Sacred Melodies: Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Compromise

Since Brenn had been so willing to help, they had decided to start riding to their first stop.
"Brenn, you have...Riuul-lumai?" asked Zephyr, failing to remember the human word. He turned to Daran, who shook his head. (I can't remember it either.)
"If you mean a horse," she said, pointing at Reyn, "like her, I have one. I tied him to a tree before I was attacked." As she finished the last word, her eyes widened and she gasped. "I completely forgot about him. He's probably freaking out right now!" She dashed into the trees behind her, soundless as any member of her race even in a hurry. Zephyr stood in the clearing, unable to follow her by listening. He swore under his breath. "Tarahk. Daran, hraken fehr ikla tsei?" Daran, where did she go?
(I still hear her, just follow me.)

She hadn't gone far.

Her horse, tied to a tree a few yards away and stamping anxiously, was a big, muscular chestnut stallion called Meran. Once he had seen that his mistress was safe, he immediately started scolding her for being so careless. She let him, with obviously feigned interest. Meran frequently lectured her, and she was more than used to it. She always teased him about being paranoid, but in reality she always took what he said into account.

After she had explained what had happened, Brenn introduced Meran to Zephyr and Reyn. The stallion's ears perked up like miniature Deku Babas striking at prey from the ground. (A pleasure to meet you, Ikla-Riuul.) he told Reyn, extending a black-socked foreleg in a bow. Zephyr heard his horse whinny very softly, which only he recognized as a giggle. He'd heard it often when he was younger, whenever he told her a joke or did something silly. Back when he still had a sense of humor. (Same to you, Jatse-Riuul. Will you not greet my master as well?)
(My apologies, I didn't realize he spoke Fenla Venja. Greetings, Zephyr. And my thanks to you for rescuing Mistress Brenn.) Meran bowed to the young Sheikah in a similar manner as he had to Reyn, though not as deeply.
"Likewise."
"He's requested that I do him a favor to make it up, Meran. I don't know what it is yet, but I've agreed to it. You in?"
(Of course, Brenn. You lead, I follow, remember?)

The horses hadn't even been mounted before they took to animated discussion. It was obvious that Meran had a liking for Reyn, but even so he remained careful and polite, civilized as only a horse could be. While Zephyr did his best to explain their predicament to Brenn between her interruptions, the mare and stallion quietly compared lives.
(I really am sorry you and your master had to go out of your way to rescue Brenn. She's usually more cautious than that.)
(It's no trouble at all. He doesn't show it, but I don't think Zephyr minds at all. He's always been a caring boy. And I will gladly follow him anywhere he chooses to go.) She giggled and added, (Someone has to make sure he doesn't hurt himself.)
Meran chuckled with her. (I know exactly what you mean. I find it hard to believe how reckless humans are!)
(I've been with Zephyr for so long that I've grown used to it.)
(He doesn't seem the careless type to me.) Meran said, cocking his head to the side. (Is he actually so immature?)
Reyn cast a glance back at her boy to make sure he wasn't listening. (No, he's not. He's a smart boy, and he has too many worries to afford to be careless. But he's passionate. Sometimes he'll do reckless things to get what he wants, if he desires it enough.)
(Ah, that makes sense. I suppose there is a difference between recklessness and carelessness. But he looks young for such maturity. How old is he?)
(If I remember correctly, he turned 19 a few weeks ago. He claims such occasions are a waste of his time, but I keep track just in case.)
(Really? Only 19? I've met men in their 20s who still act 10 years younger!)
(He is a Sheikah. He remembers his training as a protector of the Royal Family, exiled or not.) Reyn suddenly tensed, peering back over her shoulder. Zephyr and Brenn were still focused on their own conversation. She looked back to Meran, who was staring at her. (Is he really exiled?)
Reyn dropped her head, ears flat against it. (Please forget I said that, I wasn't supposed to tell anyone...)
Meran leaned his head closer to hers, and quietly projected, (Pardon me, but I was surprised to hear that because Brenn is also banished.) Reyn's ears flicked up faster than they had fallen. (I won't tell anyone what you said if you don't say what I did. Fair deal?)
Reyn nodded, her features relaxing. (Fair deal. I'm actually surprised that you don't recognize him. Unfortunately for him, he's very well-known, so he can't go into towns to get the information he needs.)
(Our village is very isolated. But didn't you say he's a protector of the Royal Family?)
(All Sheikah are raised to become the guardians of the King and his family.)
(How strange. Our village wants nothing to do with the rest of Hyrule, especially the Royal Family. We hadn't met anyone outside of the village until now.)
Rude as it was, Reyn stared at him. (So you have no idea what Hyrule is like, or heard the stories going around?)
(Not a clue.)
(That explains it. I was surprised of how trusting your girl was of Zephyr. Everyone else flees without a second thought.)
Meran laughed. (My girl? Please, Ikla-Riuul, I am her horse, not the other way around! She is my master, no matter how young she is.)
(How old is Brenn, by the way? She looks very young to be fated so harshly.)
The stallion's proud neck drooped, letting the forelock fall down his forehead. (She is. She's only 15. By how you speak of the Sheikah you would think they are a fair and just people, but her tribe didn't give her perspective a second thought. She was blamed for something she didn't do and driven out of the village. Even her father was in the mob.) He glanced at the girl on his back. She was lightly teasing her companion for a mispronounced word, eyes shining brightly. (Farore knows how hard she's trying. She's very strong-willed, but the whole thing is straining her like nothing I've ever seen, not even when her brother died.) The horse sighed, but he straightened up. (I'm proud of her for how well she's handling herself. She's been living alone for almost 8 months now, and that run-in with the Wolfos was the first time she's been in real trouble since she was banished.)
(Well, she's not alone, is she? She has you.)
(Me?) Meran scoffed. (All I do is carry her places. I really don't help her that much.)
(I doubt she thinks the same way. I felt the same way for a while after Zephyr was forced to leave. But after he... an incident, he told me that he was glad I was with him. He said he wouldn't have made it that far if I wasn't. I was confused, so I asked why. 'Because I would be alone' he said, 'And just knowing someone is with me makes it a lot easier.')
For a moment Meran didn't say anything. He looked to be considering the thought, having not thought it himself before. He was about to say something when both horses noticed how quiet it was behind them.

Looking back, they saw Brenn staring past Meran's inquiring eyes and into nothingness. Though blindfolded, Zephyr was clearly glaring at her.

"I do not understand. You said you will help."
"I never said I would, actually." she pointed out. "I said I would listen to what you need and see what I could do. And I can't do anything."
(Look, he saved your life. The least you could do is try before you just turn him down.)
She glared at Daran, eyes blazing. "You said you'd shut up."
Zephyr tightened his grip on Reyn's mane. "He said he will if help. So no...obligation. And have no right to ask."
Sensing the tensity in the air, the horses shared an ever-suffering look and turned to their masters.
(Zephyr.) Reyn projected quietly, (I'm sure she has her reasons. We can find someone else.)
"Finding her was a stroke of luck, Reyn!" he hissed, unaware that he was saying it out loud. "She didn't recognize me, that's the only reason she agreed!"
"Of course I didn't recognize you, I've never met you before! Are you only supposed to help strangers in this country? That's stupid!" Brenn shouted.
(That's not what he meant, Brenn.) Meran said calmly, casting a look at Reyn out of the corner of his eye. She nodded. (He has a valid point and reasons.)
"Oh? Do men in Hyrule have a time of the month too?"

As Meran reprimanded her for being so rude, Reyn moved away from them and turned her head to Zephyr. (You two have a lot in common, you know.)
(I didn't think I was THAT bad in the morning.)
(Please, Zephyr,) huffed Reyn. (Just listen for a moment. She has the same problem as you. She's been exiled too.)
His eyebrows shot up. (How did you...)
(Meran told me when I let slip that you had been banished.)
"Reyn!" Zephyr shouted out loud.
Reyn's head hung low. (I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. But it was for the better. Meran is telling her the same thing right now, so you can understand each other. Maybe he can convince her to try and help now.)
Zephyr sat steaming, one hand rubbing his eyes.
He mumbled "Sedat melani", and a mass of green and brown grew in his mind. It twisted and formed itself into Brenn and Meran, showing that Daran had his eyes on the Sheikah girl and her horse. She still looked upset, but the angry flame in her eyes had subsided to reluctance.

Letting out a tight sigh, Zephyr gave in. He allowed Reyn to walk back to the other pair. Brenn didn't make eye contact as she began talking. "Meran explained how different Hyrule is to what we're used to. And why you need help. I guess there's a chance that I'm only banished from my village and not the rest of Hyrule, at least for the time being." She looked up at Zephyr without moving her head. "So I'll try to help you. It's not like I have anything better to do, anyway."
Meran huffed loudly.
"...and I'm sorry I insulted you and your country. It was immature and rude of me."
Zephyr breathed a light laugh. "No worries. Not my country."