Author's Note: It physically pained me to write that super-boring chapter, but it was the only way I could think of getting the info across. Nerevarine tells Link and co. all the secrets in a spooky abandoned building.
Disclaimer: Do I need to say it?
The Legend of Zelda
Akavir War
Chapter 12
Link woke up at dawn to the light beginning to stream in through the flap of his tent. He still felt a little groggy after learning all of that information at once. Also, his former excitement at exploration was disappearing, being replaced with a growing dread. An Emperor had died in Akavir, and no additional help could come. Time was growing short.
After quickly arming himself, Link began the short walk over to Gerard's tent. A chill was in the air, and Link shivered a little as he went. The grass was sparse, and the dirt he tread on dry. The hills around were a baje-tinted gray. He arrived in the tent just after the others, two of which he didn't know.
"Good, your all here," Gerard said, "Now we can get started."
Everyone took a seat. Gerard began to dole out assignments.
"We all are going to go on a little hunt. We will be looking for pockets of Akaviri in the surrounding areas. Everyone will work with a partner. Treyfond and Brutus, (He motioned to the men Link didn't recognize, a Redguard and Imperial) will take the Southern Basin. Ammas and Lord Nerevarine will go to the Eastern Hills, and Link and Eats-His-Book will take the Northern Valley. Myself and my chief leiutenant will take the Battlefield. And the west is back to the Sea of Ghosts. Prepare the horses, we leave in one hour."
Everyone began to rise, and then Eats spoke.
"There are two particular Ka Po' Tuns, that need to be noted. They are Kearn Raka and Neeja Raka. They are the second-in-command to Tosh Raka, and are very dangerous. Engage with caution if you meet them."
Link stared at Eats, along with everyone else. "How does he know all this stuff?" Link asked himself. No time for that, he needed to prepare.
Link went over to the stables and got his horse out, a fine chestnut mare, and saddled her up. He trot over to the entrance to the valley, and waited for Eats, who came very quickly. They rode off into the valley.
"So Eats," Link asked as they began, "How do you know all this stuff about the Akaviri?"
Eats stared silently ahead, deep in old memories, and Link could have sworn he saw a tear, but it was quickly gone. "Vaena and Versidine told me much of their home."
Link could see right past the lie, but he had a job to do.
The two reptilian steeds stopped at the valley edge. The riders looked off into the widest part of the crack.
"Do you think the Master was right?" One asked.
"Probably." The other said.
"Can we really be sure?"
"Has he ever been wrong? In centuries has he been wrong?"
"No…"
"He became a Dragon when we thought he couldn't."
"All right! I get it!"
"Remember, we need him alive. The Golden Power will be necessary, and it's gone if he dies!"
"I know! We've been over this!"
"Shut up, I see him! Go!"
"So you were right."
The two Tiger-Men flung down the edge, and began to chase.
Link and Eats heard them coming. They turned their horses around and drew their swords. The two Akaviri came at them, one with a hammer and the other a bow. They dodged to the side, and cross slashed, wounding one of the steeds, but not much. The Tiger-Man on the reptile brought his hammer around, which Link managed to get away from. Eats was already out of range. They were separated, but they were surrounding the two. Link was blocking arrow after arrow from the other. Then a very unfortunate thing happened.
A horde of the Tiger-Men had appeared on the ridge. They flew down and prepared to attack. Then, seeming out of nowhere, a volley of flaming arrows decimated their ranks.
"Retreat!" The two leaders yelled, and as they ran, shot the two looks that screamed: "This isn't over. Far from it!"
Link looked around as the Akaviri fled and saw on the opposite ridge a somehow familiar sillhoette. He charged his horse up the wall and his jaw dropped. Eats came up and exploded with joy.
"Versidine!"
"How did you get here?"
"My people are very good seamen, you know. I don't think you realize just what is going on."
"We know about Dagon" Link said.
"It's not even that. They hunt you two specifically. Link because of the power you hold, and Eats…"
He glanced at Eats, a knowing glance, and nodded, "Because of what he is."
Link saw the flame in Eats' eyes, and knew better than to ask. He did ask, "Where did all those arrows come from?"
"My people did not all leave or die. Some pockets managed to escape, and have formed an underground resistance. I have united them all, with a lot of help from Vaena, and we are preparing to fight. We will join you at the time of the battle."
Link and Eats began the trek back to camp with the news. Link said, as they returned, "The two leaders that we fought?"
"The Leiutenants. I had a feeling we'd run into them. We'd better see Gerard."
That's chapter 12. The battle will soon begin, and what a battle it will be!