So updates are going to be a bit slow since something came up so I might be updating once in two weeks. I don't know really. My schedule's a bit weird. Anyways, I'm really excited for this arc. I'm about roughly half way in finishing the next arc after this one.

Enjoy~!

PART SIX - A BLADE OF HONOR

Link woke up from what little sleep he achieved and left the room quietly as Katie snored blissfully. The iron bed had been served as a joke and a reminder. Even if he was staying at a lavish palace with walls and ground glowing blue, vases that held exotic and priceless flowers, and rare tapestries hanging from the walls, Link was not welcomed here.

The servants have made this message quite clear, often holding cold smiles and glared when they thought he wasn't looking. A meal without the princess was a meal he would rather skip. He wouldn't give the type of food they serve him to the homeless. And since he wasn't allowed to cook his own meals or leave, he was forced to ask the servants to get him something.

But thanks to yesterday's kill, his wallet became fat and Ruto allowed him to purchase some fruits. Just for the thrill of it, he had asked for a simple piece of nutcake and a cup of sake, which would be watered down as always.

Honestly, at this point, it's more like they water up the sake since it bereft from the fizzy, bitter taste.

He had slumped down on the chair of the dinning room and cast a glance around the hall. It was quite spacious and the clicks of his heels echoed into the cold empty room. White drapes hung by the door, fluttering when he pushed them aside. The table nearby had golden vases and large necklace just dangling down. His eyes stared at it longer than he liked to admit.

He would be lying if he wasn't tempted. Just look at all this wealth lying around! It's as if they want it to be stolen. Being a former perspicacious thief, he knew that the table alone was more than what he made in a lifetime. During his stay he had made an effort to circumvent around unsupervised jewelry. Now in this empty room, he felt his heart quicken a bit.

As much as he loved to feel those resplendent coins in his hands, he forced himself to stop entertaining the idea. So much has happened. Just thinking about his former gang and how their greed eventuated in the near destruction of Hatino made him ill. That obdurate life was behind him.

The window showed him the view of the city. The glowing blue lights dimmed as the arc of the sun showed over from the horizon. There was rarely anyone around save for a couple of guards that looked distastefully at him. From the distance, he could scarcely hear the chirping of the birds and his wanderlust thrived. He wanted to get out of this boring palace. But alas he had to stay put.

A maid had brought him his cake. It was the same little bitch that had 'accidently' dropped his hot tea on his laps just yesterday.

Katie had interfered before Link could give this little shit a piece of his mind. The fairy naively thought the maid did it on accident even though Link could see the giggle hiding behind that fake commiseration.

It was thanks to the herbs from Hatino that Link recovered smoothly from the burns. He could handle their little sophistry every now and then, so long as it was verbal, but spilling hot tea? The line had been crossed.

Time for a little reparation.

He was assertive that the same maid would serve him, judging by how bold she had been yesterday and how easily she got away with it. In her mind she thinks herself invincible and that Link honestly had no say in the matter.

"How are you, darling?" Link asked her with a dashing smile, agog to finally seeing her. "Is that cake fresh or a month old?"

"Why? Are you assuming it will taste bad?" She asked, trying to appear calm and natural. Zoras have this thing of being easily offended if their skills are ever put up to doubt.

Link had a taste for making women angry and he just loved seeing her breath heavily to stomp down that rising anger. "Well, I'm not bright but I could have sworn the bread you gave me the other day was a bit tough around the edges."

Her jaw clenched. "It was a perfectly good piece of bread."

"Uh huh. Or maybe you're growing a bit old to tell the difference?" Link stood up and ignored the indigent glare she gave him. "Now, can I have my cake or are you going to be a clumsily little bitch like yesterday?"

Her breathing had deepened and she sent an icy glare. Link could tell that the nut cake was dryer that sand. He grabbed the cake before she had the chance to throw it in his face.

Upon a closer inspection to confirm that the cake does indeed have molds, he faked a frown. "You know what? This doesn't look really good," he said as he looked at her raging eyes. He smiled cheekily. "I don't want it."

The maid breathed in deeply. "Then why did you ask for it?"

"That's none of your business, darling. Your job is to get me what I want. Take this back and make me a sandwich."

Her eyes flared. "You shouldn't think so highly of yourself, human. You are not a guest."

He smiled. "I am for now. Get used to it."

Link got ready to hand the plate back and she was reluctantly about to take it back. However, just as she was about to grab it, the plate slipped from his fingers. The maid gave a small surprised yelp as she moved to quickly grab it but it was too late. The cake had been turned upside down, ruining the expensive looking carpet.

"Ops, my bad, sweetie," Link said. It was the same words she had spoken from yesterday. She gritted her teeth and Link grinned at her. "You might want to clean that up." He grabbed her hand before it could touch his cheek. "Ooh, look at you, finally being honest with me."

"Shut up!" She growled as she tried to take back her hand with little success. "You shouldn't be here. You aren't supposed to be here. I can't believe that a scum like you speaks to the princess like that. You aren't worthy of being her protector."

Link let out a sigh. "Why is everyone kissing up to her ass? Seriously, it's always princess this and princess that. Why's she so popular? She got her ass handed to her in the arena."

Her other hand moved and Link caught it gracefully. "Don't you ever speak to her like that! She always tried her best for the sake of her people!"

"You're very clumsy, you know that?" Link moved his face closer so that her eyes couldn't leave him. "I don't mind a little clumsy myself."

"Let me go," she whimpered.

"But you're a little too clumsy for me, darling."

"I'll scream."

"Scream to the roof, darling. They won't get here fast enough if you do that. Trust me. Now where was I? Oh yes, about being so clumsy. It's no wonder no man wants you." His eyes grew wide as they lusted with insanity. He gripped her hands so tight that she let out a little yelp. "I know just by looking at you that no man would think twice before putting you into bed. Poor little maid, so fucking pathetic. I bet if you were a whore they wouldn't touch you even for free."

Her bottom lip quivered as her eyes filled with fear. "Let me go. You don't know what you're talking about."

"I bet your father is willing to pay for anyone to get you off his hands." Link grinned tightly and was holding her wrists so hard that it would break at any moment. "I'm going to tell you only once and you tell all the other maids as well, the next time you fucking spill tea on me, you bitch, I'll shove boiling water down your gullet. We'll see if you can swim then."

He shoved her and she went down to the ground, sobbing helplessly. Another maid had entered the room this one carrying a goblet and sake. Once she saw her fellow maid, she placed the drink and went to her side, glaring at him. "What did you do to her?!" She demanded.

Link didn't have enough of tormenting the first maid. It was so nice he wanted to rely the message to the second one and would have done so if the pesky adviser hadn't entered the room.

Beckward glanced at the sobbing maid then at Link. "What's going on here?" He asked calmly.

"Look at what he's done to Riana," the second maid told him, still giving Link the icy look.

Link shrugged. "I didn't hit her."

Beckward waved a hand. "Go on, you two. I'll deal with this but please don't alert the king. We have enough trouble as it is."

The second maid helped Riana up, her eyes not leaving Link until she was out of the room.

Link sat back down and poured himself a drink. "What do you want?"

Beckward didn't speak right away, only waited until Link finished his cup. "I know it must be frustrating but I advise patience. Some people tend to let their emotions get the best of them." Beckward sat down. "I assure you Riana means no harm."

"What do you want?" Link repeated, placing the jug down rather harshly.

"I just wanted to speak to you is all," he replied coolly. "The princess wanted me to keep you out of trouble during the morning hours. I must say, I didn't think you would wake up so early."

"Oh, I'm sorry it's such an inconvenience. If the bed was a bit softer, I might sleep in."

Beckward hummed. "I will arrange a bed for you myself," he promised. "In the meantime please stay out of trouble."

Link took down one cup and felt pique. He wanted a small alcoholic influence to take his mind a bit. Just something to dull his focus. "Get me a stronger drink and I'll be an angel."

Beckward gave a commiserated smile. "I'm afraid that's out of my hand. It's the princess' orders." There was a little glint in his eyes. "But nothing says that you couldn't stop by at a bar. I'm not saying you should go alone but maybe the princess wouldn't mind if you purchased your own bottle."

Link liked the idea even though Ruto would mind. Beckward doesn't seem to get how they were on each other's neck. "Where can I find a bar?" He knew Ruto would refuse to tell him if he ever asked.

"It should be downtown near the fish markets." The adviser's eyes grew a bit stern. "Again, I'm not saying that you should go alone. Your place must be with the princess."

"Yeah, whatever. I have a question."

"Of course."

"It's about this culprit. It's been almost a week and we still didn't find her."

Beckward cerebrated for a few minutes. "It might help you if you try to think like them. No offence to you or anything but this culprit is definitely a human so where would a human go in the Zoras' City?" He didn't wait for an answer as he stood up. "Well, I must be off. I have many things to tend to. Again, please don't think of leaving without the princess."

"Why are you on my side?" Link's question put a halt to the adviser's tracks. "I'm finding that a bit suspicious."

"I don't believe all humans are the root of evil. You could say that I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt," Beckward replied, still not turning around. "If you need me, I'll be in my study."

Link made no promises to stay here. Beckward's advice rang in his mind and left him restless. He pretended like he was going back to sleep and locked the door. Katie was still fast asleep and he leaned the Master Sword near the bed. Climbing down from the window, he rushed into the city with his hood on. Where would a human stay in a foreign place? The answer came to him. Of course. Why hasn't anyone thought of this yet?

It took him three hours of roaming around the city like a madman until he found news worth telling. He was so excited that he could barely stay still. Katie was wide awake then and he almost forgot that he had locked her in the room. She asked a hundred and one questions and he ignored them all.

It was the burst of energy that made his sleepiness vanish. The moment Ruto had woken up, he told her hastily that he found a lead. She hushed him down and fumingly asked him if he had left the palace without her to which he replied yes but only because he couldn't wait.

Ruto managed to calm him down and keep him in the palace until the sun took its place high in the clouds. When they had breakfast, Link was surprised that he was famished and wolfed down his meal. After that, they took to the road.

He festinated to the city while his two companions struggled to keep up. Ruto asked with some concern if Link got any sleep last night.

"Barely," he replied bitterly but was in no mood to argue over it. He was shaking with anticipation. If this turns out well then he wouldn't have to deal with this crap anymore.

Katie gasped. "You didn't sleep? Where exactly have you been?!"

"My father will be furious, Link!" Ruto snapped. "The maids are not stupid. They must have noticed that you were gone."

Link grinned. "He won't be angry for long once we've caught the culprit."

It's been a rough morning for him and he didn't really feel the need to tell them that angry Zoras had attacked him on behalf of their precious princess. Or that they threw spoiled fruits at him and he had to use his shield. That wasn't important.

Beckward's advice made Link remember about the dry snakeskin. Katie had said it herself, taking care of a snake of that length is pricy and not to mention the human culprit also needed to take care of themselves. With the evidence of the snakeskin and Beckward's advice, he had pondered around, thinking long and hard.

The snakeskin led him to search around the city in the evening and ask around to see if anyone saw a large snake slithering about.

It wasn't going to be easy, he knew. Everyone looked at him like he was insane. A snake in the Zora's Domain? They must've thought he was drunk. Yes, fine, the culprit was careful but if they were dumb enough to forget the skin then surely they aren't all that good.

He had paced around the streets all morning, asking and running away from angry citizens.

From what Ruto told him about the assassin being a female human and from what Beckward said to think like her, he knew the answer. An inn. That's definitely where a female human would stay. So he went around to every inn he could find. There was one that seemed the most hatred against humans and Link figured that's where he'll go. It would be less suspicious on the culprit's part.

Of course after Link got tired of sweet-talking to the receptionist, he took a different approach.

"You what?!" Ruto yelled, and she looked like she wanted to strangle him.

Why is it such a big deal? He did it for the greater good. "So what—"

"You threatened him?" Katie enunciated in order to understand properly. "You dummy, you could've been arrested!"

"Relax. I was wearing a disguise."

"That's not even—" It was too much for Ruto and she rubbed her temple as if afflicted by a monstrous headache. "Just…just continue," she said, too tried to chastise him first thing in the morning.

The receptionist began to be of use when Link dragged him across the counter by the cuff of his neck. He explained that yes, he did allow a female human in and only because this one was rather…interesting.

Ruto frowned. "What? Tell me that's not what I think he meant. Doesn't he hate humans though?"

Link shot her a grin and he felt excited to meet this woman himself. If she had managed to convince someone who hated her kind, then they're dealing with a professional flirt here. Pretty much Link's type.

Link had asked if there was anything suspicious about this lady and it took some shaking and some threats — only a little, he assured Ruto — before the Zora admitted that he did indeed hear a hissing sound.

Link grinned at them. "I should be detective," he told them with a chuckle.

"A balmy one," Ruto said flatly.

"Don't use words that I don't know."

"A hissing sound," Katie muttered. "That has to be the snake. Did you get to see her?"

He sighed. "The guy said that she left just hours before I got there and her face was covered up by a hoodie."

"So, she left the city?" Ruto asked with some hope.

Link shook his head. "She recently just left and the guy said she seemed in a hurry…" He froze and felt shivers up his spine.

Ruto noticed he had stopped and looked alarmed. "What? What is it?!"

It took a moment for the thought to sink in. "She left around before I got there…in a hurry…" Once he understood what that meant, his shoulders slumped and he let out a sigh. "Aw shit."

"Link, what—" Katie understood and gasped. "Oh no!"

Ruto stomped down. "Will someone explain to me?"

"We've been spied on," Link gritted. "That bitch…oh she's good."

"I still don't understand," Ruto complained.

Katie took on the color of pink roses. "Yesterday morning I mentioned the dry snake and how we should use that to track her down." Katie's color deepened. "Then she leaves in a hurry. That could only mean she's been spying on us just yesterday."

Link felt his blood simmer. "She's being real careful with this. She must have known I would go look for her and decided to move."

Ruto felt her breathing quickened. "She's been watching us this whole time." Her eyes lifted up and scanned around. Link followed her suit and felt the same way. They both had the same thought. Is she watching now?

It felt as if the air was too thick to breath in. How could they have been so blind? But also how could the culprit just sit there and observe them without making a move? This was enough to drive anyone mad. She's planning something big but what?

Link continued on moving and he was furious. She pulled a fast one on him, not too shabby but this old boy wasn't done yet. He decided to go back to that same inn but this time he'll let Ruto do the talking, bring someone that the receptionist would be more than pleased to talk to.

When Ruto and Katie came back from the inn, it was evident on Ruto's grim face that nothing was found. They were even allowed into the same room as the culprit was and there was nothing there. Not a speck of clue.

At this point, Link was looking forward to tracking down a monster to let out some steam. Ruto stayed quiet and Link felt agitated with her by his side. He figured she might mock him. After all he came to the palace breathless, sweating like a mad man and giddying with excitement. Why shouldn't she just laugh at his failed attempt?

"We'll try next time," she assured him and it felt strange to have her comfort him as if she understood how upset he was.

Katie went near his face. "Don't worry. Transporting a snake that size takes a lot of effort. We'll get to the bottom of this."

He sighed, still feeling humiliated. They were so close. "Did the inn say where she's heading?"

"Only that the culprit wore a hood and he even said he caught a sweet smell on her. I'm not sure."

Link heaved out a breath. "This is still bad though. We were being watched." She could be somewhere in the crowd, enjoying her cup of tea while they looked for her. Link could count all the chances on his fingers that the assassin had more chances to kill them both. Either she really was planning something or she was waiting for an opportunity.

Some detective he turned out to be.

"Then we'll take extra precaution," Ruto said with a pallid face. "Any plans that we make should be spoken in the palace. Including the…you know." Her eyes moved to the hilt of the sword and Link understood.

The Master Sword put on a few extra weight nearly causing him to lose his balance.

He heaved out a breath. "We should still look around. If she's not staying at any inn then where else would she go?"

His question hung in the air as they aimlessly walked down the street. They could always just go back to Giant's Fist or the palace but he was too stubborn to give up. They were this close. They might as well check out for anything suspicious.

The entire time, Ruto was beginning to be a pain. "Do you need help with that?" She asked kindly to the elderly lady who struggled with a box full of apples.

Link's eyes narrowed. "Princess…"

"Oh, it might be too heavy for you," the old woman said.

"None sense." Ruto lifted the box with little trouble and placed it down in front of the old woman's shop. "No trouble at all."

Link groaned impatiently. "Can we go now?"

The old woman tried to give Ruto an apple as repayment. She kept insisting but Ruto politely kept declining. The entire cycle was beginning to drive Link crazy and he ended it by taking the apple for himself. "Thanks and goodbye."

He chuckled when he saw her pique expression but thankfully she didn't say anything. Once he finished the apple and threw the apple core away, he told her, "You keep trying to solve everyone's problem and you'll end up the most popular dead girl in all the city."

"Don't listen to him, Ruto," Katie chirped. "The people are lucky to have someone like you as a princess."

"Thank you, Katie." Ruto paid no attention to Link.

Link shrugged. "Okay fine, but if someone goes up and kills you then don't come crying to me."

She finally looked at him with a glare. "Okay, Dad."

He grinned. "No problem, sweetheart. You should've been a boy but beggars can't be choosers."

"Ha ha."

"I know. I'm hilarious."

"You should be a comedian rather than a detective. I think it suits you well."

Ouch.

He didn't have anything else to say and just crossed his arms, vaguely and instinctively looking at his surroundings for anything that stood out. It still irritated him though. She often does that; stops in the middle of the street to go on and help a complete stranger. It's their problem let them deal with it. Doesn't she know that's the easiest way to get killed?

Katie suggested that they should ask merchants to see if anyone suspicious purchased meat or a pet bird. It was food that was common to the Revolten Snake. She even suggested that they try to find someone selling small animals, elucidating that Revolten Snakes likes to swallow their prey alive.

The market was downtown and the path went down to a rocky slope. From what Beckward told him, a bar should be around the corner. Once Ruto's eyes are off him, he'll get a bottle or two.

Someone bumped into him carrying a box of fish. He glared at the Zora who appeared to be a teenager and Link shoved him out of the way. "Watch where you're going," he spat. The force made the kid stumble back and trip.

"Link!" Katie snapped.

All the fish he was carrying spilled out, and by passers stepped on them unknowingly. "Dammit!" The Zora cursed in a panic. "My dad will kill me!"

Ruto eyed Link and much to his chagrin, she paid the boy twice the price and hurried along to Link's side. Why did it bother him so much? If she wanted to go down on her knees to help everyone it shouldn't concern him.

"Why did you do that?" Link demanded, noticing that eyes were on him now.

"I should be asking you the same thing," Ruto gritted. "He didn't see you. Not everyone has the time to bother you."

"You should've apologized to him." Katie glowered. "Just because Ruto's paying for you doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."

Some Zoras scowled at him and he chuckled to himself. Nothing pleased him more than seeing others more ticked off than he was. This morning had been a pain in the ass from that pesky maid all the way down to the culprit.

I have officially ran out of damns to give.

He really needed a drink.

They stayed quiet as they focused at the task at hand. The glowing lights dimmed in some open areas and brightened around dark corners.

Katie went over to his side, trembling a bit. "I don't like it here," she muttered, looking over at a large Zora who was sharpening a sword and Link saw his reflection on the blade before the blacksmith pounded it with a hammer roughly, eyeing them.

Link shrugged. "Eh, it's nothing."

"I get they hate you but why me? I didn't do anything," she huffed, spiking red. "I can't even go around without people giving me the stinky eye no thanks to you."

Link grinned. "Hey, it's a package deal. You want me? Then you take the heat as well. I tell you what, this is a lot better."

"How exactly is this any better?"

"Beats having people bothering me a lot like Hatino for example."

Katie sounded irritated. "Everyone liked you in Hatino. What's wrong with that?"

"I'm surprised that anyone would ever like him in the first place," Ruto muttered.

Link tried not to cringe at the memory of the puppet show. All the adulation the people had shown him, the praise and that title they branded on him 'The Hero of Hatino'. That had to be one of the worst experiences ever. "They were so annoying."

Ruto gave Link a disapproval look to which he can't care about. He could see the market buzzing with customers of all races. There was peculiar low brown building that made him agog and his throat went dry. He couldn't read the sign but he knew from the tainted stain of it to know. Now all he needed was to get away from the princess.

Ruto quicken her pace so she could catch up to him. "I don't think you're being honest with yourself," she suddenly said with sharp eyes.

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then do tell since you appear to know everything about me."

"You make others hate you first and that gives you a reason to hate them back." She looked at him in the eyes and he felt uneasy as if she could see his soul. "I think you're just afraid people might hate you either way so you make your way out to hate them first."

He blinked back and suddenly felt irritated. As if someone invaded his privacy.

Katie glowed a soft yellow. "Is that true, Link?" She asked softly.

A muscle leaped in his jaw. "What do you know, huh?" Ruto didn't reply and only stared at him. That only ticked him off more. "You only knew me for what, a week?" He didn't know why he was so angry even when he knew what she said was wrong. "There's no way I could care any less what you fishes think about me."

"Stop," she started with her eyes flaring, "calling us fishes."

"Or what?" He challenged, relieved that he got under her skin after she done the same.

She looked like she wanted to argue but instead shook her head and smiled. "At least I don't make lies just to feel good about myself. Who do you think you are? I think it's almost laughable that you keep insisting that you're untouchable. Admit it: you're afraid of people and that's why you prefer to avoid them."

Who does this bitch think she is?

Link seethed through his teeth and his fingers twitched. He could shove her back, watch her fall to the ground. But there were by passers and some have even stopped to watch him. He hated this part. All this unnecessary attention and for what? To babysit some princess? Or was it because he didn't play fair at the arena?

He had enough of this exigent princess and enough of this bloody city with its cold water at every turn.

"Oh, where are you running off to now?" Listening to her talk was like scratching a chalk on a board.

"To the bar," he replied. He knew he was running away and a part of him didn't care. All he wanted was to get away from her and all this attention. The attention had entertained him at the beginning and it was now annoying him. For once he'd like to walk the streets without people whining and crying and bitching about the competition. He won. Deal with it. "And don't follow me."

"Don't you dare," Ruto spoke slowly, "take one more step."

Link didn't take one step. In fact, he took two.

Katie fluttered to his face. "Link, the princess"

He successfully managed to wipe her off from his sight and she let out a cry. Ruto caught her before she fell from the air. "I'm having a drink whether you like it or not. Don't follow me."

They didn't thankfully and he knew that they were giving him the same looks just as everyone else. It's fine. He didn't care. He didn't care what this world thinks of him. They can spread rumors about him or traduce him in anyway. So long as they don't get in his way it didn't matter.

All he cared about was Agnes. His sweet, innocent, selfless Agnes who was far more important and precious than anyone in this world. He'll take Agnes far away from this country and it'll be just the two of them. He'll keep her safe this time, make sure nothing happens to her, obviate anything that tried to take her away from him.

He felt himself breath easily and smiled a little. He didn't need anyone. The world only cared for itself. There are so little good things in this world and Agnes was one of them.

With that in mind, he pushed the door opened, met with a powerful stench and entered into the snake's nest.

Please don't forget to leave a review on your thoughts. It always motivates me. What do you think of the arc so far?