There and Back Again
Book 2: Brothers
Chapter 8: You are Hylian
"What is the King's Campaign?"
Without a second to catch my breath, I was swarmed by several guards, pulling me away from the prisoner.
"What's the meaning of this? Gonzo gave me permission to speak to him!" I shouted at them as they dragged me from the scrawny criminal's cell.
"Sorry, sir. You went too far."
Too far? I simply asked one question!
Months of work were not going to go to waste to miss this single opportunity. Sweeping at the left guard's leg, I caught him unprepared. As he hit the floor, I grabbed the second one and hurled him into one of the cells.
Thankfully those things auto-lock when they shut.
The guard on the floor had a pair of keys, possibly the ones for Sakon's cell.
It was time to get out of here.
With the back of my blade, I knocked the already overwhelmed guard unconscious. His keys in hand, I ran for the gate.
"You're… seriously breaking me out?" The man in tattered red clothes giggled as I fumbled with the keys. "Don't get your hopes up. It'll be short lived."
"Prison break! The Hero is taking the prisoner! Sound the alarm!"
Dammit, how could I be so careless as to not knock out the other guard?
The lock on the door clicked and it swung open. "Come on! Better with me than with them!" The two of us made way for the back of the ship. Heading up the stairs right now wouldn't do us any good. We would be swarmed with royal guards.
We had to somehow get to the stern of the boat without being stopped. Surely there would be a few guards along the way but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle.
Remember, learning the truth is the key to their trust and to what will happen to this country in the coming months. That's what Calevnir said.
"You want to know what the King's Campaign is so desperately?" The shining mage glimmered in the sunlight. He had a knack for standing above others when he talked to them.
"Very well. I will allow you to know… but you can only find out by doing something for me."
"Whatever you need, sir." Talking to him with respect was what earned you respect with him. He was often carefree and could brush you as a bit of a jokester... but don't be fooled. The man could flip personalities on a dime. It was important to stay on his good side.
"There is an Unbounded ship setting sail today and it is carrying some vital information on it. Information in the form of a man." The large stone he walked on chiseled slightly with each step he took. "You will confront this man and ask him the question yourself."
"How will I know what he looks like?"
Calevnir sneered. "You will know who he is because he is the only one in the brig." The mage leapt from his spot and approached me. "If it becomes dangerous and you need extraction, Renji and I can arrange that for you. We will know when you need it."
"Now would be a damn good time for extraction guys!" We hid behind each wall we could find. Swarms of soldiers were rushing below deck. There would be no way to escape with such a significant amount.
Wait… that's it. With them all down here, the top deck would be nearly defenseless. "Sakon, we need to get to the upper deck. It's our only chance of escaping them." He rolled his eyes and drooped his shoulders. "Yeah, I know that genius. What in the goddesses name is our escape plan after that? Steal the whole damn ship?"
Think. Think. All of your training was for moments like these.
Dammit, Rauru. You never told me I would have to revolt against the Hyrulean Fleet!
Sakon and I continued to evade the guards to the best of our ability. Those who spotted us were knocked out and pulled off to the side. If only we had some distraction… wait that's it!
I pulled out one of my bombs. "Where the hell did you get that?!"
"No time to explain. Make a break for the stern's staircase to the top. Along the way we were met with resistance but I was able to handle them without much difficulty. The real issue would be when we found that swarm of troops. Hopefully they went to a lower deck than us.
Once we reached the staircase, I lit the fuse. "Wha- wait! Don't blow our only chance out of here!"
"I'm not."
I took aim like a pitcher and hurled that bomb down the middle of the hall we just came from.
BOOM!
"Well what did-" Holding a finger to his mouth, we waited a few moments.
"Something went off down here! They must be trying to escape by sinking the ship!" With that, fifteen or so guards came running down the stairs and towards the sound of my bomb. Once the last one left…
"Now!"
Each of us flipped ourselves over the handrail and made our way up the stairs. The smell of the ocean salt was upon us. Now to just jump ship and-
"Not so fast, Hero."
Thirty men surrounded us, each with swords pointed towards our necks. "Did you really think that two men could escape Hyrule's most heavily guarded ship? There does happen to be a reason why it is named after the King, my dear lads."
"Sir, my name is Link and I am the-"
I know very well who you are, Link Gaiden. You have been the talk of the nation since you arrived. Hell, you have inspired more fear in our beautiful country than anything else."
Fear?
"The look on your face tells me you do not understand." The large man paced in place, had on his blade at all times. "Well first, I should introduce myself." He spun around and removed his hat. While he was part of the Hylian Royal Navy, he was clearly at one point a pirate of sorts.
"I am Admiral Torres. I had hoped that I would not have had the pleasure of meeting you, Mr. Hero. However, your small attempt at prison break forced me out of my quarters."
The frightening man kneeled beside me and brought his head close to my ear.
"You think you inspire hope in these people? Before you appeared, Hyrule was at peace. There were revolts here and there, I admit. However, your appearance is a cause for concern to many citizens of this country."
I turned away from him. "Do you think the people of Hyrule do not know the legends? Of the hero clothed in green who defeated the great evil and saved all of Hyrule?"
"Then they should be happy! Happy that I am here to save them from whatever is coming!"
The admiral stood up and looked down on me. His eyes grew dark. "So… you yourself do not even know what it is that is coming. How reassuring to the people of Hyrule. I am sure the citizens will respond quite happily to this."
The thick sarcasm in his voice made me want to rip his throat out. He was baiting me. Trying to get me to make a move that I would regret.
I need to shut up. No more talking.
"The truth is, your appearance has terrified the Hylian people. It is only in times of great danger that you appear. All who see you, they feel despair and worry… and now to think that you are even rebelling against them. What a pity."
Do not talk, Link. Do not do it. He wants to get you to act out.
But why? Why would a member, an admiral, of the Hyrulean Navy want to see me brought down? All because I asked about the King's Campaign?
Was it that secretive? If so, why would he even know about it? Let alone the guards?
Something was out of place here.
"I do not plan on killing you, Hero. Your fate will be left to our justice system. See, we do things legally in our country."
With a flick of his head, Sakon and I were grabbed and dragged to the brig.
Calevnir, if there was a time for extraction, this was it.
We spent the next few hours to ourselves. Sakon didn't attempt to speak and nor did I. All I could do was hope that Calevnir or Renji would come through with their promise.
But had I met their requirements?
I'd never been locked in prison before, but it did nothing but force me to think of everything I did not want to think about.
Zelda. Aryll. Sheik. Each of them raced through my mind.
Why was I chosen for this?
A stampede of men stormed down the stairs and walked towards my cell. Captain Gonzo was with them.
"The admiral has instructed me to inform you of your rights. If you understand, please nod." I nodded and allowed him to proceed.
"You will have the right to appeal the accusations in court. You will have the right to-"
"Captain, six Unbounded ships have been spotted!"
"What?" How can this be? We have a perimeter surrounding this port!"
"I wish I was lying, sir. They're engaging quickly." The captain bit his lip and glared at me. "Battle stations, everyone! Set course for the closest port!"
The men began to scramble, taking their positions.
"You! I'll be back once this be finished." The sizable captain got up and ran to the upper deck.
Within minutes, the blasts of canon fire could be heard in the distance.
"Better take shelter, Hero. This be no joy ride!"
Sakon was right. A blast from the ships intercepting us could strike anywhere at any moment.
Suddenly, the ship rattled several times. Direct hits.
Were the Unbounded this capable?
Minutes later, the admiral came trotting down the stairs and towards my cell. "This was your doing wasn't it? You led them here!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about! I didn't even know the Unbounded had a fleet until now!"
"Well neither did we!"
Cannon fire continued to rattle the ship. Looking out the small window in my cell, I could see us slowing down.
We would have to anchor and make a stand soon.
"Admiral! We can't escape 'em! They be too fast!" The admiral's fuse went off. "How can that be? This is the fastest ship in the fleet!"
"I don't understand it myself sir, but they be right on us!" The admiral stalled for a few seconds, pondering the situation.
"Sir!"
"Abandon ship. We will not make it out alive if we do not."
"Abandon ship! All men… to the life boats!"
With that, I could hear what sounded like hundreds of men scrambling throughout the ship. The bell was sounding off.
About ten minutes passed. Each strike of cannon fire had me clenching. Every passing moment could have been the end of my life…
But that's not what I focused on. I focused on finding a way to survive.
There was too much at stake.
Without warning, one the walls was hit, sending metal and wood splintering everywhere. Cannon fire had pierced the cell room and water began to flood in. I turned to Sakon's cell and noticed the blast had damaged the bars… just enough that he could now squeeze out.
He pulled himself through the small opening and turned to me. "Huh… fate sure is funny." He walked over and picked up a sword resting in a barrel. "I could just kill you, but there's enough blood on my hands already. I'll just let the sea take you."
The criminal ran over to the staircase and grabbed keys sitting next to it. "Oh, I hear drowning isn't much fun. Try not to fight it too long."
Sakon opened the door, ran out, and slammed it behind him.
Dammit. What am I supposed to do now?
Think, Link! Think!
The floor is flooding and you have no way out.
Suddenly, a lone guard ran past me, trying to flee the ship. It was obvious he had been on duty lower deck. Scrambling to find his key to the staircase that was locked before him, he dropped it.
"Guard!"
He turned to me, visibly shaking. This was a man who knew he could die at any moment.
"Please. From one man to another, let me go."
The guard knew who I was and was clearly conflicted. "I… I have to go. I'll die if I don't leave now!"
You need to persuade him. "Guard! You know who I am, right?"
I hated playing this card.
"I'm Link. I'm the Hero sent to save Hyrule. You can't just-"
"We were ordered to lock you up! You went against the word of the King!"
He was panicking. His life was in his own hands and now I was holding him back. "Look, I understand what you're saying, but I was not aware of what the King said to the Captain! That man who escaped from the cell beside me, we both need him. If you don't free me now, he will get away and everything that's transpired here will have been for nothing."
The guard clutched the keys in his hand, trembling. "I… I-"
"If you do not free me, you will be endangering the lives of thousands of Hylians. I was sent here for a reason. I would not have acted the way I did unless I had good reason to."
The ship was falling to pieces. In mere moments, the entire structure could sink. Convincing this man was everything.
"The ship is going to capsize soon! I have a duty. I can't free you. I am a royal guard!"
His eyes met mine.
"No, you are Hylian."
I ran off the edge of the collapsing the ship. It had split in two and was sinking further each moment. Miraculously, the mast of the ship was barely standing from the depths of the water. I threw my grappling hook to it and swung of the edge.
Sakon was mine.
Swinging between the two pieces of the ship, I landed on the foreign half and drew my blade instinctively. Unbounded soldiers had boarded the ship in an attempt to protect Sakon. One by one, I tore through each of them.
The orders of the King meant nothing to me at this point. Calevnir and the attacker of our camp from those weeks ago clearly made it clear how important the King's Campaign was.
I was not about to let it slip from my grasp.
Taking out my bow, I took down the three men that stood guarding Sakon. He was only twenty or so feet in front of me.
"Don't just stand there! Kill him!"
Sure seems like he has a lot of power to be able to command soldiers like that.
The soldiers came at me. Using the tactics Rauru had taught me, I defended myself against each of their blows. The strikes of my sword landed without mercy. These men were keeping me from my goal and nothing was going to stop me in my tracks.
With each passing second, I could see Sakon distancing himself from me as much as he could. However, he was running out of room. This half of the ship was sinking quickly and there was no way over to the other side.
He had to wait from rescue.
I continued to barrel through each and every soldier the Unbounded threw against me. I was not fully informed on the conflict of this fight, but I was not going to let these men keep me from obtaining the information I desired for so long.
An Unbounded soldier ran to me, sword in hand. I deflected his blow with my shield, stunning him for a moment. I swiftly struck his leg to immobilize him and continued towards Sakon.
He ran in a panic. The soldiers that had been guarding him were disposed of or immobilized.
I threw my sword and shield on my back and ran at him with full force. He was on the edge of the ship without anywhere to run.
I whispered to myself. "You're mine."
Leaping forward with full intensity, I grabbed him and hurled the both of us overboard.
We crashed into the cold, dark ocean. From the depths of the water, I heard the sound of the ship above us sinking into the sea.
Fate was on my side today.
A/N: Hey all, thanks for waiting for this one. If you couldn't tell, this is the second half of the story told in the prologue to this book. The next chapter will be up shortly. Thank you for your patience. Please review whether it's positive or negative. I appreciate it!
Oh, if you want to experience this chapter the way I did, please listen to the soundtrack, The Twelve Towers from Uncharted 4. The moment the epic part kicks in is the moment Link is set free and goes after Sakon. Thanks again!
