Captain Ruba was exactly where Sheik had left her when he dropped from the top of the wall. He had searched Talon's room and had decided he was the lazy man Ingo accused him of being. Sheik now had a plan; there was just one thing he needed to be sure of.

"Captain, how well do you know horses?"

Eyebrow raised, Ruba answered, "Very. All Gerudo are required to be excellent horsewomen."

Required? Sheik filed that piece of Gerudo information away and asked, "Can I trust you to give me an honest appraisal of a horse's speed?"

Eyes narrowed suspiciously, Captain Ruba replied, "What are you getting at?"

"I saw a magnificent mare at the ranch that ran like the wind. Long ago Lon Lon held horse races, and their horses were renowned for their speed. I think that's where the true value of the ranch lies. If an expert like you confirms that the Lon Lon horses are faster than the current horses of Ganondorf's cavalry, then I will make sure they are at his disposal."

"Ha! I've seen the horses the Hylian cavalry use! They are nothing compared to the Gerudo steeds."

"Yes, but those horses were not from Lon Lon Ranch. The ranch hasn't sold its horses to anyone for at least a decade. The only thing the castle has gotten from Lon Lon is milk. I ask you again, if the horse I show you is faster than Gerudo horses, would you tell me honestly?"

Captain Ruba considered the question for a moment and then nodded. "Yes, I would. I would never keep anything of value from my King's possession."

Satisfied that the last loose end of his plan was taken care of, Sheik explained what he planned to do. Captain Ruba listened, and Sheik thought he saw a glimmer of respect in her eye for a moment. If anything, his plan had outdone the low expectation she had placed on him.

The two waited until the sun began to set. Sheik had used the waiting time to inquire a bit more about Gerudo culture. Using Ruba's comment earlier as a starting point, he learned that there was a Master of Horseback Riding in the desert fortress the Gerudo called home. Gerudo were not respected as adults until they could pass the Master's riding test which involved shooting targets while riding a horse. Sheik had seen the small recurve bows in the Gerudo armory. Unlike the Hylian longbows, they could be fired while mounted. Although, it would still take exceptional skill to do so. Swordsmanship, archery, and horsemanship seemed to be the most respected skills among the desert people. If Sheik was going to gain their respect, he figured he would have to master them as well.

With the sky beginning to darken, Sheik signaled Ruba to join him on the wall. He was surprised how deftly she was able to get over while still carrying her halberd. He pointed out where he wanted her to watch from, a piece of roof on the barn where she could see the track, but hidden by the wall's shadow which was cast by the setting sun. Malon was leading the horses, one or two at a time, into the stables. Sheik didn't see Epona, and guessed she was already in the barn. He waited until Malon was just about to exit the corral with two horses, and then dropped down into the back of the stables.

There were four horses and a foal there. They shifted uncomfortably, and their ears swiveled at the unwelcome intruder. Sheik made his way quietly to the stall that held Epona. The chestnut mare watched him grow closer, her bright eyes seeming to demand what he thought he was doing in her domain. Her large white teeth were bared at him, and she stomped her front hoofs in the ground. Sheik prayed she would do what he hoped she would.

That's right. There's an intruder and you need to let Malon know.

Sheik saw that the lock on the stall door was a simple bolt. He just had to get it open without Epona taking a bite out of him. Hoping he was faster with his hands than she was with her mouth, Sheik ran towards the stall. Epona let out a shrill whinny, and tried to bite him. Luckily she fell for his feint to the left, and he dropped to the right and pulled the latch. He barely managed to roll backwards out of the way before she kicked the door open. Without pausing, he jumped and flipped himself onto the stable roof. Then he slid himself back, and pressed himself down the slightly inclined roof. As he hoped, Epona's cry signaled the other horses, and they began to make noise and pound the ground. Even better, the two horses that were halfway to the stable had jerked back, making Malon turn and miss seeing Sheik get on the roof. Epona shot out of the barn, and reared up angrily. Then she raised her head sniffing the air.

The two horses Malon was leading pulled free and bolted down the track. Unlike Epona, they seemed to want to avoid trouble rather than fight it. Malon ran towards Epona, and tried to calm her. But with Sheik's scent in the air, Epona refused to return to the stall. Malon grabbed a coil of rope from the barn door, and managed to convince Epona to let her swing onto her back. Even though her horse's head kept swiveling back to the barn and its roof, Malon urged Epona to go after the fleeing horses. With a frustrated neigh, Epona obeyed, almost losing Malon as she shot like an arrow down the length of Lon Lon Ranch, easily catching up to the panicked horses.

Forming a lasso, Malon managed to catch the horses one at a time and lead them back into the corral. Anytime Malon stopped Epona, the horse raised its head and seemed to stare accusingly at the barn. But her enemy was gone, having slipped back over the wall.