Author's Preface:
Recommended Background Music: Zelda Skyward Sword - Sandship (Past) – Extended
Link and Letz stared at the palisade gate from the safety of the forest. The evening sun brought a dull light to the village before them. Various cooking fires and lights could be seen from within the palisade walls. The fires brought with them the scent of smoke and ash. The village appeared peaceful in the evening light, but the bleak appearances of the wooden palisade gave it a mundane look, rather than a picturesque one.
The pair of hylians had made exceptional time in reaching the village. After their previous fight with Fassil and his men, Letz had quickly changed Link's bandages, remarking that the wound was healing miraculously fast. They had then stowed their supplies and collected their horses. Epona had greeted him warmly after being left alone for so long. Letz had recovered Fassil's horse, and the two of them had made their way to their current position.
Link stared ahead, his blue eyes narrowing as he watched the gate. He laid on the ground, revealing only his head as he watched the structures before him. The palisade gates were open, and he could make out a figure adjacent to the entrance. Bringing his hawkeye to his eyes, his fears were confirmed. A Hyrulean guard stood alert in front of the village, a spear in hand. No way to enter undetected from the gate, Link thought to himself.
How he wished Midna was here. This was about the time she'd give some snappy remark that would highlight a way forward. Instead, he was left with himself and a disavowed sergeant who was better at standing guard than sneaking about. Beside him Letz tapped his recovered helmet that he now wore on his head, breaking Link out of his thoughts. Ting…. Ting… Ting…
"Could you stop that?" Link asked in an irritated voice, not taking his eyes off the guard at the gate. He wondered idly if they would change the guards before dark. Around the perimeter of the village, large lanterns were currently being lit by an elderly villager, Link noted with interest. Letz grunted in response to the question.
"I still can't believe he dented it," the soldier said grumpily. "I like my helmet." When Fassil had attacked the dummy distraction, Letz's helmet had been thrown into a sharp rock. It had massively dented the front left of the helmet. The metal helmet now looked considerably pathetic as though a goron had punched Letz in the head. The former sergeant tapped the dent again. Ting…
"Yeah, well making noise with it isn't going to help," Link muttered, still watching the gate. "You can beat it out later." The man beside him groaned.
"That's the worst part! I don't think I'll be able to get it out completely. I'll look like a ragged mercenary for a long time." Link sighed and finally turned his attention to the whining soldier beside him.
"You'll be unique now." Letz gave a depressed groan, as though the world was ending. Link stared at him in disbelief for a second before continuing. "Come on, let's get the horses. I think I have an idea to get into the village without being spotted." Link crawled backwards before standing up and heading back towards their mounts.
"Uniquely ragged," he heard Letz mutter angrily behind him as the soldier made to follow him. Link led Letz and their mounts to the edge of the forest to the Eastern side of the village. Here he dropped Epona's reins, signaling Letz to tie off his horse. Link then grabbed one of his clawshots from Epona's saddle bag. He already had his bow on him. The Ordonian then waved his comrade forward, and the two of them approached the wall of the palisade.
On this side of the palisade there was no gate, and the lights of the lanterns flickered ominously across the base of the wooden wall. The large oak timber provided no real hold to climb onto, and neither the villagers nor guards ever considered posting a watch on the palisade other than the main entrances. Of course, the palisade didn't have an upper walkway to stand on, so it would have been a difficult task to post a man in a good position anyways.
In the end, the villagers probably trusted far too much in their palisade. It was a decent defense, but very rudimentary in almost every way. Its greatest advantage was its height, standing at around ten feet high.
Large lanterns above provided light for the area, swing on poles above the wall inside the palisade to both illuminate the interior and exterior of the structure. The sun was just starting to set. This meant the light wasn't necessary yet but would be invaluable during the dark hours.
"How are we supposed to climb this thing?" Letz whispered worriedly, eyeing the wooden wall with disdain. Link raised his clawshot.
"We aren't." The green-clad hero indicated the lights above them. "See those lanterns? They are covered by a form of expanded metal. This clawshot will be able to latch onto them and pull us over." Letz took a step back, his helmet covering his suddenly fearful expression as he eyed the clawshot.
"That thing is gonna pull us over the wall? No way am I getting shot over the wall by…" Link grabbed him in an instant and fired the clawshot. The metal claws embedded itself into the lantern above wall.
Letz only had time to let out a small squeak of surprise before the clawshot propelled them into the air and over the wall, coming to a stop right below the lantern. Letz clung to his comrade in a death grip as Link lowered them to the ground slowly. Link grinned wolfishly at the soldier. Letz grunted angrily under his helmet.
"Don't ever do that again," the guard stated indignantly. "And keep your weird toys away from me!" Link only grinned wider. They finally reached the ground, and Letz was away from Link in an instant. Link had to fight down the urge to laugh as Letz crouched over and attempted to regain his dignity.
"Alright. We're in. Where to now?" Letz asked, pointedly ignoring Link's barely suppressed laughter. Link choked down his amusement and answered the soldier.
"To the guardhouse. I think it's time we visit a certain captain and free some prisoners."
The door to the guardhouse busted open in a sudden explosion of noise and movement. Link led the charge into the room, Letz right behind. Inside, two soldiers sat relaxing around a table.
The first man was tall and lean. The second soldier was fat and short, seeming out of place in his armor. Responding to the unexpected interruption, both men stood up, attempting to draw their swords.
Link was at them in an instant. He held his silver handled sword to the neck of the first man, who had only managed to pull his sword halfway out. The soldier stopped instantly, his eyes fixed on the tip of the blade at his neck.
"If you don't want to die, put that sword back in its scabbard," Link told him in a low voice. The guardsman hesitated, and Link pushed the blade forward to touch his neck. The man then returned his sword fully to his scabbard at the threat, raising his hands above his head.
"Are there any more soldiers here at the guardhouse?" Link asked the now subdued guard. The soldier shook his head, his eyes under his helm watching Link's blade. At least until a clang was heard from across the table.
The second soldier had already taken his sword belt off and thrown it across the room and making a loud sound even without a weapon to his neck. Link's current victim stopped watching the sword at his neck and instead glared at his armored companion.
"You didn't even try to fight back!" the first guard told the second. The short, plump soldier nodded earnestly.
"I sorta like being alive!"
Link shook his head at the two of them as Letz walked forward, his spear threatening the second man. "Do you know where the prison cells are?" Link asked Letz "We should free the mayor before trying to confront Garsus."
The man nodded in confirmation and led them through a few doors to a drafty room in the back of the building. Link poked both guards forward with his sword, making sure not to give them a chance to act. Letz finally stopped in front of several metal cells. A voice ahead greeted the party.
"Well look who it is, the ghastly ghouls in gray and boomerang boy. I hope ya'll have plans to improve the food in this place, it reeks something awful."
A bored blond-haired lady dressed in crimson leaned on the bars of the first cell in front of them. Velretta had apparently not lost her attitude from her loss to Link. The woman seemed more bitter than ever. Her face was curled into a scowl and her eyes alight with anger. Link sighed. Some things never change, he mused to himself as he considered the huntress before him.
"Has your hearing returned then?" Link asked innocently. Velretta grimaced, her eyes flashing in annoyance at being reminded of her previous conflict with Link.
"No thanks to you," she replied angrily. Link grinned at her. Letz meanwhile grabbed a set of keys off a peg by the door. He unlocked the cell next to Velretta's, and prodded the two soldiers into the cell, removing their weapons as he did so. He swung the door shut solidly with a resounding clang as Link sheathed his weapon. Velretta whistled loudly from her own cell.
"Oooh, trouble in the family? Did Garsus not want to share ownership of the village with you?" She laughed loudly. "I mean, this village really isn't big enough for the both of you. Tiny village, you know? Seventy something people." Link's face became serious in an instant as he took in the final empty cell. He turned to the mocking red-garbed huntress.
"Where's the mayor?" It was Velretta's turn to grin at Link, relishing in the opportunity to withhold information. She gave a dramatic shrug.
"How should I know? I'm just a poor damsel in distress, oblivious to everything going on around her and waiting for her dashing prince." She laughed at the confused look Link and Letz shared. She directed her next words at Letz.
"Sorry, but I don't think a dirty sergeant with a giant dent in his helmet counts." Letz stepped forward angrily.
"Hey! If you think…" Link put an arm in front of him to stop the soldier. Velretta chuckled.
"Oh my, did I hit a nerve?" Link scowled at the mocking woman in front of them.
"I'll repeat my question one more time," he told her. "Where's Mayor Jushai?" Velretta crossed her arm and glared at the two men in front of her.
"Like I'd tell either of you hylians anything." Link was suddenly hit with a sense of déjà vu. Two people in a prison, basically strangers, arguing over if one would help the other. Last time though, he had been the one locked up. And here there isn't a wolf and an imp, he thought to himself ironically. He subconsciously repeated the line that had been said to him.
"Well, that's too bad. I was planning on helping you if you were nice." It didn't have the same placating effect on Velretta.
"Like I'd help you destroy this village further! I don't care which tyrant lords over the village, but I won't be a part of it." Letz shook his head next to Link.
"She's not going to help," the helmeted man told Link. "She thinks were just trying to take his place, not get rid of him. It's a waste of time to mess around with her." Velretta's eyes strayed to the sergeant.
"Yeah, whatever. By the way buckethead, I suppose I should tell you that Laurina's waaaay too good for you." She leaned through the bars, her voice dropping into an icy threat. "And I'll kill you myself if you keep meeting with her." Letz's right hand formed a fist in an instant, and he reared back to strike the arrogant woman in front of him. Link grabbed the soldier's hand, and Letz calmed down after a second. Velretta smirked at the entire interaction.
"Well then, Velretta. I guess your poor old man meant nothing to you," Link stated, his blue eyes locking with Velretta's. Velretta narrowed her eyes.
"Don't you dare speak about my father. He was everything to me, and that piece of hylian scum stole him away," she spat angrily, revealing an anger that contrasted to her former feigned indifference.
"Guess who Garsus tried to do the same way yesterday?" Link asked the huntress. "Except this time, he sent his Lieutenant and nine men to do his dirty work." Velretta twisted her head, confused. She started to speak, then stopped. Finally, she said one word with a bewildered look.
"What?"
"Garsus ordered me killed yesterday," Link replied. "He told his Lieutenant to do it, and the man nearly succeeded too. He managed to shoot me through the back with a crossbow." Link indicated the bandages covering his lower torso. Velretta stared in shock for a second.
"Are you telling me you escaped ten men alone?" she asked. "That's ridiculous!"
"Letz helped me escape," Link replied. Velretta blinked in confusion and uncertainty. She eyed Link in doubt. Letz stepped forward in that instant, pulling out a folded piece of paper from his pouch.
"You can believe him," the soldier stated, throwing the parchment at Velretta. Velretta caught it, slowly opening it. "These are Fassil's written orders, signed by Garsus. In it he details how Link should be eliminated after the lizalfos are removed." Velretta scanned the contents within, albeit very slowly. Letz quickly became impatient after a minute or two of silence from the huntress.
"You can read, can't you?" the soldier asked in a grunt. While Letz's question may have been rhetorical, Link realized that it was possible that out in a village like this that Velretta had never learned the skill. She quickly put that thought to rest.
"Of course I can read, you idiot! My father taught me. I'm just a bit rusty…" She finally finished the letter slowly before looking at Link uncertainty. "It seems legitimate…" she muttered, her eyes flickering between Link and Letz.
"Look Velretta," Link started in a slow and deliberate tone, "I walked into this village without any idea what was going on. Because of that, I helped Garsus because my concern was the threat posed by the lizalfos. I had hoped to kill the lizards and leave you and your village in a happy peace with the soldiers." Link sighed before continuing.
"I guess now I realize that I was blind… That it was the soldiers and the lizalfos causing misery here." Link shook his head in disgust, both at the army and his own ignorance. He had been misled on such a grand level, played like a pawn by a lowly army captain. The thought made his blood boil.
He thought of his conversation with Letz the previous night, and how he had promised to fix things. Link may have stumbled into everything unaware, but he was slowly pulling back the curtain on the terrible untold side of Vinwaka. Velretta may not be innocent in this affair, but she wasn't the perpetrator of the problems either. She obviously had influence with the villagers and could help things return to tranquility if she could see past her petty hate of Link and Letz.
"I'm trying to right those wrongs now, and you could help with it by telling us where the mayor is," Link stated. Velretta's eyes narrowed as Link continued, "Now, I have no idea what you want for your village. But, if you want a peaceful village without Garsus trying to manipulate your life, we are on the same side. I came here to fix the problems in this village, not support Garsus's ridiculous schemes." Velretta just stared at the green clad swordsman. "I'll even forget you tried to kill me the other day." Velretta shook her head.
"I never tried to kill you. The arrows had a fast-acting sedative on them, used to prevent wounded prey from getting away. I was planning on teaching you a lesson or locking you up if you wouldn't agree to leave." The woman sighed. "I thought you were a friend of Garsus's or a mercenary he had hired. I never even considered you were a stranger to everyone here." She looked at the two men before her in a new light.
"So, are you two planning on fighting against the crown after this mess then? The army won't just let one of its garrisons disappear. They'll send more troops to try to force us back into Hyrule's clutches." The woman stared at the two hylians questioningly, her eyes expectant. Link frowned at the huntress.
"Look, I'm not going to-," Link started, only to be interrupted by an angry Velretta.
"I knew it! Father was right! You hylians are all the same: evil and greedy to the end. You'd get rid of Garsus and leave us to a vengeful and bloodthirsty royal family!" Velretta stated angrily. Her eyes filled with a hate at the two men before her.
Link sighed, comparing her description of the royal family to the calm and wise persona that Zelda always carried herself with. The contrast was so great he couldn't even begin to consider the concept. Garsus truly had deceived the people of Vinwaka about the nature of Hyrule.
"Velretta, you need to realize right now that Garsus has misled you on a great many things," Link said slowly. Velretta scowled and started to reply, but Link cut her off.
"Garsus acted against the wishes of Hyrule here in Vinwaka. And while it may be Hyrule's fault that the village's isolated garrison was not better monitored, the misdeeds of Garsus fall back on himself and no one else. Hyrule doesn't want to force you under its heel any more than you want to be. The garrison was meant to work with you to protect your livelihoods, not claim it in the name of the crown." Velretta eyed Link suspiciously, anger still fixed on her face.
"So, after one hylian lies to me for weeks on end, I'm supposed to just trust another one for no other reason than he says things aren't as bad as we think they are?" She guffawed loudly. "My father taught me to never trust a long-eared fool, and I'm not about to start now." Link just stared at her in disbelief.
"You're telling me that you'd rather see your village destroyed in self-conflict and your mayor murdered than to trust one hylian?" Link asked in an accusing voice. Velretta made no reply. Link hesitated a second, before changing tact. "Have you heard of Ordon Village?" Velretta narrowed her eyes at that question.
"Yeah, that tiny hamlet in the South? Don't even try to say you're from there. The bartender already told me you said that, and I don't believe it for one instant." Link smiled sadly.
"Then I won't tell you. I'll show you. You had a lot of knives on you when we fought in the woods. Would you recognize an Ordonian weapon? There's not many, and not just anyone would carry one." Velretta eyed him questioningly, before slowly nodding.
In one motion, Link drew his sword. He smiled at the weapon, spinning it in his palm with familiarity. The green clad hero then grabbed the blade and pointed the handle to Velretta. The woman slowly took the weapon, suspicion still in her eyes. She blew a blond lock out of her face before inspecting the weapon.
Link's Ordon sword was a basic weapon, but well-made and crafted with extreme care. Rusl had poured his heart and soul into the weapon back when it was meant to be a gift for the royal family. Velretta stared at the blade, slowly turning it over in her hand.
"The forging techniques are clearly from Faron or Ordona, and the handle is definitely fitting for an Ordonian weapon…" She hesitated uncertainly. "But you could have stolen this."
"Stolen it from a tiny hamlet in the far southern part of the Ordona Providence? Wouldn't there be better places to steal from? And I'm telling you, as someone raised in a community not so different than the one here, that Hyrule is not out to ruin your life," Link stated calmly, staring at the sword with his own thoughts.
Velretta had nothing to say to that. The young woman stared at the weapon for another half minute before finally sighing and slowly returning the weapon to Link. She looked into the deep blue eyes of the green clad swordsman, looking for any signs of dishonesty.
"Alright fine, I'll help you if you get me out of here," the red-dressed huntress finally stated. "I apparently have business to settle with a certain red bearded captain." Link smiled softly, taking the keys from Letz and unlocking the cell. He quickly opened the door and Velretta emerged, scowling at the two of them.
"Don't look so excited, I'm only doing this to get back at Garsus," she told them.
"Of course," Link replied in a knowing tone.
"Sorry to hurry things along," Letz interrupted in slightly bored tone, "but now will you tell us where the mayor is?" Velretta sent another icy glare at the sergeant but answered the question none the less.
"He's in the village hall with Garsus. I think the captain wanted to show he's in control by setting himself up over there." Velretta moved to the corner of the room, and Link realized there was a large chest there that he had missed upon entering the room. The crimson huntress began going through the chest, throwing items haphazardly over her shoulder.
"Good, then we know where he is and can end this mess," Letz stated, dodging a compass Velretta had thrown over her shoulder. "What are you doing?" Velretta scowled, continuing her efforts.
"I thought I saw them put my knives in here." She dug for a second longer. "Ah! There they are!" The young lady jumped to her feet, stashing the knives in various pockets on her jacket. Letz just shook his head. Link decided to take charge.
"We should get a move on before the last of the daylight fades." The light outside was indeed darkening. Letz hesitated at that declaration. Velretta shook her head, turning to look at Link directly. Her red Jacket flowed behind her slightly as she moved.
"Well, you can go over there. Just watch out for the riot." She grinned at Link's confused face. Her confidence had fully returned as though she hadn't just been convinced to trust the two of them. "Let's just say I'm pretty well known around here. I maaay have talked the villagers into rioting at the village hall if the soldiers were absent or I was arrested. Turns out both happened." Link sighed, closing his eyes and pinching his nose.
"You realize that Garsus will be on guard then and feel pressured into doing something violent?"
"Not my problem." She flashed a grin at them. "I need to go get my spare bow from my house, so I can kill some hylians." She suddenly realized who her current company was.
"Err, no offense. I'll meet you in the center of the village next to the hall, assuming the villagers haven't already killed Garsus by then." With a cheery wave, she jumped out the back door, jogging away into the distance. Link stared after her in confusion at the sudden departure. Letz grunted beside Link.
"That woman confuses the heck out of me," the soldier told him. "One moment she's glaring daggers, the next she's grinning like the world's a comedy." Link nodded, heading towards the door.
"We'd better go see what mess she cooked up at the village hall," he replied. The green garbed hero exited the guardhouse, his feet crunching on the dirt of the village. Letz didn't move to follow him.
"I would, but I need to check on Laurina. I don't know what's been going on here, and if Garsus has done anything…" The soldier wearily told Link. Link turned back to him, seeing the uncertainty in his figure.
"I'm sorry Letz, but I need you now. Especially if the villagers are trying something," Link replied. "I don't know what's going on, and there's not really anyone else I can trust around here." Letz hesitated, his helmet revealing no emotion as he looked back and forth between Link and the dusty road.
"I… I just don't know…" He stuttered slowly.
"Look, Garsus doesn't know what went on out in the woods, remember? The best thing you can do is help me with Garsus and then check in on her later." The guard hesitated a moment more, before slowly nodding. Link sighed in relief, suddenly more appreciative of the guard's support. He began moving again, and this time Letz followed.
Neither man said anything more as they moved through the streets of the village. The place was ominously empty, with no one in any of the houses. That is until they approached the heart of the village.
Shouting and screaming could be heard up ahead. Link unconsciously quickened his pace, Letz speeding up to match him. Link stopped in his tracks as he came into sight of the village hall.
In front of him, he witnessed the solitary village hall under siege by a mob. This time though, the people were more active and better equipped, with a few swords and farm equipment. The village occupants had surrounded the building completely.
No Hyrulean soldiers stopped them from advancing up the steps of the building and burning it to the ground. But the crowd remained outside, obviously respecting that their mayor was within the building ahead of them. That's not to say they were peaceful.
The mass of villagers was split into several groups around the building, yelling and screaming at the top of their lungs. Rocks were constantly thrown at the village hall, and most of the windows were already shattered. The people waved torches and lanterns in the air, crying for the blood of all hylians. The noise and visuals were almost overwhelming.
Twilight began to descend upon the village, dowsing the people in an eerie orange light. Link eyed the crowd with anticipation, seeing no easy way through them and uneager to approach them in their apparent bloodlust.
"This may be more difficult than I expected," he murmured to his companion as they watched the turmoil ahead.
Author's Note:
Unfortunately, I may be delayed a week on the next chapter. I have some changes I want to implement, and I'm not sure if I will have it ready or not. So don't worry if the normal upload time is delayed a week. If you have enjoyed the story so far, please let me know! The same applies if you have hated the story. Feedback of any sort allows me to better understand how the reader is interacting with the chapters.