Friday afternoon, in the plaza outside Malon's home between the kakariko shanties and homes of the ex-hylians, most of which construction has began on, some of which are finished.
A crowd is gathered around the foundation of what will be the new plenary hall. Malon addresses the crowd - Baron standing beside her, Talon, Anju and Dreza sitting off to one side of the foundation which acts as a makeshift stage."I hope you are all well this afternoon."
she yells out, having stepped onto a small crate, everyone quiets."Construction has gone very well, hasn't it?"
she asks, to "aye"
s from some in the crowd."We all have worked hard, and that's paying off. We have re-established trade with the deku, many of you now have decent contracts. We have a fair contract with the Zora for fish and ice. And haven't the Goron have been especially helpful to us all?"
she gestures to several Goron in front of the gate to her house, with many in the crowd applauding them as the Goron stand a bit awkwardly."I do want to say. I know some of you look at me with misgivings, and I understand. I am sorry for all that you have gone through, and I know that many are struggling to adjust-"
, from the back, the head carpenter lets out a "Bawh!"
and some ex-hylians hiss back at him and his men."I know,"
Malon says, speaking louder, "that there is distrust brewing. As many of you likely know already, Talon and I intend to step back from leadership."
At this, more hiss – Malon and Baron exchange a look, some guards make way their around the back of the crowd. Malon loudly speaks out, over some continued hisses."We will be handing off planning and organization to-"
the head carpenter, from the back, yells out, "To a faggot!"
His men jeer and hiss, some other Hylians hissing back at him, and some of his men beginning to push a few of the Hylians, most of whom move closer to the stage as guards grab the head carpenter and a few of his men who attempt to fight them off."Be lost, all of ya then!"
The head carpenter screams out."Like dogs!"
he yells, being dragged out with some others by the guards down toward the lookout tower at the southwest corner of the ranch, past the Kakariko shanties."Dogs! Like mutts!"
He yells, the men being dragged with him repeating after him.
Everyone watches as they are taken away, except for some Kakariko villagers, who just look toward the stage or at the ground. Only half the town or so is in attendance, and the crowd draws a bit nearer the stage.
Malon continues, "We will be handing authority to a council. It is crucial that, even in small decisions - ones that we might think only effect us, we consider other perspectives. Advice from friends and allies can only help, as all of us have a stake in each others' survival and prosperity. As such, the council will consist of: Deku, on behalf of themselves and the Kokiri; Goron; Zora; Gerudo, on behalf of their eastern camp;"
"What of us?"
a man in the Kakariko crowd calls out, interupting her."I had hoped that I could address the issue more delicately, but..."
Malon says, her voice fading a bit.
She begins to feel a bit faint, and, after a long pause, she steps off the crate and gestures to Baron, who steps forward as she backs off the stage, passing the Goron into the gate and returning into her home, with Talon following, looking worried.
Baron now addresses the crowd."Well, I am Baron. Many of you know me. As Malon was saying-"
he begins, but is interupted by a Hylian woman calling out, "Speak up!"
Baron glares at her and raises his voice. "As Malon was about to say, the men just carried out, we know to be Sheikah."
The entire ranch falls silent, except for some muffled yelling heard from inside the southwest tower."Clearly, they don't appreciate Malon's generosity. That is fine. We can't expect everyone's respect and trust. Trust is a scarce commodity for us all right now. However, we absolutely can not afford witch hunts. That will put us all in jeapordy."
The crowd is quiet, although a few of both Hylians and Kakariko villagers speak up with "aye"
s."It has been taboo, but letting it fester threatens us all. I do not fear or have any issue with Sheikah, in spite of everything. I have no reason to hang what happened around the neck of all Sheikah."
The crowd is silent again, the lookout tower is silent now too."As many of you have seen, we are constructing a partition to the North, where the residents of Kakariko shall live, Sheikah or not. I don't care who is or is not Sheikah – by blood, practicing or not. In Kakariko, after all, there were always arguments. We now have a new start. We will partition only to ease tensions as we all focus on rebuilding. A representative has been elected, which many of you know,"
Baron gestures to Anju, "Anju will represent the Northern partition.."
"Also, I will finally add, if anyone has an issue with me, personally, we can elect one or two more to the council, but otherwise I will represent the Hy-"
he pauses, "The people of the former capital city. If there is no protest, I believe Anju has some words."
The crowd remains quiet. One Hylian does call out "aye, Baron"
and another echoes "aye"
."I thank you all. I look forward to representing the interests of this new capital."
Many Hylians in the crowd snap and some clap.
Baron retreats, with Talon returning to the platform, as Anju gets up. Anju does walk over to Talon on her way to the front, saying some things to him quietly, to which he nods and approaches the fore with her."G'd-evening everyone. Thank you for comin'."
Talon says, "The guards over there, uh, will have minutes you are all welcome to, and after today they will be posted on the board there for anyone who wasn't here."
Talon says, gesturing to the guards outside the farmhouse gate standing by the Goron."In spite of all the pain we've gone through. To offer up our ranch like this, I was worried. Still, Malon's a smart girl – er, she is a smart woman, isn't she?"
Many in the crowd "aye"
and snap."Well, you all know me and I don't have too much to say, but I figured I'd let you all know, we will be havin' a big meal tomorrow evening right here. I know it's a little awkward with what just happened over there,"
he says, gesturing to the tower, "but you all probably heard we invited the folk over at that Gerudo camp, as well as the Goron. It will probably be some of the Kakariko folks' last night on this side, and I hope that, despite all that going on we can all have a good time, let the kids play and all that, yeah?"
Almost all of the crowd snaps, claps or gives "yeah"
s or "aye"
s.
Anju steps up. "I suppose I also don't have a whole lot to say. I just wanted to introduce myself if anyone doesn't know me."
She pauses. "I know I'm putting my neck out, but I will say that I am from Kakariko, and I have been a Sheikah my whole life."
Some in the crowd shift and stare, although everyone is silent."Like most of you, I don't like the idea of segregating. With tensions so high right now it seems the best option. Many of you know me. I am no warrior, spy, sorceress or anything like that. While I don't have any statements I want to make publicly… If any of you need counsel, my door is open."
Anju stands for a while, looking down, as many in the crowd also look down. "I'll let Talon close out, thank you for coming, everyone."
Anju says, to quiet snaps and a few "aye"
s.
Anju turns to Talon, who shrugs, and she walks over and sits by Dreza, looking at the Gerudo who gives her a short glance but continues looking up to the sky somewhat blankly."Thank you all again. I suppose a few folks got some things off their chest."
Talon says, gesturing a bit disappointedly to the tower."We'll see you all around tomorrow evening for supper, yeah?"
The crowd doesn't clap but begins to disperse, half or so of them giving out an "aye"
or a "yeah"
, some leaving others remaining and talking amongst themselves, a few of the kids, now let go, chase eachother around the front of the platform and Talon waves after them.
Baron, Dreza, Talon and Anju gather toward the back of the foundation of the new hall. "Could have gone worse, I suppose."
Talon says. Anju and Dreza nod, Baron sneers a bit and turns to go into the farmhouse, calling back to Talon, "I'll be in the bedroom."
Talon waves after Baron as he disappears around the corner of the farmhouse.
Dreza asks Talon, "Will folks be coming through the west gate or up North? We can greet them."
"Oh, yeah. Up the North gate. If you don't mind welcoming folks, I'll go wait inside, yeah?"
Dreza nods, "Sure."
The three of them step down off the side of the platform, through the frame of the hall under construction and then turning to walk through the gate. Talon goes inside, while Anju and Dreza walk to the North gate.
Dreza of Gerudo, Makaru of Zora, Darduk of Goron, Anju of Kakariko, Baron of ex-Hylians, Sedge of Deku on behalf of Kokiri & Deku.
Koume and Kotake, West Gerudo - No information, but no immediate danger. Deku volunteer to check on Fortress tomorrow, say fortress is focused on constructing paddies, morale low and refuse trade but not violent.
Goron propose gathering information, visit offering labor for desert rock and. Tabled by majority until more is known.
Lowland Gerudo workers may move to North partition in exchange for labor affirmed by all
head carpenter and his men's jailed. anju will try to speak to them, likely to be exiled
Baron and deku propose designated market area, south of town - vendors bring their own protection and shop, zora show interest. all vote aye, shops without contract for three years, then contracts tbd
goron mention gold skulltula appearing around DM moblin deal with them fine so no issue, Moblin and goron get along fine. goron mention moblin metalworking. Wider integration will take a long time, leave them alone for now, no moblin shops in town. Trade outposts by DM, we will encourage townspeople to visit and be familiar, moblin rep might be added tbd
zora - not much to add. No skulltula or other issues.
Deku confirm kokiri in hiding, will continue to send scrub representatives, exports via scrubs, reject visitors, diplomats
zora, goron, east-gerudo will be alert for any issues from gerudo valley
all committed to defend lon lon, vice versa
commitment to mutual benefit
pleasantries and food
The day had been a bit muggy but overcast. Zarah, Dreza and Impa sit at a table in the pavilion in front of one of the desk lamps Zarah had begun making – a base of carved wood reaching up and suspending a horizontal jar full of fireflies.
Dreza sits drawing blueprints for buildings they can construct, with help from the Goron and Deku Scrubs at the behest of Malon. Zarah works on macrame. Impa sits, drinking tea and reading a book Zarah had given her – a novel, travel diary, romance and political intrigue.
Initially the older Gerudo of the camp were wary of the fog, although the younger ones seemed to be fascinated and found it pretty. Everyone was used to it now, though. Zarah had asked Impa a few times for reassurance that it was normal in the summers, and Impa did insist it was, especially in these parts of the lowlands.
Diagonal from them in the pavilion, three young Gerudo girls quietly play a card game. Impa had tried to learn the game, but found far too complicated. One game can sometimes take days to finish – she had even heard that it can drag on for a month, with Gerudo having small books where they keep notes about it. Some Gerudo even have notes for two or three games, occasionally jotting down ideas between chores. Dreza had told her the game used to be simpler, but that the younger Gerudo had consolidated multiple card games into this one, and now it is the only one most of them play.
The older Gerudo in the past week had eased up on curfew for the teenage girls as there had been no threats, and their training seem to be less intense, so Impa saw them around the camp more. The camp was abundant – as Nabooru had pointed out, they had easy access here to plenty of water, game and fish, to the point that harvesting rupees and materials became not a necessary chore but a sport.
Deku Scrubs now brought arrows and sheilds less often, instead offering novelties, oddities and antiques, relics from distant lands, as well as new styles of clothing made by Kokiri which the younger Gerudo loved.
Still, the prices remained very low. Gerudo had started bartering and trading with eachother often, as some hunters would run across Deku Scrubs in the south lowlands, and oftentimes the Scrubs would visit during training or classes, or occasionally some Gerudo would venture out to Lake Hylia to fish and return with wares from the Scrubs who had lately turned the lake into a second home outside the Kokiri forest.
Impa, Zarah and Dreza had grown very familiar, spending most of their time together. Dreza had introduced Impa to several more Gerudo of the camp and she was glad to now be able to put names to faces she had seen around. Grateful to make small talk, to have been invited to take up cooking duties for a day, and to even be invited on an upcoming hunt."Did Zelda like the Zora?"
– Impa is jarred by Zarah's spontaneous question. She should be used to the girl's meandering questions and thinking aloud, but she asked this question in an almost hushed tone.
Impa looks at Zarah, who continues working away under the lamp, and thinks for a while. "Well, the Zora were always very loyal to the Hylian royal family. I couldn't say if she... liked or disliked them. I almost never saw her talk to any of them, or anyone outside of the castle or the capital."
Impa finally says.
Zarah continues working, after a while she asks, "Why were they so loyal?"
Impa sets down her book, puzzled. She hears a scuttling in the basket next to Zarah – the girl now often carried the gold skulltula around with her. No others had appeared quite yet. Anju had said it would likely still be weeks or months, maybe years before things get worse.
Looking off into the fog, Impa thinks. "For some generations, everyone was loyal. The royal family brought stability. Especially after the wars, they helped broker peace; encouraged trade and cooperation. That's how I always saw it, anyway. It seemed good for everyone."
Zarah hadn't ever really asked much before about the royal family, and Impa was now curious, having not really thought about the Gerudo's perception of the Hylian Kingdom. Impa begins to ask Zarah a question, but Zarah looks up at her and Impa is thrown off a bit by Zarah's look."Do you think there should be a new royal family?"
Impa looks to Dreza, who looks back but doesn't say anything and continues writing and sketching."Well, I haven't really though about that. I don't think there will be a new one. I just want safety and peace."
Zarah looks down to her work again. The skulltula scuttles around.
Sitting for a while more quietly together, the skulltula scuttles again, and Zarah says, almost to herself, "Malon is kinda the new Zelda."
Impa does protest to this, saying "I don't think so."
She pauses. "If anything, Malon is more generous-"
she stops, almost shocked at what she said, although neither Gerudo seems to respond.
After a bit, Zarah does ask, "Do you think Malon is good?"
Impa sighs."I don't know, Zarah. I haven't talked to her very much. I did think at first she seemed power hungry, but an old friend of mine who moved to the ranch and has started to get to know her says she isn't too…"
Impa pauses. "I guess, her father just doesn't want to be in charge. So she has taken up organizing things."
Impa takes a drink of her tea.
Zarah does stop and think. "Huh."
she says."You met her didn't you?"
Impa asks."Yeah, a couple times. She always wants to buy things from me, its weird."
Zarah says.
Impa laughs a little. "Hylians just love money. Not in a greedy way always, they just… I don't know. They just like buying and selling things."
"I don't get it. Its weird."
Dreza finally chimes in, Impa being releived because she had started to feel strange about the conversation."Aren't you a Hylian, though?"
Zarah asks, the question hitting Impa back off guard quite a lot, although Zarah doesn't look up.
Impa breathes deeply and takes another sip of tea."Kind of."
she says.
Dreza nor Zarah seem to take note of her response. The three sit quietly for the rest of the evening – Impa reading, Dreza writing, Zarah working on macrame.
On the old, dead tree above the lagoon, Malon and Makaru sit side by side, looking over the boulder where Zora talk, swim and play. Their hands intertwined, Malon leans her head onto Makaru's shoulder.
Makaru sighs."It could be worse."
He says.
Malon nods, her head still in Makaru's shoulder."What do you think she will do?"
She asks.
Makaru looks up to the window of Ruto's chamber."I don't know."
Makaru shifts."She is the only one who can tell them, though."
Malon nods again.
After a while, she yawns, leaning away and looking at Makaru, who hesitates before looking back. "Could I spend the night?"
She asks, letting go of his hand and turning to produce her canteen from her bag."You don't have to say yes."
She adds."Another time."
Makaru says.
Malon drinks water and stretches."I just don't want to walk back."
She sighs.
Makaru smiles at her. "Make a portal."
He says, teasing.
Malon puts a hand to her chin, a finger on her lips.
After a while, she yawns again.
Outside the new trail to Death Mountain, behind the Moblin shanty, Impa sits on a log, leaning forward. Nabooru stands, staring skeptically at a few young Goron barelling down the trail.
Outside of the long evening shadow of the shanty building, an older Goron sits in front of Impa and Nabooru. Two younger adult Goron sit in the shade, playing some kind of game with rocks on the other side of the fire pit."We haven't had any problems. There have been a few gold skulltula, regular skulltula as well, but the Moblin take care of them, they are no threat."
The Goron says. "Sometimes I even think we should have invited them to live on the mountain sooner."
Nabooru stares off to the mountain. There are no Moblin in sight, but the Goron, probably knowing they are viewed with suspicion, had likely told them to stay behind.
The Goron goes on, "You really should visit the city. The other elders still don't leave Death Mountain, but they would host you and honestly, they are more interested in these topics than me."
Nabooru stares at him and he seems rattled by her look and turns to Impa, who scratches her head. "You really don't know anything about Kakariko? It has been right outside your city for generations."
The Goron shrugs, "I'm sorry. I am an elder, but, to be honest, they don't take me very seriously. To be blunt with you, I'm just in it for quartz,"
he says, smiling and lifting a bag of rocks, rattling it toward the two."I'll go."
Impa says. Nabooru looks at her, rubbing her forehead. "Impa-"
she begins, but Impa interupts, "They clearly have a peaceful situation. If anything, I ought to be the one most hesitant to walk into a hole filled with Moblin."
The Goron chimes in, "Our city is not just a hole..."
"Sorry."
Impa says.
The three are quiet for a while. Eventually, the Goron speaks to Nabooru, "If you are that worried, I could let you in through the Lost Woods tunnel. The Elders live just near it, and if you have any issues you can leave quickly. Most Goron don't even know about the tunnel, and no Moblin do."
"Nabooru I can just go-"
Nabooru stops her, "That's fine. Well, do we have time today?"
The Goron looks south into the sun, holding up a hand."I suppose not, really."
he says, turning to Nabooru, who is tapping her foot. "Well, any time in the day is fine, I can just tell them to be expecting you. Tell them that Darduk invited you. You'll see the Elder's hall if you come in from the forest, you can't miss it."
The Goron gets up, stretching a bit. "They talk a lot, for ages, about boring things. I'm sure they will love to have some guests asking questions, so they can drone on more."
Nabooru walks over to Impa, who stands. The two turn to the Goron.
Impa places a hand on Nabooru's lower back, who flinches."Well,"
Impa says, "We will make it out there within the next few days."
Nabooru nods, the Goron is already turning to leave – the two younger Goron still playing their game across the fire pit."Ya."
The Elder Goron simply says, waving back breifly and rolling, barelling up to the trail.
Nabooru turns to Impa."You know your way through the woods?"
Impa shrugs. "No."
Nabooru's brow furrows."I knew I should have asked him for directions."
Impa says. "I'm sure the Kokiri can tell us where it is, if not we can come back and ask."
After a bit, Nabooru begins to walk back to the camp. Impa catches up, having paused. The two walk back to the camp toward the setting sun.
On another hot day, Dreza and Impa sit on mats by several younger Gerudo who talk amongst themselves. Dreza had invited Impa to teach some Sheikah drills and methods. The two sit together, looking down Zora river.
Dreza looks over and Impa notices her watching her eating some dark red jerky with a curious expression. "Its Dodongo. Want some?"
Dreza makes an uncharacteristically funny disgusted expression and Impa laughs. Dreza laughs as well, shaking her head. "Suit yourself. Its a whole lot better than pea-hat jerky."
Impa says with an also uncharacteristic playful tone."You'll turn into a Moblin eating that."
Dreza says.
Impa swallows and shrugs. "I'd rather turn into a Moblin than a pea-hat, wouldn't you?"
Dreza looks skeptical and still grossed out but does smile through her frown and let out a short laugh, extending a hand."I'll try some."
Impa gives her a rather large handful and Dreza tries to give most of it back except one piece, but Impa has already sealed the satchel it was in. Dreza looks at the deep red jerky, shoving the handful into her bag loose and taking a bite of the piece she kept.
She finds it isn't stringy at all, really easy to chew and extremely savory, a bit surprised how much she likes it."I told you its good. We'll make good Moblin sisters, I think."
Impa teases. Dreza reaches over and pushes Impa's shoulder lightly, and Impa makes a snorting noise, imitating a Moblin. Dreza laughs, shaking her head. "What's gotten into you?"
Impa finishes taking a drink from her bottle of coffee, saying "Dodongo, obviously."
a bit flatly. Dreza laughs again, and Impa smiles. She hasn't seen Dreza laugh much. Then again, nobody has been laughing much. Impa stretches widely from side to side then stands, stretching toward her feet."If you do like it, I can buy more. The Moblin don't charge much either since they need a lot more than us puny humans. They've practically started farming the Dodongo."
Impa says.
Dreza looks up, again surprised. "You went and bought it from an actual Moblin?"
Impa shrugs. "Yeah."
Dreza shakes her head. "You've gone mad, Impa."
she says as Impa starts rolling up her mat. Dreza stands as well and begins packing up. "Maybe,"
Impa says, "Who else around here hasn't though."
Impa quickly packs her bag, the Gerudo teens have noticed them packing and started to head back to the camp. The two hoist their bags and stand facing eachother for a while.
Impa catches Dreza's eyes and gestures with her head to the river. "Want to go for a swim?"
Impa asks.
Dreza looks up thoughtfully. "Sure."
The two turn and walk side by side toward the river."How are things with Nabooru?"
Dreza asks after a while.
Impa drinks water from her canteen."Alright. I think we might not be a good match though."
Impa says a bit dismissively.
Dreza rather widely turns her head, her mouth open for a moment."No?"
Dreza asks, trying not to sound too curious.
Impa looks back to her, and she blushes a bit."Do you always play matchmaker for her?"
Dreza stops and sighs."I'm sorry."
Impa says, stopping as well."I didn't mean to be rude."
Dreza shakes her head. "Its alright."
although she looks down to the side."Who's plays matchmaker for you?"
Impa asks.
Dreza laughs, with that same restrained smile Nabooru makes sometimes. "I'm not looking for a match."
she says. She looks at Impa and continues walking up the river, Impa does as well."What are you looking for?"
Impa asks as they walk.
Dreza looks up. After a while, as they turn the bend in the river, she finally says, "Nothing, I guess."
"Everyone's looking for something."
Dreza looks at her."That's why they're not happy."
she says, shrugging again and looking forward. Impa stares at her for a moment as they walk.
They can hear splashes further up in the river, and laughter.
In Malon's living room, her and Zarah sit, each on a couch."Has something happened at the camp? Are things alright?"
"Things are fine."
Zarah says flatly.
Malon looks at her, confused."Have you talked to the Zora's Queen?"
Zarah asks.
Malon scratches the back of her neck, shifting."Only breifly. I've heard she hardly talks to anyone."
After a pause, Malon adds. "One of her advisors told me... she is very resentful of the Royal Family and Hylians. He is worried she might do something terrible."
"Like what?"
Malon breathes deeply again."Sabotage the river, poison it, who knows. She's very angry."
Zarah thinks for a while, eventually asking,"Why is she angry?"
Malon shifts, adjusting her hair listlessly, her posture loosens."Someone dear to her passed away, she blames the royal family. Her father, the Zora King also passed away recently. She seems to pin it all on the royal family."
They sit for a while."I talked to her."
Zarah says matter-of-factly.
Malon tilts her head, staring at her."Oh really?"
"Yeah. She invited me into her room and everything, showed me all the fish and water animals of the river. I don't think she'd ever do anything to hurt them."
Zarah says.
Malon's mouth hangs open slightly.
She leans back."I don't know. Makaru is very worried."
She says after a time."He probly just likes her."
Zarah says, shrugging.
Malon laughs. "How do you know that?"
Zarah shrugs. "People act weird when they like someone a lot. They think weird things about them."
Malon smiles and scratches her head, leaning forward and looking at Zarah, who raises her eyebrows."That is true, isn't it."
Abruptly, Zarah adds. "Nabooru likes you. Thats why she always acts so confused around you."
Malon immediately turns and stares at her, jaw open.
Zarah laughs."You didn't… see us together, did you?"
Malon asks.
Zarah shakes her head."Nabooru is really easy to read. Its funny."
Malon pauses then laughs again, clapping slowly twice."You're incredible."
Zarah tries not to smile too wide."Why were you asking about the Zora though?"
Malon asks.
Zarah's smile fades.
They are quiet for a while, then hear a knock at the door.
Zarah stands, leaving her bag on the couch."You should have this."
She says, gesturing to it.
Malon looks at the bag, which she forgot was there – it is a large tote, with several very old looking, tall leather-bound books.
She looks at Zarah, who walks to the door. Malon joins her at the door and opens it, seeing Impa and Anju."Zarah, I was so worried, I didn't know where you were."
Impa says breathlessly, standing up and walking over, although Zarah just raises her eyebrows at Impa, looking at her for a while and then walking away rather quickly.
Impa sits with Zarah in the pavilion, with Zarah trying to teach her the card game. Impa has been frustrated by it, but trying her best to learn and eventually even finding it fun."Gotcha."
Zarah says, laying down a card.
Impa looks up from her hand with a smile. "Oh yeah?"
Impa lays down a card."NO!!!"
Zarah yells, throwing her hand down."That's impossible!"
Impa laughs. "I didn't expect to win the whole game, wow."
"Beginners' luck."
Zarah says snidely, Impa shrugging and scooping the cards up, saying, "Sure, sure."
"I don't like the game anyway."
Zarah says, putting her elbows on the table and holding her head up by her chin."Oh look, it's Malon."
Zarah says.
Impa, putting the deck back together, turns, seeing Malon walking toward them. "No horse?"
Impa asks."I felt like walking."
Malon says, pushing her hat off as she approaches.
Impa looks back to Zarah. "Want to go again?"
Zarah shakes her head and groans.
Malon sits with them. "Well, what happened?"
Zarah lets out a "tsss"
.
Impa leans to Malon, "She lost pretty badly."
"Whatever."
Zarah says, getting up."Zarah, I actually had a favor to ask you."
Malon says.
Zarah looks at her, then at Impa, who looks at Malon."What?"
Zarah asks"Could you deliver a letter to Queen Ruto?"
Malon asks.
Impa looks at the two of them, watching curiously.
Zarah puts her hands on her hips. "Why don't you have your boyfriend do it?"
she asks, Impa laughing and looking at Malon.
Malon sighs. "She won't talk to him."
"Fiiine."
Zarah says, as Malon digs in her bag, producing a letter and handing it to the girl, who turns. "I'll let you know if she takes it."
Zarah says, waving back at them."Thank you, dear!"
Malon says loudly and cheerfully.
Zarah turns back, rolling her eyes.
Impa laughs, "She's gotten an attitude lately."
Malon shakes her head. "Boys will be-"
she stops, blushing a bit."Well… you know."
Impa raises an eyebrow."So, you have a Zora boyfriend?"
Impa asks, sipping tea."Well, I don't know if I'd call it that."
Malon says, producing her canteen. "We have had some fun."
Impa gets up, taking her cup and bag. "Well, I'm going down to the river. Maybe I'll see your boyfriend."
She says."Ah, well…"
Malon starts, but pauses. "I suppose I should go see him too. I kind of don't want to though, honestly."
Impa looks at her, Malon just looks off, drinking water."Things not going well?"
Impa asks.
Malon shrugs. "I feel bad for him. He's got a crush on the Zora Queen. She doesn't want anything to do with him."
"That's cute."
Impa quips.
Malon looks up to her. "It really is."
she says, giggling.
Impa shakes her head. "You're cruel, Malon."
"He's too emotional. Just-"
she pauses, but lets out an "eh."
Impa shakes her head again. "Well, I do want to go cool off later. Til then I have cooking. Sorry to leave you right away."
Malon stands, "It's alright, I just came to give that letter to Zarah. Nice to see you, though."
She says, already turning and putting her hat back on."A pleasure, Malon."
Impa says back, walking into the camp with a wave. Malon does turn and watch her for a while before turning to walk back to the ranch.
The shade has eclipsed the river, Impa sits on a tree trunk, watching a short waterfall before the winding turn to Zora's Domain. She sees Zarah coming around the corner, looking over."How did it go?"
Impa asks, putting on her sandals.
Zarah approaches, shrugging. "She took it. She didn't have much to say, though."
Impa stands up, Zarah goes on, "I used to think people were mean for talking about how she needs to lighten up but…"
Impa looks down the river away from the bend."She's kinda creepy."
Zarah says.
Impa is quiet."She is always nice to me. Just weird."
Zarah adds. Impa doesn't have anything to say."Have you ever met her?"
Zarah asks.
Impa shakes her head. "I kind of hope I don't."
She says."Why's that?"
Zarah asks, a bit slowly and suspiciously.
Impa looks at her finally, although she doesn't say anything.
Zarah stares at Impa for a while, although Impa looks away, still saying nothing. "Well, I'm going. I probably have time to go tell Malon that Ruto did accept."
Impa looks back, "Accept what?"
Zarah begins walking down the river, jumping down a small cliff, "Malon asked to meet with her, I guess."
Zarah continues on down the river, Impa stares off.
Just as Zarah disappears from the periphery, Impa sees a Zora walk around the corner and turns, picking up her bag."Oh, Makaru. How are you?"
Impa asks instinctively.
Makaru spreads his arms slightly, looking deflated."Sorry. I heard you're having some relationship troubles."
Impa says, again wincing at herself for bringing it up directly, although Makaru actually laughs."I guess you could say that."
He says, resigned but light."Did you hear that from Malon?"
He asks.
Impa sighs. "Yeah. I'm sorry."
Makaru waves a hand, "It's alright. It was fun while it lasted I guess. How are things at the camp?"
Impa looks at the river. "Alright I suppose. Things have been pretty quiet."
She says.
Makaru approaches and they look into the river together.
For a while, they just stare together, the sky now streaked with pink and yellow, the North turning a deep blue."Do you mind if I ask,"
Makaru starts, although he pauses.
He doesn't finish the question, the two of them just stare.
After a while, realizing he isn't going to finish the question, Impa says, "I don't have all the answers, but I don't have anything to hide either."
Makaru looks down the river. "The royal family, the kingdom..."
He says, although nothing else. Impa stares with him."There's nothing left."
She says after a while."Everyone has moved on."
She adds."It all happened so fast."
Makaru says.
Impa looks at him for a while, he eventually looks back.
Impa shakes her head."It actually happened pretty damn slowly.
Its been excruciating."
Makaru looks down."I'm sorry."
"Its alright."
Impa says, adjusting her bag. "I'm gonna head back. I'll see you around."
She says, starting to walk away.
Makaru watches her go."See you."
He says quietly.
Looking toward Lon Lon, Impa notices a horse passing by the south and over the hill. A bit worried, she gets up and walks to the stable to see if all the horses are there. Zarah's is gone.
She looks around, finding a young Gerudo girl."Have you seen Zarah?"
Impa asks. The girl shakes her head."Which tent is hers?"
The girl points a past the tent,"Two down."
she says."Thanks."
Impa walks down the aisle between the tents. Approaching Zarah's and seeing the door open, she looks inside. Zarah isn't there. Some books and papers are still on the desk. Impa looks around and hears a scuttling under the desk. The basket with Zarah's gold skulltula sits there.
Impa walks to the main aisle outside the kitchen tent and looks across the field to Lon Lon.
She looks down at the girl she had talked to, "When you see Nabooru or Dreza, tell them I've gone to Lake-"
she pauses."To the lake."
The girl just says "Mhm,"
walking to the pavilion.
Heading to the stable and getting on her horse, Impa sets out to Lake Hylia – having a feeling the girl must have gone there, although not sure.
Arriving through the gate of Lake Hylia, Impa looks down into the lake. The entire surface is almost entirely covered by algae, and turning to the right she sees the river feeding it is now barely a small stream."Zarah?"
Impa calls out, her voice echoing through the valley.
It is almost the same time of day as when she last brought the girl here – seemingly a lifetime ago. She feels bad that they still haven't gotten around to making soap or oils, although the Juniper will take quite a while to dry out and be ready.
Heading down a ways, she descends the slope between the fence and the old laboratory building but, seeing fresh hoof prints in the damp soil that head to the laboratory building, she makes her way up and over to it.
The soil turns to long grass and the hoof prints fade, Impa can't really tell if they continue going around the building but stops and gets off her horse to check."Zarah?"
She calls out again, seeing no prints in the patch of mud behind the building, she approaches a window and looks in."Zarah?"
She asks, although she just realizes that the girl must be gone – her horse isn't here, although Impa doesn't know how she could have missed the girl coming back.
Unless she went to Gerudo Valley? But why would she?
Maybe she took a low path along the south plain and Impa didn't notice. Either way, Impa feels compelled to enter the lab building, the door creaking open harshly.
Her eye immediately is drawn to a ladder that she is sure wasn't there before, leading to a trapdoor on the ceiling that hangs open.
Looking down, she does see mud footprints leading to it, small, probably Zarah's.
She walks over, seeing mud scraped off of the bottom of a shoe on the first step of the ladder and, realizing how slippery the tile floor is, she wipes the mud from her own shoes off the ladder, causing what was there to fall onto the tile below with a damp plop – she almost thinks she hears it sizzle oddly, although paying closer attention she hears nothing but a Guay calling outside.
She begins to climb up, but sees it is dark. No windows.
Sighing, she walks out to her horse and grabs a tin of matches and a very small lantern from the bag that she always keeps on her horse. Lighting it, she walks back inside, setting the tin of matches on a desk and once again scraping the mud from her shoes onto the first rung of the ladder, then begins to climb.
Approaching the top, she sets the lamp down, grabbing the frame to hoist herself up, as the ladder faces a wall. As soon as she touches the frame, she is oddly reminded of the door in Ganondorf's keep and winces a bit, expecting pain on her hands, but there is none. She hoists herself up into the dark crawlspace, raising the wick of the lantern and picking it up.
Looking around, it is wide open and empty. She stares into the empty crawlspace for a while in silence. Despite it being empty, she traces the wood frame and boards around the crawlspace. Eventually, she hears a skulltulla somewhere.
She draws her blade, thumb on the hilt, turning around but not seeing it anywhere. She does notice a part of the brick wall that juts out near the trapdoor – probably the lookout tower's base. Listening closely, the skulltula seems to echo a bit strangely. She crawls over to the base of the tower and to the right, seeing an opening and, upon looking in, a ladder.
Impa looks up the ladder, hearing the skulltula somewhere at the top. She sighs. Finding she can stand in the narrow interior of the tower, she rests the long handle of the lantern in her left elbow and begins climbing with her knife drawn.
She climbs, shoulders almost scraping against the walls, and having to slowly raise her arms to avoid bumping them. After some time, she slows, listening to the skulltula.
Almost stopping, she continues climbing up, the air terribly humid and stale, almost suffocating. She thinks about turning back, but it isn't much further to the top – although she looks up, not able to see another trapdoor, ceiling or anything, just shadows above, and now below. She continues climbing and after a while starts to worry. She's climbed way too far by now, the tower isn't this tall.
Stopping and staring at the bricks in front of her, her breath straining in the humid, hot tower. She swallows with some difficulty and coughs. Taking a few more deep breaths, looking at the bricks behind the ladder, she notices that they glisten. Holding the lantern up, she sees the Sheikah eye inset into each brick. Not large, just a small symbol in the middle of each brick, easily missed as they have a rough texture.
She breathes deeply, noticing that the sound of the skulltula has stopped - for some reason, it makes her afraid. She looks up, still seeing nothing but shadow – down, nothing but shadow. Feeling suddenly faint, having forgotten how high she was, how high she had climbed, she leans her back against the wall and wipes sweat from her brow. Breathing slowly, she closes her eyes.
After a while, she opens them, looking down. In the shadows below, she sees a red orb glowing. She looks up, seeing a red orb glowing in the shadows above as well.
Taking a deep breath, she begins climbing again, a bit more quickly, looking straight up.
Eventually, the red orb above fades and she looks down, seeing the one fading as well. Climbing faster, as she turns to look up again, she flinches as she almost pulls her head up right into a brick ceiling.
She exhales, rubbing the sweat from hear forehead and her hand through her hair. She does feel a breeze up here, although can't tell where it is coming from. Looking down the ladder, she breathes deeply and slowly.
The sound immediately behind her head of the skulltula jolts her, and she immediately turns around, seeing it on a recessed part of the wall behind her and stabbing it.
It was a gold skulltula, which lets out a horrible sound and slowly shrivels. No token falls from it, though the gold clatters and the two gemstones as well fall as its flesh dissapears.
Ignoring this, she looks at the recessed wall behind her, a plank is shimmed into it forming a sort of shelf. Some support beam, she guesses. Impa sighs, a bit frustrated. Looking around and pressing on the brick, nothing happening – pressing on the brick above her to no result, she begins descending.
The descent feels much shorter, but Impa shrugs it off. Reaching the bottom, she extinguishes the lantern and makes her way through the crawlspace just by the light coming from the trapdoor.
Descending the ladder, she graciously breathes the fresh air – although a faintly sulfurous smell sometimes wafts with the breeze, probably something to do with the algae.
Looking around for any more signs inside the building, but seeing nothing, she exits and climbs on her horse.
Turning to look at the sunset, she pulls the reigns and her horse begins making its way to the lake's gate.
Maybe the girl went around the west side of Lon Lon to get to where all the construction is happening, she thinks.
She turns left outside of the lake, scanning the horizon but not seeing anything before she rounds the tall stone walls of the ranch's lookout tower, heading north along the west wall.
The soft clucking of cuckoo's in Malon and Talon's home echoes faintly against the walls.
Zarah sits on the couch across from Malon, who stares at the letter from Ruto. Zarah looks at the floor.
Eventually, Zarah looks up, about to say something, but she bites her tongue, looking at Malon for a while more then looking back at the ground. After a while, Malon eventually sets the letter on the cushion next to her, leaning forward, her face in her hands.
They sit silently for a long time.
Eventually, the Skulltula in Zarah's basket scuttles lightly."I should probably get back home."
Zarah says quietly.
Malon, eyes closed, wipes her tears, nodding.
Zarah picks up the basket, standing up and and slinging her bag around her shoulder.
Malon stares at the floor.
Zarah stands for a while, then approaches slowly.
Malon continues staring, but Zarah sits next to her. Zarah puts a hand on her back, Malon jumps a little and stands up quickly. Zarah looks up at her. Malon stares away."Please go."
Malon says.
Zarah takes a deep breath, standing up.
She looks at the back of Malon's head for a while, then up to a few cuckoos peeking over the loft, she clears her throat."Malon-"
Zarah starts, but Malon just says, "Go."
Zarah looks down breifly, but leaves quietly.
As Impa heads up the West wall of Lon Lon, which is being slowly replaced with stone, she scans the valley leading to Gerudo Canyon. Seeing nothing, she keeps watching until her horse carries her over the hill, rounding the corner along the shorter northwest wall.
She sighs a bit of relief hearing the hammering and talking echo from the taller interior wall, but turning the corner immediately heads for the large gate and dismounts. About to open the door, for some reason instinctively wanting to find Malon. She sees Zarah's horse out of the corner of her eye, behind a lean-to along the North wall.
Impa opens the door and heads up, realizing she doesn't actually know where Malon lives or if she is even allowed to be here. Regardless, she continues up the path and sees Anju sitting outside, on a bench across from the door to the large farmhouse."That's Malon's house right?"
Impa asks. "It is. I guess she's meeting with someone right now."
Anju replies. Impa walks over and sits, looking at Anju, although her eyes wander toward the gate leading to the middle area of the ranch, where construction can be heard."I'm not going to get chased out of here if someone sees me, am I?"
Anju shakes her her head and frowns slightly."No, I guess the people who were most suspicious of you were the Head Carpenter and his men. They probably won't be around much longer."
Impa quickly looks to Anju, "They aren't going to-"
but Anju waves a hand, "No, no. We have all had enough violence. The Head Carpenter seems to be dilerious, but his men do seem set on leaving to go build some sort of monastary."
Impa looks at Anju as if she told a terrible joke. "Monastary?"
"I guess they are in a fervor. They say all this happened because some sect of the Sheikah betrayed the royal family – of course, they think you and I are part of it."
Anju says as a cool breeze cuts through the humid air.
After a silence, Impa asks, "We aren't, are we?"
Anju looks at her out of the corner of her eyes, although she doesn't say anything.
Impa simply stares at the wall of the farmhouse. She is quiet for a while, then hears footsteps inside – the two of them look to the door expectantly, and it opens, Zarah walking out. Malon is behind her."Zarah, I was so worried, I didn't know where you were."
Impa says a bit breathlessly, standing up and walking over, although Zarah just raises her eyebrows at Impa, looking at her for a while and then walking away rather quickly.
Impa looks to Malon, who watches the girl wander down the path and, a few moments after she has passed the corner, turns to Impa, bowing a bit. "I was a bit surprised she came to me as well."
Impa scratches her forehead, "What was that all about?"
Malon looks at Anju, then Impa, shrugging a little. "She seems very restless, I guess I just offered her some advice."
"Huh."
Impa says, still staring off down the path for a while longer and breathing deeply again, sighing then turning to Malon. "Well, I'm glad she is safe."
Malon nods and bows slightly again. "By the way, Impa, I'm not sure if Dreza told you yet, but we do have pledges from the Zora and Goron to help if anything happens."
Impa looks at her, somewhat confused but then says, "Oh. That's good. I had not heard anything. I guess my nerves have been a bit high, but everyone seems confident."
Malon again nods. "We still have obstacles, but-"
Malon pauses.
She looks at Anju, "Did you need to speak with me, Anju?"
Anju stands, "Yes - well, I suppose from what you said, my questions are answered though."
Malon smiles at her, "Well, you are welcome to come in for tea if you'd like."
Anju looks at Impa, who is looking at the ground. "Well, I should finish moving my things. Impa, would you mind helping me?"
Impa looks at Anju, then to Malon who says to them both, "Well goodnight then, I am pretty tired after all."
and quickly bows and returns inside.
You think it is alright?" Impa asks, looking past the farmhouse gate. Anju assures her, "
It should be fine. Maybe an odd look, but like I said, it was the Carpenter and his men that were leading the charge against you, and they're currently jailed in the lookout tower."
Oh.
Impa nods, and the two make their way to the gate. "" Anju says, "
It will close behind us, but I'm sure Malon won't mind if we prop it open while we move things, it won't take more than a couple trips." Anju, having opened the gate, pulls a latch that prevents it from swinging. Impa follows her to the right, past a few spots of dirt in the grass where some shanties have already moved to the North partition.
Wait.
"" Impa says, stopping. Anju stops as well and turns to her. "
Your husband." Impa says.
Yes.
Anju sighs, she simply says ""
He is leaving with them? To the monastary?
""
I'd rather not talk about it.
Anju looks down at the ground between them.
"" she says after a while.
I've just got to move my bed and desk, they are a bit awkward.
Impa walks towards her, intending to comfort her, but Anju just turns and starts walking. Impa pauses but follows quietly. Reaching her shanty, a cart outside, a large torch burning in the corner of the small streets of shacks and another two doors down, Anju opens the door, saying back to Impa, who stands back a ways, ""
Impa?
Impa can hear Anju moving some things around inside, but she feels a lump in her throat and just stares, looking at the long shadow cast by the lookout tower creeping toward Anju's shanty. The torch light flickering against the almost decayed-looking wood of the shacks. The breeze has grown chilly, and Impa looks up at a Guay that squawks, flying over a completed stone portion of the West wall. "" Anju calls.
Impa, are you alright?
Impa watches the Guay fly over the wall. As passes over, flying east, she watches as an arrow hits it, causing it to nearly fall, although it flaps faster, keeping itself upright. Another arrow hits it, this one causing it to fall backward and down into the wall, falling behind a shanty two doors down.
For some reason, watching the Guay fall reminds her of a flash of fear she had in the shaft of the laboratory tower, irrationally worried she might fall down it.
"" Anju asks.
Yeah,
Impa covers her mouth and is quiet for a few moments. "" she says, "
Some kid just killed a Guay." She turns, looking to the east end of the camp past some of the shacks. "
Ah. Malon pays well for anyone who does." Anju says, approaching Impa. "
She hates them, deeply. A bit more than I understand. I do have some ideas to keep them out, though. We'll have to talk about that..."
I suppose if your idea works, you'll be paid even better.
Impa turns to Anju. "" Anju waves her hand, "
I don't want pay, they are a bother." Impa shrugs and walks to the door of Anju's shack. "
Well, lets get moving, it is getting dark." she says. Anju passes her and pushes her desk, although it splinters the plank floor and makes a loud crack, Impa quickly comes in, asking, "
Is it empty? We should tilt it on its side onto the cart."Oh."
Anju says. "It is empty, yes."
"Well, wheel the cart over and I'll tip it over."
Impa says.
Anju does, and Impa carefully lifts the table up on one side. As Anju pushes the cart in the door, the two hear some muffled yelling from the lookout tower.
Anju looks off towards it, but looks back. Impa turns the table over onto the cart and pushes the end with drawers a bit further onto the cart. Anju begins to pull it out the door, but as she does they hear the yelling get louder, the door of the lookout tower must have opened and people are yelling outside.
Pulling the cart out the door, Anju does look to Impa, who tries to see past one of the shanties.
They hear someone yelling about Malon, and Anju begins to walk past the shanties, Impa following.
Rounding the last structure, Anju and Impa see four guards standing outside the lookout tower in front of Malon and another, the Head Carpenter having wrested a spear and swinging it at the guards. "She will doom you all!"
he screams, the guards backing away.
He suddenly leans forward, vomitting – the guards take the opportunity to surround him, two to the side and two in front, spears drawn.
He screams again, regaining his posture and swinging the spear in an arc, disarming all four guards. "She'll kill you all! She is a witch!"
He yells, lifting his arm and stabbing the guard to his left in the face, drawing back and doing the same to the guard approaching behind him, "She will kill you! She'll kill you! Look at what she has done!"
he screams, piercing the guard's skull quickly and drawing the spear back as if stabbing fish in a barrel.
The two in front of him, terrified, run away as he turns to Malon and the remaining guard."Look at the bloodshed she has caused!"
The carpenter yells. The remaining guard approaching, spear drawn above his shoulder, but the carpenter smacks him across the face with his spear before his arm can fall, rounding a kick and sending him toppling backward, dazed.
Impa looks at Anju, who looks terrified. Impa grabs her blade and steps, slightly crouched, sideways, rounding behind the carpenter, although Malon steps forward, unphased, ignoring Impa."You witch! Look what you have done to these poor men!"
The carpenter screams at her, raising his spear. "You won't get away with this! I will fulfil the prophecy myself!"
As his arm raises higher and begins to come down, Impa tackles him from behind and to his right, although he remains standing, as if she had jumped into a solid wall – in a split second she reaches up toward his arm to stop him, but he plunges his spear down into Malon's chest – with nearly his full weight bearing down, the spear pierces through her and into the ground behind her.
Malon doesn't respond."Ghoul! Poe! What are you, foul thing!?"
the carpenter yells as Impa stretches her arm and pulls it around, stabbing him in the stomach. He lets out a short croak and Impa, feeling blood beginning to drip down her arm, withdraws as he collapses to his knees, hunched forward, coughing.
Impa looks to Malon, who glares at her, stepping back. The spear through her chest, lodged in the ground behind her, passes through her the same way Nabooru's blade passed through Ganondorf.
Impa stares as Malon simply turns walking back toward the farmhouse.
The carpenter falls forward ridiculously, his head hitting the ground in front of him and then his body collapsing to one side as the two guards who had fled return, joining the one who had fallen to Malon's side and now stands, they all look down at the carpenter.
From a distance, a few civilians had looked on but they all quickly disappear out of sight."Thank the land he missed her."
One guard says, another looks up to Impa, "Who are you? You saved her!"
Impa just looks down at the carpenter. Blood pools around him, he twitches. A disgusting sound comes from his throat.
After a while, she turns and returns to Anju. The guards look at eachother and begin carrying the carpenter's body to the lookout tower wordlessly. Returning to Anju, although not looking at her, she asks, "You saw that, right?"
Anju is quiet. Impa looks at her. "The spear passed through her as if she weren't even there. You saw it, didn't you? Did you know about this?"
Anju shakes her head, watching the guards carry the carpenter away. The two stand there for a while."It should effect the sages and Ganondorf. I don't know why it would effect Malon."
Anju says."Could Nemek have granted her some kind of power?"
Impa asks.
Anju shakes her head. "Nemek doesn't grant powers, or even really have any power other than-"
She pauses. "Some forms of trickery, but they are minor abilities."
They stand for a while."You know that for sure?"
Impa asks
Anju nods.
Impa stands for a while, then begins walking back to Anju's shack, Anju follows."From the look she gave I don't think she'll be answering questions about it."
Anju says.
Impa shivers, feeling cold, although the night is not yet fully dark.
Approaching the cart outside Anju's door, they pause for just a few moments, but Impa simply grabs the handle of the cart."Well, hold it upright while I pull."
Malon finds herself in hallway, blue walls descending.
She sees Nemek standing next to her in the corner of her eye, and begins to walk down. Her footsteps do not echo – they barely make a sound. Passing quickly through a long, dark chamber, she enters the hallway at the other end.
Nemek follows silently as she steps forward onto a long stone dock. Looking straight ahead, an abyss of black below the dock, she passes by massive bird-like statues and stops at the end, quickly hopping across onto an ancient wooden boat, the deck flat, another large bird adorning the bow.
Nemek floats toward the bow, stopping as Malon joins him.
Nemek turns, and Malon looks into the red orb under the familiar purple hood, tilting her head."You didn't forget, did you?"
She asks.
Ov karsnut, eyuwar et teemiz?
Malon smiles, "Of course, silly."
Nemek now tilts its head.
Eyu warzure? Tawood bezat kashem,
tusiar preteev lech-stayn-et"What's it to you?"
Malon prods.
Nemek looks down."I'm sorry, Lukas. I didn't mean to be…"
Nemek turns, looking ahead, and whistles.
As soon as he ends the third note,
the bell on the bow chimes,
and the boat lurches upward, then forward.
Having come to the other side.
Malon stares across a vast, glowing green river – a black abyss yawning above. Blue stone and gray dirt form a cliff on either side. Stretching across the vast river, a bridge of black granite suspends souls: some, just flames floating single file; others, transluscent visages of Hylians, Zora, Gerudo, and others. Across the bridge, a sprawling maze of metal gates rises like a stepped pyramid, although it curves off into the horizon, and rises up almost into the black void above. Glowing through the topmost sections, and extending up seemingly infinitely, blue pillars of light eventually fade into the black above.
Malon stares, brow furrowed. She looks over to Nemek, who floats as if reclining on an invisible chair, an elbow held by one hand, the other holding up her head. "Rauru's design. He made sign."
Nemek says, using Malon's voice.
Malon turns black to look at him. "What…"
Malon trails off.
A bluish-gray, transluscent Moblin approaches them, looking down at her, then at Nemek. "Finally back, Lukas?"
The Moblin asks."With a rather late offering, at last, I see."
Nemek straightens and floats upward enough to be at eye level with the Moblin. "No, Eamond. Seat wants to learn. Maybe avoid some by my oversights I thought, she could -"
The Moblin snorts, downlooking to Malon."Who you do think you are, Rauru's heir?"
Malon bows, curtsying. "Ah, yes. How did you know?"
She asks, not looking up. The Moblin stiffens, looking at Nemek. "This true?"
Nemek, using Malon's voice, giggles."If you'd a bars a bets sages feast."
The Moblin stares at her a bit blankly.
Nemek giggles again.
Malon looks up, then to Nemek. "Well, who do we pay?"
Nemek, now floating down as Eamond wanders away, points to a shanty at the right of the bridge. "Girls made of dirt."
Malon breathes in and sighs deeply, turning and walking toward the bridge. Malek follows. "Don't don bad."
A broach in the shanty, Malon likes it. "Same time?"
She wretches into she shoulder bag, skulling a spell like, ton whole water.
The spear speaks dented, "Scythe man a charlatan says here, simple waves of dock pass my name under thy."
A spark begins to coil, misty swathes of seer insides about. Melak counts four spathes, two arum nears a lathe. "Hymen toils a species."
ensconce ear with clusters hearts in needle traps blossomed from the coital Loop. Hollow panes of blister wiggle back, threatening the daunts of peer. Against blue her lips adhere. Minute of the chondrite sphere says, whip lass til necks appear - words await a hole.
Some Gerudo had taken Malon's offer to help with construction for good pay. With the help of Goron, a massive stone wall was erected wrapping around the West and North of the homes. Goron worked on the wall and foundations, while Gerudo and Kakariko villagers, under the guidance of Dreza and Malon, built homes.
Still, until the wall was finished, the villagers returned to their temporary homes in the central ranch field. The Gerudo workers had returned home some hours ago.
Nabooru considered not even coming, but when she saw the fire light up a while ago, she decided to walk over from the camp.
She had arrived expecting it to be a meeting with various others, but arrived to simply find Malon sitting alone at a fire, its glow faintly illuminating the massive walls, flickering light down the alleys of the empty partly-constructed homes."How are you?"
Malon asks. Nabooru sits in a chair across from the fire. "Fine, I suppose."
"You suppose?"
Malon asks.
Nabooru shrugs."Would you mind throwing some more wood on?"
Malon asks.
Nabooru stares at her. Malon simply looks back, expressionless.
Nabooru sighs, getting up and walking to a pile of dried branches. She looks out across the field, picking some up. She can from here, somewhat lower down in the lowlands, still see the Gerudo camp. If anything, she feels unsettled at how exposed it appears from here.
Seeing most of the lamps have gone out, the last one remaining is also extinguished. She turns, walking past Malon, who now stands looking into the fire, and gently adds the branches which quickly begin to crackle. She gets goosebumps at the sound.
Malon turns to face her as Nabooru turns as well."Do you want to see my tits?"
Malon asks.
Nabooru stares at her and laughs. She looks away, frowning tightly to keep from laughing.
Malon just looks at her, tilting her head and staring – her expression isn't flirtatious or even curious, she more looks at Nabooru as if she had just asked the Gerudo to pass her a pitcher of water.
Malon just stares.
After a while, Nabooru scratches her cheek and turns to look at her. "Sure."
Her expression mostly flat, but with maybe a slight smile barely crossing her face, Malon leans forward a bit – the two of them still a yard or so apart – and lifts her shirt.
Nabooru just stares. Malon leans forward a bit more, swaying slightly. She presses her breasts together with her arms looking down at them.
After a while she looks up at Nabooru and cups her breasts in her hands, squeezing and pulling them slowly. "What do you think?"
Looking to Nabooru, she massages her breasts, and saying, her voice wavering a bit, "You can feel them if you want."
She smiles.
Nabooru breaths deeply, glancing out across the empty field, where the camp is mostly dark. She approaches the girl, their hips close, looking down to her.
Nabooru's hands slowly move up her waist and side. Malon lifts her arms, letting Nabooru's hands work their way up."Do you like them?"
Malon asks, her arms behind her head now, looking down and watching Nabooru's hands.
Nabooru doesn't say anything, but feels Malon up.
After a while, Malon takes a step back and Nabooru lets go.
Leaning forward, she asks flatly "Could you slap me, please?"
Malon looks at Nabooru, her expression flat, almost bored.
Nabooru raises her eyebrows, inhaling deeply again and stretching her back and shoulders. She almost says something, but instead looks down at Malon's chest again. Nabooru looks at her skeptically.
Malon pouts. "Please?"
"What are you doing?"
Nabooru asks, sighing.
Malon flutters her eyelashes and smiles."I need your help, Nabooru."
Nabooru sighs. "With what?"
Malon snickers, presses herself toward Nabooru further."With these, Nabooru."
Nabooru breathes deeply, running her hand through her own hair."You are so weird..."
Malon pouts again, "You don't think I'm pretty?"
Nabooru laughs. She bites her lip.
She slaps Malon's left breast rather hard.
Malon looks down. It wasn't hard enough to leave a mark."Harder, please?"
She asks, looking up again, her lips taught.
Nabooru raises her eyebrows again.
She pulls her arm back further and higher, Malon looking down to watch, she slaps Malon's left breast as hard as she dared.
The girl lets out a moan.
Malon looks down at herself for a while, quiet."Please, harder, Nabooru. Please?"
she looks up to Nabooru, now again not expressing much of anything, although her eyes are a bit glassy. Nabooru follows through, and Malon moans as soon as her palm hits her, looking down at her skin slowly turning pink.
She steps closer to Nabooru, looking up at her, pressing her breasts up, under Nabooru's.
Malon smiles. "I'm a virgin, you know."
"I don't believe that one bit."
Nabooru says.
Malon frowns, her eyebrows arching and lips pursing as she uses her hands to press herself up against Nabooru."It's true, I swear. I've been saving myself for someone like you."
she says, grinding against Nabooru. Nabooru sighs, looking away.
After a breif moment, she looks back to Malon.
She sees a tear slip down Malon's cheek.
Nabooru backs away a step, but Malon follows, pressing herself against Nabooru. "Pretty virgin tears. All for you... Please?"
Nabooru's heart is racing, she feels dizzy - but a breeze picks up.
Nabooru finds her hand moving up to hold Malon's face, the other holding the girl's hips. This is not a dream. Is it?"Do you like it?"
Malon asks."I do."
Malon smiles, more tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "I'm glad you do."
Malon says, her voice cracking. "If you hurt me more, I'll cry more for you. Just for you."
Nabooru glances across the field. Then, around the partition.
The fire has died down in height, but still burns brightly, illuminating the two as they face eachother, casting long shadows against the wall."Let me show you more."
Malon says."Is that okay?"
She asks.
Nabooru looks back at Malon, who smiles to her and pulls down her pants and underwear at once, stepping out of them.
Nabooru just watches."What about the boots?"
Nabooru asks.
Malon looks up at her, squatting to remove her shorts over the boots. "I'd like to leave them on, if that is okay."
she says, pausing.
Nabooru raises her eyebrows and shrugs. "Fine with me."
Malon finishes taking her bloomers and underwear off and stands, also taking out the tie in her hair, stretching her neck around and letting it fall over her shoulders. Malon stands still, the two looking at eachothers' bodies up and down. Nabooru looks up and down Malon's naked body - in the moonlight, white as bone.
Nabooru steps forward, lifting an hand to Malon's cheek, holding it softly for a while. Malon leans her head into Nabooru's hand, closing her eyes. Nabooru runs her hand through Malon's hair, her hand wrapping around Malon's skull, her other hand finding its way to Malon's waist again.
Malon, eyes still closed, tilts her head."Push me to the ground."
she whispers.
Nabooru hesitates, looking down at her.
Malon opens her eyes just the smallest amount."Cover me in dirt.
And grass.
And bruises."
Malon's whisper turns into a cracked voice."Until no more tears come."
Nabooru can see through Malon's mostly closed eyelids that she isn't looking at her anymore – just staring into space.
Nabooru pulls back."You aren't really a virgin, are you?"
After a few moments, Malon's eyelids flicker and she takes a few deep breaths.
She looks away with a restrained smile. She sighs. "No. You're ruining it though,"
she says with a bit of impatience.
Nabooru laughs lightly as well and Malon looks at her, actually looking embarassed and trying not to smile, folding her arms. They stand there for a while, not looking into eachothers eyes but each watching the smallest movements of the others' face.
Malon makes eye contact first. "Well. What do we do now? Go to bed?"
She asks.
Nabooru steps back, clearing her throat. She walks over and throws another branch on the pyre. It crackles, and she throws another on then turns and walks back to Malon."You lost control. I saw your eyes change. Be more careful."
Nabooru says, putting a hand on Malon's hip, pulling her closer, although gently."Are you okay to go on?"
Nabooru asks.
Malon nods, smiling widely. Nabooru breathes deeply, her hand moving up the back of Malon's neck.
She pulls Malon's hair gently, causing her to moan again, looking up to Nabooru - smiling breifly before arching her eyebrows and frowning, Malon says in a high voice, "I'm so sorry, it won't happen again. How indecent of me."
Nabooru's grip tightens, tugging Malon's hair.
She pushes Malon down by her shoulders, and Malon falls a few feet back onto the dewy grass, sliding slightly – looking up and smiling as Nabooru steps over her.
In the harsh light of the day, Malon stands in front of the lookout tower with a guard. "We will provide them six cuckoos and a cow."
The guard looks at her with an uncomfortable expression.
Malon sighs. "Blindfold them, tie their hands. Leave them a knife in a closed crate some ways away. You'll have enough time to leave on horseback."
She says."We leave the wagon?"
The guard asks.
Malon nods.
The guard shifts, "All right, miss."
He says, walking to the door of the lookout tower as Malon turns and leaves.
He looks back at her, for a while, watching her walk back to the farmhouse. He sighs, opening the door and walking in.
Opening the unlocked gate, Malon turns into the stable.
Inside, in a back stall, she begins wheeling out a cart with two massive chests. Pulling it outside, she sets off to the path to the North partition.
Approaching the declination, she holds the handle of the cart, pulling up so that it descends with her. The gate is open and, reaching the bottom, she pulls the cart back around behind her, wheeling it past the construction along the south wall and to the southwest corner.
She doesn't look around, but, approaching Anju's building, the first one completed – a simple two story building, with three others connected and mostly finished – Anju emerges from the door, having seen Malon approaching through the window."Do you need any help?"
Anju asks."Help me take it off the cart."
Malon says flatly.
Anju does, Malon having drawn the cart up to the side of Anju's door. Setting it down, they look at the chest."I have two more for you."
Malon says. Anju looks at her, but Malon just turns and takes the cart back, heading back to the barn. Anju follows.
Wordlessly, they head to the barn, lifting onto the cart another chest, pull it back and unload it, repeating the process with the last chest. Dropping it in front of the others, Malon catches her breath for a while."I'll get some water-"
Anju says, although Malon lifts and gestures with her canteen, unscrewing it and drinking. "The building next to you is also yours."
Malon says.
Anju watches Malon, whos hair, let down, shifts in the faint breeze. Malon takes a tie from her belt and ties it up into a high ponytail, a bit like Nabooru's, Anju thinks. "I have no need for it, Malon. Someone else can have it."
Anju says, but Malon turns to her, looking at her then down at the chests, gesturing at them. "Open one."
Anju leans down and does, Malon drinking more from her canteen and wiping sweat from her brow. Inside are piles of ancient books, still coated with thick dust – cobwebs stuck to some of them, many warped seemingly by humidity. The smell is overpowering, and Anju almost gags, backing away. It isn't a rotten smell, the books just smell strongly of dirt and smoke."These are from Kakariko."
Malon says, waving at them. "I will be bringing more eventually, although construction is the biggest priority right now."
Malon pulls the cart away from the chests.
Anju just stares at the open chest, Malon looking at them too."Why?"
Anju asks after some time.
Malon looks at her, although Anju just looks at the books – none with titles, although each cover, all different colors, are adorned with a Sheikah eye."I figured you'd like to read through them, maybe repair or transcribe them. I'm pretty busy lately, so I won't have the time."
Malon says. Eventually Anju looks at her, although Malon just looks at the cart, holding the handle.
They stand for a while, Malon speaks again, "I thought the building next to you here,"
she gestures, "You could make some kind of library. Maybe a workshop as well. I'm sure there are various potions, spells, mechanical or technical things in the books."
Anju looks at Malon, who still doesn't look back."Thank you, Malon."
Malon shrugs. Anju wipes her eyes, and does say, "I did have some ideas to stop the guay from coming through."
Malon finally looks at her, "That's exactly the kind of thing I was hoping you'd be able to help with, with the aid of these."
Anju looks back at Malon, looking into her bright blue eyes before she turns away and starts pulling the cart. Anju, still speechless, just stands for a while watching Malon head back.
Nabooru, Impa, Dreza and Sahran – a Gerudo a bit older than Nabooru who had taken over her teaching position - sit in the pavilion. It has been an overcast day, probably early afternoon. Impa, Sahran and Dreza play cards while Nabooru reads."The spy's back."
Impa says, laying down a card and drawing one, reordering her hand. Sahran and Dreza look at eachother."That's a sentry, Impa."
Dreza says, pointing at the card.
Impa smiles a little, gesturing with her cards in hand toward the ranch. Dreza and Sahran look, seeing Zarah riding her horse back to the ranch."Nabooru, you should go see what's up."
Sahran says.
Nabooru ignores her, turning a page.
Sahran looks at Impa, who also doesn't respond.
Dreza plays a card, and Sahran lays out her hand, knocking once on the table and standing up."I'll go."
Nabooru says, placing a bookmark and setting her book down silently, standing. She walks away quietly into the camp.
Sahran watches her go."You can still clean up, Sahran."
Impa says.
The Gerudo turns, looking down at the hand she laid down.
She sits back down. "I'll start over, if that's fine."
she says, discarding her hand. Dreza clears her throat."Fine with me."
Impa says."Same."
Dreza adds, looking to Sahran.
Sahran draws a new hand.
…
Nabooru walks through the central aisle of the camp, seeing Zarah heading to the south gate, carrying nothing. No basket, no shoulder bag, not even a canteen.
Nabooru reaches the last two tents, watching Zarah turn the corner of the gate."Where are you sneaking off to?"
Nabooru asks.
Zarah jumps a little, but stops and turns."Oh. Its just you."
"Yup. Just me."
Nabooru says.
Zarah rolls her eyes, turning to continue walking."Hey."
Nabooru says firmly.
Zarah stops, letting out a dramatic sigh."What?"
Nabooru shakes her head. "Where are you going?"
"To see something."
Zarah says.
Nabooru swallows her eyes wander to the river."Gonna stop me?"
Zarah says, hands on her hips.
Nabooru sighs, turning and waving a hand, heading back to into the camp. Zarah turns and walks down the river quickly.
Nabooru returns to the table, the three women sit still as stone.
She sits, sighing and putting her book in her bag.
Dreza looks at her, concerned.
Nabooru, seeing Dreza look over, shakes her head."I don't know what has gotten into her."
Dreza scratches her neck."Dodongo jerky."
Impa says flatly.
Nabooru glares.
Dreza chuckles.
Sahran clears her throat.
Impa looks around at the three Gerudo.
Nabooru stands up and storms off to her tent.
Dreza looks up to the ceiling.
Sahran raises her eyebrows, although she simply lays down a card.
Impa looks down at the card."Serves me right, I suppose."
She discards her hand, standing up.
Sighing heavily, Impa grabs her bag and leaves.
Dreza stares at Impa, who wanders toward the river throught he main aisle of the camp. "None of my business."
Sahran says cooly, playing a card.
Dreza looks down at it, folding her hand."Probably don't want another round, do you?"
Sahran asks, looking at Dreza.
Dreza tilts her head. "You deal."
"anchor-11">
Zarah stands alone at the top of the candle-lit stairwell in front of the door to Ruto's chamber. She sweats in the stagnant air, staring at the needle-thin cracks on the door, glowing with sunlight yet barely illuminating the dark stairwell. She takes a deep breath, lifting her hand to the door. She knocks twice.
Waiting.
Hearing nothing after nearly a minute, she knocks again, three times, although she knows there will be no answer. She breathes deeply again, her neck feeling tight, a little dizzy, she reaches for the handle and feels the cold, rough metal in her palm.
She turns it slowly, but it stops and jams. She sighs.
Scratching her head, she turns and reaches into her bag, producing a small crowbar built by Moblin that had been sold to her by a Deku Scrub. She places it in between the metal frame of the door and the wall, punching it a few times with the side of her fist.
Pausing for a moment, looking at the candle-lit recess in the stone wall perpendicular the door. She never noticed the last drawing – or maybe it wasn't there before.
On the page, a jagged, oblong pentagon, scrawled with bright red pastel, without a signature.
She looks away, pulling the crowbar's long end away from the door with too much force, as the metal frame of the door easily collapses into the rotten wood which cracks loudly.
She falls toward the drawing, catching herself with a hand although nearly twisting her ankle as she falls forward, the crowbar slipping and falling, her hands bracing herself to the recessed ledge, it clangs loudly, falling down the stairs.
Bracing herself and swallowing, nearly choking, she listens to the clanging as the crowbar descends the long, winding stairwell. Some part of her begins counting with her breath – Impa having the other day privately taught her a lesson that she, no longer being in training, had missed: about timing moves in a fight, actions in battle, or sentences in a negotiation, to one's breaths.
She gulps again, stabilizing and wiping sweat from her brow, still counting as the crowbar continues clanging down the stairwell, it stops as she hits four. The silence returns, although a frigid breeze crosses her back from the damaged door.
She turns to the door, sunlight now beaming through the fold in the frame. She takes a long, deep breath and stands straight, facing the door and feeling the odd combination of cold air yet warm sunlight hit the side of her midriff.
She pushes the door open, it makes a harsh scratching sound on the stone floor as she steps up into the light of the Zora Queen's cold, silent chamber which stretches, seeming somehow larger than she remembers – although it is probably just the brightness.
Zarah squints and looks right to the aquarium, her eyes tingling as they adjust. In front of the aquarium on the east wall, a massive pillar of red ice reaches up to the ceiling. Zarah walks toward it slowly.
Standing in front of the pillar, she stares up at Ruto.
The Zora Queen's eyes look down into hers from inside the ice.
After a while, her eyes leave Ruto's, looking to the fish in the aquarium behind the red ice for a while.
Zarah sighs. She turns, looking around the chamber. The fountain agains the north wall still flows. Fish in both aquariums swim aimlessly. After a long time, she turns to the massive window, the quickly setting sun now illuminating the north ceiling. She stands, walking slowly but casually to the window.
She looks down at the lake.
Three Zora families – two adults each and seven young Zora sit around a fire on the stone dock. Zarah takes a deep breath, looking around the lake, seeing a few swarms of fish. Above the lagoon in the east, she sees Makaru, sitting on the old tree, reading.
Malon sits under a ramada constructed to the south of the ranch, reading a Sheikah book. Past a gate that had been constructed somewhat hastily by Goron, Zora, Deku scrubs and Hylians work on construction of the market. On the other side of the ramada, two Deku scrubs and a Zora speak with two outlanders about investment in the market. The outlanders each brought three large, cloaked figures, likely bodyguards.
To Malon's initial surprise, at some point a few Gerudo and Hylian families had crossed paths, maybe along Zora river. On the East side of the ranch, some parents stand around, the Gerudo teaching the Hylians to cook over grills while the kids play some Hylian kickball. Malon sips tea.
After a while, a Deku scrub approaches Malon."Ma'am, a request!"
The scrub squeeks.
Malon looks up from her book somewhat annoyed."These gentlement are absolutely interested! However, they have asked if it is alright for them to set up a camp near Lake Hylia."
The scrub says, bowing profusely.
Malon closes the book with a thumb in it and turns to the scrub. "I've told you, the committee is in charge, not me."
she says a bit impatiently, the scrub starting."That said, the Lake is the jurisdiction of the Zora. I do doubt anyone else has a stake in it. Go ask a Zora."
The scrub continues to bow, "Of course, of course! Sorry to bother you, ma'am!"
it says, turning and quickly waddling away.
Malon watches for a few moments and opens her book again, but just a few moments later, Baron approaches her. She inhales deeply, trying to hide her frustration, and turns to him.
He stands with his arms folded, and can tell Malon is annoyed. "We have a visitor approaching from the fortress."
Malon's eyebrows raise high and they stare at eachother for a while. Baron just turns and leaves.
Malon places a bookmark and shoves the book into a shoulder bag she picks up as she stands. She glares to the top of the lookout tower of the ranch, looking down and seeing a few guards leaving it and walking toward her quickly.
She begins walking to the south gate quickly, waving dismissively at the guards as they approach, saying "Tell the Gerudo to hide for a while. Now."
One of the guards begins to speak, raising a hand, but Malon continues swiftly walking away and they guards make their way to the east where the kids and parents are gathered.
Malon rounds the gate, passing the table with the scrubs, zora and outlanders, who look at her curiously. She quickly passes a Zora woman who had set up a tent with some flowers, taking a watering can and walking quickly around the west wall.
Turning the corner, she walks north along the wall, glancing but not facing a figure on horseback emerging from the canyon to the west. She continues walking up the North wall, slowing a bit and stopping half way up, watching the figure turn down the south slope, making sure they see her and turning to feign watering a bush of weeds.
She hears the figure on horseback approaching her and turns."Oh! Why hello there!"
Malon says cheerily.
On the horse, a lanky, Gerudo woman with a similar long, high ponytail as Nabooru although notably blonde, slowly makes her way up the slope to Malon."I haven't seen anyone quite like you around here. Are you from the outer lands?"
Malon asks, sizing the woman up.
The woman seems unamused and cold, Malon actually feels rather intimidated but watches her approach. She seems a bit older than Nabooru or Impa, although it might just be because of how tall she is and her thin, taught features.
The woman stops in front of her, looking at her, then turning and surveying the distance to the south.
For a while, they stand silently."Did you come through for trade? I didn't know word had spread so fast about our new market!"
Malon says, trying to retain her cheery, childish tone.
The woman glares at her. Malon cringes but smiles."They're setting things up around the south bend there,"
Malon says, "I should warn you though, there are some shady looking men in cloaks. I think they are just bodyguards, but they look kind of scary."
The Gerudo just barely smirks, looking Malon up and down."You're Talon's daughter, aren't you."
The woman says.
Malon can't really hide her surprise. She hesitates, but says "Ah, yes. The name's-"
The Gerudo interupts her, "Malon."
Malon's mouth hangs open for just a moment, before she forces a smile. "Yep. That's me."
The woman tilts her head back but stares at Malon."Why are you pretending you don't know who the Gerudo are?"
she asks.
Malon's mouth opens, but she exhales a genuine laugh and looks away, smiling. "A bit nervous, to be honest. That's all."
The woman breathes in and out deeply, looking south."I did want to try to speak with Ingo. I hoped he isn't sore about the cows we stole."
Malon just barely remembers years ago when three cows and a bull had gone missing, waving a hand, "Oh that was ages ago. He's probably forgotten. I don't think he even suspected they were stolen."
Malon looks at the Gerudo."That can't be all you came to talk to him about though. I can bring you to him, he might be napping but…"
she stops, the Gerudo watching her closely. "Well, he also did invite Talon back, so you could talk to Talon if Ingo isn't around."
The Gerudo stares at her for a while more, eventually just saying, "Sure."
"Alright."
Malon says, turning, starting to walk south along the wall, the Gerudo following slowly.
As they round the south edge, the Gerudo slows a bit more, looking suspiciously at the Zora, scrubs, Hylians and cloaked figures, some of whom also stare back with concern breifly.
Approaching the South gate, the Gerudo stops, and Malon, about to continue walking, stops as well, turning."What's wrong?"
Malon says, smiling.
The Gerudo looks into the ranch, seeing the houses and guards. She looks down to Malon.
Malon tilts her head.
The Gerudo looks around the market area, then back to Malon. "Maybe we could meet out here."
She says.
Malon shrugs. "Alright. Should I have Talon come if Ingo isn't around or awake?"
The Gerudo nods.
Malon turns, heading to the farmhouse as a guard approaches, following by her side. Once out of earshot, she asks, "Have the Gerudo in the North hidden as well?"
The guard replies flatly, "Yes."
They approach the gate, Malon opening it, she turns to the guard. "Go ask her if she'd like some lemonade or tea. Be polite. Maybe offer pastries."
She says. "No baklava, though."
The guard nods, heading to the south as Malon heads into the house, returning with Talon."I have no idea what she wants."
Malon says. "She seems to know something is up, but..."
Talon rather nervously says, "Idunno, Malon. I'm not a good liar, you know that."
Malon sighs. "You aren't."
"It shouldn't be too hard. If Nabooru is brought up, just deny it. She already knows I lied a bit, but she also seems intimidated by the guards and how many people are around. If she presses too hard about the Gerudo, I'll just tell her she won't return in one piece if she insists on being rude."
Talon sighs. "This is why I didn't want to get messed up in all this."
Malon takes a deep breath as well as they pass through the south gate, seeing the woman sitting alone at a table without an umbrella, far from everyone. "I know, dad. It won't be long."
she says, looking at Talon, who just looks off to the horizon as they approach the table and sit.
For a while, they are all silent, none of them looking at eachother. Just a few moments later, a guard brings a pitcher of iced water and some glasses for them and leaves quietly."Why do you think I am here?"
The Gerudo asks, looking off toward the southwest guard tower.
Malon and Talon look at eachother breifly.
Talon says, "Well, I dunno. Are you needing to buy livestock or somethin'?"
The Gerudo doesn't respond, but pours herself some water, not drinking any though, watching the ice in the glass."Well,"
Talon says, looking at Malon, "Malon says you know who I am, so I guess there's no point introducin' myself. What's your name?"
Malon pours herself some water as well, as does Talon. Malon drinks, watching the Gerudo."Yorai."
The Gerudo says, drinking as well.
The three sit quietly for a while more."Ingo isn't here, is he?"
The Gerudo asks, although it comes off more as a statement.
Talon looks at Malon nervously.
Malon, unphased, says, "I'm sorry to have been dishonest earlier,"
the Gerudo looks at her. "Ingo passed away recently. It's been hard on everyone."
Yorai looks at her for a bit longer, then back to her glass."Has Ganondorf been speaking with you?"
she asks, not looking up. Talon looks to Malon, who shakes her head. Talon says, "No, we haven't heard from him in…"
he pauses."Months, really."
Malon finishes.
Yorai's brow furrows slightly. The three sit again for a long time in silence. Yorai looks toward the tower again, seeming almost sad."We had a lot of Gerudo go missing recently. All at once, nearly half of them were gone one morning. Wagons and horses, and supplies were gone as well."
Yorai says solemnly.
Talon looks at Malon, who very slightly shrugs at him."I'm sorry to hear that. Was there some kind of disagreement?"
Talon asks.
Yorai is quiet for a while. She eventually turns to Talon, her dire expression sorrowful now, her eyes almost teary."I guess, I just wanted to know if you'd run into any of them."
she says, breathing deeply and turning away, quickly wiping a tear that escaped.
Talon looks, rather terrified, at Malon, who also looks shocked, but shakes her head and mouths the word "No."
Talon, with a strained expression, says "I'm sorry. We haven't seen any Gerudo."
Yorai breathes deeply. "I just wanted to know if they are safe. I…"
she pauses. "It might be impossible, but, I wonder if my sister, Nabooru had gone with them..."
She says, putting a hand to her mouth and breathing deeply again.
Talon, wide eyed, stares at Malon."Talon, you can go ahead on back."
Malon says, drinking water as Yorai turns away. Talon quickly, almost comically gets up and walks, almost runs, away.
Talon having left, Malon looks at Yorai curiously."She only has one sister. You're a decent actress."
Yorai's eyes widen somewhat, then sharpen."So. What else do you know of her?"
Yorai asks, her expression steely again."Anything you want."
Malon says.
Yorai stares.
Malon pours herself a more water, despite her cup being still mostly full, saying "A bit indecent of you to claim to be her sister, though. You shouldn't lie about such a sacred bond."
Yorai exhales a laugh."So she is alive, and lead them away."
"Yes. Although she is more occupied with planning to kill Ganondorf than anything. She has consulted with me about a plan, as I deal with him regularly."
Malon says.
Yorai takes a deep breath."You despise them both, I assume."
Malon says."Despise,"
Yorai pauses. "I don't know if that is the right word. They are…"
she thinks. "Inconvenient."
"I agree."
Malon says, looking at Yorai. "I deal with them both regularly, funny enough. We could take them both out of the equation."
Malon smiles at Yorai, who stares at her coldly.
Yorai sips water, looking into the town through the gate.