Chapter 7

The Tower

Link woke early the next day. His original clothes were cleaned and folded for him on the table next to his bed. He dressed and assembled his belongings, noticing his map had been marked. He assumed the characters referred to his current location, the Romani Ranch. He finished changing and headed downstairs.

Malon was sitting in the kitchen when Link walked in. Link took a seat at the kitchen table and joined her. "Morning," he mumbled.

"Did you sleep well?" Malon asked him.

"Yes," Link replied. "Where is Talon?" he asked.

"Oh, he'll be returning from his deliveries soon. Would you like some breakfast?" Malon offered.

Link nodded. "Thank you. Would you like help?"

"No, it's alright. Here you are," she said, putting a plate of berries and cut fruit in front of Link.

When they were done eating, Link went with Malon to the stables. The two of them did some chores for around half an hour before Talon returned. He greeted Link and went to take the two white horses to the back of the stable and tend to them. Link went over to Epona's stall. She was surprisingly somber. Link said his final goodbyes to her and the other horses before stepping outside to where Talon and Malon waited for him.

"Well Lad," Talon said, "You're sure about this?"

Link nodded. "I can't begin to thank you. I would have been left for dead out there, and your generosity has really saved me. Please tell me if there is anything I can do to repay you."

Talon gestured to Malon, and she disappeared into the stable. "We have a couple gifts for you Link."

"What? No I couldn't ask for anything else! Please do not burden yourself any further," Link said.

Talon waved him off. "No worry, boy. I guess you've already seen your map. I know you cannot read Hylian, so I indicated where you are now, which should give you a sense of direction out there. Also, please take this," he said, producing a small sack.

Link took it in his hands and looked at it, unsure.

"It's a wallet. With 100 rupees inside. That's the currency used throughout Hyrule. Should be enough to help you where others are not as generous." When Talon saw Link's skeptical look, he continued. "Please accept it. It would be cruel for us to send you out there without any form of cash. It's not a whole lot, if that makes you feel any better. I'm hoping it is enough to hold you over until you find an opportunity to make some money yourself."

Link bowed his head graciously. "You are too kind. I will not forget your kind deeds to me these past few days."

Malon returned from the stable with Alistair, saddled and ready to go. Link immediately felt he could not accept what was being presented to him. Malon handed Link the reigns and Talon continued.

"Alistair has been uneasy for quite some time now. He longs for his master. You however, bring out the best in him. I present him to you as both a gift for you, and for him. It would not be right for us to keep him here when there is a better place for him."

Link thought about it. "You are sure you can trust me with such a responsibility?"

"I've never been more sure in my life," Talon said. "I can understand why you are skeptical. Consider this our single request of you Link; Alistair's original master lives somewhere in Hyrule. We have no contact with her, she moves quite often. You are more likely to come across my daughter Cremia in your travels than Malon or I are. If you do manage to find her out of chance, please inform her of Alistair's whereabouts, and if the situation permits, return him to Cremia. If Cremia can still not take care of Alistair because of her living arrangements, then I am still happy knowing Alistair is with you."

Link nodded. "I understand. But I am unexperienced in how to feed and groom a horse. What makes you so sure I can take care of Alistair?"

It was Malon who answered. "You are natural Link. And so is Alistair. You will notice if something is wrong, and Alistair will know how to fix it. Also, use common sense. Allow him to drink every hour or so if you plan on covering large distances. A cool place to sleep with some hay is enough for him. He will likely help himself if he is hungry and…."

"Malon," her father said, "You are right. Link is well equipped to take care of Alistair. Will you please accept this task Link?"

"Of course," Link answered. "Again, thank you so much. I hope to return one day."

"I look forward to it," Talon said. "Do not rush yourself. There is a whole world out there for you to explore. Be safe." These were his final words to Link before "Goodbye." Link returned the farewell and began heading towards the gate, not sure if he was ready to approach the outside world once again.

"Link!"

Link turned around to see Malon running towards him. He lowered Alistair's reigns in time for Malon to jump between his arms and hug him tightly. Link relaxed and returned the embrace. It was a moment before he noticed Malon was crying softly. He was about to console her when Malon spoke.

"Thank you," she said. "Promise me you'll come back some day, ok? Don't forget about us over here."

"Of course," Link said, "I would never forget. But I don't think you need to thank me."

"Yes," Malon answered. "I do. Your visit was just what I needed. I know now that even though I am just a girl who spends her days working on a ranch, I can have an impact on this world."

"I don't understand," Link said. "How did you get that from me?"

"That's what I learned from watching you pursue and keep going, despite your misfortune," she explained, still in Link's arms. "You are capable of great things Link. I know it. And I'm excited for you." Malon backed up and looked Link in the eye. "Goodbye my friend. And good luck." Their gaze broke after a moment, and it was Malon who first turned away, heading back to the ranch at a brisk pace. Link and Alistair set foot outside the confines of the ranch and resumed their trek into Hyrule.

Link studied his map for a moment before mounting Alistair. To his left he saw the great stone structure in the distance. The first few minutes of riding were a little nerve-racking to Link. He was once again alone, but this time with the responsibility of looking after his new companion. After about 10 minutes, Link was feeling more at ease. They spent the duration of the day riding across the plains, heading in the direction of the great tower.

Link stopped to water and rest Alistair every half hour to 40 minutes at first, out of caution. It was not until his third break that he noticed Alistair did not need such frequent resting. When he decided to push a little longer before breaking this time, Alistair did not indicate any fatigue. In fact, he seemed full of energy.

After 2 straight hours of riding at a brisk gallop, Link could tell Alistair was growing tired. They pulled over at a shady area with a pond so Alistair could drink and Link could navigate. Judging by the position of the sun, there would be less than 2 hours of daylight left. The tower was still very far away, and Link estimated he'd gone a third of the distance since leaving the ranch.

Hoping to avoid traveling across the field after nightfall, Link looked for the best place to stop and rest. He had a pretty good idea of where he was, going by the drawings on his map. His math may not have perfect, but he could estimate how long it would take him to detour a few degrees south and reach shelter by night. This would still put him a day or two's ride from his goal, but he decided to go for it anyways.

When Alistair was ready to go, Link mounted and changed his course, his new destination coming into view after a half hour or so. From what he could see, it was a small town surrounded by a stone wall. Other than a couple taller buildings, the only thing that stood out above the wall was a tower constructed of wood and stone. This tower was quite minimal compared to the grand stone structure Link had been trying to reach. That would have to wait for another day.

After an hour and a half of riding, Link had arrived at the stone wall, and the sun was just setting. He had seen few people along the way, but all seemed uninterested in anything other than their own business. Link dismounted and approached the entrance where an armoured guard stood. As Link stepped onto the step that would lead inside, the guard lowered his spear and blocked Link.

"Woah there kid, can't you see the sign?" he asked, annoyed. He pointed up at a wooden banner above the doorway. "No horses or animals of similar size allowed within the confines of this town."

Link stepped back and kind of stuttered. "Uh… Oh sorry. I can't actually read," he said apologetically.

"Oh," the soldier realized. "No worries, lad. I guess then you don't know where the stables are here. Follow along the perimeter of the town," he said, pointing his spear to Link's right, "and keep walking until you see a small wooden shelter. There is a man who will look after your horse overnight if you pay his fee. There is another entrance to the town there as well."

Link thanked the guard and followed his directions along the wall a few minutes until he saw the stable the soldier had described. When he reached the entrance, the door was ajar so he carefully went in.

There were about 5 other horses in here, each in a spacious stall with plenty of hay and water. The vibe Link got from the horses was that they were very comfortable here. A moment later, a skinny man walked in.

"A fine steed you have there. I take it you are interested in my services?" The man said, admiring Alistair. Link felt comfortable with trusting this man for the night because of the other horses' content.

"Yes," Link replied, "But I am new to these parts, so I am a little unfamiliar with your customs."

"Ah it's quite simple really," the man answered Link. "My fee is 10 rupees a night. That includes being fed one main meal, and allowing them to graze if desired, a half hour of exercise I will oversee at dawn, to ensure they get their proper simulation without them wandering off, as well as the sleeping accommodations you see here, with an area for their dropping so they can relax in a clean environment. However, I have a 30 rupee safety deposit. In case you would try to abandon the poor creature. When you return for him tomorrow by noon, you can choose to have your 30 rupees and your horse back, or you can renew and have him stay another night. But for now, I will need 40 rupees from you."

Not seeing any other choice, Link agreed to spend nearly half of his funds. The man accepted the payment and stuck out his hand.

"Thanks lad," he said, waiting for Link's handshake. "I promise he will be in good care with me. And the deposit is only a safety measure. It's not like I don't trust you. What is his name?"

"Alistair," Link said, returning the man's handshake.

"Indeed," the man acknowledged. "Well, enjoy your stay in Clock Town. I will soon be closing my doors for the night."

"Thank you," Link said, exiting the hut.

Link proceeded to enter the town. Upon entering, he was impressed with the layout. The entire town appeared to be on wooden boardwalk, or at least what he could see. Most of the buildings were made of stone, some wood, and many seemed to have a square shape with a flat roof. Towards the middle was the tower he had seen, which Link could now see was a large clock tower. Now he remembered the stable master had called this place Clock Town.

There was still a little bit of daylight left, and people still seemed out and about. Not sure how to approach anyone, Link spent some time exploring the small town. When he finally worked up the confidence to talk to someone, he decided to try entering a building. The building he found was clearly a public building, with signs and banners all over it, so it was definitely not some one's house.

When he opened the wooden door, he entered a dimly lit corridor. He followed it down a set of stairs to a small lobby area. A man stood behind a long table, tending to a half dozen or so customers who sat on stools on the other side. Most of the men sitting had a beverage with them.

"Hey!" the man behind the bench said, "How old are you?"

When Link realized he was being addressed, he snapped out of his dazed observation and thought about the question. "Uhm… 16 I guess," not sure if this was a custom here.

"Well you can't be here. I won't serve to a minor," the man said, implying Link should leave.

"I don't understand… I'm from out of town so I'm not familiar with customs here," Link explained.

"And in your culture is it ok for you to just walk into a bar?" the man asked, annoyed.

"A bar?" Link wondered aloud. After thinking about it for a moment, he remembered hearing about a popular substance that was never shared with kids, so adults could go to a pub to be out of public and drink. "Oh!" he said. "I'm sorry I didn't know this was a bar."

"Did you not see the sign on your way in?" the bartender questioned.

"I can't read…" Link told him.

The bartender beckoned Link closer. "You really are from out of town. Come sit. I won't serve you anything, but I imagine you'll have a tough time out there if you can't tell a tavern apart from a regular building. "

Link sat down as the barkeep passed him a glass of water. "Thanks," he said, relaxing.

"Kafei!" the bartender called, "This kid is new to town. You can help him out right? Maybe when you're done?"

"Now is fine," Link heard a man say as he stood up to reveal himself as a tall man with long dark hair and a baggy shirt. "My fiancé manages the local inn. I can show you there. What was your name?"

"L-Link," he stuttered, standing up too.

"Well Link, I am Kafei. Whenever you are ready, I will show you too the Stockpot Inn."

"Thanks," Link said, thanking the bartender and Kafei before being led out the door.

The two of them walked for a few blocks. Link was not sure if he would remember his way back, but he figured he'd cross that bridge when it came to that.

"I hope the fee isn't too much. My fiancé and I are generous people, but the owner of the inn has told us we can no longer cut prices, or allowed anyone a free stay. Reputation you know? I suppose he's worried that if we let someone stay for cheaper, word will get out and everyone will want to bargain for that," Kafei explained.

"Actually," Link told him, "I'd rather pay for it. I wouldn't feel right staying without giving you something in return," he said, thinking of his stay at the ranch.

"I can respect that," Kafei said, leading Link to a somewhat larger building. Link followed and entered a building with yet another sign he could not read.

As soon as Link stepped it inside, he could smell cooking, and the room was very warm. There was a counter in front of him next to a staircase. Kafei poked his head through the doorway and said something quietly. A moment later, a skinny woman with dark red hair emerged.

"Greetings," she said to Link. "Welcome to the Stockpot Inn. My husband-to-be here tells me you are a traveler who is new to Clock Town. I am glad you could find your way here. My name is Anju and I am the general manager here. How many nights do you plan on staying?"

Her name rung in Link's ears, but he could not remember where he'd heard that name before. He'd heard so many titles since entering Hyrule that his head hurt as he tried to remember where he'd hear Anju's name.

"Uhm, I don't know for sure," Link said.

"Well that's alright," Anju replied. "I'll get you checked in for tonight and you can decide tomorrow whether you will stay longer. One night will cost 30 rupees, however it includes a breakfast every morning until 11, as well as in-and-out abilities overnight. In about an hour, there will be no on-duty staff at the front desk, but there is always someone here overnight. Tonight it is me. If there is anything at all you need at any point, do not hesitate to ask. My room is on the bottom floor. Does everything sound alright?"

"Yes," Link said, relieved at the simplicity of this process. He had been worried customs here would be too difficult for him. He reached into his wallet and grabbed a red rupee and 2 blue rupees. He could only remember the colour value from what Talon had told him his first day on the ranch.

Anju accepted the payment and turned around to grab a key for Link.

"Well it seems all our single rooms are booked. But I can give you a double room, no extra charge of course. Hope you don't mind the extra space. Looks like it's our last room too," Anju said, handing Link the key. "Your room is up the stairs and midway down the hall. The number is on your key. After service hours close, I will lock both entrances. However, your key will unlock the back door, so if you need to go out for any reason tonight, I only ask you lock the door after entering or exiting. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No," Link answered. "Thank you"

"All set, Link?" Kafie asked, coming out of the back room with some pastry treats. He offered one to Link, who accepted.

"Yes. Thank you for your help."

"Glad I could give a hand," Kafei replied. "I'll be going now. See you around." He said his goodbye to Anju and left.

Link climbed the stairs and found his room. Inside were 2 beds, a couple tables, a bookshelf, and a few chairs. He took his boots off and relaxed on the bed. His mind was still very awake.

He tried to nap for an hour, but he decided checking out the town would be a more useful way to spend his time. Link sat up and began to put his boots back on when he suddenly felt a very off outburst of emotion. He stood up and exited his room, realizing the outburst came from the lobby.

As Link approached the staircase, he could hear two voices near the front desk. He got halfway down the staircase so he could see what was going on. Neither of the people seemed to notice Link there.

Near the desk was Anju, and by the door was a long orange-haired boy with dark skin. Link estimated the man and himself were similar in age. The man seemed very defensive in his stance and his tone.

"I'm sorry sir, all our rooms are full. There's nothing I can do," Anju said, trying to stay calm.

"Please, you have to have something… I've been traveling for days and all the other inns locked their doors an hour ago. I can't take another night out in the cold sleeping on the ground."

"There is nothing I can do for you. I can't just put you in a room with a guest who has already checked in. Double-booking is against hospitality rules. I wish I could help you but I can't," Anju said, Link could hear the fear in her words. Anju's intentions were genuine. Link could tell she did want to help, but she was not comfortable putting her job at risk.

As the man stuttered and tried to find words to reason, his demeanor suddenly became much more clear to Link. He was not cheap, or a trickster. His energy was pure panic. The man was scared of having nowhere to call home, and he was looking for something along the way. The more Link delved into the man's conscious, Link could sense the man had only innocent intentions. It was because of this that Link felt comfortable doing what he did.

"My room has space," he said, stepping more clearly into view.

They were both surprised at his appearance.

"L-Link?" Anju scrambled. "I can't ask you to do that. Are you sure it's a safe thing to do?"

Link nodded. "I consend to it, so he should be allowed, right?"

"Well yes…" Anju said. "Well technically you've already paid for the room. So I don't need to charge him, but you can."

Link shook his head, not wanting money to complicate things. "No charge on my end."

The man still seemed very shocked. "Thank you sir. I could not have asked to meet a nicer person. If there is anything you would like me to do to make it up to you, please say so," he said once Anju and Link had both approved.

Link was not used to having someone indebted to him. For the time being he waved it off.

The two of them walked back to Link's room and Link motioned to the bed he had not previously taken. Link returned to his relaxed position on the bed, still not tired.

The man had calmed down now. He sat on the bed across from Link and loosened his dark tattered cloak.

"Thank you again. My name is Gandor. What was your name?"

"I'm Link," Link said, sitting up. "Where are you from, Gandor?"

"I'm from the desert. It's my first time in the outside world, and I've only been in Hyrule for a few days," Gandor explained.

Link shivered a bit when he heard the term 'Outside World' used in a familiar fashion. "I haven't met any desert folk before," Link said.

"That's because the culture there is a little uh… oppressive. I can't say any of my kind have been known to leave the desert. Where are you from Link? You appear to be a young Hylian," Gandor asked.

"Kokiri actually," Link corrected. "I'm from the forest. Similar to your people, I am also the first to have left my home land to come to Hyrule."

"Wow, what are the chances, right?" Gandor laughed. "So you probably have the same problems I do."

"Well," Link thought about it. "I can't read or write this dialect. Until yesterday I've had no concept of currency. I know nothing about customs here. And I don't know any of the people."

"I hear ya," Gandor agreed. "Our money system was less of a big deal in my country too. Most people made the same amount of money from our jobs, which was enforced by the government. Our runes and hieroglyphics are also very different from that of Hylian. So what caused you to leave?"

"It wasn't my choice…" Link started to explain. He then figured he could not give a full explanation to everyone he encountered, so he summed it up. "I was exploring inside a cave when my friend accidentally knocked me down a rather large cliff. And now I'm in Hyrule."

"Far out," Gandor said, acknowledging the fact that Link had no choice in coming here. "I left the desert on purpose. Oppressive government and strict roles of society. I'd heard stories of Hyrule, a land for people who wanted to be free. So I fled."

Link thought about it. "Sound like you were in a tough position. Guess we're here for opposite reasons, but with similar outcomes."

"Yeah," Gandor agreed. "I'm kind of glad I crossed paths with you. Maybe we'll wind up helping each other out in the long run."

"Perhaps," Link said. He was content with the decision he had made to let this man in. His fatigue had now kicked in from his day of traveling. He could tell Gandor felt the same.

Saving Gandor the trouble, Link bid him goodnight and turned the light off. For the first time in many nights, both of them felt somewhat at ease, and a little closer to settling into their new lives.