Heart of a Heroine: Ch. 28
Ilia lay on the bed at the small inn she was staying at, in the industrial town of Stovepipe. The group of soldiers who escorted her told her a majority of weapons for their half of the nation were manufactured here. The soldiers had apparently come here to assign new orders to the soldiers here, while they were originally going to stay at the barracks, they had found that they were already so full that the soldiers there were sharing beds, so a local inn graciously allowed them to stay for the night.
So now Ilia stared at the ceiling trying to decide what to do next. For one, she was still missing some of her equipment, such as her bows and arrows, and her wallet. She twirled around the wooden wolf mask in her hand, wondering what its purpose was.
In addition, Ilia also lacked transportation. Her heart cried out for Epona, wherever she may be. She had yet to find her friends and family, even a hint as to where they may be. She thought that maybe first she should search for her horse. It would not do well if she was the one to lose her, after all her petty fights with Link concerning the horse. After that, she was unsure what to do. The Darkness had spread to this country too, but for what purpose? A simple desire for conquest? Or was there something here? She remembered that the two who had taken over Hyrule had been searching for the power of the gods. What were they doing in this land?
Ilia shook her head, getting a headache from all the big questions she was unable to find answers for.
"The girl from the camp?" She heard a voice say.
"Really?" It was a voice outside her door.
"You have a crush on her? How bad?" She recognized it as one of the voices of the soldiers who saved her.
"Worse than mine? Geez. Don't worry, your my buddy, I'll help you in any way I can." It might have been that one, Ian, maybe.
"Well, first thing we've gotta do is get you to talk to her." It was Ian, she was sure of it.
"I know, I know, honestly, this is the most I think you've said since we woke up in that field, man you must really like this girl." Ilia sighed.
"Tell you what, she's probably headed to Clock Town, whether she's staying or leaving the country. Obviously, me and her aren't in the best of graces, so I'm thinking we get her to hitch a ride with you. You'll have hours to think of something to say." Ilia wondered on that some more, was she staying or leaving?
"I bet we can get the Captain to make an exception for her. Especially once he sees how smitten you are. He cares for us you know."
"Alright, but you owe me. You gotta do something to help me and Annabelle. Okay? Okay." With that she heard footsteps walking away from the door. Leaving Ilia with only her thoughts.
Ilia was rudely awoken from her deep sleep by a loud knocking. She was torn from her sweet and romantic, not to mention hot and sweaty, dream back into a cold and bare room. Irritated, she got out of the bed, and headed to the door to find the person who had woken her from her slumber.
Opening the door she found one of the soldiers staring at her dumbly.
"What is it?" Ilia demanded.
"Ah, um, uh, eh, um." Were the sounds that came from his mouth. This continued for another minute, before he was rescued by another blue soldier.
"Hello there ma'am." Said the soldier she knew as Ian. "My Buddy was just trying to tell you that our squad was to leave for Clock Town once more, and if you were so inclined, we would be more than happy to escort you there."
Ilia sighed. "Do you plan on leaving immediately?" She asked.
"Soon, why do you ask?"
"I was planning on checking on the stables in town." She told him.
"Oh, well I'm sorry to say that this town has no stables." He told her. "All the horses have been used by the Army."
"ALL of them?" Ilia asked, suddenly much more awake than earlier.
"Uh, yeah." Ian said. "We're in the middle of a war, and horses are very valuable. Like I said, we can escort you to Clock Town if that's where you're headed."
"No, you don't understand, I'm looking for my Horse, I lost her a while ago, and I was hoping someone found her. If she's on the front lines of a war…"
"Oh, well, you could probably find out if someone found a stray horse in the department of records back in Clock Town." Ian told her.
Ilia sighed. "Then I guess I shall be joining you once more."
"Great, isn't that great Buddy?" Ian said turning to his friend, who had the same dumb look he did before. "Come on; let's let the lady get ready."
Ilia was once more riding horseback through the snow-laden fields under a cloudy sky, escorted by the same squad of soldiers in blue uniforms.
"So what exactly was your business in the town back there?" Ilia asked, she asked Buddy whom she was riding with, trying to make conversation.
"Oh, uh, eh, er, umuh, um…" Was all Buddy could say.
"We were delivering orders from Clock Town." Allen said.
"Don't tell her that! What if she's a Red spy?" Marle said.
"Her?"
"Yes her, we know nothing about her, she could easily be a Red!"
"If she is a spy, she's obviously not a good one considering she got captured by the Bulbins." Edgar pointed out.
"Anyway, I'm sure you've noticed the Darkness sweeping the land of late." Allen continued. "And of course, I am also sure that you've noticed that the Darkness was recently lifted from this part of the land."
"Of course." Ilia said. "No idea how that happened."
"Well, understandably soldiers across the country are wondering what to do, so we were sent to deliver their orders." Allen told her.
"Which were?"
"Stay put, and don't screw anything up." Edgar said.
'What is the point of having an army if none of them have any idea what to do in the midst of a war?' Ilia wondered.
"Of course, only a portion of the country is has been freed." Allen continued. "So far, only the area from the Snowhead Mountains has been cleared. Parts of Clock Town have been cut off from each other, in addition to the soldiers out in part of the country still under control of the darkness."
"So why were you sent to deliver these messages, you said you were simple guardsmen, right?" Ilia asked.
"Well, yeah, that is right." Ian said. "But…"
Ilia could almost read the collective thought that went through the soldiers mind.
They couldn't afford to send anyone competent.
"Don't worry my lads!" The Captain exclaimed. "For our brave deeds, and rescue of the fair Maiden, I will ensure that all of us get promotions!"
"I certainly feel like I deserve a promotion." Ian muttered.
"Yeah, but Ian, if we get promoted, we'll all be likely moved to the front lines." Edgar told him.
Ilia could feel the mood of the soldiers drop as this was said.
"Actually-" Clai said. "The front lines are still covered in Darkness."
"So you're saying we'll have to fight off the demons of the Dark as opposed to the Red's?" Marle said.
"Just that it'll be a while until they could move us there." Clai pointed out.
There was a brief silence after that as the horses clip-clopped slowly to their destination.
"You know, I'm curious, what's your story ma'am?" Clai asked after a while.
"What do you mean?" Ilia asked.
"It's just that all we know is that you're a traveler. You really could be a spy for all we know." Marle stated.
"Fine then." Ilia said. "The darkness came to my hometown of Ordon far away from here a few months ago, for no known reason. They kidnapped everyone in my village, and I'm searching for them."
"That's a noble goal." Allen said. "I wonder if we've had any kidnappings…"
"After that, I headed to Castle Town to ask the Princess for aid. My friend actually helped save the land earlier. She agreed to help, but the darkness attacked the castle too. We managed to escape on my horse, and were actually saved by the Bulbins. Apparently there was some kind of pact about them following the strongest, and my friend had beaten their leader several times. Together we searched for allies to fight the darkness back, but our battle didn't end in our favor. I actually met the two leaders of the attack; apparently they weren't even trying that hard. I somehow managed to kill one of them, I think; the other just let me go. As I was off to tell the Princess what happened, one of them chased me into the forest, and then…" Ilia was debating with herself whether to tell the soldiers about meeting the Kokiri, but her thoughts were interrupted by the snickering's of the soldiers.
"What?" She asked.
"You rescued a princess, and freed the darkness from the land!" Edgar proclaimed. "Oh, and the Bulbins there are nice and cheery too!
"You're right Clai, with that story there's no way she'd be a good spy!" Marle proclaimed.
Ilia cheeks became hot as she was subjected to the soldiers laughing at her story, she didn't even try to defend if, she just kept quiet for the rest of the ride to Clock Town.
When they finally reached Clock Town once more, she was accosted further by more guards, who were suspicious of her being a spy for the enemy. The soldiers left her to do their job, and Ilia had to wait for almost an hour before another soldier in a blue uniform and fancy gold shoulder pads came in to interview her, asking her the most mundane questions, such as her age, place of birth, her mother's maiden name, etc.
Finally after much hassle, and much signing of papers, Ilia was allowed to wander the city as she pleased. The city was different than when she came last, for one, she was Human. The people wandering through the streets seemed both happier, and more scared. Happier that the darkness was lifted from their city, scared that it was still present. She found out as she came closer to the city, that Ilia hadn't been able to completely lift the darkness from the land when she defeated the Shadow Rider as the soldiers told her.
She learned that Clock Town was the Capital City of the country when it was one. When the country was split in two some years ago, a giant wall had been built separating the north and southern half to act as the capital to each half of the nation. The problem was that while most of Northern Clock Town had been liberated from the Darkness, the eastern and western halves where still blocked off by an impassable wall of Darkness.
Ilia wandered through the somewhat familiar alleyways until she found the wooden door that lead to the crazy Mask Salesman's store.
Ilia took a breath and tried to compose herself. She had several questions to ask the Salesman. What he knew, what he wanted, what he even was. She gripped the door knob, and turned. And found the door to be locked.
Undeterred, she tried some more, and when that failed, she tried pushing against, then shoving, then ramming, and finally she tried to kick the door down, which only resulted in her hurting her foot. With grim determination, she took as many steps back as she could, rammed the door as hard as she could. When she hit it, the door picked that moment to finally give way, causing her to tumble head over heels into the building.
Getting up and shaking her head, and found that the Mask Shop she had been staying at as a wolf, was now completely bare and empty.
Ilia let out a long series of words all which were highly unbecoming of a lady such as her.
"Oh, hey, look it's her, hey ma'am." Ilia looked up at the gateway and saw two more guardsmen, it took a while, but she recognized them, it was Ian and Buddy.
"Oh, it's you." She said.
"You find the place you were looking for?" Ian asked.
"Yes."
"Oh, I see."
"As it turns out, that 'friend' of mine has quit town, and his store is completely abandoned." Ilia told him.
"Oh I see." Ian said, when he got an idea. "So, now you're in a foreign city, with no money and no place to go."
"Exactly." Ilia said, icily.
"Well, as it so happens, my buddy here-" Ian grabbed ahold of the silent Buddy. "hasn't spent his salary since we got here. He should have more than enough money to help you get back on your feet."
"Really?"
"Yes, so if you would just wait an hour or two for our shift to end, then my buddy should be able to take you shopping later, and help get you back on your feet."
"Really? Well, I can't really refuse. Um, uh, I don't have a timepiece on me, should I wait somewhere, or-"
"No need, you know the big structure in the center of town?" Ian took a few steps back from the wall to point out a stone tower that peaked over the high wall that split the city in two. Oddly enough the walls of Darkness all seemed to intersect at it, with only one face being exposed. "It's a clock tower, so just keep looking at it."
"Huh, you think I would have noticed that." Ilia said, slightly embarrassed she hadn't.
After an hour of slowly exploring the town, during which it started to snow again, Ilia returned to the same gate that the two guardsmen were stationed, only to find that Buddy was the only one there.
"Hey there, since I don't know where anything is, I was hoping you'd be ready to guide me." She said.
Buddy acted as if he just realized this, and nodded.
"Good. Firstly, I want to see if my horse has been found, do you know where that might be?"
Buddy nodded, and awkwardly led her through the snow laden streets, carrying his long gun with him, until eventually she was in front of an official looking white marble building. On the front of the building was etched 'Department of Records'.
"Alright, I guess we just go in then." Ilia said, climbing up a high set of stairs to enter the building. Upon opening one of the door sets she was greeted by the stillest, stuffiest atmosphere imaginable. It was so quiet the only sounds were a clock going back and forth, and the slight shuffling of papers.
Ilia walked up to the front desk where a sleepy attendant was trying to doze off.
"Excuse me?" Ilia said, waking the person.
"Yes, what d'ya want?" The person grumbled.
"I'm looking for a horse; I was told that perhaps the military here found her." Ilia said.
"Okay, so, I'm guessing ya want me to check the records."
"That would be nice."
"Okay." As slowly as possible the person got up and looked through a large series of books, each a foot thick, and as wide as a table. Finally making his decision, he heaved the book away from its position, and brought it back to the desk.
"Okay, name and breed of horse?" The attendant asked, in a rather bored tone.
"Her name was Epona, she was a purebred, for speed and endurance, and she still had her saddle and everything when we were separated." She told him.
"Coloration?" He asked, not bothering to look up from the book.
"Brown, with a white mane."
"Any distinctive qualities or features?" He asked.
"She gets very wild around strangers; there are only a few people that she feels comfortable with." Ilia informed him.
"Alright, well this'll likely take a while, try coming back in the morning. Can I have a name?"
"Epona."
"No, I meant your name."
"Oh, well, I'm Ilia."
"Alright, good day." He said in the same bored tone.
With that, Ilia left, wondering if she had actually made any progress. She stepped outside, she was greeted by the frigid winter air, and a few flakes of snow on her face. "Brrr, it's cold. I need to get a pair of wool gloves or something; I don't think these clothes were really made for cold weather." Ilia said.
"Um, uh…" Buddy opened his mouth as if to say something, but failed to get any actual words out.
"Take me to a marketplace next, okay?" Ilia said. Buddy nodded, and they walked down the steps back into the streets, and after a few winding turns, he brought her to a Marketplace. In fact, it was the same Marketplace that Ilia had been in last, when she tried to get pass the giant wall that divided the city. It was a large plaza with crowded stalls stalls that had been snowed over, well-lit storefronts forming the edges, and several bored guardsmen standing milling around the exits, same as last time, with people going about their business that was very busy.
"So I guess this is where we'll be doing our shopping then." Ilia said, with Buddy nodded. "Alright, first I would like to get some supplies; I need a few more bombs, some lantern oil. I need to replace my bow and arrows… and then lastly a place to stay for the night."
The soldier nodded, and first led her away from the plaza and to a small red shop that was for the most part silent inside, with no other customers but themselves.
Behind the counter stood an elderly man with stray hair that was white as the snow outside.
"Yes, what do you want?" He asked grumpily.
"I'm looking for supplies, what kind of store is this?" Ilia said.
"You came to my store, you tell me." He said.
"I was led here by him, he didn't say anything." Ilia said, just as grumpy as the old man now.
"Good evening to you soldier boy." The old man said, bowing his head towards Buddy. "If you must know, this store deals in gunpowder. However, most of the wares here are bought by the military. Course I'm still allowed to sell my wares, else the people would cause a fuss. What are you looking for?"
"Some bombs, like these." Ilia said, taking her pouch away from her belt, and showing them to the store-merchant."
"Hmm… a little more primitive, but still these are professionally made. Tell you what, I'll take yours, and you can buy the rest until your bag is full, I can use these to make more of my own."
"Sure." Ilia said.
The store merchant took the bag with him to the back, and after a silent minute between Ilia and the soldier, he came back. "There, same punch, with half the size. Will that be all?"
"I don't suppose you sell arrows here?" She asked.
"Arrows? What kind of store do you think this is? What do you need arrows for; do you plan on going hunting or something?" He asked.
"Forget it." Ilia said, intent on leaving, but the soldier stopped her, and walked up to the counter, showing him a compact gun of his own.
"Pistol ammunition, fine then." The store owner said, heading to the back.
"You making your own purchase?' Ilia asked.
The soldier shook his head, and pointed to Ilia's hip. "Oh, this is the weapon Ian gave me." She pulled it from her belt, and felt it in her hand. "This might do."
The owner came back with another small bag, which gave a distinctive clacking sound indicating the several small metal balls in it. "Here you go, anything else you'll be needing soldier boy?"
The soldier nodded, and pointed to a small leather item that hung from the wall. "Oh a holster too, fine then." The store-owner slowly made his way to the wall, and took it off, setting it next to the other two pouches. "Will that be all?"
The soldier nodded, and took out his wallet, paying the man in full, which was quite a hefty price, and led Ilia back outside.
"Thank you." Ilia said, putting the weapon in its leather sheath, and trying to attach it to her sturdy belt. "Guess I just need some lantern oil."
Buddy nodded, and led her through the veritable maze of stalls that were full of people going about their business, as they looked at the walls of darkness above them. After almost getting lost Buddy led her to a small yellow stall which had a long-nosed merchant too busy chatting with another to notice Ilia as she filled her jars with lantern oil.
"Oh it's you." Ilia turned to see a girl with large glasses, about her age, talking to Buddy. It took a while, but Ilia managed to recognize her as the girl she had scared as a wolf in that plaza earlier last week. "It's nice to see you again. I got you guys another bread-basket."
The girl was dressed simply, with a wide hat catching the falling snowflakes, and a long, thick red dress keeping her warm, along with a blue scarf.
"How do you know this guy?" Ilia asked her.
"Oh, hello there, I didn't notice you. Oh, um, I'm Annabelle, it- it's very nice to meet you." She said, extending her hand, which Ilia gently shook.
"My name is Ilia. I'm new to this country, and this guy is helping me get resupplied to leave." Ilia told her. "I haven't got much money on me you see."
"Oh I see." Annabelle said.
"Could you please pay the man?" Ilia asked Buddy, making sure he didn't forget. He nodded, and left a few rupees on the owners money jar.
"Are those going to be all your purchases?" Annabelle asked.
"I suppose so." Ilia said, shivering slightly in the cold.
"You see, it's just that I usually make a bread basket for the soldiers around here, and I was hoping he could escort me to the barracks." She said, opening up the basket to reveal a warm and inviting set of buns, biscuits, and other assorted bread products. "It's just that one never knows what will happen to you these days. Not too long ago, I was almost attacked by a vicious beast in this very plaza!"
"You don't say…"
"And with the invading darkness… it's dangerous for frail women such as ourselves." She said with such pitiful eyes that just screamed for a hug.
"Hey, just because you are a woman does not mean you are helpless." Ilia said, certainly no longer considering herself as helpless.
"Oh I know, I'm just helpless and happen to be a woman." She said.
"Alright, I guess I got all I need. Feel free to take him." Ilia said, looking at Buddy, who seemed awfully crestfallen that she was taking his leave of him. "Thank you very much for helping me get supplies. If I am ever in this part of the world, I will be sure to find you again." She said, giving him her best smile. A pleasant moment that would have been perfect for him, had her stomach not decided to growl loudly at that moment.
"Um… if you are hungry, I'm sure the soldiers wouldn't mind sharing the bread-basket." Annabelle told her.
"I'll be honest, I can't remember the last time I had a meal."
The barracks were a sturdy, simple rectangular brick building, built a section of the great wall that encircled and split the city in two. It was about two floors high, with only the top floor having any windows. Sunken slightly into the ground was a large and heavy wooden door with iron hinges, illuminated by a single lamp.
Buddy came up to the door, and knocked loudly, a small slide was pulled back and a soldier in his blue cap looked through it. He then closed it, and opened the large door from the inside.
"Annabelle! Nice to see you again!" The soldier, she recognized as Allen said.
"Hey Allen, is everybody else here?" Annabelle asked, as she entered the warm barracks.
"Yeah well now that he's back from his field trip." Allen said, indicating Buddy. "Oh, it's uh, what's-her-name."
"Ilia." She told him, entering the barracks herself. Inside were simple bare-brick walls supporting a low ceiling with lamps illuminating the area, and lining the walls were various weapon racks.
"Yes Ilia, why are you here?" Allen asked.
"I invited her to share my bread-basket." Annabelle said.
"Oh okay then, I'll just let everyone know you're here." Allen said. "HEY EVERYBODY, ANNABELLE'S HERE!"
When he said that the rest of the soldiers quickly ran into their room, and swarmed Annabelle.
"Hey Annabelle! Long time no see!"
"Let me at that basket!"
"Annie, show me your goodies!"
It was a feeding frenzy as Annabelle was swarmed by soldiers, some of who she recognized, some of whom she didn't. Ilia didn't know if she should try to step in to stop the chaos or not, but the activity stopped when the Captain stepped in.
"Soldiers! Fall in!" He called, as he stepped into the small room, making it seem that much smaller. When he gave the orders, every soldier, including Buddy, lined up against the wall. "Commanding officers get first dibs!"
"Hello Cpt. McLeod, it's nice to see you again." Annabelle said.
"Did you get that loaf of sourdough?" The captain asked.
"Right here." Annabelle said, producing a dark loaf of bread for the captain.
"As you were, men." He said, leaving the room. The moment he left, the soldiers resumed swarming over Annabelle, each taking a various treat of hers, and departing into the next room.
The last soldier to approach her was Ian. "Oh, uh, h-hey there Annabelle."
"H-hey there Ian." Annabelle said, unable to look him in the eye. "I got you some raisin bread."
"Oh, oh thank you very much." Ian said, gently taking the loaf from her. Ilia could quite easily see that the two were into each other.
The two just stood there in an awkward silence for a while, before Buddy tapped Ian on the shoulder. "Oh, uh, Buddy, guess you want some too."
Annabelle reached into her basket once more, and pulled out another loaf of bread for him. "I guess you guys want to move to the canteen then, huh?" Annabelle said.
"Y-you should join us!" Ian said.
"Really? Okay. Usually I just leave the bread basket here." Annabelle said.
"Um, uh."
"Yeah, you too Ilia!" Ian said.
"Alright, I still haven't had anything to eat." Ilia told them.
They entered the next room, which was the same as the first, except that it was larger, and soldiers were seated at various tables, and munching on bread.
Ian and Buddy led Ilia and Annabelle to a table were the other soldiers Ilia was familiar with were sitting, Allen, Edgar, Marle and Clai.
"Annabelle thanks for the food!" Clai said, with a big mouthful of bread.
"You're welcome." Annabelle said. "Here Ilia." She said, reaching into the basket, and handing Ilia a loaf of her own.
"Thank you, I'm starving." Ilia said, taking a bite. "Holy Cripes! This is delicious!"
"I know, right?" Marle said.
"Thanks." She said, shyly.
"This has got to be the tastiest bread I have ever had! I didn't even know that bread could be this good!" Ilia said, now attacking the bread as ferociously as she had attack the skeletons in the Frozen Fortress.
"I'm from a family of bakers, so I've been practicing for a long time." Annabelle said.
"How long have you been giving these guys bread?" Ilia said, muffled from a large piece of bread in her mouth.
"Oh, we were doing a practice run outside the city." Edgar said.
"Yeah, just some training, and dropping off some supplies with the Captain, when the darkness came." Allen continued.
"It was a couple weeks ago, when the darkness first came." Marle told her. "A wall of darkness just rushed through us, and suddenly everything was dark."
"This was odd, because it was the middle of the day when it happened." Allen said.
"Anyway, there were all these evil shadow demons that suddenly swarmed us." Clai told them. A few of the soldiers visibly shuddered at the recollection.
"We would have been dead if it weren't for the Captain." Marle said.
"And my Buddy!" Ian said, slapping Buddy on the shoulder.
"Yeah, him too, he was like a beast, taking those things left and right." Edgar said. "That was the first time we saw either of you fight, wasn't it?"
"I think it was." Ian said. "Anyway, we weren't close enough to the front lines or the city to go there for help. So we hunkered down in this country home, where-"
"Annabelle was staying!" Clai said, grabbing ahold of said girl.
"I was visiting my uncle at the time; he doesn't like city life very much." Annabelle included.
"So we stayed at the house, while the darkness surrounded us, and fought off the demons for the entire day, before a platoon from the front lines came for us, and we managed to get back to clock town." Allen said.
"I was so grateful for their rescue; I come to the barracks to drop off a bread basket everyday to thank them." Annabelle told her.
"Uh-huh." Ilia said, stuffing more bread into her mouth. "So you were attacked when the Darkness came?"
"Everywhere was apparently." Marle stated. "We're just getting word back. Most of the soldiers barely held on. The worst is about the kidnappings."
"Yeah," Clai said, reaching into Annabelle's basket. "A lot of children went missing. Some people are thinking of sending the kids here."
"Which is crazy if you ask me." Edgar said.
"Which nobody did." Allen noted.
"They'll protect their kids from the darkness, but then they'll be in danger if the reds ever decide to invade!" Edgar stated.
"You're such a cynic Edgar." Allen stated.
"So, Edgar, Allen, how's that project of yours going?" Annabelle asked.
"Very well actually." Allen said. "With all that's going on, readings have been going wild."
"What project?" Ilia asked, slowing down on her bread munching.
"We study the supernatural." Allen said.
"Yeah, we've been fascinated by the stuff since we were kids." Edgar said.
"Their stuffs creepy if you ask me." Said Marle. "They tried to buy a bottled ghost once."
"Captain wouldn't let us keep it though." Allen said.
"We're kinda hoping our research might let us figure out something about the darkness, but we haven't been able to get anything useful." Edgar said.
"Yeah, the bodies all disappear in an hour or so, and our other equipment went haywire while the darkness was still on us." Allen peered into the bread basket. "I swear Annabelle, you have a magic basket, this thing never seems to end."
"So, did my buddy help you get everything you needed?" Ian asked.
"Most of it." Ilia said. "I couldn't find a new bow, so he got me some ammunition for the gun you gave me."
"I see."
"Thing is, I have no idea how to use it." Ilia lamented. "So I'm probably gonna come up against some monster, and the thing will blow up in my face."
"Um, uh…"
"Hm? What is it?" Buddy leaned over to Ian and whispered something into his ear.
"Oh, hmm, oh, good idea! Ilia, you know my Buddy here could always teach you how to fire it, we got a firing range in the courtyard."
"That sounds like a good idea." Ilia said. Then she got an idea. "Hey Annabelle, why don't you join us?"
"Huh? Me?" She said, not knowing what just happened.
"Well you said you were helpless. Having one of these soldiers teach how to use a weapon could probably help keep you safe."
"B-b-b-but I can't fight…" She stuttered.
"Ian, you could probably teach her, right?" Ilia said.
"Y-yeah, your right!" Ian said, the romantic idea just dawning on him. "I-I mean, if she doesn't want I won't make her, but it'll be completely safe, right Buddy?"
"Uh-huh."
"O-ok then." Annabelle said.
"Alright, the sooner I know how to use a gun the better!" Ilia said getting up.
In the snowy courtyard were two painted target placed against a bale of hay. Ilia gripped her gun in her hand; the type of which she had been informed was a pistol, ten feet from the target. Annabelle stood some feet to her right, nervously holding onto her weapon with both hands, hunched over, and standing uneasily. Standing behind her was Ian, and standing behind Ilia was Buddy.
"Okay, first stand straight-" Ian instructed.
"Okay."
"Aim the pistol at the target-"
"Okay."
"More like this okay?" Ian took a hold of Annabelle's arm, and straightened them, making sure she was aiming properly.
"O-okay."
"Make sure your arms are straight, and that the metal bits on top of the barrel are lined up."
"Okay."
"Now…. take a breath, and pull the trigger."
Annabelle did so, and fired the weapon. Resulting blast and recoil frightened her, and with an 'Eep!' she fell back into Ian's arms.
"So like this?" Ilia asked, aiming at the target and firing the weapon, hitting it dead-center.
"Uh-huh." Buddy said, obviously quite disappointed that he wasn't able to replicate Ian's success with his love. Ilia found it ironic that Ian had tried to make matchmaker with her and Buddy, and now she was playing matchmaker with him and Annabelle, and doing a much better job at it.
"Okay, so how do I load the next shot?" Ilia asked.
Buddy came over to handle the gun for her. Rather than tell her how to reload the firearm, he showed her, breaking the gun in two on a hinge over the trigger. He inserted the lead ball into the back of the barrel, and snapped the gun back into position, and pulled back the flintlock mechanism with his thumb.
"Okay, let's see…" Ilia took the pistol back, and fired at the target again. She tried to copy the process Buddy showed her, and managed to successfully load the next shot. "Good, I think I got it down."
Ilia and Annabelle continued shooting practice, with Ilia focusing mostly on actually becoming good at the weapons use, while Annabelle focused less on that, and more on the close proximity of Ian.
"I saw what you did there." Annabelle said as together they walked the narrow snowy alleyways.
"With the gun training thing?" Ilia asked, having volunteered to walk her home.
"Yeah. It was a nice way for me an Ian to get closer." She said, blushing.
"It's kinda obvious you like him."
"Well ever since he saved me and my uncle, he's sort of been my hero. He was so strong and brave that day. They didn't tell you that one of the Shadow Creatures tried to kidnap me, and that Ian was the one to try to save me."
"Heh, don't worry I'm sure you two are going to end up just fine." Ilia told her.
"You know, I don't think I heard the story of how you met those soldiers." Annabelle noted.
"Same story as you kinda. I was kidnapped by some Bulbins walking a country road by my own. They did a raid on the camp I was being held at, and I rode with them into this city. Don't worry though; I haven't fallen for Ian too."
"That's good. Though I think one of them might have fallen for you."
"I know about that, he's kinda obvious about it. Unfortunately for him, I already have someone I like." Ilia informed her.
"You do?"
"Yeah, he's an old friend of mine. I'm actually looking for him." Ilia said. "It's kinda why I want to get back to my own country to go looking for him again."
"I see."
"Oh man, I just realized that I don't have any place to stay for tonight!" Ilia said.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I planned to stay with someone I met in the city a week or so ago, but apparently they've left town." Ilia told her.
"W-well, I don't mind if you stay at my place." Annabelle told her.
"Really? I mean, I don't want to intrude."
"No, no, it's no trouble at all, besides; you've been really nice to me."
"Well, I guess I don't have much of a choice." She said. "Alright, thanks very much."
Authors Comment:
So this chapter turned out to be mostly about the soldiers. I didn't intend for that, but the more I write for them, the more I like them. I'm also happy I've given a name to that silent soldier.
So the Mask Salesman is gone, and his mystery continues, and we met Annabelle the provider of bread baskets. I have a feeling that the story might be lulling in action for my audience, but I intend to get back to the action in either the next chapter, or the one after that. In order to compensate, I've had Ilia constantly restate her goals, I'm hoping that's not getting annoying.
Anyway, I'm happy with what I produced; it took a while to hammer out the last part of the chapter. Tell me if what I wrote was happy, or sweet, or informative, or such. A bit of self-doubt I am experiencing, I feel like I might be lacking in my description or imagery in this chapter. I would really appreciate some feedback regarding that.
-Sincerely SAmaster01
