Chapter Three

"Oh my god," the thought was on the tip of their tongues. Link broke into a run, heading towards the inner gates to aid in whatever way he could. Redus and Pelius were on his heals in a second. People were already passing buckets of water filled at the well, but it was evident that the barn was lost. Flames were eating the dry wood up like it was nothing.

Pulling a handkerchief out of his pocked, Pelius tied it around his nose and mouth and dashed off to join the line of ranch workers. It would seem futile work, but it made a large impression on Redus and once the people stood back and watched the fire engulf the roof helplessly, he stepped over to a soaked and sooty Pelius.

"Thank you for your aid."

Pelius shrugged, watching the timber of the structure collapse in on itself. "It is what any decent man with any morals would do."

Redus nodded quietly. "The foreman of the ranch says that nothing was lost. It was only the extra bales of hay that were being stored there. We were hoping to sell them..." he shrugged, nothing more could be said, it was obvious. He coughed for a bit, his lungs fighting against the smoke filled air, "Not many people from the city would bother themselves with something like this."

Turning to face Redus, Pelius frowned and demanded, "What man would you take me for? I am not from the city. I am not from here. I am here on business that is and will be my own."

The fierceness in his voice startled Redus, and he quickly pardoned himself. "I just thought with all the money you have that you'd be from the city."

Relaxing somewhat, Pelius sighed, "It doesn't matter, just why I'm here." He paused, then added, "Is now a bad time to ask about your stock?"

Redus grimaced at the destruction before him, it was a mess, but at least nothing had been lost. He motioned to one of the newly built stables, "Come on." Seeing Pelius's searching gaze, he said, "Link will know where to find us."

Redus watched Pelius from a bench set along the middle of the large building. Fifty horses were stabled in it at the moment, and there were still two more stables to inspect. Rubbing oil diligently into one of his leather saddles, Redus would comment now and then on a particular horse that Pelius was looking at. "That one there, she's a bit of a frisky one, likes to test you out first to see if you're a worthy rider or not."

Pelius laughed and rubbed the mare on the nose, "She certainly is a beauty."

"That she is."

The door at the end suddenly banged open and Link strode in, coughing slightly from the lingering smoke outside. Shoving the door closed behind him he swept off his hat and began to beat the dust and dirt from it. "Thought I'd find you two in here." He looked to where Pelius stood with the mare, "Is that the one then?"

Petting the horse again, Pelius cocked his head to the side to look the animal in the eye, "What do you think? Am I up to your standards?" As if understanding, the mare nickered and gently nipped at Pelius's hand. Looking up, Pelius beamed, "Well, I guess that says it. She's the one."

Redus smiled fondly at the horse, "Sonipses. But we've all called her Soni since she was a filly. I don't think you could ask for a better horse. Once she finds you well enough to her liking, she'll protect you." He chuckled, "She takes the likes of watchdog."

Pulling a currying brush from a shelf filled with an array of brushes, Pelius began stroking Soni's black flanks. Her muscles were firm and strong. Her bones straight and sturdy. He rested his hand on her neck and leaned forward to whisper in her ear. Her ears pricked up and she stopped munching on the handful of oats Pelius had given her.

Then to the shock and surprise of both Link and Redus, Soni deftly bit the looped rope and pulled it off the peg and walked out of her stall. Grinning, Pelius followed behind her.

Setting the saddle and cloth aside, Redus jumped to his feet. "Now hang on, Pelius. What the heck did you tell that horse?"

Still grinning with obvious pleasure, Pelius shrugged, "Just told her that if she were to be my horse, she had to live up to my standards. I told her that I didn't want a stupid horse and that I wouldn't take a horse that couldn't think for itself."

Link broke into gales of laughter, thoroughly enjoying the perplexed look on Redus's face. He slapped his thigh and doubled over at a weak attempt to quell his laughter. Redus sent him a chilling look which quickly dissipated into a wide spread grin. Soon the two were holding their aching sides, Link gasped out, "A horse whisperer! A real horse whisperer!"

Pelius straightened his back and gave his most dignified look and behind him, Soni looked just as noble. Finally, when the laughter died down, Pelius asked, "And what is so amusing about that?"

Link giggled, coughed in attempt to hide his mirth, "Oh nothing."

Redus came over and draped an arm across Pelius's shoulders, "My friend, you'd have to understand that Soni has never done anything anyone has ever told her. She hasn't been well trained, it's hard to find a horseman who can keep his seat. Link, in fact, is the one who's done most of her training. But even then, she doesn't like to keep him comfortable. Gives him an awful ride, but we've all seen her run. Gait is as smooth as butter, but don't take my word for it – go give her a try." Pelius nodded and leapt up onto Soni's back – no saddle.

Link and Redus followed the two out of the stable, absolutely certain that they'd be in for quite a show.

Entering the fenced off area, Pelius was content to just sit astride Soni. She was a proud horse and held her head high, expecting a crowd it seemed. He let her mane sift through his fingers until he felt the need to feel the speed she had. Holding tight to her, he nudged her first into a trot, then a canter and finally into an outright gallop. Redus had been right, her gait was smooth, no jarring – it was a perfect feeling of balance and flying. He let out a whoop of excitement and Soni tossed her head and put on a bout of speed.

If Redus's mouth were more flexible, it surely would have dropped to the ground. "My God, he really is a horse whisperer. There's no other explanation."

Link nodded, appreciating the grace Pelius had upon Soni. "I'm seriously impressed."

Redus's mouth quirked, "Sure you are. If any people see him, they'll think that you've got no talent compared to Pelius. He's a horse god! Look at him!"

Grimacing, Link mockingly whined, "Oh no! Not my precious reputation!" Then seriously, "These people hold me only in their visage as a person who's out of the ordinary. They have no idea."

Glancing over to Link, Redus realized that Link was quite solemn about what he'd spoken of, but Redus decided it best be left untouched. Link didn't look like he was in a mood to share his inner thoughts.

Pelius let Soni out a full sprint straight for Redus and Link. Of course, neither of the men flinched, fully knowing that Pelius would draw Soni back at the last second. Instead, he kept the Soni at a sprint and leapt of her back to land in a crouch before Link and Redus.

Link lifted a brow and commented sarcastically, "Trying to fly now, are we?"

Looking to Redus, he announced, "I'll take her. How much?"

"Two hundred thousand rupees."

"A fair price for such a sound beast." He untied his money pouch and felt the weight of it. "I think you'll find a little over you're asking sum. Keep the extra, it'll help with the rebuilding of your barn."

Redus took the proffered money and bowed slightly – a great sign of respect. "You are a great man, I hope that you find what you are searching for."

Nothing more was said, Pelius led Soni away towards the gates that would be the end to the beautiful peacefulness that was in this city. He stopped only a moment to look over his shoulder to where Link was having a heavy conversation with Redus. He could hear only snatches and they were only words in the wind – nothing could be deciphered from them.

When Link loped over to Pelius, Pelius could see that his face was red with withheld anger. Hefting his pack on his back, he muttered, "Redus will regret that." Pelius wisely refrained from asking.

A few minutes later brought them to the gates. A few people were still watching over the dying embers of the burned barn, the rest had gone to clean up. Link was still scowling, but Pelius asked, "Are you needing Epona, your horse?"

Link's face brightened considerably and he snapped his fingers, "Epona! How could I forget?"

Pelius kindly curbed the urge to roll his eyes.

Link brought his hand to his mouth and whistled shrilly, a three note ditty – a warming tune, reminding Pelius greatly of sunshine and open fields. A heavy cantering erupted from no where, from around a stable Epona galloped. A magnificent beast – it was rumored among the city dwellers that there was no horse as fine. Pelius would have believed it.

Beneath him, Soni nickered softly and pawed the ground, he couldn't quite tell if his horse was happy to see Epona or not.

Link swung himself on the back of Epona, it was only then that his scowl disappeared to be replaced by a look of pure happiness. Pelius smiled to himself and coaxed Soni through the gates, Link was a person very similar to himself. Happiness was found on the back of a horse.

Cantering over the freshly cut fields of grain and hay, Pelius took the time to enjoy the fresh air and openness around him. The city had its benefits, but it was nothing to this.

Link, noting the peaceful expression on Pelius's face, smirked and released his reins to wave his arms in a sweep, "Welcome, to the real Hyrule." His gaze swept over the terrain surrounding them and a saddened expression crossed his handsome features. "I've been all over Hyrule and probably know it like the back of my hand. Wherever you want to go, I can take you."

Pelius pulled up Soni and turned a full circle; forest, mountains, desert and water. Where could have Rhea gone? Where would she have hidden? He didn't think she'd stay in the city, hence the reason why'd he'd spent so little time there.

Hesitantly, he asked Link, "If you were someone being chased and in constant danger, where would you hide if you came to this land?" Although, Pelius kept his eyes diverted from Link, he could still fell the man's questioning gaze fall upon him.

A minute went by and it was only when Link looked away that he finally answered, his voice was still full of questions, "If I was in danger? I'd fight them."

Pelius frowned and snarled, "You know what I mean. If you were unable to fight, where would you hide?"

"Depends. On what that person was most familiar and comfortable with." Link tugged his hat off and pushed hair off of his face, "This land once saw much death and destruction, though you'd never guess it by the way it looks now. Depends on when this person came. She could have come during a very bad time, when things were not as they should be, and if that were the case, she could very well be lost to Time."

"I never said she was a she."

Link shrugged casually, belying how perceptive he was, "A somebody who can't fight for themselves, a somebody who you're looking for. You said yourself you don't know the child's age, sex or appearance, so it's obvious that this would be the mother to that child you spoke of."

Pelius didn't answer or confirm any of what Link had said, but it was mutually understood that what he had said was the truth. Rather gruffly, Pelius pulled Soni into a fast canter towards a copse of trees just bordering the Kokiri woods. Link watched him go, well aware that he'd touched on something that had been long kept secret.

Instead of following Pelius immediately, Link guided Epona through the trees bordering Kokiri forest. The wood had changed drastically since he'd last been here. The edges of it seemed to be creeping in on the fields; and somehow it seemed more wild that when he'd lived there so long ago. Link peered into the darkness of the thick wood and frowned, something didn't seem right. There was something missing, but he couldn't put a finger on it.

Nudging Epona onwards, Link shook the feeling off and continued on his way. Knowing that at some point some sort of game would be startled out of its hiding place, he pulled his bow from across his shoulders, strung it and then notched a finely fletched arrow. And sure enough, Epona's plodding scared a rabbit out of the brush. Link took aim and released the arrow instinctively.

As the arrow flew straight and true, a dreadful sense of foreboding slid down Link's spine. He whipped around in his saddle before his arrow had even struck the rabbit. All that met his perplexed gaze was the darkened wood. Turning back to his kill, Link slid off of Epona and went to retrieve 'dinner'.

"I had wondered where you'd gone off to."

Link held up the rabbit silently.

Pelius nodded, "Good thought."

Silence reigned for a good portion of the time spent roasting the rabbit over the glowing flames; flames which seemed to be the only thing that held the unearthly darkness of the Kokiri woods at bay. Even the tempting smells from the juices dripping from the spit couldn't distract Link.

"Ease up. You're making me tense." Pelius said, more out of jest than anything, but it was obvious that as soon as the words had left his mouth that Link was seriously concerned about something.

"You should be."

"You said yourself that there is nothing here to fear. Somebody told me in town the other day that all the evil had been vanquished from here years ago." Pelius crossed his arms across his chest and stared moodily into the flames well aware of the danger. He only hoped that the evil he'd heard about had been defeated before Rhea had come here.

Link muttered and turned the rabbit on the spit.

Staring out at the fields, Link couldn't help but remember spending nights similar to this one half awake so he could hear any creature creep up on him. It seemed a lifetime ago. And it might as well have been. He could still hear the bone chilling sound of the muted voices shrieking as his sword vanquished them to the earth once more. Even now, at times when he was alone on the Hyrule Fields, he could still imagine seeing their glowing eyes. He shuddered, no one would ever know of the dreams that haunt him. They would never know.

"Where did you go?"

Pelius's intense gaze made Link uncomfortable and he stared back out into the darkness. "What do you mean? I have been here all along with you." He checked the spit.

"No. You've been staring off into space for a long time now – you didn't even hear my last question."

"What was it?"

Pelius pulled a blanket out of his saddle pack and wrapped it around himself, guarding him from the chill emanating from the forest at his back, "What are you hiding?"

"Nothing. It's Time that's hiding it." But his anger was evident as he jerkily attended to ripping a leg off the rabbit to see how well it was done. "Time has taken so much from me."

"Time?"

"No one knows. It's best to keep it that way."

"I know."

Link didn't answer, Pelius's response was enough to think about – he knew about what? And even that thought was cut short, that ominous feeling he'd experienced before had returned.

Staring past Pelius's shoulder to the woods beyond, Link slowly reached for his sword. He kept his hand on the hilt, but left it hidden under the folds of his cape. "We've got company."

Pelius looked up from the piece of bread he'd pulled from the loaf they'd bought earlier and shrugged, "I know. It's been there all evening watching us." He opened his blanket to reveal two short swords tucked under his arms in specially designed sheaths.

Anger sparked in Link and his concentration broke, no wonder why he'd never sold his skills before, he wouldn't be able to handle the communicating thing. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Again another shrug, "I don't know."

"I know!" Link shouted back.

Frowning, Pelius felt his own anger kindling and bursting into flame, "Don't take that tone with me young man!"

Link snorted and stood, the creature in the woods completely forgotten at the moment. "Young man?! You dare call me that, when you can't be much older yourself?"

Pelius threw back his blanket and stood as well, "We've been through this before – you have no idea how old I am!"

Falling into a fighting stance, Link challenged, "Come on, let's finish what we started before old man!" Who was this insolent pup who dared to challenge him! Ha, he was old, sure, but only in mind and experience. And to think this boy had defeated him! Not this time. He pulled his short swords from the casings.

Just as well that they both unsheathed their weapons, for at that moment the creature following them made its presence known. An eerie screech echoed across the fields and it attacked with a ferocity that neither Link nor Pelius had seen before.