Chapter Five
Jolane

Rael stroked the sides of Reshin's long face, looking into his large black eyes with care and respect; a magnificent dark horse, strong, tall and proud. Rael brushed his hands along his back with his hand and proceeded to lead him out of the stables into the courtyard before the palace. His three companions from Taran Kaey were there already, waiting for him expectantly. White haired Daran clothed in black woollens, Tabett in a high collared soldier's jacket with rough breeches, and Elane in a simple brown riding dress with divided skirts. They all held the reins to three more well-bodied mounts.

"Sooner we get gone from this place the better," muttered Tabett as Rael drew close to him. Elane eyed Tabett warily as she took a pair of leather riding gloves from behind her belt and began pulling them over her hands.

Daran, looking somehow taller and stronger this morning, brushed back his paler than pale hair and grinned at Rael. "Off on another adventure are we?" When he saw Rael's flat return stare he added, "I mean, not that running from the Kairin was an adventure, I just mean… oh, you know."

Elane shook her head dismally, then eyed Rael, "So when's your man coming anyway?"

She meant Link, but they did not know who he was of course. Rael had told his companions that he was doing a favour for the Queen, but they didn't know many details. Rael did not know the details himself for the most part. Elane, Daran and Tabett did not know Link by face, having never met him – so when he showed up there would be no recognising him. He was planning to take the guise of a simple army sergeant apparently.

"Soon enough, I hope," said Rael. The west wind was blowing today, and there was sand and grit in the air from the desert. A light coating had covered the roofs and streets of Hylia too. He hoped it was a passing thing, he did not want to be riding into a sand storm.

"Daran and Rael go West," mused Daran, speaking to no-one in particular, "sounds like a bard's tale doesn't it?"

"If you say so," sighed Rael, stroking Reshin on the nose and frowning in the direction of the fortress, higher on the hill. Where was the blasted Marshal, anyway? Beneath pale blue-grey skies, scores of banners flew atop tall silver poles on the palace and the fortress walls. Guards patrolled battlements and towers above each mighty building, silver armour gleaming as it caught rays of sunlight. "Are you all certain that you want to come? You know it could become dangerous – we're going to the Gerudo lands after all, and they're in the middle of a civil war."

Tabett shrugged. "Yeah, but we're bored to the bone here Rael."

"I feel like I have to come with you anyway, lad," said Daran. "It's my calling. And who's going to look out for you if I don't come along, eh?"

"Who's going to be looking out for you though?" replied Rael, darkly.

"Well, that's why Tabett's coming isn't it?" replied Daran with a smile. "He's got my back. And yours. You see how he tackled those ruffians in that inn the other night? You ever needed someone to save your life, Tab's your man."

Tabett grinned, fingering the hilt of his sword lightly.

Rael raised his right eyebrow at Elane, as though to ask the same question of her. "I'm coming," she said, rounding on Tabett, "to make sure he doesn't run off with some Gerudo chit."

Tabett beamed, "Oh come now, you don't think I'd do that do you?" He laughed, "Those Gerudos are savage animals! I'd much sooner run away with a pretty Hylian lass than-" He cut off at one disapproving glare from Elane. He pecked her on the forehead, and laughed. Elane's frown deepened.

At that moment, a column of soldiers on horseback appeared at the opposite end of the courtyard. Link was clearly visible leading, tall and proud. The four Taraners stood watching as the Marshal and a company of four soldiers approached. Link was dressed similarly, and in addition he had the single vertical golden stripe of a sergeant on his left arm, but he wore no helmet. The soldiers who followed behind had light armour plating on their chest and legs and arms, with a traditional Hylian helmet on their heads.

Rael remembered his dream. That flash in his mind of Link smiling maliciously, and running him through with his blade. He could not help but see the same man now coming towards him. Just a dream, he convinced himself. Link was the Hero of Time after all, wasn't he?

Without his black cloak he looked somehow… different. More regal and commanding Rael supposed, but no less deadly. He had cut his hair shorter too; now his waves of red and grey hair fell just to his ears and were tied short behind his neck. Unhelmeted, Link looked even more like Rael than usual; he hoped no-one else noticed. The four soldiers, boxed two by two behind him, sat their saddles rigidly.

"Rael al'Resh?" asked Link, searching the Taraners faces. Rael frowned at him with question, but when he caught Link's eyes, he understood what he was doing.

"That's me sir," he said, standing up straight and saluting – well, he was a soldier now technically, and Link was posing as a commanding officer. In reality, Link was the highest commanding officer in Hyrule, the Marshal of Hyrule who could summon generals of all races and direct them at his whim. Now he stood dressed as a simple sergeant. "Rael al'Resh reporting on behalf of her Majesty Queen Zelda."

Tabett and Daran stood straight and saluted also. "Tabett al'Tabar, sir."

"Daran al'Larban, sir."

Elane looked up at Link and frowned, then said, "Elane el'Elaina."

Link clapped a pair of gauntleted hands together. "Excellent. General Dragan informs me well of you Taraners – I do hope you live up to your reputations." Reputations? "I'm Sergeant Kantar. Not sure why you fellows – and lady – are required to come along on this errand, but orders are orders." He leaned around in his saddle and gestured to each of the soldiers in turn. These fine fellows are Barl, Barark, Nolin and Thoril." They all nodded in turn. "They're good men, picked 'em myself. Well, saddle up. We best be on our way. Sandstorms are rising in the west, we don't want to be caught in one of them now."

Soon enough Rael found himself riding alongside Link down the main road of Hylia. The road was wide enough for four carts to move freely side by side, which they usually did. The cobble street was long and straight, carved straight between neat rows of plaster-white buildings from the Palace to the Great Gates. The rest of their company rode behind in pairs with Nolin bringing up the rear alone. "Well done, lad," muttered Link, "they don't suspect."

"Do the soldiers know who you are?" asked Rael.

"Heavens, no," Link replied with a laugh.

They passed out of the Market Gates into the Lower Circle. The sound of hammers and saws and forge-fires filled the air as they rode through the industrial quarter. Things were busier than usual. There would be a call for heavier armament now of course. "Are you sure about this, sir? What if the Kairin attack again? Hylia needs you here."

"Zelda and I only had one Lightning Shard, Rael. If the Kairin attack again I'm just another sword. Well, more than just one sword, but still… I can't turn back an army by myself." Link brushed the hilt of his sword lightly, and grinned as though wondering if perhaps he could.

The crowds in the street parted around them as the column rode strongly through the river of Hylians. "And you are sure you're going to find what you're looking for?" asked Rael, sceptically.

Link turned in his saddle and inclined his head in a short nod. "Absolutely."

He faced forward again. They were drawing close to the Great Gates of the city, where the road widened, emerging at the wide plateau spread before it. Forking black lines marred the white walls where lightning had scorched and cracked it in places. Plasterers and painters were busy at work attempting to white out the battle scars the city had taken. Rael could still hear the echoes of battle ringing in his mind. The unbearable blood. The killing. The death.

Suddenly Link pulled his horse to a stop, tugging back at his reigns and struggling in the saddle. A young had woman crossed his path in front of him, apparently oblivious. She yelled out in surprise as she staggered back, and gathering her cloak about her as she tried to regain her footing. Rael reigned Reshin to a halt and the rest of the column did the same.

Link grunted irritably, shifting tensely, but spoke politely to the girl. "Excuse me miss, are you all right there?"

She stood up tall, brushing off her plain cloak and pushing back her hood. She frowned, combing back her hair and making Link wait. At length she sighed, and turned to face him. "Yes, yes, quite all right thank you." Then she smiled slightly and turned to leave.

Rael gazed at the great cracks in the immense white walls of the city that had been blown apart by catapult fire and the lightning storm. He exhaled heavily, this was what war did to places, and to people. "So much destruction," he groaned.

Link patted him on the back hard. "There's no time for feeling sorry," he said loudly, "we must make haste if we are to reach the desert in just a few days, Rael, we must not waste time here."

Rael nodded, taking hold of this reigns. He was about to heel Reshin when the girl from the road appeared again, stopping them before they could begin. "Excuse me sirs," she said assertively, "be you going to the desert?"

Rael looked down at her with his head raised high. She looked to be seventeen or eighteen years of age, and was tall - almost as tall as himself, though he towered over her now on his horse. Her figure was pleasant on the eye, though she was slightly lean. Her hair was brown with slashes of blonde layered underneath, she must have dyed it such because it was certainly not natural. Her hazel eyes were slightly tilted, and her nose was long and slender, her cheekbones were high and a her lips were curved in a curious smile. There was something unsettling about the way she looked – not particularly attractive, but nonetheless there was something captivating about her.

For some reason, as though in a trance, his hand began to stray towards his sword hilt. Why, he could not say. Her eyes flickered caught his hand and stopped it in motion, though she did not look him in the eye. Link clapped his hands together, and addressed her firmly, "Yes my girl indeed, and we would much appreciate it if you would kindly step aside now."

The girl smiled sharply and stepped forward, placing a hand under Link's horse's head and stroking it gently. "If it doesn't trouble you, may I accompany you on your venture? I be headed west myself and I would value the safety of numbers."

Link smiled, a light twinkling in his hazy grey eyes. Rael peered curiously at her, trying to decide if she was pretty or not, and wondering why his hand was twitching over his sword hilt. She shot him a smile, grinning and flashing her eyebrows. Stunned, Rael shook his head in surprise. She was already talking to Link again.

"What is your name, young lady?" said old Link.

"Jolane," she replied softly.

"What business do you have east?" he said suspiciously.

"My business do be my own, good sir. But I ride well and I can defend myself well enough, I willn't be a trouble to you." Rael noticed a small scar on her left cheek. He didn't doubt she was telling the truth. "Forgive me sir but something do seem familiar about you. Tell me, be you-"

"I doubt very much that you know me, Miss Jolane." Link interjected. He straightened his back and spoke with authority. "This company is on a Royal errand, by order of her majesty Queen Zelda. I cannot be picking up strays, I apologise."

"Stray? You call me stray?" She stood up to full height, fists on hips indignantly. "Sir I do be offended. The day they call Jolane of the Bashaan a stray is… no day I shall see sir, no!"

The Marshal looked taken aback. "The Bashaan, indeed," Link murmured. "I am Sergeant Kantar, of the Hylian First Legion. This is Rael al'Resh. My soldiers and his kinsfolk are on a mission of high importance to the defence of this city. If you impede us you endanger Hyrule itself."

She brushed back her dirty blonde hair, smiling sharply and making a slight curtsy. "I do swear on my honour sir. I willn't hold your speed."

"Sergeant…" Rael said edgily, keeping a close eye on Jolane.

Link leaned across and whispered, "Silence my lad, there is something about this one that…" he broke off. "Miss Jolane, if you have a horse ready then you may come with us. But we leave Hylia this minute."

"Ah! Fear not my good sir!" she bounded away into the plateau, stopping at the first merchant cart she could find. To Rael's astonishment, after a couple of words with the driver, she leapt up into the saddle of a white mare. She undid its fastenings and heeled it across the square towards them.

"How did you…" began Link, as she approached, but he stopped and shrugged. "Well, it seems you are ready to come with us. You may come with us as far as the mountains, but from there I cannot offer you protection."

"Sir I do come with you for company, rather than protection by sword."

Jolane was the tenth of their number then? Rael heard the voice of the Illivartan in the back of his mind. 'Ten will ride forth, and five return.' He shuddered.

"Right, well then!" said Link, smiling. "To the West!" He kicked the sides of his stallion, and stormed towards the gates. The others cheered in approval and followed hard at his heels, as startled crowds leapt out of the way. As Rael rode under the archway Great Gates, he shouted out ecstatically. They were finally leaving the city.

"To the West!" he called as they blazed out onto the plains of Hyrule, with the autumn sun at his back.