A/N: I own nothing except a copy of this great game.
Ishaka had returned late in the night, long after the last light of day had slipped behind the mountainous horizon, and brought with him many villagers.
Well, at first Impa thought that there were many of them, considering the initial surge of shabby-looking souls walking behind the Ravager leader, but after a few moments her hopes began to sink. There were maybe a few dozen people that weren't Ravagers that had come down from the mountains. The rest were either dead or had long since fled off. Ishaka insisted that the settler families stay close to the bonfire in the center of the town, as most of them hadn't been able to build fires in the mountains for fear of giving their position away.
They seemed grateful if slightly suspicious to see Hyrulian soldiers in their land, and it was not long before the youngest of them fell asleep. They were all tired, ragged-looking, and clearly malnourished. Impa tried not to think about what would have happened to them if she and the soldiers had arrived a few weeks later. She was impressed with the tenacity of Ishaka and his "Ravagers," but tenacity only goes so far on an empty stomach. Some of her soldiers offered their rations to the youngest children, and the parents seemed grateful, if silent out of suspicion.
"I see some a' yer soldiers slippin' the kids choc'late." Ishaka said. He'd come up beside Impa a few moments before, his silence unbefitting a man of his large stature. Impa had been trained far too long and far too much to be surprised by the silence of a compatriot, but she…noticed his elusiveness. Perhaps this explained how he had survived so long without any help in these mountains.
"We will break for Hyrule and the castle at first light." Impa said. "Do you know what kind of pace these villagers can make? I will not lose any of them due to my over-exertion of them."
"You worry too much." Ishaka said. "They be too 'xcited by the prospect o' food and drink an' shelter ta care 'bout jes' how long it'll take. 'ell, I'd a' figure they'd walk a mile in broken glass ta get out a' here."
"I am not sure that that would be best for them." Impa said, wrinkling her nose. Ishaka had taken out a pipe again, and chuckled as he lit it up.
"And I'm jes' as sure that you need'a learn'a hyperbole, Sheikah. Never und'restimate des'pration in people." He said. Impa nodded.
"A fair point. The villagers will stay within a protective circle of my best soldiers. We will keep them safe." She said. Ishaka nodded.
"Fair 'nough. I'll have my boys traipsin' 'round th' perim'ter a' yer little circle. Any Moblins tryna getcha? We'll get 'em first." He said.
"You are awfully receptive to our offers of help." Impa said. "Most…native people are not as friendly to Hyrule." She chose her words carefully there, not wanting to offend the Ravager captain with the wrong choice of words. Words like "barbarian" or "outlander" or "filthy savages" (that last one, said by one particularly clueless nobleman in Zelda's court, had nearly resulted in Impa shedding blood in the throne room. No one would have condemned her if she'd followed through) came to mind. Ishaka seemed to sense this inner turmoil, and just chuckled drily.
"Doncha worry, Shiekah. Me 'n the boys ain't gonna get dirt on th' carpet. Yer princess will find us…pro'ply trained. Like good doggies." He cackled a little bit, and then took a puff from his pipe.
"Be that as it may, I thank you for your willingness to listen to our case." Impa said.
"Yer actin' like I'm doin' this cuz I'm a big ol' softie." Ishaka said. "I jus' want my ten rupees!" He laughed again, and then excused himself for the night. Impa watched him saunter off into one of the tensts that the Ravagers had appropriated, and then turned in for the night herself.
Though the goings were slow, Impa thanked the Goddesses that there was no action during the return trip to Hyrule Castle. She had sent a runner ahead of the advancing attachment to notify the princess of her impending return, and that they brought with them refugees from the south. Hopefully, by the time that they arrived, there would be some semblance of a refugee camp for these villagers when they arrived.
The villagers all walked at a steady pace, and did not complain one bit during the trek. The most they asked for was for the youngest of their number (and the sick) to ride on some of the horses when they got tired, and if the Hyrulian soldiers were miffed at having to walk every now and then, they werent showing it. Even Captain Weylon seemed not to mind relinquishing his trusted steed so that a dirty-faced girl no older than five could sit on it for a little bit.
The Ravagers were scattered out and about and around the Hyrulian rank and file. From an aerial view, Impa imagined that they looked like flies swarming a carcass. No rhyme or reason to their movement, yet all the same they had a singular goal: protection. She did not mind that. Though she wondered what would happen if a battle were to break out. She had yet to see these Ravagers fight; it seemed unlikely that they would hold up, considering their woefully underequipped weaponry. In fact, some of them seemed as if they were going to war with nothing more than their bare fists! Admittedly, these were the largest of the Ravager numbers, but the fact remained that an "army" without weapons was not an army conducive to success.
Ishaka had snaked his way through the Hyrulian shield wall, and found himself walking beside Impa atop her horse.
"We close to th' castle?" Ishaka asked.
"Just over these hills." Impa gestured. They'd been marching for a little over two days now, and Impa was starting to feel the strain of lack of sleep and bathing set in. Even a hardcore warrior like her enjoyed a good dip in the river every now and then. She imagined that she looked as dusty and unkempt as Ishaka at this point.
"Fair 'nough. Just give me a heads up when y'all can see it." Ishaka said. He disappeared back out into the crowd of Ravagers outside before she could say anything.
After about twenty minutes more of marching, they reached the top of a hill crest to see Hyrule Castle in all of its glory.
Ancient stone and marble and other precious material made up this hallowed place, with spires going so high that from a distance it would appear that they scratched the clouds. Appearances were deceiving, Impa knew. After all, it was a perspective trick to make it seem like the castle was bigger (and thus more deadly) than it actually was. The first builders of the castle and the surrounding town had recognized that, and utilized it to scare off and psyche out all but the bravest (and craziest) of invaders.
"There it is." Impa said, loud enough so that Ishaka could hopefully hear. "There is your refuge." She took delight in the relieved looks in the eyes of the villagers. This was precisely what kept her going when the days got rough: helping others.
She suddenly heard someone whistling. It was Ishaka, who had fallen in step directly behind the Hyrulian line. Slowly but surely, the Ravagers fell into place behind him, forming a two-by-two column of people. Two people wide, and many deep, the column looked rather intimidating. It also looked vaguely professional.
Impa was impressed. These Ravagers clearly did not want to make a bad impression on the princess.
Eventually, they reached the walled entrance to Castle Town. There was a cry from high atop the ramparts, and soon the drawbridge was lowered so that the long line of folks could cross over the moat. Impa made sure that she was at the very front of the line, so as to assuage the gawking citizens inside that all was indeed well.
There was a marked difference between the Hyrulian villagers and the scared settlers to the south. The Hyrulians looked cleaner and well-fed and seemed to be dressed with some semblance of pride. They were gawking rather badly at the settlers, and Impa could feel their embarassment behind her.
"Captain!" She barked. Weylon rode up alongside her.
"Ma'am?" He inquired. With her shoulder, Impa gestured towards the growing crowd.
"Crowd control. No need to embarrass our new friends." She said. Weylon nodded, and began barking out orders.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please keep a safe distance! There's nothing to see here. Return to your homes…"
She could see him conversing with some of the more curious townsfolk, though they weren't talking loud enough for her to hear. She hoped that he was using tact. In conversing with townsfolk, Weylon had a rather unfortunate tendency to be brutally honest. Impa did not mind this, but Zelda had spent more than enough time lecturing her on "politically expedient language" or some such nonsense. Impa knew that the princess hated having to spit out this overwrought nonsense just as much as Impa hated hearing it.
Goddesses, her ascension to the Queenhood could not come fast enough. Impa relished the chance to stroll around the halls of the castle unbothered by insipid noblemen who continually confused her with some rabble off of the streets.
She glanced ahead of the pack, and saw a member of the Royal Guard* waiting for her. Impa recognized this one. She had been the one to personally knight him to the role.
"Milady Impa." He said in that perfectly polite language that all Royal Guards used. "The princess requests your presence, as well as the presence of the leader of your new 'ally,' as she put it."
"Understood, Gawain." Impa said. "And what of the settlers?" She asked. The Royal Guardsman did not break expression.
"They are allowed to stay on the courtyard in the meantime, until something is decided for their future living arrangement." This drew a surprised glance from Impa. The Royal Courtyard? Well, it was certainly big enough for the settlers, but how on earth had they allowed that? She asked this very question.
There was a twinkle in Sir Gawain's eye, and Impa couldn't help but smile as his professional façade gave way to the cocky young man who'd once been arrested for stealing from the royal wine cellar and negotiated a position into the Corsairs* in lieu of a jail term.
"The princess negotiated the deal, milady. It was met with…a reaction." He said. Anything more, and he'd start laughing. Impa nodded.
"Understood, Sir. Thank you for the information. I will leave it to you to let the settlers get comfortable on the courtyard, and shall take my leave. It shall give you a chance to finally laugh, so that you do not break a rib holding it in." She said with a wink.
Gawain's chest heaved momentarily, as if stifling a guffaw. He weakly managed a "Yes, milady" before beginning to corral the settlers towards the Royal courtyard. Impa called for Ishaka to follow her towards the castle, leaving his Ravagers behind.
"I don't like bein' parted from my brothers and sisters. You sure they all right?" Ishaka asked. Impa nodded.
"I assure you, Ishaka. Royal Guardsman Gawain is the one man I would trust to properly interact with your men and women and not start an incident." She said. Ishaka grinned, his golden tooth cap gleaming in the sunlight.
"He hold 'is liquor well, I take it?" He asked. Impa smirked.
"Tried stealing some of ours." She replied. Ishaka howled with laughter after a brief moment of stunned silence, before quieting himself as the duo entered the castle.
Impa nodded to the two Royal Guardsmen manning the door, and led Ishaka through the main hallway. She could tell that the Ravager had never seen anything like this place before. He'd gone silent, and out of the corner of her eye she could see him gawking like a little babe watching Goron fireworks for the first time.
They reached a large, mahogany door. The ornate carvings in it showcased a facsimile of the princess, as well as a clear and pronounced carving of the Royal Family Crest and that of the Triforce woven into it. Impa turned towards Ishaka and stared at him intently.
"Listen, Ishaka. I have alluded to the princess' hospitality, but that does not give you a free excuse to act as…an uncouth." She said flatly. Ishaka nodded, choosing to pass on a free and easy joke. "Speak when spoken too, mind your manners as best as you can, and for Goddesses' sake do not let the more…stubborn nobles bother you." She finished.
"Understood, Sheikah. Les'go see if'n yer princess is all that." He said.
Impa opened the door.
The throne room was much more spacious than Ishaka had imagined. Marble, limestone, and stained glass windows. It was the kind of place he read of in storybooks. Except now here he was in person. He glanced at his shabby appearance, and thanked the Goddesses that he remembered to tie his beard and shaggy hair. He looked…presentable, but nonetheless felt downright dirty in this clean place.
Beside him, Impa bowed reverently.
"Your highness, we have returned."
Ishaka noticed her bowing, and quickly matched the move with a subtle little nod of his head as well.
Princess Zelda was dressed in her full regalia this morning. A glittering tiara and necklace adorned her, and her dress was immaculate. Ishaka didn't know what to say. She was every bit as beautiful and fair as the stories said. She turned her piercing yet warm eyes towards him, and smiled softly.
"Welcome to Hyrule, good sir. And to whom do I owe the pleasure of adressing?"
Ishaka, to his credit, at least managed to form a proper sentence.
"I-Ishaka, yer highness. M'name's Ishaka." He finished. Zelda looked slightly curious.
"Do you not carry a last name?" She asked. Ishaka sighed, shaking his head.
"No, ma'am. I be alone*." He said. Zelda nodded sympathetically.
"I see. And I offer my condolences." She said. Off to the side, there was the sound of a clearing of a throat. Ishaka turned to see that on one side of the throne room there were several stone chairs, each with a man (or, much less frequently, a woman) sitting in high regalia. The same number of chairs were on the other side. There were six on each side, and twelve in total.
"If I may be so bold, your highness," the coughing noble began. He was a short and plump man, with a bushy white mustache and eyebrows to go with it. His monocle was held in by an impressively furrowed brow. "When did we start allowing common folk into your throne room, barring a ceremony?" Zelda darted her eyes over to the offending noblemen, and her tone was that of a mother calmly addressing a pouty child.
"Patience, Lord Fawlty. All shall be revealed in due time. And that is no way to treat a guest of the Royal Palace, is it?" She asked. Lord Fawlty harrumphed, and fell silent. One of the other noblemen, sitting on the other side and across from Fawlty, spoke next.
"You look as though you've travelled a long way. Where do you hail?" This man was long and lean, with a pleasant countenance. He was in his early fifties, yet still possessed a healthy amount of hair that hadn't begun graying yet. Lord Grantham was one of Zelda's favorite noblemen for his reasonable approach to dealing with issues, and it was a very poorly-kept secret that she meant to name him minister of Hyrule's interior at the moment of her coronation. A poorly-kept secret, in that everyone knew of her intentions…except Lord Grantham.
"From the southwest, sir." Ishaka said. "Th' Valley a' th' Damned." Impa winced. Ishaka might call it by his slang and think nothing of it, but that did not mean that the noblemen were familiar with the term. And curse words were one of the fastest ways to offend nobility.
"Seems a harsh place. I am not familiar with it." One of the noblemen, a sickly looking man named Reedus, said. "What makes it Damned?"
"…The rabble within…" Lord Fawlty muttered under his breath.
"Lord Fawlty." Princess Zelda warned, her tone never rising above normal speaking levels. She looked again at Ishaka. "I imagine that you refer to the Souhern Vale, yes?"
"Yes'm. That's th' place. We don' call it that, though." Ishaka said. "At leas', not since th' raids started."
"Forgive me for my bluntness, but are raids not common already in your territory?" Lord Reedus asked. Ishaka shrugged.
"We're a rough 'n tumble place, yeah. Don't mean that we ask fer Moblins ta come in and kill people."
"Is it as bad as we fear?" The princess asked. Ishaka shrugged again.
"Depends on yer def'nition a' bad. It ain't good, tha's fer sure."
"I understand that you brought with you refugees from the Southern Vale." Zelda said. "I promise you that they will be treated well, as long as you need to stay." She sent a preemptive warning glance towards Lord Fawlty, as if daring the man to say something offensive. Wisely, the old noble held his tongue. Zelda turned back towards Ishaka. "I imagine that you and your travelling companions are worn from your journey here. Take this time to rest them well. You are safe within our walls."
Ishaka nodded.
"Thank ya fer yer court'sy, yer highness. We ain't too messy." He offered. Zelda smiled slightly, but Ishaka was able to notice it. Lord Grantham cleared his throat.
"As good as it is to have some more bodies within the kingdom, the issue of the Sorceress to the North remains to be dealt with. Perhaps our…friend here could offer some insight?" He turned towards Ishaka. "My apologies, friend. I do not know what to call you." He admitted. Ishaka grinned, flashing his golden tooth cap.
"Call me Ishaka. I don't got a people. Jes' got me. There ain't no thing like me, 'cept me!" He said. Lord Grantham hid a smile behind his hand. Zelda nodded.
"Then I think that for now this meeting is adjourned. I would like Lord Grantham, Impa, our friend Ishaka, and General Tiberius to stay here. We have manners to discuss."
The noblemen and women that were not named by the princess bowed, and took their leave. While most of them put on a polite smile as they passed by, Lord Fawlty was the only one that outright refused to make eye contact with the Ravager leader. As soon as the doors closed, Ishaka's eyes narrowed.
"That Fawlty guy's a jackass." He growled. His eyes widened in shock as he realized he had spoken out loud. Impa looked horrified. Thankfully for both of them, Zelda was clearly trying not to smile.
"He does have…a rather blunt manner. Hardly politically savvy at times, I fear." She admitted. Lord Grantham rolled his eyes.
"The man is only where he is because of his family's importance in building the walls of this city, hundreds of years ago." He muttered. "If ever there were the epitome of money buying power, he would be it."
"Ach, but when the time comes for the adults to talk, we shoo him out with the rest of the children." The man Ishaka assumed was Lord Tiberius spoke. He was an unassuming man, with a caesarean haircut and pronounced bags under his eyes. Ishaka could tell just from looking at him that this was the much-beleaguered Hyrulian Lord of War. He had brilliant red hair and a face full of freckles, but even despite his worn appearance the man looked sharp as steel. It was in his eyes. They were the eyes of a predator. A true military leader.
"I do not believe that we've met. I am Lord Justinian Tiberius." Lord Tiberius extended a handshake towards Ishaka. Ishaka gripped his hand, only for Tiberius to pull him in closer. "If you dishonor me, I shall burn you to ash."
"Peace, Justinian." Zelda rolled her eyes. "Ishaka is not someone to be fooled by your false bravado."
"I can see that." Tiberius said with a smile. "It's just that you can never be too careful measuring the fortitude of your allies." Ishaka nodded.
"Charmed, gen'ral." He said.
Zelda got up from her throne, and walked over to a table nearby. A map of Hyrule and its surrounding provinces was splayed across the top. Pieces representing Hyrulian armies and the armies of the Sorceror to the North were scattered across the map. Ishaka had heard elders in the villages to the south deride the treatment of war as a game. He bit his tongue at the sight of this display.
"The Sorceror moved her armies around and beneath Hyrule." Tiberius began, pointing from the point on the map indicating the Valley of the Seers and tracing his finger down and around towards the Southern Vale. "Yet despite all evidence that they had little trouble going through there, they have yet to attack from these mountains." He said, perplexed. "Any general worth his or her salt would seek to capitalize on a pincer movement like this."
"Yer und'rest'matin' th' mountains." Ishaka said. "One Ravager is good 'nough to lure a platoon o' Moblins up in 'em…and then kill 'em all." At this Tiberius looked perplexed.
"Via swordplay? Ridiculous." He said.
"'Smore than one way 'a skin a cat." Ishaka said. "'Smore than one way 'a kill'a man." He said. "It ain't too easy balancin' up in them mountains, if'n ya catch my drift."
Tiberius nodded. Grantham raised an eyebrow.
"Hardly what one would call conventional warfare." He said. Ishaka shrugged.
"Convention ain't shit 'gainst a rockslide." Ishaka said. "We fightin' fer our lives. Reg'lations go out th' window." He said. "Pardon my tongue, yer highness." He said, looking at the princess and her slightly blushed cheeks. Impa's eyes were as big as dinner plates. Did this Ravager have no concept of courtesy? Zelda, to her credit, took it in stride.
"I can sympathize with your plight. It truly seems desperate, and you are to be commended for holding out as long as you have. But now you have Hyrulian help. Things will be better. I promise." She said. Ishaka raised an eyebrow.
"Yer off'rin' ta help us?" He asked. Zelda nodded.
"A good ruler extends her hand towards all within her reach. You and the settlers, as well as the Ravagers, are no exception. You have no quarrel with us it seems, and we have no quarrel with you. An alliance seems all but a formality at this point." Ishaka seemed to ponder her words. Impa thought he was taking too long for her liking.
"You are not being asked to be taken into Hyrule. It is simply two entities bonding together against a common cause. Then we shall leave you and your settlers to return to the Southern Vale."
"T'ain't fer me, Sheikah." Ishaka said. "I ain't the one whose home's bein' wrecked. I ain't got no home 'cept th' one I make. Ain't got no family other than my Ravagers. It's them settl'rs, th' ones that ain't got a fightin' chance, that I been fightin' fer. If'n yer gonna help us against that Sorceress an' her army…I can take yeh up on it." He said. "We Ravagers will fight with ya." He said to the princess. Zelda smiled warmly.
"Your words fill me with happiness. Perhaps with another ally in our midst we can work to break the hold that the Sorceress holds on much of the land." She said. Her next glance was towards Lord Tiberius. "What would make for our next best course of action?" She asked. Lord Tiberius gestured towards the western edge of the map.
"The Gorons have been complaining of Bulblin incursions to the foot of their mountains for weeks now. We hadn't been able to truly send them any troops without weakening the defense of the keep…but…" he looked up at Ishaka. The Ravager leader rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. Ya want me ta show y'all all how it's done. I getcha." He said. Tiberius frowned.
"I assure you that we are more than capable of handling the situation in tandem with your Ravagers." He said. Ishaka snorted.
"Yeh need ta see how we fight, Gen'ral, 'afore ya act like yer men ain't paper people." He said. "If'n we're gonna be allies, ya might wanna take some notes."
Tiberius looked a little red in the face, but he was silent. Lord Grantham chuckled.
"Justinian, he has a point. Hyrulian armor has always had trouble with the Goron mountains. These Ravagers seem relatively adept at unconventional warfare. Consider it an audition for their troops?" He asked. Lord Tiberius looked pensive for a moment. Then he sighed.
"You will have one shot for things to go your way. Otherwise, I order your entire army to retreat from the battle and the professionals shall take over." He said.
It was cold, but not altogether unsurprising considering the man. Tiberius was a man with decades of war experience both as a soldier and as a leader of men. If he had developed a stubborn reputation for what constituted successful warfare and what didn't, he could hardly be blamed. It was in his blood. Ishaka, to his credit, was receptive.
"Yeh won't need ta." He said with a wink.
"I think that is enough planning for now." Zelda said. "I imagine that Ishaka and his troops are tired and hungry. Edmund?" She turned towards Lord Grantham.
"Yes, your highness?"
"See to it that food is prepared to send out to the courtyard for the Ravagers and the refugees. Keep it simple; I do not want them to get sick." She glanced at Ishaka and then added one last tidbit. "Alcohol is allowed, but be swift to cut it off if things get…rowdy." She bowed, and took her leave. Grantham followed right behind her, discussing the finer points of her orders. Tiberius exited as well, no doubt headed towards the barracks to start drawing up plans for the upcoming attack.
That left Impa and Ishaka remaining in the throne room. They looked at each other. Impa put her hands on her hips, a smirk curling on her lips. Growling something undecipherable and unprintable, Ishaka rummaged through his pockets until he found a small little pouch.
He was gonna miss those ten rupees.
HYLIAN CODEX
Royal Guard – The Royal Guard of Hyrule are considered the cream of the crop, and is a position of much prestige. They are distinguished by their impeccably shined armor, as well as sashes of red and blue draped across their shoulders during duty. These are the soldiers who are only to guard the castle of Hyrule, and each takes an oath of total allegiance to the ruling regent. It takes years of training to be named a member of the guard, and the initiation process has become almost as mythical as the Guardsmens' devotion to the ruler: stories of lying on the shore as the tide comes in for hours on end to the point of near-hypothermia all to prove resilience, or of climbing the Goron Mountains in full armor to the summit of one of the peaks at a timed pace all give the Guardsmen their legendary reputation as Hyrule's best. The Guards Corps, to their credit, do nothing to dissuade these rumors. Royal Guardsmen are to maintain a stoic face at all times while on duty, allowing themselves not even a smile, and must speak in perfectly didactic Hylian as if everyone they speak to is their ruler. The washout rate is estimated to be around 90%.
Corsairs – For convicted criminals in Hyrule, the most common choices are either jailtime or even execution, depending on the severity of the crime. A much less-chosen option, though no less valid, is to join the Corsairs. For lack of a better purpose, the Corsairs are a military regiment intentionally shunted into the very worst battlefield conditions in order to relieve the Hyrulian ranks, or to accomplish the missions that no Hyrulian general is crazy enough to sign off on. As they are convicted criminals, in theory the Corsairs cannot refuse such an order, as they have revoked their rights as citizens by committing their crimes. While some would see this as an inhumane practice of indentured servitude, many convicts opt for this program as it promises a complete expunging of one's criminal record upon the completion of a mandatory five-year tour of duty. Of course, that is assuming that a Corsair is able to survive the tour. Upon completion of duty, most Corsairs choose to stay in the Hyrulian army, or return to civilian life as respectable citizens. Records on Corsairs who relapse to a life of crime are scarce, not so much because they are hard to find but because the legion truly seems to impose a sort of order on these mens' (and some womens') lives. Not all criminals are eligible for the service, depending on their severity or depravity of their crimes.
"Carrying a last name" – Hyrulians typically refer to themselves on a full name basis when in a formal setting, especially when interacting with nobility. Thus, while his friends would know Talon as "Talon" or even "Farmer Talon," in a formal setting he would refer to himself as "Talon Crowfield." For a citizen to not take a last name implies one of two things: 1.) that the person in question is a runaway or refuses association with his/her family, or much more tragically 2.) the person in question is an orphan, and therefore has no family to speak of. Marrying into a family offers the opportunity to take upon a 'new' last name, though this is usually left to the discretion of the person in question.