Not much to say here. Major action is coming up in later chapters, though.
4
To Market. Aiding a Comrade. Hello Again.
Link woke up partially to the dawn and partially to Ashlyn's voice outside the door. ''Rise and shine! We're going out!''
He changed into his clothes and opened the door. She was standing about two feet away. ''Good morning.''
''Yes, it is morning,'' she said in an amused voice, poking fun at him.
They walked down the hallway, bypassed the main room and went into the dining room. Risbon wasn't there. They both ate a quick breakfast and left the room. They stood in the main room for a moment.
Risbon walked in from the magic room. ''Hey. Ashlyn, can you sell those swords we got yesterday? Take Link with you, too. Afterwards, just look for trouble. Intervene.''
''Sure, boss. Can we also sell some of those spears?''
''Oh, yes. I forgot about those.''
She walked into the armory and came back with three swords and several spears.
Lux came out of the magic room. ''Oh, do you need help with those?'' He waved his hand and some of the spears lifted.
''Thanks,'' Ashlyn said.
''Since you are going to the market, I will come too.''
The three of them went to the door and left the building.
After weaving through several alleyways, they came to the central square.
''You can find all sorts of things here, if you know where to look. There are some places here that deal in smuggled and stolen stuff. Which is good for us, since we can't sell these weapons normally,'' Ashlyn explained.
''It would not do to be caught, certainly,'' Lux said.
''I'm going to sell this stuff. Be right back,'' Ashlyn said and walked off.
''I don't know if it's a good idea for her to be doing that alone,'' Link said.
''Ah, she will be fine. If anything, she will be the one beating up any soldiers who come around,'' Lux said, unconcerned.
''Probably,'' Link agreed. Although that would not stop him from being concerned for her safety. It was just the way he was brought up.
Lux started fiddling with his robes absentmindedly.
''By the way, your robes look expensive. Are you a noble? And I apologize if I'm prying,'' Link asked.
''No, it is fine. And no, I am not a noble. Glurak bought me these.''
''That was nice of him.''
''Truthfully, at first I did not want him to get me something so fancy but he insisted as my friend. And, well, it certainly did not put him behind money wise,'' Lux said.
''Do his parents know that he is in the Resistance?'' Link asked.
''No, I do not think so. I mean, he goes to his home and comes back out with more money for all of us, so I assume he is still in good standing with his family. Otherwise they might have placed guards to keep him out.''
''Either that or they're secretly Resistance supporters,'' Link commented quietly.
''Or that. Though I really do not know. While some of the nobles do support us, most side with the Princess out of loyalty or fear.''
Ashlyn came back, smiling. She must have made a tidy profit selling the weapons.
''Well, that's done. Now, let's go see if there are any soldiers harrassing people,'' she said.
Indeed, after walking down the street west of the square, they did find soldiers. Said soldiers were fighting a young man with dark hair. It wasn't a fair fight, six against one. The soldiers were close to cornering the man.
''That's Johann! He's one of us. We can't let him get caught,'' Ashlyn said.
She drew her sword and walked forward. Link drew his sword and did the same.
''Hey! Let's even the odds!'' Ashlyn shouted to the soldiers angrily.
Annoyed, five soldiers broke away and came forward. ''You're getting in the way of the law!'' one said.
''More rebels.''
''Hmm. A boy and a novice mage. Hahaha!''
They charged, two going for Ashlyn while two went for Link, the last going for Lux.
Link parried the first strike, quickly turning to meet the second soldier's blow. When they both swung, he ducked and moved out from underneath the blades.
Ashlyn swung high, blocking a downward blow. She then moved to the side, dodging the other soldier. She was able to take on two men by herself.
Lux simply waved his hand and the soldier he was fighting was slammed into the side of a building by an unseen force. ''Novice mage indeed!'' he said, irritated. The soldier stood up and charged him. Lux sighed and moved out of the way.
With the odds better, Johann disarmed his opponent. They started to fistfight.
Link parried another slash and moved, swinging his sword. Though his strike was blocked, Link turned immmediately and engaged the second soldier, who was ready to swing.
Ashlyn had been doing fine until the second soldier decided to fight cheaply. While she was blocking the first soldier's sword, he tripped her and then shoved her into the wall.
Link noticed and went to help, but the two men he was fighting had other ideas. They both swung, forcing him to move out of the way to avoid being disarmed.
The soldier prepared to disarm Ashlyn and apprehend her. Lux quickly flicked his wrist. The soldier's sword froze and lifted out of his hand. Lux waved his hand and the sword went flying into the opposite wall across the street.
Ashlyn smirked and moved before either man could grab her. She kicked the swordless soldier and swung her sword at the other, disarming him with the brute force of her swing.
Lux slammed his opponent into the wall again. Link disarmed one soldier and then quickly did the same to the second. Lux magically flung them onto the street.
The three of them surveyed the soldiers, who stood up from the ground and started to walk off. Johann had won his fight, although his nose was bleeding and he had a bruise on his face.
''Thanks for the backup. I was so close to being arrested,'' he said.
''No problem, friend,'' Lux said.
''Well, I'll be getting back to my safe house,'' Johann said. He gave them all a salute and walked off.
Link and Ashlyn picked up the soldiers' swords from the street.
''That was some fight,'' Lux commented.
''Uh huh. Those cowards. What a bunch of arseholes,'' Ashlyn growled.
Link gave her a surprised look, not expecting her to swear. But then again, he reflected, she wasn't an ordinary girl.
''Well, I am going back to headquarters. Be careful,'' Lux said.
''Hey... Thanks for preventing them from disarming me,'' Ashlyn called as he left. He gave her a salute.
''What do we do now?'' Link asked.
''Let's go to the main street near the city gate.''
They walked back to the square and then down to the main street. At the city gates, soldiers were, as usual, stationed. They were rumaging through a horse-drawn cart. A redheaded girl was standing by the cart, protesting.
Link knew where he had seen that girl. It was the rancher's daughter. He tensed.
''Hey, what's wrong?'' Ashlyn asked. Link pointed. ''Oh, that girl's from Lon Lon Ranch. Those soldiers, they're even bothering her now?'' She sounded furious.
They both walked up. ''What are you doing?'' Link demanded.
The soldiers looked surprised. ''Oh, sorry. We have orders to search supply carts,'' one said.
''There's nothing here. I don't know why the ranchers would be doing anything illegal. I mean, really, this is ridiculous,'' the other reported.
They turned to Malon. ''Sorry about that. You're cleared.''
She nodded. ''Thank you.'' She turned to Link. ''Hello! Nice to see you again.''
''Hello, Malon. How is your father?'' Link asked.
''Oh, he's doing great. How's Epona? Are you staying in Castle Town?''
''Very good. She's a wonderful horse. And yes, I am staying here.''
Malon smiled. ''Good, I'm glad.''
''What are you doing here?'' Link asked curiously.
''I have to deliver milk to the castle,'' Malon replied with a shudder. She glanced around, before adding quietly, ''We've heard what's been going on. The Princess...she isn't like she used to be...''
Link nodded. ''Would you like me to escort you, then?'' he asked.
''No, thank you. I get an escort from the guards,'' Malon replied.
As if on cue, several soldiers appeared and flanked Malon's cart. ''Are you ready, miss?'' the lead one asked politely.
She nodded. ''Yes, sir.''
''Right then. To the castle!'' the head soldier said to the others. They walked off, the soldiers escorting her.
Link turned to Ashlyn. ''I hope she's all right.''
''I think she'll be fine. She's been delivering milk to the castle for a week now. She's used to the escort, which is to make sure the stuff gets to Hyrule Castle.''
''Oh.''
''You know that most of the soldiers aren't bad, right? They're just following orders. Some of them don't like what the Princess has been doing, but they either are afraid to desert or don't want to betray the Royal Family,'' Ashlyn pointed out.
''That's understandable,'' Link said.
''Oh yeah, you said your family was in service.''
''Yes. What about your family?''
''My family, eh? Well, we're not rich but we aren't poor either. Middle class. My mother is just a normal woman. My father is a soldier,'' Ashlyn said.
''Why did you want to become a swordswoman?'' Link was curious on why she was such a tough girl.
''I wanted to be like my father. My mother didn't want me to, but I asked father if I could become a warrior and he told me I could do what I put my mind to. He taught me how to fight.''
''Do they know that you're a Resistance member?'' Link asked.
''Yes. I'm pretty sure my father is appalled. I wonder how he reacted... My mother, well, I'm not sure. She won't turn me in but I don't know if she approves or disapproves. I go to the house sometimes when my father isn't home. She always tells me to leave before he comes.''
''Oh. I'm sorry if I was prying,'' Link said.
''Nah. I don't care. It's fine,'' she said. ''Come on, let's go back to the Amalgam.''
Link and Ashlyn returned to the headquarters building. Risbon was sitting on one of the couches. Yost was sitting in a chair.
''How did it go?'' Risbon asked.
''Good. We got into a big fight, helped out a comrade,'' Ashlyn replied.
''Yes, I heard you beat the daylights out of two soldiers. You too, Link,'' Risbon said.
''Uh...'' Link was still uncomfortable with fighting soldiers.
''We sure did. They had it coming,'' Ashlyn said.
''I bet. Oh, and can you two do another assignment?'' Risbon said.
''Of course, boss,'' Ashlyn replied.
Well, action scenes are fun, yes? I swear, I love Ashlyn's personality...hell, I love all of my characters. Lux is so bookwormy.