Ravio refused to say anything more than who he was until they were inside his home. Not for safety reasons or anything. No, it was nothing quite so sensible. It was for the sake of comfortability. After much arguing, Ganon reluctantly agreed. Zelda kept her bow focused on the stranger, but Ravio didn't run. It was for his own good.

"Ah, here – right here." The Lorulean pointed at a cottage painted a chipping lavender.

Ganon parked the carriage and tethered the horses to a sign reading "Ravio's House" in common. It was as good a place as any to spend the night. Ganon kept his blades on him as he escorted Ravio in. Zelda grabbed her bow, arrows, and bag of belongings, and followed the men in.

Inside was a cluttered single room. Boxes piled up in corners, filled with what Zelda could only assume was pure junk capped with purple rabbit pins. A locked diary rested on a table next to the fireplace. There was also a bed, table, and more junk. The house was filled with old, rusted junk.

Ravio outstretched his arms and smiled widely at the two Hyruleans. "Welcome to my humble abode."

"Thanks…" Ganon grumbled. He sat on a wooden table, one leg crossed over the other. Then, without missing a beat – "Well? Explain yourself."

Ravio ignored him and pulled out a chair. "For you, Miss."

"Thank you."

Zelda sat and Ravio made his way to his bed. He sat down and raised his shoulders awkwardly. "And so here we are." He gave a nervous laugh.

Ganon angrily tapped his fingers on the table. He was doing everything in his power to keep from snapping at the young man. Nothing would come of it even if he did. No use wasting his energy.

"Ravio," Ganon grumbled through grit teeth. "Explain yourself."

He laughed again – a nervous habit of his, it would seem – and drummed his fingers on his lap. "Well, I'm a merchant of sorts, you see."

"I do not," Ganon said.

Zelda decided to leave the interrogation to her ally this time. She sat back in her chair and listened.

"I lend people things for a reasonable sum. When they're done, I take my things back."

"And the rupees?" Ganon asked.

"Are mine," Ravio replied. "You can't just lend something out and then give men their money back. There's no business in that! There's no profit!"

"Then why were those guys chasing you?"

"They were dissatisfied."

"With what?"

Ravio shrugged. "My service."

Ganon slammed his hand on the table. He couldn't keep calm any longer. "But why, you idiot?! Tell me why!"

Ravio winced and hugged one of his legs close. "Ah ha… ha…" He kept his eyes down. "They said a product of mine was fault." He released his leg long enough to pull a red rod from the large brown sack he'd been carrying. It was a magic item, from the looks of it.

"And was it?" Ganon asked.

"Heavens, no! But magic has to flow through you for it to work. And some folks… Some folks just don't have in 'em." He shook his head sadly. "I told them that, but I doubt they listened to me. Or cared."

It wasn't the first time Zelda had heard a story like that. When she was a princess, she had heard of the trouble distinguishing between magical vendors and frauds. Especially because most common folk never considered themselves any different than those who had magic flowing through their veins. They certainly couldn't have known of that instinctual power if they didn't have it or weren't told of it.

It was impossible to tell with shopkeepers either. They could be pulling parlor tricks in order to appear honest, or they could truly be capable of magic. There was only one way to know for sure: let a known mage try the magical item. If it wouldn't work, then the shopkeeper was arrested for fraud and the people were given their money back.

Lucky for them, like all Zeldas before her, the runaway princess was capable of magic. "May I see that?" she asked.

"Certainly," he said. A sign of honesty.

Zelda could feel some sort of warmth in the staff, a sort of silent hum. She focused her power in the ruby orb clasped to the top of the staff.

Just a bit… Just a tiny bit…

Sure enough, a small flame appeared atop the rod. When Zelda waved it around, the fire followed. She could control it.

"It's magic alright," she said.

"Yes, ma'am." Ravio gratefully accepted the rod back. "I may be a coward, but I'm an honest coward. I take pride in my work, princess."

Ganon and Zelda exchanged a glance. The princess had had her suspicions – the rabbit hood and Ravio's cowardice, for example – but his lack of sarcasm sealed the deal.

Still, to be sure, Zelda asked, "What did you say?"

"Princess. You are Princess Zelda, aren't you? And he's the king of the Gerdo."

Sure enough, Ravio knew it all. Or at least he knew enough. Zelda looked at Ganon and said three words: "Check the map."

"The map?" Ravio asked.

But Ganon knew what she meant. He pulled the yellowed paper from his pocket. Sure enough, they were on top of the purple rabbit symbol. They checked the back. Four words were listed among the heroes found before him. Ganon read those words aloud.

"Hero of Shadow – Ravio."

Ravio smiled sheepishly at the two. "Guess you couldn't tell me from Adam, huh?"

Zelda nodded. She returned an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. The goddesses only gave us so much detail."

He shook his head. "Truthfully, I'm just happy I finally get to be a hero."

"Why's that?" Ganon asked.

"I'm a descendant of the first hero, but I'm too much of a coward to really make anything of myself, especially not without a big push." He shrugged and smiled despite the self-deprecating words. "At least, that's what Queen Hilda said."

"Do you believe her?" Ganon asked.

His answer came immediately. "I do."

"Then you make it true."

Ravio's eyes were downcast. He chewed at his lip. Finally, he breathed out a heavy sigh.

"It's late," he said. "We should sleep."

"Where?" Ganon asked. "There's only one bed."

"Well, the princess can sleep in that, and we can sleep on the floor. I have some extra blankets and pillows we can use. Is that okay?"

Zelda put a hand on Ganon's arm to keep him from saying anything else harsh. The Gerudo looked down at her, nodded, and held his tongue.

"Yes," Zelda said. "That sounds wonderful. And tomorrow we can meet your queen."

Ravio withdrew as if she'd struck him. "If that's what you want, princess."

"It is."

"Then I guess I've got no choice but to agree."

And so it was decided. Tomorrow, they would meet Queen Hilda.