Chapter Six
 Glimmers Of Hope

When the ten horses and their riders emerged from the thinning forest into the grassy plains of Greater Hyrule, dusk had already fallen. The sun had dipped below the mountains in the west, and its light slipped between the craggy backdrop on the horizon, casting long orange rays cast long rays up at the sky. The western sky was a mix of orange and pink and Rael was sure he could see a tint of green as well.

A wind blew from the east, where the stars already shone out bright, scattered around the pearly white moon. The strong breeze snaked through the long grass, and it waved slowly in the dim light. Rael found himself humming a tune to himself, it was a while before he realised it was the melody of 'Night Lady of the Reeds'. He glanced at the others' faces, to see if they had heard him. It seemed they had not noticed. He grinned, that was certainly not a song that he wanted people to know he knew. He hoped it was dark enough that no one saw him blush.

They were a mile away from the forest when Sergeant Shaef announced that they should stop and set up camp for the night. At this, relieved sighs came even from the soldiers, tireless as they had been trying to appear; followed by two poorly concealed groans when Shaef delegated Haram and Kopus the first scouting and lookout shift. Which, he announced, left the other five men to set up the camp. Rael was sure he heard Vic muttering that the women could easily help, but he didn't pay any mind to it.

……

Later that evening, Rael found himself lounging on the grass near a campfire, in a circle with Tabett, Elane, Mara and Daran. Everyone was glad of a good rest, and they had some drink that the guards had brought with them, which raised their spirits. Tabett had produced a small flute, which he played for their enjoyment. Ralis was not present because he had taken a greater interest in his sword, and Shaef was sitting quietly watching as Ralis moved through some basic combat forms. Whenever Rael glanced up he saw his brother performing some sequence that looked far from basic though.

"Sea Over Sword," said Daran, as Tabett finished his latest rhythmic tune, "My Ma used to love singing that."

Tabett nodded, and smiled slightly through his long dark hair, which was hanging like a curtain over his cheeks. Elane lay facing him, outstretched on her front, watching with bright eyes that reflected the firelight. Mara sat slightly withdrawn from her younger friends, often turning to watch her husband with concern on her brow. "I used to think Ralis favoured the sea over the sword…I'm not so sure now."

"You'll never catch me fighting with a blade," muttered Rael.

Tabett had started on a new tune, and Daran and Elane were utterly absorbed in the music. Mara turned and looked Rael up and down, and Rael raised an eyebrow at her to suggest his confusion. "I wouldn't be so sure about that, Rael."

Rael turned to face her, tilting his head slightly, "Sorry Mara, what do you mean?"

"Its in your blood," she said in such a casual manner she may as well have been commenting on the colour of grass.

"My blood? You mean from my father?"

"Perhaps," she said, "What I meant was that your physical build and your will of mind are well suited to being a warrior. You are disciplined."

Rael laughed, "Surely you are not serious. Maybe Ralis is suited to a blade, but not me." He laughed again, in spite of himself, "did you see my face when we were attacked? I was terrified. Oh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned that." Mara bowed her head, that attack had been more disturbing for her.

"Maybe time will change things," she said, twisting her body to look over her shoulder at Ralis, who moving with speed now making rapid movements and strikes, "time always changes things." She looked back at Rael and sighed, "And yes, they do say your father was a great swordsman…"

At that, Rael wanted to talk more, but Mara had already risen to her feet. She walked away in Ralis' direction, and Rael watched he go all the way, until she settled herself down on the grass to watch her husband.

"Now there goes a fine maiden," Vic seated himself perched on a low flat boulder, and shifted around to face Rael.

"Evening Vic," Rael said, "where have you been?"

"Just out a' walkin'. Tis a fine night for it." Rael was not so sure about that, but he said nothing, "something on your mind, lad?"

Rael let out a short snicker, and rocked his head back, arms outstretched behind him palms flat on the soft earth, "Oh, just a few things…" he laughed again. He supposed feeling desperate was bringing out this side of him. If he laughed everything away, maybe things would be all right. A foolish fantasy. "Hey Vic, there was something I was wondering about though. A small thing, but I think you can probably provide answers."

"What do you want to know?" he said, leaning forwards.

Rael gazed back to the forest, and across to the west where he knew the desert to be. "Just about the Gerudos, some things I have been wondering about."

"You mean about the attack?" asked Vic.

Rael thought for a moment, "Maybe. But its more general really. Maybe I'm just an ignorant Taraner," he smiled, "but I had heard that gerudos were all women."

Vic nodded, and smiled, "No, you aren't ignorant. Indeed, there was a time when the Gerudo race was entirely female. It is hard to know these things for sure, since there is little communication between Gerud and the Hylian lands these days. They are too involved in their own civil war."

"But why were they all women?"

"The legends say, and they are most likely true from what I hear, that Gerudos only ever bore baby girls, and the entire female people were dependant on Hylians for male partners, in producing offspring. Their land was bound by some ancient curse that gave them only one male, every hundred years. Who is crowned as the king."

"But that changed, as you have seen. From what I understand, and my understanding of these matters is never good I must warn you, the last king had some sort of feud with Hylia. And then he mysteriously disappeared. After that, lots of male babies appeared."

"I think I follow..."

"What I do know for sure is that there are two supposed 'kings' in Gerud at the moment. And a queen as well, though she is old and tired by Civil War. The two kings, who came from different families, have been hailed by different societies as being the one true heir. From childhood they were raised to believe this themselves, and now they command great numbers within the Gerudos. The queen that ruled long ago when those boys were born still maintains the Throne of the West, though her grip is slipping. Now the two supposed kings are desperately trying to gain the throne. And as you saw, they are crossing into what is traditionally Hylian territory in order to expand their own holdings."

Rael nodded slowly, "Why hasn't the Queen of Hyrule intervened yet?"

Vic bent down low, and leaned in close to Rael, almost whispering, "Rumours say that the queen is losing her power, war is making her people difficult to manage. It is not just the Gerudos that are at war, Rael. The Gorons, the Zora…and Hylia is at the centre of it all. And now if that wasn't enough a foreign army is gathering on our shores and-"

"Vic!" Rael and Vic looked up sharply, Sergeant Shaef was standing beyond the fire, arms folded impatiently.

Vic jumped to his feet, and stood at attention, "Sir!"

"At ease soldier," said Shaef. Rael noticed two shadowy figures moving out of the dark; from the west where the sun had set fully, and from the east where the moon now shone brightly. Kopus and Haram had finished their shifts, and as the fire illuminated their faces, full of tiredness, Rael suspected it was not a moment too soon for them. "Vic, you and I will have the next shift," he turned to address Kopus and Haram, "I reckon three hours sleep should be enough to satisfy you boys." Shaef scratched his head and flexed his leg muscles, "the rest of you should go to sleep as well. We've a long journey ahead of us tomorrow. I want to get as far as we can to Hylia in the daylight hours."

"Sir, about that," said Vic, "I have a suggestion that will let us get some sleep on a proper bed tomorrow night. I know a place we can stay."

Shaef nodded, "You can tell me about that now, then. Everyone else, just get down under your blankets and try to sleep." He and Vic disappeared into the darkness, blending into the slopes of the land and the long waving grass.

Rael intended to sleep now, but did not much feel like looking for his blanket in his saddlebags. He curled up on the floor, and shut his eyes, trying to ignore the sounds of crickets, and the continued whistling of Tabett's flute.

……

"Rael, Rael are you awake?" Rael opened his eyes, and cursed under his breath. Ralis was kneeling beside where he lay, looking down on him with his usual intensity.

"I am now," grunted Rael, "what do you want?" He twisted over, and faced the opposite direction.

"I just wanted to talk," said his older brother, "I…I'm worried about Da." Ralis' voice wavered, with an uncertainty in it that Rael had never heard before. "I've been trying not to let it show, but I'm so frightened."

"You've done well at not showing it," muttered Rael.

Ralis lay a hand across Rael's shoulder and gently he felt his body being turned over, until he was once again looking up at those dark eyes. Then his brother glanced around, before lying down beside Rael, with his hands behind his head for a pillow. "I've been trying to stay strong, for Mara's sake, and for you too. I thought if you saw I was coping, it would help you deal with everything better. But I…" Rael could barely believe it, but there was a tear in Ralis' eye, "I can't pretend to you any more. I'm so afraid…"

Rael had never experience this sort of emotion from his brother, not since they were young boys at least. Reluctantly, he laid a hand on Ralis shoulder, "I know…I know…"

Ralis wiped the few tears out of his eyes with his hand.

"I've heard things about our father… things people have said from time to time. He's a good swordsman. I reckon he's all right."

Ralis nodded, "You're probably right…."

"Its hard on us all. We just have to stick together. Maybe its not my place, but I think Mara needs you more than you realise."

Ralis nodded as though he knew, and started to rise to his feet.

Rael sighed, and whispered quietly to himself, but perhaps Ralis heard, "All we can do is hang on to small glimmers of hope."

Ralis nodded, "I'm going to get some sleep."

Rael smiled and shut his eyes, curling back up to sleep again, listening to his brother's footsteps pacing away. He hoped desperately that he was right, their Da just had to be alive. He just had to be. Thinking of his father, and his brother, and flittering images of his friends, he passed into the realm of dreams.