The Road To Hyrule City

Two days on the road were now taking toll on Link and his companions. He was saddle sore, soaked, and tired, and he was certain Impa and Paldnor felt no better. The three had left Porsail before sunrise, and to Link’s relief, no one had come to take vengeance for what had happened to Solormin’s group. Paldnor had been true to his word; he prepared for the journey with a speed that betrayed his years and Link envied his eagerness. The first day, the three companions concentrated on putting distance between them and the town of Porsail, but the second day brought a heavy rain that slowed their pace to a crawl. To Link’s surprise, Paldnor was silent and when he did speak, it was mostly to Impa. Link scratched Epona on the side of her neck and the young mare shook her head; he could see that she was having as rough of a time as he was.
“Just another day girl, just one more.” Link whispered to the mare. The rain had started to subside the smell of spring filled the air. “We need to stop.” He called out.
“What’s wrong, Link?” Impa answered, reigning in her white stallion.
“I’m sore. I need to stretch, and I’m sure the horses could use the break.” Link answered as he dismounted from Epona.
“There is still a days travel ahead of us, Link. We don’t have long.” She replied, following Link’s lead and dismounting.
Paldnor rode up on his brown gelding and also dismounted. “We have long enough to stop and rest, maybe even sleep a little.” He said and they walked their horses to a grouping of trees near the road. Link removed Epona’s saddle and the young mare nuzzled Link, who patted her on the side. Link smiled as his horse leisurely trotted on the grass before she started to graze. He then helped Paldnor take the reins from his horse; he could see that the weather had not lowered the old man’s spirits.
“It’s a shame we don’t have more time.” Paldnor commented, heaving the saddle from the gelding’s back. “A night at an inn would be good for my old bones.” After the saddle had been removed from the gelding, Paldnor removed a small sack from the saddlebag and took out some dried beef. “I shall follow the horses’ lead.” He added before biting into the jerky, and then offered some to Link and Impa. Both declined and Paldnor stood under a tree while he feasted on the jerky. Link and Paldnor had hardly spoken since leaving Porsail, and Link was sure the old man had many questions.
“I owe you an explanation, Paldnor.” Link said, leaning against a tree and Paldnor, still chewing on his jerky, looked up at him. “About what happened in town.” Paldnor swallowed quickly before speaking.
“Quite a display, I was worried that Solormin’s group was about to gut you, and then FLASH! Everyone of them except you is on the ground.” Paldnor’s normally calm face had a troubled look. “Magic, Miss Impa said. I should have know I’d seen it before.”
“You have?” Link asked curiously.
“Yes, a traveling healer helped my wife once when she’d fallen ill. It took him all day and he was exhausted afterwards. You, Link, wielded it so effortlessly.” The old man’s fear leaked through in his voice. “And you lived at palace, knew the princess well enough to be invited to her celebration.” Paldnor’s voice now held anticipation. “How that happened I’m sure is quite a story.” It took quite a bit of effort for Link to laugh hard but a small chuckle escaped his lips.
“Quite a story indeed.” He said quietly and looked passed Paldnor to see Impa’s stern face, and the look she gave him said more than any words could. Many times she’d told both him and Zelda to watch what they said, the secret of the Triforce must be kept. Paldnor looked at Link and he knew that the old man wanted to hear the story.
“You should have said something earlier; a good story would have made the road a tad easier on my old bones.” Paldnor said, chewing on the jerky. Link thought quickly before speaking; he didn’t want to tell a lie to his friend but he couldn’t tell Paldnor the whole truth.
“I was a ward of the Royal Family.” Link started telling Paldnor, who sat and listened intently as he ate his jerky. “I’m an orphan and I wandered into Hyrule city. I was living on the streets when Impa found me and took me to the palace.” The old man wore a confused look.
“Why did she take you to the palace?” He asked and Link opened his hand.
“Because...” Link saw amazement in Paldnor’s eyes as a small globe of bright light formed a few inches above Link’s hand. “My ability to use magic is natural, and that absolutely fascinated the royal scholars.” He said, closing his hand and extinguishing the light. “I also snuck past the guards and into the royal gardens.” Paldnor’s face showed surprise. “The Princess Zelda has the same natural talent, so I studied magic with the princess.” Link took some comfort in the half-truth that he had told Paldnor, and too Link’s relief it looked as if the old man was satisfied with the story. “Why did you leave?” Paldnor asked and Link thought quickly; telling the whole truth was not possible.
“I studied magic for three years with royal scholars. After I turned thirteen I was sent to the stables to clean stalls.” Link answered with a shrug. “I did not want to live in the stables.” There was much more to the story; Link had left out his nighttime meetings with the Princess, and the Queen’s hatred for him
“Did you enjoy the time you had in the palace?” Paldnor asked him, and Link nodded.
“I did, very much.” He answered, with memories filling his mind. “I met many friends.”
“A shame. Good times never last forever even when they last a long time... It’s never long enough.” Link felt Paldnor’s heart beat change and for moment there was silence and the old man’s heart beat returned to normal. “Of course we can always cherish them.” Paldnor sat on a spot under the tree that had managed to stay dry despite the rain. “Is there time for an old man take a quick nap?” He asked trying to get comfortable.
“There is some, I’ll wake you when we’re ready to leave.” Link answered and Paldnor yawned a thank you. Link walked away to give Paldnor some peace and took a moment to clear his mind: what did Zelda have to ask of him? The thought made his head ache.
“You trust him far too much.” Impa said suddenly appearing behind him, startling him.
“Why is it you taught that Sheikah trick to Zelda and not to me?” He asked agitated.
Impa showed an annoyed look that Link was quite familiar with. “It is not a trick Link. It is a skill that is handed down from mother to daughter because only Sheikah females posses the grace necessary to be invisible to the senses.” Link nodded his annoyance leaking through.
“Impa, I’m not certain I should be going with you.” He said, crossing his arms.
“Why do you think so, Link? Zelda asked you, do you not want to go?” Impa asked.
“It’s not my world Impa... I stomached it as long as I could.” Link confessed with his back to Impa.
“From what I remember you were quite happy. It was that world that couldn’t stomach you.” Impa’s voice had lost some of its cold monotone.
“An unforgivable sin in the eyes of royalty.” He thought back to his memories of the palace. “I’ve been all throughout Hyrule. I found Navi, but no peace.”
“You didn’t have to leave, Link.” She said, with her normal hard tone.
“Zelda and I were kept apart... and they were... making arrangements for me.” Link said the last part with distaste.
“Someone you know would be rather displeased to hear you say that.” Impa replied, which caused Link’s anger to flare up.
“I don’t care Impa, I wanted to make my own decisions. So did Zelda.”
Impa nodded at Link’s statement. “And you left.” She said, looking Link in the eyes. “Do you know the pain you put her through?”
“It wasn’t easy for me either.” Link uttered, kicking the dirt.
“You will have face this eventually Link. You and Zelda both.” Link nodded. “Until then, this trip is not over, and I suggest you follow your friend.” She said, pointing to the unconscious Paldnor.