Chapter XXXIV Gone Riding

Authors note 1

Going to point out an inconsistency here I originally said Sidon's Gargantuan horse was a chestnut way back when I introduced it, only to change it to black just a couple chapters later, I must decide and black just works better for this scene and the story as a whole. I am not going to update the chapter to edit a single word. If I cannot retcon something easily with an Author's note than what good are they?

Disclaimer Who has two thumbs and does not own Zelda? This fan who writes for other fans of this Nintendo Intellectual property.

Regent Riju is distracted she was working much slower these days with her new guard supervising her every move. The General never left her side, at first it had been nostalgic just like her first days as queen when her faithful bodyguard and confidant, Buliara. had been her shadow. Then little idiosyncrasies had torn down that comforting false reality, such as when all her correspondence was checked by the general, mealtimes were the starkest contrast the General never shared her meals always eating from a personal ration sack Buliara's trust had been absolute they shared everything the general partook in nothing she merely observed. Like a specter she just hovered nameless yet ever present.

Before this experience she would have demanded a Gerudo guard for the Princeling before her trust in the people had waned. "A Zora guard will show him where he came from and who cares for him. Buliara had always cherished her charge and Riju predicted the same response in this case. "Bonds forged at birth at hard to break." With her royal correspondence finished Riju contemplated leaving her desk idly wondering where she could go. Riding one of her sandseals was less an exercise in freedom, it was a futile pull at the harness. She had to pick a destination beforehand or permission to ride would be rescinded her days of meandering around the desert were over. Never mind the fact that covering the entire desert helped discover threats she might slip away out there and raise a coup. She knew that was the General's opinion on her sandseal excursions. "It is not like I handle military matters now either, outside of committee duties or letter answering I am fairly useless. I could meet with one of the more obscure committees like the Bureau of Voe relations the last idea they had was christening themselves the Bureau of Beau Relations." "Send me the list of committees I need a new hobby" bemoaned the regent to no one in particular someone in ear shot would fetch the document she required. One of the names on that parchment separated itself from the crowd the Gerudo Sandseal Racing Committee, Riju could not remember the last time she had dealt with that formerly distinguished body. Resigning herself to indignity Riju retrieved her reading spectacles and checked the tiny foot note next to her target's title. Her last interaction with the racing board, was when she had set up the Champion's Cup deciding to forego formalities, she was thereafter in front of the committee's headquarters looking at her favorite type of placard one completely legible without her dreaded reading spectacles. "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." Riju was taken with the idea getting to directly oversee her favorite sport seemed like a fun retirement gig. What she would do after her queenship had never occurred to her dying in the position had been all but guaranteed. Riju was even one of the very few who could answer all the questions positively, she had bred and raced the beasts for years. Plus working this sorry group into shape would be a challenge, turning to the general she asks for the soldier to hand her the sign. Rip! Dust and sand fill the air enveloping the two Gerudo tucking the sign under her arm Riju barges into the office. "You did not have to damage the wall when I am in charge you are going to pay for the damage." Riju threatens over her should not even decelerating to make the comment

Sidon had lost track of time his turn to watch Seyda was going well Reypha was three steps behind the king and his scion, carrying out her duty admirably. They were in the Zora stables a building totally designed and constructed to make Link visiting more convenient for him. Seyda seemed to like the stables the first time Sidon had brought him was because he was in the process of talking to his son pointing at objects and saying them to coax speech. Sidon as per usual was a little enthusiastic it was not time for first words yet. Karlovaa simply attributed it to Sidon's warped perspective on how fast Hylian and Gerudo babies grow compared to Zora infants. Currently the royal was designing a new uniform for Reypha given her unique dual position in both the Gerudo and Zora Army as Seyda's guard.

Amazingly the future king loved Sidon's big black horse reaching out to pet it and gurgling in excitement Vin for his part could reciprocate such open affection in the way that perceptive animals can and often do. Today's visit was not purely social Dorado had asked to borrow the steed and Sidon had given it a general inspection. Seyda put Sidon at ease around horses usually the wild-eyed muscular animals put Sidon on edge, his son's unbridled enthusiasm counteracted that effect. "You are your mother's son a real animal lover, especially kinds you can ride, I wonder how much of your current personality will remain intact." His son was a fairly amiable baby, rarely fussy though his fits were indomitable and could last indefinitely till he was satisfied. Reypha gave a soft click announcing a fourth party about to enter the stable. King Stefano and his son Prince Maurice were in the stable the pair were not expected though they were a day early. Maurice at two years old was just old enough to notice the baby Sidon lowered the bundle to give Maurice a good look, Seyda turned towards his fellow prince and begins to cry profusely at the sight of him, the tiny arms flailing spasmodically.

Lorrue was on her sandseal heading into Kara Kara Bazar her boyfriend was back Vestus would be stopping by for a while trying to discover more about the blood moon in the old Yiga hideout out. She knew he had requested the detail just to see her, which is why her current double life was proving inconvenient the sword was in favor of her currying goodwill with Vestus for strategy's sake. Its no his, other suggestion puzzled her he wanted to train her in fencing casting her mind back she remembered the exchange. "That is how the Hylian Champion is chosen a swordsman tournament among all the Hylian boys, there are rumors of our soldiers training whoever the winner is."she had asserted. "Huh-Huh a sword performance, seems tame no vanquishing monsters, there is a distinct lack of collecting sacred flames, the vessel has no hand in the pick, it all relies on the Sword. I will have to teach my little warrior ant the art of sword play. With a metallic ring a shiny scimitar with a red gem materializes out of thin air. The next hour had been spent in rigorous exercises with little comments from the sentient blade. "Keep it balanced, worm! you are an extension of the blade it guides you simpleton! Occasionally the scimitar would shudder and pull her arm into the proper form. Many lessons later she was shocked at how much she had improved the scimitar never, intervened her form was perfect it was rather frightening it was not a natural way to improve none of the other races could have taught her so much in so little time. The Sword never grew tired it rarely noticed her exhaustion as a result, it had no concept of fatigue, it did understand wear and damage though when she was hurt it gave her a break. It was not pity just practicality. She was at the Bazar now she was not worried about finding Vestus if previous experience indicated anything it was that he would find her. Her prognostication was an astute one the purple Rito landed next to her with a self-satisfied air. He no longer tried acrobatics he was finally comfortable around Lorrue. It was true he had been terrified of her but, that was during their first encounter. The archaeologist was much warmer lately and he felt she did care for him. There was still something about the woman he could not decipher their interactions had been infrequent lately, his Champion duties had been frantic, and she seemed more frazzled as well. There was one other thing he had noticed she was more fit than before, "However you are training for your next race keep doing it is working for you." She chuckled of course he would notice her more toned arms and legs as a professional athlete his assumption was understandable. "Tell me how Dragon's Rest is doing?" He did they browsed without the intention of buying anything, she was one of the few he could share his dreams for the town with he thought that was why their relationship worked. Her love of the past stemmed from their mutual love of things that lasted he wanted to make a lasting monument and she wanted to appreciate everything that survived the passage of time. The two reconnected though Vestus still felt her keeping a part of herself hidden no matter she would tell him, eventually. Right? Vestus ended the night by flying her home the first time he had done so.

Author's note 2

Next time we will at least explain Stephano's visit and pick up Dorado's attempt to explore the death trap that is the Forgotten temple if short we may cover something else as well. I finally have a general outline sorted out again after the Ghirahim introduction changed my plans slightly. Thank you for any new support and all continued support everyone and a belated Happy New Year.

Sincerely, 4Coyote