The Turnpike Inn

Several minutes would pass before the look of total confusion on Paldnor’s face passed, and he joined Link at the table, Impa remained standing.
“You’ve grown, Link.” She said, putting her muscular hands on her hips.
“Five years, that happens, Impa.” Link answered.
“Never a truer statement.” She had returned, and then pulled a rope hanging next to the fireplace. “Enjoy youth, Link; my muscles ache and my joints grow stiff.” Link answered with a smile and within a few moments, Pa’cal, the short innkeeper entered the room.
“Yes, Ma’am?” He said, standing straight in his shaky voice. Impa reached into a purse at her side.
“For you, master innkeeper.” She boomed throwing two red rupees to Pa’cal. “Bring food and ale. We will dine here.” Pa’cal was now wearing look of confusion similar to Paldnor’s. The two men’s eyes met, and Paldnor shrugged.
“I’ll be dining here.” He said, echoing Impa.
“Very well, I shall return shortly.” Pa’cal answered with a small bow and left the room.

Through Link’s smile, he also shared some of Paldnor’s confusion. Why had Impa been sent to find him? And why offer such a large reward for finding him? The upcoming celebration entered mind, but before he could think about it anymore Paldnor spoke to him.
“It sounds as if now you have quite the story to tell, young friend.” His statement made Link shrug.
“Why were you looking for me, Impa?” He asked, finally deciding cut through the confusion. Impa smiled wide and walked to a saddlebag hanging on the back wall. She walked back to the table with a folded letter sealed in gold wax.
“To give you this.” She said handing him the letter. “And to return you to the palace.”
“The palace!?” Paldnor blurted out.
“Why?” Link asked, no longer smiling.
“Read.” Was all Impa would say, and Link turned the letter over to see his name written in a familiar handwriting. He looked at the seal pressed into the wax, the three triangles of the Triforce. He took one final deep breath, and then broke the seal on the letter and began to read.

To my old and dear friend,
I hope you are well and that the years have been good to you. Too much time has passed since I have had the pleasure of your company, Time has been difficult and the days have been lonely. A celebration is being planned for my birthday and I would be honored if you would be in attendance. I look forward to seeing you, Link; we have much to discuss and I have a favor to ask of you, because I trust no one more than you.
Zelda

Link looked up at Impa, dropping the note on the table. He must have been reading the letter for a few minutes because his food and ale had been brought and he’d failed to notice or hear Pa’cal come in with their ale, and then leave.
“What does this mean? This is more than an invitation, Impa?” He asked. Impa returned her hands to her hips.
“That is for her to tell you.” Impa answered, “I am merely the messenger.”
“For who to tell you, Link?” Paldnor asked, breaking a short silence.
“Zelda.” He answered.
“The PRINCESS!?” Paldnor said loudly.
“Lower your voice, Master Paldnor.” Impa said, bringing her hand to her lips.
“My apologies, m’lady.” He answered, blushing in embarrassment. Impa rolled her eyes and took a long pull from her ale flagon. Link’s face was stern but on the inside his anxiety rose; seeing Zelda made his heart race and that she had a favor to ask made him want to ride as hard and fast as Epona would take him to the palace.
“You know what she wishes to ask me, Impa.” Link stated. Impa sighed loudly.
“I do Link, but….”
“But what?” He pressed on, putting more emphasis into his voice.
“It is not my place to ask you.” She answered with the same sternness.
“So I have no choice then.” Link relented. “When do we leave?”
“With the morning sun.” Impa’s answer was immediate. Link finally picked up his flagon.
“The palace… It’s been so long, and…” Link started taking a drink, but Paldnor quickly inquired.
“And what, Link?” He asked.
“Nothing, Paldnor.” Link answered, looking at the old man still hugging the bag to his chest.
“I guess it’s better that way. I’m not sure I can take anymore surprises this night.” Paldnor stated, shaking his head. There was a soft knock at the door.
“Come!” Impa called out, and a tall man with short brown hair and grease-covered apron entered the room with three steaming plates and a bread loaf. “Thank you.” Impa answered and handed the man a blue rupee.
“M’lady.” He said with a bow of his head.
“Thank you, Monal.” Paldnor added as he left.
“Master Paldnor.” Monal answered, closing the door. The smell of the roasted fowl filled the room quickly, and Link wasted no time as he proceeded to devour one of the roasted birds.
“What will you do with all those rupees, Paldnor?” Link asked with his mouth half full. The only sound in the room was the commotion from the main room and of Link’s ravenous eating.
“I don’t know, Link. I just don’t.” Paldnor answered and finally loosened his grip on the bag, and raised the flagon to his lips.
“Do you still wish to see the palace?” Link asked.
“Of course.” He answered before taking a drink. Link glanced over to Impa, who was now cutting the warm bread loaf into slices.
“Then come with us.” Link told him. Paldnor answered by spitting ale across the table. Paldnor coughed several times before he could answer.
“Me!?” He uttered, bringing his hands to his chest.
“Link?” Impa asked with a suspicious tone. “What is it you have in mind?” Link looked to Impa and licked his fingers.
“I’m merely expressing my gratitude.” Link answered, and took a long swig from his flagon before continuing. “Master Paldnor expressed a desire to see the inside of the palace.” Both Paldnor and Impa were showing blank stares. “He’s done so much and offered me his roof and hospitality, I cannot in good conscience go back to the palace without affording him this small token of gratitude.” Impa continued to stare at Link while Paldnor was struggling for words.
“Link… I… I…Just….” He uttered.
“Would you not agree, Impa?” Link said matching her stare.
“Stop pretending as if I had a choice, Link.” She said, looking away towards Paldnor. “We welcome your company, Master Paldnor, but it will be a long and hard ride.” Impa’s last statement carried a hint in it that Link hoped the old man’s need for stories of adventure would ignore, and the old man did not disappoint. In the fraction of a heartbeat, Link felt the pace of Paldnor’s heart quicken and the confusion on his face turn to a devious smile, the look in his eye was that of a man about to embark on a grand quest.
“What say you, friend?” Link asked knowing the answer.
“I may not be young, Lady Impa, but I am far from dead.” Paldnor answered and then patted the large purse of rupees. “There is not much in this village that I could do with this, and I hate expensive funerals.” Link grinned wide and raised his flagon in salute. “When do we leave?” The old man asked not hiding his eagerness. Impa gestured to small window on the far wall.
“With the morning light, if not sooner.” She said, and then drained her flagon. “Rain or shine.” Impa added, possibly as a final attempt to let old man bow out.
“Then I should come prepared.” Paldnor said and stood with renewed vigor. “We should go to my house, we can rest and I to prepare for the journey.” Impa let out a small sigh of frustration. “Worry not, good lady Impa. I shall be ready to leave with morning light.” Impa’s look held some remorse for her lack of manners to the old man but she still seemed unconvinced. “Rain or shine.” He added. Impa nodded and allowed a brief smile.
“Then let us go.” Link said standing. “I believe I can eat no more.”

It was several minutes more before they had made their way out of the inn, for as quickly as they wanted to move again, Paldnor was stopped at every table this time by those wishing him well on his journey. Impa stood transfixed; how did these people know of the journey? She’d suspected from the beginning that someone watched her the whole time but how did everyone know so quickly?
“How did…?” She managed to utter in her confused state that mirrored Paldnor’s confused stare of a short time ago.
“Tavern gossip, Impa.” Link said, trying to move through the crowd. “Travels faster than snowmelt in spring.” The explanation did not help Impa to figure out how the tavern patrons knew so much; if given the opportunity to think she would have said it was magic. Outside of the Turnpike Inn, there was another gathering and though it was dark, Link recognized some of the men in the group as those who were gathered around Solormin when he and Paldnor entered the inn. A few seconds later, Link felt the distinctive and fast-paced heartbeat of the big hunter at the center of the group.
“Let’s not wait around; I don’t think that group is very pleased with the news.” Link said quietly to his companions.
“I agree.” Paldnor answered. “This way.” He gestured to the grouping of houses in the distance, and they made their way but were stopped before they made it a few feet.
“Old man!” The familiar voice rang in the humid night air, and as the three turned to look, the large group walked over to them.
“What can I do for you, Master Solormin?” Paldnor said with his hands behind his back in a first and last ditch effort to hide the purse or rupees.
“You…you, who do nothing but tell cow pie tales in alehouses, find who this woman is looking for.” Solormin said, gesturing to Impa. “And why would a royal courier want a filthy drifter like this.” He added, turning his attention towards Link. “How do you know the old man isn’t conning you? He’s good at stories.” He said, trying to look Impa in the eye, but the strong smell of ale was in the air and Link noticed Solormin swaying. Impa’s face was hard as if it was cut from stone, and Link saw her hands come to her hips.
“I know who am I looking for, sir.” Impa said, and Solormin continued, still swaying.
“I want some, old man.” Solormin uttered with a bit of a slur, which angered Link. Paldnor’s new wealth was a result of his kindness and generosity, and Link would not see the old man forced to paying the angry brute.
“You get nothing.” Link said, and watched as the large hunter’s drunken gaze came to him.
“Who are you to say, Boy?!” Solormin shouted back, drawing his dagger with his last word. The sounds of daggers being drawn followed along grunts and jests.
“Wrong move, boy.” One spoke up, jeering at the Hylian boy.
“Get him, Sol!” Shouted another, moving closer to the edge of the mob, eager to see this fight.
Link answered by bringing his hand to the hilt of his Kokiri sword. Paldnor tried to step in between.
“I’m sure we can come to some arrangement, Solormin, I’ll never need it all.” He pleaded, but the big man seemed not to notice him several seconds past, before any words were said. “Lady Impa!” Paldnor called to her, but the big woman simply raised one hand to calm the man.
“I suggest you get out of the way, Master Paldnor.” Impa said. The storyteller tried to speak again, but did not get the opportunity. In the blink of an eye, Solormin shoved Paldnor to the ground and slashed at Link with his dagger, but in the same instant, Link had drawn his small sword and blocked Solormin’s blow.
“Goddess!” Paldnor uttered as he watched from the ground, and turned to see Link and Solormin were locked in a deadly test of strength, with Solormin’s group now egging them on. Link focused on Solormin, the big man was defiantly strong but it was clear to Link that he had never been a in a real fight with the dagger. Quickly shifting his weight, Link moved and the drunken Solormin stumbled to the ground. It took two of Solormin’s friends to help him to his feet, and he attacked Link again with wide slashes that he quickly dodged, and an attempt at a stab had brought the back of Link’s fist hard across his face. Blood now trickled from Solormin’s mouth, and he stumbled over to his group who started to gather around him.
“You’ve had it boy, you could have just walked away.” He said, wiping the blood away. Impa helped Paldnor to his feet.
“Lady Impa, you need to help him.” Paldnor pleaded.
“Worry not, Master Paldnor.” She answered. “For I know Link well.”
Link seemed to be in a staring contest with Solormin’s group, and there were several silent moments in which people from the inn came out to see what was going on.
“Is this man worth your life, boy?” The big hunter asked.
“Are the rupees worth yours?” Link answered, returning his sword to its battered scabbard. Solormin said something to the group that Link couldn’t hear that caused the group to roar with laughter. This time, the whole group moved towards Link; most had daggers, a few had sticks, but all wanted to fight. Though most of the group was clearly drunk, Link knew he wouldn’t be able to take on all of them, not with just his small sword.
“I don’t want to hurt anyone.” Link said, but his plea only encouraged the enraged group.
“Worry about yourself, boy.” Solormin said, his blade at the ready. Link knew what he had to do and he risked a brief glance over to where Impa and Paldnor were. The old man’s face was grave but Impa’s was the same stone face expression he’d always remembered, she nodded indicating she knew what had to be done.
“You had your chance to leave!” Link heard not sure who had said it, but the group was almost within striking distance.
“So did you.” Link muttered, not caring if anyone heard. His motion was quick and fluid, the bright flash of light made those who’d gathered jump back in horror. Solormin’s group had been forcefully scattered and thrown back several feet.
“By the goddesses!” Paldnor uttered. “That was…?”
“Magic.” Impa answered, before his question was even finished.
Solormin landed with two other members of his group and appeared to be unconscious, but the thunderous fluttering heartbeats from all those gathered filled Link’s senses and prevented him from knowing for sure. Fearing their reactions Link whistled for Epona who came quickly as if sensing Link’s need for haste.
“Your house Pladnor?” Link called to him.
“Of course.” He said showing only a moment’s hesitation. Link was not eager to see what would happen when Solormin’s group recovered.