Kai led them out of the foresty mountains and finally out into a more open area. Lorenzo followed, then Zelda, and finally Link. Link hadnt said a word since Kai killed that man. He still couldnt believe it had happened. And the fact that it seemed so... normal to Kai was disturbing.
Lorenzo and Zelda were talking to one another. Her attitude with Lorenzo had improved as well. She didnt exactly like him, but she didnt hate him anymore either. Kai walked alone. Deciding it was better to confront him rather then sink into his own thoughts, Link jogged to catch up to Kai.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"So about before.."
Kai looked over at Link with an amused look on his face. "Yeah i know, how could i have done that, it was so horrible, he didnt deserve it, blah blah blah."
"Well he didnt." Link furrowed his brow with disapproval.
"Youre right. He didnt." The answer surprised Link and he was a little taken back, but Kai continued. "He was just a guy who stumbled on something he shouldnt have. He probably has a wife and kids somewhere, living a quiet peaceful life. But he saw you. Because you were too slow and he was going to rat us out. So he had to die. Whether you liked it or not it had to be done. You can either complain about it or next time, dont be so slow with that hood.
Link looked down, ashamed. "Im sorry. Its just, ever since i left home, people wanted me dead. And others have died because of me. Im just sick of it all."
Kai looked down at him, a soft smile spread across his face. "Hey man, look. I get it. I was like you once. I had no idea what the world had in store. But as i got older, and traveled more, i realised the world was a cruel place. And the worst part, i had to learn it all on my own. But thats where me and you differ. You arent alone. You have your girlfriend back there, and you have me.
"Zeldas not-"
"Oh, sorry. I just assumed. But anyway the point is, im gonna teach you. Im going to teach you how to fight. Im going to teach you how this world really is." He looked back at Zelda. "How to impress a girl" he winked.
Link blushed. "I dont think-"
"Hold that thought. I recognize that tree formation. Which means once we reach this hill top..."
Kai and Link reached the top of the hill and before them stood a rether mediocre city landscape. It was almost the size of Charadon, but not nearly as impressive. Still, it had a gigantic structure in the center which Link couldnt make out from this distance.
"There it is. The city of Rangor"
As they neared the city gates, a strange sensation washed over him. As he looked up at the giant walls surrounding the city, he couldnt help be feel a desperate urge to run behind them and stay there. He had grown up behind giant walls all his life. And as exhilarating as it was to be out in the open country, it was scary. And the walls provided a strange sense of relief. Unlike Charsdon, however, Rangors gates werent locked behind two steel gates. Just simple wooden doors that were spread wide open.
The inside of the city was bleak and dull. While quite large, the buildings and houses and taverns were all the same sort of grey, bland color. Dirt roads connected it all and in the center of the city, in the distance was a giant watch tower. From what he could see, it appeared to be on fire.
"Whys the roof of that tower in fire?" Zelda asked.
Kai responded, "I dunno, i guess they just thought it looked cool. And to be honest, that fire is the only think here that has any sort of color to it. This place is a dump."
Link and Zelda nodded in agreement.
"Here," Kai said, handing them a couple blue rupees. "Take this and go buy some prime meat from a place called "Malo's Meat House. The guy there prepares only the best. Its right around that corner, down the road, on the left hand side. I have to meet with someone, so ill he back soon. Meet back here in an hour?"
Link nodded, and as soon as Kai was out of sight, Zelda grabbed his hand and tugged at him to move.
"Come on this is our chance! He literally just gave us money and walked away, lets go! Before he comes back!"
"Zelda what are you doing? We cant just leave him?"
"Like hell we cant. We already agreed we cant trust him. Just where do you think hes going? Hes going to turn is in! He brought us here to collect a reward!"
Link couldnt believe what he was hearing. "Zelda, this man killed to keep us safe."
"Yeah, he killed a potential threat to his reward. So he could have it all to himself"
"Zelda, i cant believe youre being so-" Link didnt get to finish his sentence because before he could, he felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder. Out of instinct, Links hand flew to his blade and drew it on the person behind him. But it was just Kai.
"Easy there, just me. I see you guys have made wonderful progress."
Zelda began to stammer over herself. "I... we... we thought youd... uh, be longer." He eyes were wide with worry. Had he heard any of what they had said?
"Nah, it only took me about a minute for me to meet my companion. I just didnt want you guys to feel like you had to rush, clearly that was a good thing. What were you guys talking about? Seemed pretty heated."
Kai looked at Zelda, then Link, then back at Zelda. She again couldnt seem to find her words.
"Its alright no biggie. Im back now, so lets go get that meat huh?"
Kai led them through the busy crowds of Rangor. Zelda was visibly uncomfortable with such a claustrophobic environment, but Link felt right at home. He followed right behind Kai and they came to the Meat House, exactly where Kai promised it would be. The place was a dump.
"I thought you said this guy was the best," Lorenzo said, looking at the mold and dust.
"Hey, its the best for what we can afford, and plus i know the guy. He gives me discounts."
A man came out of the back store room. "Kaaaaiii!"
"Malooooo!"
The two walked up and braced each other. "Its been awhile! The store looks a little worse for wear. Everything alright, buisness wise?
The man, Malo, shook his head. "Not really. Folks just aint comin in like they use to. Not really sure why"
Link looked around the shop. He could think of atleast 10 reasons why. With the main one being that its was filthy.
Lorenzo decided to speak what Link thought. "This place is disgusting. I have half a mind to just clean everything."
Malo broke into a smile. "Ya know, youre more then welcome to, HA! But people dont care about a clean store they just care about tasty meat! And this is the best i can do ever since my partner left. The place has fallen a little under health code."
Lorenzo picked up a pot and started to scrub, and went on to talk about the importance of cleanliness. Link thought it was a little ironic coming from Lorenzo but he kept quiet. A new moments later, an elderly lady walked by and looked into one of the windows. He eyes lit up as she scanned the room and spotted Lorenzo scrubbing away, going about his rant.
"Eddard! Good news! The meat man finally hired someone to clean that place we always get our meat from!"
A pause.
"Yeah! That one!"
Another pause.
"No, well come back later when theyre done!"
The old lady hobbled away and Malo stared at Lorenzo. "Hm, i guess you werent kidding were you."
Lorenzo smile, moving onto another pot to scrub.
"Hey kid, tell ya what. I dunno what you got goin in, but if you aint go nowhere to be, and are lookin for a job, i could sure use the help around here if youre interested."
To Links surprise Lorenzo didnt miss a beat and agreed straight away, stating he would start right then and there. Link and Zelda looked at Lorenzo, dumb founded.
"What?" Lorenzo asked. "You didnt think i was going to go all the way with you did you? I left to get away from my parents. And this place seems like a good a place as any, dont ya think?"
No one seemed too happy about the idea of leaving Lorenzo behind, but Link didnt think there was any way to change his mind, plus he hadnt really consider Lorenzo a valuable asset out in the wild anyway, so he just nodded. "I guess this is goodbye then huh"
Lorenzo smiled, "Yeah i guess so. Dont worry, i can handle myself here. Its out there that scares me."
"Well, goodbye Lory. Hopefully we'll see you again." Zelda said, giving him a big hug."
"You will!" Malo shouted. "Dont forget im still the best source of prime meat here in Rangor! And when you come back, this place is gonna look as good as new! Right Lennio?"
"Its Lorenzo."
'Whatever close enough!" Malo grinned.
And with that, Link, Zelda, and Kai were off. The last think Link heard as they walked out the door was Lorenzo teaching Malo how to pronounce his name. And then the door was shut and they were in there way.
That would he the last time Link would see Lorenzo for a very long time.
-
"Alright thats enough" Kai had knocked Link into the dirt for the countless time.
"Jeez, ever hear of pulling your punches?" Link groaned as he struggled to get back to his feet.
"The enemy wont 'pull their punches' so neither will I. You knew that when you agreed to let me train you."
"Yeah but i didnt think it would be like this. And shouldnt you be training me with a spear? Thats your weapon, how do you know how to use a sword this good?"
Kai laughed and extended his hand to Link. He graciously accepted and was hoisted to his feet. "Ive gotten pretty good at most forms of combat. Archery. Swordplay, hand to hand. The spear is just my prefered weapon. Doesnt mean im useless with the rest. Once you become decent with a sword, ill show you more variations and weapons to use."
"Can we go one more round? i think i was starting to get the hang of that parry move."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Well, if youre sure. One more round before we call it a day."
Link returned to his familiar spot in the dirt.
Link and Kai returned to the campsite where Zelda had finished setting up animal traps and early alarm systems. This would allow them all to sleep in peace and be warned if they were being approached. It was all her idea, and Link thought it was complete brilliant.
It had been about three weeks since they left Rangor. Kai had been training Link daily on how to fight, while Zelda tought him the finer points of hunting and some history of the land. She had also taken the responsibility of patching Link up wheneverhe returned from practice. Getting his ass handed to him every day for three weeks made Zelda both irritated and amused, but she helped him all the same.
"You seem to have problems with parrying," she said. "When we faced off against those bandits a few days ago, your attacks were precise and spot on, but you dont do well on the defensive."
"Yeah," Link winced as she pressed a damp cloth against his cuts. "I dont know what it is."
"Dont be so hard on yourself man, you may not be there quite yet, but theres no doubt youre improving. I can tell and youre not as clumsy as you were before. You just need to he quicker is all"
"Thanks Kai." The two smiled at each other.
The next day they followed the river and came to the edge of the forrest. Before them lay a vast field, atleast two miles long. At the end, was an enormous structure. When Link looked to his left, it stretched past the horizon. When Link looked to the right, it intersected with the mountains on the horizon there, and link couldnt tell where it went.
According to Zelda, this was the great wall, otherwise known as The Brink. "The brink of civilization as we know it" is what she would say. Link was about to step foward when Kai placed his hand on his shoulder. "Stop."
Link turned back to look at him. Zelda also turned to look.
"This stretch of land, from the edge of the forrest to the Wall, is called The Killing Fields. Bandits and raiders patrol the area on horseback or in spider holes and wait for travelers. Most folks coming this far west are supplied for a couple weeks of adventuring. Great for looting. Where going to have to he careful, and were going to have to he fast."
"Once we reach the stronghold across the field, on the wall, we should be safe. But here is where i need to give you the warning. Theres no place here in Castor as dangerous as this stretch of land. And i cant garentee you will make it across alive."
Link looked at Zelda, who nodded back at him. "We can do it," he reassured Kai. Or was he reassuring himself?
"If youre sure. Then get ready to run.
Two miles didnt seem like a lot at first, but after the first half mile, Link was already out of breath. His cuts and joints ached and he started to lag behind. Zelda and Kai kept a steady pace next to each other. Kai looked back and slowed down in order to grab Link by the collar and pull him onwards.
At the half way mark, Link spotted the first group of bandits. They appeared from makshift spider holes in the ground and blocked their way foward.
"Dont slow down!" Kai shouted. "Keep them back with your swords but dont stop running! If we let them surround us, were dead!"
Link activated his blade and Zelda drew a sword Kai had provided for her. Kai himself held his trusty spear in his right hand as he ran. The two groups continued to run towards each other and just as they were about to clash, Kai leaped foward and shoved his spear into the eye socket of one of the bandits. He pulled his spear loose and continued to run, not slowing down in the slightest.
Zelda followed suit and sprinted into one of the bandits head on. Not expecting a move like that, the bandit was knocked to the ground and tumbled into his companion. Zelda continued to run.
Because Link was last, he was last to come into contact with the bandits. Two of them lunged at Link with their daggers, and at that moment, time seemed to slow down. He felt a pull in his gut, the same feeling as when he was facing off aginst the mechanical beast. He quickly stopped in his tracks, and twirled backwards and to the side, causing the bandits to miss their mark and stumbled foward. Using this opportunity, he slashed at one od the bandits and sliced right up his front side. He proceeded to grab the other one by his neck, and throw him several yards away. He continued to run.
"Woah!" He exclaimed outload. Where had this sudden strength come from? He wasnt tired at all. He had thrown a full grown man several yards and was now running so fast he had almost surpassed Kai who was leading up front.
Kai looked left to see Link passing him. "What the-"
"Horses!" Link cried out. On either side of them, several horses were closing in on their party, ridden by more bandits. He looked ahead and could see the stronghold Kai had spoken of. The gates were open. If they could just make it past the gates...
One of the riders had reached the trio and without thinking Kai threw his spear and struck the horse inbetween the eyes, causing it to collapse. He continued to run as Zelda ran to slice the throat of the fallen bandit. The rest of the horses were closing in on them. This was it. Theres no way they could outrun horses.
Then seemingly out of nowhere, a rain of arrows pelted the ground. At first Link thought it was more bandits, but then he noticed the arrows had landed all around them, and pierced the flesh of the horses and bandits attacking them. Link heard a woman shouting in the distance.
"Draw!" A split pause. "Loose!"
Another barrage of arrows came flying down and finished off the rest of the bandits. The way was clear now to run inside. As soon as the trio entered the stronghold the giant doors behind them closed. They fell to the ground, out of breath and energy. The strength that had found Link in the Killing Fields was gone and he found he could barely move.
As he lay on the ground, he could hear many footsteps approaching him. But he wasnt focused on that. He was focused on what lay above him. From inside the stronghold courtyard, he could see the wall, in all its glory. Stretching hundreds of feet high, it was truely a sight to behold. Something he never imagined he would see even if he lived a hundred lifetimes.
Then it dawned on him that they had made it. They actually made it. They had reached The Brink. The edge of civilization.
They had done it. Together.