Lhasziareh

   He felt cheap. But on the other hand, it was simply too tempting. It would quite probably end in a mudbath, as not all of the snow around the Eastgate and the stables was molten yet, although the sun already strove to compete her powers with the remains of winter. It stood above the Observatory and was not much benefit to his sight. The gentle whipping tail was well visible nevertheless. Around her, several horses grazed and in some distance the stable boy struggled with two exceptionally dour specimens. Well actually, it was three. One of them was the obviously dainty owner. Their ado however, interested Link markedly little at the moment.

   His focus laid on on a specific mere that didn’t seem to notice him. Crouching he snuck up to her from behind, very slow, careful not to make a sound – and in hope none of the other horses would spot him. He staked everything on his sand coloured wide linen shirt that wasn’t much in contrast to the stone of the town wall. Though he had the hunch that his plan would prove to be unsuccessful. Even more so when Epona raised her head. Ramrod he squatted in endless seeming seconds, the blue eyes fixated on her reaction. Her head lowered again and she grazed on.

   Link was unsure. Had she noticed him and only acted as though not? Or – basically he didn’t care. He anyhow did it on a whim. Nonetheless more vigilant, he slowly crawled towards her. Only when he was certain to land right, he took the leap and pulled himself onto her back from behind. Neighing loudly, the other horses startled and sprung off in all directions. Instantly he felt though that Epona didn’t rear up from surprise, but merely to join in his game. Her efforts to throw him off were so feeble he knew she had indeed spotted and recognised him.

   Loudly laughing he clutched her mane, while she tried to snap at him, playfully hopping, whereby she turned on the spot multiple times. What she tried then, he also knew and slid off her to the side so she could let herself fall down unhindered. This way he tumbled off and came do lie between her legs. Also her neighing he understood as the childish laugh he himself sent up to the sparse clouds, when the cool, moist-sandy ground and the grass that was wet with dew, already drenched his clothes.

   He didn’t care. Jammed between her forelegs but not crushed by her, he surveyed her expression. How much she could distort her neck only to look at him, he had always admired it. His own smile mirrored in her eye and he immediately began to ruffle her, which she of course wasn’t averse to. Sometimes he wondered if she hadn’t been a dog in a former life. But right now he solely gently pulled her head to his.

   Her puffing was so loud but at the same time so calming that he could have fallen asleep right away. Epona though knew to prevent that by standing up. Eyes directed at his which followed her, she began to prance around him. Link still didn’t understand, and actually didn’t want to understand, what exactly their connection was. He only knew that she had always been there and that he was grateful for it. Alone the fact that she, when they had been on the road together, had only went off so far that she remained in earshot, should he need her, except if she couldn’t reach the area, gave him to understand, how important he was to her. Not even if he had teleported himself to different places with the Ocarina, it had stopped her. She always knew where he was and at one point he had decided to stop questioning it, but simply be thankful.

   Because, which other horse understood what it meant that its owner clutched his own shirt’s neckline and rolled onto his belly? Epona understood it. Skilfully and without damaging the fabric she grabbed his shirt with her teeth and pulled him onto his legs, before she continued walking around him until they stood face to face. What the woman next to the stable boy said, he could hear very clearly, but he didn’t give a rip about it. His attention was focused on Epona. On nothing else. On nothing but her. On – in the right corner of his eye he though noticed someone who came walking out of town and towards him, arms behind the back.

   Still he preferred to stroke Epona’s head and neck. Even when Dotour already stood next to them. A soft smirk on his face, he merely watched Link place a kiss onto his horse’s forehead and once again pull her head to his. Only then Dotour would begin to speak.

 

   “I’m bound to say, she is something special.”

   “She is.”, aspirated Link.

   “And you don’t seem to mind wallowing for her.”

   “Clothes can be washed.”, Link just meant.

   “True indeed. Forgive me my indiscretion, but what was that letter you received yesterday? It does happen more frequently that Suro deliver letters to you as well, but you appeared very agitated.”, abruptly Link’s mood changed and he slightly let up on Epona.

   “Oh. Really.”, he chuckled dark. “That was nothing.”

   “There is no possible way you could lie to me more boldly than that.”, Dotour said definite, but appeared worried, rather than angry.

   “Say, is there another way to get to Hyrule, apart from the Ancient Ways? I mean, a faster way. Not straight through Ikana.”

   “I believed, you intended to not just quickly go to Hyrule, ever again?”

   “I don’t intend. It’s only – I wonder – ”

   “The fastest way would be to let yourself be teleported.”

   “Cross-border? Isn’t that dangerous?”, he looked at the elderly man, slightly nervous.

   “Well, only if you are unpractised. I must confess, I can’t do it.”

   “But you know someone who can, I assume.”

   “Certainly. Her name is Eijalash.”

   “Then we have a problem.”, huffed Link, his look back on Epona. “She sits in Kakariko.”

   “You know her?”

   “Of course. She used to serve at court, in an advisory scientific capacity. And she’s one of those who passionately plea for Kakariko belonging to the Sheikah.”

   “Well, she’s a Winterthatch. They are all quite fanatic regarding homeland or origin. But it is exactly that which makes her an expert of all things she dedicates to. It’s that certain passion.”

   “Yes. I got to witness that often enough. And at the moment it isn’t much of a help for me.”

   “Well, if you really so urgently have to go to Hyrule, I suggest you have Toru get you and Epona to the border and ride the rest. Or you ask Sirileij. She knows Hyrule and can possibly help you once there. Also does she know Eijalash.”

   “Oh forget it. It was just a consideration anyway.”, Link amicably patted Epona’s neck and already wanted to leave the two for changing his clothes.

   “In my opinion, this sounds like a lot more than just a consideration. I take it, the letter was from Zelda?”

   “No. It was from a girl I get along with much better, because she doesn’t try to manipulate me.”

   “And what was it about, if you already care to drop such hints?”, Link only sighed and stared into the Field. “You know that you can rely on my silence.”

   “Sure. It’s just, that you mentioned Eijalash, doesn’t exactly make the matter easier. Because I might have to deal with her.”, for a moment Dotour only silenced at him, but Link couldn’t fully tell whether he simply waited on further explanations – however, he became alarmingly serious.

   “What did they find.”

   “What?”, startled Link.

   “What, did they find.”, he repeated. “And don’t try to bluff it out. I know the legends Eijalash chases.”

   “You know about it?”, moaned Link unsure.

   “About what.”, his dark look only unsettled him more.

   “What – ”

   “What did they find, Link.”

   “I – actually – ”

   “When.”, slowly he was getting fed up.

   “Years ago, actually.”, hesitated Link. “Long before the Big Quake. How do you know about those machines?”, Dotour dropped his head.

   “So it is true.”, he raised his head again – and Link was downright horrified by the despair that faced him. “How many.”

   “I – cant’s say for sure – it was only a few and they weren’t really what you could call intact. But from time to time, some of them could be reactiv– ”, now it wasn’t despair anymore, but panic that honestly unsettled Link.

   “See that you get to Hyrule. And that you reason Zelda out of that matter before it’s too late.”

   “What makes you think this is about Zelda – ”

   “Link. If Eijalash worked for her father, Zelda is also involved. We both know that she too is interested in the history of her country. And she should; much, actually. Because if she is, she must also know that she has to turn back before it’s too late.”

   “You scare me. Really.”

   “I think, fear is advisable.”, moaned Dotour. “How far ever these inquiries are, please do me the favour and stop them. Do us all the favour. If Eijalash knows only fairly as much about antiquity and that battle as I do, she will understand. Hopefully. If not, give her only one word. And Zelda as well, perhaps.”

   “Which would be?”

   “Lhasziareh.”

   “Come again?”

 

   Dotour however only marched determined back into town and left him behind aghast. Before he entered the town though, he shortly turned back to him.

 

   “Oh and Link – don’t say a thing about it to Kafei. Or anybody else.”

 

 

~o~0~O~0~o~

 

 

   Somehow he was glad that she had chosen a different location. There were enough premises in the castle for holding a secret gathering, but he had the oppressive presentiment that he should not get near the castle by any means. Maybe it was also Dotour’s strange demeanour that discomforted him. He was seriously scared. A fear that he had nearly forgotten. The fear to enter the castle alone. The fear, that if he did, a catastrophe would eventuate. He didn’t know why, but he had never been able to get rid of that fear. Therefore he hadn’t minded when Zhani had developed the habit to be on the scene as soon as he would only set a single foot close to the building. That indeed had suppressed the fear a little, but it was not eradicated. And that even though he normally wasn’t prone to anxiety states.

   Now, it was back again, that fear. In spite of the building not being the castle, but merely an abandoned mill in the south. Perhaps though, it was only the fear to be too late. Because he was late, he had to admit. He had contended with the consideration so long that Epona was out of breath now. Sirileij had teleported them both to the border, but he had crossed the woods so fast that he hadn’t even had time to be afraid Epona could overlook a root.

   Along the edge of the woods flowed a stream at which the slightly ruinous house was. Next to it stood two horses. While the dark horse struck by its size, the other did it by its gear. So they both were here already. Daruk possibly as well. Because, as he only noticed when one of the rocks revealed them, in mid-stream stood two Zoras that differed in size about as much as the horses.

   Even above Epona’s panting he could hear the quiet quarrel. That it was a quarrel, he could only tell by looking at the considerably taller man. Mipha, as always, was personified calm, if though she unmistakably clarified her position. It was based on; that much he could understand of their language; pure logic. Her opposite didn’t seem to grasp that it had been a mistake to follow her. After all he was not invited. Since she however wasn’t allowed to tell him what it was about, both had reached the verge of despair. Link also felt that his arrival was the crowning.

   It was likely because the Zora ceased the discussion at once and suspiciously watched him dismount and indicated Epona that she could grant herself a break. That, she instantly used for drinking at the stream while Link approached the two Zoras. As sudden as her undesired company had interrupted the dispute, her resolute expression vanished and made way for a gentle smile Link couldn’t help returning.

   For not unnecessarily exacerbating the case even more, he greeted the man as it was customary for Zoras. Rather out of politeness he responded to the gesture. His bow turned out more poorly than Link’s and his grumpy look didn’t change in the slightest. Possibly as well due to Link kindling his obvious jealousy anew when he gingerly took Mipha into his arms to greet her.

 

   “It feels good to see you. But what’s the watchdog for?”, he whispered into her ear hole.

   “Don’t worry.”, she too aspirated very quietly. “He doesn’t really bite.”

   “But he has no business here.”

   “I know. But if I can’t shoo him away, the Princess will do.”

   “Likely.”, he amicably stroked her back before they loosened the embrace.

   “However, I don’t know why you are here. Didn’t you get my message?”

   “Sure. I did. And I also have the feeling that I should keep out of that. But I’m not here because she ordered it. I’m here because I seem to be as incapable of keeping some things secret as you are.”

   “So he knows of it?”, her eyes were uncertain at once.

   “No. But his father. And he asked me to convey something to Eijalash. Is she here yet?”

   “What shall you convey?”

 

   Link startled and yanked his head around so fast that his neck cracked. Arms crossed, the Sheikah stood in less distance behind him than he preferred. She had as much in common with a carnivore as Sirileij had, but with the difference that she indeed created the impression to be ready for an attack at any second.

 

   “Ithamnajar.”, said Link dark.

   “Satrithamnajar.”, she not only responded his greet in the same manner. “I see, you learn.”

   “Who would I be.”

   “Naturally. And it is unmistakable where from – albeit your pronunciation is still a little too less nasal. Just as though you had stayed here. Yet if you had, you may had greeted me – ”

   “With Hailthandathira, yes. But I haven’t stayed here.”, it downright elated him to see her astonished.

   “Well, apparently your vision isn’t as tunnelled as one usually would expect from a Hylian. Yet I would have honestly expected a Zora of higher shell to oblige his princess and keep his webbing out of affairs that are not his concern.”, nevertheless said didn’t lose any of his discontent. “Didn’t you listen? Go get current! Or do I have to rub an order signed by Ralis into your grills?”

 

   It wasn’t exactly easy for Link to suppress his laugh. After all, for an outsider it might have seemed like an insult, but she used actually legitimate forms of expressions. However, her inflection made it clear that she had indeed meant to provoke him. Luckily the Zora understood that he should better not mess with a Sheikah of her calibre. Also Mipha appeared more than relieved when he wordlessly and without making any other moves turned about and disappeared in the deep brook bed.

 

   “That was about time.”, chuckled another woman.

 

   He had not noticed the opening of the wonky door of the mill, let alone that somebody stood before it. Something had twinkled under Eijalash’s stole – and she had noticed that he had seen it. Almost boredly she pulled out the leather band with the yellow stone. It had the shape of a sickle moon.

 

   “A gift from my grandson Kohga. Strange little guy. But I chose him as little as I chose my daughter. Nonetheless they descend from me, and that alone is enough for me to value them.

 

   Actually Link hadn’t expected a reaction from her. As much as he didn’t care about her answer. The face that appeared behind Urbosa now distracted him. Something was different about Zelda. There were unusual dark circles around her eyes. Not the kind he knew from long nights in the library. It appeared rather that she had done nothing else for days than crying. Also Daruk’s massive hand on her delicate shoulder looked anything but assertive.

 

   “Link.”, Mipha’s soft voice dragged his attention off her.

   “It’s her father’s death-day, I know.”

   “That’s not it. Her uncle disappeared a few days ago.”

   “Rhoam? Why disappeared?”

   “There are no clues, no demands, nothing. What we can say for sure is that a fight had happened in his rooms. They were totally vandalised. But no one had heard or seen a thing.”

   “And he can’t just have freaked out? I mean, he’s even more moody than his brother was.”

   “No. There were also traces of blood in the rooms. Yet none outside. We can only hope that he could escape his attackers and waits for the right opportunity to return. Or that we receive some demand. Also she is even more under the populace’s pressure now.”

   “What do you mean?”

   “Yes, after Daltus’ death he disclaimed the throne in favour of her, but malicious gossip is going wild.”

   “What.”, Link chuckled disbelievingly. “Do they say she disposed of him so she – ”

   “Some say too, Vaati forced her to do it, so he could take over at last.”

   “But if he had his way, – ”

   “He would relinquish even if that meant he would not be allowed to marry her, yes. I never understood why Hylians don’t allow an unmarried woman the rank of a queen.”

   “Me neither.”, meant Link shortly. “Should Kafei – should he – die at last, Anju must reign on until Tatl’s seventeenth birthday. Then she has to demit, even if Tatl doesn’t wan the throne. In Ikana blood matters more than gender. Juro would only get the throne if nobody else was left.”

   “That is why Ikana was consistently a kingdom for a much longer time.”, mumbled Eijalash. “And not an accumulation of patchy principalities.”

   “But Akkala keeps up pretty well for being jammed between two kingdoms.”, countered Link without turning to her.

   “But only because they have that colossal fortress at the passable border. With a sea cutting, a volcano, a deep canyon and high rock faces around it is easy to stay independent. Yet what for? The land has nothing worth defending.”

 

   Link said nothing on it. He hadn’t seen much of Akkala yet. Only what he had been able to recognise on his way to the ferry to Holodrum. In the pouring rain. But the watchtower, which resembled more a fortified mountain, indeed had made lasting impressions on him. Also he couldn’t say anything since Mipha returned to the original topic.

 

   “Link.”, she took his left hand in hers. “Nobody forces you to be here. Once we managed to fully control all these machines, Zelda presumably has enough power to prevent worse, should Ganon in fact not have been annihilated. But at the moment nothing indicates any attack ever again. At least not during our lifetimes.”, her thumb brushed over the symbol on the back of his hand. “Also in emergency, she will ask the Ancient Dragons for their aid. They hardly missed a chance to demonstrate their powers so far. We can get along without you. Your place is elsewhere now.”

 

   She also took his right hand with a confident smile, her cool indexfinger deliberately resting on Kafei’s bracelet.

 

   “You only need to know that I feel happy for you. You deserved all happiness you can get.”

   “Thanks.”, he sighed, but continued notable enough Zelda could hear him. “But I am, as I said, anyway only here to convey a message.”

   “Then spit out already what the old Bluethatch wants to say.”

 

   For not distorting unnecessarily, he briefly squeezed Mipha’s hands before pulling his from them and turning half to Eijalash. Rather for building up more tension as well as for putting on a confident face, he let some seconds pass which he clearly laid into the dark red of her eyes. Like every Winterthatch’s, her eyes had rather the colour of bloody leather or rock. Her origin was not the reason however for her expression to change as though she had been struck by lightning when the word passed his lips.

 

   “Lhasziareh.”

 

   Carrying it off well, he waited for their reactions. But it wasn’t Eijalash’s deep breath that signalled him she had understood, it was Zelda’s gasping for air that intensified his desire for the knowledge of the word’s meaning. However he had decided to rather ask Dotour for it than looking stupid in front of the two. To his relief no questions were asked. So he could safely give his attention to Mipha again, if though he said the first words a little louder, still so that Zelda would understand them.

 

   “I strongly wish for Rhoam to return safe and sound. And also – that you don’t undertake too much regarding – the matter.”, now he took her in his arms again, and she him. “And for you as well, that you can get rid of him.”, he whispered once more.

   “Don’t worry about me. I can well take care of myself.”

   “I know. And I pray for you to find happiness.”

   “Rather like her, I’m aware of borders.”, he felt her smile to his cheek and how her fine scales faintly moved with every breath due to the touch. “Yes, in another life perhaps. In another life, you would have been the one. But we are in this life and I accept the things the way they are. I know too, that you understand I honestly feel this way.”

   “Yes. And I’m thankful for it. That you are so different from her. That you understand that there are various ways to love somebody.”

   “Of course. Also the difference between us is maybe that I don’t need to let you go as I always knew it wasn’t on me to hold you. In addition I must say, an honest brother is worth more to me than a lover. It doesn’t take much to be happy, and you know how austere I am. I prefer you to be happy elsewhere than being here, and unhappy.”

   “Thank you.”, he sighed, with a tender kiss onto her temple.

 

   As a farewell, she briefly laid her hand onto his heart, the mellow smile filled with confidence about a merry future.

 

   “When we meet again, you either have a good grip on him, or chased him away, you hear me?”, Link joked, but Mipha’s smile remained just the same.

 

   With a last look to the mill, yet not to Zelda but, inter alia, onto a beak that peeked past Daruk’s muscular arm, he walked over to Epona and climbed into the saddle. He didn’t know what made him deserve her, but she accepted that she had to cover the same distance again relatively immediately. Now however, he had time. Time he deliberately took.

   It had been long since he had roamed the woods. The sandy south wind from the Stone Desert in the east of Ikana had even been visible in the air above the fields beyond the stream. But it wasn’t able to touch the old trees. They formed a guarding canopy of already strong spring leaves. They weren’t many yet, but the denseness of the branches was enough to create a soft green shimmer between the stems.

   In the distance of the silence he heard well-known sounds, sometimes here, sometimes there. To a foreigner they would have appeared eerie, but he knew that he was not being watched by hostile eyes. Somewhen he directed his own up. Almost invisible, molten with the tree.

 

   “Karadikhelu.”, he smiled. “Manisa ilakomeno.”

 

   With wooden chinking, faint rustling and golden dispersing light, his watchers all around vanished. Watchers, all of which he knew by their names.

 

 

~o~0~O~0~o~

 

 

   “Do you mind!”

 

   If he hated one thing, it was cowardice. Not the cowardice of others, his own. For that reason he still didn’t know the meaning of the word. What he though hated even more, were people who came by ship, carriage and horses on board, demanded the animals to be ready to serve at an instant and then complained that the stable boy couldn’t calm them. Neither on the day after. But telling such people that the horses were only upset by their presence, was impossible, because they were such a kind of people. People who came into a small town and ordered to be treated like kings. People, whose wealth, which they hadn’t even worked for themselves, gave them the feeling that they had the right to make all demands. A kind of people who came to the counter after others but expected that everyone solely dedicated to them as soon as they arrived.

 

   “I see no reason to tolerate such ignorance by a snotty brat! Rolls around in mud and thinks he is cut above everyone else just because he enjoys apprenticeship and free accommodation in a third-class dump!”, but he could cope with the situation, rather like the brothers he had just advised and who only gave each other a flabbergasted stare.

   “If I may, milady, but in spite of our guests being priority for us, this does not mean that potential guests are being left out in the rain. Although I am, according to Hylian Customs, not yet of age, there exists no law that dictates me how to spend my free time. A free time that origins from the respective times there is no work I can take out of, notabene, my family’s hands. In addition I prefer, just like you perhaps as well, not to be affronted or downgraded. Of course will not mind asking whether it is possible that you and your daughter get a room in; instead of the establishment my family had built up by hard work; the Castle of Ikana.”

   “Pardon me?”, she blinked confused.

   “But should this be the case, you would need to reckon with the Princess playing scary tricks on you, which you unfortunately will have to acquiesce in, since you would otherwise be charged with high treason. And on that, there is a death sentence in Ikana. Therefore please allow me to advise you that you may consider how much work it is to sew and wash bedding or scrub floors or charm a varying menu into the dining room every day, let alone that you probably mean to deal with your hygienic businesses under hygienic circumstances. Then we can gladly talk about why your horses may suffer from a sudden cardiac death on your way back. And no, certainly not by my hands. Because I love horses. But then again, I don’t know if I don’t happen to do something wrong if I don’t put some rapid-acting poison into their food so as to release them preterm.”

   “And I believed, my day had had a bad start.”

 

   Kafei had just come in at the door. That he had started into the day miserably, was quite obvious to Link. His eyes appeared tired and even though it didn’t give the impression in terms of colour, he knew that Kafei hadn’t exactly matched his pieces of clothing as he did on good or even just normal days.

 

   “Blue hair, elegant clothing, yes, you look like someone that has been described to me as the mayor.”, the woman screwed up her nose.

   “Indeed, him I am.”

   “Good. Could you then please forbid this lout to treat me disdainfully?”

   “Please don’t get me wrong, Madam Jelmeni,”

   “How do you – ”

   “But in my family we put value in moral and decency. This includes accepting in some circumstances if one receives a similar counter reaction from someone as that which one has given to them beforehand. Also I am a man of law; somebody who cares much about law and order. It would therefore be very personally counterproductive for me as well, if I’d put someone in their place that in truth merely bared facts in an adequately polite manner. Moreover I hold abuse of authority cheap. So no, I will not order my wife to kick out my groomsman, who always assists us in every regard. That would make no change to your worldview.”, he put his hands behind his back, like his father usually did when clarifying his position.

   “This whole country is in dire conditions – ”, she mumbled.

   “Yet as Link already said, if you preferred to lodge in the Castle, you will have to come to terms with my daughter. She tends to frown upon strangers coming to live with us; strangers who put no value in equal treatment. And she is a mere nine years old.”

   “Your daughter?”

   “Certainly. If you therefore say you would prefer to converse with the King of Ikana rather than with the Mayor of Termina, I don’t have any issues with that. I can differ my two administrative areas as well as my respective roles very concretely. And apropos, Link, would you mind deputising for me today? Or – ”

   “No, no. I’ll be relieved here soon anyway. Look at the clock.”

   “Oh. Yes.”, hesitated Kafei, with his eyes at the big wall clock suddenly very lost in thoughts. “How time flies – ”

   “Everything alright?”

   “What?”, Kafei startled. “Yes. Yes, everything is fine with me.”, Link however pressed on.

   “And with whom not?”

   “Hm?”

   “Kafei,”

   “Yes – say – where were you yesterday?”

   “Don’t change the subject.”, Link became more serious than he had intended to.

   “I had no idea we had started a subject.”, huffed Kafei. “If you really care to know, no, nothing is fine. I have to catalogue and estimate an apartment top to bottom.”

   “What now – for a heritage?”, Link apparently guessed right. “Who died?”

   “Nobody. Not yet, at least. Madam Sinder wants to bequeath all her belongings to her cousin early. If you guess right why, you’re promoted.”

   “Tz. I don’t need to guess. Everyone knows that her daughter is bent on the heritage – and also everyone but her knows there’s nothing to get.”

   “Exactly. But because she doesn’t want to figure and because the laws governing inheritance say so, that estimate has to be made nevertheless.”

   “Why? Oh yes. Taxes.”, Link remembered immediately. “But she’s no way coming under the regulations!”

   “That doesn’t matter. It has to be assumed that the border may be crossed. Therefore I have to examine every forsaken teacup.”

   “Honestly, you should hire somebody for that.”

   “Why? For one decease every few years? We’re not in Hyrule Castle Town, where people are falling thick and fast.”

   “Oh come on, it’s not as bad there.”

   “But the town has more inhabitants, so naturally a higher number of deaths.”

   “Right, right.”

   “And you forget that I won’t attach Termina to Ikana again, merely to justify underpaid personnel for work I can do myself. Nobody needs that civil war.”

   “Would it really be this bad?”

   “You have no idea. Ask Father if you don’t believe me.”

   “Relax.”

   “He’s standing outside the door anyway.”, Kafei said a little louder and the door was being opened. “What’s the matter?”

 

   Dotour as well didn’t seem very happy about the what ever run of the morning. Even more, he appeared like he suffered from some paranoia. His look was panicky and so was the hectic way he closed the door behind. Right in that moment Anju came from the kitchen with a moist dish towel and placed herself next to Link behind the counter. Apparently she had listened and become curious.

 

   “Alma Sinder is the matter.”, moaned Dotour. “She’s been chasing me the entire morning long like a hungry wolf and just when I thought she had given up, she comes straight at me out of the Northquarter and barks at me, I should do something against that. But against what, she didn’t say. Only that you are, I quote, a `corrupt brownnoser´ and that I `screwed up my parenting´.”

   “Sosh.”, hissed Kafei. “So she knows.”

   “What have you done?”

   “Nothing at all. Her mother wants to prevent that she inherits automatically.”

   “She’s not on her deathbed, is she? I didn’t h– ”

   “No.”

   “So an active inheritance. Oh dear.”

   “You say it. I should go and count teacups before she comes up with worse ideas than badmouthing me on you.”

   “You think, she would go as far as setting finishing touches?”

   “She’s put her brother out of the way years ago.”, puffed Kafei.

   “He died from fish poisoning.”, admonished Dotour.

   “And their father was a potioneer; you know that as well as I do. Also we bought from the same catch and nobody fell off their chair here.”

   “So you actually think she would stop at nothing for a number of teacups and two chaplets?”

   “Lhasziareh, Father. She may present herself stupid and hysterical, but this woman is calculating. I have to nail down this heritage before the coroner comes knocking at the door.”

   “Whom does she want to bequeath?”, Dotour suddenly seemed determined.

   “Her cousin. There aren’t many others left.”

   “Very well. I’ll deal with the heritage. See to getting to the Mountain Village. Taker her under protective custody, if you must.”

   “All of a sudden?”, Kafei chuckled dull.

   “I know that you don’t throw omens around trivially. Come.”

 

   Not only the two travelling men or the discerning Madam Jelmeni were perplexedly left behind in the reception room. Link too stared aghast at the door that Dotour had closed behind himself and his son. Slowly he turned his head to the left. Anju held a hand to her mouth, the other hung slackly beside her with the dish towel. Seeing her like that told him that Kafei’s apprehension was probably justified. Not taking her eyes off the door, she nevertheless lowered her hand before she quietly spoke to him.

 

   “Where were you actually, yesterday?”

   “I was busy.”

   “With what?”

   “The conveying of a message.”

   “To whom? Which message?”

   “To an old acquaintance. And – ”, he briefly sighed, “Lhasziareh.”, Anju gasped for breath and her look finally zoomed up at him. “Yes, exactly. I’ve meanwhile heard that word often enough already.”

   “Yes, way too often lately; you’re right.”, she breathed.

   “And still I don’t know yet what it means.”

   “Oh.”

   “Dotour just said something about an omen – ”

   “Yes. Lhasziareh was an oracle. She grew very old, even for a Sheikah, and she was always right. Even her own death, she foretold.”

   “And – ”

   “She saw that she would indirectly die through the hands of those she served. She was killed by Majora, if you can put one and one together.”

   “Er – yes – I can – but – ”

   “She hadn’t seen her own death only. She had foreseen all deaths, but hadn’t talked about most. She was susceptible to the bad. If she had seen a catastrophe, it occurred. And she had seen all catastrophes, no exception. Some say, just because she spoke about such, everyone evoked the events by their fears. One may believe this or not. Fact is, Lhasziareh had always been right. If nothing happened for a longer while, people started using her name as a joke for all bad premonitions – and if it was only that someone was in danger of burning a roast to cinder. But the Sheikah that had seen her prophecies come true – ”

   “Sure. So if somebody says that, it means as much as – keep your hands off that or you’re dead? Or – if that goes on any longer, there will be deaths? And not only figuratively?”

   “If you hear this name from someone like Kafei or even more so from Dotour, you better start praying. Dotour is not dumb and Kafei may obsess over certain things, but his mother was a seer as well. Sometimes I think he inherited more from her than just her looks and fighting skills. I don’t want to sound awfulizing, but I don’t think any protective custody will last long enough to let this hereditary dispute fade bloodlessly.”

 

 

~o~0~O~0~o~

 

 

   At least he had had the hope, everything had changed after his accidental yet invalid proposal. The fact was however, Kafei had locked himself in once again. This time, in his office. Link had never witnessed a real murder trial before. Even this time, while the murders were plainly obvious, there was none. Like foreseen, nobody had been able to detect anything that would prove the deaths to her. So there were two deaths by accident and a secretly gloatingly grinning woman that sat on an apartment in town and a house in the Mountain Village like a vulture, proud of her enforced heritage.

   Not only Kafei’s emotional state she had killed by it as well. Anju was paler than all throughout the winter and Dotour untraceable most of the time. Whereas his wife had yet again found home in the Milkbar. Day and night.

   He had been able to feel with the selfless citizen. But the riot that one had made, had fizzled out in sullen silence when an irate Link had hammered at the door to Kafei’s office, the latter though had only pressed a thick book into the man’s hands with furious silence, which he had; how Link had just been able to see; opened for him on page ninety-four, before he had locked himself in in the office another time.

   The man, he had left behind on the sofa. The mood outside the Town Hall, was not as oppressive as inside the building, but the deep hanging clouds were dark and grey and the moist-cool air as well as the foreboding songs of the birds in combination with the very distinct scent in his nose let him know that it would soon be impossible to stand outside, dry. Therefore it was no surprise that the nervousness of the carpenters was big and clearly visible. Desperately they tried to attach as many of the big masks as they could before the rain would make the work unfeasible.

   Not many guests had arrived yet. It was still too early. Only an already in the inn staying married couple riddled about the elderly man with the blue hair, who leisurely strolled across the square with his hands behind his back and watched the annual disorganised ado with an unconscious smirk. A familiar voice enlightened them when hurrying past, that he was none other than the former mayor, whom she greeted with an elated wave before she disappeared in the central passage. Apparently Ydin was done with the banner for the stage in the Milkbar already. With the new seat covers she would deal after the Carnival, when probable misfortunes with the one or other drink would be rarer.

   Seeing meeting him right in that moment almost as a sign, Link didn’t miss the chance and marched determinedly towards Dotour. That one greeted him with a soft smile and eventually a hand on his back.

 

   “What troubles your mind, son.”, of course he had interpreted Link’s expression right.

   “The law.”

   “Oh dear. Are you under the impression again that you broke one?”, chuckled Dotour, but purposefully directed him away from the married couple, to the southern staircase.

   “No. It’s just – Mr Namsin made a little riot in the Town Hall. I can understand him. He badly wants murder trials to be possible if there’s strong suspicion only. Thereupon, Kafei smacked some statue book into his his hands.”

   “Well,”, Dotour shortly laughed, amused yet also pinched, “That must have been the quickest solution. This law is there to limit aspersions and protect the innocent.”

   “But everyone knows she – ”

   “And still it is hearsay evidence. As much as we all know it, when there is missing burden of proof, it is always `benefit of the doubt´.”

   “Could he effect tweaking that law? Philosophically speaking, I mean?”, Dotour took the hand off his back and brought it to his own again while they strolled to the Southsquare.

   “Of course. And I presume, these are exactly the regulations Kafei confronted him with. Honestly, son, I don’t mean to sound impolite, but you have been with us long enough that I wonder, how much time passed without you already inquiring about all constitutions.”

   “Yes, yes.”, grumbled Link. “I’ll inquire about them now, fine?”

   “Good. Though perhaps it is better this way than if you tried to look up these things and fail at statuary jargon. Well. As you know, our country as well as this city are democratic.”

   “Yes. People have the say-so.”

   “Well, almost. But basically yes. I will explain it to you by reference to the town’s laws. You will quite likely be able to conjecture the subtleties regarding general country laws on your own. So as to initiate a change of law, you have to file a petition on a referendum, including the regarding concern. It has to be quoted complete comprehensible. Not only the mayor will check the petition, but the whole town committee, which, as you hopefully know,”

   “Is assembled from all fields of work life as well as mature ages, yes.”

   “Good. Does this petition get adjudged legal, the referendum is admitted to be held within a strict time limit of two weeks, which is regulated by law. Another week may be used for evaluation.”

   “But I suppose, only those of age consent are allowed to vote?”

   “Of course. Since our laws are correlating with Hylian Customs, no one under the age of eighteen is allowed a vote.”

   “So everybody signs with name and signature?”

   “Yes, and no. Naturally the petitioner could work rigorously and note which household places which vote, but effectively, the survey is to be done anonymously.”, a stronger gust of wind announced the approaching of the downpour. “The result merely has to synchronise with the number of matures. The votes will be counted and must not exceed this number.”

   “But someone could simply draw negative votes aside?”

   “No. The validation and counting is done by the committee. Votes are to be put directly into a locked chest in the Town Hall which musn’t be broken open before the end of the survey. Should it turn out in favour of the petition, the petitioner may take the survey as reference when filing a petition on amendment. This petition will also be checked on its legality and conformity with the constitution and if positive, negotiated in the committee in presence of the mayor. The result however, has to be unanimous in the end.”

   “I assume, concerning country law, the survey has to be done countrywide and leaders of the regions join the negotiations?”

   “That’s right.”, confirmed Dotour what he had connoted earlier.

   “What if, say, all are for it, but the mayor is against it?”

   “Then the result is not unanimous and all petitions obsolete. The committee is just as much not permitted to assign laws single-handed as the mayor is.”

   “For preventing a putsch or dictatorship.”

   “Exactly as that.”, Dotour nodded, if though to the clouds as he had felt a drop. “However, on the same route, all citizens may introduce a no-confidence motion against the mayor at any time. But a referendum is inevitable in this case. Only if it is the committee to introduce the no-confidence motion,”

   “Negotiations on it aren’t required, I guess.”, Link too felt some drops and noticed clearly that Dotour changed direction – towards Westtown instead of the Laundry Pool.

   “Indeed.”

   “And what if the no-confidence motion – is through?”

   “Then it is time for new elections.”, Link faltered although he should have expected the answer.

   “Do these also consider a regulation of seventy percent?”

   “Now now, don’t be naïve.”, chuckled the Sheikah. “At least three candidates have to stand. If one reaches over fifty percent, the election is won. Is he – or she – below however, it comes down to a run-off between the two leaders. It is the same with every regular election of a representative of people, may it be the mayor or a committee member. Only the Dekus still stand by their royals.”

   “What, if after the end of one term of office nobody stands? Will the mayor automatically – ”

   “Believe me, the people of this country aren’t that content. Someone will always stand, and if just for fun. But they will be put out of contention soon. There is still enough sanity amongst the voters. Luckily. And that is what Kafei had. He can consider himself lucky that the invasion occurred right at the end of his first term. His commitment stomped the chances of any rivals into the ground.”

 

   When they reached the Westgate, it was already drizzling distinctively. Those inhabitants they had walked into, had sped up their pace so much Link had had the feeling to be moving in slow motion with Dotour. That one stopped in front of the door to the Swordsman’s school.

 

   “I hope I could be of any help.”

   “Oh yes, you were, thanks. You know, since we’re standing here, When Kafei isolated himself after the execution, I also went to Ydin. Well, I thought she knows Kafei. But she only told me I should keep quiet and look at myself.”, Dotour smirked lightly. “I was so angry because I didn’t know what she meant by it that I simply banged the door shut behind me without a word. I feel so awful about that actually, that I haven’t even apologised for it yet.”

   “Because, I assume, you know now what she meant to tell you by it?”

   “Yes. It took a longer while though, but I figured that I myself have done just that many times, what Kafei does when he wants to prevent something. I had realised that certain things just got going if I talked to people. So, if I hadn’t wanted to be confronted with something yet, I had decided to not confront others with me. I – isolated myself from the world, until I was ready to do something – or until it became unpostponable. We – as much we differ, as alarmingly alike we are, actually.”, Dotour nodded.

   “Very well. If you excuse me now, I dislike leaving you out in the rain, but the need to pay Frano a visit bit me.”

   “No problem. I need to see Ydin anyway. Viscen moaned at me about the guards demanding new underwear.”

   “Oh goodness.”

   “I could just bite back a joke.”

   “Really!”, chuckled Dotour. “They aren’t such scaredy-pants!

   “Yes, yes.”, huffed Link, unmasked. “I know. The guards of Hyrule Castle Town are even bigger cowards.”

 

 

~o~0~O~0~o~