"It goes both ways," Navi said silently, but not in his head, like the Deku Tree's speech. Link could read the tiny features like a game trail, like the Lon's could read maps, clear as a still spring's reflection. Do I have privacy?
"Of course. I don't eavesdrop, and you can lie, mentally, if you try hard enough." How strange, to hear the fairy but to be completely silent and aware of the wind and grass and the horses.
Talon hopped out of the wagon, leaving the pair.
But you did.
"It was time you knew."
Have you always read my thoughts? Since we met?
"Enough with the betrayal and angst." She crossed her arms, then uncrossed them, deciding to fiddle with her fingers. "I heard you last night, too. You wanted to be heard. It's that simple. I'll keep an ear out for the dangerous emotions when I can, when you allow me. Otherwise, I'm just unusually uncanny about Kokiri body language."
He wanted to find some objection, but was left with little to debate. "I've never…been so scrutinized."
"It's not scrutiny. It's trust. I like you, and this is the time in your Hylian life when guidance is key. The Deku Tree would not have requested me to accompany you if he thought you wouldn't need it." Her stony face softened for him. "There's a lot of Lore left to learn. I want to help you learn it all. That's what a fairy is for, so you aren't wandering the Hyrule Fields forever, remember?"
You didn't answer my question.
"…"
With an insight, Link flung out a mental line to a very shocked Navi, and heard the truth.
"I've never seen two beings so concentrated," Malon whispered to Gerick. They stood together by the wagon, not out of sight, and making no move to conceal themselves, either. "What do you think…"
"Could be their hearing and conversation are too high for us to hear," Gerick pronounced. "Some Hylians claim they can hear thoughts. Wouldn't be surprised 'tall if them two could speak without speakin' out loud." He seemed pleased as he stroked a stubbly chin. "Hate to interrupt 'em."
Malon nodded her agreement, a bit of envy and whist clenching at her heart. They climbed past the intimate pair anyway.
"Alright, let's go get some cattle!" Talon bawled to the Lon Clan in their wagons. Screeching children halted their games between the vehicles and clambered into the beds of their own family's wagon, continuing to shout and holler with excitement for the move. Adults alike hopped aboard, and like a flock of inelegant geese, the tents-turned-conveyance creaked and moaned with the added weight as they trailed behind the patriarch's shambling carriage.
At once, the moving landscape, the height above the ground and the rocking of the horse's gait under yoke forced Link's gorge to fill with bile and he instantly hung his head between unsteady knees.
"Oh, not motion sickness, I didn't think-Here," Malon offered Link something from the pantry box, a drink from a little clay bottle and without care, the boy threw back a mouthful from the vessel. He had hoped for water, but instead, a burning drink that somehow tasted red coated his tongue with the stickiness of honey and none of the better qualities of the thick syrup. The bitter tang and texture alone were enough to distract his belly from the ride, but the burn soon turned to cool and soothed the cramps that threatened to let him experience breakfast again. He could even look at the rocking, roving landscape ahead of them with very little effect. He also pondered how long the dosage would last.
"What was that?" Navi asked, whiffing the red fumes from the bottle and Link's breath, distastefully waving her hand for hopes of fresh air. Luckily, the motion of the wagon aided in wafting away the stink, and Malon corked the bottle and replaced it in the pantry.
"Medicine," she replied simply. "Good for what ails you, whether it's belly, head or heart. Potion masters in Market Town supply the people of Hyrule with this wonderful remedy, among others."
"It tasted like…" Link paused, tonguing the air in his mouth for the dregs of the flavor. "Organic, like something boiled down to gelatin, but farther. It's not a vegetable taste."
Malon only exposed her palms in defeat. "I couldn't tell you. No one is really sure what they use to make it, but that's the most comprehensive description I've ever heard about the medicine!" She tittered. "Most are happy to forget the taste."
"Why would you want to forget a taste? Tasting can tell you so much about an environment or the food you eat. If you forgot a taste, how would you know if you tasted it again?"
"So serious," Malon sighed patronizingly. "I don't think there's anyone who could actually forget a taste, only that most don't want to dwell on a displeasing flavor."
Link knew there was use in "displeasing flavors" too, but he bit his bitter tongue and instead, watched the wagon's trundling progress. The feathers were now hanging from the overhang by the driver's seat, showing the wind at their backs, and how easily they could steer the less-than-wind-efficient forms. Talon clicked and subtly flicked the ropes in his hands every now and then as the fleet made for the stables, then further on to the pasture for the proverbial cattle of the clans.
When they pulled up to the squat stable house, Malon hopped out and verily pranced across the turf through the doors, returning some minutes later with two horses of fine body. The younger mare nickered at the redheaded handler, nuzzling into a relaxed palm, and the dun-coated mare pawed impatiently as Ingo approached. He took both sets of reins, and Malon disappeared into the stable again. Emerging with arms full of leather goods, she horsed one set over the back of her rose mare and let Ingo take the other bundle to saddle his own mount.
"Saddles, for a more comfortable ride," Malon espoused to Link's interested observation. "Let me warm up Aepon, then I'll take you for a gallop." She promised, ruffing the long white mane of her roan. To Link and Navi's immediate enchantment, Malon put a foot on a loop hanging from the saddle and threw her leg across the back of the beast, as many more riders hopped up on their horses. Seeming like half-Hylian, half-equines, those from the forest gazed on the sight of dozens of riders burst from the stable grounds in perfect, loping harmony moving through the green sea, ranging out farther from the wagon flock and taking up loose positions as perimeter guards and watchers.
Malon and Aepon stayed close, bobbing rhythmically alongside Talon's cart. Link would not tear his eyes away from the dainty swagger of horseflesh, and the woman atop could move in a way he'd never fathomed possible.
The group was moving again, lurching with wind at their backs and regular furrows were left in the tallish grass behind each wheel. If Link poked his head far enough around the overhang from the bed, he could see the arrow-straight trails and thought about the ease of tracking a wagon train, a swatch of torn grass and earth plain to any with eyes and experience. Soon, a low wooden construction appeared some distance ahead of the party, upright posts laced with horizontal posts and decorated with all manner of flappy things. Link picked out the tinkling sound of metal on wood in wind and the snapping of leather laces. Stronger was a rangy scent, dung and sweat in the grass, and the chorus of lowing cries from the cattle was growing louder, which Link had yet to encounter in person.
"This is my part of the stock," Talon pointed directly ahead. Six feet at the withers, plus another foot in curving horns, the huge brown bull approaching the gates had a string of dirty spittle swinging from his broad, dusty nose, guarding his harem of fat, splay-hipped cows that milled about the pasture, ranging in color from a reddish brown to white with black patches. Such an abundant pile of meat and leather and sinew! Link drew an excited, lung-expanding breath and let out the smell of these animals through his elfin nose. They reeked of vitality.
"See the symbol on the flank? That's my mark, and how I know which cows I'm lookin' after. We all share the work, of course, but it wouldn't do for the patriarch to not have his own herd." His face transformed as he evaluated his stock, appraising, recognizing and above all, the glow of appreciation lit his mouth beneath his mustache. "Malon's been riding since she was weaned. She'll round up the animals for me, then I'll ride out and keep em in line. Ingo will take over drivin'." Again, he stopped the horses and got down from the seat, heading for the inquisitive bull.
Brevity for enthusiasm, Link broadcast to Navi, sending along the context of readying for a hunt.
"He's showing off, too," she replied.
I don't mind, the boy smiled, disembarking from the vehicle in time to see Mullick winding through the parked wagons.
"Almost ready," said the native.
"It's exciting. I never imagined using wheels to carry things," Link admiringly stroked one of the spoked objects closest to him. Mullick's eyes bugged as he must have realized what he accepted as ubiquitous could be unheard. The Lon boy recovered fast, and placating motioned for Link to follow him.
"They'll let the kids walk along, now that we have the cattle," Mullick told him as they passed between wagons. "We usually stick close to the cook's wagon, since they pass out food, all the time." Or they sneak it, Link read from the weasely furtiveness of Mullick's crooked grin.
"Would you like me to teach you and the other kids about food plants along the trail?" Link asked, struck by his previous plan. He felt Navi's approval warm on his brow.
His friend weighed the offer, then gladly accepted with a pleased nod. The twins, Pino and Pina loped in tow from one direction, Gernum and Bunder speeding in from the opposite. Zephane stood imperiously at the fence with the rest of Mullick's troops, blonde hair whipping like the leather ornaments on the posts. All excitedly observed the cattle and horse riders out on the short-cropped grass, individual animals swept up in the motion of the single-minded herd towards a hide-paneled tunnel.
"Move 'em out!" Talon ordered with a sweeping arm, horse beneath him springing along with his stock. More riders waited at the open end, ready to corral the approaching animals and direct them over the open plain. Link saw a long rope in the hands of some outside the drive, fondled and readied as the cattle thundered towards them. Talon's bull broke first, snorting and stomping whenever a rider tried to get close, and not for the last time, Link's ears rang with the sonic crack of a whip. The bull lurched away, bellowing and turning on his heel to gore the offensive man, but the horse moved just as quickly out of the way and the whip snapped in the confused animal's face, finally turning him to the promise of eastern horizon. After the display of cowmanship, the rest of the herd seemed to placidly accept the beginning of the move, following the dominant bull, some blowing off steam, proudly trotting ahead as though the whole thing was their idea anyway and Link approved of relaxed tails and spritely hocks.
"The Lons and the cattle did develop this process together, after all," Navi said only to Link.
The dusty, lowing procession trickled across the plain, wagons flocking to the side of the cloudy wake, and Mullick's crew jogged lightly to catch up behind one of the vehicles sporting the only square canvas roof, still sloping to meet the back of the frame. Link loped easily, and Navi following with even more simplicity. Cella looked a little rattled from her place in the awkward mess wagon, broad-faced Jim bouncing calmly in the driver's seat.
"Morning, kids!" the plump woman in blue greeted her usuals, acknowledging Link separately for his canny unfamiliarity. "Do we need a snack for the trip?"
"Actually, Link is going to help us find food," Mullick deigned to reveal. "We'll bring it back and make somethin' for dinner!" He promised grandly to the beaming passenger.
"Be safe, and watch for peahats," she warned, settling to look ahead on the trail.
They separated, the kids from the train, and Link watched as a rider on the edge trailed them discreetly, ensuring a measure of security to the future.
"What should we look for?" Mullick requested once they were a number of yards from the creaking vehicles.
Before he answered, Link just observed, seeing the grasses hiding many edible plants, cabbages and wild onions, the yellow taproots of umbel-flowered carrots, herbs and wheats. "Look for the ones that aren't grass, describe them to me, and I'll tell you if you can eat it."
Like fowl chicks on the hunt for bugs and seeds, the children immediately scoured the ground between tussocks.
"This one is round!" Aurbron poked the leathery leaves of the cabbage.
"Try to pick it," Link told her. Fingers in a ginger pincer, she tugged at the protective birth leaf, victoriously removing the single layer. Link indulgently pulled his knife, held the globe aside, exposing the thick root and sliced through to hand the head to a smiling little girl.
He demonstrated poking his finger into the soil beside the carrot to uproot it, pulling up the pearls of onions, stripping early kernels of wheat into his hand with a flat-edged stone picked up from the ground and gently tugging at the stems of groundnuts to unearth the starchy little tubers, still small for the summer season. Each child made gross attempts to harvest with the efficiency of the Kokiri, breaking stems and trodding tender ground foliage, and prompted Link to add, "Never take all the plants from an area. Always leave enough to propagate the next generation."
"Leave some for next time," Mullick clarified to the youngest, and some dropped their efforts like they were hot. "Let's deposit these with Cella."
Even on the return, Link picked handfuls of familiar herbs and those he didn't know, hoping a native cook would recognize the seasonings.
"That was fast! Jim, slow down a bit!" cried Cella, and the horses accorded as she accepted several cabbages and bundles of their vegetable quarry. "What a contribution to our meal, thank you, dears."
Link came to her next presenting his gathering. "Can you tell me the names of these?"
"Hmm, marjoram, curly cup and bunkweed," she said, pointing in succession.
Pleased, he passed his herbs to the woman.
Again, tagging along on the fringes with a guardian, Zephane restlessly complained.
"I don't want to find more plants," she sighed, skipping ahead, ignoring the younger girls around her. "We should explore and find excitement! You should hunt something." She seemed to be on the look-out.
"Baiting you," Navi thought.
But for what? What excitement?
He needn't even ask, as the eldest girl disappeared in a yelp, consumed by the ground.
"Dumb girl!" Mullick cursed, rushing to keep the rest of her mates from sharing her fate. "No one come near, there's a peahat burrow here, and she knew it!" Link saw a gaping crevice in the grass. "We pass by, normally." He shouted into the hole, "I don't know what you're playing at, Zephane, but it's not funny!"
"Please, someone help me! There's a peahat down here!"
Finally, the chance to decipher what a peahat is, Link thought calmly. Navi was curious too, brimming with questions about Zephane's questionable judgement. The rider that followed approached, rope in hand, tied it to a rigid horn on his saddle and threw the end to Mullick for him to lower into the burrow.
"I'll go," Link said, even as the man was unbuckling a collapsible shovel from his supplies. Saved the effort of digging, the man made a reluctant show to let the wild boy descend easily into the dark.
The shaft of light illuminated more than he believed it would, and saw clearly the hollow was about fifteen feet wide, maybe eight feet high and irregularly shaped. Worse, a bulbous-topped stand of deku babas leaned from the light, drinking in the scent of living prey: Zephane, back up against the opposite wall.
"Please, save me!" she blubbered dramatically. Knowing she had more than enough clearance to pass the babas, he wondered just what she was worried about. Did the Lons call babas peahats?
"No way!" Navi exclaimed. The sound of shifting earth put him on alert, and a claw erupted by the babas, more tendrils oozing out, becoming erect to reveal a plume razor-edged leaves atop a huge, sack-like bulb. It wriggled and began whipping it's leaves in blind attack, now defensive of it's disturbed burrow.
And only his knife on his belt, Link wanted to get nowhere near the obviously dangerous plant, or animal and risk getting cut, or even scarier, snagged by the eager babas in an attempt to evade the huge creature. It nearly filled the burrow with long scarlet leaves and its yellowish, root-like body. As it was, Link had to crouch low to avoid the swinging appendages.
"Along the edge," Navi prompted, seeing the range of the peahat. Her friend crept low and slowly towards Zephane, still shaking and pouting hysterically.
"Come on, it can't reach you," Link soothed when he was a few feet away from her. "You can make it." Wanting to trust, Zephane started to stand. "No! Stay low-"
He grabbed her hem and jerked her away from a near swipe of the peahat, and when she stumbled to the open, and Link saw a marvelous opportunity. Zephane was now right next to the bulb, and it couldn't reach her at close range, despite desperate wiggling. Judging with timing tuned to dangerous hunts, Link darted through the flurry of sword leaves, and like the cabbage earlier, began hacking into the bottom of the corpulent blob with his obsidian knife.
The peahat yelped, or made a strangled, rubbery noise, and with the reaction of a flytrap, retreated into the soil to hide from the painful intruders. Suddenly alone with the babas and a crying girl again, Link sighed and wiped the slime from his little blade with his fingers and dried them with a pinch of the dust.
"Oh my hero!" Zephane gushed, knocking into Link, sending him backwards and downwards, and right into the middle of the deku babas basking in sunlight. She had been trying for an enthusiastic hug, and instead was delivering him to the jaws of his past.
Link utilized all his momentum to propel himself with his shoulder when he landed among the carnivorous plants, but even so, he felt the burning sting of poison seeping into his right hand.
"Link, it's alright, act fast, though!" Navi was beside him. "It's only your pinky! Quick!" She sent along the mental image of a stub of a finger, and Link's belly rolled as he knew what to do. Recently deslimed, now bloodied, his blade cut through ligament at the furthest joint of his pinky with all the surgical precision that only an obsidian edge provided. No poison would spread to his body, digesting him from the inside out. The baba that was hanging on snapped back, foiled of most of its prey, but sated for blood as the rest of the stand leaned to the victory.
The little stump was bleeding freely, Link thought, almost detached at the sight of his injury. Through adrenaline, anger cut in and he stared at Zephane.
"You've done this," he said coldly, holding his pinky against his palm. "If you hadn't needed saving, or looked for this, I would be whole." Link closed the distance between them, the girl now trembling at his glacial gaze. Horrified, she watched him raise the mutilated finger to her forehead, and grimaced unflinchingly as he dragged the wet tip in a line across her brow. "You owe me a debt. Now, let's get back so I can get some medicine and a bandage, you irresponsible child."
She was in a daze as they climbed the rope back to the surface, and did not respond to any of the questions of her peers about the crimson on her forehead, only walking away to rejoin the procession of wagons.
One of the kids gave Link a handkerchief to wrap his finger with, and Mullick silently accompanied him and Navi back to the head of the train, leaving his troupe with the guardian rider. Malon spotted them from her place by the wagon, cantering to the somber trio with distress plain in her voice.
"What happened? Link, why is there blood?" Even Ingo's head turned to eavesdrop. Malon dismounted, asked Ingo to stop, and pushed Link into her father's carriage. "Go home, Mullick." The other boy nodded worriedly at Link, and retreated. They began to move again, Aepon walking beside them, and Malon tucked Link into a blanket on the strawtick bed. She retrieved some fabric strips from her box, and the red medicine again, only dipping the wound into a small puddle in her palm. Then, she bandaged the finger and demanded the story from Navi so Link could rest.
All she would say, though, was this: "Zephane got what she asked for. She's pledged to her hero now."
