Link awoke contemplating the gravity of Auru's request. It was weighing heavily on his conscience, and he was once again unable to settle himself. It was one thing to be expected to sit around and wait for an undisclosed amount of time, but to suddenly be thrust back into the task? It was undeniable in its strange nature, it simply didn't make any sense. Link considered leaving it for a few extra days, giving himself time to gather his thoughts and perhaps drag it on longer out of spite. He however, as usual, felt compelled to help others and get it over and done with as quickly as possible. If it weren't for Rel and her insistence on following her flimsy lead, Link would have happily left it to simmer.
He got up and made his way to the main area of his home, hoping to catch the early morning light. He enjoyed the peacefulness of the dawn, as it gave him time to think. Once outside on the landing, he found himself questioning how Rel knew about his dream, in particular how she knew about the snow detail.
Link enjoyed watching the early morning, not noticing when Rel had awoken. She stood in the doorway to the landing, still in her bed clothes, watching the street with Link. He turned around, pleasantly surprised to see her there.
"I woke before you, for once." Link observed.
"I'll make sure that doesn't happen again." She joked back.
A chilled breeze danced through the air, causing both of them to shiver. Holding her arms close, Rel tried to warm them with her hands.
"Will we be back, before the official turn of the season?" She asked wearily.
"Of course, Rel." Link explained. "It is only a day and half's ride."
"Can we stop at the apothecary before we leave the city?"
"I don't see why not."
"Are we not in a rush?"
"For Zelda? No."
The abruptness of Link's admission was enough to stop Rel. She gave him a quizzical look.
"You seem… Resentful. Of this request." Rel reflected.
Link snorted at that. "Resentful? That does not begin to describe the half of it."
"What happened? If you do not mind me asking."
"The twilight. Do you remember what I said, back in Ordon?"
"Vaguely." Rel lied.
"You are the- reincarnation of Din?"
"Descendant."
"I am the- descendant- of Farore's son, I guess." Link tried to explain. "Though I'm unfamiliar with how it works."
"That doesn't explain why you seem so resentful." Rel admitted.
"Zelda is also a re- descendant. As I explained to you in Ordon. She tests the boundaries of what that means. Though, I believed myself to be safe these last few years."
"I see." Rel murmured.
"Let's not dwell on it." Link said, changing the subject. "Though I am curious. When did I tell you about the snow? In my dream."
Rel's face flushed bright red. "You didn't."
Link chuckled to himself. "As I thought. Though, in future, I'd prefer you simply ask to look at my work, as opposed to sneaking around."
"I'm sorry!" She gushed. "I wasn't trying to pry!"
"What were you doing then?"
"I just- I wanted to know- something."
"Know what?"
"It doesn't matter." Rel sighed as she waved her hands. "I suppose I'll get ready. Do we leave today?"
Link thought for a moment. "My desire to be done with this chapter is stronger than my desire to be petty." He laughed. "We will leave later."
Stepping lightly, Rel made for the direction of her room, Link watching her as she left. He could have sworn that he saw black hair out of the corner of his eye, at street level. As he looked down at the cobblestone street and then at Telma's, he had feeling that he was going to have a visitor soon.
Sure enough, the front door of the flat swung open a few moments later, Dornan letting himself in. He was noticeably disheveled, a stark contrast to his usual refined self. Before Link could say anything, Dornan burst into an almost babbling state.
"The castle- what? What is the castle on?" He muttered.
"What?" Link sighed. "Please stop letting yourself into my house."
Dornan made a groaning sound. "The dark! The dark magic! Where did it go?"
Blinking a few times, Link tried to process what Dornan was asking him. "Where did the dark magic go?" He reiterated.
"Yes! The dark magic!"
"I'd say it's where it's always been?" Link asked, trying to make any sense of what Dornan was saying to him.
"What's he babbling about?" Rel asked casually as she returned to the sitting area, this time dressed in her usual travelling gear. "Though I wish you'd stop coming over."
"AH!" Dornan cried out as he grabbed his temples. "What is the castle on?"
"The ground." Rel said with an eyeroll.
"The interlopers-" Dornan began.
Link folded his arms, his whole-body stiffening at the mention of the Dark Interlopers. He'd never spoken to anyone outside of the royal circle about this and he was surprised to hear Dornan speaking of this matter.
"The king-" Dornan continued. "Illness."
The mention of illness caused the mark on Link's arm to burn intensely. He hissed at the sudden sting, shaking his hand. He wasn't even sure what he was trying to achieve by waving his arm about. The sudden movement garnered Rel's attention and she gave him a concerned look as Dornan began to calm down.
Dornan wrapped himself in his cloak and found his favourite lounge chair again. He didn't say anything else as he looked at nothing in particular. Both Link and Rel decided to leave him where he was, despite neither of them wanting him in the house. Rel made no secret of her displeasure, gently hitting Dornan with a lounge cushion.
Link left her alone with Dornan for a few moments, knowing he couldn't put off getting ready any longer. He returned to his own room, dressing quicker than he'd initially intended too. His wrist had calmed down somewhat, but the dull ache remained. Link made sure to wear the shirt Rel had picked for him, covering himself with the same cloak he'd worn to the desert. The chill of the morning was setting in quickly and he knew it was going to be colder than usual this year.
He found Rel looking down at Dornan with an almost frightening stare. She looked deep in thought as he slept beneath her gaze.
"What was that about?" Link asked her confusedly.
"I was hoping you could tell me." Rel replied. "He mentioned the interlopers."
"I'm guessing the two of you are familiar with the history of them?"
"You would be correct."
"They're powerless from what I am aware." Link pondered.
"Their magic still exists though." Rel said with folded arms. "I wonder…"
"Wonder what?"
"Well, as with everything, balance is required. I wonder if there is a tipping of the scales?"
"What do you mean Rel?"
"Those who can wield the dark magic." She shuddered. "As much as it pains me to say it, we need them. For light magic to exist, dark magic exists."
"There are virtually no dark wielders here, Rel." Link explained. "It all relates back to the incident a century ago."
"Are you so sure? Are we not chasing around supposed magic wielders?"
"I suppose."
"This country!" Rel exasperated. "Though, at this point, we are wasting time. We can talk to Dornan when we return. Until then, we must stop at the apothecary."
"What do we do about him?" Link asked.
"I suppose we can just leave him here." Rel suggested.
The apothecary was a lot more out of the way than the other shops and stalls, nestled into a quaint laneway, hiding from the hustle and bustle of the markets. A single, weathered, wooden sign marked the entrance, the text barely decipherable as it swung in the chilled breeze. The windows, almost obscured by the overgrown flowers and herbs, were grimy and foggy. A woman, with copper hair and tanned skin, was tending to the flowers, smiling as she watered and cared for each individual plant.
Rel and Link approached apprehensively, the flower woman giving them a quick glance. The woman did a double take, observing Rel as she took in her appearance. Wordlessly, the two women had a silent understanding, greeting each other with a smile.
The copper haired woman held the door open for them, allowing them to enter to a variety of scents. Link was unable to pick what the scents were, as he was bombarded with the smell of herbs, flowers and spices. Flimsy shelves were lined with glass jars, filled with every ingredient imaginable. Link found himself wondering how most of these shelves still stood, given that they were completely overloaded and far too heavy.
The counter of the shop was tucked away in the back, another surface that was barely visible under the vast array of plants that lived on top of it. The beautiful young woman behind the counter, a young blond, was dressed in the most peculiar clothing Rel had ever seen.
As Rel approached the counter, Link found himself drawn to the array of potions, all crammed together on a circular table near the front window. There seemed to be a remedy for everything here, from cuts and bruises, sleeplessness and bad dreams, right down to a self-proclaimed love potion. He picked up the pale pink potion, eyeing it skeptically as the copper haired woman chuckled to herself.
"See something that you like?" The woman asked him, making her way over.
Link placed the bottle back down on the table. "There seems to be a potion here for everything." He observed.
"I'll let you in on a secret. That love potion is mostly rose water."
"I wondered what that pleasant smell was."
Rel was in deep conversation with the peculiar woman behind the counter, no doubt very knowledgeable on whatever ingredients they were discussing.
"You don't seem like an alchemist or a medicine worker." The woman observed as she started rearranging the potions.
"I leave it to her." Link answered.
"I don't see many women from Holodrum around here."
At the sound of the name of Rel's homeland, Link tried not to show any emotion or indication that he knew what she was talking about. After a brief pause, he resumed looking at the shelves, though this time, his attention was divided.
"You needn't worry." The woman continued. "We are everywhere. And we look out for each other."
"I'm not sure what you mean?" Link asked, trying to deflect her attention.
"There's more of us out east." She said with a smile. "The closer you get to the harbor, the more of us there are."
Delicate footsteps interrupted Link and the copper haired woman from their conversation. It was Rel, with a very full looking paper bag. The two women gave each other a nod of acknowledgement as the copper hair woman bowed out, going back to tending her plants. Link followed her with his eyes, her giving him a cheeky smile as she went back to work.
"I doubt the two of you know each other." Rel observed as she watched the woman.
"She was just explaining to me that this love potion here is actually just rosewater." Link explained.
Rel laughed at that. "Speaking of which, I got something for my stomach. I'm sorry if you were expecting something else."
"Really?" Link asked, surprised. "I would have thought you could just go to any medicine place for that."
"I got a few extras. Don't worry. Besides, I get a good price here." Rel said as she watched the copper haired woman. "I've also offered to bring them ingredients."
"Really? Another job?" Link asked.
"They have knowledge of medicine that might be useful to me."
"I understand now."
After making their way back out into the marketplace and purchasing a few provisions, Link was fastening Epona's saddle bags in Telma's stable. Link helped Rel up onto the saddle, making sure she'd taken her travel medicine. Only a short while later, they were outside of the eastern gate, galloping in the direction of the Eldin province.
The hours went by as they came closer to the narrow mountain pass, Link slowing Epona, giving himself time to survey the rocky terrain. He listened for a few moments, taking in the quietness of the village. A calming feeling enveloped Link's consciousness as he steered Epona into the heart of Kakariko.
"This isn't what I was expecting." Rel said over his shoulder. "It's so peaceful. It reminds me of home."
"There is a sanctuary here." Link explained. "This is the one place anyone can come to. Their doors are open, always."
"We passed by here, on the journey from the harbor. But I stayed inside the cart. I didn't want to draw any attention."
Link noticed that Rel's arms had moved from his waist, up to his shoulders. She hung on tight as he led Epona toward the largest building in the village.
"If it isn't Link!" A commanding voice boomed, calling out over the sound of the horse hooves hitting stone.
Well aware that he was long overdue for a visit, Link dismounted Epona's saddle. As he assisted Rel down, he started to feel self-conscious, knowing that Renado was yet another friend he had neglected to keep up with. Renado was in front of him in moments, tussling Link's hair without warning.
"Look at you!" He said in astonishment, holding Link at arm's length. "You're taller than me! Look at your shoulders! You're a man now!" He gushed between chuckles and hugs. "How old are you, son?"
"Twenty-four." Link said between the hugs, feeling like a child again.
Rel remained composed, standing off to the side, trying not to draw attention to herself. In Link's opinion, she looked effortlessly sophisticated, despite what had been said about her upbringing. After the paternal attack on Link was over, Renado introduced himself to Rel.
"And who is this?" he asked, standing face to face with Rel.
"This is Rel." Link began. "She is my travelling companion."
"Pleased to meet another friend of Link. He seems popular." Rel joked.
"The stories I could tell you about him…" Renado trailed off. "You wouldn't believe me."
"I don't doubt it."
"Link, the hour grows late." Renado observed.
"It's not that late." Link replied. "The sun is still up."
"And setting! Come, you and your friend must stay with us. I will hear nothing else."
Renado was already leading Rel to his sanctuary, Link trailing close behind them. If he was being honest, Link was relieved to know that they had somewhere to stay. He grabbed a few things, including his sword, from Epona's saddle after tying her up for the night. Link was admittedly, not too happy about the sword. In the whirlwind of going from the Temple of Time to the new residence, Link was far too preoccupied to remember to bring his own weapon. For the time being, he was stuck with a standard royal sword, the least favourite of any sword he'd used.
The warmth of Renado's sanctuary greeted them as they made their way inside. Looking around, Rel was instantly enamored with dwelling, the clutter of books and plants adding character to the home, exactly to her liking. After a few pleasantries, Rel and Renado were in deep conversation, sitting at the large dining table in the center of the room.
Link watched as the two of them partook in an effortless conversation, admiring their shared knowledge of the natural world and mythology. Rel seemed particularly interested in the conversation about folklore, effortlessly pretending that she wasn't as aware as Renado was. Observing how Rel's appearance reflected the traits of the desert dwellers, Renado took the lead in talking.
Grabbing a strand of Rel's hair, Renado inspected it closely. "Kissed by fire." He mused as he admired the colour. "Quite rare indeed. I would daresay you have some of their blood in your veins."
"So I've heard." Rel replied calmly. "A lot of people where I come from have similar physical traits."
"And where is that?" He asked curiously.
"Nowhere near here!" Rel clapped back. "Besides, my hair colour isn't that rare. Telma, the owner of the pub that I work at, has hair like mine."
Link suddenly inhaled his drink, leading to a coughing fit. Renado dropped the lock of Rel's hair, stifling a laugh.
"Ah Telma." He said quietly. "You have very interesting way of saying her name."
Looking between Link and Renado, she understood that she must have struck a nerve.
"I'm sorry." She said, confused. "Is there something I should know?"
"He and Telma have a history." Link explained secretly begging for anyone to change the subject.
Relief came in the form of another person in the sanctuary recognizing Link.
"Link!"
Looking around, Link spotted a young woman with black hair. Realizing that this must have been Renado's daughter, Luda, he looked up at her as she leaned over from the upstairs loft.
"Luda?" he asked, still having trouble recognizing her.
"Who else would it be?" She asked cheerily as she looked at Rel. "Who is that?"
"My name is Rel."
Luda climbed down from the loft, joining her father and the guests. As she sat down, Link was finally able to get a good look at her. It was another reminder that years had passed and another means of guilt for Link. He found himself wondering what Luda was up to after all this time, feeling remorseful that he didn't know anything about her.
As the conversation continued, Renado seemed to serve a never-ending supply of food and drink. After an hours long dinner, they final began to quieten down, Luda leaving the group to go back to whatever she was doing. Link couldn't blame her, it was most likely very boring to listen to the adults chatter about farming, books and folklore.
"I'm sorry if we bored her to death." Link joked.
"You wouldn't be boring her at all." Renado explained. "She is studying to be a doctor and shaman, like me."
As he was speaking to Link, Renado poured them each a tea. Link slid one across the table to Rel, who blew the steam off the top. Taking a quick sip, she raised her eyebrows.
"Should there be an autumn flower in this?" Rel asked curiously, looking at Renado.
Renado stopped mid-movement, giving Rel a raised eyebrow. "Autumn flower?"
"I'm sorry, I don't know the local name." Rel flushed. "But it smells like autumn flower, ginger and lavender."
Placing the teapot gently on the table, Renado smiled at Rel, clearly delighted.
"Very good. You've a trained palette from what I can see."
"I suppose so." Rel said bashfully. "But, the autumn flower, it's toxic, is it not?"
Link stopped mid sip, choking on his drink for the second time that night. "Toxic?" he coughed.
"The crocus." Renado smiled, very impressed with Rel's observation. "Is only toxic in higher doses-"
"It has a calming effect in lower amounts." Rel finished. "I should have known that."
"Very good. What else can you tell me about the tea?"
"Well- Ginger is good for the stomach and lavender will help someone stay asleep."
"Who taught you this?"
"I am self-taught." Rel stammered, her accent coming through.
Knowing that she was nervous about admitting that she stole something, Link decided to assist her. Remembering the flowers that she had found in his garden and the draughts that she'd made, he spoke with pride.
"Rel is telling the truth, she taught herself. I was tearing down plants that I believed to be weeds in my own garden and she correctly identified them as medicinal flowers." He explained.
"Which medicinal flower?" Renado asked.
"Pale purple." Rel added.
"Only someone who knows what they are looking at would notice that one." Renado mused. "Most people would see it as a weed or a decorative plant."
"It can only be used in small doses and is a substitute ingredient for Foxglove." Rel said with a shrug. "I like to read."
"What are three more uses for those flowers?"
"Sleeping, pain relief and certain aphrodisiacs."
"Curious." Renado murmured. "Last question, I promise. When is the best time to extract the milk from the bulb?"
"Before it is fully grown. That way, it isn't as strong and there's less chance of toxicity."
"That's very interesting, because there are not many books, if any, that mention that part. You must be very intuitive."
Link gave Rel a sideways glance as she looked away, not wanting to give away her secret.
"Are you an alchemist?" Rel asked calmly.
"As I mentioned earlier, of sorts. I am a medicine doctor as well as a shaman." Renado beamed.
"I am a cultivator of plants." Rel muttered. "And I suppose I have a good memory."
Rel looked to Link, once again wanting his intervention.
"Rel actually made a sleeping draught. She followed the instructions from a book that she borrowed from a village infirmary."
Link couldn't help but laugh at his own joke, knowing full well that the book was borrowed without any intention of it being returned. He found himself wondering if Rel had returned the notes she'd taken from Shad's study.
In a deep state of thought, Renado rested his chin on his hand. He let out a gentle hum before speaking to Rel again.
"Young lady, I wonder…" He started.
"Yes?"
"I may be making a huge leap here, but in my many years of practicing medicine, I've not met many people who know the trick with the bulb. Or that it's a substitute for Foxglove."
"You can also use some wild lettuce!" Rel added happily.
"Have you ever thought of becoming a healer?" Renado finished.
"What?" Rel asked as she froze mid movement, her teacup remaining suspended in the air.
Taking a moment to consider the suggestion, Link had to admit that he agreed with Renado. "I think he might be onto something there, Rel." Link told her quietly.
"Yes." Renado said confidently. "You've clearly got a finesse for it."
Rel placed her teacup down and waved her hands dismissively.
"Oh, no. I don't think I'd be good at that." She mumbled. "All I do is read and remember things."
"That's what being a healer is about." Renado explained. "We read and remember things."
Link smiled proudly to himself, trying to gauge Rel's reaction. As usual, she was succeeding in keeping her façade up.
"Are you staying in Hyrule?" Renado asked Rel.
She gave him a gentle nod.
"Maybe you could come by again? I am teaching my daughter Luda and I'm sure she'd be happy for you to join us."
Taken aback, Rel delicately placed her hands on her cheeks. Link gave her shoulder a rub, knowing she was feeling overwhelmed.
"I've never been good at anything before." she said with quiet excitement. "If the stupid dance instructors could see me now!"
"Dance instructors?" Renado asked, confused.
"Rel was taught to dance as a young girl." Link tried to explain. "But she didn't really like it. She was better at bookwork."
"I can see that." Renado reassured Link before turning to Rel. "You are obviously intelligent. Finding someone who isn't daunted by the idea of healing and guiding other people is quite difficult."
"I'd like to learn!" Rel reassured him, enthusiastically.
"Very well!" Renado beamed. "Come by some time. I teach Luda daily. Just observe."
"I'll bring her back, don't worry." Link reassured Renado.
"Excellent. Now, finish your tea. You need to sleep if you're setting off early."
They set off in the early hours of the morning, Link leading Epona knowingly through the mountains of the Eldin province. Rel was in awe of the natural surroundings, admiring the beauty of the peaks at dawn. She was especially drawn to the juxtaposition of the harsh mountain range and the rolling hills as they made their way further east. They met a crossroad, Link stopping to gather his bearings.
"I remember this." Rel whispered into Link's ear. "If you take the road that way-" She pointed east. "You will get to the coast."
"Too bad we have to go the other way." Link replied. "I'd much prefer a trip to the ocean."
He steered Epona in the direction of the eastern estate, following Auru's instructions and considering Dornan's ramblings. They passed a small village and some farming land on the journey, giving Rel another thing to gush over as they progressed.
The estate in the far east of the province was modest compared to how Link had imagined it. It was a simple manor house, quite large in size, nestled at the edge of a plateau. There were enough buildings to create a small village, another aspect that was to Rel's liking.
"The less people the better." She observed. "That and it's actually quite beautiful."
Link looked around, trying to determine which building was the local inn or tavern. They most likely wouldn't be leaving by the end of the day and he very much wanted to discuss the plan with Rel. On top of that, they both needed rest and food, with Epona becoming irritable in the colder mornings.
Luckily, once they were close enough, they spotted the local inn with ease. They were by the doors after a short time, Rel waiting as Link placed Epona into the stable. He held open the door for Rel as they made their way inside the inn.
Unsure if it was the increasing amount of time that he was spending with Rel or if he were becoming more educated on the matter, Link noticed the young man working at the inn right away. The inn worker had dark hair, with an auburn undertone. He also had a similar skin tone to the woman from the apothecary in castle town and was quite tall. Not wanting to openly stare, Link gave the young man a quick glance before looking to Rel.
It was evident that she had also noticed, giving him a gentle nod as they enquired about rooms.
After asking about the accommodation, they made their way to the booth furthest away from the front door. They were nestled in with some food and drink before they started talking about how they were going to approach the situation.
"I brought the letters." Rel admitted as she took them out of her cloak pocket, placing them on the table. "I also interrogated Dornan, getting every last slither of information out of him."
"I knew it." Link laughed. "You didn't give them back at all, did you?"
Rel shook her head proudly. "He still hasn't noticed they are gone! I check most days at work."
"Well, what do they say?"
"I haven't gotten through all of them, but they spoke about family and their abilities, so to speak."
"I see." Link gave her an expectant look. "Well?"
"Nothing that Dornan didn't already know." She mused.
They fell into a comforting quiet as Rel began perusing the letters. Link watched as she drummed her fingers quietly on the table and brushed her hair behind her ear as she read them. Admittedly, Link was happy to be away from the seemingly never-ending drama that awaited him around every turn in the castle town. He was enjoying his drink, while keeping his eye on the front door. He wasn't sure who or what he was looking for, but appreciated the chance to just sit down and watch as the day went by.
The young man behind the counter kept glancing at Rel as he worked. Link couldn't blame the guy, Rel was beautiful, and any sane man would appreciate her presence.
After a few hours and some more drinks, the door of the front tavern swung open. Two men entered, both wearing heavy boots and disturbing the stillness of the inn. Their entrance was loud enough that even Rel looked up from her work and gave them a curious glance. The two men, both middle aged sat down at the bar.
They laughed amongst themselves, the barkeep already serving them.
"Good afternoon, Lord Robern." The young man said flatly. "May I offer you some fine wine? It was delivered recently, from the harbor."
The mention of the harbor caused Rel to stir, her concentration broken. Link could tell by the look on her face that she didn't want to be caught as she pretended to keep reading the letters.
The man he addressed, Lord Robern, sighed deeply. "Yes, thank you."
A goblet of wine was placed in front of the lord before he went back to whatever work he was doing.
The second man was looking around the tavern, surprised to see any visitors. He was giving Link and Rel a strange look before tapping the lord on the shoulder.
Looking up, the lord gave them a curious gaze, observing them. Link was able to get a good look at the lord's face as he did so. The man, despite being on in his years, still had a head of mostly blond hair, with a greying beard and blue eyes. He too was also Hylian, as evidenced by his long ears. His eyes rested on Rel's hair for a few moments before his brow furrowed.
"Hey! You! Hylian Knight!" The other man called out, his greying hair cropped and short.
"Jaren." The Lord barked. "Shut up."
Both Link and Rel turned their faces, seeing this as their cue to finally greet them. Link raised his glass and said nothing. Once lowered, Link turned his attention back to Rel, giving her a small gesture, somehow telling her to look away.
"Wasn't there another one of you here recently?" Jaren asked cheerily.
Link shrugged his shoulders.
Lord Robern turned his full attention to Link, looking at the leather strap across his chest. With a keen eye, he observed the sword hilt as it stuck out from the back. Link could feel the lord's eyes on him. Jaren, still none the wiser, jumped off his stool and made his way toward them.
"I can see your sword." He said with a grin. "Though, usually you would wear a cape, or something wouldn't you? The dark blue one?"
Robern exhaled deeply as he stood, covering his face with his hands. He joined them within moments, standing side by side with Jaren.
Link tried his best to remain calm, although he was the only one who could see Rel's expression. She remained composed, glancing at him every few moments. She had very quickly concealed the letters, sliding them into her cloak.
"You've a good eye." Link replied.
Robern was staring at Link this time, his blue eyes glowering at him from above.
"Answer the question." Robern commanded. "You're at least trained to be one of them."
"The cape is dark blue." Link answered, his displeasure evident.
Jaren let out a laugh and turned to Robern. Noticing that his friend was not impressed with the answer, he too became stern.
"There was another knight here, a woman. She took the boy with her to the castle." He continued.
Robern instantly rubbed Link the wrong way. He didn't want to answer this man's questions, but he knew that he would need to keep his wits about him to find the information Rel was seeking.
"Yes. She escorted your son to the castle." Link said measuredly.
Robern remained tense. "How do you know that?" He growled.
Feeling angry at himself for letting his guard down, Link returned the intensity of Robern's gaze.
"He isn't a knight." Rel said calmly as she turned to face the men. "We are travelers, simply looking for a place to rest."
Ignoring Rel's words, Robern remained focused on Link.
"Why are you here?" He commanded.
"I'm escorting this woman to Kakariko village." Link replied casually.
"No, you aren't." Robern snapped back. "You better start telling me the truth. How do you know about my son?"
"I'm not sure what else you want me to say."
"It's not a good look, for royal knights to be fraternizing with women, no matter how much she claims to be a Gerudo."
Link stood up quickly, knowing over the empty mugs on the table. He was eye to eye with Robern, both staring each other down and daring the other to make the first move. Rel leaned back, watching the interaction from her seated position.
The bartender rushed over. "Forgive me, Lord Robern. I simply mentioned your son when they asked about your estate. That's all."
Disregarding the bartender as he'd done with Rel, Robern continued. "If either of you cause any trouble, I'll cut off your fingers myself." He barked. "I will not have my authority undermined in my estate. Zelda knows this."
Before Link could respond, Robern turned on his heel and stormed out, leaving the goblet of wine on the counter untouched. Jaren gave the pair a strange look before following in Robern's footsteps. Before leaving, Jaren leaned into the barkeep.
"Make sure they don't cause any trouble." He murmured as he walked out.
Rel sighed in relief as Link sat back down.
"What a fucking brute." Rel sighed.
"I'm sorry he said that-" Link paused. "About you."
Rel waved her hand dismissively. "I've heard it so often in my life that it's started to lose meaning."
Unable to explain why, Link was furious at that comment. In his stupor, Link didn't notice when the barkeep appeared beside him. The young man picked up the knocked over mugs and began to polish the table with a cloth. Both Link and Rel gave him a quizzical look, wondering why he was cleaning around them as they hadn't finished yet. He finished with Link's side of the table, before leaning into Rel.
"I would recognize a Holodrum accent anywhere my dear." He whispered in a silky voice.
Giving him a warm smile, Rel whispered back. "I had a feeling."
"One moment." He said as he made his way to the front door and locked it.
"Are you?" Rel asked in her normal volume.
"No, but my mother was." He smiled.
Link felt proud of himself for noticing, feeling as though he'd finally got one thing right that day.
"Will anyone be suspicious if you are closed this early?" Link asked worriedly. "Our mere presence has already made waves."
The young man placed his cloth on the counter before leaning on it casually.
"No. I've not many customers out here." He sighed. "My name is Kalen by the way."
"A familiar name." Rel smiled.
"I've not seen anyone from Holodrum out here, ever. I am very surprised. What brings you to this land?" Kalen asked Rel, his tone familiar and friendly. "Please stay for as long as you like dear, your man friend included."
"I'm afraid we can't really disclose much. We are looking for someone."
Kalen laughed.
"I also work in a tavern." Rel explained. "I've heard many a secret and I assume that these walls would be the same."
"You would be correct my darling. I have ears in every home in this estate, every business, every cart, every stable."
Rel gave him a quizzical look. "I am looking for a young man named Damon." She disclosed. "I see no point in skirting around the fact."
"I had a feeling you would say that. He is one of us." Kalen sighed.