Authors notes: Hello everyone, sorry for the late posting. I've just been so busy with irl work. Also, if you haven't done so yet, please check out the audio version of this story. It has a full voice cast of actors. And it would mean the world to me if you checked it out and gave it some love. You can find it on youtube- Zelda botw sequel(fanmade) audiobook part 1. The audiodrama has taken a lot of time as well, which has pulled me away from writing the current story. But don't worry, it will be finished. Just a little slower than I'd like. Lastly, please be sure to leave a comment here. When you do that, it really inspires me to work the extra hours with the more comments I see. I love hearing your thoughts and opinions whether good or bad. It helps me direct the story where it needs to go so I can keep you all entertained. Which is my hope.
Chapter 15
Where there is smoke, there is fire
The raging downpour from earlier had ceased and Link and Zelda had finally made their way back to her royal tent. Noticeably, it was much more opulent and well-furnished compared to what Link and Sidon had to endure during their stay, but Link wasn't about to complain, though. Having been through much worse conditions before, like with all those long and restless nights out in the open wild of Hyrule, near enemy encampments.
Unpleasant memories came flowing back into his mind of having to sleep most nights with one eye open and a hand on the hilt at all times. He has grown used to rough places to rest. Even to the point that comfort itself has become a distant commodity of the past for him. So, anytime he could get any form of undisturbed rest was a real luxury to him regardless of where he had to stay.
Link and Zelda were to discuss matters privately in her tent. The knight gestured with a wave of his hand for his squire to wait for him outside the entrance. Sidon, with a nod, obeyed as the two hylians made their way in.
"That Lord Simon sure does spare no expense, doesn't he?" Link joked, noticing his princess's mood.
The princess's demeanor had been glum as of late, and Link seemed hopeful that he could cheer her up. All he wanted was to get her mind off things. Even if it were to hear her sweet laugh only once, it would all have been worth it to him.
But, since they had left the infirmary, her mind was anything but at ease or carefree. Her thoughts were still racing, and she all but missed hearing his attempts at spurring a light-hearted conversation with her. She was focused on other more worrisome matters.
Marching ahead of Link, who stood still at the entrance, she made her way past her bed and over to where a large veil hung dividing her grand tent. The princess paused, waved her hand in front of the curtain, and signaled her handmaiden, who stood present just behind it to prepare her evening bath at the other end of her quarters. With both her hands stretched out in a bow, off the girl went into the further and more secluded part of the tent while they conversed.
Zelda swallowed a deep breath and slowly let out a sigh in trepidation, "I can't believe this is all happening. Ever since we have returned, it's almost as if every day that goes by, things are getting noticeably worse. Are we not to have any reprieve at all? I thought things would be different, now with Calamity Ganon gone.
"But, it seems like nothing has changed at all. When will the nightmare end? What are we to do? What if?" She hesitated for a moment, hand firmly pressed against her chest, still looking away from her knight. "What if Riju?" The princess continued, choking on her words, unable to even speak the possibility of the worst happening. Her eyes watered as she twirled back to face her knight, who trailed closer just behind her.
"She is going to make it!" Link countered, taking a few steps closer to her. "Riju is as strong as they come, …and the Starlight Calvary are the best riders in all of Hyrule. That, I do remember clearly from one hundred years ago. They will return in time with this miracle worker. I just know it."
She glanced up to him with a sniff, wiped one of her eyes as he approached her. There he lifted his hand out to her gently to hold hers in his.
She spoke again, heart now calmed by his optimistic disposition. "You're right. We must have hope. It isn't right for me to have such doubts. After all, we have been through and seen, my faith should be stronger…I mean, after all, that you have accomplished alone has been a miracle all in itself."
"No," he interrupted with a swift shake of the head, wearing a smile, cutting cleanly through her thoughts like a dagger. "It is you princess who is the miracle…not me," he reaffirmed, with his warm gaze trapped on her gorgeous shimmering pale-green eyes. His encouraging words brought peace to her troubled heart and blanketed over her like warm summer wind ending a cold night.
But, before he could move in any closer to her for a possible embrace, a distant thunder rumbled outside, followed by several louder ones, each beginning to sound closer to them as they rang out. But, it wasn't the natural crash of clouds they heard off in the distance but the explosions of war. Immediately, during that time, chatter began to erupt just outside her tent. Quickly, the men's voices around them soared into a roaring commotion.
Both Link and Zelda's eyes widened, each pulling back their hands as they became startled as to what was happening. Zelda felt a fear of uncertainty shoot up her spine.
By sheer instinct, Link spun away from his princess to see what the matter was.
Out from the tent and to both of their shock and astonishment, they emerged into a horrific scene unfolding around them. It was chaos. The furthest end of camp towards the north, near the mouth of the woodland, was in a full-scale panic. Men there were scattered about scrambling for armor and weapons while others were reaching for other supplies. Off in the distance even further past, to where Link and Zelda could see, a blaze was billowing up from sky on the outer edge of the camp. It appeared to be a line of supply wagons going up in smoke.
But, before either could process what was happening, a startled Sidon ran up to them both. He only was only a few steps away sitting by a nearby campfire, just as the disaster broke out.
Link questioned Sidon as he moved ahead in front of Zelda, not allowing her to walk any steps further until he could assess the threat level of the situation. "What's happening!?"
Sidon answered back, hands stretched out in a flurry of an explanation, face just as confused as they were. "I don't know, we were just sitting here, and the next thing we all knew, a huge ball of flame shot up over there, off in the far side of camp. We jumped to our feet as fast as we could, but before we knew it, several more fires broke out near the first."
Zelda went speechless. All she could do was cover her mouth with one of her hands as it hung low, awestruck, witnessing the yonder part of camp fall into total and utter disarray. Even still, the princess managed to voice her thoughts aloud anyways. "Are we under attack?" frantic, she asked them both again. Immediately, as soon as her words escaped her lips a second time, she remembered something about the location of the fires and spoke again before they could answer back. "Isn't that where all the army's supplies and munitions are held?" she said, voice beginning to tremble.
At that same instant, as she spoke, out from a neighboring tent, came Sylmoor, half-dressed and stuck still in a hungover daze, no doubt awoken by the loud ruckus. He was even more confused than they were. In a complete loss for words, he stumbled out from his quarters, nearly tripping over himself several times as he aimlessly spun around, trudging over to where they were standing, taking in the spectacle that was unfolding around him. Soldiers near that could be scrambling to attention, heading off to where the blazes were.
"Goddesses, what is happening!?" The noble asked rhetorically to the three standing nearby. As he moved closer to where they were, he rearranged his night trousers back on correctly, slapping and pulling up his suspender straps.
"Explosions of fire, my lord!" Zelda said.
Link, feeling a sense of dire urgency, spun to Sidon with a command, "Stay here and guard the princess. I'm going to the fires with the men. If we are under attack, then they are going to need my help!"
"You can count on me, Link, with my life," Sidon said, with a firm nod. And, with his words spoken, he unsheathed and spun out in an elegant display, two finely crafted Zora blades. He was ready for anything.
Zelda, though, felt a worry reverberate throughout her entire body until it fell home into the pit of her stomach. She didn't want Link to have to leave her side without totally understanding the situation first. It frightened her that he was always charging off into danger at any sign of it, at a moment's notice, sometimes without thinking at all. But, there was no time to think or ask questions. The attack was now. Link had to go.
The Hylian champion spoke again. "I have to go, princess, you'll be safe here. I'll be right back. I promise."
"But what are you going to-" She couldn't finish her plea to him. He had already darted off away because he saw his chance to catch up to the chaos quickly.
A frightened steed that had broken loose from behind its pen during the ensuing chaos was running through the disorganized camp. The hero made his move.
Sylmoor cuffed his lips for volume and called out to the knight with a yell, just as he rushed off away from them. "But, you're not even wearing any armor!?"
Link shouted back over his shoulder as he reached out for the thrashing stallion, ensnaring the reins, swinging himself atop of him in a grand leap. "There's no time! I have to stop them, or the entire camp will burn!" With a firm hold of the disheartened beast, Link calmed it quickly and kicked it into command. And atop the horse, he charged off into the night, heading straight for the roaring blazes. And into the darkness, he disappeared from their sight.
Sylmoor blinked, offering up a bewildered stare to both the red Prince and Zelda in reaction to Link's strong response, dumbfounded that anyone would be so brazen to charge off into danger without so much a breastplate or shield. Though to them, this wasn't anything new to behold, they already were accustomed to Link's blind heroics. They even came to expect it from him no less. Although even knowing this, deep down, a part of Zelda still was amazed by his bravery.
No sooner had Link left for the fires, from the main tent of camp, rushed out Simon, guarded by two of his elite Starsguard sentries.
"Princess! Are you alright!?" Simon shouted as he ran to where they were. They were still all at a loss for words as to what could have caused this, for they couldn't see any enemies where the fires were roaring.
Zelda broke her gaze, turned slightly, and recognized the Lord of Illiastar. "I'm fine. Thank you for your concern," she said.
"Where is your knight!? Some hero he is! Abandoning his princess at an hour like this!?" Simon hollered, ready to use any opportunity as a chance for him to chastise the young knight.
Zelda defended, her blonde brows beginning to furrow in annoyance at his suggestions. "He did not abandon me, my Lord. And unlike some others who would rather wait until the entire camp burns down, he has charged straight into the thick of the danger to quell it."
The pompous lord nearly fell back at her response and choked a bit. Changing the subject, he coughed. "Well then, in the meantime, these two sentries will stay by your side until we know exactly what is happening and until all threats have been eliminated," he commanded, snapping two fingers pointing toward several soldiers to huddle around her.
Zelda's attention was still to the fires and stood in such a way that she was still facing the out of control blazes, away from the sight of him. She rolled her eyes at his order and let out a faint sigh. "I'm quite alright, shouldn't we be more concerned with putting up a line of defense? To safeguard the part of the camp that hasn't been burned, my lord?"
Feeling proud of himself with a huff, Simon replied, a matter of factly. "No need to worry. I've already done so, just before I came here. Even now, I have two companies of my finest troops lining the inner perimeter between here and the attacked part of camp…They will be digging fire breaks and extinguishing the flames…I've also sent some soldiers to find the perpetrators of this, no doubt attack on our camp," he paused, pacing in front of the princess to capture her attention.
He continued. "Your knight? Did he really just ride off alone? How foolish! Surely, he could have waited for me to give the command to my men to accompany him. What a reckless thing to do. And…to leave you unguarded!" Simon laughed sarcastically, flabbergasted at the notion.
"No…" the Zora prince countered for her, also annoyed at the Lord's preconceived assumptions.
Sylmoor interrupted the red prince before anymore contention could surmount, wearing an impressed grin. He placed his hand up to his brother's shoulder to dispell the tension. He then shook his head, trying to convince him to the contrary of Link's character. "He took flight with about twenty other men brother, he isn't alone, they went on to pursue and engage the attackers. I think we ought to give this lad more credit. I mean, he did defeat the calamity after all. And he does have the sword of legend strapped to his back."
"Legend…indeed." Simon scoffed with a roll of his eyes skyward.
The princess's head rose as her patience wore thin. "Yes! Time was slipping by my lord. He had to act fast. They simply couldn't wait." She said with her nose up to him, looking away, eyes focused on the disaster scene off in the distance.
Simon folded his arms. "Is that right? Well, much relieved. I guess he is sharper than he leads on…I suppose."
The situation around their immediate area was now under control and made safe. But, to where Link was heading, it was anyone's guess as to what was happening.
Link rode hard through the camp and caught up to where the disaster was. To his front, he could see wagons overturned, engulfed in flames where some men lay dead on the ground. Others he heard reeling in pain from their wounds. Hurt by their anguish, a wave of deep-rooted anger swelled inside of him, and without hesitation, the knight gave the order to the soldiers that came along with him to help those who were already there.
The few surviving soldiers from the initial blast were desperately trying to extinguish the burning debris by themselves. They were waging an uphill battle. It seemed that no matter what they did, the flames continued to spread like wildfire from one wagon to the next as if they were fueled by an accelerant of some kind.
Link glanced over to his side and waved over to several soldiers. "Alright, you men, tend to the wounded and get them outta' here!" Then, only taking a moment for a deep breath, he addressed the others. "The rest of you, we need to form a line and stop these fires from spreading. There is no use trying to put out the fires to the wagons and tents that are already ablaze. They are lost. We need to save the rest of the camp from burning now. Start digging a perimeter!"
In unison, the troops around him cheered. "Yes, sir!"
The men scattered in a frenzy, carrying whatever buckets of water they could find from the horse troughs nearby, while others began to dig breaks in the soil to stop the burning flames from spreading into the rest of camp.
Until at last, there was a single remaining guard that ran up beside Link for instruction. The knight turned to speak to him, "And you—" he paused, torn from his thoughts as he caught sight of a shadowy silhouette among the flames, far off in the distance past him. He gazed towards the opposite end of where they were, deep into the burning part of camp, back toward the woodland from where the heart of the fire erupted in the beginning.
"Yes sir?" the soldier asked, confused by Link's troubled and blank stare into the raging flames ahead.
"Nevermind. Stay here and help the others, alright?" Link spoke again, trotting the horse along several feet ahead, almost as if he was gazing more profound into the ensuing chaos in front of them.
"What about you, sir, knight?" The man asked again, still unsure what might have distracted the Hylian champion of old.
"I'll be alright…There is something I must do. Now go and help the others, enough time we've wasted. I'll return as soon as I can. Now go!" Link ordered.
With nary a second thought, Link spun his horse and kicked him onward, deep into the part of camp that was still raging like an inferno. Nobody was alive where he rode off into, and the smoke of death filled the air.
Galloping further, he caught a better glimpse of the silhouette yet again, but now it had formed the shape of a cloaked man, casually strolling through the burning part of camp, unaffected by the roaring blazes all around. It was Link's guess that he was about to flee the scene as he was seen calmly heading back to the mouth of the forest.
Immediately, Link knew that this must have been the person behind the attack. Several more wagons erupted, exploding beside him as he made his way closer to the unknown personage. Random munitions charges were also firing off from within the carts as they were set ablaze. Startled, Link winced at the shattering noise of them. They sounded like bombs detonating right beside his ears, shooting splinters of broken wagon wood and other debris all around.
Deeper as he went, the intense heat of the flames from all sides singed his skin to the point of near unbearable. But he knew he had to press on. With his eyes burning from the smoky air, they watered. It had become a thick and poisonous plume all around him, triggering him into uncontrollable fits of hacking coughs. All he could do to get a grip back of the situation was to tear his tunic shirt, faking a rag to cover his mouth.
Likewise, his horse began to behave erratically, disturbed by the surrounding flames also, kicking back and neighing, un-wanting to venture any deeper. Link leaned in closer to him and soothed him again, reassuring his safety. This time he took more care to navigate through the burned-out wreckage. Choosing a path where they both could tolerate the intensity of the roaring fires and avoid as much of the smoke as possible.
But it was short-lived. The steed frightened almost immediately again and pulled away, forcing the knight to quickly resume control by yanking harder on by the reins. Link felt terrible for being so rough with the beast, but he hadn't any other choice. The enemy was within his grasp and couldn't let him escape.
Seeing the cloaked man slowly moving away toward the woodland, Link spurred his stallion forward. He had to stop him. This was his only chance.
Almost as if he could sense the knight's approach, the silver cloaked man slowly twirled back to face him, face still covered by his hood to where only a faint smirk could be seen afar by Link. It taunted the young warrior. How could this person be so casual as to just walk about the burning debris, seemingly unaffected by this intolerable heat? He thought.
At Link's command with a stern kick, the horse had now charged ahead at ramming speed. Seeing a nearby lance perched into the ground among the burning wreckage that was up ahead of him, Link knew this was his chance to take him out. It stood directly in the path of this unknown intruder.
Speeding faster and faster through the patches of burning field, he reached out his hand and grasped the vertical spear, ripping it from the earth, lifting it up high to his shoulder. Hot to the touch, Link flinched as he grabbed it. But he was so angered by the situation he gripped it even tighter and bore the pain nonetheless.
Elegantly and with accurate precision, he gave a violent yell as he thrust the lance forward with all the strength he could muster. It was a spectacular throw; whistling through the air at such speed, it streaked across the night sky like a shooting star. One could say that if they were there to witness it, that it was an impossible throw, and yet, even with that, the cloaked man effortlessly dodged it.
Link was dumbfounded and amazed. How could anyone have avoided a shot like that and at this range? He questioned in his mind. Not even a skilled soldier like himself would be able to move quick enough to miss a shot like that. And yet, this person did. And with such ease, he performed his maneuver, like if it were all just a game to him. The man moved so quickly that to even Link's keen eyesight, all that he saw was a blur left behind from where he stood. This taunted him even more.
Undeterred, the Knight relentlessly charged straight for him, unsheathing his sword out from behind his back, pointing it toward the mysterious cloaked enemy.
Just as he did that, the hooded man stretched out his hand in front of himself, carrying an unlit torch. And, like a court jester, waved forth it in his hands in an ostentatious fashion, grin peering through the unmasked part of his hood. Cocking himself to one side as if he were about to perform a show, like a dance or magic trick for a king; he perched, blowing a kiss from his free hand to the other carrying the torch, spitting golden sparks igniting it into a beautiful and luminescent blue flame that burned brighter than all the surrounding fires combined.
And just as the knight was about to carry out his finishing strike, maybe twenty or so feet away, the man held out his bright torch and gracefully dropped it in front of himself, in-between him and the Hylian champion.
Happening all so fast but feeling like slow motion to Link violently, a massive pillar of fire shot up from the ground, separating the man from him. The pillar incinerated like a pulse of blinding light hundreds of feet into the air, forming a wall of fire that snaked around the entire outer edge of the camp, dividing the entirety of it from the entrance to the forest.
Link couldn't halt the horse in time, and with that sudden eruption in front of him, the horse at full speed panicked, leaned back on its hind legs, flayed around, and thrust the hero off its back. Thrown hard from the horse, link slammed face-first into the dirt. Scratching and scraping himself as he bounced through the field. And just before he rolled to a stop, he was left mere feet before the wall of flames.
Coming to on the ground and choking from the intense smoke all around, Link coughed and saw what was left of the hooded figure as it slowly backed away from the raging tower of fire, disappearing into the night. The last of what he saw of it was a pair of devilish yellow eyes piercing brightly from behind the flames, fading as it stepped further and further away from the wall of fire and back into the darkness of the forest. Tried as he might, he couldn't get a glimpse of anything else as to what he or what it was.
Back at the heart of camp where the others were, Zelda and the others saw the massive tower of flames guarding the entrance to the woodland spring up from out of nowhere. The entire camp collectively gasped at the sight of them. Most were frozen with fear.
For they were unnatural, coursing with a sickly blue fire, appearing almost green. The flames also were emitting golden embers that streaked within them, sparking every which way. It was fire without fuel but ignited just the same as if it did.
The way it appeared seemed eerily reminiscent of the divine blue flame that the ancient Sheikah were known to have used to fuel their marvelous technological wonders from long in the past. But, even still, this inferno seemed corrupted and gave off a malicious vibe of energy that pulsed from it. To those sensitive to it, felt as if an invisible but evil presence had overcome the camp. It made Zelda's hairs stand on end as she stared deeply into its flame from afar.
That fire was so powerful as it waved and flickered high into the sky, that it pulled a strong draft of wind from all around, dragging with it all the nearby smoke, making it easier to breathe. This was the only pleasant side effect of its existence.
Link groaned, trudged back up to one knee from his hard crash to the grass moments prior. Glancing all around over both shoulders, he tried to reorient himself with his surroundings when a soldier ran up from behind him.
"Sir-Knight, are you alright!?" the man shouted, helping the young hero back up to his feet.
"Yeah...I'm fine. Just a few scratches. Thanks," he coughed back, patting and shaking off the dirt from his clothes.
Link feeling brash and upset that he was bested by this mysterious villain began to march straight towards the towering wall of fire for another attempt at confronting him.
The soldier reached out to grab Link's shoulder and stopped him before he moved another step. "No, sir-Knight! Are you mad? You'll be killed! Nobody can brave a pillar of fire such as that! That fire is unholy, sir! Look how it blazes tall without having to feed."
They both watched as it bellowed up high without having any fuel to quench its flame. Yet, even with that amazing spectacle, only the grass underneath was charred. Nothing else was being consumed.
Snapping back to his senses, Link nodded in agreement to the soldier who lifted him up. Link was so consumed by rage during the moment that he was willing to dare anything to stop that person from escaping. But, as he thought more of it, he realized how foolish of an idea that it was if he were to try and pierce through the wall of fire. So, he turned back to face the soldier.
Before he could utter a word, at that instant, speeding in from the west part of camp, another soldier galloped up to them on horseback, shouting frantically. "They've taken the herd! We have to save the herd!"
Link spun swift to the man who ran up beside him.
Out of breath, the soldier pleaded. "Sir-Link, they are scattering the army's supply of livestock! We have spotted a small band of bokoblins just south of here. Men are facing them in the field as we speak, but they will need our help if they are to survive! We were too few when they surprised us, so I was sent to find help! The enemy plans to make off with most of our cattle. Luckily, they haven't gone far, though."
Link replied. "That means these fires were only just the beginning and must have been just a distraction. If we hurry, we can meet them on horseback. Okay, then we have not a moment to lose. We can still cut them off at the river junction if they are on foot. They are just bokoblins after all and will have to go around the water. That will slow them down and give us our chance to strike back. Quickly, gather your men, and let's make haste for them now. There's still time!"
"Should I go back to camp and let the high command know? We could muster more of the army, surely we would be able to stop them then?" the man asked.
"No. There isn't any time for that," Link replied sternly. "They are too far away. By the time we would arrive with the bulk of the army, these men who are fighting them now would be lost. And then they would have gotten away. Just the men we can spare from putting out the fires that are with us now should be enough! It will have to do! Now go and alert them! We leave at once!"
Yes, Sir!" the man hollered, slapping the reins to his horse, taking him back to where the others were.
Glancing around himself again and saddened by the sight, Link saw that his horse had not been as fortunate as he and did not survive the fall. Its neck was twisted as it lay dead on the ground nearby. Even though it was only just a horse, Link felt as if he betrayed the beast's trust. Moments earlier, he guaranteed its safety, and now it was no more.
But Link wasn't about to let that wear him down. Instead, he used that sadness he had for the poor animal and funneled it into a burning desire to strike back hard at the enemy. And, with that, he shot a look back to the other guard who was alongside him. "Let us hurry! We need to stop those bokoblins before they make off with all the army's cattle. There is still time!" Urgently, they then ran back to help the others.
Finding another horse, Link rallied a small force of Illiastar men, around ten or fifteen soldiers from the fire line, and charged off to where the skirmish was being waged outside of camp. As he moved away with the small company, he saw the bright sky from behind him flicker into sudden darkness. Curious to see what caused the night sky to darken once again, he peered over his shoulder for just a moment. There, he saw the once roaring wall of flame that guarded the entrance to the woods had gone out as if it never existed at all.
But there was no time to focus on that now. He had more significant problems to worry about. He needed to save the cattle from being stolen from the enemy.
Upon his arrival, Link saw that the men that were fighting in all directions ahead of him. They were outnumbered four to one and were pursuing the enemy monsters up a hill. This puts them at a significant disadvantage. However, Link was determined to fight the enemy and take back what was stolen, no matter the odds.
This would prove a more laborious task than anticipated, though. It was nothing for bokoblin commanders to sacrifice their underlings. Their miserable lives meant absolutely nothing to them, and they were routinely used as fodder for the war effort. The use of sheer overwhelming numbers was the main tactic of the enemy scourge.
On the other hand, hylians didn't fight that way. They fought in a more precise manner. Being Hylians as well, they fought with a sense of dignity, paired with a moral code. To them, the sacrifice of any one man wasn't in vain, and each man's life was worth saving.
Deep amid battle, Link led a charge through a line of bokoblin reds, easily slicing them down like the tall grass they stood upon.
It was too late, though, and the knight hadn't realized that they were heading straight for a trap. Just as he gazed to the top of the hill, watching the runaway stampede of cattle rushing upwards. The beast of burden was being chased out by the bokoblins. And as his eyes met the peak, he saw leering over with his arms crossed, cold as a statue, a lynel. Link also noticed that his band of soldiers was still in hot pursuit just behind him and before he could react and stop them from following any further, the worst happened.
A rain of arrows came falling from the sky, stabbing and impaling some of the men who were riding behind him.
Looking back again to the top of the bluff, he saw that the lynel had given the order for an awaiting line of bokoblin archers to fire the volley of arrows.
Link waved his mighty sword skyward. "Hold! Hold the line! Halt!" he commanded back, yelling at the men who were charging in from behind him unaware of the trap.
As fiery arrows continued to fall, the link saw men get struck one by one. Men were collapsing to their deaths. And just as he was about to shout again and pull his stallion back, a stray bolt slashed across his sword arm as he carried it up above his head, slicing a clean cut. Grunting in pain, he jerked the reins to his horse. He seethed through his teeth as the blood flowed down from his bicep to his elbow.
Injured and opening his eyes yet again, he called out to the remaining men. "Fallback! It's no good. We need to retreat! We are in a clear range of their archers!"
"But sir, what about the herd?! They've taken all our cattle!" A soldier behind him pleaded.
"We don't have a choice. We must retreat! It's too late to save the cattle. We'll be butchered if we stay here any longer!" Link continued. "Back to camp! Fallback!"
The Hylian champion knew the outcome would be dire if they were to continue the offensive. The enemy was too far up ahead of them, and the commanding lynel practically was all but daring them to chase them further, to be played right into his hands even more.
At the knight's order, the men slowly backed away out of range. Some began to lift others who fell and were limping from their wounds while others were being dragged to safety. The fallen were left to their grassy graves, for it was still too dangerous to retrieve their corpses.
The enemy lynel leader looked down at the scattering Hylian troops with pure glee. And with a salivating cruel smile, now that he had won his prize, turned and strolled away, fleeing back into the open wilderness with his horde.
Dismayed, Link pulled back his men toward the safety of the camp. They may have been defeated this time around, but they would live to fight another day. He hoped.