Link was smiling politely at the women, most if not all kept flirting with him.
"Those ears, and that hair! So pointy and soft." A guard named Dalia giggled. "I see no ring."
"He's a hero, he probably has tons of girls back home!" Another one calls out. "Luckily, I'm not looking for a long commitment."
Navi had to stifle her giggles. Link's face was bright red, as the geruldo citizens kept flirting hard with him.
"Mr Hero! I see you have a empty cup, let me fill it!" Before Link could politely decline, she was gone in a flash.
It took them an hour to leave, the town's citizens kept talking not only to Link, but to Navi as well.
"A fairie? I always thought you stayed in the woods, watching the kokiri children." Amira, once she took off that rough exterior, she was very nice and polite. She kept asking about the land outside of the desert. Especially the Lost Woods. She was fascinated about Its citizens.
"A lot of us do, but many stay in the magical fountains. Us fairies, we heal those that are injured, even though we detest being in jars." Navi hated it, most fairies did, luckily the bottles had air holes. "But there are others, those work directly with the Great Fairy." Navi met two of them, both were extremely nice.
"And the rest?"
"We are scattered about, like the Hylians. Some prefer to live quietly and away from people. Like my parents."
Amira nodded. She smiled at Link who was getting a hand massage, his face pink.
"He's the first man that graced these halls in years, not including Ganondorf." Amira sighs. "My father, if only..." She shook her head. "Everyone! Back to your posts!" She ordered.
Link was waving back at everyone who said bye. He had some notes, many he was never sharing with Navi or anyone else, some of the notes were spicy in nature. Especially the one from the head gate guard. She offered Link her special lessons. Link flushed what she whispered in his ear. As flattered as he was, he wasn't interested. When he saw Navi flying towards him, she told Link about the target practice on top of the hill.
The horsewoman looks admirably at Epona.
"That's a beautiful house, where did you steal it?" She gestures to the targets. "This is where we do our training, since you have your own horse, you won't need to ride with Abbas here." The brown horse neighs. "Shoot as long as you want, just pay the necessary rupees. We have to keep replacing the targets every once in awhile. If you beat my record, you'll get a prize. Good luck!"
Navi cheers as Link shoots a perfect target. The woman nods.
"Good job!" She hands Link a prize. "1000 points. You beat my record kid." She smiles as Link eats it. "You did good, but you want to be better? Go for another five hundred, and I'll give you something great."
Navi was chewing her nails. She's been here for over three hours, Link kept missing that crucial last target. The sun was starting to go down. Once Link missed, Navi's shoulder sagged when the woman blew a whistle with her fingers.
"Hey kid! Times up!" She gave Link a sympathetic smile. "Look, it's getting late, and I have to close up shop." She gives a exhausted Epona a carrot. "You did good, real good. You did what most of us cannot do. 1400 points! That's impressive. Unfortunately, I won't be here tomorrow, I have to head to town for supplies, since you broke all my vases." She waits till Link jumps off his horse before taking his reins. "Elini, my assistant will be here tomorrow, she'll be watching over your horse. She's young, but she is great with animals." She nods at Link who tipped her. "Thanks kid. I probably won't be back for a few days, I also have errands to run. But once I set up my new targets, you can come back and try again. Have a good night!"
Link didn't feel like going home, he was still wired from the afternoon. Instead of going back to his room, he and Navi climb to the top of the inn's roof.
"One perk about the desert, no pesky mosquitoes." Navi sat on a rock beside Link watching the sunset. "I saw a lantern downstairs, how about we read the diary while we're up here?" Once Link came back, Navi sat on his shoulder as he opened the book.
My new friend, he is fast asleep. Poor thing. He spent the last few hours praying and covering his ears. The screams echo every night, I'm afraid I have come accustomed to them. So I pray to Goddess Nayru to cleanse my soul. Alyva, whoever she is, she has that spark of adventure. I envy her, it's rare that anyone travels alone. Especially one that met a ghost.
Alyva shakes her head at the sign.
CANCELLED
"Too bad about the play." A Hylian guard was shaking his head. "I was looking forward to it."
"Really? I thought you didn't care for it." Burchard was one of her regular customers at the pub where she worked. He always tipped well. He always said the fields of Hyrule is where the true adventure was seen to believe.
"Normally I don't, but these days I need a distraction." Hearing the town bells go off, he tips his helmet at her. "Back to work. Have a good day Alyva."
"Bye!" She waved goodbye at him as he walked away. She knew why he wanted to see the play, him and the other soldiers were rumoured to be training for war. Alcohol wasn't enough, they needed to keep their mind distracted. The gaming shops were busy everyday. Since she wasn't needed anymore at the theatre, she had a lot of free time.
"Here you go." She placed four ales on the table.
"Thanks wench." She tried not to flinch as a passing soldier slapped her butt. Before she could protest, her friend told her off.
"Hey! Get back here!"
Alyva couldn't help but smile as the drunk soldier was getting yelled at.
"We have a code of honour here! The Hylian Guard, we do not harass the town's citizens." Burchard wasn't a captain, but he was high up on the ranks. "Apologize to the young lady!" He ordered.
The young guard meekly apologizes.
"My apologies, my lady."
"Thank you." She smiled gratefully at her friend. "That wasn't necessary, I had my share of slaps." Around here, it happens a lot. None of her fellow coworkers ever escaped it.
"Doesn't matter, we have a code of honour, especially in the uniform." He was wearing his, but some weren't. He didn't drink while on duty, instead he was drinking a cup of black coffee. "If it happens again. Let me know."
"Thanks. Because of that, I'll give you a pie. On the house."
Alyva was exhausted after her shift. She was looking forward to a day off, she had some time saved up. She was walking home when she got ambushed.
"Well, well, well. Lookie what we have here." Alyva was startled to see a unsavoury man step out of the shadows.
Alyva realized she's been daydreaming and crossed into the wrong street.
"My apologies, I must have went the wrong way." She was mentally kicking herself by taking a shortcut. "I'll be on my way." Just her luck no guards were around.
"Can't you stay? It's still early." Another man steps out of the shadows, followed by another two men. Alyva's heart started beating faster. She went to turn around to run, when she got grabbed.
"Let me go!" She ordered. She flinched when they all laughed.
"We have a tax around here. We'll let you go, just as long as you pay the tax." The leader tells her, the one that stepped out of the shadows.
"My purse. Take it." She had her tips, hopefully it was enough. When they laughed, her heart beat even faster.
"That's not want we want, although we'll take that as a down payment." She screamed when she got dragged in a alley.
"Help! Someone!" She prayed hard for help, the last thing she saw before she fainted was the lone street lamp.
Alyva woke up to see a lone woman wiping her brow. Remembering what she seen before she passed out was those men. She couldn't help herself, she started screaming.
"Calm down Miss, you are safe."
When Alyva got her bearings, she realized she was on a bed.
"Where am I?" Feeling a blanket on her bare skin, she trembled. "Those men, did they..." She refused to believe it.
"No Ma'am. They were spooked when a constable came by. They ran off. You were incredibly lucky, they had weapons on them."
"My purse." Her rent money. She didn't care, she was more relieved she was okay.
"I'm sorry." The kind woman tells her. "You are safe here." They were interrupted by a knock.
"My lady, I am sorry to interrupt." When Alyva looked up, she was surprised to see who was at the doorway.
"Burchard?" She didn't know whether to cry or be embarrassed. She was aware she had no clothing on. She pulled the sheets over herself.
Burchard looked embarrassed.
"You know this man?" The nurse was looking back and forth. When both nodded, she gave a small smile. "This is the constable that found you."
"Alyva. I am so sorry. It was my fault." He was looking away, he was aware that she was vulnerable.
Alyva shook her head.
"It was my fault. I didn't look where I was going." She was still kicking herself for daydreaming. If he didn't come along, she shuddered.
"It was the men that was responsible. I promise you, my men and I will find them." He cleared his throat. "I like to ask some questions, for my investigation, if you don't mind."
Before Alyva could answer, the nurse was shaking her head.
"It is late Burchard, I'm sure it can wait until tomorrow." Alyva didn't look up as the door closed. "Just get some sleep, you had a long day. I'll be right next door." When Alyva shook her head, the nurse understood. "Then you won't mind me reading my book."
This was the beginning of her adventure. What she went through, it was tragic. But that night ignited a spark. Burchard here, I wish he could stay and tell me more. But I won't be selfish to ask him to stay. But he did tell me a story before he passed out, all I can say, is I can see why she is admired by the geruldo.
Its been weeks since that night, Alyva was staying with Joan, she refused to go back to her small apartment. She was working at the local clothing store, she didn't want to work nights anymore. She smiled at the small child and who she had to assume was her mother that walked in when the bell jingled.
"Good afternoon! How can I help you?" She said in her shopkeeper's voice. By the looks of the woman and child, she had to assume they were geruldo.
"Do you happen to sell children's uniforms? My daughter, she is attending school soon." She was looking down at her daughter. Seeing a leather coat, she asked about price.
"Three hundred and fifty rupees." Alyva saw her wince.
"That's pretty expensive." She looked around the small store. "You carry women's armor?" The store was a clothing store, but did buy and sell used clothes, including armor.
"I'm afraid not." Alyva shook her head regretfully. "We do carry fine clothing, we can do custom orders if you are needing them.'' The geruldo were desert citizens, their clothing were usually light.
"Well, I'll just buy the uniform, plus some boots. Mine are not suitable for the city.'' She was wearing sandals, which wouldn't be a problem, if it wasn't so cold outside.
After they left, Alyva cleaned up. Once her shift ended, she went home. Being careful to stick to busy streets, she wondered about what the woman said. Custom orders? Hmm. She always dreamed about becoming a actress, but thinking about Burchard, she wondered if her stage can be on the field instead.
Instead of going home, she sat down on a bench. Looking at the crowds, she was dismayed there was little to no female guards. As grateful she was saved by Burchard, what about her fellow female friends? She thought about the geruldo woman. They knew how to fight and defend themselves, without men, they had no choice.
"That's it!" Ignoring the stares, she jumped off the bench. She missed the stage, but she missed creating more. She had to talk to Joan, she was leaving town.
Link yawned. Looking up, he saw the moon peeking out from the clouds.
"Gosh, I never knew how much time has passed." Navi flies off his shoulder. "I hear music, let's head to the pub, we could use some r and r."
Link gets up, he didn't drink very much, but he wasn't sleepy yet. Maybe drinking a few ales can relax him. He and Navi climb back down.