-The Legend of Zelda-

The Age of Link

Chapter 3

It was three days after the troop had left Hyrule Castle that they arrived within the Eastern Province. All was eerily quiet. The sound of wild animals was inexplicably absent. There were no people on the roads and in the direction of Eastern Fort was a pillar of black smoke rising to caress the sky. The men slowed their horses and rode more cautiously. The black column was like a dark omen to the knights. The sense of bleak foreboding that had plagued Link since the morning when Derrickson stumbled into the Queen's throne room had finally taken hold of his comrades. There was no question about it. Hyrule was under attack.

A thick mist clung to the ground shrouding everything in a gray hue. The sun was high but to the soldiers riding along Hyrule Road it was only a dull illumination behind a layer of clouds. A breeze blew pass the men and their horses making some shiver and putting others, like Link, on their guard. The people of Hyrule were a superstitious folk and put much stock into omens and feelings. The gloom and the ever present pillar of black smoke was a sign that no one could ignore.

Most of Eastern Hyrule was situated on a lowland expanse that ran from the hills of Central Hyrule, through Llolackle and onward to the sea. Only the feet of the Northern Mountain range broke the monotony. At the bottom of the very last hill stood Eastern Fort, or what was left of it. Its walls and the many towers that dotted the area were Hyrule's defense against her aggressive neighbor. The fort was more like a town surrounded by great walls and peopled by soldiers and their families. The mist grew thicker as the troop moved closer to their destination. The column grew larger as well.

A mile from the fort in the hills that overlooked the east Captain Tucker ordered the riders to halt. Captain Tucker dismounted and tethered his horse. He motioned for Skilk and Link to follow him and began to quietly plunge into the nearby wooded area. The knights were well rested after Tucker's decision to set up camp in the middle of the previous day and approach the fort at dawn. He believed that if anyone or thing was waiting for them at the fort it would be to their advantage to confront it awake and with the light of day to guide them. The knights waited patiently for their commander to return but deep down they were anxious to discover the fates of their comrades that lived at the fort.

The darkened sky and thick mist made the wooded area foreboding and full of gloom. It sapped the spirits of the three Hyrulian Knights as they passed through the dark spaces between the trees. They had been optimistic about what they might find at Eastern Fort but as they drew closer and witnessed the pillar of black smoke continue to rise into the sky that optimism turned to dread. The darkness of the woods seemed more like a product of the shadowy fate that lay before them then a product of nature. Each of the men had their own fears and worries and the gloom allowed them to fester in the knights' minds.

Captain Tucker kept his long sword close to his body and hidden under his cape to avoid catching the attention of any watchers with a sudden reflection of light off of his naked steel. He avoided roots and low branches with as much skill as could be expected from a soldier that had spent little time in the country. He stumbled occasionally but managed to keep upright and more importantly silent. His companions on the other hand were far more adept at traveling through the woods. Skilk was a natural born woodsman with years of experience in wilderness tracking and survival. He was one with nature and in his element. He traveled through the woods with a practiced ease that baffled many who witnessed it. Link grew up on a farm and spent most of his childhood playing in the woods outside of his uncle's estate. He had learned the ways of the woods years ago and living in the castle had dulled them but not wiped them out. Link was not as skilled as Skilk but he was by no means a novice.

The three moved swiftly away from the road until the woods began to thin out. More light from the sickly glowing orb in the sky crashed through the treetop canopy and they were able to see the column of smoke with unobstructed clarity. At Skilk's silent insistence they slowed to a crawl. Link hid behind the boll of a nearby tree and Skilk disappeared among the branches of another. Captain Tucker quickly searched for a place to hide but after finding none suitable dove to the ground beneath the blanket of mist. Tucker franticly attempted to catch his breath while not making too much noise. He wasn't sure why Skilk had signaled for the trio to stop but he trusted the Master Hunter enough to follow his lead. His face was pressed to the damp soil and he wondered how long he would have to wait.

Moments passed and the three stayed utterly still. Captain Tucker listened intently but heard only the sound of his own breathing. He could barely see his gauntlet covered hands in front of his face and the wet ground was beginning to get on his nerves. Carefully he raised his head beyond the boundaries of the mist and immediately dropped to the ground again. Only a few feet away were four leather clad men in clothes stained with the insignia of the Black Eye Gang. The Black Eye Gang was a group of cutthroats, brigands, rapist and robbers that plagued North and South Hyrule. The Hyrule Knights and The Black Eye Gang shared no love and eagerly slaughtered each other whenever possible.

Captain Tucker gritted his teeth and attempted to move out of their path as quietly as possible. He could sense the men getting closer but thanks to the mist he could see nothing. His pulse pounded in his ears as he rolled over dead leaves and was greeted by their crunch. He paused and held his breath as a booted foot slid pass, grazing his armored shoulder. His hand dropped to the hilt of his sword while he tentatively waited for someone to investigate the obstruction below the mist. A tense moment passed and he felt the Black Eye Gang bandits move on.

Relieved he rolled over toward Link's hiding place. He came to an abrupt halt as his armor collided with something big. Had one of the bandits separated from the group and been waiting patiently for Tucker to stupidly reveal his self, the Captain wondered. He turned his head slowly, expecting to find the tip of a sword inches from his face. He came face to face with the object that obstructed his way, a festering corpse. The Captain lost all reasoning as he was gripped by fear and disgust. He released an inarticulate roar of horror and leapt to his feet. The bandits spun around and with immediate recognition of Tucker's uniform rushed the Hyrulian Knight. He raised his long sword and prepared to meet the oncoming cutthroats' blades. Damn, he thought, Link wouldn't have been so easily frightened… damn him.

The bandit closest to Tucker was the first to fall but not by the Captain's hands. Skilk dived from the branches overhead and landed on the shoulders of the charging Black Eye baring him to the floor, burying his sword in the man's chest. Captain Tucker was awed by the Master Hunter's speed but had no time to gawk as the other bandits drew nearer. From the corner of his eye the Captain caught movement only seconds before Link charged into the fray.

The Hero of Destiny ignored the warrior closest to Tucker and plowed into the two bandits in the rear. His shield smashed his first target's face and left the bandit unconscious and bleeding. He drove the man's limp body to the ground and ground him into the soft soil. The second bandit produced a long knife and attempted to catch the Royal Bodyguard unawares. Tucker watched and part of him wanted Link to fall and be proven mortal after all. The other part was a soldier and the Knight's were loyal to their own. He took a deep breath and was about to shout out when he was hit with a wave of power. Link spun around wielding The Master Sword in an arch of destruction. The blade glowed slightly as it cut through the bandit's blade, arm and torso with equal ease. The body crumpled to the ground in a mutilated heap. Link turned toward Tucker and the Captain could see a fire in his eyes that outshined any forge. The look was intense. Captain Tucker watched as Link came closer.

Tucker heard a frightened gasp and turned to find the last bandit backing away from the approaching hero. Angry that he'd allowed his admiration of Link blind him to the enemy at his side Tucker lunged at the brigand. The bandit was quick to parry and not too afraid of Link to fight the captain. The warrior was good but the Captain's training was better. He deflected the man's clumsy attacks and managed to score a couple of good hits. His chops were too wide and he received a glancing blow to the shoulder but before long his superior skills made the difference when he ran his blade through the man's chest.

Tucker moved away from the crumbling body and braced himself against the bow of a tree. He took deep and ragged breaths as the adrenaline wore off. He watched as Link and Skilk quickly and quietly searched the bodies. They made short work of the task and then approached the tired Captain. Link stopped before him but Skilk continued pass. The fire had left The Hero of Destiny's eyes and only his normal blue eyes remained. Captain Tucker met those eyes and he grew angry at the thought of the Queen's bodyguard reprimanding him for almost getting them killed.

"Are you alright Captain Tucker?" asked Link.

"I'm fine, damn it! There is a body under that blasted fog… it surprised me that's all." replied the officer heatedly.

"No, I mean are you wounded or hurt?"

"This blood isn't mine, don't touch me! That's not even big enough to call a scratch." Tucker smacked Link's hand away from the wound on his shoulder and moved away from the tree. It took only a couple of steps before his anger boiled up once more. "Don't treat me like a common new recruit, I've seen just as much combat as you, and I've worn this uniform much longer. There is a body under there whether you believe me or not!" he barked. There came a whistle like the hunting birds of Duko Dale and Link began to walk in the direction that Skilk had traveled. Tucker followed closely behind.

"We found the body, Captain. It used to be a farmer…" said the hero. "He's been dead for about four days. Skilk and I think that this is just another piece in this convoluted puzzle."

"As I said, there was a body." stated the Captain. He was relieved that the two heroes believed his story and that angered him more than anything else.

Skilk had left the cover of the trees and crouched down next to a boulder at the edge of a great cliff. He whistled once more and gestured for the other two knights to hurry over. His attention was focused on something below and once the others reached him he was too preoccupied to do more than wave them to the ground. Tucker crawled across the ground on his stomach to the very edge of the drop and was thankful that there was no mist pass the tree line. He could hear commotion below but from his vantage point he could only see the great rocky expanse that separated Llolackle and Hyrule. Link rose up on one knee beside his friend and after a few moments he motioned for the Captain to join them.

Tucker inched up beside the boulder and what he saw made his blood run cold and every nerve ending fall numb. The village fort of Eastern Fort lay in ruins. Many of its larger buildings were reduced to smoldering rubble and the others bore smashed windows and battered doors. Its great walls still stood but the pair of double doors that served as both exit and entrance were pulverized shards of splintered wood. Beyond those walls that had been erected ages ago to protect the eastern borders of Hyrule was a huge crater and within it burned a monstrous bonfire. The fire hungrily ate at the sky, burning bright and coughing up a column of smoke that could be seen for miles.

A tear rolled down Tucker's cheek and he angrily wiped it away. Below moved figures among the carnage. He grabbed the hilt of his sword and a low growl issued forth from his chest. Even from his position high on a cliff there was no mistaking the uniform of the Black Eye Gang on each and every one of those moving among the ruins of Eastern Fort. The Captain turned to the two heroes standing wordlessly beside him. Skilk was expressionless and stoic but Link was a blazing symbol of vengeance. The fire had returned to his eyes and the muscles of his face were tense and strained.

"What will be our course of action, Captain?" asked the knight from Duko Dale. His words were calm but held a hint of that which his face hid. Anger.

"We kill them all." replied the Captain with a calmness that was frightening. Link nodded his head in agreement and turned back toward the road and the waiting knights. Tucker grabbed his shoulder. "No, I want you two to stay here." Both legends tuned to the Captain masked in shock.

"What?" asked the green clad knight.

"You heard me clearly, stay here." replied the officer. He was enjoying himself even as one of his nation's strongholds crumbled below him. "The two of you will cover the rest of us with your arrows."

"Captain, my sword will be more helpful down there!" Link stated, a little of his anger seeping into his voice.

"No, Link. We can handle this without the Queen's bodyguard babysitting. Stay here and do as you're told!" With those words Captain Tucker turned away and hurried back into the woods. The smile that claimed his face was mirthless. He would keep Skilk and Link out of the fighting and prove once and for all that the Hyrule Knights and not its two heroes protected the kingdom. He knew it was a shame that satisfaction came at the price of hundreds dead down below.

Skilk took up a position on the far side of the boulder and laid out his bow and quiver. Link did the same on the other end and donned a pair of enchanted gloves. They were designed to increase his strength and would turn any arrow he let fly into an armor piercing missile. The two friends watched the scene below and waited.

"He hates us you know." said Skilk conversationally.

"More likely he hates me…"

"Yeah." laughed the Master Hunter. "Most of the officers do." Link joined him in laughing but it was a cold and bitter sound. They fell silent and waited atop the cliff overlooking the former Eastern Fort. "What do you suggest we do if another patrol comes this way?"

"We execute them." Link stated firmly. There came a loud noise from the tree line that spun both men around with weapons drawn. Out of the trees ran two knights with bows drawn, hastily preparing arrows.

"The Captain ordered us to join the two of you, sirs!" excitedly announced one of the young knights. Link brought his fingers to his lips signaling for silence and gestured for the two to take up positions on either side of the boulder.

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The Captain had returned to the waiting knights alone and in a thunderous fury. Tucker had gone into the woods in order to get an idea of what was going on in Hyrule and whatever he found had forced him into an all encompassing rage. He ordered two of his best archers into the woods after the absent heroes and leaped upon his mount. His orders tumbled out like rolling storm clouds and his anger was contagious. The Eastern Fort had been sacked, there was no evidence of survivors and the Black Eye Gang appeared to be the blame. He brandished his long sword and bellowed. The Gang had to pay for their crimes in blood. The knights would ride right through the former fort's crushed doors and mow their enemies down. Reparation would be had at the point of a sword.

Derrickson rode at the rear of the swiftly charging column as they sped down Hyrule Road toward the toppled fort. His heart pounded in his chest. All around him were knights brimming with bloodlust and eager for revenge. Again he felt like the outsider as they followed a bend in the road and the walls of the fort loomed before them.

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Link's bow was held at the ready and he took steady aim down his straight arm. Thanks to his enchanted gloves the chord of the bow and its captive arrow were held impossibly taut. On either side of the hero were knights mimicking his actions, each held his own bow and was just as steady. Skilk waited in the manner of the archers of Duko Dale. Unlike the other knights his arrow was rested lazily on the slack chord. The four intently watched the activity within the former fort.

They watched as the bandits began to scurry about in preparation for the charging knights that could be heard even at the top of the cliff. They could see the Black Eye archers climb the ladders and take positions along the walls defenses. They all waited until Captain Tucker and his cavalry came into view charging up Hyrule Road. They watched as the archers began to fire upon the incoming riders. They watched and waited until Link uttered one word.

"Fire."

On either side of the hero the knights' arms tensed. Two bowstrings were released, two arrows soared through the sky and two bandits were struck dead. Even before the two bodies could crumple to the ground Skilk and Link let fly with their own bolts of death. Skilk's arrow exploded through the throat of a bandit as he tried to take aim at the mounted knights approaching. Assisted by gravity and the enchanted gloves Link's arrow tore through three bandits before exploding in a cloud of wood and dirt at the base of the wall. As the two heroes collected their next arrows the other knights released the next volley. Below bandit archers died in a seemingly unrelenting rain of death.

As Link's arrows blew holes into the fort walls the bandit marksmen loss all thoughts of hindering the charging knights and began taking cover. Even as they tried the storm of wooden shafted oblivion claimed them. The few to escape the massacre atop the walls quickly found their end beneath barreling hooves. With no more targets along the wall Link guided his deadly companions in assailing those bandits that tried to lay in ambush for the mounted knights. Soon the only places safe from the Hyrulian archers were in the alleys between the few remaining buildings and alongside the charging knights. Those that chose the latter had little time to regret it.

Skilk made a minute gesture and Link quickly concurred. The Hero of Destiny signaled for the gathered knights to spread out along the cliff and begin picking off individual targets. He took aim with another arrow and destroyed a barricade of crates and the bandit that hid behind it. The fight below was winding down. The Black Eyes brave enough to engage the mounted troops died quickly and their cowardly comrades either scattered or were cut down where they hid. Skilk killed a bandit that was maneuvering along the roof of a building and the other knights likewise stopped an attempt by the criminals to ambush the knights as they abandoned their steeds to pursue them.