Chapter 14: The Bullshots

Link gazed onward with one eyebrow arched up considerably higher than the other.

It wasn't that much later since they'd left Deeper's Depot. Now he was thinking sleeping in his new storage vault may've been better for his long-term health.

They had left the main road, trickling east through a labyrinth of alleys and side roads before coming to a less than stellar part of the capital. Link actually saw the Lion's Mane, the tavern he and Tetra had been to prior. A little further down from it, and now there they were.

They were at the entrance of a weed-infested dirt clod property on which two dozen oaken shacks were plotted in jagged rows. The entire place was enclosed by a plank fence, and many of the boards were either in various stages of rot and/or had insect activity present on them.

"These are the Bullshots," Lora said. "In my opinion, only one letter in the name needs to be changed."

She heard a creak, glanced up, and then hooked her fingers into the neck of Link's tunic. She yanked him a foot over before the 'O' in the 'Bullshots' sign fell off, hitting the ground where he'd been standing.

"Yes, that one. But, I'd rather you be closer to Pisces while you're working for him. Once you get…relatively comfortable here, we can work out a new place for you to be," Lora continued. "On the other hand, I'll take care of the rent, and you'll have your own living space you don't have to share. So will Tetra. I've made sure she's in the unit next to yours."

There were vague paths of hardened dirt running between the rows and columns of shacks, made by the traffic of many feet over the years. Lora stumbled on the uneven ground.

"Careful—that always happens when I walk around here," she said. "Were you ready to catch me, Link?"

"Yes," he said, lowering his hands. "Have you ever fallen?"

"Not yet. I'm sure the day will come."

Fweeeeeeeee fweeer!

Link didn't know the meaning behind the offensive whistle, but when he heard lecherous howling he snapped his head over, glaring. A grinning, grisly face ducked out of sight behind a nearby Bullshot.

Then he recalled something. "I thought I saw more people when we were walking up…are they all hiding now?" Link asked.

"That's right. It isn't often I go walking through the capital like this."

"People stare at you all the time?"

"Yes. They'll do the same to you. You'll have to get used to it. Here, I don't believe it will escalate more than that. You should still keep your head up, especially around the property owner. We're seeing her now."

They approached the main building, which hardly looked any better than the rest. The door was crooked in the jamb and Lora had to force it open. Chairs were hastily strewn about the lobby, which smelled disgustingly of smoke.

An older woman with a mop of oily hair on her head sat at the front desk, bent over a piece of parchment. She didn't look up when they entered.

"Edna," Lora said after they had stopped at the desk. The woman immediately removed her glasses and set her work aside, pulling one of her drawers open.

"Right, I remember," Edna said, plopping a beat up record book on the counter. "Just lemme pull out the contracts. Only two to shack up, right?"

"That's right. The ones I requested are still available, correct?"

"'Course! Let's see…it's my only other duplex, up in the north-east corner…units one-three and one-four…guessing it doesn't matter who gets what. So I have a Tetra, and a Link…?"

"Yes. My son."

Edna's quill snapped in her hand. She flung herself out of her seat to stare over the counter at him. Link instinctively backed up. Her eyes were sunken and bloodshot. She looked a little creepy to him.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi, back…what a surprise," Edna sat back and put her glasses on, digging for another quill. "You're a cute one…Lora, you sure you want them in a place like this?"

Lora clenched gloved hand tightly. Sparks of electricity built and rippled around her fist.

"Finish what you started," The Executioner hissed.

Edna bowed her head again. There were a few moments of silence as she finished the contracts. While Lora signed them Edna fetched a key from the vault under her desk, placing it on the counter.

Link tried to take it, but Lora's hand glanced his aside and she took it instead. Edna was back to staring at him, leering her piggish eyes over the counter.

"As a reminder, I'm making payments for the both of them," Lora said. "Now explain the necessary policies to him."

"Sure," Edna said. "It's simple. Just keep quiet and don't take offense to other tenants minding their own business. Folk don't like a lot of noise around here. And since you and your friend are only separated by a wall, don't get into any funny business. No co-housing."

"Visits are fine, of course," Lora said, looking down at him closely. "But I'd better not catch either of you spending too much time in each other's unit."

THUD!

"Ooohhh…auughhhh…"

The groaning came from the hall behind Edna's counter. The property owner said, "Don't worry about that. I have a guest over."

"As you do often," Lora said, taking Link around the shoulder and leading him out. He felt Edna's eyes on his back, relieved when the door shut behind them.

A few people had already come back out of hiding. A pair of men sat at a corner talking over drinks, staring at the pair as they passed. A woman was outside hurriedly hanging her laundry; nearby her daughter was beating a rug out with a dark-knuckled fist.

"Make sure to remember what she told you," Lora said. "She gets physical with her tenants when they don't follow her rules."

"She hits them?"

"Without shame. Of course, with her thinking you're my son, she wouldn't even dare think of striking you, but I don't even want the impulse to cross her filthy mind."

"What about Tetra, though?" Link asked, crossing his arms. He let out a nervous giggle. "Um…she might forget to stay quiet. I think that would start a bad fight…"

"Edna won't bother her, either. She's got the idea you both are under my watch."

Lora threaded her fingers together, glancing down at him. "You've seemed a little bothered. Did Master Mai say something that upset you?"

"Not upset me."

"What is it, then?"

He was quiet, now looking at the ground. He had been dwelling on something, though he wasn't sure if he wanted to bring it up.

"Never mind," Lora said, right when he was moments from speaking. "If you don't feel comfortable…"

"No, I…do. It's just that…you said you weren't 'proud of it'."

"Of what?"

She stopped and so did he, looking up at her solemnly. Lora furrowed her brow in recollection.

"I don't…know," Link said.

"I remember saying that now. Why does it bother you?" Lora's brows inched up slightly. "I wasn't talking about you specifically, Link. It was one of the things I said that wasn't a ruse. I really wasn't proud of lying to her."

"Oh…okay," Link said, feeling much better to hear that.

They started walking again. "She is like a maternal figure to me," Lora said, looking skyward. "She's a stickler for following every rule or law made by the Emperor. To her, he's her reason to live and be. It's for that reason she's the kind of person I need you to avoid."

"Always?"

"Always. Whenever you can help it," Lora glanced over her shoulder. "She isn't in town often, thankfully. But if she finds out that you aren't from here, she'll fight me to the death to turn you into the Emperor. I don't need that kind of stress in my life. Do you?"

He let a slight giggle slip out. Lora raised a brow.

"Sorry…it was the way you said it," Link said, grinning. "I—oh! What about…if someone asks about my father?"

"That I almost messed up on. That was a big mistake because I hadn't thought about that part of the lie yet." Lora admitted. "If anyone asks you, just tell them off or stay silent. Remember you are not obligated to talk about anything you don't want to talk about."

He nodded, understanding. The duplex Bullshot came into view. It had a second floor, but Link wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing if the whole thing could collapse.

"Someone wants to meet you," Lora said.

He glanced around, not seeing anyone within fifty feet interested in coming near them. When he looked back towards his new home he let out an, "Oh!"

There was a man standing against one of the porch posts. He very skinny and his thin clothing blended in with the rustic wood he stood against, so Link hadn't even noticed him at first. The man had short and wiry stubble that clung tightly to his chin. His face was pale as were his hands, which were the only things visible from his long and loose-fitting clothing.

The man raised a hand then, after a moment, began waving slowly, back and forth. His sleeve fell, revealing an emaciated arm.

Link waved back, carefully watching his first visitor—though, he knew this person was just fine when he looked back at Lora. She had slowed up, walking with her fingers tented against her waist.

"Hi'llo, Miss Lora," the man spoke up. He spoke slowly, as though his tongue tried to get in between his words, and had the slightest lisp. "You look nice again, today. How are you?"

"I'm fine. Thank you, Turto."

The man named Turto shambled down the steps carefully. He appeared slightly lame, dragging his right leg a little as he moved. He held something in his thin and pale hands.

"Hi'llo," he said to Link.

"Hi…um, hello," Link said back.

"Hello. Who're you?"

"I'm Link. It's nice to meet you…"

"Nice to meet you too…Link," Turto said. His eyebrows were wild and bushy, nearly connecting when his forehead wrinkled.

"I didn't expect to find you here so soon," Lora said.

"I overheard you talkin' with Miss Edna yesterday…tha's why," Turto said in response, looking down briefly as if make sure he had what he had. Then, he held it out for Link to take. "…here…"

Link took the small wooden sculpture. A glimmer of red flashed up at him. It was a very light statue of wood carved into a maned four-legged beast, mouth sprawled open in a roar. A red facet was embedded within its chest.

"That's you," Turto said. "Mean yours."

"Thank you," Link said, looking over it carefully. "It's amazing…"

"Welcome…Link."

Turto ambled around the boy, turning his attention back to Lora. "The Culling was today," he said. "Someone got took…"

"Do you know who?" Lora asked.

"No…only heard the yelling. It's always the yelling. I thought they were af'er me for a moment…"

"Were you late again?"

"Again. Leg hurt worse this morning. It's 'cause of the weather turning colder. It'll feel better soon. They didn't like it much I was late…but I'm still here."

He held his arms out a bit, letting out a haggard chortle.

"'coulda been me," Turto said joyfully. "So I'm glad again for another day. Poor person."

"It was two people," Link spoke up. "A mother and a father."

"Hm…I'll look into that, and see what can be done," Lora said cryptically. "I'm surprised that was all, to be honest. The Monitors always get riled up near the end of the year…"

"You don't do with them, do you?" asked Turto.

"Hm?"

Turto pointed a finger to his head. "Your hair is still…red. Not the other color. Means you still work for King Hearth…and not the Emperor?"

Lora tilted her head a bit, mildly surprised. "That's right. That… really is what that means, Turto."

"Nice. I knew it. I just worry sometime," he said, looking around steadily. There was a tremble in everything he did and his eyes wavered perpetually. "Oh'm, tired…I'm 'bout to go lie down. I was up too late last night…"

"You've got to take it easy. And…think more about how to not be late for Culling. You may need to cut your Monday nights short to wake up earlier."

"Tha's a good idea," Turto said. "Never thought that. It's good…you have a little one, Ms. Annie. I was confused a bit…I thought, I thought…I don't know..."

He faced Link one more time, seeming to struggle with something.

"Sorry…not good with names," Turto said. "Wha's yours again?"

"Link," he said. "It's okay...I'm not good with names, either. Can I give you something for this?"

Turto shook his head. "'S free, that one."

That left Link with a bit of an unsolved aching in his chest, but he nodded all the same.

"Link," Turto said. He looked off, sliding his lame leg into place. "Link."

"Yes, sir."

"Very nice. Lora and Link…Mother and son."

Turto turned around carefully, pointing behind him. "Look at your new house. It's alright. Maybe you can fix it up a bit."

"And reward Edna for being lazy?" asked Lora. "Absolutely not. I'm about to go see if I need to give her a little more encouragement."

"Uh ooooh," Turto laughed. "'right, then. Bye…bye, Link. And Miss Lora."

"Bye," Link told him.

Then, as Turto began shambling off, Lora held a hand out to stop him. "Let me help you a bit," she said. "You said your leg was giving you trouble lately?"

"Yes," Turto said.

"I can take you to your porch. Yes?"

"Oh…thank you, thank you, miss. Was a long walk."

Lora took him by the shoulder and in a rush of wind they were gone.

Sometimes she's gone with the wind, Link noticed. Sometimes not, though…I wonder why she—

He felt a twitch on his head and was reminded Sela was there, shaking his head to warn her not to come out yet. She settled down. Sure enough, Lora was back in less than ten seconds.

"He lives…literally, on the exact opposite side of the compound, in the south-west corner. Turto is a woodcarver. You might notice him in the pavilion on occasion," Lora said, moving up the porch stairs. "I ask you—"

Her boot splintered right through the second step.

"Pardon. I'll get that fixed soon," Lora said, pulling her leg free and shaking off wood scraps. Link hopped up onto the porch instead and she continued, "Anyway, I ask you have patience with him. People sometimes find him a bit bothersome to be around since he can be a little slow."

"He doesn't bother me at all."

"Good…he means well."

I get it. I can be slow, too, Link thought.

When the door was opened he couldn't help but to screw his face up at the thick scent of old wood and sodden earth.

Lora tsked lowly, glowering around. "I can tell it hasn't been maintained in a while. Link, if you find something problematic, tell me even if you have to wait until the next time you see me. Do not go to Edna by yourself."

"I don't think I like her," he said bluntly. "There was just something about her that made me uncomfortable."

"Mhm. That's how you should feel. Good instincts, again," Lora said, walking in a few paces. "If I could change one thing, it would be getting rid of her. But she deserves to rot in her misery until the day she dies."

"What makes you say that?"

"I know nearly everything there is to know about her. Let ignorance be bliss for you."

Lora went to pull the curtains aside from the only downstairs window, and plentiful daylight shone in.

Link wandered in further, careful not to sling Sela off his head as he looked around. The interior was made of very dark wood, giving it a sort of gloomy feel. A small writing desk was shoved up against the wall carelessly and on it sat an empty lantern. A thin partition boxed in a corner of the room.

Link took the stairs up to the second floor carefully. The upstairs bedroom was furnished with just a bed. A thin blanket was folded on top of the mattress, which was stiff-looking and too small for the frame. The window was curtain-less and broad, giving a good view of the rest of the lot.

Sela was peering out from underneath Link's hat. "I mean…it's not pretty, but I like it in a modest sense," she whispered. "You?"

"Mhm…it reminds me a little of home back on my island," Link said back quietly.

Home. Then, the strange remembrance he was an entire reality away from it. The only thing he could do at this point was just not think about it, but how long would that work?

Morose, he turned back into the stairwell, startled to find Lora lurking at the bottom. Her dark eyes scanned his face.

"What's the matter?" she asked. "Did you find something?"

"No…" Link muttered, keeping his head down. "I was just thinking of back home..."

"Oh…oh, well…I'm sorry."

A slightly awkward pause came to pass before Link started down the stairs. He put his hand on the banister to steady himself—and it broke.

Link missed a step and lurched forward. He didn't have time to process anything other surprise because Lora was suddenly there in a twinkling, catching him before he fell down the stairs.

"Are you alright?" she asked, helping him set his feet down.

"Yes…thank you, Mother…"

Lora narrowed her eyes at the broken part of the banister. "Be very careful going up and down until we can get this fixed. That's the worst place to have wear and tear. That just about does it for her."

"You won't do anything to her, will you?" Link asked carefully. Lora glanced at him, then abruptly turned and swept downstairs.

"…I suppose I'll only give her a verbal warning. For now, since I've got little time," Lora said. "With the line she's treading on, that's still far too generous."

As they went into the living room Lora added, "So…I've got to be off to go get Tetra and help her get settled in as well. This is your place…so, just sit tight and don't leave."

"Okay," Link said, hopping up on the couch. "Thank you for everything, Lora."

"You're welcome."

She flitted out the door, shutting it behind her.

"Wait!" Link cried. She stuck her head back in. He held his breath, gearing up to ask his question.

"Yes?" Lora asked.

"Master Mai told me…um, you...really don't work for the Emperor anymore?"

Lora came back in partially, unbothered. "How long has that question been on your mind?"

"Uh…since yesterday?"

She became static, unmoving, unblinking, simply watching him fidget.

"This is nothing you should disclose to anyone else," she muttered, with clear warning in her tone. "My loyalty is no longer with Emperor Noh. I just need the rest of the world to keep thinking otherwise. And now, the rest of the world, including Master Mai, knows less than you…she thinks that at least, I still adore and respect the Emperor. I don't anymore. Now I despise him."

Link was sitting straighter; if he had a tail he would've been wagging it.

"You really mean it?" Link asked eagerly.

"I do," Lora paused, then added, "I promise."

He sat back in relief, letting out the mother of all sighs.

"Now, can you answer a question for me, Link? What are you hiding underneath your hat?"

His eyes flew open wide. Well, he hadn't expected that one.