The Scales That Bind

Chapter 7: Children's Checkpoint

Sidon cleverly navigated around the astounding number of ramps along Zora's Domain, sure to keep his pal from being apprehended by any of the few night guards who were left. With Mipha's birthday mere days away, so many of Dorephan's soldiers were off in the world, gathering magnificent items and trinkets in preparation of an event he'd unconsciously made plenty bountiful, almost to the point of leaving his Domain severely undermanned.

"Trello is one of the only few soldiers left," Sidon spoke in a raspy sort of voice, his vocal chords still noticeably growing between gills and lungs, "As bearer of the Ceremonial Trident after all, he's forbidden from leaving Zorans, but outside of him, there's very few of anybody here other than Tovar and some trainees. I overheard my father worrying about Zevan's death in the face of lacking defenses; I figured you'd help."

Link nodded, "Of course. Though, there's not too much I can do with what little is known. Zevan mentioned a "Hylian dragon", but I'm not familiar of any such thing. Not only that, whomever killed Zevan, I have no idea where they could be."

He grew quiet for a moment in thought, "And that wound... I've seen every sort of weapon and its effects on skin; I've never seen such an ugly state as that which felled Zevan..."

Sidon mused behind tightened lips, trying his best to ponder as much as an adult could, only coming to a simple conclusion, "I mean, what if this thing is just making its way here?"

"What?" Link asked, curiously.

With a shrug, Sidon replied, "I mean, Zevan was a patrol down the main pathway on the way to the Domain itself. Perhaps he was simply checking a passerby when he was injured?"

Link stroked his chin between two fingers, his brow furrowing as he recalled Zevan, an anger growing within him as he thought if who could have possibly murdered the man, "But he was the first patrolman, correct?"

"I believe so."

"He stopped me and my clients because we had a wagon of goods; he was merely there to check if we had our proper papers in place; he wasn't there to protect the Domain. Why would he have even encountered that person?"

Link's eyes narrowed, "Did this person actively hunt Zevan down..?"

Sidon shook his head, "Nope. First patrols keep hidden until their duty arises. You'd have to be blatantly familiar with Zora practices to even be aware that Zevan, or any patrol, was near that checkpoint."

Frowning, Link crossed his arms, "When did you get to be such a luminary when it comes to Zoran military?"

"Well a Prince must be regal in any instance," Sidon grinned, showing his bravest face before suddenly darkening, turning his head over his shoulder as he frowned, "I mean, even if I still trip on my dorsal fin sometimes..."

Link grinned, "You know, that can only serve you well into the future when it comes to the opposite sex."

"Why? Female Zoras naturally maneuver better in the water; why would such bulk help me in that endeavor?" Sidon wondered innocently, reaching behind him to curiously grasp his fin that dragged along behind him.

"Might just be a Hylian thing then," Link surmised humorously, turning away as he examined the darkness covering the mountains surrounding the area, shoving his thumbs into his pockets as he strode alongside the growing Prince.

The two made their way along, making light conversation, before falling into a silence. Link didn't think much of it until happening to catch a glimpse of Sidon in passing, noticing the downcast face upon the Zora child, Link's brow furrowing in inquiry, unsure of what was on his mind. Just before he could ask, Sidon made his feelings known.