Chapter Twenty-Seven
"Do not let them get away," King Viru growled, rising from his seat. The Tophetians immediately obeyed. The King of Tophet turned in Intol. "I'll not have them escaping to warn the troops at Tyulia. Ontharn is wide open, now that many troops have left it. Did they think we'd not know of their plans to send the Hylian forces to Oun Tar?"
"They underestimated us in many ways, my love," Cheyanna soothed. "We'll have their heads on a pike, no doubt."
"The token force we left at Phoenix Pass has been decimated," Intol reported, after conversing with a scout that had just arrived. "General Khegen has been killed as well."
"No matter, I would have done it myself after a while," King Viru dismissed, waving his hand. "A traitor to one side can be a traitor to the other side."
'Fuck,' Link thought distractedly, shoving past several monks. 'This isn't good at all, we've got to get out of here.' If only he knew the place better...! None of the holy people would help them, if they had truly sided with King Viru. Was everyone betraying Selinta to Tophet?
"Matey, they're after us!" Lance called, struggling to keep up. "We've got... to get somewhere, and quick! We'd not stand a chance against them head on!"
"Here!" The blonde ducked around a corner and luckily found a small study. Lance and Miyako darted inside and he slammed the door shut. "Here, take this." Link pulled the Master Sword out of his sheath, then the Biggoron's Sword. He handed the latter to the sailor, who gripped it tightly. "I don't have a weapon for you, Miyako. I've left the Kokiri Sword I had as a boy in Hyrule, but maybe there's something in here you can use. We'll have to fight our way out." The red-haired girl scoured the room quickly as Link and Lance took up vigil at the door, which was trembling under the force the Tophetians were throwing upon it. "We've not much time, a minute and they'll break through. Have you found anything?!"
"No, not a single thing!" She yelled back, shoving a chair aside and looking under the desk for a weapon that might be strapped underneath. Nothing. "Dammit! Are the Holy Order of Farore daft as well as traitorous?"
"Open up, or we'll make this painful for you!" One of the soldiers called.
"We'll have to head straight to Ontharn to warn the castle," Link muttered to himself. "If we get out of here alive."
"There it goes, matey!" The door splintered, groaning with protest under the intense blows it received. "Anything yet?"
"Nothing!" Miyako picked up the chair with little effort. "I'll use this, it's all they've got that might be fatal."
"Sure, and afterwards you can take a breather on it," Lance chortled, despite their situation. The door burst, and the Tophetians flooded in.
A quick swing with the Master Sword cleaved the first unlucky soldier in half at the stomach. The remains fell to the floor, causing a stumble for the others pouring in. He felt rather than saw the blade of a scimitar brush past his side; in the midst of fighting, Link felt calm. Without emotion he fought forward, striving to push the Tophetians out of the room. With any luck, they would be able to defend their position for a few hours, though help would not come, that much was true.
But they would not be here in a few hours, if he could help it.
"Aye, but you're a sight to see when you fight," Lance grunted breathlessly, trying to swing the immense blade in such a small space without hurting his friend. Link did not reply; he didn't even hear his friend speak to him.
'When we run, she'll have to stay in between Lance and I; a chair won't last but one minute against swords,' he thought, thrusting the Master Sword into someone's gut and pushing forcefully forward. He tumbled back into his comrades, momentarily upsetting their balance. "Come on!" He darted out the door, still shoving Tophetians out of the way. His bold advance confused them briefly, but essentially. The other two ran after him.
"It's no good," Lance called, his head craned around to watch the Tophetians behind them. "They're coming up from behind us!"
"In front of us, too," Link replied, slowing down. They were trapped between two masses of Tophetians, but he refused to allow himself to despair. "Can you burn them?" Miyako was speechless for a moment, then regained her composure.
"In close quarters? We'll suffocate if we don't fry with them ourselves," she replied, heading back to where Lance was defending the rear. "I can try."
"That's all I asked," the Hero of Time muttered, decapitating several Tophetians. "But be quick about it, they're endless!"
'Potentia, don't fail me now,' she thought tensely, trying to focus her concentration to a single, narrow point. At once everything else seemed to slow down, as though they were moving through thick but clear mud. The soles of her feet warmed first, as they always did, then the mulciber crept up to leave through her concentration. The soldiers Lance was fighting immediately screamed and fell to the floor, writhing as they smoked and caught flame.
"Good Gods," muttered the sailor, skipping back. "Careful there!"
"That's it, I can't do anymore," Miyako yelled, putting a hand to her face. Her skin was hot and dry; it was stupid to use her potentia so soon after being ill from heat.
"It's enough, come on!" Link urged, slicing his way forward. The Tophetians were beginning to draw back, afraid of his determination and wrath. He could see the small waiting area where the entrance was. If they could just get there...
"Link!" Miyako shrieked suddenly. The Hero of Time jerked in surprise to look back at her, but on the way his eyes fell on another attacker to his right. There was a strange sensation in his side, and it was only when it turned to pain did he realize he'd been stabbed.
'That's not good,' he thought blankly, and automatically the Master Sword rose to pierce his assailant. The soldier fell, the blade mutilating his upper chest.
"Give me that!" Miyako seized the Biggoron's Sword from Lance's hands, and then sprinted forward.
"What, girl?!" screamed the sailor, shocked beyond action. Behind him, the cries of the burning soldiers still carried on.
Link turned to face Miyako, the painful sensation in his side growing stronger. He felt sluggish, but his arms seemed to be in good working order as he raised them, clutching the Master Sword, to swing at more Tophetian soldiers.
Even using both hands Miyako found she could hardly lift the blade, but she saw King Viru and Cheyanna further down, and more than anything she wanted to kill Cheyanna, who was laughing with glee. She swung it as though it were a baseball bat, underestimating her power and removing the heads of several Tophetian soldiers. Her muscles were on fire; this time, though, it was not from her potentia. She estimated she had about another minute before she'd drop the sword from pure exhaustion, yet a minute was more than enough time.
"What?!" King Viru shouted, seeing her break through the mass. "Stop her, you stupid imbeciles!" But they were too late. Cheyanna was already screaming and Miyako was charging with the Biggoron's Sword....
"C'mon, matey!" Lance grabbed Link's sleeve and pulled him along, using a fallen Tophetian's sword to stave off attacks. "We've got to get out of here!"
"But King Viru—!" gasped the injured nineteen-year-old, struggling to lift his sword and cleave a soldier.
"You can fight him another time. Miyako!" The red-haired girl tugged feebly on the sword, and pulled it free from the traitor princess's body. King Viru was roaring something in ancient Tophetian, drawing his own sword. Her muscles screamed in her arms and legs as she staggered towards the other two. The Tophetian soldiers had left off the onslaught; seeing Viru wield his sword would mean that everything would soon be taken care of. "Get going!"
"I..." She stumbled then, and that trip saved her life. Viru's great sword whistled above her head, narrowly missing decapitating her. Miyako forced her legs to run and clutching the Biggoron's Sword with both hands, she followed the other two out of the temple.
They were far from safe; Link was losing consciousness rapidly and the Tophetians would definitely be able to outrun them.
"Horses!" Miyako screamed. She couldn't get enough air.
"We don't have any!" Lance shouted angrily. "Do you think we could just wish for them and they'd appear!"
"No, horses!" She grabbed his arm and violently jerked him, pointing at the side of the monastery. About twenty horses were waiting patiently; apparently the Tophetians who had ambushed them from behind had been riding on horseback.
"Good Gods," the sailor muttered, half-carrying half-dragging Link towards the horses. Soldiers had begun to come out of the temple, fully armed and ready to fight. "Hurry, now!" The Hero of Time tried to mount the horse but was missing the reins by a whole foot, his hand reaching for nothing in the air. Lance gave him a boost up, then climbed in front of him. "Come on now, grab hold of the saddle and hang on!" Miyako pulled herself onto another horse and fell against its neck as she gigged the horse and began at a gallop.
"I think... I think I'm fine now," Link said, his forehead resting against Lance's back. "I'll be fine, I... I'm all right..."
"Shut up, Link. You're like a brother to me, but hush," the dark-blue- haired Kreyan urged. "Faster, horse!" Tophetians had mounted the remaining horses and were now chasing after them, full speed.
After an hour's chase, the Tophetians pulled off, heading back towards the Massharte Ruins. Lance nearly collapsed forward on his horse with relief, trying not to think about anything.
"Matey, you all right back there?" He could feel Link's weight against him, but there was no reply. "Damn and blast, he's out." The Biggoron's Sword trailed loosely against the ground as the horses slowed, exhausted after the long run.
"We... we have to stop, see how bad it is..." Miyako murmured, her face still hot as she pressed it against the horse's mane.
"No, no time. We must hurry back to Ontharn. We'll be there by late evening."
Lance's estimation proved to be correct; they arrived at the city just as the sun was setting behind them. Urging their horses faster, the sailor and the red-haired girl galloped through the city towards Castle Dythia. The guards, seeing them, quickly opened the gate and they raced in.
Miyako pulled on the reins to slow and stop the horse. She dismounted, then helped Lance bring Link down from atop his horse.
"He doesn't look good," she said worriedly, touching his pale face. The wound on his side had clotted, but when they moved it, it tore and began bleeding again.
"Aye, he's still alive though. The medicos in the castle can help him better than we can. C'mon, help me carry him."
Link opened his eyes and sat up abruptly. There was no pain in his side, but there was a bandage bound around his midsection tightly. He felt better than fine; he felt wonderful, but he could not recall how he got back at the castle. Had it been hours or days since they fought at the Massharte Ruins? The last thing he could recall was feeling the sword pierce his side, and then everything faded into blankness afterwards.
The Hero of Time looked around the room and saw Miyako asleep on a large armchair, curled up with a book in her lap. Lance, however, was a bit more undignified in his sleep, snoring rather comically from his position at the window seat.
'How long has it been?' He wondered, throwing back the covers and scooting to the edge of the bed. At least the doctors had though to let him keep some underclothes on. At once, both of his friends stirred, waking up as if he had given them a mental cue. And perhaps he had.
"Matey, how are you feeling?" Lance inquired, stretching luxuriously.
"Better, a lot better, but what happened? How long has it been?"
"Oh, I'd say about half a day; 'tis full night now, so 'tis. The medicos said you were lucky the sword didn't hit anythin' vital, else you would've died on the way here."
"Did you..." Lance shook his head before Link could finish the rest of the question.
"No, we had to leave, but I think Miyako took care of Cheyanna before we left, though—"
"I didn't mean to!" she cried suddenly, flinging the book at Lance. "I just.... I saw her laughing, and I got angry, I... I didn't mean to kill her!"
"No?" The sailor seemed almost scornful in his reply. "Then pray tell why you ran her through with the sword like a hot knife through butter?"
"You're a bastard, Lanceton Untille," she snapped, running out of the chambers. Link, who had been reaching for his clothes, stopped and looked questioningly at his friend. Lance sighed.
" 'Twas forward of me, but she's such a pain at times. One minute she thinks she has no need for anyone else, and the next she's weeping 'cos she killed someone. Honestly, womenfolk."
"Was it her first time?" Link asked, pulling his shirt over his head.
"I dunno, I guess so," Lance replied reluctantly. "Seeing as she's not told me about anything afore she came to Selinta, I wouldn't know."
"It's easy to be full of confidence if you've never slain a person before," Link stated, forgoing his tunic for a pair of black pants. "After that, it's a question of morals."
"What about you, ger fada, you gonna run away weeping?" The sailor was half- smiling. The Hero of Time gave Lance an exasperated glance.
"Me? Not likely. That's another reason she should have stayed here, in Ontharn, in the first place. Women attach too much important to every little thing. I killed many Tophetians today, I know that, and I had nothing to hold against them, but it was kill or be killed, and you can't regret a situation like that, if you come out victorious. It grieves me a little to know I might have left a mother without a husband or a son, but..." Link shrugged, buckling his boots. "I don't want to seem like I don't care, but the Tophetians started this war in the first place, so 'tis their fault if they lose to us."
"I think you should go talk to her; she'd not let me within a twenty-foot radius," Lance spoke ruefully after several moments. The nineteen-year-old nodded prudently.
"That's what I was going to do. Is the king here?"
"Nay, he left with the Hylian troops. Unfortunate, too; there aren't many soldiers here, Link. If Viru comes now, we'll be between a rock and a hard place."
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Sorry for not updating in a while, but the wrists, y'see.... So, two chapters to make up for the lack of updates. Argh. Well, please review and let me know what you think... only eight more chapters after this.
"Do not let them get away," King Viru growled, rising from his seat. The Tophetians immediately obeyed. The King of Tophet turned in Intol. "I'll not have them escaping to warn the troops at Tyulia. Ontharn is wide open, now that many troops have left it. Did they think we'd not know of their plans to send the Hylian forces to Oun Tar?"
"They underestimated us in many ways, my love," Cheyanna soothed. "We'll have their heads on a pike, no doubt."
"The token force we left at Phoenix Pass has been decimated," Intol reported, after conversing with a scout that had just arrived. "General Khegen has been killed as well."
"No matter, I would have done it myself after a while," King Viru dismissed, waving his hand. "A traitor to one side can be a traitor to the other side."
'Fuck,' Link thought distractedly, shoving past several monks. 'This isn't good at all, we've got to get out of here.' If only he knew the place better...! None of the holy people would help them, if they had truly sided with King Viru. Was everyone betraying Selinta to Tophet?
"Matey, they're after us!" Lance called, struggling to keep up. "We've got... to get somewhere, and quick! We'd not stand a chance against them head on!"
"Here!" The blonde ducked around a corner and luckily found a small study. Lance and Miyako darted inside and he slammed the door shut. "Here, take this." Link pulled the Master Sword out of his sheath, then the Biggoron's Sword. He handed the latter to the sailor, who gripped it tightly. "I don't have a weapon for you, Miyako. I've left the Kokiri Sword I had as a boy in Hyrule, but maybe there's something in here you can use. We'll have to fight our way out." The red-haired girl scoured the room quickly as Link and Lance took up vigil at the door, which was trembling under the force the Tophetians were throwing upon it. "We've not much time, a minute and they'll break through. Have you found anything?!"
"No, not a single thing!" She yelled back, shoving a chair aside and looking under the desk for a weapon that might be strapped underneath. Nothing. "Dammit! Are the Holy Order of Farore daft as well as traitorous?"
"Open up, or we'll make this painful for you!" One of the soldiers called.
"We'll have to head straight to Ontharn to warn the castle," Link muttered to himself. "If we get out of here alive."
"There it goes, matey!" The door splintered, groaning with protest under the intense blows it received. "Anything yet?"
"Nothing!" Miyako picked up the chair with little effort. "I'll use this, it's all they've got that might be fatal."
"Sure, and afterwards you can take a breather on it," Lance chortled, despite their situation. The door burst, and the Tophetians flooded in.
A quick swing with the Master Sword cleaved the first unlucky soldier in half at the stomach. The remains fell to the floor, causing a stumble for the others pouring in. He felt rather than saw the blade of a scimitar brush past his side; in the midst of fighting, Link felt calm. Without emotion he fought forward, striving to push the Tophetians out of the room. With any luck, they would be able to defend their position for a few hours, though help would not come, that much was true.
But they would not be here in a few hours, if he could help it.
"Aye, but you're a sight to see when you fight," Lance grunted breathlessly, trying to swing the immense blade in such a small space without hurting his friend. Link did not reply; he didn't even hear his friend speak to him.
'When we run, she'll have to stay in between Lance and I; a chair won't last but one minute against swords,' he thought, thrusting the Master Sword into someone's gut and pushing forcefully forward. He tumbled back into his comrades, momentarily upsetting their balance. "Come on!" He darted out the door, still shoving Tophetians out of the way. His bold advance confused them briefly, but essentially. The other two ran after him.
"It's no good," Lance called, his head craned around to watch the Tophetians behind them. "They're coming up from behind us!"
"In front of us, too," Link replied, slowing down. They were trapped between two masses of Tophetians, but he refused to allow himself to despair. "Can you burn them?" Miyako was speechless for a moment, then regained her composure.
"In close quarters? We'll suffocate if we don't fry with them ourselves," she replied, heading back to where Lance was defending the rear. "I can try."
"That's all I asked," the Hero of Time muttered, decapitating several Tophetians. "But be quick about it, they're endless!"
'Potentia, don't fail me now,' she thought tensely, trying to focus her concentration to a single, narrow point. At once everything else seemed to slow down, as though they were moving through thick but clear mud. The soles of her feet warmed first, as they always did, then the mulciber crept up to leave through her concentration. The soldiers Lance was fighting immediately screamed and fell to the floor, writhing as they smoked and caught flame.
"Good Gods," muttered the sailor, skipping back. "Careful there!"
"That's it, I can't do anymore," Miyako yelled, putting a hand to her face. Her skin was hot and dry; it was stupid to use her potentia so soon after being ill from heat.
"It's enough, come on!" Link urged, slicing his way forward. The Tophetians were beginning to draw back, afraid of his determination and wrath. He could see the small waiting area where the entrance was. If they could just get there...
"Link!" Miyako shrieked suddenly. The Hero of Time jerked in surprise to look back at her, but on the way his eyes fell on another attacker to his right. There was a strange sensation in his side, and it was only when it turned to pain did he realize he'd been stabbed.
'That's not good,' he thought blankly, and automatically the Master Sword rose to pierce his assailant. The soldier fell, the blade mutilating his upper chest.
"Give me that!" Miyako seized the Biggoron's Sword from Lance's hands, and then sprinted forward.
"What, girl?!" screamed the sailor, shocked beyond action. Behind him, the cries of the burning soldiers still carried on.
Link turned to face Miyako, the painful sensation in his side growing stronger. He felt sluggish, but his arms seemed to be in good working order as he raised them, clutching the Master Sword, to swing at more Tophetian soldiers.
Even using both hands Miyako found she could hardly lift the blade, but she saw King Viru and Cheyanna further down, and more than anything she wanted to kill Cheyanna, who was laughing with glee. She swung it as though it were a baseball bat, underestimating her power and removing the heads of several Tophetian soldiers. Her muscles were on fire; this time, though, it was not from her potentia. She estimated she had about another minute before she'd drop the sword from pure exhaustion, yet a minute was more than enough time.
"What?!" King Viru shouted, seeing her break through the mass. "Stop her, you stupid imbeciles!" But they were too late. Cheyanna was already screaming and Miyako was charging with the Biggoron's Sword....
"C'mon, matey!" Lance grabbed Link's sleeve and pulled him along, using a fallen Tophetian's sword to stave off attacks. "We've got to get out of here!"
"But King Viru—!" gasped the injured nineteen-year-old, struggling to lift his sword and cleave a soldier.
"You can fight him another time. Miyako!" The red-haired girl tugged feebly on the sword, and pulled it free from the traitor princess's body. King Viru was roaring something in ancient Tophetian, drawing his own sword. Her muscles screamed in her arms and legs as she staggered towards the other two. The Tophetian soldiers had left off the onslaught; seeing Viru wield his sword would mean that everything would soon be taken care of. "Get going!"
"I..." She stumbled then, and that trip saved her life. Viru's great sword whistled above her head, narrowly missing decapitating her. Miyako forced her legs to run and clutching the Biggoron's Sword with both hands, she followed the other two out of the temple.
They were far from safe; Link was losing consciousness rapidly and the Tophetians would definitely be able to outrun them.
"Horses!" Miyako screamed. She couldn't get enough air.
"We don't have any!" Lance shouted angrily. "Do you think we could just wish for them and they'd appear!"
"No, horses!" She grabbed his arm and violently jerked him, pointing at the side of the monastery. About twenty horses were waiting patiently; apparently the Tophetians who had ambushed them from behind had been riding on horseback.
"Good Gods," the sailor muttered, half-carrying half-dragging Link towards the horses. Soldiers had begun to come out of the temple, fully armed and ready to fight. "Hurry, now!" The Hero of Time tried to mount the horse but was missing the reins by a whole foot, his hand reaching for nothing in the air. Lance gave him a boost up, then climbed in front of him. "Come on now, grab hold of the saddle and hang on!" Miyako pulled herself onto another horse and fell against its neck as she gigged the horse and began at a gallop.
"I think... I think I'm fine now," Link said, his forehead resting against Lance's back. "I'll be fine, I... I'm all right..."
"Shut up, Link. You're like a brother to me, but hush," the dark-blue- haired Kreyan urged. "Faster, horse!" Tophetians had mounted the remaining horses and were now chasing after them, full speed.
After an hour's chase, the Tophetians pulled off, heading back towards the Massharte Ruins. Lance nearly collapsed forward on his horse with relief, trying not to think about anything.
"Matey, you all right back there?" He could feel Link's weight against him, but there was no reply. "Damn and blast, he's out." The Biggoron's Sword trailed loosely against the ground as the horses slowed, exhausted after the long run.
"We... we have to stop, see how bad it is..." Miyako murmured, her face still hot as she pressed it against the horse's mane.
"No, no time. We must hurry back to Ontharn. We'll be there by late evening."
Lance's estimation proved to be correct; they arrived at the city just as the sun was setting behind them. Urging their horses faster, the sailor and the red-haired girl galloped through the city towards Castle Dythia. The guards, seeing them, quickly opened the gate and they raced in.
Miyako pulled on the reins to slow and stop the horse. She dismounted, then helped Lance bring Link down from atop his horse.
"He doesn't look good," she said worriedly, touching his pale face. The wound on his side had clotted, but when they moved it, it tore and began bleeding again.
"Aye, he's still alive though. The medicos in the castle can help him better than we can. C'mon, help me carry him."
Link opened his eyes and sat up abruptly. There was no pain in his side, but there was a bandage bound around his midsection tightly. He felt better than fine; he felt wonderful, but he could not recall how he got back at the castle. Had it been hours or days since they fought at the Massharte Ruins? The last thing he could recall was feeling the sword pierce his side, and then everything faded into blankness afterwards.
The Hero of Time looked around the room and saw Miyako asleep on a large armchair, curled up with a book in her lap. Lance, however, was a bit more undignified in his sleep, snoring rather comically from his position at the window seat.
'How long has it been?' He wondered, throwing back the covers and scooting to the edge of the bed. At least the doctors had though to let him keep some underclothes on. At once, both of his friends stirred, waking up as if he had given them a mental cue. And perhaps he had.
"Matey, how are you feeling?" Lance inquired, stretching luxuriously.
"Better, a lot better, but what happened? How long has it been?"
"Oh, I'd say about half a day; 'tis full night now, so 'tis. The medicos said you were lucky the sword didn't hit anythin' vital, else you would've died on the way here."
"Did you..." Lance shook his head before Link could finish the rest of the question.
"No, we had to leave, but I think Miyako took care of Cheyanna before we left, though—"
"I didn't mean to!" she cried suddenly, flinging the book at Lance. "I just.... I saw her laughing, and I got angry, I... I didn't mean to kill her!"
"No?" The sailor seemed almost scornful in his reply. "Then pray tell why you ran her through with the sword like a hot knife through butter?"
"You're a bastard, Lanceton Untille," she snapped, running out of the chambers. Link, who had been reaching for his clothes, stopped and looked questioningly at his friend. Lance sighed.
" 'Twas forward of me, but she's such a pain at times. One minute she thinks she has no need for anyone else, and the next she's weeping 'cos she killed someone. Honestly, womenfolk."
"Was it her first time?" Link asked, pulling his shirt over his head.
"I dunno, I guess so," Lance replied reluctantly. "Seeing as she's not told me about anything afore she came to Selinta, I wouldn't know."
"It's easy to be full of confidence if you've never slain a person before," Link stated, forgoing his tunic for a pair of black pants. "After that, it's a question of morals."
"What about you, ger fada, you gonna run away weeping?" The sailor was half- smiling. The Hero of Time gave Lance an exasperated glance.
"Me? Not likely. That's another reason she should have stayed here, in Ontharn, in the first place. Women attach too much important to every little thing. I killed many Tophetians today, I know that, and I had nothing to hold against them, but it was kill or be killed, and you can't regret a situation like that, if you come out victorious. It grieves me a little to know I might have left a mother without a husband or a son, but..." Link shrugged, buckling his boots. "I don't want to seem like I don't care, but the Tophetians started this war in the first place, so 'tis their fault if they lose to us."
"I think you should go talk to her; she'd not let me within a twenty-foot radius," Lance spoke ruefully after several moments. The nineteen-year-old nodded prudently.
"That's what I was going to do. Is the king here?"
"Nay, he left with the Hylian troops. Unfortunate, too; there aren't many soldiers here, Link. If Viru comes now, we'll be between a rock and a hard place."
-----------------------------------
Sorry for not updating in a while, but the wrists, y'see.... So, two chapters to make up for the lack of updates. Argh. Well, please review and let me know what you think... only eight more chapters after this.