Chapter 2 – A Feeling of Eeriness
The forest was not right, Link thought. Above his head, a magpie cackled mischievously. The forest was not right. Under his foot, the remaining leaves of autumn decayed slowly away to join their trees once more, turning into fresh nourishment. The forest was not right. It seemed so silent, so … devoid of life. It was definitely not right.
''You're quiet, Link.'' the deep voice of Rusl echoed from behind a tree where he was busy collecting wood from the ground. ''Do you feel ill again?''
He had not been feeling well these last days. Again. It was silly to say so, but it seemed as if the forest felt poorly too.
''I don't know, I think that something is wrong with the forest.'' The blacksmith came forth with his arms full of wooden sticks and boughs, bending a little under the weight. ''What … uh, makes you think that?'' With a huff he threw the wood back on the ground, right next to Link who was busy tying more of them together. Epona stood waiting at a little distance, silent as well.
As Link finished with his bundle, he stood up. ''I don't know. It's very quiet for spring.''
''The winter is just over, Nature is still asleep.'' Rusl assured with a smile. ''Don't worry, there is nothing wrong with the forest. Can you tie these together as well, please? I'll just go and check my trap.''
Even if spring had just started, Link felt as if the wintry numbness of the trees, plants and animals had not left. Maybe he was just suffering the long absence of fresh sunlight for too long now, or he was just paranoid. But spring like he knew it, especially in its early days, usually felt like a relief when it came, like the intake of a deep breath of life the forest took as the time came for it to bloom anew. This inhale he had not felt, even though it was greatly time. For him it was as if the woods mourned something, or someone, at least that was what he would have called the strange behaviour of his beloved trees and animals. Not one of the little fellows had greeted him that spring, a fact which he felt sad about. He felt more alone than ever.
''Epona.'' he said and made a quick move with his hand. Immediately the horse let herself plummet down to the moist earth, her back now reaching to his chest. Lost in thoughts with a light frown stuck on his forehead, Link worked to fasten the four big bundles to her big saddle. Quicker than he liked, they were safely attached to its leather. Now he would have nothing else to do than wait for Rusl to come back. With a deep sigh, he lowered himself at Epona's belly, leaning against her. She turned her head towards him and nudged his cheek. He nudged back with a smile.
''Yeah, I love you too, girl.'' he said, causing her to snort.
A soft ringing sound let her twitch in fright, but Link merely glanced at his left hand gloomily, where the sound came from. The strangest of things had happened to him a few nights ago as he was again tossing and turning in his sleep loaded with nightmares. When he had bolted awake, soaked in sweat, a little light had greeted his still sleepy eyes and had caused him to tumble down his bed painfully. The curious mark on his hand – he had learned from that little history book he had bought from the merchant that the shape was named a triforce – had been glowing with a golden light, warm and brightly, as if his own skin was on fire. The strange thing was, it didn't hurt, just stung a bit perhaps. He had been so perplexed that for the rest of the night he couldn't close an eye, instead searching fiercely in that green volume for a clue to all this mess.
He had found none, and the restless nights started anew. That light coming from his symbol sometimes just started to shine when he was halfway off into dreams, driving him out of his restful unconsciousness with an angry grunt annoyingly. So as it cried out for him now, he did not even bother to look at it any longer.
Epona sniffed at his hand curiously, her soft whiskers making him laugh. ''You're tickling, Epona.'' he chuckled.
Soon enough, the golden sign disappeared once more, leaving behind only the grey print on his hand. Link looked around, tried to hear some birds sing, but no sound except the chilly wind stirring the bare branches above his head rang in his ears. There was something amiss in Faron Woods, whatever his surrogate father said. He just knew it. But he didn't know why.
His look halted on the ground in front of him, at the foot of a tree. There seemed to be like a hollow in the earth, a footprint from an animal he presumed. Stirred by this thought that maybe a few had passed by anyway despite the eerie darkness that had befallen the forest, he stood up, dusted himself off, and walked over to the tree. Epona stood up as well but turned her head as other steps approached through the coppice. Link didn't turn to see the smith return empty-handed, his attention was solely fixed on his find.
''There was nothing in it. We'll have to live another few days from oat soup and dried meat I'm afraid. Link, what are you doing?''
The youth stood up, looking at him while pointing towards the ground. ''Have you ever seen such a footprint before? I certainly did not.'' His voice sounded grave. Rusl frowned as he bend down to have a look. Link was an expert when it came to animal footprints, and the tone in his last reply immediately drove him to alertness.
Scratching his beard, he frowned as he eyed the print. The hollow was small, long in shape and quite thin, resembling slightly a child's foot clad in leather shoes, but … for this it was too deep. Children this size of feet weighed normally about forty pounds, but this one would at least weigh double. If the kid had been very fat – which didn't really happen among the wood folk – the shoe size would have been bigger as well, according to a larger foot. But this one seemed to weigh much but possessing small feet. It could not be a monkey either, Link would have recognized it immediately. And the lad was too much accustomed to footprints and following them to be mistaken now.
''That's very odd.'' he answered. ''It's not an animal's, but its not human either. Could it be something dangerous?''
Link shrugged as he crouched down again, trying to find his way through the thick bushes growing around the tree. ''Let's find out.'' he said, ducking under the bush and disappearing from Rusl's sight. The smith nodded more to himself than to any one in particular – which he did quite often – and followed after his adoptive son. Epona would stay on the path but remain in earshot should they need her assistance. Her hooves were strong enough to crush a foe's skull and kill, if it were necessary and Link commanded it.
The Hylian had his eyes fixed on the muddy earth, tracking down the strange creature that had passed by. The prints were set in short distances between each other, indicating that the thing had rather short legs and moved quite quickly. At one point, the marks doubled and ran over themselves as if it had suddenly changed its mind on the destination and was not sure whether to continue or turn back.
Then the trace sat off again, straight forward through the thicket. ''How fresh is it?'' Rusl called from behind Link.
''I'd say about a day old. It passed by probably yesterday afternoon, when the sun had warmed up the mud here. The night frost has preserved the prints quite well, even under the leaves.'' Link was so focused on the track that he nearly ran into a tree where the trace seemed to halt briefly before continuing.
Confused, he stepped back, looking up into the tree's crown. It was a spruce, a rare find in Faron Woods since most of these trees were found further down to the south, in Ordona. As Link saw nothing but the tall, long trunk scarcely needled, Rusl came up to him. ''Does it stop here?''
''No, but the creature did something to this tree. See this cut and the resin running out of it?'' He ran his fingers along a deep fissure in the bark where the golden blood of the spruce was slowly trickling out. ''Either it cut the wood with a knife or, which is more likely if you consider these splinters here, it struck it with a blunt, heavy object, perhaps a club or a broad axe.''
Again, the blacksmith massaged his chin, nodding absent-mindedly. ''Hmm. If it's about a day old, there's no chance that we might catch up with it. But these prints look familiar to me, I just can't put my finger on the name … ''
''You saw one of those things before?'' Link asked incredulously. His father figure nodded slowly. ''Years ago. A small group of these monsters invaded Ordon little after you came to us. They were small but scary, wielding something that resembled an axe or a rake made of wood. What was strange though, I remember that they were blue.''
''Blue?'' Link raised an eyebrow. ''What kind of creature is blue?''
''A blo … blue …eh blin … dammit … Oh, I remember! It was called a bokoblin.'' Rusl exclaimed, snipping his fingers. ''Yes, a bokoblin. Nasty creatures they are. And dangerous for the other villagers. We should go back immediately and tell Bo what we found today, he'll know what to do.''
Link nodded. His heart had started to race as Rusl had spoken about the bokoblins. He had never seen a monster bigger than the small spiders sometimes scrambling up his ladder in search for a place to nest. Even if Rusl, being a blacksmith as well as a swordsman, schooled him in the art of the fight, he had rusted in a little over the winter, his blunt, wooden sabre hanging from its sheath in his house lazily. He would take it with him, along with his bow, if he ever wandered into the woods again, for his and Epona's own safety.
The red horse soon greeted them with a happy snort as they came out of the coppice once more, Link patting her neck lovingly. Together, they took off on the road back to Ordon, which they would reach in about an hour's travel. The sun, even if not visible through the grey, clouded sky, started to set behind the approaching hills of Ordona Province, bathing the woods around them in a sombre twilight. The two men soon had to lit their lanterns which they had stowed away in Epona's saddlebags, the strong yellow light giving them enough reassurance that they started to talk quietly after a while. No creatures of the night would approach fire.
''You know, I always feel a strange sadness as dusk falls. My father once told me that this is the only time of day that we can feel the lingering regrets of the spirits which have passed over to the Sacred Realm.''
''Why?'' Link asked, looking to his surrogate father with interest.
''He said that this is the only time when our world intersects with theirs. We feel peaceful, yet a little sad, at least that's what I feel. I believe that's how the spirits of the dead feel too. They are at peace, but their regrets from their time of life make us feel the loss. And loss is something we feel sad about. Sometimes it comes out in nightmares, sometimes in illness –''
''Rusl, I don't want to talk about it.'' Link cut him off, knowing very well where his father figure wanted this to lead. Rusl relapsed to silence, looking at his adoptive son with worry in his eyes. The lad never wanted to talk about anything that included his well-being, never wanted anyone to worry about him. But he did, deeply, for he saw Link grow up in a place that was not his. He needed adventure, stuff to see, to marvel at. No book in the world could ever show him the real world outside, Hyrule in all her grandeur and splendour.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind. ''Okay, forgive me. But Link, I wanted to ask you something. Do you still remember that good fellow Valhansen from Hyrule?''
''Of course, I bought a book from him.'' Link answered, still eyeing Rusl sceptically. This man, as much as he loved him, could sometimes be a little unpredictable.
''Well, he wasn't only a book-seller, you know, but some sort of diplomat at the same time. He told Bo and I, while we had a drink together, that the King awaited a representative of Ordon who was to travel to Hyrule and attend to the ceremony of Peace, swearing loyalty and support to the Crown. To mark their vow, they have to present a gift to her Majesty in person, and Bo chose me to do this task.''
Link's eyes immediately went wide. ''He chose you? Why not go himself, him being the mayor?'' Rusl laughed. ''Bo? No, he would get a sore behind on a horse from lack of experience, and he can't leave the village like that, with the sowing date approaching and the goats to slaughter. But, you know, neither … can I.''
Link looked bewildered. Rusl smiled at his countenance. ''I have a wife which awaits a baby in the coming months, and the tools for work need repairing or replacement. I have to go hunting for meat and help on the field.''
''But Rusl, I can do your part of the work, that's not a problem for me. And I can go hunting two times a day, if it helps –'' Rusl, however, cut him off. ''No, son. Even if that's very kind of you, I must decline. In fact, I thought that you already had an inkling of what I want you to do.''
The young Hylian's chin hit the ground, and he shook his head incredulously. ''Me? You mean, I'm going to be – no, you can't be serious. I never left the woods, I will mess up completely –''
''No you won't.'' Rusl said firmly. ''You are the most intelligent, cunning, cleverest young man I have ever seen, and you deserve the honour of being our representative. I would choose none other than you, my son.''
Link bit his lips, looking down in shame. ''I'm not even a man yet.'' he said in a soft voice. The smith tapped him on the shoulder affectionately. ''Of course you are, Link. You are young, yes, but you're mature far beyond your years. That's what matters, not the years you already wander this earth. That's just a number. So, are you into this?''
''I need to think about it first.'' Link answered truthfully. Yet inside, he was boiling. This was it, his chance to set his eyes upon the biggest and wealthiest kingdom the world had ever seen. The history of the Goddesses was written on Hylian ground, everything of importance like a war, or a peace treaty, or the rise and fall of kings, all came to pass in those vast lands full to the brim with wonders, mysteries, tales and songs. And the Hylians, those people said to be the descendants of the Goddesses themselves and blessed with their powers, such wealth, such authority, such laureateship! Even the merchants coming to Ordon filled him with pride about being one of them, yet he craved to see their world with his own eyes, to set his feet on their grassy plains and steep mountains and cool rivers and … paved roads of Castle Town. Oh, Castle Town! How was it even possible for those houses to build so high, so magnificent, and stand a storm when a tree fell? How was it possible for all those stones to fit together perfectly and stay together without falling apart again? How was it possible to build an entire castle out of stone? How was it possible to pave roads, to lift a bridge or to conduct water into a stone pool where it flowed incessantly?
''Link? You're dreaming again.'' Rusl cut through his musings with a chuckle, letting Link jump back to reality again. ''No! I was just, you know … ''
Epona snorted behind him and gave him a clout, causing him to stumble. ''Hey!'' he protested, rubbing his backside. The horse neighed loudly as if laughing at him, throwing her head about. Rusl giggled in a childish manner, and Link just sighed, smiling in shame.
0
''Bokoblins? Are you sure?'' Bo asked with a worried tone. He was sitting on a chair at his table, Link and Rusl sitting opposite him. ''We just found the trace of one, but that's alarming enough.'' the smith said. The mayor turned to Link. ''Are you sure it was not a human or a monkey?''
Link nodded immediately. ''I know a monkey's print when I see one, and it could not be a child's because it was too deep. I've never seen such a print before, mayor.''
Bo nodded, twirling his massive moustache thoughtfully. The youth looked between the two men and wondered what was going on in their heads. Was it really that dangerous, a bokoblin? According to the print he had seen, it must be a little shorter than himself, otherwise its small feet would not have been able to carry it. Maybe alone it was harmless, but in a group it could be a threat if they really were armed. He suddenly felt a twinge of fear about returning to his reclusive home, so near to the forest. If ever he was attacked, he could never call for aid quickly enough. No one would hear him.
But Epona was there, and he had his wooden sword along with a few powerful fighting skills he had honed his entire life. He would be all right.
''We should immediately close all the gates and tell the children to stay away from the forest. If really there are bokoblins in those trees I don't want any trouble with them. Rusl, how many swords do you have in store?''
''I always anticipated that sooner or later we would have to defend our village, so I made a sword for every man capable of fighting. It's nothing fancy, but strong enough to withstand a few tough blows.'' As Link turned to him in surprise, Rusl smiled. ''You've got one as well, my boy.''
''Well done, Rusl.'' Bo praised. ''I'll immediately assemble the men and you go fetch the swords to distribute them.''
The stout man was about to stand up, but Rusl stopped him. ''Mayor, may I have another word? There is something Link and I wanted to tell you.''
As the mayor sat down again with interest in his eyes, Rusl explained. ''Link and myself had a little chat about the important delivery for Castle Town in a few weeks' time. As you know, Uli is pregnant and needs me at her side, and I have to help with the sowing and repair the broken tools. That's why I thought that our Link here,'' he placed his hand on the youth's shoulder. ''might go in my stead. He has never left the woods and is the only one in the village capable of riding Epona. He's intelligent and responsible, and a visit to Hyrule would really do him good. What do you think?''
Bo eyed the two men sitting in front of him closely, eventually looking Link over as if to judge if he was fit for the job. ''And what do you think about that, my lad?'' he then asked.
''It would be my greatest honour, sir.'' the Hylian answered while bowing his head. ''I would love to see Hyrule for real instead of just in books and bring to Castle Town whatever needs delivery.''
''You would have to see the King and swear eternal allegiance and support. That in front of thousands of people. Do you think you can manage that?''
Link swallowed uneasily at the thought of all those people watching him, and solely him. He had never been fond of large crowds. The inhabitants of Ordon, when assembled, where already enough to make him feel uncomfortable. But he nodded despite his fear. ''I'll try my best, mayor.''
The big man grinned broadly and stood up, the two others doing likewise. Stepping in front of Link he grabbed his shoulders with his huge hands. ''It'll be my greatest pleasure to see you as our representative. You'll be all right, trust me!''
''Father?'' From the upper level of the grand house, a sleepy, female voice echoes down to their ears. Link looked up to see Ilia dressed in naught but a light nightgown, causing him to blush deeply.
''Oh, Ilia. I'm sorry if we woke you up.'' her father answered in shame.
''What were you discussing with Link?'' she asked back, now stepping down the stairs. ''Is there something wrong with him?''
Rusl hid his grin behind a raised hand, and Link turned even more crimson. ''No, Love, I've just assigned him to travel to Castle Town instead of Rusl to deliver our gift to Hyrule.''
''What?'' Ilia burst out immediately. ''Link is gonna leave Ordon? But father, you can't do that!''
''Of course I can. Now get back to bed, sweetheart, it's much too late for you to be up still.''
Ilia sent him a deadly glance before turning on her heels and heading back up the stairs. Bo sighed deeply before escorting Rusl and Link out of his house, telling them to meet everyone at the blacksmith's forge to distribute the swords.
0
''Is there gonna be a fight?'' Fado the rancher asked worriedly. He held his plain sword awkwardly away from him as if it were a venomous serpent, looking up to Bo who stood on the porch of Rusl's small house.
''No, Fado, at least I hope not. Rusl and Link only found the fresh traces of one wandering about in the woods, but it can never harm to be utterly cautious.''
''Mayor, what about the kids?'' Jaggle asked, holding his wife closely to himself and the new sword in the other hand. ''I don't want them running off into the forest and get attacked.''
''You're quite right, Jaggle. Tell them explicitly to stay away from the forest, under punishment if they don't. And I task Link here to keep an eye on them, since his house is closest to the woods. Now get some sleep everyone, and remember to lock your doors tightly.''
The adults all nodded and slowly returned to their homes, whispering worried questions and answers to themselves. Link did not turn immediately; he was busy eyeing his new sabre. It was very rushed and looked rather weak, but it would do. He had never had a real metal sword in his hands, so the effect it had on him was indescribable.
''I had to do yours a little quicker since I thought you'd not be ready for a real one.'' Rusl said as he stepped up to him. ''But it should do pretty well, if you handle it carefully.''
''I will, Rusl.'' Link answered.
''Link, why don't you stay at home with us tonight? I worry about you and those bokoblins should they come into the village. You're the first one they'd attack, and I don't want you to get hurt.''
Link smiled as he shook his head. ''That's nice of you, Rusl, but I prefer to stay with Epona. She'll protect me and warn me should something come.''
''But what if she falls asleep and doesn't hear them?'' the smith sounded nearly frantic. His adoptive son shook his head again. ''I'm not a child any more, Rusl. I can look after myself.''
His surrogate father looked sceptical, something which Link tried to ignore by looking down. Why was it that he trusted Link by giving him this special mission to fulfil, but that he didn't even think he could handle a stupid bokoblin? He felt the foreign feel of anger sweep into him and urging him to shout at the man in front of him, but he suppressed it quickly with a frown. He would never shout at him again.
''Good night, Rusl.'' he said instead, lifting his eyes and smiling. ''Thanks for the sword, and the conversation earlier. It was nice.'' And off he went. He could feel Rusl's lingering gaze at the back of his neck like an annoying fly, but he just walked up the path out of the village without turning one last time.
As Rusl sighed deeply, his wife stepped up to him. ''Don't worry, darling, he'll be all right.''
''Oh, Love, it's just that I have this impression, you know. I think he never forgave us completely to not have told him earlier. It makes me sad to see him so alone.''
''He's not alone, sweetheart, and I'm sure he knows that. I think you really made him happy with this mission of Bo's. And he will make it, I'm sure of it. Now come, Love, my bed is so cold without you at my side.''
Rusl laughed as he scooped Uli up in his arms, holding her like a bride. She giggled heartily while he carried her back to the house, winding her arms around him and kissing him lovingly on the cheek.
0
As Link closed the door to Epona's stable, she nudged him on the arm with a soft noise coming from her throat. ''Yeah, I'm afraid too, Epona. But don't worry, I'll protect you, if you protect me!'' he added while pointing a finger in the air and raising his eyebrows. The horse whinnied once and threw her head into the air, making him chuckle. ''So we have a deal then, right? Teamwork?'' he said, ruffling her snout with a smile.
Up in his home, he took the makeshift sheath with his wooden sword inside from the wall where it hung, and replaced it with the dull metal one. Full of proudness he held it in front of himself, taking in every detail, every curve and scratch on the blade and hilt his greedy eyes could find. Strong feral iron, sharpened to the cutting point, and plain dark wood for a grip with a simple leather strap wound around it for better halt. Nothing special, nothing fancy. But he loved it!
Sighing, he hung it back on its nail, watching it with longing in his eyes. Even if quiet and humble for a boy of seventeen, he sometimes had this strange feeling of … thirst for adventure. Whenever he killed game in the woods he sometimes found himself just staring at the blood flowing out of the killing wound in awe, or at his hands smeared whenever he had pulled his weapon out again. That was why he mostly hunted alone rather than in a group with Rusl, Moe and Jaggle; he didn't want to be bothered by their questions. Rusl could be so worried sometimes, nearly to the annoying point. But he never said anything, for they only cared about him. The whole village had cared about him since he was a baby, and he felt such thankfulness towards them for having saved his life that he always tried to be a part of them, a part of their big family.
But he felt as if he didn't belong there any more. He was a foreigner, had been ever since he entered Ordon for the first time in Rusl's arms. Hyrule seemed to call for him with every day he passed here in the South, miles away from her, waiting for the date his mission would start. Four weeks from now, Bo had said, in the middle of spring, and he would be off. How he hoped that this time passed quickly.
As he was about to climb up his two ladders to his bed, he halted in mid-motion. He was not in the mood to sleep now, he noticed, and instead made his way to the bookshelf resting underneath the first platform. Not the quires caught his attention tonight, but a long wooden object lying on top of the uppermost shelf. He took it carefully in his hands, brushing a thumb over the pattern engraved into it, and walked back to his fireplace where he sat down on a pillow.
The staff made of dark wood had been crafted solely for him, the most beautiful gift Rusl had ever made to him. He could well remember that evening those people were there, entertaining the village like last year. Rusl had apparently seen his marvelling eyes set on that wooden staff one of the visitors had held high, and had intercepted the stranger the next day to instruct him how to craft one of those as well.
Link did not really have an accurate birthday, but the villagers had always taken the first day of autumn, when the leaves had already turned colourful and the sun was bleeding, to celebrate his arrival at Ordon. Never he had wanted a big thing made out of that day, so presents were a thing he rarely accepted willingly. That one, however, had turned his life completely upside-down. He would never forget the amused look on Rusl's face as he had presented him the object. Link had been so flabbergasted that, for a long time, he had just held it in his tiny hands like something holy, fragile and able to break at any false movement, and had stared at it with his blue sparkles wide in disbelief.
Link smiled at the memories, gazing into the crackling fire while he put the flute to his lips. It was a Hylian flute, his favourite instrument, played sideways with an airy sound that filled him to the brim with pleasure. He would always ask the flute player from travelling musicians to write their tunes down on a piece of parchment so that he could play them again with his own instrument. Like this he had, over the years, built up a real collection of Hylian songs which he sometimes even played accompanied by Rusl and his guitar. Three instruments were always missing, the violin, the pipes and maybe a second, lower guitar, to make the songs whole. But that was okay for him, as long as he could play his flute.
This was what he did now, playing a soft tune to relax his reeling thoughts. The little melody he played with trained fingers came out of his instrument and swept up his high house, out of the small window and into the dense woods of Faron.
Suddenly he paused, his brow furrowing suspiciously. There was a feeling in his bones he could not put words onto, like a cold blow of wind exposing his vulnerable skin to all the threats of the world. He remembered that strangeness of the woods earlier, and now it was as if something was creeping up to him, ready to strike. Sharply he turned around, looking at the sabre hanging next to his door. Its presence reassured him considerably, yet it did not quell his fear entirely. He felt observed, even through the thick walls of his safe home. He didn't know how to describe it, but a feeling of eeriness would name it best. He hoped that spring was on its way and sending this foul darkness and lifelessness out of the gathered trees. He would sleep much better knowing that a bright sun awaited him every morning instead of the doubt if you would even wake up at all.
He turned around again and resumed his tune, seeking comfort in the airy notes twanging around his ears. This settled him down again in a matter of seconds, letting him completely forget the instinct that had set itself in motion a few minutes ago.
Further into the dark, not far away from the first house of Ordon where the light burnt long that night, a lone creature heard the song restarting from within the tree-house. Its breaths were raspy, drops of saliva trickling from its sharply teethed mouth. The white locks of its hair, bound to a ponytail a little over its head, quaked as it scrambled away on its legs too short. A low rumbling sound emanated from its throat, a little high-pitched in the end. Its small green eyes glistened evilly... what a loot this would be!
000
