Chapter 8 – Ulaku
For four long hard days the six companions travelled. The Great North Plain was immense, and offered little shade from the sweltering sun. For the first two days they found occasional wooded areas in which they found cover, but after that there was nothing but grassland as far as the lake that always seemed so far away. The group had begun to trust Vuto as much as Link did, but Yerra was still edgy around him. Her sister Jerra though had developed a keen interest in him, and the two spent a lot of the time travelling together talking.
Fortunately, there were often rivers flowing across the plain from the east, and so they always had plenty to drink. As it turned out, Karak even exceeded Link in his ability to kill and cook food, and the two would hunt together in the evenings, and provide for the rest of the group; and although he did not like eating them himself, Vuto was able to catch fish with relative ease in the rivers, so there was never a point at which they went hungry.
So despite their discomfort during the heat of day, the group got by well enough. At night they would sleep under the stars, taking it in turns for two to keep watch. Jerra and Vuto often took up this role; they enjoyed each other's company and were both unafraid of the night.
Noticeably, Zelda seemed withdrawn a lot of the time. With Link and Karak often venturing further out together to hunt and Jerra and Vuto together a lot she felt like she was being obliged to talk to Yerra a lot, but the two did not keep good company. It was not that they were on unfriendly terms; they just did not have a lot to say to one another. But this was understandable between the Princess of Hylia and a Gerudo thief who was of apparent lineage to be a princess to her own people, but was denied it. One could suppose that Yerra was jealous of Zelda.
And so it was that after four days, as the sun was setting, they came to a village. It was a fairly primitive village with buildings being huts built from wood and clay rather than stone, and was built across two sides of a narrow river. There was a tall wooden perimeter fence that circled the whole settlement, and a gate at the south side that the six were currently approaching. A thick forest bordered the east side, with lush tall green trees that gave a rich fragrant smell.
At the gate there were two men standing as though on guard, each wielding a long spear. They had little in the way of armour however, in fact none at all. Their chests were bare, and they wore ragged trousers from their waists down to their feet, which had sandals on. They approached them now, and Link took to the front of the group. "Halt! Who enters the domain of the Ulaku?" Questioned one, aggressively.
Very aware of the spear in his hand, Link replied calmly. "My name is Link al'Ryak. My company and I have travelled north from Hylia and desire safe passage through your lands, and shelter tonight also if you will allow it."
"We cannot allow a group of six strangers so heavily armed into our village. You must turn back."
"We mean no harm to your people, we are simple travellers."
"What simple travellers would wish to go north to the wastelands? And what sort of travelling company is three hylians, two gerudos and a zora?"
"I understand what you are saying but if you would just-"
Zelda now stepped forward, she drew back her hood so that the guards could see her clearly and then pulled out a scroll from her tunic. She handed it to the man Link was trying to reason with. "I am Princess Zelda of Hylia. These are my protection for my journey." She gestured to the others. "I am travelling to the wastelands on an errand of the utmost importance. I desire to speak with your leader."
They looked at the scroll curiously; it bore the seal of the King on it and the signatures of both Zelda and her father; as well as the symbol of the royal family. It was something she always kept as a proof of her identity in dire events. The guards spoke quietly to each other, and then turned back to Zelda. "Come with us." Said one. "All of you." They turned and walked back towards the village. Zelda smiled cunningly at the others and winked before following the guards. The others led on after her.
Inside the village people stared at them curiously. There were many villagers, and they all had the same dark complexion, similar to Jerra and Yerra, and many of the men were topless like the two guards.
Zelda met with the chief of the village and explained to him the true nature of their journey, omitting nothing but the part about The Shadows Within and the Heart of Evil. Chief Hamal was very understanding and offered to let them stay in the village overnight, and to give them any provisions they needed. He was an odd man in some ways, very spontaneous in the way he thought. He was probably in his late forties, but was very vigorous, and Jerra thought he was ruggedly handsome.
As night came down found themselves at a great bonfire. It was a tradition that took place every three weeks, and the chief's were guests of honour. The great flames of the fire lashed at the sky menacingly. The celebration was called the Honour of Din, and a lot of the village turned up to the centre to witness it. Masked dancers danced around in elaborate costumes and chanted, whilst a heavy drum beat and eerie flutes were played. The six couldn't help but feel slightly unnerved by it all, but felt glad that they were here as a part of it; they would have most likely been very frightened if they had seen this from a distance.
Yerra came and sat by Link's side, and leaned up against him, "I'm cold Link." She said unhappily.
"Here." He put his arm around her and she huddled up to him. "Yeah, it is cold isn't it? Even near the fire..." He looked across towards Zelda; she was sitting happily talking to Karak. For some reason, he didn't know why, this bothered him. Something wasn't right. But as he watched the dancing embers of the fire he soon drifted away from that thought. Tiredness washed over him and he leaned back onto the ground, as did Yerra. Sleep took him and he fell into a dream.
He awoke early the next morning, to a pale sunlight and a grey mist. The great fire was now no more than grey ashes. He clambered to his feet and felt Yerra's hand fall off his body as he did so, he looked down at her, still fast asleep. He must have just drifted away last night. Jerra, Zelda and Karak were lying around asleep nearby. "Morning Link." Said Vuto, emerging from one of the huts carrying a large basket filled with fruit and bread. "A gift from the chief."
"Oh, wonderful," Said Link, going to see closer. "He's just given us this for free?"
"Apparently, yes."
"So the chief is awake?"
"Oh, yes. He is most awake. It's as though he hasn't slept since yesterday though."
"He hasn't slept?"
"I don't know." Vuto threw an apple to Link and he caught it. "Enjoy, man."
"Thanks." Link took a bite from the apple and entered the chiefs hut. The chief was lying on his bed staring up at the low roof, wide eyed. "Hey, Chief Hamal!"
"Link!" He said bolting upright. "I trust you are well, I've just given your Zora friend a gift from us for your travels."
"I know." Said Link holding up the apple gratefully. "It's much appreciated. Are you sure that there's nothing we can't do for you? You've been so good to us after all."
"Well," Said the chief, "There is one thing, but I don't want to trouble you about it if it is of any importance."
"What?"
"The jewel that hangs from the eldest Gerudo's neck. I quite fancy it for myself."
"I'm sorry? What?"
"Jerra has a jewel hanging as a necklace. Its concealed under he clothes, but its there."
"How would you know that? She hasn't had her clothes off at all."
"No...of course not..." Said the chief slowly. "But trust me, its there."
Something suddenly struck Link, and he bolted out of the hut, looking back in and adding. "I'll be right back." He got out and called for Vuto to join him. Vuto came over curiously and Link led him across to where Jerra lay sleeping. Vuto was confused but said nothing. Quietly and carefully Link reached his hand down the back of Jerra's neck so as not to wake her and found his hand resting on a thin chain. He raised it up slowly over her head and from her chest pulled up an emerald jewel. It was large enough to hold in a clenched fist. It was a fantastic bright shade of green, and was perfectly cut; the morning light seemed to shatter upon its surface like the tide on the shore.
Vuto's eyes widened. "The Light of Talandra!" He said, shocked.
"Hush, don't wake her." Whispered Link.
"I can't believe it, she didn't sell it; she had it all along."
"Here." Said Link handing him the jewel to Vuto. "I'm giving you the freedom to take it and leave if you desire. Go back to Queen Balaea and collect your reward."
Vuto held up his arm and dangled the jewel from its chain, looking at it at eye level. He stared long and hard, deep in thought. "No." He said finally "I do not want this any more. I wish to stay with you and the others."
"That is well." Said Link.
"But what are you gong to do with the jewel now?"
Link grinned at Vuto, and walked back into the chief's hut. Vuto shrugged shoulders and returned to where he had been sleeping to gather his things, forgetting about it for the time being.
Later in the morning, when the sun was full up, the group of six were once again at the gate of Ulaku. They had distributed the weight of the food between them, though the males carried more, and they were about to leave. Chief Hamal had come to see them away. "Your majesty," he said to Zelda, "It has been an honour having you stay with us, when you see your father, give him my best regards."
"I will." She nodded.
He now turned to Link and said a few words, "Link, Hero, it has been an honour to meet you. And I must thank you again for...well...you know."
Link laughed. "You're welcome. And thank you for your hospitality Chief Hamal."
"Think nothing of it." Then he addressed the others in turn, "Master Vuto, Master Karak, Miss Yerra, Miss Jerra," He winked at Jerra. "It's been a pleasure to have met you all, feel free to visit us again; you will be welcomed with open arms. And now I must bid thee all farewell, goodbye."
They all said goodbye, and then parted, heading north once again towards the lake. Vuto spoke quietly to Link, "You gave him the jewel didn't you?"
"Of course."
"But what about Jerra?"
"We will see, we will see." Link laughed. "We are a day's journey away from the lake," he said to them all. "We can make it by sundown if we move swiftly. Let's get going."
For four long hard days the six companions travelled. The Great North Plain was immense, and offered little shade from the sweltering sun. For the first two days they found occasional wooded areas in which they found cover, but after that there was nothing but grassland as far as the lake that always seemed so far away. The group had begun to trust Vuto as much as Link did, but Yerra was still edgy around him. Her sister Jerra though had developed a keen interest in him, and the two spent a lot of the time travelling together talking.
Fortunately, there were often rivers flowing across the plain from the east, and so they always had plenty to drink. As it turned out, Karak even exceeded Link in his ability to kill and cook food, and the two would hunt together in the evenings, and provide for the rest of the group; and although he did not like eating them himself, Vuto was able to catch fish with relative ease in the rivers, so there was never a point at which they went hungry.
So despite their discomfort during the heat of day, the group got by well enough. At night they would sleep under the stars, taking it in turns for two to keep watch. Jerra and Vuto often took up this role; they enjoyed each other's company and were both unafraid of the night.
Noticeably, Zelda seemed withdrawn a lot of the time. With Link and Karak often venturing further out together to hunt and Jerra and Vuto together a lot she felt like she was being obliged to talk to Yerra a lot, but the two did not keep good company. It was not that they were on unfriendly terms; they just did not have a lot to say to one another. But this was understandable between the Princess of Hylia and a Gerudo thief who was of apparent lineage to be a princess to her own people, but was denied it. One could suppose that Yerra was jealous of Zelda.
And so it was that after four days, as the sun was setting, they came to a village. It was a fairly primitive village with buildings being huts built from wood and clay rather than stone, and was built across two sides of a narrow river. There was a tall wooden perimeter fence that circled the whole settlement, and a gate at the south side that the six were currently approaching. A thick forest bordered the east side, with lush tall green trees that gave a rich fragrant smell.
At the gate there were two men standing as though on guard, each wielding a long spear. They had little in the way of armour however, in fact none at all. Their chests were bare, and they wore ragged trousers from their waists down to their feet, which had sandals on. They approached them now, and Link took to the front of the group. "Halt! Who enters the domain of the Ulaku?" Questioned one, aggressively.
Very aware of the spear in his hand, Link replied calmly. "My name is Link al'Ryak. My company and I have travelled north from Hylia and desire safe passage through your lands, and shelter tonight also if you will allow it."
"We cannot allow a group of six strangers so heavily armed into our village. You must turn back."
"We mean no harm to your people, we are simple travellers."
"What simple travellers would wish to go north to the wastelands? And what sort of travelling company is three hylians, two gerudos and a zora?"
"I understand what you are saying but if you would just-"
Zelda now stepped forward, she drew back her hood so that the guards could see her clearly and then pulled out a scroll from her tunic. She handed it to the man Link was trying to reason with. "I am Princess Zelda of Hylia. These are my protection for my journey." She gestured to the others. "I am travelling to the wastelands on an errand of the utmost importance. I desire to speak with your leader."
They looked at the scroll curiously; it bore the seal of the King on it and the signatures of both Zelda and her father; as well as the symbol of the royal family. It was something she always kept as a proof of her identity in dire events. The guards spoke quietly to each other, and then turned back to Zelda. "Come with us." Said one. "All of you." They turned and walked back towards the village. Zelda smiled cunningly at the others and winked before following the guards. The others led on after her.
Inside the village people stared at them curiously. There were many villagers, and they all had the same dark complexion, similar to Jerra and Yerra, and many of the men were topless like the two guards.
Zelda met with the chief of the village and explained to him the true nature of their journey, omitting nothing but the part about The Shadows Within and the Heart of Evil. Chief Hamal was very understanding and offered to let them stay in the village overnight, and to give them any provisions they needed. He was an odd man in some ways, very spontaneous in the way he thought. He was probably in his late forties, but was very vigorous, and Jerra thought he was ruggedly handsome.
As night came down found themselves at a great bonfire. It was a tradition that took place every three weeks, and the chief's were guests of honour. The great flames of the fire lashed at the sky menacingly. The celebration was called the Honour of Din, and a lot of the village turned up to the centre to witness it. Masked dancers danced around in elaborate costumes and chanted, whilst a heavy drum beat and eerie flutes were played. The six couldn't help but feel slightly unnerved by it all, but felt glad that they were here as a part of it; they would have most likely been very frightened if they had seen this from a distance.
Yerra came and sat by Link's side, and leaned up against him, "I'm cold Link." She said unhappily.
"Here." He put his arm around her and she huddled up to him. "Yeah, it is cold isn't it? Even near the fire..." He looked across towards Zelda; she was sitting happily talking to Karak. For some reason, he didn't know why, this bothered him. Something wasn't right. But as he watched the dancing embers of the fire he soon drifted away from that thought. Tiredness washed over him and he leaned back onto the ground, as did Yerra. Sleep took him and he fell into a dream.
He awoke early the next morning, to a pale sunlight and a grey mist. The great fire was now no more than grey ashes. He clambered to his feet and felt Yerra's hand fall off his body as he did so, he looked down at her, still fast asleep. He must have just drifted away last night. Jerra, Zelda and Karak were lying around asleep nearby. "Morning Link." Said Vuto, emerging from one of the huts carrying a large basket filled with fruit and bread. "A gift from the chief."
"Oh, wonderful," Said Link, going to see closer. "He's just given us this for free?"
"Apparently, yes."
"So the chief is awake?"
"Oh, yes. He is most awake. It's as though he hasn't slept since yesterday though."
"He hasn't slept?"
"I don't know." Vuto threw an apple to Link and he caught it. "Enjoy, man."
"Thanks." Link took a bite from the apple and entered the chiefs hut. The chief was lying on his bed staring up at the low roof, wide eyed. "Hey, Chief Hamal!"
"Link!" He said bolting upright. "I trust you are well, I've just given your Zora friend a gift from us for your travels."
"I know." Said Link holding up the apple gratefully. "It's much appreciated. Are you sure that there's nothing we can't do for you? You've been so good to us after all."
"Well," Said the chief, "There is one thing, but I don't want to trouble you about it if it is of any importance."
"What?"
"The jewel that hangs from the eldest Gerudo's neck. I quite fancy it for myself."
"I'm sorry? What?"
"Jerra has a jewel hanging as a necklace. Its concealed under he clothes, but its there."
"How would you know that? She hasn't had her clothes off at all."
"No...of course not..." Said the chief slowly. "But trust me, its there."
Something suddenly struck Link, and he bolted out of the hut, looking back in and adding. "I'll be right back." He got out and called for Vuto to join him. Vuto came over curiously and Link led him across to where Jerra lay sleeping. Vuto was confused but said nothing. Quietly and carefully Link reached his hand down the back of Jerra's neck so as not to wake her and found his hand resting on a thin chain. He raised it up slowly over her head and from her chest pulled up an emerald jewel. It was large enough to hold in a clenched fist. It was a fantastic bright shade of green, and was perfectly cut; the morning light seemed to shatter upon its surface like the tide on the shore.
Vuto's eyes widened. "The Light of Talandra!" He said, shocked.
"Hush, don't wake her." Whispered Link.
"I can't believe it, she didn't sell it; she had it all along."
"Here." Said Link handing him the jewel to Vuto. "I'm giving you the freedom to take it and leave if you desire. Go back to Queen Balaea and collect your reward."
Vuto held up his arm and dangled the jewel from its chain, looking at it at eye level. He stared long and hard, deep in thought. "No." He said finally "I do not want this any more. I wish to stay with you and the others."
"That is well." Said Link.
"But what are you gong to do with the jewel now?"
Link grinned at Vuto, and walked back into the chief's hut. Vuto shrugged shoulders and returned to where he had been sleeping to gather his things, forgetting about it for the time being.
Later in the morning, when the sun was full up, the group of six were once again at the gate of Ulaku. They had distributed the weight of the food between them, though the males carried more, and they were about to leave. Chief Hamal had come to see them away. "Your majesty," he said to Zelda, "It has been an honour having you stay with us, when you see your father, give him my best regards."
"I will." She nodded.
He now turned to Link and said a few words, "Link, Hero, it has been an honour to meet you. And I must thank you again for...well...you know."
Link laughed. "You're welcome. And thank you for your hospitality Chief Hamal."
"Think nothing of it." Then he addressed the others in turn, "Master Vuto, Master Karak, Miss Yerra, Miss Jerra," He winked at Jerra. "It's been a pleasure to have met you all, feel free to visit us again; you will be welcomed with open arms. And now I must bid thee all farewell, goodbye."
They all said goodbye, and then parted, heading north once again towards the lake. Vuto spoke quietly to Link, "You gave him the jewel didn't you?"
"Of course."
"But what about Jerra?"
"We will see, we will see." Link laughed. "We are a day's journey away from the lake," he said to them all. "We can make it by sundown if we move swiftly. Let's get going."