Chapter 6 -

Link awoke with a sword in hand and looked around, his eyes were slow to get used to the light. He was in small room; the space only fit the bed and a chest at the foot of the bed. To the right a door above his head a window. It was a small room that seemed to have been adapted from an old wardrobe into disuse. He looked at his left hand wielding the old chipped sword. He looked at the door and there was Anju with a smile when he wake up.

"Good morning mister Link. The breakfast is ready."

He sheathed his sword and smiled.

"Thank you Anju."

She smiled and put a set of clothes on the bed.

"Take a shower and change clothes in these, I'll clean your old."

Link shook his head.

"I cannot accept that Anju ..."

She silenced him by raising her hand for silence.

"Let's not turn this into a debate on the merits. If you wear that stinky muck and ragged shirt, will gross my clients away."

Link opened his mouth to argue, and then closed in a resigned smile.

"A loan, Anju. They are just a loan while you wash my clothes."

She nodded.

"It has a room down the hall with a tub. I separated a little hot water for you."

Anju left the room closing the door behind her. Link stood up and looked at the clothes on the bed. They were clear, made of cotton; the pants still close his own. He then looked at the door.

Anju looked like a too good to be true person. Or maybe he just was not used to this kind of kindness.

Rutel awoke; she felt her skin itching for sleeping in a dry bed, as Zora called the accommodation of non-aquatic races. She looked around, and chafed her room was vanishingly small. And worse yet, it was not actually hers.

Rutel was living in hostel Anju, by her good will. Rutel also worked to assert her livelihood. Her room had a window, a bed and only a chest at the foot of the bed where she kept all her belongings. More embarrassing still was the fact that all your belongings fit into one chest.

She had even gotten a mirror nailed to the wall, she sat up in bed and looked at herself, the mark of aggression from the previous day was beginning to fade, but at its heart a flame still seethed with indignation. If she ever saw him again she would make him repent for daring to touch her.

She stood for a moment staring at the mirror, remembering the light of the Hylian eyes that she had seen the night before, the young man with blue eyes. For all intents and purposes she had to admit to herself that he had helped and this eroded her inside. Having to rely on someone to defend herselve, having to rely on anyone for anything. It was a wound that never had healed on her ego. Having to wake up in that room that Anju had given her every day and know that her daily survival depended on the goodwill of Anju, that despite all her antics seemed to never end. Anju simply patiently taught all tasks that she could not perform.

She looked at her hands, her skin was stiff and began to create calluses, once was smooth and beautiful, free from imperfections. She traded in her simple clothes and headed to the kitchen, it was morning and she had to take quick breakfast before starting the day's tasks. She walked through the door, a large table where some of the other employees came to eat in the morning gathered; Anju saw her approaching and smiled.

"Good morning Rutel."

Rutel nodded.

"Good morning Anju."

Anju then brought up a fish stew. Rutel not crooked nose with much effort, not because she was eating fish, fish was the staple diet of any zora and Rutel knew Anju woke up particularly early just to prepare her what she could with the fish left over from other meals.

Rutel crooked her nose because those meals were far below what she was accustomed. Even reef fish wrapped her stomach. Rutel kept silent because she thought it was the least education. Anju cooking was good enough for a standard plebeian taste; Rutel tastes were very keen for the environment in which she found himself.

Rutel got a fright when Anju's hand touched her face with a worried expression, those purple eyes so preoccupied, Rutel could not stand that kindness. She brushed her hands gently while snorted.

"I am okay! No need to worry Anju."

Anju walked away with a simple smile, part of Rutel found it difficult to excuse herself for her actions to someone who was so gentle with her.

She began to eat the stew; having the impression that now it had a particularly bitter taste. Anju came back with a box and sat beside Rutel who pretended not to notice her. Anju then picked up a round box the herbal smell invaded the kitchen while Anju applied the ointment on Rutels face who cringed in pain. The ointment brought a feeling of numbness and cold.

Anju said nothing as she applied the ointment. Passing the ointment in gentle circular motions.

She ended up keeping the box and saying with a smile.

"Now it's going to be okay."

Her eyes then focused to her behind.

"How is the breakfast Link?"

Rutel turned her face and wondered who it could be. Her eyes widened in disbelief, a young Hylian sitting next to her, his clothes pale cotton highlighted his blue eyes like the sky, and his long-sleeved blouse was filled with blue accents, a red belt at the time of the abdomen. His rebellious blonde hair resembled the color of wheat; his ears were pointy at the end. He smiled at Anju trough Rutel.

"It's great Anju. Thank you."

The two blue eyes then turned to Rutel. She acknowledged the previous night, the man who had helped her, seemed a filthy wolf, but now he looked like a young man who made her heart beating hard.

She stood up violently pounding on the table, dishes and silverware jumped while people at the table were frightened, Link grabbed a cup that looked ready to fall.

Rutel stuttered words.

"I h-have so much to do! T-Tasks!"

And marched through the kitchen away. Link raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"She looks pretty ... intense."

Anju smiled looking at the kitchen door where Rutel had left.

"You learn to love."

She then stood up carrying the box.

"So see you in the evening Link."

He nodded and stood up. There was much to do and the day would not wait for anyone.

Raurur sat on a bench in one of the many town squares, the sun already marked noon, he looked up and smoothed his mustaches contemplating the blue sky day. By his calculations he should have gotten there already. When Link came down the street his mind was elsewhere. He didn't seem to be having a very productive day in Raurur opinion. Link passed him without noticing his presence, the old man smiled, shaking his head. It was part of the youth detach all its forces in disconnected directions. Though he had to admit that Link was much more presentable than the day before.

"Good afternoon, Link."

Link stopped abruptly when he saw Raurur and addressed him.

"Good afternoon Raurur."

Raurur smiled nodding.

"What you do in these parts?"

Link looked around.

"I'm looking for one thing. I was robbed when I arrived in the city from the castle town."

Raurur folded his hands.

"I understand something valuable?"

Link opened his mouth to say something, he just smiled and said.

"Important."

Raurur thought, there was that smile again. Raurur then took a deep breath.

"Well why do not you tell me what it is and I'll see what I can do for you?"

Link raised an eyebrow.

"Why would you help me?"

Raurur smiled.

"Well let's be honest Link?

"Link's eyes squeezed.

"What do you mean?"

Raurur stood up and started walking Link began to follow.

"I have not met you by chance Link. I was called to do this."

Link shook his head as he watched Raurur.

"Back there I bumped into you ..."

Raurur then interrupted with a smile.

"Oh yes and gave me back my pouches that I 'lost'. It was a good test of character, if I may say so. Not the most original I've ever done, but effective as well."

Link raised an eyebrow as he stood in the street; Raurur stopped and turned to him smiling. Link frowned.

"Why?"

Raurur nodded.

"It seems a fair question."

He then pointed to a bench in the street, Link followed and the two sat down.

"Well I had to be sure to find if it was in fact a good idea. Or better yet, that you were not a security risk."

Link processed information with suspicion.

"Safe from whom?"

Raurur smiled and pointed to his head, Links eyes followed until they have fallen on the castle of Hyrule, he then opened his eyes.

"The Royal family? Wy would I be a threat to the royal family ?!"

Raurur then looked at Link.

"Well because our princess wants to meet you Link."

Link immediately shocked his head.

"I have no intention of meeting the royal family."

Raurur raised an eyebrow.

"Usually a young would be highly enthusiastic with the idea of meeting the princess of Hyrule."

Link sighed looking at the castle.

"But I do not."

Raurur stroked his eyebrows.

"Anyway, she wants to meet you.

"Links scratched his head.

"That makes no sense. How she know me?"

Raurur then exclaimed.

"Good question! She actually gave me a picture of you and spoke about you as the 'Wanderer'. It seems she does not know your real name."

Link then narrowed his eyes.

"But she knew I was coming?"

Raurur nodded.

"So to say. Yes. As she could not go looking for you, she came to my person to locate you."

Link then got up beating his pants.

"Well I do not intend to meet the princess, you can tell her that."

Link walked away when Raurur he asked.

"How has your search gone?"

Link stopped on the tracks and turned slowly to Raurur.

"Stolen good in the city can be lost forever. Unless you are quickly located them."

Raurur stood up walked towards Link with a broad smile on his face.

"And I must say that I am particularly good at that part. Finding things."

Raurur noted Link hesitating for a moment, whatever it was that he had lost, was worth much to him. Link then replied.

"Well, and in return I must have an audience with the princess?"

Raurur nodded, Link leaned both hands on the bench and nodded.

"Very well, we have an agreement."

Raurur smiled as he shook Link's hand. Link nervously looked to Hyrule Castle.

What had the goddesses booked him?