Link had departed from Hyrule Palace City in the next morning. He was ready, dressed in green, white, and dark brown. His sword was strapped in its scabbard on his back, just below his shield. Over his left shoulder was a bag containing his rations--bread, salted fish, and salted meat--and he put a flask of ale into one of his belt's utility pockets. Link first thought, 'Time to get a horse, I doubt I'll get very fast from here to there. '. So he headed for Azuras Ranch, which was owned by Ingo's even worse brother, Gino, and Alice, a maiden captured by Ingo's ex-soldier brother during a battle with native tribes, other than the Kokiri, on New Hyrule.
In the Ranch, there were many horses, but they all had scrapes from whipping, healing gashes and black eyes. They also looked underfed--very underfed. Only one specimen, a rark brown horse with a mane as white as powdered snow, looked just healthy enough to ride for two and a half hours. Spotting Gino, Link ran over to him and said, "Hey, can I have that fine horse there? ". "You want Aelna? Well, buddy, she's not free. But three hundred Rupees and she's yours. "says Gino, looking satisfied at such a price. "Uh, see, I've got fifty Rupees. What other way can I have her? 'Link questioned.
Gino stroked his moustache, and said, "Fine. If you can beat me in a three-lap horse race, Aelna is all yours. But fail, and. . . let's see. . . that fine sword of yours will be in my possesion. ". However, Link continued, "No, let's heighten the stakes. If I win, you'll free your slave, in addition for the horse, too, of course. ". Gino sharply replies, "Fine, but if I win, all your possesions and money are mine. Got that? ". "Bring it on, "Link challenged.
The two riders chose their horses. Link got to Aelna before Gino, who was stuck with a. . . steer? ! Alice, a fair-skinned girl of seventeen with dark hair, said, "One. . . two. . . ", but at two, Gino already went, and Link shouted, "Hey, you got an unfair head start, cheater! ". "Three. . . GO! "Alice shouted. Link raced off, but Gino was already far ahead. However, Hyrulian steers were known for their great strength and easily-triggered rage, not their sluggish speeds and clumsiness, which is why Link and Aelna the horse easily sped by him while Gino's steer crashed into a tree, nearly giving its rider a black eye.
Link went two laps ahead of Gino before his steer pulled its horns out of the tree trunk. However, Gino had one last trick up his sleeve. He commanded his steer to headbutt Link's mare, causing the horse to nearly buck its rider off in fright and shock, while Gino rushed by and also completed two laps while Link tried to aid his horse in recovering from the pain and shock. However, the last lap was a dead tie as Link and Gino raced side by side, occasionally slamming into each other in hopes that the other person's ride would be thrown off balance and therefore be knocked down.
However, Aelna was very determined to get freedom, and using up whatever strength is left in her sped up after the brutal headbutt, managing to pull herself and Link slightly ahead of Gino's steer, gallop across the finish line first and therefore achieving a narrow victory.
"No way! How could I have lost to a fool? ! "Gino screamed. Link said cooly, "I guess I won both the horse AND your slave freedom. ". Alice gasped, grinned weakly, and fainted. But just as Link threw the unconcious ex-slave's body onto Aelna, mounted his new steed and prepared to leave, the ranch gates were shut tight, locked and chained up. Gino cackles, "Heh heh heh! You've won, moron, but I will trap you in here. . . for eternity! ". Link grits his teeth and notices a gap in the walls, just barely enough for Aelna to dart through. He shouts a little too late, Gino, I'm outta here! "and squeezes through the gap. Gino shouts curses and abominable words while Link gallops away, free from the ranch, and headed for Hyrule Palace City.
