Oh goodie goodie, time to answer reviews…
To Rai Doriane (can I call ya Dori?): If this is the best you can find, you haven't looked hard enough =) But I 'preciate it all the same.
To heatherthegreatone: Heheheh, I was wondering when someone'd notice that. Hell, I dunno, why not? Languages interest me, nothing more. Though in all likelihood orcs will speak German (very broken, very grammatically incorrect German) in future chapters, merely because people can't read it at a glace, but can at least get an idea if they type it into an online translator.
To Wraith: Thank you too, you have no idea how hard it is to think in first person.
Now, someone review before I get desperate and add in a raunchy, graphic, hard core, "help-me-I'm-running-out-of-ways-to-squick-myself" porn scene between Link and Shiek so I can label this yaoi and get it up to NC-17, therefore attracting more attention.
Oh…That's a rather nice fit, I thought to myself as I laced up my new pair of boots. I had never had a single article of clothing that fit me properly before. Even in the dim light, I could see myself fairly well. A soft black tunic, new black leggings and the boots that I mentioned. I'd thrown away that godforsaken uncomfortable corset as well. The sword was at my hip once more and strapped to my side.
I began to chuckle slightly; the sound didn't travel too far in the cramped space. It was just the novelty of it all that made me smile. Sure, there's a dangerous madman with tremendous magical power running around with an army of super-human monsters at this disposal…But hey, I got new stuff so it's all good.
I pulled on a hooded cloak; it was a nice upgrade from what I had left behind three nights earlier. I didn't bother to pull on the hood; there was no one to see me. Carefully, I pushed open the swinging door, making sure the hinges wouldn't creak. My boot heels made the softest of clicks as I stepped through the storeroom. It was dark, around 4:30 AM I expect. I had entered the front room, the shop part of the building. Items of clothing, supplies, and preservatives lined the shelves and racks. The only light in the room came from the bright moon outside, its rays filtered by the lace curtains in the two windows towards the front of the shop.
As I stepped thought the aisles, I plucked things off the shelves, things like smoked meat, water canteens, a compass, and a warm blanket. I would need all for the long trip ahead. But, much to my dismay, there was no map to Hyrule. Hyrule was far away, yet how far I wasn't sure. All I knew was that the Great Trade Route, that was said to criss-cross every county in the world, would take me right to it--Or, at least, I was certain of it.
My head poked around the end of the aisle.
"How are we feeling, Morgan?
At the front of the store tied to a wooden load-bearing post by the counter with a length of strong cord was a paunchy disheveled man. He was tied upright, still in his nightshirt with the coils around his legs, fat belly and chest. A rolled up handkerchief in his mouth stifled his yells and curses. Sanders Morgan glared at me murderously with his beady rat-like eyes narrowed into slits.
I came out into full view. I spun around on my heels in a full circle, the cloak fanning out from off my body as I did so. "Like my new outfit?"
Sanders' glare turned, if possible, more outraged then before and he strained against his bindings trying to yell through the cloth. Amused, I drew the knife from my boot and stepped forward towards him. The rage dissipated. His face went white and eyes widened with fear as I held the 10-inch long blade to his throat. I'm a sadist, I'll admit, but I had no intention of killing him. Scaring the shit out of him and looting his store for all that it was worth was enough.
"I'll let you speak if you don't yell," I said lazily "Make such a mistake and I will draw blood."
He nodded, but very slightly so that the knife wouldn't puncture the soft flesh. I yanked the cloth out of his mouth.
"You're t-that Shadow Walker thief that the hobos talk 'bout, ain't 'ya?" He spat. His accent was not that of around the area, but I had never bothered to find out where he was from. "The one that robbed the store down the street a month ago, ain't 'ya?"
I blinked. "'Shadow Walker?' What?"
"Johnson said a guy in a hood broke in and robbed him blind. Only you's a girl. Says that they moved like the shadows, real quick like and quiet. And that they done him up lot like you doin' me." He said shortly.
"Yeah, that was me. I didn't know I had a title…" I trailed off, actually sort of pleased that I had a reputation. Shadow Walker, so mysterious, it sounded almost like a sprit or an omen of some sort "Ah, well, I really must be moving on. Now, if you'll so kindly tell me where you keep your money? You don't seem to have a safe anywhere…"
"I ain't tellen you nothing!" He said boldly, loosing his fear of me quickly. That is until I lowered the knife from his neck to below his fat belly.
"Don't be stupid, 'lest you'd like to be castrated this fine evening."
"You're-You're not that sick! N-Nobody is." He stuttered as the color drained from his blotchy pink face.
A feral and dangerous grin lighted my features. "I wouldn't test that theory."
He looked down, defeated. "You're standn' on it..."
I stepped back and looked down. There was indeed a small board that looked somewhat newer and cleaner than the rest. I bent down and pried it upward with my knife. Removing the wood revealed a small compartment. Inside was a leather purse bulging with the contents inside. I scooped it up and opened it. Inside was a small fortune in gold Crowns (the currency of Guinness).
"Whew…" I bounced it on my hand to get a good feel for its weight. "Someone hasn't been paying their taxes--You could get in a lot of trouble for that, you're lucky I found it before the guards."
"I-I pay my taxes!" he said breathlessly. "I ain't like you! I don't--"
He was cut short in mid sentence as I shoved the cloth back in his mouth.
"Good day to you, sir," I muttered, pulling the drawstrings on the purse and tucking it into my pocket. I turned on my heels and walked silently out the door; his muffled yells of rage followed me as I stepped out into the cool night air.
I found myself in a narrow ally, town houses mostly with a few shops here and there. There was a sudden puff of air at my side. I looked to my left. The black horse that had followed me all the way to Terra Non--one of the last towns on the border to the wilderness. He was lightly bridled, no bit, saddled and with a few packs already on his flanks. Morgan's shop was not the only place I had hit that night though he was the only one that had woken up during my break in.
"Hey, uh, Horse…" I shook my head slightly. The stallion needed a name if I was going to keep him. I looked to the heavens. The constellation Cyrus was particularly bright that night. Though I could never see anything to it but a familiar group of stars, legend told of Cyrus, a young man who despite his wisdom threw himself in the path of a monstrous beast to save a young maiden. It seemed all too familiar.
"Cyrus?" I questioned and he grunted, lowering his head and offering his nose for petting. I smiled and did so. The name had been approved.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps somewhere near by. I almost panicked, thinking that it was a guard on patrol.
"Quick! Over here!" I whispered hurriedly to Cyrus. Not wanting to take any chances I lead Cyrus into another small side ally and quickly ducked after him. The footsteps drew nearer. From the sound of it, I could tell that the person was barefoot and small. Curious, I poked my head around the corner.
Slowly plodding along, a young girl with a small bundle of firewood walked down the street, her callused feet slapped dully against the paving stones. Her tanned face was listless and exhausted as she traveled towards my hiding spot. From her dark brown hair and eyes, and the torn clothes that she wore, I could tell she was a gypsy child. I felt a pang of sorrow.
I was lucky never to be arrested, undoubtedly. But how could I be punished? Society had molded me into what I was, and then society punished me. The same was for this child, forced to scavenge the street to ensure her survival and that of her family.
"Hey, kid." I whispered. She spun around, terror in her eyes and almost dropping her bundle. She had been completely oblivious to my presence. I sighed as she looked wildly around, searching for the source of my voice. "No, no, over here."
Her eyes met mine and she stopped dead in her tracks "You one from Daniel's clan?" She nodded slowly but took a step back. "It's Alright," I added softly "I'm only here to help."
I removed the bag of gold from my pocket and threw it to the girl's feet. It hit the ground with a hard metallic thud. The girl reluctantly put down her parcel and picked up the purse. Her jaw dropped at the sight of the money, it was probably the most she would ever see in her life or her children's--if she ever did survive the next three to five months after our meeting.
"But…Why?" she asked in the small high voice. Such an innocent child...
"Just a gift to your father, I know he's going through some hard times, just like the rest of us." She stared down at the gold, and then looked back up to me. Her eyes were so pure and untainted. "You'll give it to him for me, won't you?"
"Yes," She said, a smile grew on her thin face and it made her look so much younger, the way a child should. "Who should I say it's from?"
A smile played upon my lips as I gave her my reply.
"Shadow Walker."
The next two chapters'll be rather short, followed by a really long-ass one 'soon as I can get everything straightened out…It's amazing how much free time one has when suspended from school. Tch, oh well…