Chapter 21: From Cold to Burning

It was Lora. She sat at the writing desk with her eyes on an important-looking scroll, using the remaining light from the fire to write. Her robes swished gently as she reached to dip her quill in ink.

"Finally awake?" she asked, not yet glancing at him.

Link had missed her over the past day. He tried to play it casual as he got up and stretched, but he was really fighting the urge to charge over to her.

"Is there something wrong with your bed?" asked Lora.

"Oh, no. I just woke up from a dream and couldn't stay asleep…"

"What was it about?"

He went and fetched his drawing for her. Upon seeing it Lora immediately said, "Nightoll Pass. Without a doubt."

"You know about it?!"

"Yes. I've encountered those from the Outside like you, remember? Others have described or illustrated this very same picture to me. And while it's a location in your world, it's strange…sometimes, in the eastern kingdom of Serenala," she explained, "the pass appears as a mirage on the farthest horizons…"

Link snuck a glance sideways towards Sela. She was hiding her emotions by lowering the intelligence in her eyes and pretending not to listen, but he could still see faint shock in her features.

"Does that mean that…" he began, only for Lora to cut him off with a simple glance.

"Mirage, Link. I won't let you sail off the edge chasing something that isn't there. You won't tell Tetra about this."

He lowered his head, disappointed. "Yes, ma'am…"

"There's something I don't I understand, though," Lora said, bringing the parchment closer. "If you both were at the pass and entered the realm like so many others, you should have appeared in the eastern seas. You both seemed to have appeared on the very opposite side of the realm, in a spot that was believed to have no distinctive connection to the Outside.

"There are multiple ways to access the realm, but they all bottleneck into a single entrance point. Does that make sense, relatively? It never mattered how one comes in, they always appear in one spot, as noted historically. Your and Tetra's case is extremely abnormal."

"You never mentioned any of this before," Link responded plainly.

"I—didn't," Lora admitted. "The details simply hadn't crossed my mind before, how odd they were. I've been very distracted."

Link took a look at the parchment, which was filled top-to-bottom with her neat, tiny handwriting. What words he could make were too long or fancy for him to even imagine pronouncing.

"I've fallen behind, too." Lora said, adjusting her reading glasses. "But that's my fault, with my poor time management skills. I can be quite lazy sometimes." Her quill tip scraped against the bottom of the inkwell. "Would you happen to have any more ink?"

He went and grabbed some out of the upstairs closet. She thanked him but otherwise went back to working in silence. Link pulled a chair up and sat with her. He had a feeling she was still watching him without even looking in his direction.

Tetra does that too…is it something only girls can do? Link wondered. He took his picture and looked it over for a while, trying to stir his waking mind. Nothing else came to the forefront of his memories, so he became bored and stared out the window for a while. A random question came to mind.

"Um…Lora?"

"Yes?"

"Why…don't you laugh? Or smile?"

She raised her head. Link screamed and fell back out of his chair, Sela tumbling off his shoulder. Lora had smiled.

Lora had given him the biggest, grandest smile she could manage and it was horrifying.

Seconds later, Link found the courage to peek up from behind the table. Lora was back to being her normal passive self as if nothing had just happened.

"Regardless of whatever funny rumors you may've heard, I still know how to emote like any other human being," she said, scanning over her work. "I simply have very little reason to show emotion. It's how I was trained."

"By…the Emperor?" Link mewled, still staring wide-eyed from behind cover.

"Yes. His methods stick. I'm not interested in voluntarily changing them either, even if I'm no longer working under him. Just don't be like Pisces and try to get me to laugh with bad jokes or foolish blunders…do you do either of those things?"

"…both." Link groaned.

"I thought so. Try to make others laugh, then. Don't be concerned with me. I'm as fine as I want to be," Lora said, rolling up the scroll and tying it with a ribbon. "As long as I get my naps, that is."

To add to Link's horror, Lora now turned her attention towards Sela.

"That's the squirrel you found? How did you tame it?"

"It—she was hungry, so I gave her food and she liked me," Link said carefully, hoping that would be the end of it. Lora studied the squirrel on his shoulder for a few seconds more but seemed to accept it. Her eyes moved to level with his. Link had a feeling he knew what was coming.

"I heard from AJ about what happened a few days ago," she said, and he bowed his head in shame. "I'm not upset. I do have to wonder how you both missed picking up the target amount of wages. Or…any of them."

"I think we were just, um…distracted. Heather wouldn't walk sometimes, and I kept falling asleep…Finly, she…"

"Oh, she told me she ran into you both."

"She helped us a lot…"

Lora looked off for a moment, thoughtful. "Heather wouldn't act right, you said?"

"Mostly for Tetra."

"Was she fine with you?"

"Mhm."

"Would you say you're good with animals in general?"

"Yes. They seem to like me. Especially pigs."

"…I see," Lora said, studying Sela again.

"Where were you yesterday, Lora?"

"Court. All day. The nobles must conspire to choose the same day to complain about all of their petty issues. And I was called in at the last moment…King Hearth couldn't handle them on his own, not without the Queen by his side. She's his crutch."

It was time for Link to get ready for the day. He made sure to remember his new bag and Sela turned into a scarf, wrapping herself around his neck as the norm. They thought to come up with an excuse if Lora happened to ask where the 'squirrel' had gone or where he'd gotten the scarf.

But she didn't ask either. As Link came down the stairs fastening his shield to his back, Lora said, "One of your windows down here was unlocked. You need to make sure that they're all secured before you go to bed."

"We—I did, Mother," Link answered respectfully, straightening his bag. "Um…I even double checked last night."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded and was a little scared at the agitation billowing in her eyes. Link very roughly detected that Lora wasn't annoyed with him anymore, but wasn't sure who or what could've taken his place.

"Tetra was awake when I stopped by earlier, so I sent her to the Octowok," Lora said as they left. "She seemed surlier than usual."

Link fiddled with his bag's strap. I know it's because of me…I hope we don't go there. She still probably won't want to see me.

"Do you have any idea why she's like that?" Lora asked. "You seem nervous."

"I-I think it's…because of something I can't remember."

"You mean in the same vein in how you can't recall what led to you being here?"

"Yes. And I think, maybe, both things might be connected," Link expressed suddenly. He sighed. "I just can't…"

"Remember."

Lora stopped short, staring into the distance with her arms limp at her sides. Link immediately became alarmed.

"Lora…what's wrong?" he fretted, seizing handfuls of her robes. She didn't respond. "L…Mother?! Tell me what's wrong!"

"Hush," she spoke, hardly moving her lips. "I'm trying to remember something myself…you just reminded me—I almost have it…"

She put a hand on his head and uttered a short phrase he couldn't catch. Though suddenly, Link's unease melted away. She had told him to be quiet. It was alright. She only needed to think, so he would be quiet.

Lora stared into space. Link stared at her. And around them, other tenants were beginning to stare out of obligation.

Link slowly lowered himself to the ground, not taking his eyes off Lora. The morning breeze blew against them and he idly thought about changing its direction. He knew better than to pull the Wind Waker out with Lora there.

I wonder…since I'm her son… can I get away with using magic?

It was the first time he considered the possibility, not that he often thought about bypassing high laws. He would have to wait to ask the question, though.

"Link…to your left," Sela spoke so quietly he barely heard or noticed her. He did a double take, holding back his displeasure. The greasy proprietor was heading their way.

"Hey, Lora," Edna called. "Got a little time?"

"…I would stay away if I were you," Lora's voice was now very quiet and dangerous. When Edna still kept coming, Link listened to his gut.

"The old fool!" Sela hissed furiously, as he stood and retreated a few steps.

"I was looking at damage assessments and decided to repair two other units in the lot first," Edna was saying. "Just give me a time and I'll get your son's—"

Link saw how smooth and effortless the motion was…Lora almost casually pivoted, striking Edna across the face with a solid punch. The proprietor was flung several feet and collapsed awkwardly onto her side.

"You can be very funny," Lora stalked over to Edna, flexing her wrist in her other hand. "Just give you time? I feel as though I've done that multiple times, far too many, really. And they say I don't show mercy..."

The metal-tipped fingers of her glove sparked. Link ran forward and grabbed her arm. "Wait!" he cried.

"…Link," Lora said calmly, watching Edna weakly flop on the ground. "Don't interrupt me while I'm working."

He didn't move, couldn't even find anything to say. Lora pointed her free hand towards him and said, "Magistrate: Aerias…"

An invisible force swept his feet up, propping him parallel to the ground. Link went soaring upwards in an arc drawn by Lora's finger and crashed to his back on a nearby rooftop.

Quickly, he darted up to the edge as the first scream tore from Edna. Lora had grabbed her by the shoulder, digging her metal claws in so hard they drew blood.

"How dare you come to me as if I owe you something," Lora hissed. "Did you think I wouldn't notice you scurrying your filthy hide around like the rat you are?"

"I wasn't, I swear I-I…"

"You know not to lie…so what were you about to say?"

Lora seized her by the throat and slashed her across the face, leaving five bloody welts. Edna began to scream. Lora covered her mouth and released several pulses of electricity from her claws, causing Edna's face droop slightly from paralysis.

Link had the feeling something bad was about to happen. It seemed like no one else was going to step in, either, and the gravity of it struck him—Lora was about to kill Edna.

Why?! Link thought, perching on the edge of the roof. What did she do?!

"Link, stay out of it," Sela hissed, but he ignored her as he hopped off to the ground.

"I'll not take long because I'm sick and tired of you," Lora said. "You've been sneaking into tenants' houses, haven't you?"

"I-I'v een ooin' r'pairs," Edna croaked.

"Liar."

Lora slashed Edna across the face again, this time in the opposite direction. Link found what he was looking for in his bag and took out the Wind Waker, hiding it behind his back.

"What have I told you? Not to lie?" Lora raised her voice, asking, "Has this happened to anyone else, your doors or windows suddenly becoming unlocked in the night?"

The tenants weren't foolish. While some pretended not to hear or ignored the question, many of those listening did nod, uttering brief acknowledgements. Lora's eyes darted around, weeding for those who seemed dishonest, but found no one.

"Has anyone reported these issues? Anyone? You, Amalia? Turto, you as well? How about anyone else?"

It was dead silent. Lora hoisted Edna up by the throat, flicking blood off her metal claws.

"So, it's true…and many of them seem too afraid to report their issues to you, now don't they? Is there some sort of haint lurking around?" Lora inquired. "Is that what you were going to suggest next, that a ghost is prowling the grounds?"

"Y-Ye…s-s-s…"

"Unbelievable. You pathetic piece of garbage…"

Lora raised her clawed hand; although she was blocking Edna from him, Link had the notion that the proprietor was about to get her throat ripped out. He quickly counted to four twice in his head and then manipulated the baton behind his back. Once he pictured the Octowok in his mind he subtly flicked the Wind Waker towards Lora.

As the wind picked up and began swirling around her, Lora glanced to the side in minor annoyance. She realized too late what was happening and noticed Link sheepishly waving goodbye to her.

"What…" Lora began, "have you—"

A cyclone appeared around her, sweeping her up before disappearing with her in tow. Link ran forward, feeling like the entire world was turning still and gray around him.

"Link," Sela choked out a whisper. "You…"

"I know!"

I…

I'm going to be in so much trouble…

With his heart pounding, Link dropped next to Edna's side. "You little fool. You just made it wors' for the both of us…" she gasped.

"Can you get up?" he asked. Unsurprisingly, she didn't try. Link looked at all the people standing around; plenty of them had already begun running away by this point.

"Can someone help me?" he demanded, putting a little force in his tone. No one was that foolish, except maybe—

"'e-ere I am," Turto hobbled forth, looking very scared. "Link, what did you do to your mama…?"

He helped Link carry Edna to her office and into the room behind her counter. Along with the bed, a pallet was set up in the corner.

Does…someone else live here with her? Link wondered. He turned to thank Turto, only to be greeted with the door slamming shut. He jumped, bristling when the woodcarver screamed in absolute horror.

Edna groaned. "We're dead."

"Turto," They could hear Lora's low and icy voice outside the room. "Later, you're going to tell me who did that to your face."

Link was already backing up into the bed by the time the door flew open, revealing a very stone-cold, fuming Lora.