Chapter One
A night spent rejoicing and running
Making pains not to step on the barkeeper Telma's cat as it darted out through the closing door, Shad trod unsteadily around the dimly lit bar. He weaved through the bar's noisy patrons, narrowly avoided a bulky Goron perched precariously on a barstool, and finally stumbled his way back to the table at the very back of the bar. Having made it, he carefully lowered the tray he carried onto the table, taking care not to spill the drinks balanced upon it, and slumped onto his seat.
"One glass brandy," he pronounced, sounding very satisfied with himself, "two beers, and one mug warm milk."
"You're sure you don't want anything stronger?" said Ashei, showing vague concern as she reached along the table for her drink.
"Quite sure," said Shad.
"Seriously… I'll swap if you want." Her tone of voice made the gesture sound like a bloody sacrifice.
Shad shook his head. "I'll pass." With what he considered an air of finality, he raised his glass and took a deep sip from it, glancing around the table.
There were three sitting at the table: Auru, a weathered, white-haired man in his seventies, perpetually awake yet always looking tired. To his right sat Ashei, a young woman from the mountains, dressed in chain mail armour with its share of bloodstains but not a scratch to show for them. And to her right, Shad, a young man also in his early twenties, whose concern for his appearance went no further than bathing every couple of days, his clothes cheap and indistinguishable from anything else being worn in the bar.
Telma's Bar was located just off the southern thoroughfare of Hyrule Castle Town. The proprietor Telma's sense of humour, taste in décor, and almost-reasonable prices made the bar a popular haunt for all sorts, from off-duty soldiers who blamed their superiors for every wrong in the world, to youngsters celebrating their legal transition to adulthood in the only way they knew how, to Gorons being both amused by and approving of the sight of a human barkeeper offering rocks as part of her evening menu. Tonight the bar's patronage numbered around fifteen, which was excellent for the small group sitting at the back of the bar; quiet enough to hear themselves speak, but loud enough not to be overheard easily.
"Well," said Auru, glancing at his pocket-watch, "it is about eight o'clock now."
"Yes, quite true," said Shad. "I don't suppose you think that Rusl has… run into trouble or some such?" (Rusl was the fourth member of the group, a man in his forty-first year from the Ordon province, technically so far south that it wasn't part of Hyrule.)
"Hope not," shrugged Ashei, swirling her glass around. "But it's not a good time to be wandering around at night. I mean, there were dark monsters roaming around these streets just a week ago… and Hyrule Field is more dangerous than ever, yeah?"
"Yes," said Auru. "I was planning on going to Lake Hylia myself… I wanted to see if the rumours about the water flow were true, and perhaps set my sights east… but I've decided to postpone that until I hear the fields are safer again. Although…" He looked slightly guilty – an expression the other two had never seen him wear before.
"Yes?" said Ashei.
"I got here before you, and was speaking with Telma – she's just gotten back from Kakariko, of course – and she had some… encouraging… news about Hyrule Field." He raised his brandy glass and took a long sip from it.
"Oh, yes?" said Shad. "Do tell, do tell; we could all use some good news."
Auru swallowed loudly. "So, I heard that an acquaintance of Telma's defeated the beast that had been attacking tourists on the bridge."
"Oh, yes?" said Ashei.
Auru nodded. "Yes, you remember that young man who came by here the other day? His name was Link…"
Ashei's eyebrows elevated. "You don't mean… the hero-type?" One or two days ago, a young man who looked almost her age had waltzed in, dressed up as the legendary hero. "Unbelievable… so that getup wasn't just a costume…" She took another gulp.
"Well now, if that isn't a bit of a shock!" said Shad. "I was rather snotty to him, if I recall…" He looked anxious now, and he gripped his mug handle tightly. "I suppose I should apologise to him when I see him next… I'd hate for him to resort to fisticuffs or some such!"
"I'd love to see him try," said Ashei. "A bit of proper horseback training and I could have taken on that beast, no problem. He won't be picking any fights while I'm here, yeah?"
Evidently this was supposed to have cheered Shad up, but he still looked quite worried. "How was I supposed to know?" he muttered to himself. "He had to dress up like that… I mean, all the other swordsmen around here look the part… he has to understand… oh dear… I hope he doesn't challenge me to a duel or…"
His morbid train of thought was interrupted by a large clay pot tumbling down from a shelf behind Auru. It shattered as it hit the grounds, sending its contents flying everywhere (only grapes, thankfully), and causing heads to turn from all sides of the bar.
"What was that noise?" someone said loudly.
Like a pained spirit, Telma materialised upon the scene, kneeling down and sweeping all the badly bruised fruits into a pan. "Not a problem," she was saying, "shelf's been on a slant for years… meant to get it repaired…" Auru, Ashei and a nearby Goron joined her on the floor, while Shad sat and watched, dazed, but glad of the distraction.
Five minutes later, after there was nothing to show for the accident but a few pieces of clay lying about, Rusl finally arrived, soaking wet but struggling to contain the huge grin on his face.
"You look happy," Telma began, as Rusl threw himself around her.
"Colin's alive!" he proclaimed ecstatically, releasing her and then turning and hugging Shad tightly.
"Your… son?" Shad was clearly struggling to breathe; Rusl was much stronger than he ever intended to be.
"Yes, it's just wonderful!" Rusl circled the table and did the same to Ashei, who returned the hug somewhat unenthusiastically, and Auru, who smilled and pat him on the back reassuringly. Seemingly exhausted from this display of joy, Rusl fell into his own seat, and grabbed the glass of beer Shad had left out for him, draining it in seconds.
"Excellent news, honey," said Telma warmly. "You need anything else?"
"No, I'll be fine, shouldn't overdo it… almost never drank at home," said Rusl leaning back and stretching his arms.
"Well," said Auru encouragingly, "do tell, then."
"Well," said Rusl, looking around the table, "I got a letter from my wife yesterday morning. She said the children had been found in Kakariko Village, so of course I had to go there straight away. I followed a group of travelling salesmen to the village, safety in numbers and all… anyway, Colin's fine. He has his fair share of bruises, but he's alive and running about and that's all that matters… almost got carried off by those boar riders the day before Eldin Bridge vanished… but he didn't, that's the point, I'll have to thank Link if I see him again, oh… Colin, he looks older, as if he just grew up while I wasn't looking… of course, I'm being ridiculous, it's just my imagination; he's still a kid… actually, Telma, maybe I'll take you up on that offer. You have anything warm?"
Telma nodded. "Yes… Rusl, dear, I'm so happy for you, naturally. Do have a good evening." She swooped off, heading for the bar counter.
"Oh, I hope you didn't miss me yesterday evening," Rusl said.
"Not at all; we got your note," said Auru.
"Oh, good," said Rusl. "Sorry for being late, I meant to get here a bit earlier," he added, "but it was raining and I didn't want to run. Plus, there were more people out tonight than usual… and then somebody saw a stray dog and panicked, called it a wolf… chaos as per usual…"
"Well, it's hardly surprising, is it?" said Shad, looking slightly sour – his milk was cooling. "Everything that's happened in the last few months is quite extraordinary, to say the least. People have good reason to be on edge."
Ashei asked, "Rusl, did you mention somebody called Link?"
Rusl nodded. "Yes, he was the oldest boy to disappear from my village."
"Is he…" Ashei paused, trying to remember, "about Shad's height, about Shad's weight… age… brownish hair… does he look a bit like Shad?"
Shad appeared vaguely uncomfortable at the comparison.
"Yes," said Rusl, "that would be right. You mean to say you've met him?"
"Yes, just yesterday… I knew he had a strange accent," Ashei said. "Should have recognised it."
"We had a minor misunderstanding," added Auru. "Ah, if only you had been there."
"What an unfortunate coincidence," said Rusl, "I do hope he comes back; I must thank him for saving my son."
Nobody spoke for a few seconds. To interrupt the silence, Telma returned with another glass of beer and grabbed the empty one. She clapped Rusl on the back, and then was off again.
"My, my…" Rusl said, looking at his glass, "I do hope I don't return to my wife an alcoholic…"
"I'll keep you in check," promised Auru with vigour.
"Well, then," said Rusl, "I can see that you all have half-empty glasses now, but still, I would like to propose a toast."
"To your son?" guessed Shad, his glass raised.
"To Colin," affirmed Rusl, and they drank to that.
"This should be a happy evening for us all," said Auru. "Yet, to be the bearer of bad news… I have a feeling of ill omen." With the wisdom of his years and his experience with magic, Auru's hunches tended to be right more often than not.
"Well," said Shad, "why don't we forget that for tonight, and worry about it whenever it comes?"
A murmur of unanimous assent issued from the others.
"Yes, Shad," said Ashei, raising her glass again, "you're right as always…" She faltered, and slowly lowered her glass to the table. "That's odd. I could have sworn that I just heard…"
"…screaming?" said Rusl.
"Screaming," said Ashei.
The four of them glanced across the bar. A few people were staring at the door as if they, too, had heard something.
"At the risk of getting wet," said Auru, "I suggest we have a look."
Along with two or three other people from the bar, the four of them made their way through the courtyard immediately outside, up the staircase onto the southern thoroughfare, and stopped, looking around wildly. Along the street, heads poked out from windows and doors.
"Well, something is going on," said Ashei, as if that weren't already obvious enough.
A moment later, a man in a travelling cloak came running down from the central plaza, clearly panicked. "Monsters!" he yelled as he ran. "Monsters! Dozens of them! Save yourselves!"
Just as suddenly as they had appeared, people's heads vanished from windows along the street. Doors could be heard slamming and locking with more speed than one would believe humanly possible.
Then they appeared from the shadow: large, green lizard-like creatures, slightly taller than the average Hylian, wielding crude-looking swords and shields. There were four of them coming down the street, and from distant screams it could be inferred that they weren't just here.
"Aha, Lizalfos," said Auru quietly. "Very unpleasant creatures."
"Are they any good with their weapons?" said Rusl, not taking his eyes off the creatures slowly advancing.
"From my last encounter with them, years ago," said Auru, "yes, they are fairly experienced fighters."
Along the road, a couple dozen people who had been walking along the streets or who had left their restaurants out of curiosity were starting to panic, faced with menacing beasts and locked doors. Screams were becoming loud and pained now; someone was sure to have been hurt by now.
"I'm just going to… head back inside," said Shad nervously. He backed down the steps and darted into the bar.
"Hey! OVER HERE!" yelled Ashei, hands cupped. "Safe haven! Hurry!" Then, more quietly, "Where the hell are the town guard when you need them?"
"I wish I knew," said Rusl, his hand reaching behind his back and fingering the hilt of his sword.
The crowd shifted and people started pushing past each other in a mad rush to the steps, bounding down them as if, or rather because, it was life or death. Auru, Ashei and Rusl stepped out of the way, ushering them in.
"I'm afraid I am far too old to be of any assistance," said Auru sadly. "Thirty years ago, perhaps… but not now." He winced as an elderly man stumbled and was struck from behind by one of the lizalfos.
As Auru turned back inside, Ashei shrugged. "I hope for your sake you're good with a sword, Rusl," she said, looking at the foul creatures toppling over stalls and stamping on fallen bodies.
Rusl didn't respond, instead carefully pulling his sword from its sheath.
"Oh, Goddesses… someone, please help me…"
They both glanced around and located the source of the voice – the man in the travelling cloak who had come running down the street, shouting his warning. He was sprawled on the ground just across the road from them, his leg bent at an impossible angle. All four of the Lizalfos also seemed to notice the noise. The closest one shouted triumphantly, raised its sword, and ran full pelt for the fallen stranger.
Rusl was the first to react. He dashed across the road, reaching the other man as the Lizalfos did. The creature shrieked and raised its sword, preparing to plunge. The monster was so intent on its prey it completely failed to notice Rusl's sword moving into its throat with all his momentum behind it until it was far too late. Blood sprayed everywhere, and its eyes locked momentarily with Rusl's before glazing over. It collapsed onto the other man's body, sword still clutched tightly in hand.
"Can he be saved?" said Ashei, catching up half a second later.
"You've got a broken leg," said Rusl, addressing the man, "but you're not bleeding. You understand?"
"Yes," the man gasped weakly, and then his grasping arm fell to the ground. Ashei glanced at his face; he looked to be in his thirties or forties.
"Right," Ashei said, looking up again. The three remaining Lizalfos remained a comfortable distance away, but they looked ready to charge at the slightest sign of movement. "I think he's unconscious. We're going to have to carry him in afterwards. Rusl, you cover the left half of the street, I'll go on the right…"
"…and the other lizard slips between us and finishes this poor man off?" interrupted Rusl. "Look, I'll carry him down the stairs. It might wreak havoc on his leg, but better than dying. The stairs are narrow; you hold them off until the soldiers get here."
"With all respect, the selfish pricks aren't coming, and I'm not going to hold off three of them for more than half a minute," said Ashei, who had always held the military in contempt.
"Are we going to save this man or not?" The Lizalfols were now slowly walking towards them, their guards raised.
"Fine," said Ashei. "But he'd better really appreciate this…"
They both dropped their swords with a clatter. Ashei lifted the Lizalfols corpse, and Rusl dragged the other man out by the shoulders. As soon as he was clear, Ashei dropped the body, grabbed her sword again, and brought it up just in time to meet seven feet of psychotic lizard. The impact sent her staggering back a few steps, but when the Lizalfols made a vertical swipe, she was ready, parrying and then jabbing deep into its chest. The lizard cried angrily at her and then crumpled.
"Telma! Open up!" shouted Rusl, nearing the door. The trip down the stairs hadn't been kind to the unconscious man's leg, but Rusl's conscience was easy, given the alternative.
If Ashei had had more time, she would have tried to unfasten the shield from the dead Lizalfols. As it was, the other two were had just reached the staircase.
"Hey! Over here, you ugly worms!" she shouted. One of them turned around at the noise, barring her path; the other paid it no head and started walking down the staircase, where Rusl was still dragging the man into the bar.
Ashei locked eyes with the closer Lizalfos and approached it, sword raised, showing every intention of swiping for its neck. At the last minute, she rolled under its counterattack, bringing her sword through its left leg. The Lizalfos screamed and, unable to balance on its other foot, crashed face-first into the pavement, where it lay still.
"One got away!" she shouted, dashing down a few steps and then leaping down onto the stone pavement.
Rusl turned and slammed the door shut, just in time for the last Lizalfols to smash into it side-on. Unfazed, it turned around to face Ashei, snarling. They circled each other, slowly closing the gap until they were barely an arms-length away and she could feel the stench of its warm breath upon her face.
She swung first; it easily blocked the strike with its shield and swiped at her with its sword. Ashei's right arm twisted at an awkward angle to parry the strike, while she held her left arm out to keep her balance.
"Die… pig…" the Lizalfos hissed.
"You speak Hylian?" Ashei blurted, her sword dropping by a fraction.
Sword-first, the lizard dived into her with its full weight. The impact sent her flying back into a hard wall. She felt a sharp pain in her back, and stars clouded her vision for a couple of seconds. She blinked hard and opened her eyes to see the Lizalfos standing right in front of her. There wasn't enough room to sidestep out of the way.
"Yes… your killing is mine," the creature enunciated with relish. Sure that the fight was over, it raised its sword above its shoulder, grinning menacingly.
In a burst of adrenaline, Ashei made one last double-handed swing at the creature. It worked – the Lizalfos' raised arm had left it vulnerable on its right side, and her sword hit its neck with enough force to decapitate it, spraying her head to toe with warm blood.
Astonished and weakened by the strength of her swing, Ashei stood rooted to the spot, watching numbly as the Lizalfos' headless body overbalanced and fell away from her. She stood there for another twenty seconds, before snapping out of her trance, dropping her sword, and stumbling back to the door.
The door swung open, and Shad's head stuck out. "Ashei? Are you there – Goddesses, all that blood! I-" Looking faintly sick, he retreated back inside.
Ashei followed him in, and sank to the floor, exhausted.
Almost everyone in the bar had was a safe distance from the doorway. Auru and Rusl were leaning over the body of the man they had gone out of their way to rescue.
"Whose blood?" said Rusl, casting his eyes over the red-brown stains across her armour and face.
"Not mine," said Ashei.
"I'm going to find that doctor in the western thoroughfare," said Rusl. "Sorry I didn't come back; I left my sword at the top of the stairs."
"Okay, just watch your step… no, wait, there's one at the top of the stairs… make sure it's dead, yeah?" Ashei gasped hoarsely, sinking back and closing her eyes. "By Din, am I dead."
Rusl nodded, and slipped out of the bar unnoticed.
Auru was still gently tending to the bruises across the man's body when Rusl returned with Doctor Borville.
"Never, in all my life…" the doctor was muttering, glancing suspiciously at the customers in the bar.
"Just help the poor fellow and be done with it," said Rusl impatiently.
"Yes, yes, of course…" said the doctor, snapping out of his shell-shocked stupor. "But in these very streets! I thought the worst of it was over…"
Yawning slightly, Auru stood, stretching his legs. "Is it safe in the streets again, my friend?"
"Yes," said Rusl. Together they walked back to their table. "The Hylian guard were concentrated on the northern road – apparently they came from the castle."
"From the castle?" said Auru interestedly. "That's quite an unsettling development. How could they have gotten in there to begin with?"
"Perhaps they were working with the shadow beasts?" suggested Rusl, taking his seat.
"Surely someone would have noticed the flesh-and-blood creatures," said Auru.
"The point," said Rusl, "is that nobody can get into the castle now. Everyone's too scared to go anywhere near the main gate. They claim there are hundreds more creatures lurking just behind it, waiting."
"I see," said Auru. "In which case, I've changed my mind. It's no safer here than in the fields, so I might as be at Lake Hylia."
"What's so important there that we haven't already found?" said Rusl.
"The desert…" said Auru. "Back before your time, the superstitious blamed the desert winds for our misfortunes."
"Really?" said Rusl sceptically.
"Why, yes," said Auru. "A lot of the scavenging creatures on the plains came to Hyrule from the desert."
"And you have a hunch?" said Rusl.
"If you must put it that way," said Auru. "That, and it's been a while since I last left town. I do miss the scent of adventure." He yawned quite loudly.
"How long will you be? If we need to find you…"
Auru produced a pencil from his pocket and marked a spot on the map. "There's a lookout tower on the south side of the lake," he said. "I shouldn't be long, just a day or two."
He stood and gently straightened his robes.
"Well," said Rusl, "until later?"
"Until later," affirmed Auru.
On Auru's whispered suggestion as they brushed past each other, Shad had requisitioned Telma for another glass of brandy. Her mind still on the injured man on the floor, Telma was more than happy to oblige, pouring him two (by mistake, she said), and assuring him that they were free tonight.
"Drink this," he said, bringing the glasses down to Ashei.
Ashei was awake enough to register the second glass. "You don't drink," she managed, leaning against the wall.
"I got two by mistake," said Shad, putting it down gingerly as though it were acidic.
"Well, tell whoever put you up to this that I said thanks." She sculled the glass down, blinked hard a couple of times, and her eyes refocused.
"If it's not to rude too ask," Shad said uncertainly, "what's wrong? I'm quite certain that you've spoke of killing plenty of bandits before out in the fields."
She didn't respond, looking at her empty glass and eyeing the other one. Shad fidgeted slightly, well aware of how awkward this was.
"Why did the damn thing have to talk?" spat Ashei suddenly. "Did it go and learn a couple of words of our language just to intimidate me? Did it even really know what those words meant?"
"Well… well… I really…" Shad mouthed something, but words came out.
"I think," said Ashei, "that I need to get back to my inn." She made to stand, but staggered slightly.
"You're drunk," said Shad, "or injured, or both… Here…" He offered her his arm. Ashei slumped onto his shoulder.
"I'll be fine," she muttered.
He led her out, up the staircase and onto the main road. Outside, people were again out and about, feverishly exchanging stories and ideas with their neighbours about what had just happened. Hyrule Castle loomed in the distance, looking not so much ominous as sad and desolate, but there was little anyone could do about that. The centre of government might have been gone, but Castle Town kept running, the sun kept circling, and people kept living their lives, at least for the time being.
A/N: I selfishly request feedback of any variety, blind hatred or blind praise, thousand-word theses or one-word non sequiturs. Please.