The chamberlain, Roland, wandered the halls of Hyrule Castle aimlessly.
Ever since Julia had been crowned queen and her son had essentially taken over, he had nothing to do. Trine used all of his own personal servants to do his bidding. Especially those cloaked ones who follow him everywhere. The new lord had no use of a chamberlain.
Roland let out a heavy sigh. Things were not going well for him. Not well at all. Not only had his position been downgraded from one of considerable power within the castle walls to one barely high enough to aid the cooks in preparing meals. And his ambitions for more power in the royal family's troubled times had been thwarted. He had intended on blackmailing Sir Rampt to make some leverage for power, but that plan had broken as soon as the fat pudge of a man had hung himself.
And Link! What had possessed that boy to give up everything he had? He had been assured of a life of luxury the moment Ganon had been killed and now he had left it all behind him! And for what? For that wretch of a princess, probably. Who knew what Link saw in that girl? To everyone in the castle she had been a royal bitch, yet the Hero constantly protected her and would hear of nothing against her.
And he had given up the sword! What a fool to give up such a lovely and powerful weapon! It was possibly the only thing that kept him a cut above the rest.
Roland stopped his skulking of the halls just long enough to realize his joke. He chuckled lightly and continued on his way.
Really, now that he thought about it, Roland knew that giving up the sword was the right thing to do. Not the smartest, but the only right option the boy had if he wanted to leave the land without guilt. That sword belonged in Hyrule; belonged to the people of Hyrule.
The chamberlain was still in confused argument with himself when, as he passed a window, he saw an unusual sight. Stopping to get a better view out of the window, Roland could not help but wonder for what reasons a Calatian would be riding into the castle.
The rider was ushered into Trine's personal dining room just as the prince was sitting down to eat. The Calatian stood silently, patiently waiting to be recognized by the young ruler.
After what seemed like hours to the poor soldier, Trine finished his meal and looked up at him. Fingers steepled before him, the prince reclined in his large throne and waited.
Drawing a deep breath, the Calatian began the message that had taken him countless miles from his homeland. "Lord Trine, it has come to the attention of his highness King Eridanus that you have in this land the apprentice of the evil Wizard. This Ashir is commanded by my lord to be turned over the Calatian authorities for termination at once. Any failure to comply to this order shall leave Calatia no choice but to declare war with Hyrule."
Trine's eyes seemed to bore into the young soldier's heart as he stood waiting for an answer to the ultimatum.
The prince gestured to a servant lurking somewhere in the shadows of the hall and his goblet was promptly filled. After he had taken a long sip and smacked his lips in appreciation of the drink, Trine spoke. "Tell your king that Hyrule does not make deals with lords who would send underlings to do stately business. Tell you king that Hyrule will not have any business with those not of this state." The Hylian's voice rose in pitch and he stood up from his chair, leaning his hands upon the table. "Tell your king that Hyrule will not be threatened by some pitiful weakling human nation that thinks itself better than that which has been destined to rule over all of the Seven Lands! Hyrule will not bow down to a ragtag nation of disgusting, putrid humans! There will be no agreement. Tell your king to prepare himself to feel the might of Hyrule!"
With that, Trine waved his hand and the Calatian found himself surrounded by guards. "Take him to the edge of the land and kick him out!"
With a yelp, the soldier was dragged away by the guards.
Trine steadied his breathing and sat down again in his throne. Behind him, a figure stepped from the shadows.
"Was that wise, master?" asked Ashir.
Trine again sipped from his goblet. "It is all part of the plan, my friend. Now I am sure that Eridanus will arm himself if he has not already done so. Do we still have the moblin in our custody?"
"Yes, master. He awaits only your command to die."
"Good." Trine said, rising from his chair and walking from the room. "Make sure you are prepared to complete the spell on my order."
Ashir bowed his head and followed his master. While he had no idea as to the final plans of the prince, he was sure that Trine had everything under his control. Everything.
Was the entire kingdom going insane?
Again wandering the halls of the mighty Hylian castle of Hyrule, Roland was having serious doubts as to the sanity of Trine, his new master.
Only a matter of hours ago, the high lord of Hyrule had decided to tell the castle chamberlain about the fact that Hyrule was now at war with Calatia. Preparations were to be made concerning a public announcement of the declaration of war. Roland had to call the attention of all citizens of the city to attend.
The chamberlain stopped and leaned heavily against a wall. He was getting too old for all this running around. After all, that was what pages were for.
Why war? Why with Calatia? What was Trine thinking, declaring war upon the most powerful nation in the Seven Lands? It was suicide to do that!
A stray thought struck the man: How would the people react to the news? While Hyrule and Calatia had never been on the best of terms for years, they had never been enemies. Why, many citizens have relatives from Calatia. Surely the citizens will realize the insanity of their new ruler and refuse to follow him.
Roland shook his head sadly. Was revolt the best choice? Many people would die if the peasants revolted, probably even himself! Is that not what was reported to be happening in Forhas? The people were rebelling against the crown and targeting royalty and royal servants for murder! Could the same happen in Hyrule?
No, he told himself resolutely. The people would never rebel. They follow their traditions too strictly, though they would certainly be upset at the news.
He was safe for now.
The king was going to give a speech!
The peasants of Hyrule City ran along in their busy lives, many unaware of the momentous occasion on hand: the Hylian monarch was to speak in public! Such a thing had not happened for decades. Even the oldest men could only just remember seeing a monarch speak.
As one, a young boy and his friends raced through the narrow twists and turns of the many alleyways of Hyrule City heading for the castle. One by one, the boys jumped nimbly over barrels and broken glass and the sewage of a city and finally emerged from the dark caverns of the city into the open piazza of the newly remade castle gates that was now crowded with other citizens. Standing atop each other's shoulders, on boxes, and anything else that would allow them sight of the monarch, the boys craned to see the balcony where His Highness would come from.
They cried gleefully as the king emerged from the depths of the castle and waved to the people amid a chorus of cheers from the crowd. The roar rose to deafening heights and finally calmed as His Highness raised his hands for silence. Behind the man stood several men of the inner court. While many peasants had never seen any of the royal court, the young lad knew who some of these men were. How did he know? Growing up on the streets of a major city tends to grant heightened senses and skills that one either learns or he dies. It is as simple as that.
This boy, however had put his talents to uses that most Hylians would have been horrified to know of. One such use was the habit of sneaking into the castle grounds at night. Through these lunar excursions, the lad had learned to match faces with reputations. This was how he recognized those around the monarch on the balcony.
The tall, thin man who looked like a big scarecrow was the chamberlain. He always looked scared of something, the boy thought. Next to him stood Fleming, the man in command of the Hylian armies. He was a big, burly man with a large beard that looked, thought the boy, much like an octopus. Next to him was the minister, Varburg, leaning heavily against the balcony rail. This man scared the lad, for his face was always in a scowl and the man's piercing green eyes, long hooked nose, and raspy way of breathing made him seem more like a monster than a man.
Before Varburg stood a man whom the boy had not seen before; a man dressed in the robes of the desert from what he knew. He was dressed in a bright blue habit that looked at least two sizes too big for his small stature, draped in red scarves that reached his feet, and wearing a large blue turban that hid his face from view. On his habit was an emblem in the shape of a golden circle with several points around it.
And next to this man stood he who must be the monarch. This young man stood tall and proud, even though he was a good head shorter than the others (except the desert man, of course). This man wore the most elegant clothing made from what looked like the most expensive of fabric. His young features portrayed a man of wit, intelligence, cunning, and guile; a man who had power.
His shaggy, shoulder-length, dusty blonde hair fell roguishly across his ice-blue eyes. His pointed ears poked slightly through the mass of hair, proving beyond the shadow of a doubt his Hylian ancestry. Atop his head sat a circlet of gold that shone brilliantly in the afternoon light.
The crowd fell silent in expectance before the young king.
"People of Hyrule," he said, "I come before you this day with grievous news." A few worried whispers pierced the expectant silence. "As many of you know, your glorious Hyrule has never been at peace with our southern neighbour, Calatia, yet we have always managed to keep just short of war. For decades, we have known that a conflict between our mighty nation and the dirt-crawling land of Calatia would be inevitable, only the time has remained in question." The king paused to gain his breath. "That time is now."
The crowd erupted in a hysteria that only ceased after several minutes of the monarch calling for calm.
"The Human king has declared war on his honourable neighbours because he wants our land, our money, our lives, our children. Yes, our children. You see, my loyal subjects, Calatia is a typical Human state in all aspects of those vermin: they seek greed and power and blood; yet these vulgar rodents are unique in the Seven Lands in that they endure slavery! Yes, the Humans keep slaves. Every Human in the land has at least one slave. They keep moblins and Zoras under the whip, so what is to stop them from taking the noble Hylians too? Nothing! Nothing, that is, except the very people of Hyrule! That is right, my people, only you, the Chosen of the Gods, can stop these Human creatures from enslaving the entire world and keep our children safe from the Calatian slavers! We must not allow the Humans to rampage the Seven Lands for eternity, looting and plundering the landscape to their heart's content! They must be stopped; they will be stopped! They will be shown the error of their ways by those who have the divine right to guide the lesser species of the land: The mighty and noble Hylians!
The monarch paused for his words to sink in with the people before continuing. "At this very moment, the Human king is preparing his armies of scum to march into our beautiful land and defile it. Are we going to submit and allow these Humans to dominate the world?"
The crowd roared in fury at the thought of Humans ruling their wonderful land of Hyrule. The sound was deafening.
"People of Hyrule, my people. We must defeat these Humans at their own game! We must defeat them in the battlefield and show them the true might of Hyrule! The true might of the Hylian! The true might of those chosen by the Goddesses themselves; the true might of those destined to rule the Seven Lands! We must prepare for this Holy War!"
Trine threw up his hands in triumph as the crowd of citizens exploded in a fervour of anger and hatred and pride.
As Roland looked at the sea of faces, he was chilled to the bone by what he saw. The features of those who could have been family, friends, or just people passed on the street looked disfigured and evil; the faces of murderers or those cursed with insanity.
What were the people doing? the chamberlain thought. They did not seem to care that Trine had lied as to the reason why Hyrule and Calatia were going to war. They did not seem to care that Trine was not even the ruler of Hyrule yet was making a declaration of war. They were following him blindly; like sheep to the slaughter. They had no idea what they were doing and, somehow, that frightened Roland more than anything he had ever known.
Thud! Thud!
The staff of the doorman struck the floor twice as he announced the next visitor of the king of Hyrule.
"Kasube, the leader of the Merchant's Guild!"
The great doors of the throne room of Hyrule Castle opened with the obligatory creak and a small, fat man waddled in dressed in what looked to be the finest robes money could buy. Beneath his light brown, bushy hair were a pair of beady little black eyes. Masking these eyes were a pair of glasses; very expensive.
Trine clucked to himself in disgust. The royal family had never invested money in such things as glasses for they firmly believed that the Gods made every Hylian as they should be. To improve upon the body was as good as sacrilege.
His purse clinking with the sound of many rupees, the man, Kasube, came and knelt before the king.
"Highness," he said, "I am honoured that you would want to see me."
Trine beckoned and the man rose. "I have agreed to see you because you have many questions to ask me concerning our war with Calatia. You may start."
The man blinked in surprise and began.
"Highness, many of my fellow merchants and clients are wondering what it was, exactly, that caused this declaration of war?"
Trine smiled slightly. "My friend, Calatia has been vying for the power that we possess for many years now. You know that. I know that. Why else have trade relations been so small? It is because those Humans do not want us to become rich. If we become a wealthy nation, it will be that much harder to conquer us when the time comes." The merchant nodded slowly, as he worked his mind over these words. Trine continued. "Also there is the fact of slavery. The Humans have used slavery for as long as anyone can remember. They subjugate those inferior to them. If they conquer us in battle, what is to stop them from enslaving our families? From enslaving our children. Do you really want some Human lord forcing your son to work in his fields from morning to night? Do you want your daughter sent onto the streets to earn her keep? Do you want your wife to become his mistress? I should think not. That will happen if we allow these creatures to conquer Hyrule. Now do you understand why we must fight? To preserve our way of live and to ensure our children have a bright and happy future."
Kasube had narrowed his eyes and his face was distorted by anger. "I understand, Highness. Never let it be said that Hyrule has never stood up for what is right and good!"
"It comforts me to hear such things," the king said, taking a drink of his goblet. "Anything else?"
"Yes, Highness. We of the Guild of Merchants are concerned as to what will happen to our neighbour nation after the war. Up until now, we have had limited access to Calatia to trade our goods. As soon as war was declared, we have been cut off. So we were wondering..."
As the merchant trailed off, Trine picked up the thought.
"Do not worry. As soon as Calatia is conquered, I shall declare it a colony of Hyrule. As that will make it in effect a part of Hyrule, there will be no restriction of trade whatsoever."
Kasube grinned before continuing. "Yes, after defeating Calatia. We of the Guild would very much like to know exactly how you intend to defeat the Calatians? From what we know, Hyrule has a very small army compared to Calatia, and that army has been very ill-equipped since the rule of your grandfather."
Trine smiled. "Hyrule does not need to rely upon such things as numbers to win a war with Humans Has it not always been that Humans rely more on size than strength? They may have a large army, but we have a smart army- a smart army that will destroy anything that it comes up against, I assure you."
The merchant sighed a little and opened his mouth to speak, but Trine cut him off.
"I am right in assuming I have the support of the Merchant's Guild in this war? I would dearly hate to have to, how can I put it, 'repossess' some property in order to finance this endeavour of mine."
As Trine's eyes bore deeply into Kasube's, the merchant swallowed hard and nodded quickly, his hand unconsciously grabbing onto his purse protectively.
"Good," said the king, "I trust there are no other concerns?"
"No highness." He paused. "You can be sure that I will tell all you have said to my companions and have them tell others. All of the land will know of our duty to stop the Human animals!"
Trine smiled. With that, the monarch turned back to some scrolls by his side and the meeting was ended.
In the weeks following the declaration of war between the powerful nations of Hyrule and Calatia tensions among the surrounding nations rose.
Troops were drafted from the Delaborean regiments to aid it's sister country of Hyrule in the Holy War against the Humans. The northern nation of Turka had flat out refused to aid in the war. It's logic was very sound to the rational citizens of Turka. No matter which nation won the war, the land would be surrounded on two sides by that nation, on a third side by ocean, and the fourth side by the impenetrable mountainous arctic of Erus Egredi.
The mainly Human South of the Seven Lands had banded together to stop what might be the downfall of their civilization. Calatia had been preparing for battle long before the declaration had come, yet still requested aid from it's neighbouring nations of Arkhas and Forhas, both of which were human controlled states. Arkhas gave it's willing support in Eridanus' campaign, but the nation of Forhas had troubles of it's own. Civil war had ground the nation to a halt, as peasants continually raided royal property. The nation had been torn in this massive revolt, as the royal held lands dwindled under the pressure of revolutionaries.
The drawing room of Hyrule Castle had been converted into a war room to aid the Hylian leaders in planning their strategies. The ornately designed furniture had been pushed aside to make room for a giant map of the Seven Lands, which dominated the floor space. Chairs and small tables had been aligned along the walls.
Looking down at the map of the known world, General Fleming of the Hylian armies had a concerned look upon his scarred features beneath his large, unruly beard.
"Does something trouble you, General?"
Fleming turned around and saluted to his lord and master.
"No sir!" he said in perfect military fashion. "I was just thinking of the best strategy to attack the Humans, sir!"
Trine nodded. "Good." The king walked to the map and stood beside the general.
"I suggest we send some regiments through the western pass to circle down on the Calatian capital from the north, while we send the rest of the army through the southern pass to directly attack Calasta."
Trine shook his head. "We should do an all out frontal assault."
Fleming felt his jaw hit the floor. "But, sir! We- we are vastly outnumbered by the enemy three to one! Our men could not possibly survive such an attack! It would be suicide!"
Trine slowly turned his eyes from the large map to stare at his subordinate. The general found himself looking squarely into his king's icy blue eyes; blue eyes that seemed so beautiful in their complexity and wonder, yet concealed a danger. A danger lying just below the surface, like a sea monster waiting for prey just below the surface of the water. There was something that haunted the general in those eyes. Something malevolent.
"You underestimate our chances, general." said the king. "We are Hylians. They are Humans. They are weak to us in every way. We can win with a full assault."
The young ruler's voice was laced with so much malice, that even he general could not mistake it. "Yes- yes sir. A full frontal assault. Of course, sir."
Trine nodded slightly. "Good. I am glad you have faith in your nation and your people. Now make the necessary preparations, I want the armies gathered at the southern pass by the end of the week. Understood?"
Fleming nodded vigorously, his long hair shaking to and fro as he did.
The Delaborean prince smiled wickedly and left the room. To the general, a heavy weight seemed to have lifted from his shoulders when he monarch departed. He sighed loudly and sat in a chair. Calming himself from the fear his master had just instilled in his heart, Fleming idly wondered how such a man had become king.
General Carlyle of the Calatian Royal Army surveyed his men. Sitting atop his brilliant white steed in his official uniform, the general looked impressive to all. Dressed in black breeches, knee high boots, loose red tunic covered in a breastplate that blindingly reflected the last red rays of sunlight out, down from the hill he stood upon , and off into the distance toward the mountain pass that separated the great nation of Calatia from the neighbouring nation of Hyrule. His long grey cloak was caught by the strong, cold wind and billowed about him majestically. It was only a matter of time before winter approached and made moving an army nearly impossible. The attack must come now. He knew it, and he was sure that his opponents knew it.
He turned his gaze down onto his many men. Thousands upon thousands of Calatian and Arkhasian soldiers lay camped in just as many small tents along the landscape. Small fires light the twilight sky as the men cooked their meals and waited for the time to attack their enemies. Somewhere close by a curse echoed through the camp in a heavily accented voice. Carlyle smiled grimly. The Arkhasian soldiers deserved his sympathy. After all, they were desert dwellers and were not at all accustomed to this autumn Calatian weather. They would have to get used to it. Off to his right, a high squeal pierced the night and some screams followed it closely. The men were on edge as it was, thought the General, they did not need clumsy moblin slaves making a racket.
A rustling of bushed caught his attention and he looked to see an aid approaching.
"Yes?" he asked when the aid had come near enough.
The aid saluted and said, "Sir! All preparations are finished! We only await your word to attack, sir!"
Nodding, Carlyle looked north to the pass. Silently, he ran an ancient Calatian hymn through his mind for luck. All they could do now is wait.
Kubo opened his eyes and quickly closed them again.
The air smelled so foul, that it stung the small moblin's eyes. His nose had long ago become useless.
A clang nearby made Kubo strain against the air to see what was happening. The prison door had been opened and someone was approaching the cell in which he was held. He was right. The rustle of keys reached his mutilated ears followed closely by the turning of the bolt in the door lock. He cringed at the sound of the cell door opening and squealed softly in fear, curling up into a small furry ball on the damp floor of his cell.
A voice. "It is now time to put you to some good use, my little friend. Come along."
Saying that, a pair of hands grabbed the small animal and lifted him out of the cell into the dim lights of the hallway. Still in his ball, Kubo had frozen for pure fear of his kidnapper. For the past few weeks, since he had been abducted from his quarters given him by the queen, Kubo had resided in that cell and had endured daily beatings that had brought his to within an inch of his life several times. He could take no more. He wished with all of his might that he could die right now, before the beatings continued for another night, but Fate had never looked so kindly upon the little moblin. Born into slavery, sold constantly, beaten for making mistakes, fed only enough to keep him alive, and now beaten horribly each and every night in a strange country that had promised him salvation.
He could vividly remember following the hero, Link, into Hyrule with the guarantee that he could live a happy and fortunate life. One that could not exist in Calatia. He had been so full of hope for his new life, that he must have let his guard down one night and forgotten to bolt his door. Then he was abducted.
The sound of another door opening snapped the poor creature out of his reverie and back into the real world. Again his eyes were accosted by an unfamiliar bright light. He could hear a slight bubbling coming from this room. He could taste the sweet taste of magic in the air. Heavy magic. Strong magic. His fur stood on end in the intense magical field. The build up of static in his coat was tangible. Everything around him seemed in motion.
Had his eyes been working properly, Kubo would have seen a small den-like room filled with various artefacts of the occult. In the middle of the room was a small book on a lectern, before a large altar. Large curtains hung along the walls from the low ceiling, and several large candles illuminated the room brightly.
In strode Ashir with the small body of Kubo held in his arms. Reverently, the magician placed the poor moblin on the altar and took his place behind the lectern. For a moment before he started, the man looked at the helpless creature. It's fur matted with blood and bare in some places, curled up in a small ball and shivering, whimpering slightly, one would have to have a heart of stone not to pity the small animal.
This animal would help bring about a revolution in Calatia; a revolution that could make Ashir very, very powerful; a revolution that would leave an army of thousands at his command.
Moving his gaze from the stricken moblin to the book before him, Ashir started the rights. His hair sizzled and sparks flew from his fingertips as the intense field of magic about him began to condense on the altar.
Sweat fell from his brow as he concentrated on the spell that would grant him his power. This was a dangerous right to perform alone, and he had seen his master do it only once before. The chance of death was staggering, but it was well worth it. A spell to control an entire race of animals. Who would have thought such power was within the grasp of one such as he?
On the altar, Kubo could feel his body being crushed by the field of intense magic. Soon the pain became so unbearably intense, the moblin had to uncurl himself and scream. He could feel his bones breaking and his blood seeping from his nose, mouth and ears. He opened his eyes barely and almost wept for what he saw: a lovely, shimmering woman standing over him and speaking soothing words to him. His pain seemed to recede as the woman's voice calmed and relaxed his tearing muscles. Tears streamed down his face in awe at this woman who could be so kind to him after so many days of pain and suffering. Slowly, the woman embraced him and cradled him in her arms as a mother would do to a child, brushing away the tears falling from the moblin's sad, mournful eyes. Her touch was like ice and Kubo's skin froze in her hands. She looked lovingly into his eyes and smiled. Kubo could feel his heart split as he looked at her beautiful face, into her deep eyes. He shed more tears in shame of being in the very presence of her, for he was just the torn and broken shell of the moblin he used to be and she was so wondrously marvellous.
She smiled again in pity at him and, in a voice like an angel's, said, "Do not cry. You are safe now."
As the light of life drained from Kubo's sorrowful black eyes, he managed to utter his thanks to this strange, wonderful, and kind woman.
The final words were spoken and the magical field collapsed around the creature, casting a blinding light throughout the room. Ashir shielded his eyes, and, when he opened them again, the moblin was no longer on the table. In it's place lay a small bronze bracelet, intricately sculpted with two snakes encircling the wrist and the symbol of an eye gracing the top, looking into oblivion. The wizard smiled.
In the throne room of Hyrule Castle, Trine waited patiently on his ornate throne for his magical servant to give him the very object for which the magician was freed from his imprisonment, nearly six months ago. An object that would allow Trine to conquer Calatia with his pitifully small army in a matter of days. An object that would bring him one step closer to that which he truly desired.
They could hear the screams.
General Fleming if the Hylian army listened carefully to the midnight air along with his fellow commanders. A cold wind whipped at their cloaks and their hair, numbing their limbs. The moon hung high in the star-lit sky, bright as a jewel, unhindered by clouds, staring solemnly down at the world beneath it.
Another scream reached the Hylian's ears by means of the wind. The Calatian camp was in turmoil.
Looking at his commanders for arguments, Fleming pointed his steed toward the enemy camp and started off at a light canter. His army followed without uttering a word. He would have liked to have them following him silently, but it is nearly impossible for thousands of fully armed soldiers to move anywhere without a sound.
The scouts had returned minutes ago from the Human camp and had told him all that they had seen. The Humans were under attack. It had appeared, to the scouts, as if the human's slaves were revolting against their masters and causing general panic among the camp. Now was as good a time for a full attack as any.
With his army in tow, Fleming entered the pass and crossed the border.
General Carlyle watched in horror as a man near him was tackled by several slaves. This was not supposed to happen!
One minutes everything had been peaceful in the Human camp and the next all hell had broken loose. The Moblin slaves were revolting! This was really not supposed to happen! Slave revolts just did not happen!
His sword buried itself deep in the hide of a slave that had its back to him and the thing fell. Two more fell to the general's blade before the small monstrosities overpowered him. He fell to the ground with no less than six moblins attached to him, each clawing its way into his flesh. Fighting for his life, Carlyle, with the help of two officers who had happened to be nearby when their leader had fallen, managed to kill the six slaves, but more were on their way. The general did the only prudent thing to do in such situation: He turned and ran like hell.
He found his steed, mounted, and galloped up onto the same hill from which he had surveyed his powerful army just hours before. Looking down at the carnage of his camp, a fearful sound reached his ears. Turning to look at the border pass, he was horrified to see the Hylian army advancing on the camp like a tidal wave. It was a classic pincer movement. The infantry was advancing from the north, while the cavalry had circled around to the east to attack the flank. Carlyle shook his head in sorrow as he saw his entire army torn apart between the slaves and the Hylians. Softly, under his breath, the general uttered a prayer to those who lost their lives and a curse upon those who took the lives of his men. After several more minutes of watching the carnage, Carlyle wordlessly turned his mount south and rode for Calasta with his dire news.
The messenger hurriedly entered the throne room of Hyrule Castle and quickly bowed before the king.
"You had better have a good reason for barging in like that." Trine said, the viciousness almost dripping from his words.
"Yes, sir, I do." the messenger said, rising. "General Fleming has sent word from the front. The Calatian Army has been defeated at the boarder!"
A chorus of cheers arose from the assembled nobility hovering around the edges of the room. Trine smiled.
"That is good news. Lucky for you." He stood. "Friends, we have struck the fist major blow against our Human neighbours! This is only the first step in totally wiping out any threat those creatures will have to us! Tell the people! They, too, deserve to hear how their fathers and brothers are doing for the good of Hyrule!"
Several aids rushed from the room and another round of cheers broke from the nobles.
Trine smiled again, this time to himself. It was only a matter of days now before Calasta would fall to both the slaves and the Hylian army. By now, the cities would be in chaos as slaves around the country attacked every Human they saw. The government would be in tatters when his armies finally march through the land without any resistance.
Still smiling at his achievements, the king absently patted the bracelet on his wrist. A bronze bracelet that was decorated with two snakes and a glaring eye.
Ever since Julia had been crowned queen and her son had essentially taken over, he had nothing to do. Trine used all of his own personal servants to do his bidding. Especially those cloaked ones who follow him everywhere. The new lord had no use of a chamberlain.
Roland let out a heavy sigh. Things were not going well for him. Not well at all. Not only had his position been downgraded from one of considerable power within the castle walls to one barely high enough to aid the cooks in preparing meals. And his ambitions for more power in the royal family's troubled times had been thwarted. He had intended on blackmailing Sir Rampt to make some leverage for power, but that plan had broken as soon as the fat pudge of a man had hung himself.
And Link! What had possessed that boy to give up everything he had? He had been assured of a life of luxury the moment Ganon had been killed and now he had left it all behind him! And for what? For that wretch of a princess, probably. Who knew what Link saw in that girl? To everyone in the castle she had been a royal bitch, yet the Hero constantly protected her and would hear of nothing against her.
And he had given up the sword! What a fool to give up such a lovely and powerful weapon! It was possibly the only thing that kept him a cut above the rest.
Roland stopped his skulking of the halls just long enough to realize his joke. He chuckled lightly and continued on his way.
Really, now that he thought about it, Roland knew that giving up the sword was the right thing to do. Not the smartest, but the only right option the boy had if he wanted to leave the land without guilt. That sword belonged in Hyrule; belonged to the people of Hyrule.
The chamberlain was still in confused argument with himself when, as he passed a window, he saw an unusual sight. Stopping to get a better view out of the window, Roland could not help but wonder for what reasons a Calatian would be riding into the castle.
The rider was ushered into Trine's personal dining room just as the prince was sitting down to eat. The Calatian stood silently, patiently waiting to be recognized by the young ruler.
After what seemed like hours to the poor soldier, Trine finished his meal and looked up at him. Fingers steepled before him, the prince reclined in his large throne and waited.
Drawing a deep breath, the Calatian began the message that had taken him countless miles from his homeland. "Lord Trine, it has come to the attention of his highness King Eridanus that you have in this land the apprentice of the evil Wizard. This Ashir is commanded by my lord to be turned over the Calatian authorities for termination at once. Any failure to comply to this order shall leave Calatia no choice but to declare war with Hyrule."
Trine's eyes seemed to bore into the young soldier's heart as he stood waiting for an answer to the ultimatum.
The prince gestured to a servant lurking somewhere in the shadows of the hall and his goblet was promptly filled. After he had taken a long sip and smacked his lips in appreciation of the drink, Trine spoke. "Tell your king that Hyrule does not make deals with lords who would send underlings to do stately business. Tell you king that Hyrule will not have any business with those not of this state." The Hylian's voice rose in pitch and he stood up from his chair, leaning his hands upon the table. "Tell your king that Hyrule will not be threatened by some pitiful weakling human nation that thinks itself better than that which has been destined to rule over all of the Seven Lands! Hyrule will not bow down to a ragtag nation of disgusting, putrid humans! There will be no agreement. Tell your king to prepare himself to feel the might of Hyrule!"
With that, Trine waved his hand and the Calatian found himself surrounded by guards. "Take him to the edge of the land and kick him out!"
With a yelp, the soldier was dragged away by the guards.
Trine steadied his breathing and sat down again in his throne. Behind him, a figure stepped from the shadows.
"Was that wise, master?" asked Ashir.
Trine again sipped from his goblet. "It is all part of the plan, my friend. Now I am sure that Eridanus will arm himself if he has not already done so. Do we still have the moblin in our custody?"
"Yes, master. He awaits only your command to die."
"Good." Trine said, rising from his chair and walking from the room. "Make sure you are prepared to complete the spell on my order."
Ashir bowed his head and followed his master. While he had no idea as to the final plans of the prince, he was sure that Trine had everything under his control. Everything.
Was the entire kingdom going insane?
Again wandering the halls of the mighty Hylian castle of Hyrule, Roland was having serious doubts as to the sanity of Trine, his new master.
Only a matter of hours ago, the high lord of Hyrule had decided to tell the castle chamberlain about the fact that Hyrule was now at war with Calatia. Preparations were to be made concerning a public announcement of the declaration of war. Roland had to call the attention of all citizens of the city to attend.
The chamberlain stopped and leaned heavily against a wall. He was getting too old for all this running around. After all, that was what pages were for.
Why war? Why with Calatia? What was Trine thinking, declaring war upon the most powerful nation in the Seven Lands? It was suicide to do that!
A stray thought struck the man: How would the people react to the news? While Hyrule and Calatia had never been on the best of terms for years, they had never been enemies. Why, many citizens have relatives from Calatia. Surely the citizens will realize the insanity of their new ruler and refuse to follow him.
Roland shook his head sadly. Was revolt the best choice? Many people would die if the peasants revolted, probably even himself! Is that not what was reported to be happening in Forhas? The people were rebelling against the crown and targeting royalty and royal servants for murder! Could the same happen in Hyrule?
No, he told himself resolutely. The people would never rebel. They follow their traditions too strictly, though they would certainly be upset at the news.
He was safe for now.
The king was going to give a speech!
The peasants of Hyrule City ran along in their busy lives, many unaware of the momentous occasion on hand: the Hylian monarch was to speak in public! Such a thing had not happened for decades. Even the oldest men could only just remember seeing a monarch speak.
As one, a young boy and his friends raced through the narrow twists and turns of the many alleyways of Hyrule City heading for the castle. One by one, the boys jumped nimbly over barrels and broken glass and the sewage of a city and finally emerged from the dark caverns of the city into the open piazza of the newly remade castle gates that was now crowded with other citizens. Standing atop each other's shoulders, on boxes, and anything else that would allow them sight of the monarch, the boys craned to see the balcony where His Highness would come from.
They cried gleefully as the king emerged from the depths of the castle and waved to the people amid a chorus of cheers from the crowd. The roar rose to deafening heights and finally calmed as His Highness raised his hands for silence. Behind the man stood several men of the inner court. While many peasants had never seen any of the royal court, the young lad knew who some of these men were. How did he know? Growing up on the streets of a major city tends to grant heightened senses and skills that one either learns or he dies. It is as simple as that.
This boy, however had put his talents to uses that most Hylians would have been horrified to know of. One such use was the habit of sneaking into the castle grounds at night. Through these lunar excursions, the lad had learned to match faces with reputations. This was how he recognized those around the monarch on the balcony.
The tall, thin man who looked like a big scarecrow was the chamberlain. He always looked scared of something, the boy thought. Next to him stood Fleming, the man in command of the Hylian armies. He was a big, burly man with a large beard that looked, thought the boy, much like an octopus. Next to him was the minister, Varburg, leaning heavily against the balcony rail. This man scared the lad, for his face was always in a scowl and the man's piercing green eyes, long hooked nose, and raspy way of breathing made him seem more like a monster than a man.
Before Varburg stood a man whom the boy had not seen before; a man dressed in the robes of the desert from what he knew. He was dressed in a bright blue habit that looked at least two sizes too big for his small stature, draped in red scarves that reached his feet, and wearing a large blue turban that hid his face from view. On his habit was an emblem in the shape of a golden circle with several points around it.
And next to this man stood he who must be the monarch. This young man stood tall and proud, even though he was a good head shorter than the others (except the desert man, of course). This man wore the most elegant clothing made from what looked like the most expensive of fabric. His young features portrayed a man of wit, intelligence, cunning, and guile; a man who had power.
His shaggy, shoulder-length, dusty blonde hair fell roguishly across his ice-blue eyes. His pointed ears poked slightly through the mass of hair, proving beyond the shadow of a doubt his Hylian ancestry. Atop his head sat a circlet of gold that shone brilliantly in the afternoon light.
The crowd fell silent in expectance before the young king.
"People of Hyrule," he said, "I come before you this day with grievous news." A few worried whispers pierced the expectant silence. "As many of you know, your glorious Hyrule has never been at peace with our southern neighbour, Calatia, yet we have always managed to keep just short of war. For decades, we have known that a conflict between our mighty nation and the dirt-crawling land of Calatia would be inevitable, only the time has remained in question." The king paused to gain his breath. "That time is now."
The crowd erupted in a hysteria that only ceased after several minutes of the monarch calling for calm.
"The Human king has declared war on his honourable neighbours because he wants our land, our money, our lives, our children. Yes, our children. You see, my loyal subjects, Calatia is a typical Human state in all aspects of those vermin: they seek greed and power and blood; yet these vulgar rodents are unique in the Seven Lands in that they endure slavery! Yes, the Humans keep slaves. Every Human in the land has at least one slave. They keep moblins and Zoras under the whip, so what is to stop them from taking the noble Hylians too? Nothing! Nothing, that is, except the very people of Hyrule! That is right, my people, only you, the Chosen of the Gods, can stop these Human creatures from enslaving the entire world and keep our children safe from the Calatian slavers! We must not allow the Humans to rampage the Seven Lands for eternity, looting and plundering the landscape to their heart's content! They must be stopped; they will be stopped! They will be shown the error of their ways by those who have the divine right to guide the lesser species of the land: The mighty and noble Hylians!
The monarch paused for his words to sink in with the people before continuing. "At this very moment, the Human king is preparing his armies of scum to march into our beautiful land and defile it. Are we going to submit and allow these Humans to dominate the world?"
The crowd roared in fury at the thought of Humans ruling their wonderful land of Hyrule. The sound was deafening.
"People of Hyrule, my people. We must defeat these Humans at their own game! We must defeat them in the battlefield and show them the true might of Hyrule! The true might of the Hylian! The true might of those chosen by the Goddesses themselves; the true might of those destined to rule the Seven Lands! We must prepare for this Holy War!"
Trine threw up his hands in triumph as the crowd of citizens exploded in a fervour of anger and hatred and pride.
As Roland looked at the sea of faces, he was chilled to the bone by what he saw. The features of those who could have been family, friends, or just people passed on the street looked disfigured and evil; the faces of murderers or those cursed with insanity.
What were the people doing? the chamberlain thought. They did not seem to care that Trine had lied as to the reason why Hyrule and Calatia were going to war. They did not seem to care that Trine was not even the ruler of Hyrule yet was making a declaration of war. They were following him blindly; like sheep to the slaughter. They had no idea what they were doing and, somehow, that frightened Roland more than anything he had ever known.
Thud! Thud!
The staff of the doorman struck the floor twice as he announced the next visitor of the king of Hyrule.
"Kasube, the leader of the Merchant's Guild!"
The great doors of the throne room of Hyrule Castle opened with the obligatory creak and a small, fat man waddled in dressed in what looked to be the finest robes money could buy. Beneath his light brown, bushy hair were a pair of beady little black eyes. Masking these eyes were a pair of glasses; very expensive.
Trine clucked to himself in disgust. The royal family had never invested money in such things as glasses for they firmly believed that the Gods made every Hylian as they should be. To improve upon the body was as good as sacrilege.
His purse clinking with the sound of many rupees, the man, Kasube, came and knelt before the king.
"Highness," he said, "I am honoured that you would want to see me."
Trine beckoned and the man rose. "I have agreed to see you because you have many questions to ask me concerning our war with Calatia. You may start."
The man blinked in surprise and began.
"Highness, many of my fellow merchants and clients are wondering what it was, exactly, that caused this declaration of war?"
Trine smiled slightly. "My friend, Calatia has been vying for the power that we possess for many years now. You know that. I know that. Why else have trade relations been so small? It is because those Humans do not want us to become rich. If we become a wealthy nation, it will be that much harder to conquer us when the time comes." The merchant nodded slowly, as he worked his mind over these words. Trine continued. "Also there is the fact of slavery. The Humans have used slavery for as long as anyone can remember. They subjugate those inferior to them. If they conquer us in battle, what is to stop them from enslaving our families? From enslaving our children. Do you really want some Human lord forcing your son to work in his fields from morning to night? Do you want your daughter sent onto the streets to earn her keep? Do you want your wife to become his mistress? I should think not. That will happen if we allow these creatures to conquer Hyrule. Now do you understand why we must fight? To preserve our way of live and to ensure our children have a bright and happy future."
Kasube had narrowed his eyes and his face was distorted by anger. "I understand, Highness. Never let it be said that Hyrule has never stood up for what is right and good!"
"It comforts me to hear such things," the king said, taking a drink of his goblet. "Anything else?"
"Yes, Highness. We of the Guild of Merchants are concerned as to what will happen to our neighbour nation after the war. Up until now, we have had limited access to Calatia to trade our goods. As soon as war was declared, we have been cut off. So we were wondering..."
As the merchant trailed off, Trine picked up the thought.
"Do not worry. As soon as Calatia is conquered, I shall declare it a colony of Hyrule. As that will make it in effect a part of Hyrule, there will be no restriction of trade whatsoever."
Kasube grinned before continuing. "Yes, after defeating Calatia. We of the Guild would very much like to know exactly how you intend to defeat the Calatians? From what we know, Hyrule has a very small army compared to Calatia, and that army has been very ill-equipped since the rule of your grandfather."
Trine smiled. "Hyrule does not need to rely upon such things as numbers to win a war with Humans Has it not always been that Humans rely more on size than strength? They may have a large army, but we have a smart army- a smart army that will destroy anything that it comes up against, I assure you."
The merchant sighed a little and opened his mouth to speak, but Trine cut him off.
"I am right in assuming I have the support of the Merchant's Guild in this war? I would dearly hate to have to, how can I put it, 'repossess' some property in order to finance this endeavour of mine."
As Trine's eyes bore deeply into Kasube's, the merchant swallowed hard and nodded quickly, his hand unconsciously grabbing onto his purse protectively.
"Good," said the king, "I trust there are no other concerns?"
"No highness." He paused. "You can be sure that I will tell all you have said to my companions and have them tell others. All of the land will know of our duty to stop the Human animals!"
Trine smiled. With that, the monarch turned back to some scrolls by his side and the meeting was ended.
In the weeks following the declaration of war between the powerful nations of Hyrule and Calatia tensions among the surrounding nations rose.
Troops were drafted from the Delaborean regiments to aid it's sister country of Hyrule in the Holy War against the Humans. The northern nation of Turka had flat out refused to aid in the war. It's logic was very sound to the rational citizens of Turka. No matter which nation won the war, the land would be surrounded on two sides by that nation, on a third side by ocean, and the fourth side by the impenetrable mountainous arctic of Erus Egredi.
The mainly Human South of the Seven Lands had banded together to stop what might be the downfall of their civilization. Calatia had been preparing for battle long before the declaration had come, yet still requested aid from it's neighbouring nations of Arkhas and Forhas, both of which were human controlled states. Arkhas gave it's willing support in Eridanus' campaign, but the nation of Forhas had troubles of it's own. Civil war had ground the nation to a halt, as peasants continually raided royal property. The nation had been torn in this massive revolt, as the royal held lands dwindled under the pressure of revolutionaries.
The drawing room of Hyrule Castle had been converted into a war room to aid the Hylian leaders in planning their strategies. The ornately designed furniture had been pushed aside to make room for a giant map of the Seven Lands, which dominated the floor space. Chairs and small tables had been aligned along the walls.
Looking down at the map of the known world, General Fleming of the Hylian armies had a concerned look upon his scarred features beneath his large, unruly beard.
"Does something trouble you, General?"
Fleming turned around and saluted to his lord and master.
"No sir!" he said in perfect military fashion. "I was just thinking of the best strategy to attack the Humans, sir!"
Trine nodded. "Good." The king walked to the map and stood beside the general.
"I suggest we send some regiments through the western pass to circle down on the Calatian capital from the north, while we send the rest of the army through the southern pass to directly attack Calasta."
Trine shook his head. "We should do an all out frontal assault."
Fleming felt his jaw hit the floor. "But, sir! We- we are vastly outnumbered by the enemy three to one! Our men could not possibly survive such an attack! It would be suicide!"
Trine slowly turned his eyes from the large map to stare at his subordinate. The general found himself looking squarely into his king's icy blue eyes; blue eyes that seemed so beautiful in their complexity and wonder, yet concealed a danger. A danger lying just below the surface, like a sea monster waiting for prey just below the surface of the water. There was something that haunted the general in those eyes. Something malevolent.
"You underestimate our chances, general." said the king. "We are Hylians. They are Humans. They are weak to us in every way. We can win with a full assault."
The young ruler's voice was laced with so much malice, that even he general could not mistake it. "Yes- yes sir. A full frontal assault. Of course, sir."
Trine nodded slightly. "Good. I am glad you have faith in your nation and your people. Now make the necessary preparations, I want the armies gathered at the southern pass by the end of the week. Understood?"
Fleming nodded vigorously, his long hair shaking to and fro as he did.
The Delaborean prince smiled wickedly and left the room. To the general, a heavy weight seemed to have lifted from his shoulders when he monarch departed. He sighed loudly and sat in a chair. Calming himself from the fear his master had just instilled in his heart, Fleming idly wondered how such a man had become king.
General Carlyle of the Calatian Royal Army surveyed his men. Sitting atop his brilliant white steed in his official uniform, the general looked impressive to all. Dressed in black breeches, knee high boots, loose red tunic covered in a breastplate that blindingly reflected the last red rays of sunlight out, down from the hill he stood upon , and off into the distance toward the mountain pass that separated the great nation of Calatia from the neighbouring nation of Hyrule. His long grey cloak was caught by the strong, cold wind and billowed about him majestically. It was only a matter of time before winter approached and made moving an army nearly impossible. The attack must come now. He knew it, and he was sure that his opponents knew it.
He turned his gaze down onto his many men. Thousands upon thousands of Calatian and Arkhasian soldiers lay camped in just as many small tents along the landscape. Small fires light the twilight sky as the men cooked their meals and waited for the time to attack their enemies. Somewhere close by a curse echoed through the camp in a heavily accented voice. Carlyle smiled grimly. The Arkhasian soldiers deserved his sympathy. After all, they were desert dwellers and were not at all accustomed to this autumn Calatian weather. They would have to get used to it. Off to his right, a high squeal pierced the night and some screams followed it closely. The men were on edge as it was, thought the General, they did not need clumsy moblin slaves making a racket.
A rustling of bushed caught his attention and he looked to see an aid approaching.
"Yes?" he asked when the aid had come near enough.
The aid saluted and said, "Sir! All preparations are finished! We only await your word to attack, sir!"
Nodding, Carlyle looked north to the pass. Silently, he ran an ancient Calatian hymn through his mind for luck. All they could do now is wait.
Kubo opened his eyes and quickly closed them again.
The air smelled so foul, that it stung the small moblin's eyes. His nose had long ago become useless.
A clang nearby made Kubo strain against the air to see what was happening. The prison door had been opened and someone was approaching the cell in which he was held. He was right. The rustle of keys reached his mutilated ears followed closely by the turning of the bolt in the door lock. He cringed at the sound of the cell door opening and squealed softly in fear, curling up into a small furry ball on the damp floor of his cell.
A voice. "It is now time to put you to some good use, my little friend. Come along."
Saying that, a pair of hands grabbed the small animal and lifted him out of the cell into the dim lights of the hallway. Still in his ball, Kubo had frozen for pure fear of his kidnapper. For the past few weeks, since he had been abducted from his quarters given him by the queen, Kubo had resided in that cell and had endured daily beatings that had brought his to within an inch of his life several times. He could take no more. He wished with all of his might that he could die right now, before the beatings continued for another night, but Fate had never looked so kindly upon the little moblin. Born into slavery, sold constantly, beaten for making mistakes, fed only enough to keep him alive, and now beaten horribly each and every night in a strange country that had promised him salvation.
He could vividly remember following the hero, Link, into Hyrule with the guarantee that he could live a happy and fortunate life. One that could not exist in Calatia. He had been so full of hope for his new life, that he must have let his guard down one night and forgotten to bolt his door. Then he was abducted.
The sound of another door opening snapped the poor creature out of his reverie and back into the real world. Again his eyes were accosted by an unfamiliar bright light. He could hear a slight bubbling coming from this room. He could taste the sweet taste of magic in the air. Heavy magic. Strong magic. His fur stood on end in the intense magical field. The build up of static in his coat was tangible. Everything around him seemed in motion.
Had his eyes been working properly, Kubo would have seen a small den-like room filled with various artefacts of the occult. In the middle of the room was a small book on a lectern, before a large altar. Large curtains hung along the walls from the low ceiling, and several large candles illuminated the room brightly.
In strode Ashir with the small body of Kubo held in his arms. Reverently, the magician placed the poor moblin on the altar and took his place behind the lectern. For a moment before he started, the man looked at the helpless creature. It's fur matted with blood and bare in some places, curled up in a small ball and shivering, whimpering slightly, one would have to have a heart of stone not to pity the small animal.
This animal would help bring about a revolution in Calatia; a revolution that could make Ashir very, very powerful; a revolution that would leave an army of thousands at his command.
Moving his gaze from the stricken moblin to the book before him, Ashir started the rights. His hair sizzled and sparks flew from his fingertips as the intense field of magic about him began to condense on the altar.
Sweat fell from his brow as he concentrated on the spell that would grant him his power. This was a dangerous right to perform alone, and he had seen his master do it only once before. The chance of death was staggering, but it was well worth it. A spell to control an entire race of animals. Who would have thought such power was within the grasp of one such as he?
On the altar, Kubo could feel his body being crushed by the field of intense magic. Soon the pain became so unbearably intense, the moblin had to uncurl himself and scream. He could feel his bones breaking and his blood seeping from his nose, mouth and ears. He opened his eyes barely and almost wept for what he saw: a lovely, shimmering woman standing over him and speaking soothing words to him. His pain seemed to recede as the woman's voice calmed and relaxed his tearing muscles. Tears streamed down his face in awe at this woman who could be so kind to him after so many days of pain and suffering. Slowly, the woman embraced him and cradled him in her arms as a mother would do to a child, brushing away the tears falling from the moblin's sad, mournful eyes. Her touch was like ice and Kubo's skin froze in her hands. She looked lovingly into his eyes and smiled. Kubo could feel his heart split as he looked at her beautiful face, into her deep eyes. He shed more tears in shame of being in the very presence of her, for he was just the torn and broken shell of the moblin he used to be and she was so wondrously marvellous.
She smiled again in pity at him and, in a voice like an angel's, said, "Do not cry. You are safe now."
As the light of life drained from Kubo's sorrowful black eyes, he managed to utter his thanks to this strange, wonderful, and kind woman.
The final words were spoken and the magical field collapsed around the creature, casting a blinding light throughout the room. Ashir shielded his eyes, and, when he opened them again, the moblin was no longer on the table. In it's place lay a small bronze bracelet, intricately sculpted with two snakes encircling the wrist and the symbol of an eye gracing the top, looking into oblivion. The wizard smiled.
In the throne room of Hyrule Castle, Trine waited patiently on his ornate throne for his magical servant to give him the very object for which the magician was freed from his imprisonment, nearly six months ago. An object that would allow Trine to conquer Calatia with his pitifully small army in a matter of days. An object that would bring him one step closer to that which he truly desired.
They could hear the screams.
General Fleming if the Hylian army listened carefully to the midnight air along with his fellow commanders. A cold wind whipped at their cloaks and their hair, numbing their limbs. The moon hung high in the star-lit sky, bright as a jewel, unhindered by clouds, staring solemnly down at the world beneath it.
Another scream reached the Hylian's ears by means of the wind. The Calatian camp was in turmoil.
Looking at his commanders for arguments, Fleming pointed his steed toward the enemy camp and started off at a light canter. His army followed without uttering a word. He would have liked to have them following him silently, but it is nearly impossible for thousands of fully armed soldiers to move anywhere without a sound.
The scouts had returned minutes ago from the Human camp and had told him all that they had seen. The Humans were under attack. It had appeared, to the scouts, as if the human's slaves were revolting against their masters and causing general panic among the camp. Now was as good a time for a full attack as any.
With his army in tow, Fleming entered the pass and crossed the border.
General Carlyle watched in horror as a man near him was tackled by several slaves. This was not supposed to happen!
One minutes everything had been peaceful in the Human camp and the next all hell had broken loose. The Moblin slaves were revolting! This was really not supposed to happen! Slave revolts just did not happen!
His sword buried itself deep in the hide of a slave that had its back to him and the thing fell. Two more fell to the general's blade before the small monstrosities overpowered him. He fell to the ground with no less than six moblins attached to him, each clawing its way into his flesh. Fighting for his life, Carlyle, with the help of two officers who had happened to be nearby when their leader had fallen, managed to kill the six slaves, but more were on their way. The general did the only prudent thing to do in such situation: He turned and ran like hell.
He found his steed, mounted, and galloped up onto the same hill from which he had surveyed his powerful army just hours before. Looking down at the carnage of his camp, a fearful sound reached his ears. Turning to look at the border pass, he was horrified to see the Hylian army advancing on the camp like a tidal wave. It was a classic pincer movement. The infantry was advancing from the north, while the cavalry had circled around to the east to attack the flank. Carlyle shook his head in sorrow as he saw his entire army torn apart between the slaves and the Hylians. Softly, under his breath, the general uttered a prayer to those who lost their lives and a curse upon those who took the lives of his men. After several more minutes of watching the carnage, Carlyle wordlessly turned his mount south and rode for Calasta with his dire news.
The messenger hurriedly entered the throne room of Hyrule Castle and quickly bowed before the king.
"You had better have a good reason for barging in like that." Trine said, the viciousness almost dripping from his words.
"Yes, sir, I do." the messenger said, rising. "General Fleming has sent word from the front. The Calatian Army has been defeated at the boarder!"
A chorus of cheers arose from the assembled nobility hovering around the edges of the room. Trine smiled.
"That is good news. Lucky for you." He stood. "Friends, we have struck the fist major blow against our Human neighbours! This is only the first step in totally wiping out any threat those creatures will have to us! Tell the people! They, too, deserve to hear how their fathers and brothers are doing for the good of Hyrule!"
Several aids rushed from the room and another round of cheers broke from the nobles.
Trine smiled again, this time to himself. It was only a matter of days now before Calasta would fall to both the slaves and the Hylian army. By now, the cities would be in chaos as slaves around the country attacked every Human they saw. The government would be in tatters when his armies finally march through the land without any resistance.
Still smiling at his achievements, the king absently patted the bracelet on his wrist. A bronze bracelet that was decorated with two snakes and a glaring eye.