayed. Apart from those who had children with them, who do you think left the square first?”
Yes, this question downright coercively answered itself, thought Link. And the fact that Kafei had knowingly put himself into the Bloodrush, likely to be fully capable of doing something like that, ultimately prove that he didn’t really know him.
“What, if he understands it even better than I do?”
“That, you may only know when he confronts you with how you confronted him with it. And I think,”, Dotour sighed, “You might be right, advising me to confide in your sister and let you carry out your intention.”
“We could go somewhere else, if you’d prefer talking to me about it.”
“Oh, no, rather not. I don’t want to ruin your innocent view once and for all. Not that Kafei essentially turns into a bad man. It are the things that are not his fault and which he now has to fight more than ever. The sad aspect is only I would like to take this burden from him so bad, but am powerless. Even worse, in some troublesome matters I catch myself considering whether I don’t purposely have this side of him deal with things. But it is on him and on him alone which path he choses, and on us, whether we stand by his side, or drop him, how ever this path may look like.”
“I won’t drop him, you needn’t worry.”
“And that’s what I admire about you.”, Dotour laid his left hand onto Link’s left shoulder. “About Anju as well. If the days are ever so dark, you don’t waste a thought about the extinction of light. And that may be it, in the end, that keeps the light shining.”
“Maybe because I experienced that no cloud stays on the sky forever and that even if a moon falls, the sun shines onto it.”, with that he charmed the first honest smile in a long while onto Dotour’s face.
“Zelda should actually take a page out of your book.”
“Oh stop it.”, Link had to laugh abashed. “I’m the biggest idiot the world has ever seen.”
“Your self-abnegation is merely a tear on a blazing sword to my self-worth-less soul.”
“That’s what bothers me about you. That your despise yourself even more than I myself, although either of us should know better.”
“Oh, come here, son.”
He knew that Dotour surely needed it more than he did. Still it felt good. How he stroked his back – patted his head – this unbelievable fatherly love, he had never experienced it. But having it now, left him unimpeded over how their very intimate conversation had occurred in the middle of a public square and in front of four fully unfamiliar women. His father had surely loved him much. Also Dotour’s father his son, maybe, if though he didn’t know how much of it he had shown. Unfortunately he hadn’t seen his own father often enough to have memories of such love. Link saw it as a proof for his words.
Love needn’t always come from where one expected to find it. If it then was so expectationless, so unconditional and natural, it was by a close shave too overwhelming as to fully comprehend or even understand it. Accepting it was hard, while basically simple. As simple as the falling of a snowflake, down to others of its kind.
Again it started snowing, but it didn’t bother them. Before they could let go of each other, Link perceived the crunching and stomping of hooves by the Eastgate; the wind had blown snow into its passage overnight as well. Both slowly looked up for the rider.
“I grant, I will go keep Aryll company.”, meant Dotour definite, gave him another soft pat on the shoulder and disappeared in the inn.
“I see, you were more successful with him?”, he nearly hadn’t recognised her voice through the thick scarf.
“How do you know – ”
“Just a feeling.”, sighed Anju.
“Everything finished?”
“I am the only that’s finished here. Could you please get up? The problem is bigger than I thought.”
“And what kind of problem is it?”
“Rather don’t ask, but mount and get your own impression.”
~o~0~O~0~o~
“If you don’t mind,”
“Mind what?”
Questioning, Anju sat up in the warm tub. Before they had made themselves comfortable, a fair shower had had been necessary. Still he knew that he wouldn’t get rid of the eel eggs’ reek for quite some time. It still stuck to all impossible areas, but most of all, in his nose and under his fingernails.
At least the farming was saved. The frost had been able to crawl through a leaking gate and had caused one of the basins to burst. If it had been up to him, he would have called many more people to deal with the consequences of the mishap.
“Whatever. Doesn’t matter.”
“Link?”
“Forget about it.”
“If you say so,”
She let herself glide back in a bit and closed her eyes. Link followed suit. The arms resting on the cooling stone, he leaned his head back and enjoyed the dimmed light. However he soon felt that Anju looked at him again. Slowly he lowered his head, but she had been faster. He said nothing on it, but studied her relaxed face. There was something magical to warm water. If it only was the solution to all problems, he thought. Then he would have forced Kafei to take a bath with him long ago already. With brute force.
The moment he decided to close his eyes again, he felt that Anju opened hers.
“What is it?”, she asked his escaped smirk.
“Nothing,”
“The inexistence of a matter appears to be able to amuse you very much.”
Indeed she made him laugh with that, although he kept his eyes shut. She smiled with him, he felt it. When he had calmed down again, their eyes finally met.
“Yes?”, Link only breathed.
“Nothing,”, she replied with a soft smile, yet had to laugh along immediately.
“There seems to be a lot going on today,”
“It almost looks like it.”, not losing her smile, she lowered her head and her lids closed once again. “It is just, I’m surprised that you are so much younger and yet considerably more muscular than Kafei. Even though he is capable of considerably grander physical performance. What?”, Link had sat up and now knelt in front of her.
“You know,”, feigning thoughtfulness he crawled closer and closer to her, “The thing is that. Kafei – how shall I say,”, by her suppressed grin he could barely contain himself, “He – well,”, with his arms supported on her cove of the stone basin he leaned against her bent knees which were tightly pressed together in front of her, “He cheats.”
“Does he?”, Anju pulled her legs closer and forced him to move along.
“Yes! And how!”, Link aspirated on. “He mentally tricks gravity! And I?”
“And you?”
“I have to see that I can use that pile of muscles for heaving up exactly those mus-”
Anju’s laughing about his, as he himself had to admit, unexpectedly sharp shriek, amlost hurt in his ears, as they abruptly were much closer to it. How she had managed to catch him by the shoulders after she had gaped her legs and bereft him of all grip, was a mystery to him. Also that he hadn’t distorted said shoulders or abrased his knees. Desperately he somehow tried to hold on to the now wet stone tiles, which he failed at since he himself had to laugh.
“Have you gone totally nuts? I could have bitten your nose off!”
“You wouldn’t dare.”, grinned Anju, which he, thanks to the lacking distance, could only tell from her cheeks.
“Oh wouldn’t I?”
“In Ikana it is death for queen-nose-off-biting,”
“That doesn’t concern me.”, Link turned his head and cautiously took the tip of her nose between his teeth. “I hag a Goggech ong ngy chige. I ang ingorcal.”
“Immortal you are? Is that contagious? Then you’d rather not cause me any bite injuries.”, giggled Anju and shook her head so much by it that he thought it better to let go.
“I hopefully didn’t hurt you.”, he swallowed and thereby damped his palate that had gone dry by his mischief.
“Ngo, gug giou chloggereg nge och.”, she scoffed.
“What? Oh – sorry.”, Link wiped the drop of saliva from her right cheek. “I wonder, if he actually forgave me.”
“Forgave you what?”, she too lost her smile and became serious, if however her voice stayed as low as his.
“That I confessed that thing with the vase to him.”
“Which vas- oh the vase, yes.”, Anju squinted.
“Which vase? What kind of wife are you, that you can repress the death of his mother’s vase?”
“Well, I can repress a lot.”, she joined back into his regained smirk. “Currently though, I can displace a lot of water.”, she loosened her right hand from his shoulder and splashed a nice load into his face from the side, whereby she also hit herself.
“And people say I’m immature.”
“Trust me, Link, your are so much more mature regarding so many things than a majority of all other citizens of Ikana and Termina together.”
“All other?”, he slowed down the fun a bit once more.
“Now,”, Anju curled her lips, “Don’t you consider yourself as a citizen of these lands?”
“Acutally – yes, I basically do. I may have grown up in Hyrule, and it is beautiful, but it was never much of a home for me. I always felt like a foreigner there. Here I was a foreigner too, but even though people insolently blare out their prejudices, I have – here I even feel comfortable with a moon right above my head.”
“Is there currently a moon floating above your head?”, though the sentence may not have suggested it, she remained serious.
“To say the truth, yes. You know which.”, she only nodded and ponderingly wiped some hair behind his ear.
“Your hair is darker.”
“What?”
“I said, your hair is darker than it was when you came for the Carnival back then.”
“It’s wet.”
“No, seriously. I mean, I noticed all throughout the year, and also that it was darker even in summer, but something happened to your hair in Ordon.”
“So it can’t be the water’s fault. This is different water here.”
“Maybe it is the shampoo?”
“I don’t think so. I ran out of it quite fast and still I noticed too that my hair got darker in Ordon.”
“So it did?”
“Yes, yes. But I don’t think it was due to Kafei’s shampoo, but more due to himself.”
“How am I to understand that?”
“Well, the first time I was this old – well, you know – ”
“Before you saved us, yes.”
“There it was much blonder than now. About like – two years ago, you know.”
“Hmm. Maybe it just gets darker because you get older?”
“Could be. But I rather think it’s some hormonal thing.”
“What I say. Age.”
“No – for that, it got darker way too fast, in my mind.”, murmured Link, surprised himself about his slight brashness, but Anju was not deterred.
“So you think, it is because you aren’t a virgin anymore?Well, if it calms you, my hair was a little lighter too in my youth and not as blood red. Which means, you may be right.”
“There you go. And Cremia’s hair became lighter since Rim isn’t anymore.”
“You do contemplate hair a lot.”, she smiled again, but thoughtfully wrapped the bundle of his hair around her right forefinger, the hair which usually hung in front of his left ear an which she had brushed back earlier.
“Shouldn’t I? Hair is simply everywhere. It’s almost as important as grass or the sun.”
“Or clay jars.”
“Don’t start about the vase again.”
“It was you who mentioned it earlier.”, she sighed.
“I know.”
“And there we are again.”
“What?”
“With that topic.”
“Shouldn’t we be?”, breathed Link.
“You are right. Repressing it only makes it worse and won’t bring us Kafei back.”
“And yet I’m assertive.”
“So am I.”, she whispered sadly when he huddled his cheek against her hand. “He wouldn’t be he if it would be his way to bury himself alive in self-hate.”
“And if not, we still have the option of running off with each other.”
“Joker”
“Ow! Don’t hit me. Or I’ll bite you again.”
“I’d like to see that.”
~o~0~O~0~o~
“I’d do it, you know?”
“No thank you, these two are enough for me at the moment.”
“Sure?”
“I stick to it. Striving for the aesthetics of a war troll was never – ”
“So according to you, I look like a war troll?”, with serious mien, she raised an eyebrow. “Zash.”
“No! I mean – no, no. Nothing against you, but the thing is this, trolls have very sensitive ears and in fortunately long past days people would give them well considered rings so as to be able to ride and navigate them.”
“Never let it be said that the Sheikah have no understanding of brute warfare. Zash.”
“It was the Gerudo. Zash.”
“I thought you’d never get something.”, sighed Aryll, forced to cut three cards.
“Well, I am not as unfortunate as you are.”
“Zash. What did you want to say?”, she laughed.
“I take back everything. But never let it be claimed that guarding an inn would be boring. Ha! Zashgaru!”
“No!”, her eyes popped out. “You must be joking! No! Now you cheated!”
“No, sweet. Look here. I was missing only three more.”
“And you waited half an hour on those, or what.”, Aryll shook her head with depletion.
“You got to learn to be able to live waiting sometimes.”
“New round. I’m not gonna stand for that.”
“Like brother, like sister. Link can’t bear losing in this game either.”
“You don’t say. The only difference between us is some moons and that he’s got three things dangling instead of two.”
“Now, now! Don’t get obscene!”
“But it’s true. And more supple, he is. But that’s that.”
“He goes for men,”, Dotour winked grinning.
“And I for women! Same difference, isn’t it? Or do you see another?”
“In – dangly things?”
“Zashgaru! You!”, laughed Aryll and smacked the newly shuffled draw pile onto his head.
~o~0~O~0~o~
The water in the oversized and built-into-the-room stone basin which he had already left, was slowly getting cold. But Anju didn’t seem to bother. She merely sat up straighter and watched him dry himself.
“The thing I wanted to do – ”
“The thing for Kafei?”
“Yes. I was unsuccessful, so far, but I definitely want to get it done before dinner. I still don’t know how to handle it in that time, but it might not have been the best idea to go on foot.”
“What are you actually up to?”, she let herself glide back into the water.
“Maybe I’ll manage here, in the Hinterlands. It was actually to be expected, that it’s too cold in Termina.”
“If you require help, you need only say.”
“Thanks, but no. I need to do that all on my own.”
Link left the bathroom, but could hear Anju getting out of the tub. Before he could fully dress, she had followed him into the big bedroom, only wrapped in a bath towel. The heating system of the castle did have its advantages: instead of fireplaces there was only a big fire room in the dungeons, which heated many pipes in the walls and floors. The stone stored the heat in addition. This way the cold water pipes wouldn’t freeze either. He wasn’t safe to say, yet he assumed that this stroke of genius wasn’t Kafei’s achievement. The Sheikah had always had better solutions for issues – if though some were quite radical.
“Shall I have you brought somewhere?”
“Where?”
“I don’t know – maybe the fringe of the desert?”
“Into that weather cloven village you told me about?”
“For example?”
“What made you think of that?”, he put on his belt.
“Well, obviously you want to hunt something.”, she nodded to his bow and quiver that laid on the broad bed.
“Oh. Erm – yes – that might actually not be such a bad idea. I mean, if there’s no faster way to get into that region – ”
“Please don’t come up with the idea of asking Sirileij. She hates that region. And don’t ask me why either; I don’t know. At least now I know what Kafei needs to do as soon as he’s back into his right mind.”
“Discipulize her?”
“No.”, giggled Anju. “Give you full authorisation. I can’t do that. I may be Queen, but still the King is the big boss. Because then you’d be allowed to arrest Sheikah in town by yourself without having to wait for either of us.”
“Am I not allowed yet?”, luckily she understood his joke. “I mean, after all I’m his left-hand man.”
“And the Suro appreciate that, but you’re a Hylian. They don’t fancy that much.”
“When was I that prejudiced, ever.”
“You grew up with different stories.”
“I know. Still I believe I deserve the same respect I show them.”
“I dismissed that concept years ago. What did it give me? I was right. That they are answerable to me didn’t change much about the general racism. They merely keep silent because they want to survive. Especially now that they saw what Kafei does to those who treat me disparagingly. As bad as it is, you can’t fail to note the advantages.”
“But that’s exactly what scares me.”, Link yet again threw his thick cloak over his shoulders.
“Me too, believe me.”
“And it makes me appear unfair towards myself if I dress up to my ears, but leave you behind in a towel.”
“My goodness, Link!”
Her laugh was so bright he thought it was not dusk but dawn and the sun would soon rise. The quiet slapping of her still wet feet when she went closer, sounded a little strange on her.
“Now at the latest, I should have figured why he loves you so much.”, she laid both hands on his shoulders and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “The situation be ever so gloomy, you are never at lo-oh no! Loss of flatteries – ”
“Oops!”, Link too had to laugh; the towel had loosened and slid to the floor. “Wait.”, he shortly prostrated to pick it up and carefully bound it around her chest again.
“Thanks.”, she giggled on. “Bad enough if one of the guards sees me in a bath towel. But that wouldn’t be so fancy either.”
“Oh why. We’re in Ikana. Isn’t everyone practically naked outside in summer?”
“Oh stop it!”, she merrily slapped his thickly padded chest. “See that you get out of here before you’re soaked in sweat again.”
“What am I supposed to make of that?”, he half winked.
“You! I’m warning you!”, she laughed once again, but clapped her hands two quick times which resulted in a third person standing in the room. “Oh, Toru! So you’re on duty today?”
“Looks like it?”, he meant, clad in his winter uniform with some snowflakes trickling off his shoulders.
“Very well. If you would please be so kind to bring Link to Srakal? He has business to do there. And please wait for him, so he can get back quickly, thanks.”
“No problem. Come here.”
Link hastily grabbed his bow, then Toru’s hand and they were gone. For a moment, Anju’s eyes rested on the wall behind where they had teleported off. With a deep sigh she went over to the bed and carefully sat down on the edge of her side. Some time later, further to the middle. It had been a while since Kafei had laid in that bed with them. For weeks the middle had remained empty. One time he slept in the inn, other times in the Town Hall – and way too many times she had no idea where he stayed the nights.
She devoutly hoped that Link had the solution. She herself was aware that this couldn’t go on the way it did forever, because neither of them would bear it, but slowly they ran out of ideas. Only waiting for Kafei to calm down – it was as hard for her as heavy as she suddenly felt.
Slackly she let herself fall onto her back. That loosened her towel again, but she didn’t care. Accompanied by another sigh she wiped back her still moist hair. Like that, she remained lying for some time, until her arms got numb. Then she turned to the side.
Only when her hair was nearly dry, she stopped staring into space, stood up and dressed up for dinner. With the usual routine she wiped her hair in shape. While moisture gave Kafei more waves, her hair fell smoother with it. This difference somehow fascinated her, if however it saddened her to not have touched Kafei’s hair for such a long time. But she was confident. He had always calmed down. Maybe she would manage with some emphasizes. The delicate broadly round-necked white blouse could do no harm. She knew he liked the subtle embroidery on it. Now a simple dark blue skirt and the blue-white low shoes. Somehow she felt like taking a bangle. But only a single, very thin one. Emphasizes. Very subtle.
It was Toru, who surprised her again, since she had actually consciously called for Sirileij.
“You didn’t ditch him, did you?”, Anju aspirated worried.
“No, no. He’s in the inn, cooking.”
“Well, well. He really tries to impress.”
“Who knows.”, sighed Toru. “If it helps bringing Kafei back,”
~o~0~O~0~o~
“Oh, it’s you.”
Link had stormed out of the kitchen and past Dotour and Aryll whereby he had more slid across the counter than he had swung himself over, only to come to halt bolt upright, catching himself some laughs. Despite he had everything done, and Nana prepared the meals for the guests, he was actually a little disappointed that it was Anju. Well, not really, as he had counted her in, but he had hoped – although, maybe it was better that way.
“And she gave us a real fright.”, Nastari moaned from the sofa which she and her friends occupied entirely.
“You cook?”, chuckled Anju.
“Not anymore. I’m done. I hope he’ll come. Otherwise – well, all the trouble had been – for you and me alone.”
“Would that be any harm?”, her brief naughty wink was not really helpful at the moment.
“No, but – ”
“I know. We both want him back, yes.”
“Exactly.”
“Who he is actually? Very – ahm – mysterious? Children and father here too, but he is guest?”
“What? Uhm – what makes you think he is – ”
“What is who?”
Nobody had noticed him, so quiet had been his arrival, and that even though he had taken the door. The looks were varied, yet all held their breath for more or less different reasons. His own look got caught on Anju for a second, then wandered around between the guests, back to Anju, whereby it obviously stayed on her jewellery and blouse for a jiffy and then rested on Link. That one curled his lips upon the changed expression, yes, he nearly had to hold back tears.
Kafei smiled. For the first time in weeks he smiled, and not even only amused, but downright charmed. So he had – ? Link’s heart started racing when Kafei purposefully marched towards him and came to stand as close before him as he hadn’t done since then. Eventually said heart, which had had to bear so much already, fell right out of his chest.
He didn’t know whether he was dreaming again. But Kafei had actually laid a hand on his cheek and kissed him as though nothing had happened. Just, as though the past weeks had merely been a figment of Link’s imagination. It still felt the same as he remembered, but also like then when he had come back to Ikana from Hyrule. Familiar, but like at – familiar – too familiar – and yet to much – like –
Ultimately confused, Link pushed him off. The confusion of the others didn’t gain his attention much now. His own was all that counted.
“Did you actually – ”
“Did I what?”
“Did you – ”, he lowered his voice to hissing volume, “Eat it?”
“You can taste that?”, laughed Kafei. “Why yes, of course. I did rinse my mouth a li- ”
“You have – eaten it?”, repeated Link, now murmuring aloud.
“Don’t act as though you didn’t know what that is like.”, giggled Kafei and despite this giggling was music to Link’s ears, he was momentairly too surprised that Kafei had revealed another side of his, once again.
“Sure, but – did you – ”
“Kiritrega, who do you think put that bug into your brain then?”
“Er – hunger? I was completely run down and starving? Did you ever try a giant spider’s legs? I more or less had no other choice! And honestly, after that it took a while for people telling me that meat normally isn’t supposed to be eaten raw,”
“Oh, so that’s how things went with you!”, Kafei’s grin turned into a crystal clear laugh.
“I needed to survive! Or did you actually think the Kokiri would dare to eat animals?”
“No, I – now that you say it, it does indeed make sense.”
“And what did you think? What bug?”
“Well, since you so carefully mentioned, Farore sure didn’t. Din is our Goddess and she’s quite rooted. I mean, not the kind of rootedness Nayru wishes to claim for herself.”
“Don’t you act now like you had more experience with their quirks,”
“What’s that smell?”
“Oh that; maybe only the rest of the thing that you – ha. Ve. Eat. En! Why!”, murmured Link still, only desperate.
“And I thought you wasted that poor coney.”
“Hare.”
“No, it was too small for a hare.”
“You know that.”
“It’s not like I haven’t gutted a coney yet,”
“Toru sait it – was – a Moon Hare.”
“Oh!”
“Yes. And yes, I shot it myself.”, grumbled Link on.
“I didn’t doubt that. And that explains it. They’re about as big as coneys.”
“What kind of hares do you have here, may I ask?”
“Remind me to show you one. Your pretty crystal eyes will fall out.”, Kafei kept his grin almost with pride. “Not that I’d want that, but – ”
“Did you only eat it or did you get what I meant to tell you by it? And why by all I assume that is sacred to us, did you actually eat it? And why are you so cheerful about it as well?”
“Oh it’s not like you just proposed me,”
For a suspiciously long time the room fell so quiet that even the clock’s silence should have been expected. Nevertheless its once-per-minute-clacking came – and nearly struck them all dead.
“Which you, if you’re meticulous about it, didn’t. But I thank you for the gesture. And yes, I know that you meant to tell me that you’d done much worse things much earlier. I thank you for this utterly subtle reminder.”
“Proposal.”
“I told you, you know nothing.”, Dotour threw in.
“Proposal. Along the lines of – if I give you my heart, I’m dead and won’t get anything out of it, so I’ll give you a different one?”
“Briefly speaking, you almost nailed it.”, smirked Anju.
“Did he give you a coney heart too or what?”
“Katarukh.”, corrected Kafei, but Anju only smiled embarrassed.
“And you ate it? Raw?”
“Why are you so upset?”
“Oh I don’t know, but maybe perhaps because I didn’t reckon anybody to be as mental as me? Or Sirileij – ”
“Actually it is biggest gesture.”, Szanmekh seemed to know that custom as well. “And not rabbit. Katarukh.”
“And what exactly is that?”
“A bird.”, it came from all Sheikah in the room, as well as from Anju, almost exactly simultaneously.
“Was. They’re extinct by now.”, sighed Kafei.
“Ah. Why oh why.”
“Not only due to that, Link. Much rather due to their own nature. The same why their hearts had highest symbolic value. Unconditional faith to the end of all days. Had one of the partners died, the other had killed themself. Also, should breeding have turned out to be a dead loss multiple times in a row, they had committed suicide together.”
“I can tease myself very well by now, thanks, Kafei.”
“No, he has right. Katarukh like that are.”
“How by all means does a bird commit suicide.”, puffed Link.
“I’d say it flies and simply drops down?”
“You see, even your sister understands it better.”, smirked Kafei. “Und now, I would like to try the rest of that Moon Hare. Because I don’t really assume you troubled yourself that much for our guests.”
“One of those guests has a question.”, meant Doridan. “And it’s not about how I don’t yet fully understand how anyone can eat a raw heart. They say, each land its customs, but – don’t you bother that he just kissed your husband?”
“I’m sorry?”, the by her addressed Anju just stared at her with disbelief.
“Well, he just comes rushing in and kisses your husband? Doesn’t that bother you?”, Nastari repeated for her.
“Oh dear.”, gasped Dotour. “Children, go upstairs, enjoying your hare. I’ll handle that.”
“And I’ll steward, please. I already know everything already, or whatever.”, sang Aryll.
“Really?”
“Yes, I’d love to serve you. Give your sister credit for one thing, will you.”
~o~0~O~0~o~
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