Chapter 2
Kieran watched the cart that was guarded by ten of Kamau's soldiers come over the slight hill. His own presence was hidden from them in the deep shadows that had once been companions. The world, to his eyes as he hid in the shadow world, was a myriad of blacks, whites and grays. His whole being reflected the world that had given him life and now allowed him to visit it.
His dark grey tunic was belted about the waist with a black sash while underneath the tunic, he wore a light grey shirt and hose. His black boots only came ankle high and across his back was slung a quiver and bow. A dark grey hood hid his steel grey colored hair that framed a youthful face and his grey eyes peered out from beneath it. They locked onto the two figures that huddled in the back of the cart.
Zelda leaned forward and he could just see that her hands were tied behind her back. He raised an eyebrow in surprise to see that her companion was unbound. Link stared at his left arm with a lost look and his shoulders were slumped as if heavy weights bore them down. The sight of the Hero of Hyrule sent chills down Kieran's spine, 'Why does his fate rest on me . . . ?
The cart paused as the soldiers prepared to take a short break and Kieran judged the distance between himself and them, 'I think I'll have enough space . . . '
He drew a deep breath and squared his shoulders as his guilt rose up inside of him. He'd seen the army of Kamau sneak over the borders of Hyrule and had wanted to warn Zelda. His shoulders slumped as he remembered how he hesitated because he feared that Link would find out about him. He had waited too long and when he finally had approached the castle, He'd been in time to see it fall to the hands of Kamau, 'Why couldn't I have Link's courage . . . '
He let out the breath that he'd held and stepped out of the dark grey shadow world into the brightly colored world of Hyrule. The colors always blinded him a moment when he first emerged and he stood there blinking a moment. A tough voice drew his attention toward the soldiers, "Hey! Idlers displease Kamau!"
His vision cleared and he saw one of the soldiers had moved to the front of the others. The brute looked at him with crossed arms and a deep scowl. Kieran just crossed his arms and returned the gaze, "I don't see Kamau here . . . Or are you he and aren't the great warrior that the stories make you out to be?"
The scowl turned ugly, "Watch your mouth, Peasant! Unless you want me to take you to Kamau, so you can repeat those words to him!"
"Then you are just his pitiful underling? I had thought the soldiers of Kamau were . . . bigger."
"If you're not careful, Fool, You'll find out how fierce we can be!"
Kieran glanced at the cart and found Princess Zelda looking at him. He unconsciously pulled his hood even further forward, even though there was no chance of her seeing his face, "Those in the cart . . . They do not appear to be minions of Kamau. Or are they new recruits that haven't turned ugly yet?"
The soldier drew his sword and pointed it at Kieran, "Get that, Simpkin and show him what the soldiers of Kamau are made of!"
As the soldiers drew their weapons and rushed to obey, Kieran had his bow in hand and an arrow loaded into it. Three of the soldiers fell with his arrows protruding from their chests before their weapons were drawn. The six that remained paused and glanced at their leader with wide eyes. The huge man scowled at them as Kieran waited for them to approach, "Are you the fearless warriors of Kamau! Or mindless pigs!"
Kieran grinned beneath his hood as the six came at him with blood thirsty shouts, 'Mindless pigs.'
His hand was a blur as he let two more arrows fly straight through the air and thud directly into the chests of the soldiers of Kamau. As he loosed another arrow and another soldier keeled over, He saw their leader turn toward the cart that bore Zelda and Link, "Kill the prisoners!"
Kieran grimaced as the remaining three turned to follow and fitted two arrows into the bow. The arrows took out two more soldiers as the leader climbed into the cart and stood over the prisoners. His eyes hardened as the big man raised his sword over the two in the cart and Zelda gazed up at him with wide frightened eyes. The arrow appeared almost like magic in his bow and shoot through the air with the speed of lighting. The leader suddenly toppled over backward as the arrow buried itself in his back.
Zelda's scream halted the one remaining soldier and Kieran saw him throw down his sword as he took off down the road. Kieran sighed with relief as he let the man go and slung his bow back over his shoulder. Then he froze as his gaze fell on Link and he swallowed hard.
The Hero of Hyrule was as he'd seen him when he'd first laid eyes on him in the cart and hadn't moved or changed a bit. Kieran bit his lip as he made his way toward the cart and fought down a sick feeling that was building up inside of him, 'Link should be looking at the bodies . . . He should be looking at me! Wondering who I am . . . but he's not!'
Link's gaze seemed to be locked on his left arm and Zelda kept glancing from Link to Kieran. She leaned over and spoke to Link, but the man didn't move or acknowledge her at all. A nervous look filled the Princess's eyes and she glanced up as Kieran approached.
He halted a few feet from the cart and bowed to her as though they stood in a throne room instead of in the middle of a dusty road, "Your highness."
Kieran could hear the tenseness in her voice as she spoke and knew she was worried about Link, "Sir, I and my champion, thanks you for rescuing us from those foul men."
He glanced up at her and noticed the jagged cut that ran down the right side of her face, "It is the least I could do, Your Highness," He felt his shoulders slump from guilt, "I knew the attack was coming and failed to warn you of it in time."
He saw her eyes widen and she glanced over at Link. She frowned and turned back to him, "Can we dispense with formalities for now? We need to get out of here before that man reaches Kamau."
He nodded, "Of course, your highness."
"Zelda."
He paused and cocked his head at her.
"Just call me Zelda."
"But you are . . . "
She shook her head, "Kamau forced me to give up my right to rule and until I regain that right . . . "
"I understand, your . . . I mean, Zelda."
He walked around the cart and started to climb up into it, when he saw Link's arm. His eyes widened at the sight of a stump where the Hero's left arm should have been. That stump was what held Link's attention and Kieran glanced at Zelda with wide eyes. She looked grim, "Kamau knew which arm was his sword arm."
Kieran gave himself a shake as he finished climbing into the cart to free Zelda. How was Link supposed to fight with one arm? He knew how to fight right-handed and that thought made him grimace. He'd planned to just free them and then disappear once more like A . . . shadow. He glanced at Link and sighed, 'I might be the only one who can teach him and help him through this . . . Why me, Din?'
