The Legend of Midna: Clockwork Darkness
Chapter Seven
"We need to find Telma's bar," said Eoghan. They had tried to wake the council members, but try as they might, their efforts were in vain.
"You you even know where it is?" said Siobhán. "I've heard Dad mention it but I don't think he's ever actually said where it is."
"It's here in Castle Town," he said matter-of-factly.
"How do you know that?"
"I've been there before," he said. Siobhán looked abashed. "Course, Dad didn't know it. I was in his shadow the whole time."
"You…how long have you been able to do that?" Although she was already fourteen, Siobhán still hadn't managed to master the shadowjump technique.
"Since we were ten," he said with a smirk. "Anyhow, that's not important. What is important is that we get to her bar. There's bound to be someone there that can help us."
They set off through Castle Town towards Telma's bar, Eoghan leading the way. As they twisted and turned through the city, Siobhán couldn't help but wonder what they'd gotten themselves into. After a few minutes they reached the side street that led to the bar.
"Down here," said Eoghan. They went down a set of steps and found themselves in front of the door.
"Are you sure about this?" Siobhán said hesitantly. "I'm not sure that a bar is the best place for us to be."
"Of course I'm sure," he said. "Now do you want to save Mom and Dad or not?" Reluctantly Siobhán allowed her twin to open the door, and followed him inside.
"What are you kids doing here?" shouted the landlady. She was a swarthy woman, with flaming red hair and olive complexion along with an ample bosom, and had the overall appearance of Gerudo descent. She wore three jewels under each eye, which did a wonderful job of hiding the wrinkles that were starting to appear from age. "This is a bar! This is no place for kids!"
"Sorry, Telma, but we didn't know where else to go," said Eoghan. Of the two of them, he was much more comfortable with dealing with people.
"Alright, I'll bite," said Telma. "How do you know my name?"
"I've been here before."
"Oh, yes, very likely," she scoffed. "Son, if you'd have been here before…for one thing, you'd have been kicked out. Second of all, I'd have remembered you. You look just like a boy I used to know. A fine swordsman he was, and handsome, too. Mmmmm…and he was brave, too. Braver than any of the poor excuses for soldiers what hung around here back then. Link was his name, and you look just like him, save for that red hair of yours."
"Well, he's my dad."
"No kidding?" Telma looked shocked, but not too surprised either. "Well, that does make sense, considering how much you look alike. And who is this?" She nodded towards Siobhán.
"That's my sister Siobhán," he said. "We're twins."
"Yeah, you look about the same age," said Telma. "Well, if you're Link's kids, I suppose it's alright for you to come in. Just don't expect to get anything with alcohol in it. You may be royal kids, but you're still kids, and I don't make exceptions."
"That's fine," said Eoghan. "We were actually hoping you could help us."
"Help you?" Telma sized him up. "Help you how?"
"I remember Dad saying how there was a group of adventurers that meets here. I thought maybe you could direct us to them."
"Well, kid," she said, pouring herself a rack of gin, "if you want the group that was here when he came around, you're out of luck." She took a drink. "Rusl is in retirement, Auru is dead, Ashei has gone off adventuring outside of Hyrule, and no one knows what happened to Shad. He just disappeared one day."
"So there's no one left?" Siobhán looked dismayed. "Great. Well, so much for that plan."
"Well," said Telma, "I wouldn't say 'no one'. Rusl's boy comes by sometimes."
"Colin?" Eoghan looked up.
"That's the one," said Telma. "He's been coming to Castle Town for sword training."
"Yeah, well, he wouldn't help us if we asked," said Siobhán dismally. "He hates the Twilight Realm and everyone in it."
"Why do you think that?" asked Eoghan.
"I heard Mom talking about it with Dad."
"Well," said Telma, "there is someone else."
"Who?" the twins said in unison.
"Me," said a voice from somewhere behind them. They turned around to find a pale, thin girl of about fifteen years, with chin length platinum blonde hair. She wore a tunic of spring green that came to just above the knee with light blue embroidery on the hem, wrist, and collar. Her most striking feature was her red eyes.
"So you're Link's kids, huh?" she said. "I can believe it from you," she said gesturing to Eoghan, "but you," she said to Siobhán, "I'll have to take on faith."
"Sorry, but who are you?" Siobhán gave her a distrustful look.
"The name's Cailin," she said, "but all my friends call me Cal."
"Well, maybe you can help us," said Eoghan eagerly. "See, our parents and Zelda are in trouble, but we don't think we can save them on our own."
"Hmmm," Cal thought about it for a moment. "Well, your parents helped me so much before, I think I owe it to them. Sure, count me in."
"Well there you go," said Telma. "You've got some help now."
"See," said Eoghan, "I told you we could find help here."
"Well, we'll see." Something about Cal just didn't settle well with Siobhán, although she couldn't put her finger on what.
"So when do we get started?" Cal said, clapping her hands together.
"Now!" Eoghan exclaimed. "Come on, there's no time to lose!"
"Alright, men," said Igos du Ikana, "Lord Zagros said we would find a field just like the one in Termina. That is where we must go."
Through the forest went the ranks of undead soldiers led by their king. Up ahead was a building, with a fire pit just outside, complete with a pot over the pit. The king of Ikana strode over and bashed in the door to find a small man with an afro cowering in the corner.
"Take whatever you want!" he cried. "Just…just don't kill me!"
"I am not here to kill you," said the undead king. "All I need is for you to tell me the way to Hyrule field. Tell me what I wish to know and I will leave you in peace."
"Just…" stammered the terrified man, "just keep on the way you were and you'll find it. It's that easy."
"Excellent," said Ikana. "Very well, you have been useful." A man of his word, the Ikana troops continued on their way, sparing the man's life. Finally they came upon the field.
"Now," said Ikana, "we wait for the master's orders."