The Legend of Zelda: Goddess of Secrecy

Overworld Chapter 46 - Unending Sands

...for the heat of the desert sun now rising overhead. Endeavor was waiting outside with Parijan. As Link joined them, he asked, "Where's Daniel?"

"He went to collect the horses and his armor," Endeavor answered.

Parijan stated, "He shouldn't. He's going to roast alive in that metal death trap where we're going."

"You're probably right, but I feel better with having it on." They turned as Daniel rode up with Quicksilver and Epona. One of the slender horses that the Gerudo bred walked on his other side. The slight mare was a pale grey with a darker mane and tail. Parijan heard the horses' approach and tensed. Daniel let go of the reins of the smaller horse. "Don't worry, I followed your instructions."

Released, the mare walked over to Parijan. Parijan raised her hand, and the mare placed her nose in the woman's palm. Parijan smiled for a moment, patting her horse on her side.

Daniel went on, "That is a talented horse. I already knew about the intelligence of the desert breeds, but that one in particularly is really smart."

Parijan stopped for a moment, before she commented, "Guide animals typically are brighter than the rest of their kin. Lanayru has been my companion for only a while now though."

"That's a hefty name," Daniel said. Link climbed into his saddle. Epona seemed a little put out about Daniel's complimenting of the smaller horse. Link attempted to calm the mare, patting her neck to abate her ego.

Endeavor replied, "If you had not already noticed, but the Gerudo are not afraid to use such names. You have heard them speak the Demon Lord's name openly, and so close to the entrance to his domain."

"It's an important name for an important horse," Parijan concurred. The mare stood stock still as the Gerudo pulled herself into the saddle. Link noticed that as she landed in the saddle, Parijan seemed much more comfortable than she had on foot. He wondered if it anything to do with her magic, or if it was simply the bond and confidence she had in the mare. He pat Epona on the side, still trying to calm the mare as she and the smaller horse were contesting each other a little. Mostly on Epona's part.

Parijan demanded, "Are we going to move out or not? I'm not going to drag you back here if you get heat stroke."

With that, she turned her horse and headed out into the desert. Link hoped Parijan knew where she was going. Daniel inquired as they rode on, "So what is this Common Camp? And who's Narizah?"

"The Common Camp is a meeting point for all the Gerudo clans, and it's neutral ground for anyone of our people," Parijan explained. "Though entering with you surrenders my neutrality. Not that we weren't already planning on destroying the place when we got there.

"As for Narizah," Parijan continued, "she's the leader of Ganondorf's clan. Or at least, she's the leader when he's not here. The Dragmire Clan has the highest influence on the Gerudo, since, well, it's the line men from our people are born from."

Daniel inquired, "So this Narizah woman has a lot of power over the clans?"

Parijan stopped. Lanayru blocked the others paths. Quicksilver and Endeavor avoided the horse, but stopped as well. Parijan stated, "Narizah is Ganondorf's sister. And Dabir and I's mother."

Link glanced at Endeavor. Again, the woman was unphased at the statement. Link inquired, "And you're will to fight her?" He couldn't imagine being asked to do the same.

"Yes," Parijan stated. "Narizah abandoned us when Dabir was born. He was born male, despite it not being a hundred years since our uncle's birth. She left us in the desert to die, where the people of Sandsought found us. I was on the verge of death as it was, and it was some miracle that I survived. It was why they trained me to become the Spirit Sage at first. They thought I had survived for a reason."