They knew they were approaching the Eldin Port when they could smell water. It cleared the dust that had gathered in their lungs from the stay in Kakariko.

"It smells like home," remarked Athol. "Do you smell it? Like being on the shores of the Tetran Lake."

"That's not your Tetran Lake," Zelda said. "It's the Merk River. And once we get close enough, you'll be able to smell the stink."

She was right. The Hillwind children were taken aback by the polluted stench of the river. The dusty sand they were walking on turned into concrete as they approached the port. Wet lapping sounds splashed against the concrete docks, and when Link craned his neck, he could see the brownness of the water. He grimaced.

There were several docks, divided up into three sections. The sections were indicated by signs that read "Exports," "Rentals," and "Private." Some boats had already taken off, and some were just coming in, filled with crates and barrels. Similar crates and barrels littered the docks near the export stations, and burly men who were probably Sarian were hauling them into wagons or opening them to check the contents.

Link could faintly see across the Merk, where dark trees marked the Island of Dinn. The entire island seemed clouded by shadow. Shuddering, he made eye contact with Zelda, silently asking the plan.

"This way," she ordered, making her way toward the export docks. Once she had found a ferry that hadn't yet taken off, she handed the supply bag to Link. "Wait here with her."

As Zelda approached one of the men loading crates onto the ferry, Link inspected a few of them. They were labelled crudely, but he could make out the word "Hillwind" on all of them. Some of them read "Textiles" or "Medicine" or "Oil: Keep away from flame." The barrels, he guessed, were filled with Tetran water, and were en route to Kakariko.

"Is this all going to Hillwind?" asked Athol.

"Looks like it," Link replied. "That ferry coming in probably has our exports." He pointed into the distance at a boat headed for the port, coming from the direction of Hillwind. "Probably filled with produce that Jørn and I harvested a few days ago. And bread that Moira baked. And goat milk soap. And maple syrup."

Athol smiled. "Maybe by the time we get Daegal home, we'll have fresh spices and sugar and honey."

Link heard Zelda thank the ferryman. She returned to them with a pleased look on her face.

"Is this the ferry we're taking?" Athol asked. Not waiting for an answer, she boarded. Neither Link nor Zelda followed.

"Athol, I'm sorry," said Link. "I can't have you come to the island with me."

Athol scoffed and stood her ground. "I've already come this far and nothing's happened to me. Come on, get on the boat."

"That's not our boat," said Zelda, turning and leaving them to it.

"That's an export ferry," explained Link. "It's going back to Hillwind."

"What, you're sending me back? Because I'm in the way? Now that you've got your princess, I'm just in the way?"

For a second, Link could see the enraged golden tint light up her eyes, the way Daegal's looked in the sun. He missed him then, and looked forlornly at his sister's face. He had never seen hatred portrayed in Daegal's features so prominently as he did in Athol.

"Do you realize how selfish you're being?" she exclaimed, on the verge of a scream.

"It'll be easier if I do it-"

"Don't you dare!" growled Athol. "Daegal is depending on the both of us!"

"I love him more than I can say, more than I can even process. I'll bring him home, Athol. I'll do it!"

Athol's face crumpled. "You'd better!" she cried. "You'd goddamn better. If you don't, I'll kill you!"

She was trying so hard to make her eyes look hateful, and less worried than she felt, but it wasn't working. Link could see incredibly clearly the pain and concern that was whirling around in her head. Her face was less angry than sad, and her tears were definitely not of rage. The worry she felt for Daegal made her look sick. It was overwhelming her. Link knew with a sinking feeling that she couldn't possibly continue with them.

The gangplank was risen up on two mighty chains, until Athol was trapped. She rushed to the edge of the ferry, determined to glare daggers and fire at him until they slipped out of sight, but she was aware that the tears staining her face gave her the appearance of a helpless child. She couldn't make him change his mind, not now that the ferry was leaving the dock and setting off on its course towards her home.

Link saw her leave the railing. He didn't want to watch them become a dot on the horizon, so he turned his back and rejoined Zelda, who had kept herself quiet and invisible.

"That's done," she said when he lumbered guiltily to her side.

"Nope," he replied. "She'll have it in for me when I get back."

Link sighed and ran a hand through his unwashed hair. "But I had to," he convinced himself.

"I assure you, this will make things easier. As brave as Athol is, having her around would have made for a long and painful journey."

"I will bring him back," Link vowed. "I promised her. If I don't do that at least. . ." he trailed off and shook his head. "I will."

Zelda nodded. "Are you okay to start off right now?" she asked.

"Yeah. We should have enough food and water now that Athol's on the boat, for the ride there and back. We can stop at the provinces again once we've got Daegal with us, but not Kakariko. It would probably scare him. We'll get some more supplies and head back to Hillwind, all of us."

Zelda raised her eyebrows.

"Well, you can't go back home, can you?

"No," she said. "You're right about that."

She looked over Link's shoulder at the disappearing shape of the ferry. "Looks like it's just you and me," she told him with a smile. "We should find Daegal now. I'd very much like to meet him."

"About Daegal," Link began as they set off for the rental docks. "He's not very good with conversation. He can talk, it's just that he doesn't like to. It makes him nervous. And he'll never look you in the eye. And when he's scared, he tends to pull away, or start to panic. If that happens, just remain calm, and let me handle it."

"What's wrong with him?" Zelda asked, not very sensitively.

"Nothing's wrong," he replied in a slightly defensive tone. "He's just different. His mother was really sick just before he was born, so she was taking all sorts of medicines that she wasn't used to—"

"So it's a birth defect?"

Link stared at her.

"His mental disability, it's a birth defect?"

"I guess so. I mean yeah, it is. We just usually don't talk about it. It's just the way Daegal is. And everyone's fine with it. Because we're all used to it. I had wanted to let you know, because you're probably not used to it. And he doesn't like strangers. But he's really a great person. He's my best friend. And I can't lose him."

They approached the rental docks, where they found a stout man who looked like he didn't want to be there. He barely acknowledged their arrival, since his nose was buried in a stack of papers.

"Sir," said Zelda, trying to get his attention. At first, he didn't respond. "Sir."

"What?" he grumbled.

"We're interested in renting a boat, if that's okay with you."

The ferryman snorted, looked her up and down, then fixed his gaze upon Link.

"Why do a couple of kids like you wanna get on a ferry so badly?" the ferryman asked, eyeing Link's sheathed dagger.

Zelda assumed her royal stance, standing up to the burly but short man, badly in need of a shave, with a bewildered expression on his face. For extra authority, she placed a hand on her own small knife.

"I doubt that's really any of your business," she said with a smile.

"Actually it is," he replied with a grunt. "Ferries are my business."

"It's a good thing we can pay you," said Zelda. She removed her hand from her knife long enough for the ferryman to relax. Zelda dug into her bag for the money. "There you go, sir. Now, a boat, if you please."

The ferryman confoundedly took the rupees she offered. "Enjoy your trip," he said, moving aside so they could access the boat that was tied to the dock.

They climbed in, and Zelda untied the boat as Link set the supplies down.

"It's not a long ride," Zelda promised. "You can see the island just across from the river."

Link nodded. He felt a mixture of fear and relief. He was so close to Daegal, and yet he had no idea what to expect on the Island of Dinn.

Zelda pushed off from the dock, and the boat bobbed along in the water.