"Let me see if I'm hearing this correctly," Zelda said, massaging her temples. "A city…the city…full of well trained soldiers, was invaded by a small army of mercenaries and even several Lizaflos, and no one noticed because said soldiers all decided to fall asleep at the same time?"
"Yes, highness," the general shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. "As such, I would like to tender my resignation for having failed you and the citizens of the city."
"Don't be absurd general," Zelda's voice was gentle and understanding. "It wasn't your fault. Return to you men and tell them to return to their daily routine. No one will be punished." Though it was a breach of protocol, the general smiled, pounded his right fist over heart in salute, and departed the throne room. Zelda turned her gaze to the wizened old man who had been to the right of the general. "So, Balio, have you come to any conclusions?"
The royal mage stepped forward. "I have, your highness, though what I have concluded continues to puzzle me. It was, as you suspected, a sleeping spell that incapacitated the soldiers, but how such a spell could have worked is beyond my skill to know. No wizard or mage in recorded history has shown that much power, not since the fall of Necron, the Black Lord. And even if it were possible, every magic adept in the city, including myself, would have sensed it. How Rolondrof did it I don't know."
"Thank you, Balio. I trust you will continue your investigation." The mage bowed his head and departed the hall. As soon as he was gone, Impa stepped from the shadows at the base of the steps leading to the throne.
"You were correct princess," she said. "Link was in the city. Several of the citizens I interviewed claimed to have seen a young man fitting his description battling a 'giant'. As soon as the Lizaflos appeared he fled."
"So then he could be anywhere by now," Zelda sighed. She didn't even consider the fact that he had been captured. "He still doesn't know that Rolondrof is coming for him."
"I think he does, highness, after a fashion." Shrike appeared beside Impa and bowed his head. He pulled his mask down, revealing the lower half of his face. "I saw this 'giant' he was fighting, and his resemblance to Rolondrof is uncanny. Also, I saw this man escape with Rolondrof in the confusion. I almost made contact with Link, but I was too late, and he had already escaped the city."
"You saw him escape?" Zelda asked hopefully. "Where was he heading?"
Shrike hesitated. "South, highness," he finally replied. "But he was not alone."
* * *
"Link, what did you do?"
"Nothing! Lately…"
"What?"
"Nothing! I have no idea what's going on! Just hang on!"
Link, Malon, and Epona were racing through the fields south of the city, as a small army of riders steadily kept pace with them. They had been riding full speed for close to an hour, the castle and the city gradually shrinking to a small spot on the horizion, and still the mercs followed. And as fast as Epona was, even she could not continue like this forever. Malon sat behind Link, his pack strapped across her back, providing some protection from any arrows that made it as far as them.
Often, Malon had dreamed of following Link on one of his many adventures; she had even tried following him on several occasions. Now, however, she was beginning to decide that adventures really weren't as fun and romantic as books made them out to be. "You have a plan though, right?"
"…"
"Right?"
"I'm working on it."
Link, on the other hand, knew exactly what adventures were, and was experienced enough to try and avoid them whenever possible. Unfortunatly, fate usually had other plans. Ahead of him was the Great Hylian Wall, built centuries ago during the battle against Necron. If he went to the right of the Wall, he could make it to Lon Lon and get Malon to safety. If he went left he would be heading east, towards the less populated, and more densely forested areas of Hyrule. With the number of men after him at the moment, there was only one choice. He steered Epona to the left, who reluctantly obliged. "I know," he whispered in her ear, "I want to get her home too."
"Link!" Malon had to almost shout over the roar of the wind. "They're splitting up!" Link looked back. Their pursuers were indeed splitting up. Six riders continued to follow him left of the Wall, while the rest slowed and veered to the right. Link allowed himself a small smile. Now this he could deal with. He gently pulled back on the reins, slowing Epona down. "Link!" Malon shouted. "What are you doing? They're catching up!"
"Trust me," was his only reply.
Soon, two of the riders were flanking them, two burly, smelly men with about twenty teeth between them on large, evil looking mounts. They had drawn their swords, and were steadily moving closer to Epona. "Malon, as soon as I'm off, take the reins and keep pace."
"What?" Link could just imagine the look on her face. Without another word, he swung himself about so he was sitting side-saddle. He held onto the saddle as he let his feet touch the ground, and using the momentum pushed himself into the air, planting both feet squarely on the adjacent rider's chin. The man fell off his horse and rolled along the ground, and Link gracefully took his place on the saddle. Shocked at the outstanding display, Malon never the less took the reins and kept pace. Obviously he had put some of the riding tricks she had taught him to good use.
Link took his longshot from his belt. "Lean forward," he ordered Malon, who obliged. Link pressed the trigger, and the tip of the longshot shot forward and imbedded itself in the other rider's forehead. Link drew the hook back and placed the weapon back on his belt, even as the rider fell to the ground. Two down, four to go, and those four were still a good twenty feet behind them. Link turned around in the saddle so he was now riding backwards, facing the pursuers. "Bow and two arrows."
Malon, who was an even better rider than Link, unhooked Link's weapons from where they hung on the saddle and passed them to him without missing a beat. He fitted both arrows onto the string, pulled back, and took aim. He let the shafts fly, and watched two more riders fall from their horses with arrows in their throats. Two left.
"Keep riding forward," Link said as he handed the bow back to Malon. "I'll catch up." She nodded, and spurred Epona on. Link turned himself around so he was once again facing forward, sped his horse up, and turned towards the last two mercs. He withdrew his sword in his left hand and longshot in his right, and charged, splitting them. The riders weren't expecting this, yet they still had the wits to draw their swords. As soon as they were in range, Link swung his sword, separating the merc's head from his body. He stabbed the other in the throat with his longshot, but not before this last merc managed to swing his own sword and cut Link at the waist. Link grimaced, but still managed to stay on his horse. He turned his mount around and headed back towards Malon, who had stopped Epona once she saw that they were out of danger.
Link dismounted his stolen horse and sent it off back to the north. "You're hurt," Malon observed, concern in her voice.
"It's not bad," Link assured her as he hoisted himself up behind Malon. "Keep heading south," he advised. "There's a town just around the corner of the wall. We can spend the night at an inn there."
"And get you to a doctor."
"No, no doctors. Too many questions…"
"And get you to a doctor." This time Malon said it more forcefully. However, her face softened, showing she understood. "Or at least you'll let me look at it."
Link smiled as he applied pressure to the wound with his left hand. "Deal."
Malon nodded and smiled in satisfaction. She spurred Epona on, and they were on their way.