It was obvious the second he stepped into the palace, and Buliara would have had his head if it wasn't for the sword on the boy's back. A voe had snuck into Gerudo town and made his way to the chieftain? Buliara would have to have a lengthy conversation with her palace guards. She had faith in your subordinates, but if you want to have a job done right…
Link, for what it was worth, seemed apologetic and sheepish about the whole ordeal. Buliara supposed that it would have been hard for him to contact Chief Riju without entering Gerudo Town; the fact that he was a voe did not do him any favors. But Buliara did not become the chief's personal guard because of her sympathy for strangers, champion or not. Link was going to have to prove himself in order for her to turn a blind eye to his egregious violation of Gerudo law.
It was unfortunate to be certain that the champion chose to visit the desert at a time when the Gerudo were so weakened. The Yiga, curse their name, hadn't yet grown tired of their hit-and-run guerilla tactics by the highlands, and they even dared to send an operative in an attempt to steal the Thunder Helm from the chief herself. It was a successful attempt, as much as Buliara hated to acknowledge that fact. Organized crime to the north, a mechanical beast throwing a tantrum to the east, and an annoyingly quiet voe directly in front of her—Buliara wasn't having the best of days. She wasn't worried for her own sake, but she knew of the rumors and gossip that pervaded Gerudo Town. It wouldn't stand for the chief to be spoken poorly of for much longer. But what were her options?
Apparently, her only option was being shown up by this champion of a voe. It was a scandalous thought, but an idea that Buliara begrudgingly admitted was a smart one. They would have the Hylian retrieve the Thunder Helm and cripple the Yiga Clan. Riju portrayed the idea as a test and trial for the Hero: only after he demonstrated his skills would he be permitted to assist the chief in appeasing the unruly Vah Naboris. In reality, Link would be doing an incredible service to the Gerudo by dealing with two of their problems at once. Buliara thought that Link saw through the tough act, but he graciously played along regardless. They needed his help; they could all see that.
"We guards will give you some leeway in your moving about the Town, but don't be too obvious, voe," Buliara called out to Link as he was turning to leave.
He nodded back at her, predictably, and raised a fist to his chest—a sign of respect between warriors. Buliara grinned.
"Give them hell."
…
It was the missing prisoner that first put Salak on high alert. The Gerudo soldier, Barta, was gone from the stone holding cell and in her place was an unconscious, half-naked Sheikah, who had familiar tan pants and a tunic hastily draped over them. There was only one person Salak knew who wore those clothes. Link had infiltrated the Yiga Clan Hideout, and he was presently disguised as a clansman inside.
Salak has no idea what to do with this information.
"Status report!" barked a voice from deeper within the base.
"Nothing out of the ordinary!" Salak yelled back.
He hoped his voice wasn't audibly shaky. All he could do was buy some time for him to find Link and hope that no one else checked the lockup. All it would take was one curious blademaster for Salak to be put in some serious peril. It was a hefty risk, but it was the kind of risk a Yiga soldier was used to taking. Now, the next step would be brainstorming where the Hylian Champion would hide.
In a miraculous stroke of luck, Salak's first guess was right. He found Link in the rafters above the common room—the awkward looking Yiga footsoldier whose uniform didn't fit right couldn't have been anyone else. Carefully and quietly Salak took off his mask and made his way toward the boy. Link's hand shot to his hip for a weapon, but froze quickly when seeing Salak's face in the dim light, recognition and relief in his eyes.
"I thought I told you to quit." Link whispered, sliding off his own mask.
"You're in no position to lecture me."
There was a moment of tense silence. Salak thought he could hear his own beating heart—or perhaps it was Link's? The two were far from friends, but there was a small ounce of shared respect between them. Of course, neither wanted to raise the alarm and get caught fraternizing with the enemy. Eventually, Salak mustered the courage to speak up again.
"Pull up your hood; don't let anyone see your blond hair. Do you trust me?"
Link took another moment before slowly nodding.
What a fool, Salak thought. Never trust someone who tried to kill you. But it was Link's foolishness that allowed Salak's plan to work.
"Follow me and walk with confidence. I will get you to Master Kohga."
This time, Link's eyes hardened and his nod was fast. The two slipped on their masks and silently climbed down toward the rafters. Confidence. The gold accents on his uniform would allow Salak to get almost anywhere in the hideout. It was odd to be ranked so highly in an organization for which he held such ambivalence, but now was not the time for moral hand wringing. Salak had made his choice. He wanted to help the Hero that promised to help him.
It took only a couple of minutes to reach their destination. Salak and Link passed multiple Yiga along the way, but none dared to ask their superior where he was off to with his hooded companion. The only obstacle left was the blademaster guarding the passageway to the courtyard in which Kohga lay.
"Name your business here," the guard said sternly.
"I am escorting this informant to Master Kohga," Salak spoke, trying to keep his voice neutral.
"Informant?" The blademaster's voice oozed suspicion.
"Yes. This informant," Salak gestured to the disguised Link, "was positioned at Outskirt Stable and has crucial information regarding the Hero."
Silence followed, and Salak was sure that the blademaster's eyes were narrowing underneath his mask.
"I wouldn't want to tell Master Kohga that one of his guards was preventing me from carrying out a direct order," Salak threatened.
It was another big risk, but Salak remained lucky. The blademaster stepped aside.
"You may pass."
Salak placed a hand on Link's back and calmly led him through the doorway. Once they were in the clear, he let out a deep breath he didn't realize he was holding. Salak was not the praying type (growing up in a Goddess-hating cult would do that to you), but in that moment he wanted to thank the stars. He ripped off the now sweaty mask and jabbed a finger at Link's chest.
"We're even."
The words were sharp, but Salak said them with a smile.
…
"I had a feeling this was where you'd be."
The voice came from behind Salak. It was… some girl in Gerudo garb? No, it was Link!
"What are you wearing?"
"I had to get into Gerudo town somehow." Link uncovered his face and smiled cheekily.
As someone trained extensively in the art of disguise, Salak was thoroughly impressed. Fooling the Gerudo guards wasn't an trivial task. The pleasant mood however, quickly gave way to confusion and anxiety. Salak abandoned the Yiga when Link slew Kohga a couple days ago. Surely the Hero would move on to something more important than a former clansmen after appeasing the Divine Beast.
"Why are you here?" Salak blurted out.
"To say thanks." Link gave a short response. "And to fill some gaps."
What did that mean?
Link walked past Salak and stopped at a point on the edge of Kara Kara Bazaar. His body went stiff, his eyes unfocused, and Link stood perfectly still. It was the same routine Salak saw him do back at the Ancient Columns: walking straight into a trance. Like last time, Link snapped back to reality and returned to Salak's side.
"You don't know what you want to do," Link said.
It was like the boy was a mind reader, both in combat and in conversation. Salak shrugged his shoulders and pouted.
"You could move to Kakariko," Link offered.
"They would hate me. I was going to kill you."
"You were never a real threat to me."
Ouch. That stung a little, even if Link wasn't trying to be cruel. Everything the Hero said was blunter than a bokoblin's club.
"I'll think about it," Salak mumbled after a few seconds.
"Maybe I mention to Master Impa that I had a former Yiga help me take down the clan from the inside." Link raised an eyebrow, likely trying to gauge Salak's reaction.
"Maybe you do."
Salak knew that Link was trying to be nice, but couldn't the boy let him wallow for a little longer?
"It was nice to meet…" Link trailed off.
Oh yeah. Salak had never actually shared his name.
"Salak."
Link disappeared into the sky.