The Downfall Timeline
Book 1
Chapter 15: A Bitter Meal

Mid-Day, January 24, 610 GK, The War of Imprisonment, Day 192

South Central Hyrule

The dull, grey light that managed to pierce through the gloomy overcast sent by Ganon, rose to its greatest strength, then steadily waned as the four companions traveled down the King's Road. Once he was certain that they were far enough from any other ears, Alfon told his captains about their mission to infiltrate the ranch, rescue the girl, and - if possible - bring as many of the horses and cattle back to the lake as they could.

Viscern listened to his lord attentively, but gave no reaction at all. Captain Russell, however, seemed to be a boiling cauldron of emotions. He quickly shifted between eager exhilaration for action and a fierce conviction that the mission was complete folly.

"The girl is dead!" he growled to the marshal, raising one finger.

"The horses, are gone." He continued, raising a second finger.

"The cattle? Gone or consumed by the enemy."

A third finger rose, "and the farm hand? No doubt he has turned the plateau into a fortress for the enemy! There must be… fifty or more of them there now!" he finished, raising the fourth finger on his hand.

Link was amazed at his master's patience with this man. Ever since he'd become the marshal's squire, the boy had never seen him tolerate any insubordination from his soldiers. Very small jokes or gentle teases might be overlooked – when not on duty – but the marshal was always the first to hold the reigns of strict discipline in the camp. Why now would he allow this man to argue with him so?

"Captain Russel," he began with a sly grin spreading across his face, "If you are so certain that you will fail in this mission… perhaps it would be best if you returned to the lake and retired to your bed?"

The grizzled veteran suddenly straightened his back and gave the knight a glaring eye.

"No?" mused Alfon, "Well, if you think there is some chance of our success, why don't I make you a deal?"

"A 'deal' m'lord? What sort of 'deal'?" Russell asked, suspiciously.

"Once we have rescued the girl and released the animals, I will leave the fate of the traitor Ingo… completely in your hands. To deal with him as you see fit." Finished the Lord.

The captain's face suddenly turned to a wild-eyed grin as he growled in satisfaction, "Hmmm… most generous, m'lord! I accept!"

From that moment onward, he seemed to have no more complaints or doubts about their mission. Rather, Russel busied himself with plans on how exactly he was going to kill Ingo.

"Ball-and-chain!" he would quietly exclaim to himself, "No no… it's been done."

"Oh, flay him open with my knife!" he would continue, caressing the handle of his dagger, but quickly finished, "No no… would take too long."

His companion, Captain Viscern, remained silent and carefully scanned the horizon as the four traveled. Link was not sure what to make of him. Russel was loud and intimidating, but Viscern seemed quiet and calculating, thoughtful and not easily moved to emotion. The more the squire studied him, the more he realized he was reminded of the Deku Tree.

After a few hours ride, a small village appeared in the distance ahead of them.

"Deya." Said Viscern as Russel shook himself from his bloody plotting and looked to Alfon.

"Shall we stop m'lord? Save the rations?" he asked hopefully.

"No." Answered the knight, "if we are recognized, our stealth will be lost. We are just scouts, heading to Necluda, let's keep it that way."

He kicked his horse to a trot and directed Link to pull his cloak tighter around him.

"I don't want you seen, at all, lad! Make sure it doesn't happen!" he instructed, as he pulled the hood of his cloak up and covered his hair and brow.

The squire did as he was told, and pulled the knight's cloak around himself – holding the edges to keep the wind from betraying him.

The village was small and rather quiet – even during this time of day. A few residents stayed behind to mind their homes and stores, but most had fled to Lake Hylia. The army remained confident that they could still protect this village, even at this distance from Lake Town, so Alfon allowed the more stubborn residents to stay.

As their horses trotted down the stone road, through the center of town, the young squire dared to open the tiniest gap between his master's cloak and his side, to peek out at the small houses and silent villagers. Most of the people ignored the soldiers – patrols were very common here - but a few took a shaky step towards the men.

"Apples here, sirs." One offered.

"Salted pork, m'lords." Came another.

"Oohh, Salted Pork!" exclaimed Russel, slowing his horse, but the marshal swiftly stopped him with a firm "No!" and waved the vendors aside.

Link's own stomach growled as they passed the far edge of the village and entered the open lands once again.

"A little salt pork would have been nice." He murmured up to his master.

"Hmm" Alfon grunted in response.

Thinking quickly, the squire continued, "He is right my lord, we could save our rations for the mission ahead… a-and we're far from the enemy now as it is! They would not smell our cooking down here."

When the knight did not immediately reply, Viscern softly interjected, "They would not recognize him, my lord."

Alfon's eyebrows lifted in confusion, "Who?" he asked.

"The boy. No one in the village would recognize him. We can make camp off the road there," he now pointed to a small grove of trees just south of the road, "and send your ward back for the food."

Russel's eyes lit up with renewed hope as his commander slowed his mount and came to a brief halt.

"I don't like the idea of sending him alone." Alfon muttered.

"I can do it my lord!" came the voice under his cloak, "Its only buying food!"

Russel nodded eagerly, Viscern inclined his head once, and Alfon thoughtfully stroked his short beard.

Scanning the sky, he finally answered, "We will have to make up the time tomorrow. No complaints!"

The soldiers quickly agreed and turned off the road toward the small grove. Under its boughs, they dismounted and began to set up their little camp. The snow was thinner here and the men quickly cleared out four small hollows for their bedrolls. As the two captains worked to light a small fire, Alfon handed a cast iron pot to his squire.

"Some salt pork and a few apples." He instructed, "Do not waste time! And speak to only those you must. And do not mention anything of our mission!"

With a handful of rupees dropped into his pouch, Link quickly trotted back down the road toward Deya. He had pressed his lord for this little mission, not only for his own hunger, but also for the chance to do something for the two captains. Viscern was quiet, but Russel had already made it plain that he didn't like the boy. Maybe, he would change his mind, and appreciate having him around if Link did this for them.

~Back at the camp~

Once the boy was out of sight, Alfon's two captains began to question him about his squire.

"Forgive me, my lord," began Viscern, "But are you certain it is wise to bring him? The slightest sound on a mission like this-"

"The pup will get us killed!" barked Russel over his friend.

The marshal stared into the small flames of their growing fire and thought carefully before answering.

"He is young… but every young soldier must face his duty at some time or another. Even 'pups' must leave the den and learn to hunt on their own."

But the two could see the doubt in his eyes and, after a few moments, the young scout spoke again, "You didn't want to bring him… but you felt you must?"

The great knight continued to stare down into the fire. His eyes seemed unfocused and lost in his own thoughts.

"She told me to bring him." He muttered after a few moments.

Evening, January 24, 610 GK, The War of Imprisonment, Day 192

Secluded camp, South Central Hyrule

Link gradually made his way off the road once again, headed down to the little grove, just as the last of the sun's light turned upwards into the clouds above. The cold air was making his nose run and his hands were shaking and sore from the heavy weight of the iron pot Alfon had given him.

Inside, it now carried several pounds of delicious salted pork. In addition, two large burlap sacks, tied about his shoulders, contained a dozen fat - if a little wrinkled - apples and two large loaves of bread.

Tucked into the breast of his tunic, he had hidden two bottles of wine, which the apple vendor had also offered. The old man was shocked at first when the boy pointed to the bottles, but Link explained that 'his captain's birthday' was coming very soon, and the squire wanted a gift for him.

In truth, the boy was hoping to keep the bottles a secret until after the men had eaten their dinner, then draw them out as a clever surprise. Trudging through the snow and the small underbrush ringing their camp, he found his three companions talking quietly around the fire.

"The mighty hunter returns." Said Viscern softly.

"About damned time!" growled Russel, "Starving here! Come on piglet! Drop that meat in the fire already!"

The squire hesitated for a moment, staring at him in disbelief. He had expected the captain to be more thankful for his effort - talking his master into allowing the meal for the night.

"Quit gawping at me and move your ass!" shouted the captain, causing Alfon to flinch and scowl.

Within minutes, the delicious scent of the cooking meat wafted over their camp, sending a steady column of white smoke upwards until it disappeared in the breeze above the canopy. Link's master noted the bread and apples with approval, but turned a disappointed frown on the boy when he learned that none of his rupees made the return journey.

"You spent… fifty rupees… on pork, bread, and apples boy?!" he asked.

The squire slowly moved his arm to better conceal the bottles still under his tunic.

"I… uh… just paid what the man wanted… sir." He answered cautiously.

"HA! The piglet can't even keep himself from being taken by a vendor!" laughed Russel cruelly.

"ENOUGH!" bellowed the knight, who was rather sore about losing so much money for only one meal.

Turning back to his ward, he frowned darkly and asked, "Are you sure you don't have any of my rupees left lad? Don't make me search your pack!"

Cornered and unable to think of any way to escape, Link lowered his eyes to the ground and drew out the two bottles of wine. The orange firelight danced off the green glass and scattered a colorful pattern upon the snow around them.

"What… is that?!" the marshal asked – anger rising in his voice.

"I-I thought-" the boy began, but was cut off by Russel – who dashed forward and ripped the bottles out of his hands.

"You thought WHAT?" he shouted, "Thought you could use your lord's money for a little fun?!"

"N-no!" cried Link in return, "I-I just w-wanted… wanted to surprise you!"

The captain glared down at the boy with a terrifying look in his eyes. Alfon merely scowled with a red face – considering how he would have to punish the boy. But Viscern remained silent, sitting beside the fire and calmly studying the boy.

After a few seconds of tense silence, he muttered, "Link," and the squire quickly turned to look at him. The scout squinted suspiciously for a moment, then returned his gaze to the fire.

"He's speaking the truth my lord. He meant it as a gift."

The marshal glanced at him, then back to his ward. The furious scowl remained, but some of the red had faded from his face.

"You are never -ever- to spend my rupees on anything other than what I specifically command you to buy! Do you understand me?!" He barked.

Link simply nodded to him then returned to looking at his lap. His throat was choked tight - first with fear at being punished, then with angry embarrassment at how they seemed to pounce on his mistakes.

For the rest of the night, he remained silent; eating his dinner without saying a word and drawing his cloak and blanket over himself to sleep. That hard stone of pain in his stomach slowly returned.

"Why do they hate me?" he bitterly wondered as he fought to keep his tears at bay.

After he had laid quiet for several minutes, Alfon assumed that he had fallen asleep and quietly spoke with his men.

"You could be a little nicer to my ward, old dog." He muttered to Russel.

The veteran simply grunted in return, "Pup's soft. Needs to be tempered up quickly or he'll die." And continued to chew on the smoking pork on his plate.

"But every good smith knows: try to temper the steel too quickly and it will shatter. He could learn a lot from you, if you'd let him." Alfon countered.

Link listened to them quietly talk for several hours. From what he gathered, Russel was an experienced infantry captain from Hyrule's eastern garrison and a brilliant melee fighter. He had been in the army for longer than Alfon but "Never cared for much rank beyond captain. Less killing after that."

Viscern had spent many years among the sheikah, learning the arts of stealth and ambush. The marshal commented that he was likely the most skilled scout and assassin outside of Kakariko – save for Impa of course.

After mentioning their regent, the two officers pushed for details about the kingdom's government and the care of Princess Zelda.

"The minister is doing what she can – she has had a lot thrust upon her that she never expected to handle." Alfon explained.

"And her highness, my lord?" inquired Viscern quietly, as Russel popped the cork from the first bottle of wine.

"Mmmm," he groaned with satisfaction after a long drink, "Smooth! A drink my lord?" he offered before Alfon answered, "The princess is a child – a lost orphan now. We should all do what we can to help her. Thank you, Russel."

The bitterness in the boy's heart swelled. Pity and compassion were heaped upon the girl that ordered his home and family to be destroyed, while he was regarded as nothing more than a "piglet" or "pup."

Now that they were enjoying the wine that he had only so recently been admonished for, he hated himself for thinking of the gift and hoped that they would choke on it. (At least… just a little bit.)