Author's note:
Natasha is a pig. Andrew hides his lunch from Daniel the Barf-Monster.
Chapter 18: Going forward
"We break in!" Tetra suddenly announced, dropping her spoon into her bowl.
"So, how do we break in?" Link asked, after he swallowed a spoonful of fish soup.
The group was eating lunch on the ship. Quill had decided to help out in the kitchen while the others were gone, and it seemed his work paid off- everybody was asking for second servings of his stew. Natasha held out her bowl to Quill.
"We have to think about it logically. If Andrew really does have two brothers, then this would mean that two brothers would always stay at home while one goes out, because if they were all out at the same time, it could stir up trouble... thanks dad," Natasha added as she took her third serving from Quill, and he nodded. "Anyway, I don't think we should break into the house. We have to find some other way to get information."
"You know what? You're right," Aryll spoke up. "If we just barge in, we'll probably get a big dose of offensive magic or something." The others nodded.
"So... how do we find out more?" Aryll continued, and the room fell silent, a strong feeling of deep thought hanging over everybody.
"What if you studied the tale of the three heroes?" Quill suggested as he sat next to Link. "If the events that are happening now seem to be linked to the legend somehow, why not study it and predict what will happen next?"
"Great idea!" Link exclaimed. "Let's ask Martha if she can tell it to us, and maybe write it down too."
"Okay then- let's find her!"
Ten minutes later, Link, Aryll, and Tetra were in the town square, when they spotted her by the fountain.
"H-hey! Mayor!" Aryll called out, and Link waved. Martha looked up from where she had been staring and the water, and waved back. She then walked toward the group.
"Can I help you with anything?" she asked with a smile, and Tetra stepped up.
"Can- I mean, may you tell us the legend of the three heroes?"
"Actually, I don't know it," she confessed. The three groaned, but she held up her hand to make them stop. "There is a library near here. They may have the original legend there- since, over the years, after being told so many times, it has changed..."
The group was already running toward a large building before Martha had even finished her sentence.
"Thank you!" Link yelled.
"No problem!" she called back.
There was a large crowd in front of the library. The group pushed their way though to find a small group of important-looking men searching the interior of the building.
"Excuse me- what happened here?" Link asked as he eyed the mess of papers and books scattered across the floor. A man -who was just a little taller than Tetra- turned around and nodded.
"I am an investigator. My employees and I are here investigating a scene here."
"I can see that," Tetra said grumpily, but the investigator took no notice.
"Yesterday, there was a very important record stolen from this library."
"What was the record?"
"The legend of the three heroes."
They gasped. How could this happen in their time of need?
"Any evidence found?" Aryll asked hopefully as they were about to leave. The man thought for a moment.
"In fact... yes." Then he shook his head. "If you're thinking about catching the crook, I'd recommend you don't. He might be dangerous."
"But can we see it?"
"No, I'm afraid not."
"Why not?" Link asked.
"Can't say." At this line, Tetra suddenly stepped forward and grabbed onto the man's collar, and yanked him close to her.
"We need to see the record because the world is at stake," she said in a very low and quiet voice, while still holding onto the shirt, and the man looked very frightened. "Just show us the evidence, and I will let you go unharmed." She put her hand on her knife.
He tentatively pulled a piece of worn paper out from his pocket, and handed it to Link.
"A picture of the library, and under that, an old book," Link read out loud. "That's what the paper shows." Tetra let go of the man's shirt, and he stumbled back, rubbing his neck.
"It was found on the reading table over there," he said hoarsely, and pointed at an upset table in the corner.
"I wonder what it could mean?" Aryll thought out loud, and she and Tetra fell silent in thought. Link looked around the room in search of an idea, when he saw a book lying on an empty shelf. Curious to see what it was- as he was already getting bored with the library- he picked it up and looked at the cover.
The cover showed a picture of a cave that looked like it was carved out from a large cliff. On the cover were the words...
"FISHER'S COVE"
"What if there is cave around the back of the island? Maybe the thief's lair is there," Link suggested.
"Like Jabun's around the back of Outset?" Tetra asked, and Link nodded.
"Yeah."
"How the heck are we gonna get back there?"
"Ride on the King of Red Lions?"
"I guess so."
The group ran out to the dock. The King of Red Lions was waiting there, and looked up eagerly when he head their footsteps.
"May I help you?" he asked, and Link (who was out of breath) nodded.
"We think there's this cave 'round the back of Fisher's Cove, and were wondering if you could take us there," Aryll explained, and the dragon head nodded.
"I'll be willing to help."
They hopped into the boat, and Link set up the sail. The wind filled the cloth and propelled the boat forward. Link made a couple of adjustments, and they started cruising around the island. A few seagulls flew overhead as they sailed.
After a few minutes, they reached a cave that was carved out of the side of the island. They climbed up on the bank, and examined the area.
"Look! Footprints!" Tetra exclaimed, and pointed at the prints that were made in the fine sand. They led into the dark depths of the cave.
"King of Red Lions? We're going to explore now," Link said to the boat. "Would it be okay if you wait for us?"
"Yes."
"Thanks!"
The group walked into the cave and disappeared unto the darkness.
Andrew drew a deep breath and sighed in relief. So, Link and his companions had a rough idea of where he lived, but they didn't suspect that he lived in this cabin- or so he thought.
Mark took the bag from Andrew's hands and peeked into it.
"What'd you get?" He asked as he pulled out its contents. "Lunch?"
"Yes, I suppose you could say that. Is he still asleep?"
"I think so- he was stirring five minutes ago. He's got a serious case of the flu, I think; he's been out in cold weather for too long."
"I see."
"So... are we ready to leave?"
"Yes. The SHIPSEEKER is at the dock right now. The trip should only take about an hour."
"Ahh! That's a long time."
"Hey, if we took a regular fishers boat, it would take even longer," Andrew countered, and tapped his fingers a little on the desk. "The fishers boat doesn't have a good working sail. We'd have to propel ourselves forward by using a stick."
Daniel groaned, and opened his eyes.
"Good afternoon," Andrew said. In response, Daniel suddenly sat up and swung his legs off the bed. He put his hand up to his mouth.
"Uh oh, somebody's gotta upchuck!" Mark exclaimed, and immediately rushed to find a paper bag, as Andrew hid lunch behind a cushion on the couch.