Chapter 51: Comeuppance
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"If at all possible, I would hope to find some way to deal justice while allowing him to maintain his post as Captain of the Royal Guard," King Rhoam began. "He has served us well in that position for thirty years - to remove him now would, I fear, cause great disruption within the ranks of the Royal Guard. We can't afford to have that with the threat of the Calamity's return hanging over us."
General Hawkwood's gaze darkened. "For the past seventeen years, he has been occupied with other matters," he protested, nodding at Link. "He has spent more time on his special project than on maintaining leadership of the Guard. Sir Ardin, Sir Hanvorien, and Sir Groose have been much more involved in leading the Guard - Sir Groose in particular, over the past two months."
Rhoam winced. "In essence, you're saying that removing Janin would not harm the Royal Guard. We select one of those other three to take over as Captain, and Janin is… well, that's what we're deciding." He chewed his lip thoughtfully, his brow deeply furrowed. "What about public perception? Surely they'll begin to question the stability of the kingdom and their own safety - the Hylian Champion is publicly beaten, and then one of the highest-ranking officials in their government is removed? We can't afford to spread doubt among the people, either!"
"You should have considered that when you made the decision to make Link's punishment public," Hawkwood responded testily, raising an eyebrow. "It is, however, fortunate that your plan to humiliate him backfired completely. You gave hundreds of people the opportunity to witness his fortitude firsthand, and stories about his heroic acts the following night have spread like wildfire throughout the kingdom. He has what must be close to the full support of the kingdom. Very few doubt him now."
"But Janin -"
"Now would be the best time to remove him," the General interrupted. "When he delivered the punishment you decided on to Link, the people began to see him as a villain - a sentiment that was only strengthened after learning of Link's rescue of the Princess and witnessing his victory over Janin in battle, despite the odds against him. You'll find that many people already doubt him, and some wish to see him removed from his position."
Rhoam glared at him, but there was no malice in his gaze - only grim acceptance. "You have always performed excellently as my eyes and ears in the kingdom, Velvilen," he sighed. "Now I'm beginning to regret that. You've been waiting for this for years, haven't you? A chance to get Cassius out of the picture. I know how little you think of him."
Link shifted uncomfortably in his chair, looking furtively from the King to the General and back again, wondering why he hadn't been asked to leave. They're not paying me any attention - perhaps I should try to just slip out? Would the spell of concealment work here? But I don't have any deku powder on me…
Hawkwood's brow tightened. "I can't honestly say that I wouldn't be glad to see him gone," he admitted. "But you must at least concede that I kept my silence these long years. I made my concerns about his plan quite clear to you in the beginning, when he first asked permission to carry out his project, but once you allowed him to follow through with his plans I didn't say anything else about it."
"Until Link drew the Master Sword," Rhoam reminded him. "But… yes, you've certainly treated him graciously enough all these years, considering your personal feelings about his plans." He winced, as if pained by an invisible wound, and wearily rubbed his thumb in circles at his temple. "I… I'm sure it sounds as if I'm trying to protect him." He turned his gaze on Link at last. "That is wrong of me, and… I ask your forgiveness. His crimes are truly atrocious - if not for the bond of friendship that we share - that we shared - and his many years of service to the crown, I would sentence him to death. As it is, the situation is… difficult."
"So we won't have him killed, then," the General said gently, his features softening slightly in compassion for Rhoam's turmoil. "We'll deal him some other fate - but it must be just. He arranged the deaths of two hardworking, innovative citizens of Hyrule, and kidnapped their son. There is no way to truly compensate for crimes of that magnitude - we can't bring back the dead, or restore a lost childhood."
"So you believe he should be removed from his post?" Rhoam asked wearily, lifting his head to meet the General's gaze.
"I believe that would be a good place to start," Hawkwood confirmed, nodding and crossing his arms over his chest. "But there are other measures that must be taken, for Link's safety."
"Link's -!" Rhoam straightened in surprise, his eyes flying wide open incredulously. "Why in Farore's name would his safety be a concern with Janin?"
Hawkwood's expression remained as calm as ever in the face of Rhoam's shock. "Janin may have raised Link, but he doesn't care about him any more than he cares for a speck of dirt on his shoe," he answered, a hard edge darkening voice. Link couldn't help but feel himself shrivel a little on the inside, old pain awakening in his soul. The General couldn't have described it more accurately. "In recent months, his distaste has transformed into outright hatred. I would hope you remember how eager, how excited, he was when attempting to convince us that Link would make a suitable guard for your daughter."
Rhoam nodded slowly. "And how angry he was when we met to decide Link's punishment," he murmured.
"Exactly," Hawkwood grimaced. "Over the past several weeks, his fury has only grown. He was vilified for punishing Link, and only a few days later, lost to him in battle, even though he was uninjured and perfectly healthy."
Whereas I was not, Link finished inwardly, shuddering as he remembered the rage in Janin's gaze following his victory.
"During the interrogation that followed," the General continued, "he was quick to resort to violence when he didn't feel Link answered him suitably. I have since received reports that Janin has been far more irritable than usual, and more violent in his personal training sessions, completely destroying a practice dummy on one occasion, when he generally does not include those in his practicing."
Rhoam rested his head on a hand, propped up by his elbow on his desk. "You worry that upon finding out that he has lost his position - in no small part because of Link - he would take drastic action."
Hawkwood nodded gravely. "For Link's safety, he must be sent as far away as possible," he explained. "And soon."
Rhoam shook his head. "We must give him time to adjust to this news," he protested. "His methods might be… cruel… but I don't doubt that he has done everything in the name of fulfilling his duty to the kingdom."
"By having two innocent people killed?" the General pointed out skeptically, his brows furrowed. "We have found nails hidden in Link's mattress. A sharp shard of glass in a shoe. There is no proof that it was Janin, of course, but neither I nor my informants could think of anyone else with the motivation. If it was Yiga, they would try to kill him outright."
Link felt his heart pounding faster with each of the General's words; he couldn't help but stare at him. Goddesses above… if that's what he's willing to do behind my back, I don't want to know what he'd do if we came face to face.
"As… as soon as possible, then," Rhoam agreed reluctantly. His gaze slid to Link before resting on the General once more. "So Cassius will lose his position, and go… where, exactly?"
"Does he have land somewhere?" the General asked. "His life thus far has centered around violence - and he has more than enough blood on his hands. Perhaps sending him somewhere peaceful could change him for the better."
"Or it'll drive him over the edge," Rhoam muttered under his breath. "I'd prefer to find some way to keep him in the military. His years of service… I wouldn't feel right at all, casting him off like this. It would be a slap in the face to everything he's -"
"He killed my parents," Link interrupted quietly. "He didn't deal the final blow, but he killed them." The King and the General's eyes landed on him, and he felt his face begin to burn self-consciously, but he pressed forward. "Y-you said just a minute ago that if not for his service you'd have him killed. So wouldn't a slap in the face be merciful, then?"
Rhoam frowned glumly, and the General tilted his head to the side, nodding slowly. "A good point," he murmured. "You'd do well to put it that way when you tell him, my King."
"You're right, as always," Rhoam groaned, once again leaning his head on his hand. "As I recall, he owns a house in Hateno. But… I honestly can't remember the last time he visited. It might still be there, or it might not - I don't know."
Link imagined, for one hateful moment, Janin leaning against a tree in the middle of the wilderness, dressed in rags, shivering - the exact fate he had feared for himself before winning the battle in the Sanctum.
He deserves it, he thought darkly. He killed my family, traumatized me, and forced me into a life I didn't want. He deserves the fate he wanted me to have if I lost.
He felt nothing but hate and disgust for the man. And the pain of the wounds he had torn - in his heart and soul, not just his back - and the sting of his betrayal had yet to fade. But in imagining Janin suffering, beneath the cold burn of hatred through his veins, he felt a sick, slimy stirring of guilt and shame. It's not right. I… I don't have the right to do or want something like this for someone else, especially since I wouldn't want it for myself.
He let out a deep breath through his nose and looked back up at the King shuffling the papers on his desk. "What about a compromise?" he suggested softly. "Janin loses his position as Captain of the Royal Guard and is sent to some far away outpost as a common guard."
General Hawkwood settled his hand once again on Link's shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. His dark gaze betrayed surprise and a glint of pride. "I would support this course of action," he said, looking up to regard the King. "You wouldn't entirely lose his support in the military. At the same time, he is rightfully dishonored, demoted, and exiled - of a sort."
Rhoam nodded in grim acceptance. His gaze, guarded, settled on Link. "That's… that's twice now that you've added a tidbit of wisdom to our discussion," he admitted grudgingly. "I'm beginning to think we'd better come to a decision soon, or I'll end up with all my doubts about you assuaged."
Link frowned, the corners of his lips tightening. It was obvious to him that the King was attempting to compensate for his past fury, but it wasn't enough to erase the memory of Zelda's head snapping to the side from the force of her father's hand. It'll take a lot more than this for me to forgive you - if not for my sake, for Zelda's, he thought.
"So," Rhoam said, clearing his throat, "we'll send him to a distant outpost. Velvilen, this is your area of expertise - which would benefit most from his experience?"
Hawkwood scratched his chin. He furrowed his brow in deep thought, his eyes losing their focus for a moment. "Well… Tabantha Village is always in need of fresh guards. The people are tough, but peaceful… Now with increasing monster activity across the kingdom, they would make good use of someone with Janin's skills."
"It's settled, then," the King sighed, sinking a little in his chair. "If you have no objections, I'll… I'll give him the choice between continuing his service in Tabantha or returning to Hateno. You had him summoned here?"
Link tensed. Summoned? So Janin is the other person the General summoned?
Hawkwood nodded, confirming his fears. "He should be waiting outside by now. Probably pacing, if I know him at all."
Rhoam leaned back in his chair, rubbing a tired hand over his eyes. "Let's bring him in, then."
Link swallowed thickly, watching carefully as the General strode to the door and pushed it open. His breath caught in his throat - sure enough, Janin was outside, his features drawn and pale and not a little anxious. But upon noticing Link, his lip curled and his squared shoulders relaxed. "What has he done this time?" he asked curtly, turning his sharp gaze to the King.
"At the moment we're more concerned with what's happened to him," Rhoam said quietly, avoiding Janin's gaze. "Would you mind telling us again how you came to hold guardianship over him?"
Janin hesitated, a flitting look of utter panic spasming across his face before his features settled into his usual cold expression. "I was patrolling the Drenan Highlands," he began calmly. "We had received reports of increased monster activity in the area and so, with your permission, I went to investigate. The Highlands were calm, but I could hear the cries of monsters in battle and followed them to Thyphlo Ruins. By the time I arrived the woods were silent, and just inside I found an overturned cart with two dead Hylians and their son, miraculously alive - and surrounded by the bodies of slain lizalfos. Seeing as he was clearly an orphan, and showed promise, I made the decision to train him as part of my special project."
The General raised an eyebrow, his eyes burning with cold malice. "And how did those two Hylians end up in those Ruins in the first place?"
Janin's face paled drastically and his eyes went wide. He forced a shrug and attempted a casual, innocent smile. "How would I know that? I found notes on the Zonai among their supplies, as you know, so I assumed they were scholars visiting the ruins to study them."
"Don't make this harder than it needs to be, Cassius," Rhoam murmured, grimacing. "For the sake of our long years of comradery, tell us the truth."
"Sir, that is the truth," Janin insisted, a note of fear tightening his voice. "I swear it - that's all there was to it! And I don't understand what you're upset about - if not for me, this boy would have died in those ruins! I saved his life!"
Link felt something surge to a frothing boil inside of him as he stared in rising horror at his former mentor. "'Saved' me?" he whispered. His hands tightened into fists. "'Saved' me?" He pushed himself to his feet, meeting Janin's eyes - the eyes of a cornered beast ready to fight. "You nearly destroyed me! You had my parents killed! You stole me so that I could be your - your test subject! They loved me, you said it yourself! And you never did! You never cared! And now you won't even admit what you did to them!"
Janin laughed, a pathetic, wheezing sound. "Clearly the boy's gone mad," he sputtered, glancing rapidly from Rhoam to Hawkwood. "T-to come up with such a story -"
A wave of emotion like none Link had ever felt rose up in his soul - a tidal wave of hopelessness, desperation, anger, and grief. With a roar he lunged at Janin, every muscle tight as a cord and thirsting for vengeance, only for the General's much stronger hands to clamp down on his arms, forcing them to his sides, holding him back. Link struggled for a moment, his eyes locked on to Janin's, strangely blurred before him. When the first tear fell down his cheek he felt the will to fight drain from his limbs and went still, bowing his head, pinching his eyes firmly shut in a futile effort to regain control of himself.
"There's no use pretending," Rhoam said gravely. "Cassisus, we know what really happened. For the safety of all parties involved, you don't get to know how we found out. Now… justice must be executed, and… and I must remind you that, were you anyone else and had done anything less for the sake of this kingdom, you would be sentenced to death. As it stands… I'm offering you a choice. Regardless, you will lose your position as Captain of the Royal Guard. However, you may now either return to your native Hateno, or continue to serve your kingdom as a soldier stationed in Tabantha Village."
Janin had been hanging on to the King's every word with a furrowed brow and widening eyes. When Rhoam fell silent, his shoulders sagged, and he lowered his gaze, a shameful red tinge coloring his cheeks. "I can't return to Hateno," he whispered, a catch in his voice. "I… I will not return home like this - in disgrace, a failure…" He shook his head, pressing his lips firmly together as he drew in what looked like a painful breath, his features scrunching in a grimace. "No. Everything - everything I've ever done, I've done for the sake of Hyrule and her people."
"You had two of them killed," the General reminded him, a dark note of anger coloring his voice.
"For the greater good!" Janin protested. "No one else would have worked for my plans. No one." He winced slightly. "As… as it is, I suppose he didn't work out after all, but he was the best I could find, and I certainly came close. Nonetheless - I will stand by my past actions, and I believe I did the right thing."
The right thing? Involuntarily Link struggled again, to no avail, against the General's unyielding iron grip, driven by an echo of the same emotions that had crashed through him before - fury, desperation, despair.
Janin eyed him warily, one foot shifting backwards, towards the door, as if in fear. Slowly he dragged his eyes back to the King and squared his shoulders. "I will continue to serve this kingdom in whichever way you see fit," he vowed. "Perhaps one day I might earn your pardon. Until then, I will defend Tabantha with my life."
Rhoam shook his head slowly, avoiding Janin's gaze. "It might be impossible for you to earn pardon, Cassius. You can't bring back the dead."
Something hard glinted in Janin's eyes for a moment - then it was gone, and he seemed diminished, with his shoulders sagging and his chin dropped nearly to his chest. "Regardless, I will exert my utmost efforts in Tabantha Village," he murmured sadly.
The King nodded at the door. "You may leave when you are ready. I… I don't want to make a fuss about this; the more quietly you depart, the better."
Janin nodded obediently, bringing his hands together at his waist and twisting them nervously. "If… if I may… who will be my replacement?" he asked meekly, deep hurt glimmering in his eyes alongside grim acceptance.
Rhoam and Hawkwood exchanged a glance. "We… hadn't yet decided," the King answered gruffly, rifling once more through the notes on his desk.
Janin swallowed audibly. "I would suggest Sir Groose," he said. "He's skilled, reliable, and outgoing, and he's well-liked among the Guard. Ardin is the most senior, but… but he, and the others, would learn to follow Groose's lead."
Link felt jolt as soon as he heard Groose's name, feeling a rising wave of panic bubbling up within him. Groose? Groose? He can't - he can't be the Captain of the Royal Guard! My Captain! He swallowed thickly, fighting back memories of darkness and bruises. Just like Janin to suggest someone like that!
Rhoam dipped his head graciously. "We will take that into consideration, Cassius," he murmured. He drew in a breath, as if about to say something, but hesitated, regarding Janin with deep regret. "...Thank you."
Janin nodded curtly, shuffling around and walking towards the door, slinking away much like a wounded dog.
He paused on the threshold, his gaze landing for the last time on Link, something indecipherable in his expression. Link met his eyes firmly, feeling his muscles tense once again, ready to spring into action, spurred by a rising wave of anger, and Janin at last broke away, letting the door fall closed behind him.
"Well," Rhoam sighed, "I've lost my Captain of the Royal Guard. And… and I suppose we really ought to find a replacement sooner rather than later. What do you think of his suggestion, Velvilen?"
The General released Link's arms at last, leaving him with a final encouraging pat on the shoulder. He frowned thoughtfully, his brow creasing. "Groose is… young. And I could see Ardin and Hanvorien making fine Captains as well."
"It's worth noting that Groose is a year older than you were when I made you my General," Rhoam reminded him testily, and Link's eyes went wide. He remembered Groose coming of age about five summers ago; he'd gotten so drunk his brother reportedly dragged him by the ankles all the way from Castle Town to the Royal Guard Chambers. Link - and most of the other guards - had been woken up in the middle of the night by Groose's drunken singing when they finally returned. I'm assuming the General was a bit more… responsible… at that age.
"Goddesses above, we haven't had to do this in so long," Rhoam muttered, massaging his temples. "I believe there are some old observation forms in the library; I'll have someone fetch them for you. Then… over the next week, if you would, you or a couple of your lieutenants need to spend some time observing them as they perform their duties. I'm hoping that you'll observe each of them at least once, and… bring Impa with you."
Hawkwood's brow creased. "Your Sheikah advisor? Why?"
"She's a bright young woman," Rhoam explained. "And extraordinarily observant."
The General cleared his throat. "Yes, my King. I'll… bring her along for my observations."
"Good," Rhoam mumbled. "Now, if both of you would excuse me, I must… take note of our decisions here today, and send these notes to the scribes, to be added to our records."
"Of course," Hawkwood said, turning towards the door. Link hurried after him, loathe to be left alone with the King.
The General faced him when the door closed behind them both, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "You're training with Impa now, aren't you?"
Link nodded, grimacing at the thought of returning to the old Hinox prison. Not now, when his heart felt raw, old wounds forcibly reopened.
"She has a good heart," the General assured him quietly. "It might not seem like it at first; she can be… intense. Don't let it remind you of the Captain."
Link nodded; he had come to his own similar conclusions about Impa by the end of his first day training with her. "Yes, Sir."
Hawkwood clapped him heartily on the shoulder. "Keep your chin up, lad."
Updated 7/8
