Disclaimer No I do not own the legend of Zelda stop asking me, everyone knows it is owned by Nintendo and this is just my silly non cannon unlicensed project based on the games from that series that resonate with me.
Author's Note Did you miss Gerudo Town? You can either sing Outside Gerudo City or just read this.
Gigantic Optimism Chapter XIV a Duo of Duplicitous Conversations
Karlovaa is exiting the throne room after receiving her payment, sunlight gleams off the burnished weapons of the Gerudo soldiers catching her eye. Instead of taking her leave through the main entrance she decides to head to the training ground located in an open-air palisade just outside the throne room. There chatting with the guards her appearance unchanged except for more laugh lines is Gosi. Meandering to the former racer Karlovaa has an idea, soliciting Gosi's help would increase her chances in the rally and now that she had retired the sandseal trainer could coach her. "Who else knows that course better than Gosi?" This, silent rhetorical question goes without an answer and Karlovaa is before the subject of her musings. "I need to meet with this racer she has some ideas for new jockeying techniques."Gosi lies effortlessly, A little put off at the attempted graceful dismissal the group of soldiers leaves in a huff, their weapons drooping, trudging back to their exercises like a dog that hates its master. "Savaa'q how is my favorite six time undefeated Champion cup winner? Seeing that her joke had died faster than a horse falling off of Mount Nabooru Gosi capitulates by mentioning business. "I can offer you a tour while you are here? Surely you want to see our famous sandseals?" Unable to deny such an obvious truth Karlovaa obligingly follows Gosi over to a second paddock housing five sandseals, all Patricia standards including the one Riju had rode in the first champions cup.
The paddock is shaded unlike the military compound Riju having planted palm trees early in her reign. The sand is somehow many different types from course red sand to fine white sand no sandseal could manage to be uncomfortable in the large enclosure. Three young girls were charged with feeding the seals, raking the sand to clean it and playing with the animals. While one was occupied with a different task currently, they took each job in turn. These three seal girls were another addition made during Riju's reign; it was a coveted position for the best in the job often could petition the queen for any job in the kingdom after their mandatory military service. Karlovaa knew a well-run stable when she saw one and this was certainly the best she had seen. Wishing she had visited before now the vai absorbs every detail and is concerned about one of them.
"Why is one of them unharnessed, Gosi? Is something wrong? Karlovaa worries pursing her lips into a thin line." Nothing bothers Karlovaa more than a mistreated sandseal. "Pay it no mind that is Beatrice, we cannot get a harness on her, she thinks she is better than us and will not deign to pull us serfs around." Next to Beatrice a male Patricia Standard begins to dive and resurface emitting a ringing sound the spray of sand when the male surfaces is directed at the proud Beatrice. She never even looks at this repetitive display for her benefit, "Poor Clyde he usually is considered quite the catch I will have to sell her soon unless the breeders have more luck, than I." Something in the air causes Gosi to look at Karlovaa who speaks. "This is fascinating and all but I need to ask you something, can you help me train for the rally Gosi?" "The rally! Karlovaa the champion's cup is in three days you should focus on that. It is too late too change your regimen now, Unless there was something else you want to discuss I do need to get back to work." Choosing her words carefully Karlovaa clarifies her request. "No, that is not all I am not competing in the Champions cup I need a break." Patting her sightseer on the shoulder sympathetically Gosi capitulates "I remember that feeling I can help you if it will keep you from working all the joy out of the job but, we train my way and you have to let the committee know I am training you." Running off with nary a parting word, Karlovaa is soon in the office of that distinguished body for they need to be notified of her decision not to compete.
The Gerudo Sandseal Racing Committee is currently a four-person board. Their offices are sequestered down a forgotten side street, the building was small, compact, shrunken by erosion the old building is unimpressive and past its time though the grand main door still seeks to impress onlookers. Posted on this door is a notice announcing, "Do you have a passion for racing?, Are you an experienced driver, or breeder? If you said yes to any of these questions then are you in luck, we are taking applications for a fifth committee member. No current racers can apply" "Oh Batma had to give up her seat I hope the rest of those bums sign off on my race withdrawal form." Karlovaa thinks after reading the sign pretending to study the notice for a second time her thoughts turn to the committee. Two retired jockeys, a breeder, and a former soldier turned bookie not that she bet at all after winning her nest egg and buying her way onto the board with it. Twirling her hair deep in thought the Gerudo finishes her meditation and enters the dingy building.
Moments later Karlovaa is announced by a doorkeeper and is seated before two members of the committee, unluckily for the hopeful Karlovaa none of the former jockey members are present. Siting on a cushion on a low line from a stone table housing the committee Karlovaa speaks. " I would like to withdraw from the next race." "Before the rest of her speech can follow the simple eight spoken words her request is granted. The former bookie steering the other easily "Of course for you dear, anything." Nostrils flaring Karlovaa resists her dismissal with an edge to her voice but no other differences in her demeanor "Wait, you are supposed to ask for my reason for abstaining not just grant it why do you not want me to compete." Metaphorical Honey dripping from her lips the one who had already spoken placates the mad vai. "No formalities are required for one of our best racers you must have a good reason we all feel so." With quick murmurs the other member is in agreement, and the petitioner is dismissed her form stamped approved. Before she has set one foot outside the ramshackle building, they are discussing her replacement. Stunned Karlovaa leaves, the form in her hand wiggling with each step. "They know if I am not there the race will make more money, they would have fought anyone else's request." Satisfied with her reasoning feeling it accounted for the odd treatment she had received, Karlovaa resolves to have little to do with the group going forward.
Shaking her head Karlovaa did not like this new direction for the group that controlled her livelihood. Batma's military discipline had previously kept the group from acting in this manner, disguising the group's true nature. Upon opening the exterior door Lorrue is almost struck by the heavy wooden portal, becoming occupied reading a sign on an outwards opening door is an embarrassing way to receive bruising, and there is no glory in the regaling an audience with that particular "war" story.
Brushing herself off "Watch it you, blundering bigheaded, buffoo…Ahem! Karlovaa can I talk with you?" Then Lorrue executes a transformation befitting a great actress, she averts her face turning a cross facial expression and pulsing forehead vein into a look of expectant curiosity with a single tilt of her head. "What do you want Lorrue? I need to get back to my sandseal make it quick" Truthfully Dorn does need the company at that moment he is scarfing down the contents of a freshly broken into crate of apples, however Karlovaa is simply tired of that day's abundance of duplicitous companions. "I heard the news from Vacta, you can corroborate it right?" she lets the last word hang there, its question implicit in the delivery from the sing song cadence to the tone of voice. Unaware of any harm Karlovaa elucidates the reason for her visit to the committee. "No not that, tell me about this zora voe, this could be history making there are no legends about such a relationship!" Nonplussed by a combination of : the unexpectedness of the topic, its bluntness, and the realization that his royal status certainly would make the coupling a historic affair, Karlovaa cannot reply for a short while. No sound is heard but the wind through sand the constant ambient noise of the desert.
"Really Lorrue it is nothing I chanced to meet him twice and we are exchanging letters nothing else." A hum precedes the curious vai's next remark "Who is paying for the mail? a delivery from here to Lanayru is expensive." Not waiting for an answer, she ploughs ahead sure of her argument. "If he is than he wants to get better acquainted." Swaying her hips suggestively she now concludes with an accurate guess to finish her argument "Did he touch you, caress a shoulder, hold your hand, perhaps." Cheeks red Karlovaa scurries off head lowered, to hide her embarrassment. Calling after Lorrue shouts "I really think you should give him a chance!"
Sorting out the apple fiasco took the afternoon but, the pen pal did not mind her attention was elsewhere. Maybe the charming zora was attracted to her. Only later that night did she ascribe the teasing as another one of Lorrue's s tricks to throw off her racing by distracting her. Gosi was genuinely curious her pension for lovers and encyclopedic knowledge of Gerudo history had come together to create a keen interest in the story.
Author's Note 2 All rights belong to their respective owners. The male sandseal mating behavior was based upon this article Time and Location of Mating and Associated Behavior of the Pacific walrus, Odobenus rosmarus divergens Iiliger by FAY,FRANCISH., RAY ,and ARKADIIA. KIBAL'CHICH. Published in the Soviet-American Cooperative Research on Marine Mammals Volume 1 Pinnipeds from September 1984, part of the NOAA(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) . Next week Sidon performs some diplomatic missions and Dorado is trusted with a certain possession from Mipha's estate. Thanks for reading there are so many things you could be doing instead, I appreciate that you chose to read this.
Sincerely, 4Coyote