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Chap. 65: Highroad Bound
Koyin was at Zelda's side, or at least right behind her and then at her side, when the princess stepped into the combined kitchen and dining area of Koyin's home. Dantz, her father, was at the iron wood-burning stove, scrambling what looked like a half-dozen eggs on one side, and grilling some vegetables on the other.
He turned red as he glanced over his shoulder to see her and his daughter, but looked back at the stove without saying anything.
"Come on," Koyin told her quietly, "Have a seat. I'll get the table, Dad."
It was… Well, extremely awkward seemed like a bit of an understatement in some ways, but just a tad over-stating things in others. Dantz didn't do more than blush at them the one time. He was quiet, the only thing he said was a quick reminder to Koyin that there'd be five people eating breakfast, not their usual four.
The worst part, for Zelda, was that she was politely rebuffed from helping. If she were able to keep her hands busy, it might have helped distract her from her nerves. Instead, she was made to sit at the table while Dantz cooked, and Koyin bustled around, bringing clayware plates, cups, and wooden utensils that were polished smooth by time and use to set them out around the modest round table that Zelda currently sat at.
And she couldn't just… bring up the conversation. What was there to talk about?
Dantz had walked in on them, Zelda and Koyin, making love. He'd heard noises and thought she was being attacked by Bokoblins again, or something along those lines. Instead, he had been treated to the sight of two young women, stark naked, with Zelda's glistening face less than an inch from Koyin's deliciously sweet pussy, with both of them panting.
It had to have been obvious. Dantz had been a gentleman that morning, and he hadn't said a word about it since…
But he knew, now.
Eventually, Koyin finished her assistance by pouring a fresh kettle of coffee into each of the mugs, watering down the one for her brother a bit, then helped serve up the vegetables while her father followed behind with the eggs. "'S not much," Dantz murmured as he gave Zelda a portion that she knew she would not be able to finish, "but it's hearty fare, will keep you going."
"It smells delicious," Zelda replied, "truly. I haven't had a home-cooked meal in… well, quite some time."
Dantz nodded, blushing slightly again, but she waited until both Koyin and her father were sitting, the girl on her left and Dantz across from them, before she picked up her fork. She didn't start eating right away, though, because the older man clearly had something to say. He coughed once, quietly, then sighed and folded his hands together in front of his plate. "I'm just gonna say this once, and be done with it. Would you mind letting me have my piece before you say anything, Princess?"
"Of- of course," she replied, "This is your home, I am a guest. I couldn't do anything else. And please, don't… I'm not a princess. Not anymore." The last words were said quietly, but she couldn't help how scared and small she sounded. It was how she felt, now, every time someone called her that.
If she was a princess, she was a princess who had failed.
Failed her kingdom, her family, her Champion, all of them.
"Be that as it may, you're a princess to us. That attack… it would've happened sooner or later. Maybe you hastened it, maybe not, but those Bokos have been getting braver and stronger for a long time. Longer'n Koyin's been around, really, since I was just a boy. Th'way I see it, we're alive now because of what you did. We owe you a debt that can't be easily repaid. An' for that, you'll always be a Princess to the people of Hateno."
"I… I didn't do that much," Zelda protested.
Next to her, Koyin snorted, "Please, Zelda… no one believes that. You sounded the alarm, let as many people know as you could. Organized the defense, and you fought on the front lines with.. well, the best we had, and you outdid them. Those bombs you make are amazing. You… you looked like a real Princess when you stood up in your armor and pointed your sword at the army in front of you, and you reminded us all why we were fighting. It was… inspiring."
Dantz nodded, "My daughter's got a way with words I'll never have, but we all saw it, Princess, even back up the cliffs at the top where I was stationed with m'bow. You earned our respect a hundred times over before the red moon rose. What you did after…" He sighed and closed his eyes. When he opened them a moment later, they were filled with regret. "That's the bravest thing I ever saw. Ain't none of us would've done the same. Could've, maybe, even… but you did, an' you didn't hesitate. Hearin' you say that broke Koyin's heart, but… then we got you back. An' here you are, like… like what happened to you didn't even matter in the long run. Like being… used like that was just… a thing that happened, like a hen layin' an egg.
"That's strength we don't have. You are our Princess, and, if it ain't a true bother, I'll call you nothin' else."
Zelda nodded. "I… I would prefer you call me by my name. But if you truly believe that… I'll allow it."
"Thank you," Dantz told her seriously, and nodded his head in her direction. "Then on to t'other matter I've a need to talk to you about. Uh… this- this morning."
Zelda wasn't the only one who blushed, at least, the other two did as well.
"I didn't mean to… see anythin'. And I didn't, much, at least on your person. I saw more'o my daughter than I'd a need, but… well, I changed her nappies, too."
"Dad!" Koyin cried out, sounding scandalized.
"What? You think even the Princess didn't have shite in her drawers when she was a babe? We all do it, girl," Dantz snorted, then turned back to Zelda, "Apologize for the vulgarity, Princess, but I've always been a practical man. I… I won't go blabbin' 'bout what I walked into. Far as I'm concerned, that matter's 'tween you and Koyin."
Zelda swallowed. "I… appreciate that, Mr. Dantz."
He snorted this time, and shook his head, "Just Dantz, Princess. I'm just an old rancher. Don't even got a family name, really, so there's no need for Mister. Just wanted you to know that, well, I ain't… bothered, by earlier. T'wasn't what I expected, as I've caught Koyin eyein' a few of the menfolk of Hateno once or twice, but I can't say I'm all that surprised, either. Just… maybe, y'know, lock the door next time so her brother don't come walkin' in. Or old Pops. He might just die of excitement."
"Daaaaaaad!"
Zelda could only groan and hide her head in shame while the older man laughed. At least, she thought later, he had been accepting.
"D'you really have to go?" Koyin asked quietly when they paused outside the door of the Tech Lab.
Zelda nodded, "I do, yes. Otherwise… well, the attacks will keep coming. Hyrule is getting more dangerous with every Blood Moon that rises. The Calamity is growing stronger. And if I don't stop it…"
"No one else will," Purah finished as she opened the door with a smile, "Come on in, Princess, Koyin."
The girl was wide-eyed as she looked around the lab, though Zelda knew she had seen it before. She was a bit taken aback at how organized and clean the place was, too. When she had left the previous day for the party, it had been a little better organized, but still haphazard. Now, everything seemed put away except for a couple neat stacks of notes or drawings on a single desk. "Your Slate's not fully charged, but we're back over thirty-eight percent so it should charge by itself again," Purah explained as she headed for the Guidance Stone, "but Symin's been up all night helping me clean after the party, so I'm not going to ask him to relight the furnace today. No, not you either, Princess. I was actually thinking I'd have Koyin here do it."
"M- Me?"
Purah nodded, "Don't see why not. You're a reliable young woman, and can fight off a few Bokoblins if they happen to get that far into the fields. Most should be scared of the Blue Flame, though, so I doubt they'd give you any trouble after the way you fought a week ago."
"Wow," Koyin murmured, "Me… carrying the Blue Flame? I'd be happy to you, Lady Purah!"
The older woman snorted, and pushed the red-dyed shock of hair out of her eyes, "No need for that Lady business. I'm just Purah to you, kid, if we're gonna be working together."
"W- We are?"
"Don't see why not. I need a guard around the place, these days, and if you're good enough to play bodyguard to Zelda, then you're good enough to keep an eye on this old place. Well, and probably add to the Village, too. That is, if you can be spared from the ranch. That's important, too."
"I'll talk to Pa about it," Koyin nodded excitedly. "Me, a guard… Wow."
Purah reached out to ruffle the girl's hair, then pulled Zelda into a hug. It was nice, almost like an older sister's, despite the several times in the last week that Purah had been instrumental in helping her deal with the mating urges the Bokoblins had aroused within her. "How're you feeling, Princess?"
"Much better," she said quite honestly, "I… We didn't get much sleep, but what I got, at least, was quite restful."
"Good. Also, good choice, you two are a cute couple."
Zelda and Koyin both blushed, though Purah seemed sincere.
"Anyway, here's your Slate. Thirty- oh, it just ticked to thirty-nine. So you've probably more charge now than it's had in a while. Just remember, using the Travel Gates takes a lot, and even the higher-powered Runes take a fair bit. Gates should be for emergency use only, it won't charge on its own if it's below twenty-five."
"Got it."
"And… any idea where you're headed next?"
Zelda shook her head, "Not really, no. Celessa, the warrior who helped rescue me? She said something last night about a spring up on Mount Lanayru. It… might be able to help me, too. I think. That's the best I've got."
For a reason Zelda did not know, Purah's face darkened at the mention of the mountain, but the researcher shook it off quickly. "Ah… that actually sounds like a fine idea. I'll warn you, though, Princess… be prepared. That mountains' had several strange happenings, lately, and none of them bode well. But you're right, there… there should be a good reason to go up there. Just be careful. The… the last time you were there, we were told you were on the way back down the mountain when the Calamity struck."
Her eyes and Koyin's both widened in horror, "It- it what?"
Purah only shrugged, "I wasn't there, of course, I was with Impa at the Castle. But we got reports from Linky, your Champion, and the Rito Champion, Revali, on his way to Vah Medoh that you'd prayed at the Spring of Wisdom there, and… nothing. Just like the other two. You were coming back, near the Lanayru Promenade, when it happened."
Zelda swallowed. "If I was… if I was praying at the Spring of Wisdom, what was supposed to happen? And what other two?"
Purah grimaced and sat down on the end of the long work table, "I'm no expert, of course, history was always more Impa's thing, but from what I gather, there were three Springs tied to unlocking your sacred power. Wisdom, Courage, and Power. I don't know where the other two are, that information was always very well-guarded. Linky knew, because he was with you for all three. Your father, of course, because he's the one who told you to visit each and pray for guidance and help. I don't know anyone besides Impa who might've known. But the Spring of Wisdom is said to reside near the peak of Mount Lanayru."
"I… I see. Then that does sound like a place I'll need to go. Nothing… nothing like the Calamity is likely to happen again if… if whatever is supposed to happen fails again, will it?"
"I doubt it," Purah chuckled. "That would be a hard feat to duplicate, a second Calamity."
Zelda nodded, only a little relieved. Then she held out her right hand, displaying the faint, white lines that denoted a trio of triangles that formed a larger. "There's an extra scar there. When… when I first woke up in the Shrine of Resurrection, the Slate told me I'd been attacked as a child, and the assassin cut my hand there. It broke the scar, broke the seal, or… something. That's what kept me from accessing the Goddess' power, according to the Slate."
"Really?" Purah asked, surprised and confused at the same time, "I didn't think… hm. I suppose it's possible. That attack was quite well-known at the time, it was… it was the same attack where your mother was killed. We all thought the assassin was after her, but… if it scarred your hand in a way that broke the seal, she might've just been a distraction."
Zelda nodded again, then pointed up at her forehead. Purah and Koyin both gasped as they followed her finger, and the magic that kept it hidden most of the time faded away, "This one is new. Well, newer. The… the Slate itself gave it to me when I first woke up. It said the connection was repaired… at the time I didn't know what that meant. But I've… I've accessed a strange, magical power more than once since. Golden light shines from my hand, my forehead, and I think my eyes… and things happen."
"Fascinating," Purah whispered, and she reached out a hand to trace the mark on Zelda's forehead. "I'll have to confer with Robbie and Impa about what it could mean, but if that's all true, and I've no reason to doubt it, the ancient Sheikah were far more capable than I'd have ever suspected- and I suspected a lot. At any rate… I'd recommend taking plenty of food, multiple changes of clothing, water, medicines, a short digging shovel… and of course a few bundles of wood and flint for a fire."
"I do also have a magical, burning sword," Zelda told her, reaching for the much-shrunken, ember-hot version hanging from her weapon belt.
"That will definitely help," Purah nodded, "but you can't be too careful up there. The mountain is treacherous at the best of times, and it's snow-capped year-round. Best be ready for anything. Oh, and watch for monsters that love the cold. Frost-breathing Lizalfos, Ice Keese, Ice Chu… you get the idea."
"Ugh… Yes, unfortunately, I do," Zelda muttered, "I'll do my best. Thanks for the advice, Purah."
"Anytime, Princess. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to speak to Koyin… unless there's something else I can do for you?"
The saucy wink at the end was probably just designed to tease both her and the ranch-girl, but Zelda couldn't say for certain as she told her no, then headed for the door after giving Koyin a goodbye hug.
"Oh, there you are," Zelda called. "I've been looking for you all afternoon."
Celessa looked up from the cage that still held Bubmin the blue Bokoblin, "Oh, hey, Princess. Yeah, I actually heard from Ivee and Prima both that you were leaving town. Heading up the mountain?"
"I am," she replied with a smile, "and good afternoon, Bubmin."
"Bumin say hi when Bubmin not eating," the Bokoblin grunted, then went back to chewing on a leg of mutton.
Zelda rolled her eyes at him, assuming that Celessa had been the one to feed him, since she had clearly been locking the cage as Zelda reached the clearing where the celebration had occurred the night before. "Well, I… What you said about the spring sounded intriguing. I also have a better, more reliable name for it, I think."
"Oh? From where?"
She smiled at her friend and savior's sudden interest, "From Purah. She's old, a lot older than she looks. She was around during the Calamity, and a researcher back then. I- back then, so I don't remember it- apparently have already been up the mountain once, though she says it's far more dangerous now. It's called the Spring of Wisdom."
"Oooh," Celessa replied quietly, drawing out the word, "That does sound familiar… must've been misremembering what Grandma told me as a kid. Uh… so, are you open to having some company?"
"Not just open, but happy for it. I came to ask, since you're more experienced in general than I am."
"I don't know about that anymore," Celessa laughed, "Hearing some of the stories they tell about you in the Ton Pu common room at night. Some regular-old heroine of old on a white steed, you'd think. But sure, Princess, I'd be happy to go with you. I'm mostly ready… but it's a little late to set out, I think. Should we leave in the morning?"
"That'd be best, I think," Zelda agreed. "I've already spoken to Prima about staying one more night. If you aren't paid up, we could share the room? Bed's plenty large enough, and I don't move too much from what I've been told."
Celessa blushed, but nodded, "Alright, I can do that. No promise I won't get a little handsy… my last traveling partner complained about it a few times. I just like being warm, and with it being cold up there, you know… anyway, I've got some cold weather gear already, too."
"As do I," Zelda agreed, "but I'm going to spend the evening cooking up some elixirs and maybe some enchanted food to help ward off the cold. That, a few torches, and my Flameblade should be enough, I think…"
"You've a Flameblade?" Celessa asked, eyes wide, "I've been dying to get my mitts on one of those fancy things. And you can't find much more useful in general just for staying warm than a magical, red-hot sword, am I right?"
"I'd think not," Zelda chuckled. "Alright, well, shall we get up at dawn, then?"
"You bet. I'm gonna set Bubmin free in about an hour after he's eaten, maybe guide him down to the beach so he can help ward off the more, uh, feral ones that might be left. Any issue with that? Doesn't feel right to me to leave him locked up forever, especially after your speech."
"No, that sounds great. Bubmin, you listen to Celessa, okay? Don't go bothering the Village people any."
"Bubmin not," he almost snorted as if offended, "Bubmin only want meat and fuck, like Bubmin say again and again. Fish and Crabs good meat, too."
"Alright, then. Thank you again for your help, Bubmin, and I'll see you tonight, Celessa. I'm sure Prima won't mind showing you to my room. I've got a few more goodbyes to get to, but I should be back at the Inn in about an hour myself."
"Sure thing, Princess. See you then."
Zelda had to hope that Mount Lanayru would be something she and Celessa could actually climb. She had to hope the Spring of Wisdom was still there, and that it would provide help in some way. She had to hope that Bubmin wouldn't turn evil once more and start ravaging the townsfolk.
She had to hope a lot of things.
But that was alright. Even if hope was all she really had, Zelda had plenty of it, at least for now.
