Shadow of the Hero

A New World

The Shiekah tribe live surrounded by rock. The entrance to their city is concealed expertly by an overhang. Wooden buildings are hewn into the rock.

As we enter, four women of different ages are standing there, waiting. A teenage girl, about 17, stands with them. A three year old toddler walks around their legs. She giggles and tugs on the youngest woman's clothes.

"I will train him for as long as my mother dictates. He will stay in the empty house." Nari explains curtly.

Their curiosity sated, the women leave.
It seems that this race trusts their leader entirely.

"Girls, go to the house." Nari says to the twins. They nod and run down the street.

"Where are all of your men?" I ask after a pause.

"Lesson number one: do not ask the same question of the Gerudo when you meet them. They will kill you." Nari turns to me abruptly. "We have none."

"Then how...." I start, embarrassed.

"....How do we have kids? We sneak into bars in castle town. The knights there are always willing."

"Why would you...." I search for a word that isn't rude. "....resort to such measures?"

"We want men of our own, so that when they grow up they can learn our ways. We have nothing against your kind, but you were not taught our ways from birth. You cannot live here."

"Then why are you letting me stay?" I ask.

"My mother told me to. I do not wish to disgrace her. Besides, I sense the growing evil as well. You are necessary."

I'm not sure that I like being 'necessary' but I can definitely understand her viewpoint.

"You will be staying in this house." Nari says, interrupting my thoughts. She has led me to the front of a well-built wooden house. She pats the wood gently to emphasize her point. "As I said, the knights in Hyrule are all too willing to seduce the Shiekah. If I see you with any of the girls, then so help me...."

I blush instantly. "Uh...I don't think that will be a problem."

She seems to believe me, but she continues her intimidation technique. "Well, you had better KNOW that it won't be a problem. If it is, all the sages in the world couldn't keep me from throwing you off of a cliff."

"Yes ma'am." I say with a sober nod. There is a long pause before she continues the tour.

As she walks away, I take a moment to tie Lenaigrima to a fence post near the front of my new home. Nari doesn't even look back as I run back to her.

"This is my house." Nari says, pointing to the building at the back of the village. It sits, hewn into the rock, facing the entrance of the village. If you were to stand inside the house looking out, you could easily see the whole town.

"I do not expect any late-night calls." Nari continues. "If you need something, get it yourself. We will begin training first thing in the morning."

With that, she enters her house. I hear a pair of giggles from inside before the door shuts.

I take a deep breath, my legs already traveling back to my new home.

When I open the door, I breathe a sigh of relief. I had half-expected it to be empty, but it is rather nicely furnished. A bed stands in the corner, a simple wooden frame with a mattress. There are a few counters and a sink on the opposite wall. The wall in between has a set of shelves and cabinets. The center of the room has a wooden table and chairs.

It is sparse, but has a distinct feeling of home.

I search the cabinets and find some sheets for the bed. The last one I check has a pillow.

Rejoicing over this slight victory, I search the house for anything else. Unfortunately, there is no food. With an empty stomach, I manage to fall asleep.

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I wake up to the sound of giggles, and barely manage to dodge the twins as they jump into the bed. They giggle harder when they see me on the floor.

"You're late, Colin." Nari says from the doorway. "Next time, I won't be kind enough to have the girls wake you up. Now come on. We are wasting daylight."

I somehow manage to wrangle Sahn and Fyori out of the house. The both look back at me, giggle, then run off towards their house.

Nari is already walking away, towards the entrance of the village. I jog to catch up. Along the way, I see a few Sheikah. They look up as I pass, but their expressions are unreadable.

Nari doesn't speak as she weaves her way through the mountainous paths. It takes is a good hour, but we finally reach a large clearing.

"Let's start with running."

--------------------/   /----------------------

The sun is setting by the time that Nari calls for me to stop my push-ups. We had only stopped once for food, and only because she knew I was about to faint.

I slowly stand up, my body aching. I suddenly realize that I still have to walk back to the village. This time it will likely take longer than an hour.

Nari seems to read my expression. "I will have a bath and food ready for you when you return." She says, and then she is gone, and I am alone in the rocky clearing. I send up a prayer to the goddesses that I will remember the way home, and then I start walking.

It is pitch black by the time that I get back to the village. I see no sign of anyone. It is silent.

With a triumphant but exhausted sigh, I enter my new house. As promised, there is food on the table and warm water in a container on the floor. My body refuses to hold me up any longer, so I collapse into the nearest chair. After a moment's rest, my stomach demands food. I eat slowly, painfully. Then I take the water out behind the house to bathe. Part of me is grateful for the darkness, while the other part is too tired to care if anyone sees me.

My energy spent, I manage to throw on some pants and then collapse into bed.