Chapter Thirteen: Balris
Link stumbled through the woods for the entire night. Though his progress had been slow and tiresome, by the time the sun rose he was a mere thirty-minute walk from the edge of the forest. Once Link emerged from the woods he took a large breath of fresh air and looked joyously at the blue sky. His relief was short lived, for as soon as he looked at the sky he set off to find some help for his companions. He headed southeast, in the direction Vialla told him the nearest town was.
It took Link a bit longer than two hours to cross the plains and reach the city. Once he was inside the city he was unsure of what to do or where to go. He wandered around the streets for a few minutes and asked various people if they could help him or take him to someone who could. Almost everyone who Link talked to told him that they were busy or simply ignored him. Link was beginning to become frustrated when he saw two horses standing by a small tavern. He rushed up to the man who was watching the horses and asked him if he could borrow the horses.
"These are my masters horses, sir," the man replied. "He would be terribly mad at me if I loaned his horses to a stranger."
"But I need them to rescue my companions," Link pleaded, "They have not eaten in days and if I do not get back to them soon they may die."
"That's not my problem," the man said spitefully.
"I will pay for them. One hundred rupees, I will bring them right back," Link offered.
"Sorry bub, a hundred rupees isn't enough to let you walk off with my horses," said the man.
"It is all I have," Link said a bit irritated.
"Oh well," the man said and looked down the street, "looks like you're in quite a fix."
Link lost his patience, drew his sword and pointed it at the man's throat. "Give me the horses," he said calmly.
"All yours," the man said as he backed away and ran into a nearby tavern. Link then hurried away to a bakery on another street to buy a couple loaves of bread.
"Twenty rupees for a loaf of bread?" Link asked with an angry tone.
"Sorry," the baker said, "but the Tyfirians have blocked off all our sea ports. We haven't received a shipment of grain in a month. We've been forced to rely solely on locally grown grain, which needless to say can not support the needs of the entire city. However, twenty rupees is still a good price, no? Most other bakers are selling bread of thirty. Plus, if we don't get more grain soon I'll have to double the price again, so twenty is a good price."
Upon hearing about the Tyfirian blockade, a chill shot down Link's spine. Ormek's plan was already in motion and Link knew he was running out of time, fast.
Link paid the baker for two loaves of bread and then mounted one of the horses he stole and tied a rope to the reigns of the other. Link raced his horses back the Shadow Woods as fast as they would go. Once he arrived at the edge of the woods he searched frantically for the two notches he left in on he trees indicating where he exited. Once he found them, he carefully followed the trail of notches on his way to find his comrades. It was not until he could see his trail in the light that he realized how crooked his path was.
When Link tried to enter the forest, the horses reared up and neighed loudly. The horse Link was riding nearly bucked him off. "Yah!" Link yelled and kicked the horse's side, but it did not move.
"I wish I had Epona with me," he thought to himself, "she would never turn away from a mere dark forest." That was not the only reason Link longed for Epona. She was after all, the only friend Link still had from his childhood. Actually she was the only friend he had now that Calrith was dead. Link bowed his head in sorrow as he reflected on his life and the friends he used to have. But they were all gone now or rather he was gone. At one point in his life all Link wanted was friends, but all that changed when he discovered he was destined to be the great hero of time.
Link removed the gauntlet on his left hand and stared coldly at the symbol of the Triforce on the back of his palm. He wondered what it would be like to not have to bear the burden of a piece of the Triforce, to be a normal person like Chiron, to have a family and a real home. Link often thought of such things, but he always put such thoughts out of his mind, knowing that he would never have them, and Link did so this time as well. He realized he was wasting his time dwelling on these thoughts and needed to find his companions as soon as he could.
He dismounted his steed and led both horses by the reigns into the woods. Link quickly wound his way through the black forest until he came to the last notch. He called out the names of his companions and listened intently for a response, but no response came. Link raised his voice and called out again. No one called back. Link delved a little deeper into the woods and continued to call for his companions. A few minutes latter he found them lying on the ground barely breathing. He rushed over to them and knelt by Chiron's side.
"Chiron, are you okay?" Link asked as he shook the farmer gently. Chiron slowly opened his eyes and smiled weakly at Link. Link smiled back and pulled one of the loaves of bread he purchased from his pack. He tore a piece from the loaf and placed it in Chiron's mouth, the farm boy chewed it slowly and swallowed it with a bit of difficulty. Link then moved on to Vialla and gave her a piece of bread to eat as well. He then placed Chiron and Vialla on the horses and led them out of the Shadow Woods by again following the notches he made in the trees.
About half way back to the city, Chiron managed to muster enough energy to utter the short sentence "Is there any bread left?"
"Sorry," Link answered, "you two ate both loaves already."
A few minutes latter Chiron succeeded in asking another question, "Did you get anything to eat?" Link simply shook his head. "I'm glad you found us when you did. I don't think I would have lasted much longer."
"I think you would be surprised with what you are actually capable of." Link said. Chiron nodded his head slowly and closed his eyes. He did not speak for the rest of the trip back to the city.
By the time the group reached the town Link had entered previously that day, Chiron and Vialla had regained enough energy to speak at will and were even able to walk without aid for short distances.
"Link," Vialla said as they reached the edge of town. "My business partner, Balris, is staying at an inn near the docks. If you take us there we can stay with him while Chiron and I recover."
"This is East Port Town then?" Link asked. Vialla nodded her head. Link breathed a sigh of relief. "At last I am making some progress."
Link followed Vialla's directions to the inn, which her partner was staying at. Once they reached the inn Link took the borrowed horses to the stables and then the three companions went in search of Vialla's partner. Vialla guided Link and Chiron to Balris's room and knocked on the door, but no answer came. Vialla knocked again, but there was still no answer. Finally Vialla turned the doorknob and slowly opened the door. She entered the room and called Balris's name, but she could see he was not there.
The room was small it contained only one bed, which covered most of the floor. The room also had but a single window.
"He should be back any moment," Vialla said, "we can wait for him here till he returns." Vialla then walked over to the bed and fell forward on to it. Chiron sat on the ground and propped his back up against the nearest wall and let out a heavy groan.
"Will you two be okay if I leave you here?" Link asked sympathetically.
"Yeah, we'll be fine," said Chiron, "but where are you going?"
"I have to return the horses," Link replied and left with out saying another word.
With Chiron and Vialla out of danger, Link returned to the tavern where he stole the horses. The man who had been watching them before Link took them was waiting for him.
"You actually brought them back!" the man said in a bit startled.
"Yeah," Link said in a hostile tone as he handed the reigns to the man. Link turned to walk away when the man caught him by his shoulder.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" the man inquired.
Link opened his wallet and handed the man sixty rupees.
"You promised me one hundred," the man protested.
"You should have taken the original offer," Link retorted, "this is all I have left." Link then placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and stared at the Cyntirian coldly.
"Pleasure doing business with you," the man said as he ran off.
Link grunted to himself as he looked into his empty wallet. "I hope this Balris will not require payment up front for the use of his ship," he thought to himself as he returned to the inn. By the time he arrived at the inn the sun had nearly set. Link made his way back to the room where his companions were resting. He entered the room without knocking and found Vialla and Chiron exactly where he left them.
"Has Balris returned yet?" Link inquired.
"Not yet," Vialla said drowsily.
Link set his weapons on the floor and sat down next to Chiron and closed his eyes for a moment. It was then that he realized he had not eaten since his company ran out of food in the Shadow Woods several days ago. He then got up to go to the tavern that was a part of the inn, but remembered he had given all his money to man he had taken the horses from.
"Do either of you have any money with you?" Link asked his two weary companions, "I need it to get us some food." Link's two weary comrades both informed him they were also without currency. Link moaned from hunger and headed towards the tavern anyway.
He sat down at a vacant table and waited for people to leave. Once a person left, Link rushed over to their table and gobbled up any edible scraps they left behind. Link continued on in this manner for an hour, but still did not manage to find enough food to fill his stomach. As Link was waiting for another man to get up from his seat and leave his food behind, he heard a loud voice coming from the bar.
"There he is!" the voice thundered. Link turned to look to the bar and saw the man he took the horses from earlier. "That's the man that stole your horse master!" the man cried as he pointed an accusing finger at Link, who quickly turned his face away. Three large men, as well as the man Link had taken the horses from and another man dressed scarlet silk robe soon encircled his table. The man in the robe sat down in the chair across from Link.
"I understand you borrowed my horses earlier," the man in the robe said, "and I also know you didn't pay my servant adequately for the inconvenience. So, if you would kindly pay me an additional hundred rupees my men and I will be on our ways."
"I do not have any money left, so I am afraid you have wasted your time in coming after me," Link said calmly.
The man in the robe smiled at Link and said, "Well if you don't have any money, you shouldn't have allowed my servant to follow you here. Now produce the hundred rupees for me unless you are prepared for some trouble." One of the men that stood behind Link firmly placed his hand on Link's shoulder and readied himself for his master's command.
"Very well then," Link said. He elbowed the man behind him in the ribs who fell backward into the bar upon contact. Link sprung to his feet, overturning the table as he did so. Another one of the robed man's henchmen threw a punched at Link, but the Hyrulian got under it and deflected the blow with his forearm. He followed up his block with a punch of his own, which hit the henchman squarely underneath his chin. The man fell to the ground, but before Link could turn to locate his next opponent, he was hit over the back with a chair and fell to the ground himself. Link immediately felt the foot of the aggressor on his back, however it was not there for long, for the henchman was soon pulled off him. Link forced himself to his feet and saw a well-built man with long brown hair and a thick beard holding the henchman down. Link looked over at the robed man and grinned, the man then turned to the door and bolted and was followed by his servants.
The man who helped Link in the fight allowed his foe to escape and went over to Link to give him some assistance. "Have ye taken any serious injury?" the man inquired. Link shook his head and sat down at a near by table.
"I appreciate your help," Link said with a hint of pain in his voice. "I would repay you if it were possible, but I am afraid I have nothing of real value to give you and I hope to be leaving this town soon."
"That's all right m'boy, ye don't need to pay me for anything." The man said.
Link offered to shake his new ally's hand and said, "I am thankful for your kindness, uh...."
"The name is Balris," the man said and shook Link's hand.
"Balris? Do you know a gerudo named Vialla?" Link asked ecstatically.
"She's me business partner," Balris confirmed. Link proceeded to tell Balris, how he knew Vialla and that she was waiting for him in his room, Balris led Link back to his chamber immediately afterwards. When the two men arrived at the room Vialla let out a semi-energetic cry.
"Ye look terrible," Balris chuckled. Vialla and Chiron laughed, but Link only turned to Balris and said, "Balris, Vialla tells me you own a ship. I am in dire need of one. You must take me to the Frozen Fortress."
"Ye must be joking," Balris said with a somewhat shocked look. "Men of the sea speak of a demonic ice spirit which dwells thar. Many men have gone to that frozen island in search of a legendary treasure, but none have ever returned. Ye are not thinking of actually going thar, are ye."
"I must go there, otherwise a great evil will fall upon this land and all those who live here." Link continued to explain a brief version of the situation with Ormek and the Tyfirians. Balris listened intently.
After Link finished his story Balris sighed. "This is a mighty tall tale ye've just told me," he said. "Ye don't realize how large the request ye've made is. I've a sched'le to keep and I'm already late in leaving East Port Town. B'sides the Frozen Fortress is a death trap. I can't risk me life for a man I just met who is probably crazy. I'm sorry m'boy, I can't do it."
"The band of mercenaries I work for will be more than willing to compensate you for your trouble," Link said.
Balris shook his head and said, "Mercen'ries are not be trusted. There are too many that are ready to rob them that aren't wary."
"I guarantee you then, that the Hyrulian government will furnish you with your payment," Link offered.
"Ye can't expect me to be believe the Hyrulian royal family will help a common mercen'ry like ye. I'm sure now that you're insane," Balris laughed.
"I know Link seems a bit odd at first," Chiron interrupted, "but I've been spending a lot of time with him recently. I can't explain a lot of the stuff that's been happening, but I do know that the Tyfirians have been hunting him ever since he fought with Ormek in the desert."
"He's right," Vialla interjected, "The Tyfirians are hunting him for some reason. They would not have followed us through the Shadow Woods with out cause. Besides, in the time I've spent with Link he has proven his worth many times. If he says he will pay you, I believe he will."
Balris sighed again and looked into Link's eyes. "If Vialla and Chiron trust ye, I will also trust ye," he said. "I'll take ye to the fortress, but not an inch further. We'll set sail for the Frozen Fortress tomorrow mornin'." Link let out a deep breath and nodded his head. He finally felt he had made some real progress.