Chapter 7: A Simple Heist

I spent the day exploring Gerudo Town further. The Gerudo Palace is now known as Fort Daphnes, and it is where the commander of the Hylian occupation force resides. Troops go to and from there, but no Gerudo are allowed. Several times, I saw Gerudos looking toward the Palace with contempt in their eyes. Even though the occupation was fifteen years ago, losing their sacred palace is still an open wound in their minds.

Around sunset, I went back toward the hotel. As I approached someone jumped down from a rooftop and grabbed me from behind.. "Hi, Lasella." I said without even looking back.

Lasella was only joke-mugging me this time, thankfully. She released me, patted me on the back, and said "James, we went over your story a few times, and we've decided you're either telling the truth or you're mentally ill. Either way, we have a job for you. It's a chance to make some Rupees, and it may lead to a chance to encounter Link."

At this point, whether or not I was going to help wasn't even a question. I need to get back to Earth, and aligning with these pro-Ganondorf Gerudo could help toward that goal. But also, it didn't matter. The Hylian occupation was an oppressive force. No laundry list of atrocities from Ganondorf could justify brainwashing their children, erasing their gods, and arresting people who speak of equality. "Lasella, it's true that our goals coincide. I need Link's blood, but I also believe your cause is just. How can I help?"

Lasella seemed delighted at these words. "Hylian taxes on Gerudo-owned homes are just exorbitant tributes to the occupation. They're trying to force people out of their homes so Hylian merchants can buy them and rent them back to the Gerudo. Our goal tonight is to procure financial capital to help these homeowners."

"Lasella, you're amazing." I blurted out. My only goal is to get back and help my family not be broke, but Lasella was putting her life on the line to help people that she hardly knows.

She shrugged. "Amazing would be helping them pay the tax. Let's get to work James. Follow me."

We journeyed back toward Hyrule Field, stopping by the stables along the way. Our plan was to rob a stage coach that was carrying tribute Rupees back to Hyrule National Bank. I got Midnight back from the stables, and Lasella hopped on back. "I've got to say, Lasella, I'm not an experienced rider. Do you want to lead this?"

"I can't. You're my husband."

"What?"

"In our scheme, that's your character. We're going to stop the stagecoach and ask for directions. You, a trustworthy Hylian, will explain that we only need to return to Castle Town so that I can enroll in Hylian language courses. They will let us follow them, and then mysterious and wonderful things will happen."

"Mysterious and wonderful, huh?"

"Very."

We rode toward the middle of Hyrule Field and waited. After about twenty minutes, the outline of several horses and a wagon approached from the southwest, coming from Gerudo Town. As they came closer, I could see that several of the horses were rode by Hylian Knights. I was pretty nervous about this. The side of the wagon read Hyrule National Bank.

"Lasella, are we going to kill these people?" I whispered.

"Maybe. Probably." I looked back at her. She grinned mischievously. "But I said I was probably going to kill you in the alley the other day, so that's how that goes. We'll see."

"Very well." I said with reluctant acceptance. It's put up or shut up. Time to commit capital murder.

I internally squirmed, red in the face with nervousness, and rode toward the stagecoach. Taking a deep breath, I said, "Excuse me, sirs. Might a lost traveler receive aid from the benevolence of the Knighthood. I am Tingle, a historian and reporter of true news. My wife here, Nabooru." I looked back at Lasella, who did her best to hold back laughter at the fake name I'd given her. "and I need to return to Castle Town so that they can learn to speak the King's tongue."

"Savaaq. taramnu anita bwenetta!" 'Nabooru' said, which means God-knows-what."Me learn Hyrule talk."she continued."Link good! Hero good!"she said.

"I get into arguments and difficulties with these Gerudo every day." one of the Knights said. "It's good to see that at least one is coming to the Light. Follow us, we're going toward castle town with a cargo shipment."

We followed behind, and the Knight continued talking, "Are you enrolling in Ms. Ravencrest's Hyrulean Language course?" The question seemed abrupt.

"No, my sister is going to teach her." I said in response, hoping he'd buy it.

"And what part of Castle Town does she live in?" the Knight inquired.

Oh boy. I was being tested here. I was 80% sure this Knight was trying to find a hole in our story. He had no reason to doubt us, but my 'wife' was probably reason enough in his mind. To be fair, we were about to steal thousands of Rupees from his convoy! "It's um, down that alley near the Bazaar. Hey, do the Bazaar owner still give out discounts to certain Knights? I've been in Gerudo Town for several years now, meeting Nabooru and reporting on how a new generation of Gerudo are learning the justness of King Hyrule. Oh how I miss the sights and scents of the Castle!"

"Yes, all Knights get discounts now on all goods and services." He raised his visor, smiling at me. "You'll have to forgive me for so many questions, sir. There have been many attempts to raid our cargo shipments in the past. I needed to verify that you are who you said you are."

"Would you recommend Ms. Ravencrest's course?" I asked, doubling down. "I confess I haven't heard of her. If her course is proven, perhaps Nabooru will learn the Hyrulean tongue better from her."

"There's no such person, unfortunately. That was a test question. By my honor, I meant no ill in deceiving you. If you check with the Traveler's Bureau, they'll probably know where you can find a professional language tutor."

We continued riding, with me periodically glancing back at Lasella. How were we going to do this? The sound of the Zora River became discernible in the distance. In an instant, Lasella whispered to me, "Remain calm." She reached into her back and pulled out a smoke bomb.

Midnight was spooked. I began frantically tried to hold on and calm her, but I was unable to do this. Midnight kicked me off and ran out of the smoke.

"What is going on?" I shouted. "Las-Nabooru, are you ok? My beloved wife! I cannot control my horse. What is going on?"

As the smoke cleared, I could see that the wagon had driven right into the Zora River and got caught.

"Go with the Goddesses." Lasella whispered into the ear of the chatty knight as she extinguished his life with her scimitar. I saw three other bodies laying on the ground.

I walked toward Midnight and soothed her, not wanting to see what Lasella was doing. When I rode back toward the stagecoach, I saw Lasella standing over the frightened stagecoach driver with her scimitar still drawn.

"Um, Nabooru, perhaps this man can be spared. He is not our enemy."

Lasella looked at me, mildly disgusted by sentence. Shaking her head once, she announced. "Tingle, I'm willing to accept that I'm evil for the things I do, but I'm notthat evil..She turned back to the driver."If you attribute this to the Gerudo, we will know and you will pay for that. You make a lot of trips from the desert, and you might not return from one of those trips if you rat us out. Understood?"

"Yes."

"So what happened here today?"

"Bokoblins attacked us and took our Rupee shipment."

"That's right." Lasella, announced. My mind went back toward Klagnor. I didn't like that she was framing them for Gerudo actions, but Bokoblins are more spread out than the Gerudo. The Hylians can't directly take vengeance on one group of Bokoblins for this action. I dwelt on it for a few seconds, but then it hit me. The Hylians are already killing Bokoblins and essentially killing Gerudo. This is a war, and Lasella a fighter in that war. She's making the correct tactical moves.

We gathered five bags of Rupees and put them on Midnight's saddle. I rode due south for a bit - just on the chance that someone was observing – and then cut back west toward Gerudo Town.

Back in the Thieves' Hideout, Naresa greeted us with open arms. We had fruity cocktails and spent the night playing games and mulling over future plans. I was paid 500 Rupees for my role in the heist.

Naresa wanted me to meet with someone in the coming days, a Gerudo leader. "This leader of ours may be able to help you on your goal of regaining of your life." She wouldn't tell me the leader's name, which was tantalizing. I went over my knowledge of the games and wondered who it could be, assuming it was anyone I'd heard of. Nabooru? Urbosa? Riju? I was drawing a blank.

I tried to guess, but Naresa wouldn't budge on keeping the name a secret. "Judging from your confession last night, you know who they are."

"It's not Tingle, is it? That would be the best!" I laughed heartily, but then I realized the joke was lost on my Gerudo friends. "Eh, gamer joke. Never mind that. I'll meet them when they're ready!"