Chapter Nine: Fate In Motion

…

K-tak. "Mara, I'm home!" Link said after pulling the front door shut. It had been three days since the princess's visit, and he had spent plenty of time with Joth trying to keep the other boy out of trouble. Not that Joth was looking at causing it, but the thrill of meeting and shaking his idol's hand had left him happily bouncing all over Subordo. Link was tagging along mostly because, in the course of Joth's usual routine, he was trying to keep Joth from screaming every five seconds that he had met the princess. Today had been a marked improvement; Link had talked him into wearing a shirt with a pictograph of him and the princess (taken by Link during her visit) tacked to the front. It had saved both boys the hassle of explaining why Joth's grin was so big. And, after two days of Link trying to talk to him about bragging to customers, Joth was able to focus on his part-time job at the bookstore.

So, when he entered the house, he was moving at such a brisk, happy pace that he did not see the rucksack in the middle of the entryway. "Whoa!" Ba-BAM! He landed face-first on the floor, although he was able to save himself from a serious concussion by cushioning his fall on one arm. He also had to thank the thin carpet tacked to the floor, protecting the bare, ash-colored wood from dirt, shoes, and teenagers unaware of filled luggage sitting in a bad place. "Ow…" he grunted at the floor.

"Oh, Link!" Mara said upon coming to the doorway from the kitchen. Link was in the middle of pushing up from the floor when Mara strode forward and latched her wet, soapy hands on one arm to help him to his feet. "I'm sorry, I forgot I left that there."

"Glad I could remind you…" Link grunted as he kicked off one of the straps that had snared his ankle. Then he took note what rucksack it was. "Mara? Why is my bag sitting in the middle of the floor? Full?"

"Oh, well, I was expecting you to be back home sooner," Mara said as she wiped her hands with her apron. Then, she reached a hand into one pocket of her housedress and offered Link an envelope. "This came for you around noon. I opened it already, and then…" She giggled as Link took the envelope. "I… kinda started packing your stuff."

"What, are you getting me committed?" Link asked with a smart grin as he took out the letter.

"They won't take you," Mara joked.

When Link unfolded the letter, he immediately noticed a blot of wax pop loose and almost fall to the floor if his hand had not already been in the way. He held up the wax to see it in the setting light entering through the window nearby. It did not surprise him to discover that it was a seal; in all likelihood, Mara had loosened it from the envelope when she had opened it. It was a circular signet bearing a set of abstract symbols which appeared to be a bird with its wings wide open over top of a heater-shaped shield. The name "Brettson" was displayed in a flat banderole at the shield's bottom point. Link withheld his assumptions simply because he did not know how seals worked, but this already seemed to have some measure of promise.

Link palmed the wax seal and read the letter (taking note of the effeminate handwriting):

—Dear Mr. Fieldview,

—Good day to you, young man. My name is Sir Reba Brettson, Order of the Hammer, Knight Fourth-Class, head of the Brettson House of Hyrule. I seek contact with you on this day to discuss something important.

—I have recently received correspondence with Detective-Sergeant Navi of the Watch, detailing her investigation of items stolen from Her Royal Highness, the Princess Zelda of Hyrule. She has expressed admiration for your detective skills ("Pfft," Link hissed in amusement.) and has described your ambition to become a member of the City Watch of Hyrule ("Pfft.").

—It was my house which sponsored Detective-Sergeant Navi's entrance into the Watch, a noble gesture which has since brought about a sense of pride. I fear that the years ahead will bring hardships to the Brettson House, so I feel that there is very little we can do. However, I wish to help a young, ambitious man like yourself achieve your desires, even if it has to be last thing I do before this House is forced to dissolve. It would be my pleasure to introduce you to the City Watch in the hopes of producing another officer who would bring justice to Hyrulia and pride to a dying House.

—However, before I sponsor you, I would like to meet you. You understand, this is not a free pass based on as little information as possible. As much as it pains me to use the language of business, this is an investment. I must get to know you if I am to be convinced that sponsoring you into the City Watch would be worth it. Some of Detective-Sergeant Navi's descriptions of you were quite colorful, and, while I have no doubt that you are an interesting individual, I would like to know more before I render a decision.

—Therefore, I extend this invitation to you. My house is humble by noble standards, but it can still support a guest or two. I will be sending a carriage to collect you in the morning in two days from the time I expect you to receive this letter. You might bring at least two sets of spare clothing, as I expect that you will join my household for supper and stay the night. By the next morning, I feel I shall have deliberated long enough to decide whether I find you worthy of sponsorship or not. Either way, the following morning shall see you taken home.

—Understand, young man, that although my family has its humble beginnings as woodsmen and carpenters, I have certain expectations when it comes to law and justice. Although we knights now mostly protect king and country, I find that I would hold anyone who would call himself an officer of law to the same standards that His Royal Majesty King Esphal Dorhavineus Hyrule expects of any of his knights. If you believe that you are not up to such a challenge, I advise you to write immediately. Otherwise, I await your arrival. Keep this letter and envelope with you so that you may show my retainers as a means of identifying yourself.

—Yours truly,

(A curvy and unreadable script followed; from what Link could make out, it was the knight's signature.)

—Sir Reba Brettson, Order of the Hammer, Knight Fourth-Class, head of the Brettson House of Hyrule sworn allegiant to His Royal Majesty King Esphal Dorhavineus Hyrule

Link flipped back to the first page again and reread for a moment. "Kinda get the feeling DS Navi can't stop talking about me," he told Mara.

"Does this mean what I think it means?" Mara asked.

Link took in a breath and folded the letter up. "It means Navi at least told her patron about me. Now I have to show this guy my charm and pray to all three Goddesses that he takes me as-is. It isn't gonna be easy."

Mara crossed her arms. "Oh, really?" she asked. "For Link Fieldview, future Officer of the Watch?"

"Yeah, this is gonna take more work than just showing off to DS Navi," Link told her, placing the letter back in the envelope. "I don't even get a crime to show my skills. This is gonna be the most awkward dinner I've ever had."

"It seems to me that any dinner you have is awkward just because you're there."

"Yeah, but I do that on purpose. This is gonna take some etiquette lessons. What did you even pack in my bag anyway?"

"Well, I thought some of your finer clothes could stand to see the light of day," Mara told him as he picked up the rucksack from the floor. "You at least need to wear your good tunic; that one you wear all the time is starting to show through in places."

Link dropped the rucksack onto the table and pulled it open. "What's all over this stuff?"

"Sorry, Link. I noticed there were some bugs in your bag, so I sprinkled some insect killer on your clothes."

Link sighed. "You probably should've done that before you put the clothes in, Mara…"

Mara was nodding as she told him, "It was more on impulse than anything; I regretted it when I realized what I was doing, but it's done now."

"Well, I won't get picked up for two days, so we can hang this stuff out and let the wind carry it off tomorrow."

"Do you have your boots in the loft?"

Link heaved a heavier sigh. "Oh, come on, Mara, the boots?"

"You're not gonna visit a Knight of Hyrule wearing slip-ons. Wash and shine them, Link. And you're taking a bath tomorrow evening."

"Aw… I hate going to the bathhouse."

"Not as much as they hate having you there, Link. Just be fast about it so you don't annoy anyone." She reached up and tugged on one of Link's locks. "Maybe we should cut your hair, too."

"My hair's fine," Link told her, his tone mildly offended. "If you're making me take a bath, I can straighten it up."

"See that you do," Mara told him, shaking a finger as she spoke. "This is a Knight of Hyrule, Link; I expect they would like some dignity in your appearance even if you're Losel."

"It's beginning to feel like we should just send Losel instead…" Link groaned.

Mara crossed her arms again. "Now I know you don't mean that."

"No, but could you imagine that?" Link asked with a large grin on his face.

"You almost make it sound like you don't want to go," Mara told him.

"We—this is a lot of stuff to take care of, Mara!" Link argued. "I kinda thought he might find his way down here!"

"I would think that him responding to you at all would be a celebration for you," Mara said. "Aren't you the least bit excited?"

"Are you kidding? With all the stuff you're telling me to do?"

Mara and Link stared at each other for a few moments. Then Mara raised her hands in defeat. "Okay," she told him. "I just thought there might still be some of that little boy in you that liked to scream and jump around whenever something nice happened for him."

Link sighed. "Maybe tomorrow when everything's done."

"Is that a promise?" Mara asked as Link stepped around her, his rucksack left on the table. She turned just as he stepped into the sitting/dining room.

"Maybe," Link called over his shoulder. "Let me get something to eat first."

Mara watched him step into the kitchen and disappear out the back door. At first, she could not figure out why he had decided to go out into the garden. A few moments later, Link's intentions became clear to her when she heard him shout, the single word perfectly audible in spite of having most of the house between them.

"YES!"