…and into the hustle and bustle of the lower city. The roar of the trainyard went on somewhere off to Link’s right, down a smaller road that connected with the main boulevard.
Link tried hard not to shove his way through the thick crowd. A few people veered out of his way when they saw him come, perhaps noticing his equipment and mistaking him for a knight. Either way, he found his way over to the edge of the road to avoid having to push his way through the rest.
Lining the wide street were hundreds of little stalls selling all kinds of wares, save on the corner where there were larger shops and businesses. Link looked down some of the other roads that broke off from the main street to see houses of increasing quality the further he went into the city, smaller shops, and a few parks filled with children.
As he reached the center of Castle Town, the street opened up into a huge circle with a fountain in the middle. Restaurants lined the sides of the town, their sweet smells blowing down across the roads to lure in more customers. A few venders were peddling around the fountain, but the edge of the fountain was mostly lined with artists painting the citizens as they went by.
It was here in this open place that Link finally noted the different races in Castle Town. A goron nearly plowed his over in their rush to get somewhere. A few zoras were soaking themselves in the fountain to keep from drying out in the hot afternoon sun. Several Sheikah were only identifiable by their red eyes, since they were out of uniform, enjoying a day off from work.
“Castle Town is the hub of Hyrule, Link. Were you expecting it to be bland and empty?”
Link went on to the north. The noble’s distract was laid out around him. Not even the quality shops along the street could hide the tall buildings. The upper class lived here, a place Link didn’t think he could ever enjoy. The houses may have been huge and beautiful, but they were too open and empty for Link’s taste. His tree house still looked better to him.
As the wall of the city appeared again, Link noticed that Yore had disappeared. He paused and looked around for the bird. Even for a hawk like Yore, it would be hard to keep up with anyone here.
Instead of finding Yore, Link found a cloaked follower. They kept, if not clung, to the shadows, but Link knew they were following him. A speciously large dog trotted at their heels, its silver pelt dulled by the shadows its master clung to.
Link turned around and went on towards the wall. It was nothing. Just a chance seeing. Yet he knew they were still following him.
As he went under the high arc out of Castle Town, Link made a brief glance back. They were still there, still a good distance behind in the shadows. Link turned around, only to have to stop as he stared across at the sight before him.
A few natives laughed at him as they watched Link gapping at the huge sight ahead. There was a long, white stone bridge spanning across the rest of Zora River to the bank on the far side, where a white castle stood, taller than a grown Deku tree. It was probably as big as his village in its entirety.
“Move!”
Link jumped out of the way as guards plowed there way through across to the castle. He watched as a dark cloud formed over the castle, and storm clouds rolled overhead. Something wasn’t right.
Pushing through the crowd, Link raced after the guards. He looked up at the roof of the building, and saw Zeal with her arms out wide, casting some kind of spell into the air. Link hesitated. He knew he wasn’t a match for Zeal yet, but someone needed his help in there.
Servants rushing passed him to get away, Link pulled out his sword and continued on the path. Zeal must have noticed him, because all of a sudden her hand cast out towards the bridge. An orb of dark magic raced towards Link.
Two heads rose from the water. Link lowered his shield when he realized this, staring up at the two dragons guarding him. They were a deep, royal blue, coated in golden armor. Dragons had near vanished from Hyrule years ago, so it was a wonder for everyone around. Nearly everyone stopped to stare for atleast a moment.
Zeal repealed her attack with a brief laugh, before returning to her storm cloud. Link almost expected her to consume the entire castle in the shadows, when a brilliant light shot straight out from one of the towers.
No normal human would have seen the origin of the light, but Link did. Perched in one of the tower windows, Link watched a blonde haired girl ready and aim a second arrow at the wound she had created in the black cloud even as its dark walls began to close again. She fired with truest aim, sending her arrow and the rope tied to it through the gap and down to the bank below.
There was a golden flash as the girl strung her bow over top of the rope and began to zipline down to the water. A Sheikah produced herself in the window, sliding down moments after. After the girl had landed in the water, the Sheikah turned around in the air, and tossed a thin, razor sharp blade at the rope to hide their exit.
The rope splashed against the water as the two raced off along the bank far below. Zeal must have heard it, because she paused. Then, there was a brief laugh, and she vanished as she had done in the temple, and so did the clouds surrounding the castle.
“What were you thinking?”
Link was jerked around, the hood falling off of his follower. He blinked, recognizing the face. “Endeavor?”
“Of course, you twit! Who did you think it was? I have a silver wolf as company, not a slobbering beast like one of the Demon Lord's dogs,” she retorted.
“You were dressed in all black…,” Link muttered.
She snarled. “It’s dark navy, you…ahh…I would not expect you to know about the Drex’s traditions. Before I can take on my people’s color, I have to study in the ways of the goddess’s. Nayru is my last one, so I wear her blue.”
Link ignored the fact that Endeavor’s clothes were next to black, though he began to notice the blue with her hood down. He asked, “You’re studying the Goddess of Wisdom and you called me a twit?”
“Because you are one!” Endeavor replied. She glanced up at the two dragons, still hovering overhead. She said something in a language Link didn’t recognize. She groaned as the dragons went back into the water. “It is ancient Hylian, Link.” She shook her head. “We do not have time for this. The Demon Lord left this morning back to his Dark World. Zeal was trying to capture Princess Zelda here, before she and her guardian escaped. The King will want to know about all this.”
“That was the princess?” Link asked.
“Yes, it was,” she looked down the river. “She is lucky Impa is still loyal to her, after so many reincarnations of uselessness.”
Link said, “I don’t know about useless. She fired that bow on her own. I’ve never seen a truer marksman.”
“Then maybe she will finally play a part in this quest,” Endeavor said snidely.
There were bitter feelings from Endeavor. Link caught a glanced of Endeavor’s left hand as she went on towards the castle. Her gloves covered most of her hand, but for a moment, he saw a familiar shape. “This Lost One. Who were they before in my previous lives?”
Endeavor paused. She said, “Guides. Never assuming great power because it was not there to take. What power should have been theirs was banished to a far away world until very recently.”
“You mean there is a-” Link began.
“I mean that this is not the place to talk about it,” Endeavor replied. “Nor are you ready to know it. You will be though. We need to visit the King, then we will travel on to Death Mountain to visit Din’s Temple.”
With her wolf loping beside her, and Yore hovering overhead, Endeavor went on towards the castle. Link followed steps behind, not sure what to think of this lanky, darkly-clad figure that had been helping him now that he had met her in person.
Bodies were strewn across the floor, some unconscious, others not as fortunate. A new routine of guards were patrolling the castle while medics hurried others off to their quarters. In all the commotion, not one bothered to stop the two of them.
The King was a big man, and his robes made him look heavier than he probably was. A broadsword hung at his hip as he shouted, “I want to know where he is! His ‘band of rabble’ as you called it bested more than half my men in a matter of minutes. I want renewed forces to Fort Lanayru in a week, and desert searches as far as the Scar.”
The councilmen bowed, nervous at the King’s growing wrath. Endeavor spoke up, “Your Majesty.”
“What?” the King demanded as he turned to face them. His eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”
Endeavor answered, “I am Endeavor Westwind, of the Drex. My Queen did warn me of your temper before I came, but I suppose a little rage is understandable in a time like this.”
“A Drex, hmm…,” the King muttered. He pointed at Link. “And you. Who are you? Are you a cadet?”
Link replied, “I’m Link, of Eveningale Village.”
“You’re a nameless, and you bear a sword? Who authorized that?” the King demanded. “Which one of my instructors is training nameless sons?”
He hesitated, before answering. “Head Master Kaepora.”
Endeavor added, “And with good reason. This is your Hero, King Deopon, chosen by the goddesses themselves.”
“He’s the Hero?” the King asked. “Prove it then.”
Link pulled back his half glove to reveal the Triforce marking on his left hand. It began to glow. Out of the corner of his eye, Link saw a faint glow beneath Endeavor’s glove, but he said nothing to bring attention to it.
“So it’s true…then that man was…,” King Deopon muttered.
“It was, my lord,” Endeavor replied. “But it is still best not to speak his name.”
“Then my Zelda is…,” he suddenly stopped. “Were they here for her?”
Endeavor nodded. “They were, but your daughter is strong. She and her guardian have escaped up the river. The Zoras praise Nayru highest of the goddesses. Their queen with protect her until Link and I can reached her.”
“And why would you not be going now?” the King asked, his face darken.
“Because I do not serve you, King Deopon of Hyrule,” Endeavor replied smoothly. “Nor do the goddesses. And the goddesses have ordained that Link must visit their temples. We have been to Farore’s, now we go to Din’s.”
The King demanded, “Why not go to Nayru’s temple and rescue my daughter?”
“That is not what the goddesses have told me will happen,” Endeavor answered. “And Link is not ready for the Temple of Wisedom.”
“Then get him ready!” King Deopon shouted. “Am I understood?”
“Yes, your majesty,” Endeavor replied.
He looked at Link. “And you?”
Link nodded. “Yes, King Deopon.”
The King nodded, before using his finger to bring one of his councilmen up next to the throne. He said, “I need you to write something for me. Now! Hurry up! These people have somewhere to be!”
The councilmen scrambled to get something to write with. He offered a weak smile as he set a quill to the paper. The King began, “This is a permit to the soldier of Hyrule, Link of Eveningale, to use any resource he needs to gain the funds that he needs for his quest.”
Endeavor asked, “What exactly is the use of this permit, your majesty?”
“It is a royal pardon for profitable pillaging,” the King said.
“Are you actually suggesting that the Hero would steal for the innocent citizens of Hyrule?” Endeavor asked.
The King replied, “Not before he had this permit, no, he wouldn't.”
“Why not then create a permit to allow him to take wares for free then in your name?” Endeavor inquired.
“I still have this kingdom to support,” the King replied. Endeavor shook her head as the King went on. “If any citizen of this country should try to stop him, they are punishable by the King.” He extended his hand and the councilmen set the quill in his hand. The King quickly signed it, and handed it to Link. “There.”
Endeavor asked as Link tucked it into his pack, “That is it? That is your decree?”
“Do not insult me, Drex,” the King answered. “You are on land where my word is law. You may not serve me, but I have men who do.”
Pulling out a teal and yellow double helix dagger, Endeavor retorted, “You have no idea what the Drex can do, King Deopon. We may not be your enemies, but it would be wise not to make enemies out of us. I would suggest that you do not threaten me.”
“Where did you get that blade?” the King asked with growing concern and faint interest.
“They are forged by my people, in honor of our deity,” Endeavor replied. “And they are made of strong steel. They can carve through dragon scales in the right hands.”
Link put his hand on Endeavor’s shoulder. She jumped a little as she turned to face him. She blinked, lowering her knife, before sliding it back into its sheath. “Excuse me, your majesty. I have been told my pride is my greatest flaws. It would seem so. Even so, my words are true.”
King Deopon looked between Link and Endeavor. He said, “That is a Ter-”
“It is a knife,” Endeavor answered. “A strong knife, and that is all you need to know.”
The King’s face turned red with anger. “I am the King of Hyrule, not to fool off the street. I will not have secrets kept from me.”
“There are still things that even kings should not know, you majesty,” Endeavor replied. “Now, we really should be off towards the Temple of Power. Death Mountain is a hard climb at night, less you would want Link to fall before he could save your daughter.”
“Yes, but that-” the King went on, confusion on his face as Link stared at Endeavor about the falling comment.
Endeavor bowed shortly, then turned and exited. Link glanced at the King before following Endeavor. He asked, “Was that really a good idea?”
“Yes,” Endeavor replied. “Maybe now he will actually think about what he is doing before he does it.”
“I take it you don’t approve of this permit he’s given me,” Link said.
“Whatever gave that away?” Endeavor questioned, looking at Link as they exited the building. She whistled, the shrill noise floating through the air. Yore and her wolf reappeared in moments of course, patiently waiting for their master’s return.
Link was about to ask why they were still standing there when a black horse with a silver mane and tail galloped up to them. It tossed its head as it came to a halt in front of Endeavor. “This is Quicksilver.” She mounted the horse, Yore and her wolf preparing to move out beside her.
Endeavor extended her hand out to Link. Link stared at it for a moment, contemplating the offer. “Umm…”
“Link, we do not have time. Get on,” she stated.
“I’d rather walk.”
Endeavor replied, “I do not care what you would rather do. We do not have time for rather. Get on.”
Link gripped Endeavor’s hand, and swung over the back of the saddle. He hesitated, looking for something to hold on to. Endeavor sighed, “Grab the horn, Link.”
Reluctantly, Link was forced to reach his arms around Endeavor to the saddle’s horn. Endeavor turned Quicksilver around, and sent the horse into a gallop. The stallion was incredibly fast, faster than The Wind even. They plowed through the crowd, and were back in Hyrule Field in less than a half hour, a quarter of the time it had taken Link to get through town.
As Death Mountain grew taller on the horizon, Link thought about taking Rixa up on that offer of getting his own horse. He would suggest it later. Right now, he felt Quicksilver climbing up towards Kakariko Village…