A large, yet simple, stone house with a shingled roof stood at the furthest point of the gates of Magol. It was the closest thing this town had to a hospital. Past the rotting, wooden door that served as the entrance, was a room the occupied the entire interior. Beds were lined up in two rows with at least twenty beds per row or more accurately, cots with woolen blankets. There were three nurses on duty twenty-four hours a day. They needed no more for it was rare that a person was ill and if someone was wounded it required no less than three stitches or it was a mortal wound.
Which was why they were unsure how to proceed with Link. He had no superficial injuries. They knew something inside him was wrong, but what it was and more importantly how it was to be dealt with, was beyond them. He did have a fever though and that they knew how to treat. They put a cold, wet towel on his forehead and fed him some herbs.
Gerud visited Link often during the day. He had ordered two horses be made ready for them. Once Link was able to walk, he planned to set out for the temple of light and arrive as soon as possible. It was now evident that Link would need the disciples' help. The giant would come in and ask the nurses if any improvement had been noticed. There was some change by nightfall. Link's conditioned worsened.
"He is gasping for air." The nurse told Gerud when he came in. She did not have to tell him. He could hear Link gasping from outside. Gerud rushed to the Hylian's side. Sweat was rolling down his forehead now.
"Link!" Gerud called. He could not hide the fear from his voice. "What is wrong?" The Hylian continued to gasp.
Then, "My bag." It took great effort to say those words. He could say no more but that was all Gerud needed.
"I will retrieve it for ye, even if it is at the bottom of the ocean." He ran outside, leapt onto the horse strong enough to carry the sailor's bulk and rode off.
It was the ending of the day that Gerud and Link had left them before Borin and Teri met again. They had split up to cover more of the beach. Each had found several of the sailors alive and several others dead.
"Ye can find no more?" Teri asked when their groups rejoined.
"Alas no. Nor did any of your men who were in the midst of searching for their companions when I stumbled upon them."
"Then there is no reason." Teri said soberly, gazing at the dying sun. "We are fortunate though to be sleeping in our homes on this sorrowful night." The others agreed silently and followed their captain to Fernand.
As they passed through the gates, Borin ran alongside her. He carried a bag that made a great clattering when shook. One of the sailors had found it slung over her chest when she woke up. How it came onto her, she had no idea. There were bottles of strange potions and masks of all sorts.
"This is Link's." Teri said when Borin handed her the bag. "He must have forgotten to reclaim it in his haste."
"Why does he have masks?" Borin asked.
"Apparently they have the ability to change him into different beings." She explained. She took out the Zora's example. "He was one of these things when he came aboard."
"He comes from a magical place." Borin said after examining the mask. Teri was about to reply when she heard something. It was a low, moaning sound that echoed off the walls.
"What was that?" Teri asked.
"Could it be a survivor?" a sailor asked.
"There are none." Borin answered, drawing his sword. Teri did the same. The sailors revealed their long, curved knives. They advanced slowly as a group, looking into the smallest cracks. The sound grew louder and despite the echo, Teri knew there was more than one.
"Warriors of Majon?" Borin whispered to Teri.
"Most likely." She whispered back.
They saw the first of the creatures when they rounded the next corner. It was a horrifying sight. The creature seemed to be wearing a wooden mask that bared its rotting teeth and empty eye sockets. It was human, but it had no skin. All its flesh and bones were visible. Teri thought nothing could be worse than the Black Warriors. This proved her wrong.
"Now we know what was making the noise." Borin said as the creature slowly turned towards them.
"What do we do about it?" Teri asked.
"I say we run." A sailor suggested.
"I agree," Borin said, "It is slow but we have no idea what they are capable." Teri nodded and turned to go. Or at least she tried.
The creature's eyes had fixed on hers. The instant they did, Teri felt a sudden chill freeze her body. Her legs, arms, even her mouth would not twitch. She was completely immobile and she could think of nothing that would free her.
The rest of the crew was leaving. Leaving her behind. However, Borin took two steps before he noticed that Teri was not moving. Thinking she was just examining the creature, Borin went to her side. He placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, indicating she should follow. When she did not acknowledge, Borin shook her shoulder slightly. Her body swayed slightly.
Teri felt the chill leave. Without thinking, she turned and dove at Borin, knocking him down. They fell to the ground, hurting Borin's arm. He groaned in pain. The soldier looked up at his friend, wondering why she did that. Teri had placed her hand in front of his eyes.
"Teri?" Borin cried.
"Don't make eye contact."
"What?"
"Don't make eye contact. Ye shall not move otherwise."
"Ah." The soldier understood finally. No wonder she was not following. Turning their back to the creature, they rose quickly and ran to join the rest of the crew who had not noticed the incident, mostly because they had their own problems.
"Get off him!" someone yelled. Another sailor was screaming in pain. When Teri and Borin rejoined the group, the moaning sound of the strange monster could be heard. Pushing her way to the front, Teri found one of her men lying on the ground, clutching his neck. Three other sailors were hacking at one of the monsters. Teri went straight for the wounded sailor, examining his wound.
"What happened?" she asked. He tried to speak. But all the sailor could do was utter a gurgling sound before his eyes rolled into the back of his head. The body went limp. Teri held his head a moment longer before laying his head on the ground.
"May your soul find the light." She said, making the sign of the pentagram above the deceased. The others did the same and remained in silence for a moment. But the nearing moaning sounds reminded them of their peril. Teri looked up with frightened eyes. She turned to her crew.
"Run for the fields." She ordered, "Do not make eye contact with these creatures. They freeze your body if they do."
"Hold your weapons in front of your eyes." Borin said while demonstrating, "Most of them are reflective. Perhaps we can turn their power against them." The sailors obeyed and headed for the gates.
The monsters were drawing nearer now. They swarmed in front of the group. But Borin's trick worked. The affected monsters turned a pale white and remained motionless even when the men and women passed by them. The monsters began to drag their feet again only when the sailors had reached the gate. The strongest of them went to the device that opened the gate. After much effort, the gate was opened to its widest. The crew ran outside.
But Teri soon realized that those who opened the gate would not be able to make it out.
"They're trapped!" she cried. Borin, however, knew of a secret passage underneath of the gatekeepers hut. The sailors shut the gate and soon after found the trap door. A few minutes later, they appeared from underneath a rock a hundred yards away from the city. They were safe.
Borin woke up hours later. He lifted himself up from the dewy grass. Five sailors were awake before him. They were the ones who volunteered to keep watch over the group during the night. Their task must have been dull for they had no fire to tend to. Not a branch could be found, therefore no fuel or way to start the fire.
The soldier sat up. As he did, the watchers stood up. Something had caught their attention. Borin stood as well. He saw a large horse in the distance. Seeing the size of the beast, Borin could only think of one man who needed a horse that large. The watchers were thinking of the same man, for they started to yell, "Gerud! Gerud is coming!" The others began to wake. When they saw the giant approach, they started to cheer.
"Gerud!" Borin called as the horseman slowed down, "Good to see ye are still alive."
"I shall venture a guess that ye were attacked." Gerud said after noting the tired condition of the crew.
"By some horrible creatures." Teri added.
"I am hoping that someone found a bag with some masks within it." Gerud said, "That way I don't have to go in."
"I did," Borin said, "But I dropped it when Teri knocked me to the ground." Gerud glanced at her. She was looking innocently at the sky.
"Where?" Gerud asked, unable to resist a smile.
"I do not know exactly, but if ye go down the main path, ye would find it on the left side." Borin answered.
"Very well."
"The gate is closed." Borin warned.
"I can scale the walls." Gerud said, riding towards the castle. Once by its walls, he jumped from his horse and clung to the stone. After many slips and near-falls, Gerud swung himself over the top.
The crew waited impatiently for half an hour. Teri had decided to follow Gerud if he did not return after ten, but something told her that he was in no danger. Still, that did not calm her nerves. After thirty minutes, a surprise awaited them. The gate opened. Curious, the crew headed for it.
Once at the gate, Gerud came out to greet them. He was smiling, a rare sight. He held a bag in one hand and pulled an even larger horse behind him.
"How fortunate." He said, "Ye dropped the bag in front of Little Gerud's stable. And he was still there." He gestured to the black stallion.
"What of the creatures?" Teri asked.
"I saw them not." Gerud replied, "And I heard nothing as well."
"So the sun scares them." Borin said, "That is good to know."
"Yes, but now I must go." Gerud said, jumping onto his horse, "There's something in here that can save Link's life."
"What?" Teri cried.
"Magol came under siege last night." Gerud explained, "Link did all he could to help the soldiers but he was far weaker than he thought. I am hoping that he I still alive."
"What ails him?" she asked.
"The triforce is too far from its home. Unless the disciples of the light have a remedy, Link will not be able to fight Majon here."
"Then hurry to that destination." Teri ordered. Gerud nodded and urged the horse forward. The sailors parted for him as the giant rode away. They wished him luck and waved after him.
"I suggest we go to Magol as well." Borin said, "It is the closest town and has not been infected with monsters."
"It may come attack again." A sailor said.
"Then we will be there to aid them." Borin started to leave. Teri immediately followed. The rest of the crew hesitated but they soon realized that staying out in the open was probably more dangerous. One by one they came to this conclusion and one by one, they followed their leaders with heavy hearts.