Ch. 2: Training days
Jack spent many days poring over some of the basic aspects of the country he was now forced to stay in. In the mornings, they focused on natural things, like geography and bestiary. Link would describe what he knew from personal experience, and Zelda would help with the reading. In the afternoons, Jack did his best to keep up with Jalsin and Link while they played different games. Evenings were devoted to dinner and questions that Jack might have thought of during the day. Although Link wasn't staying in the castle, Jack discovered that he could almost always be found there. He didn't realize why until he saw them walking in the gardens one day, hand in hand. Finally, after two weeks of studying through dusty books and yellowed maps, Zelda pronounced that he knew as much as any other person in Hyrule might.
"So, now what? Is that it?" Asked Jack, closing the last book.
"No, of course not. I've got to teach you etiquette. Especially now, since my father wants to meet you in a few days." Said Zelda
"The King? I get to talk to King Harnikan? Wow, I guess I better learn etiquette then. I'm amazed."
"Don't be. My father likes to meet everyone who comes through his kingdom. He's taken a special interest in you because both times you've been here, you haven't seen him."
"Well still. It's not everyday that you meet a King."
"We'll start tomorrow. Today you should get some rest from all that reading."
"I could really use some fresh air today. I have an idea. It scares me, but I guess I don't have a choice."
"What idea?"
"I'm going to ask Link to teach me how to fight. Maybe if I can focus when I have a weapon, then I can avoid killing someone I don't want to."
Jack walked out to the courtyard where Link did a few warm-ups every morning before a light bit of training. Link had explained that he liked to be in shape so that he could properly react if the time came that he was needed. Jack and Zelda both knew that he was showing off for Zelda.
"Say Link. Could you teach me to fight? I know it's dangerous but I need to be able to defend myself if necessary and prevent myself from striking the wrong target."
"You've got a point there. Wait just a moment, I'll get some weapons from the armory." Said Link, dashing off.
When he returned, Link was loaded to the brim with every weapon imaginable. He dropped them in an ungainly heap and began sorting them out on the grass. When he was ready, Link stood up and led Jack down the line of weapons to one end.
"Since I don't know what you're good at, I'll have you try each one until we find something you're comfortable with. Start here with the heavy weapons. Pick one up."
"That's it? Pick one up? This should be easy." Boasted Jack, standing over a great two handed blade.
He went to pick it up with one hand and practically ripped his arm from the socket. He tried again with two hands and managed to get it up and off the ground. Then it tottered for a bit and made a large divot in the ground.
"These are heavy! How can any one use these things?"
"I know, I can barely lift them myself.' Said Link, picking up the sword and gave it a few swings. The sword made a whooshing noise as he swung it.
"Barely?"
"Yep."
They moved on from the heavy weapons to archery. Jack was slightly proficient after having dropped the first two arrows straight into the ground. Next, they did long weapons, and came away with more bruises than hopes. Short swords proved more cheering as Jack was slightly adept although it was mostly just fancy twirling. Link decided to teach him how to wield swords more practically, but not by himself. He also enlisted Impa's help as she used a short sword where his was more of a long sword. Jack practiced constantly, usually wearing himself out so thoroughly that he would fall into bed and go straight to sleep. Link and Zelda were worried that he might be over doing it but didn't interfere. They understood his fears and realized that there was no stopping him from the path that he had set for himself. Link had once been down a similar path and knew that he would have to wait until fate had played its hand.
One day, while they all sat in the castle's spacious front yard, Link saw a man running as fast as he could towards the castle. He whistled sharply, trying to get the man's attention. He turned, saw Zelda, and started running up towards them. Link realized that, for some reason, the man was wearing bunny ears.
"Urgent message for Princess Zelda." Said the man, not even short of breath.
"What is it?"
"Don't know. Not my business. I have some common courtesy, thank you. Ahem."
"Oh sorry, here." Apologized Zelda, giving the man twenty rupees.
"Thank you princess, most generous."
And with that, the man turned and bolted out of the castle again. Zelda turned the letter over a few times before opening it. She started to read it before her hand went to her mouth. Concerned, Link leaned over to read it as well and his eyes widened too. Confused, Jack peeked over Zelda's other shoulder to see what it said.
"I know what you have been up to lately. I'm sending you this letter along with a few well chosen photographs to prove it. Pay me 1,000 rupees or I show them to your father, Zelda."
Zelda fainted on the spot and Link immediately went to prop her up. Jack picked up the fallen letter and the photographs. What he saw would have made anyone blanch.
"Did she actually do this stuff?"
"No, I don't even think that's humanly possible, to tell you the truth."
"Then if she didn't do it, why did Zelda faint?
"Shock probably. I don't think she's ever seen anything like that before, and frankly, neither have I."
"Wait a second, these are fake. Look, you can see the outlines where they were cut out. Someone's trying to set her up."
"But who would send something like that?"
"Well, if we can catch that delivery guy, maybe we could find out."
"Alright, you get some horses, I'll see about waking up Zelda. Honestly, what the hell was this guy thinking?"
Once Zelda woke up, all three of them grabbed their weapons and charged out of Hyrule town so fast, the people didn't even see them leave. The only thing that betrayed them was the sound of hooves. They spotted the man running over a hill and dashed full speed after him. But when they topped the hill, they found that he had disappeared into a forest off to the right of Lake Hylia. They rode up to it at a slower pace and, when they reached the entrance, dismounted.
"There's something dangerous here but I can't tell what it is. Must be in the forest, come on."
"Wrong, stranger. It's right here. I'm the danger and if you don't pay my fee, I'll show you why." Said a man's voice from the tree.
"You don't scare me. Come down and show yourself." Shouted Link.
A Hylian hopped from the trees, landing lightly on the grass. He was dressed in a rough tunic and a head band of black and red.
"Mighty strong talk for a small fellow like you. So, will you pay the toll or shall I have to kill you where you stand?"
"Your words don't frighten me. As for small, you're not that big yourself."
"You obviously don't know who you're dealing with. I am Kitan, master of these woods. Those who do not pay my toll die by my daggers, as you shall."
"And you don't know who I am, do you? I'm Link, Hero of Time. I've faced stronger, faster, and better than any thief, especially you."
"Okay Hero of Time, stand up to this!" Said the man mockingly.
Link drew his sword even as Kitan attacked in a lightning fast charge. Metal clashed almost too fast to follow. Kitan attacked viciously, whipping his daggers around in quick routines and slashes. Link somehow managed to parry every attack that was thrown at him. The two moved with such acrobatics to dodge each other's blows that it looked like some kind of dance. Zelda, who was disguised so people wouldn't recognize her, backed her horse away from the fight so that it wouldn't get frightened. Jack also shied his horse away but stayed where he was to watch the two duel. On the two battled, mostly with Kitan leading a stunning offense. Link hadn't even broken a sweat, mostly concentrating on defense. But Kitan kept on coming, energy never diminishing in the slightest. His twin daggers flew with a grace of their own, never leaving any open spaces for counter attacks. Then, suddenly, Kitan stepped back for a moment, allowing Link to step into the gap, before rolling to the side and bringing his daggers down in a terrible double thrust. Jack saw that Link could not avoid this attack and drew his sword. Just as the daggers were about to pierce flesh, Jack's blade caused them to bounce wildly off the flat. Recovering quickly, Kitan turned in brief surprise at the new threat.
"A friend, huh? Well, don't think I can't handle the both of you together."
"Jack! Stay out of this! Your not trained enough to take on this kind of a foe." Said Link, readying his blade.
"No! You're too hard pressed on your own. You're going to need help Link."
"Oh how touching. Two friends ready to die. Well, let's go!"
The three started to battle and Jack immediately realized Kitan's plan. He focused most of his attack power on Jack, knowing that he was less skilled. To Jack's credit, he did manage several effective blocks before Kitan threw his foot into Jack's face. He fell flat and Kitan, forgetting Link, went in for the finishing blow. Before he could do anything though, a sharp pain ripped through his head and he fell to the ground unconscious.
"Got him. Now we can take him back to the castle and get some answers."
"Good job guys. I'm impressed. Jack, you were really good out there, how did you ever manage to keep up with him?" Congratulated Zelda.
"Well, it was simple reall…" Jack trailed off when he realized that she was just being courteous.
Link and Zelda were in another one of their kisses and Jack turned away, embarrassed and slightly jealous. He'd never had a girlfriend that cared about him as Zelda did for Link. When they had finished, Jack helped tie Kitan over Epona's back and opted to walk alongside the horse.
They only made it about halfway back to the castle when they were suddenly ambushed by ruffians. Jack and Link were both too tired to fight the twelve that now surrounded them. As the circle closed, Zelda screamed. Suddenly, someone rushed in between the two and shoved them to the ground. They looked up and realized that it was Kitan.
"Hand over the princess, Kitan. We don't want any trouble, this time. We're being paid for this one, and I'm not about to risk it beating up your scrawny hide."
"The princess? Zelda? Where'd she come from? Err…no can do, I'm afraid. I found them first and you're only getting them over my cold body."
"Give it up boy, you don't stand a chance. How many times must I show you that I'm superior? Rush him boys, and this time I don't want him to be drawing breath when you get done."
All of the twelve men started closing the circle, temporarily ignoring the other three. It was obvious that they held some previous grudge against Kitan. Stunned, Jack and Link could only watch as the circle of steel grew smaller. Then, when they were within four feet of him, Kitan sprung into action. He grabbed onto one man's shoulder and flung himself over the man. Three of his friend's swords killed him quickly. Kitan was a whirlwind of blades after he landed and managed to take down all but two before another two minutes had passed. He didn't see the third one get up from the ground and began to sneak up on him.
"Lookout!" Shouted Link and Jack in unison, even as Kitan dispatched the two he was facing.
Kitan turned and for an instant, saw the metal gleam between his eyes. Then, out of nowhere, an arrow flew straight into the man's back causing the blade to flail out. It nicked Kitan's face, leaving a nasty line down his face from the middle of his cheek to his chin. They all looked up in astonishment and saw a girl ride down the hill. Another Hylian, this time wearing an archer's armor and an aqua colored headband. She rode up on a cream colored mare, hopping off nimbly when she reached them.
"I saw you were in trouble and I… OH! Princess Zelda!" She started, before realizing who she was in the presence of.
She immediately knelt down on the ground, head bowed.
"Rise, please. I deserve no special attention. It should be I kneeling to you. You saved a man's life, more than I've done. What is your name?"
"Coral, but my friends often call me Cory."
"Then Coral you shall be."
Kitan, in the midst of all the formality, started to sneak off. Link grabbed his arm and painfully spun him around. Kitan gritted his teeth in pain, both from an arm wound and the cut across his face.
"You know, after saving our lives, the least you could do is hang around and thank Coral for saving yours." Whispered Link.
Kitan shrugged off Link's hand and for a second it looked like he might try to dash for it. But suddenly he fell to the ground, out of energy from all the fighting. Coral joined them on the way back to the castle, talking all the while about how lucky she was to meet Link and Zelda. Jack found that, while she did talk a lot, that she was also somewhat attractive. But she hadn't asked who he was so he didn't tell her. Jack figured she'd get around to it eventually.
