After five days of travel, their supplies were running low. Elwin, despite his stoicism, needed a proper night's rest, a roof over his head to ward off the damp chill that made his leg ache. His maps showed a single point of civilization in this part of the field: The Last Bridge Inn, an ancient establishment that stood at the crossroads of the main eastern road and the old path leading south to the lake.
They saw it from a mile away, a plume of woodsmoke rising into the grey sky. It was a large, rambling building of stone and timber, looking weary and hunched against the endless wind of the plains. It was a place of refuge, but as they drew closer, Link felt a knot of apprehension tighten in his stomach. The Sheikah token in his pouch, which had been silent for days, began to emit a low, almost imperceptible hum.
They entered. The common room was a pool of dim, smoky light, a stark contrast to the wide-open plains. A fire roared in a great stone hearth, and the air was thick with the smell of stale ale, roasting meat, and wet wool. It was crowded, but not with the cheerful, bustling crowds Elwin had described from the old days. This was a gathering of the wary. Merchants in dusty cloaks huddled at tables, speaking in low murmurs. A family with two small children sat near the fire, their eyes wide and fearful. A few grim-faced men who looked like caravan guards drank in sullen silence. Every person in the room looked like they were running from something.
Elwin, leaning on his crutch, put on a brave face. "A home away from home!" he declared, his voice a little too loud. He introduced Link to the innkeeper, a heavy-set woman with weary eyes, as his "nephew and apprentice," a simple story to explain their strange pairing.
They took a table in a dark corner, and Elwin ordered a hot meal. As they ate, Link listened. He did not eat with the hunger of a boy, but with the quiet, watchful economy of a hunter. He listened to the whispers.
"...the whole shipment, gone. The guards at the bridge just shrugged. Said it was 'unfortunate banditry'..." a merchant complained.
"...saw it with my own eyes," a pilgrim whispered, his voice trembling. "Just past the Lon Lon Ranch. Taller than a man, with a pig's snout and eyes that glowed red…"
"...the King's own patrols are a joke. They ride the main roads in the daytime and lock the garrison gates at night. They're as scared as we are."
The stories were the same ones he had heard in Ordon, but they were no longer distant rumors. They were immediate, raw, and real. The fear was a palpable thing in the room, as thick as the smoke from the hearth.
As Link scanned the room, his eyes fell upon two men sitting near the door. They were dressed in the rough leather of travelers, but they didn't have the weary look of merchants or the guarded professionalism of caravan guards. They were large, hard-faced men, and they were watching the room with a predator's lazy appraisal. They were not scared. And that, in a room full of fear, made them the most dangerous people there.
One of them noticed Link's gaze. His eyes flickered down to the hilt of the sword on Link's back, then to the enchanted shield leaning against the wall beside him. A flicker of greedy interest crossed the man's face. He nudged his companion, and they both stared, their intentions as clear as glass.
Elwin, following Link's gaze, saw the trouble instantly. He put down his fork. "Don't look at them, boy," he murmured. "Eat your stew. We'll be gone at first light."
But it was too late. The two men pushed their chairs back and swaggered over to their table, their heavy boots thudding on the wooden floor.
"That's a fine-looking shield you've got there, lad," the first one said, his voice a gravelly sneer. "The paint on it... almost looks like it's glowing. And a sword, too. A bit big for a little boy, isn't it?"
Link did not move. He simply met the man's gaze, his own eyes as cold and as calm as a frozen lake.
Elwin placed a steadying hand on Link's shoulder. He smiled, a broad, disarming smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Just family heirlooms, friends," he said, his voice cheerful. "Worth more in sentiment than in rupees, I assure you. My nephew here is a quiet lad, but he carries his grandfather's memory with him."
"Is that so?" the second man chimed in, leaning over the table. "We hear the roads are dangerous. A boy and a cripple... you'll need more than memories to protect you. Maybe you should sell us that gear. For your own safety, of course."
The threat was veiled, but unmistakable. The innkeeper looked over, her face a mask of worried neutrality. No one else in the room dared to interfere.
Link's hand had drifted down, his fingers resting on the hilt of his slingshot. The Sheikah token in his pouch was now humming with a clear, insistent vibration. These men were not just bandits. They were tainted.
Elwin, seeing the situation about to escalate, took a gamble. He laughed, a deep, booming laugh that made everyone look. "Sell it? Heavens, no! We're not selling. In fact, we're hiring! We're on our way to the garrison at the Hylia Bridge to report a monster attack and collect a handsome bounty. The captain is a cousin of mine! We could use a few stout men as guards for the last leg of the journey. Interested?"
The lie was masterful. The mention of a garrison, a captain, and a bounty was enough to plant a seed of doubt in the men's minds. They looked at each other. Robbing two travelers was one thing. Robbing two travelers who were on their way to meet with the Royal Guard was another.
The first man grunted, his eyes narrowing as he tried to decide if Elwin was bluffing. He looked at Elwin's confident smile, and then at the unnerving, unwavering stare of the silent boy. There was something in the boy's eyes, a complete lack of fear, that was more intimidating than any threat.
"We'll pass," the man finally snarled. They turned and stomped back to their table. The immediate danger was over, but the air was still thick with tension.
"We leave before dawn," Elwin whispered, his cheerful mask gone, his face grim. "And we do not go south. We continue east. As quickly as we can."