Author's Notes:

I'm sorry it's been so long since I updated! I've had no inspiration for a long time, but I finally decided I'd better bite the bullet and come up with a proper chapter. I finally have some concrete ideas for the future plot, too, so hopefully more chapters will be forthcoming soon!

Chapter 3:
The Flames Spread

Daydra reached Bisren without incident, fortunately, although it was long past dark when she wearily plodded into the town's single inn. After a short exchange with the innkeeper, who was serving drinks in the common room, she parted with most of the remains of her money. She sighed in exasperation; her travel rations were getting stale, but there wasn't enough to buy a decent dinner. She leaned against the counter as the innkeeper went into the other back room to fetch her room key. "Forty rupees is far too much for a room for just one person," she muttered to herself.

"For a small village like this, it is a bit much," a friendly voice agreed from off to Daydra's right. Pricking up her ears, she turned to look; that sounded like…

"Ianto!"

A tall, lanky young man waved from his seat nearby, smiling warmly. "I thought that looked like you, Daydra. What are you doing here…and arriving so late at night?" He raised an eyebrow. "Do you have an escort?"

Daydra flushed. "I er…ran out of money." Ianto frowned, but she refused to explain. Her temper was well known to her friends, and this wasn't the first time she'd wasted precious rupees on a stupid bet. There was no need to go into it now, so she changed the subject. "When did you arrive?"

"This afternoon. I'm on my way back to the capital to pick up some more supplies—we ran out of medicine. Messengers don't always get through nowadays, though, so I didn't dare send for more. I decided it was best to fetch it myself, to make certain it arrived safely."

Daydra nodded. Ianto had been up in the northern valleys for the last three months, doing what he could to help the towns and villages afflicted by the strange epidemic that had hit northern Hyrule within the last year. The Sage of Light was a friendly young man in his early twenties, with a warm personality and an open smile on his face that belied his sharp features. He had a sloped forehead, skin of a rich tan color with shades of olive green, piercing, amber eyes. Ianto was a Gerudo—the only Gerudo male to be born within the last hundred years, as was the way of his race. His father was still alive, ruling as the current king of the desert people, although truth be told, the Gerudo nowadays were mostly democratic. The Gerudo king was more of a chief, served by a council of advisors. The race also had more peaceful relations with the rest of Hyrule than it had in the past, due to many years of dedicated diplomacy. The Sages were partly responsible for this.

Just then the innkeeper returned with Daydra's key. She thanked him, then dropped her belongings on the floor next to Ianto's table and slid into the seat across from him. The table was well chosen; the fire crackled nearby, driving away the slight chill of the spring evening. Daydra eyed the crumb-filled plate pushed to one side that was the remains of Ianto's dinner.

Ianto chuckled. "I know what you're thinking. Sure, I'll lend you some money for dinner. I hear the stew is awfully good tonight."

Daydra grinned her thanks, signaling a barmaid and ordering a large bowl of the recommended stew before turning back to continue her conversation with her fellow Sage. "Well, it's just as well that you're headed back to the capital. I think Laruto was considering calling everyone back for a conference, anyway. She's really very worried, you know."

"Oh?" Ianto frowned. "What now?"

"Same as usual, only it's getting worse. There've been more raids, monster attacks, minor epidemics similar to the larger one up north…all kinds of problems. Ah, thank you." The barmaid had brought Daydra's dinner, and she dug in with gusto, scooping up the stew with slices of bread. "This sure beats trail rations. Anyway, things just aren't going too well. I'm not sure what we can do about it, but Laruto thinks we need to discuss it with everyone there. The Sages aren't powerless yet; there's got to be something we can do."

"Hmm…but what?" Ianto tapped his chin thoughtfully. "And the Master Sword?"

"Safe, when I left. No change. Still, I get a funny feeling when I look at it. I can't really explain. I just know something's kind of…well, wrong."

The young man shrugged, covering a yawn. "Odd. Well, Daydra, I do hope you'll forgive me if I pay for your meal and then retire; it's been a long day's walk, and I'm exhausted."

"And whatever happened to riding, hmm?"

Ianto groaned. "Oh Daydra, do stop it. You know I don't like horses!"

She giggled. "Imagine, a grown man afraid of a pony. And a Gerudo, at that…the race famed for their horseback archery and their fiery desert thoroughbreds!"

"It was not a pony. It was a good-sized, irritable stallion!"

"Sure, Ianto. Whatever you say. But it was still a pony, and I'm never going to let you live it down."

The tall Gerudo made a face at Daydra, then tried to bite back another huge yawn. "Oh dear, I'd really better head up to my room. I'll meet you for breakfast, shall I? We go the rest of the way home together."

"A good plan, I think." She waved to him between bites of stew. "Good night, Ianto; sleep well."

He gave her a good-natured nod, then headed upstairs, stopping only to pay for their meals before trudging up to his room, yawning widely again.

Daydra polished off her meal, enjoying every bite, but once it was gone and she was no longer concentrating on eating, she had time to think. Ianto was usually a cheerful, good-natured young man, but to someone who knew him as well as Daydra, it had been obvious that something weighed heavily on his mind. Things didn't seem to be going well at all up north. Just one more problem on top of all our other troubles, she thought, pushing her dishes aside and gathering her things to head upstairs. Hopefully we'll be able to come up with some ideas when all the Sages return to the Temple.

Well, tomorrow was another day, filled with walking. Daydra headed up to bed, trying to put aside her concerns until the morning.