A/ N – Well, I'm excited about Golden Sun DS from E3. Plus Spirit Tracks. Anyways, I'll just warn you that this chapter is pretty long, but hopefully it'll be an exciting read. Enjoy Ch. 10! Next chapter coming soon. As always, thanks to those who read and especially to those who review!
Being well traveled, Rusl had seen Gorons before. Above all other races in Hyrule, they were known for their strength and proud nature. While the entirety of their hard body was composed of solid rock, an especially thick layer of stone covered their backside and provided a near impenetrable surface of protection. Their strength and hard exterior enabled long distance travel by curling up and rolling to their desired destination. Their earthly nature also provided resistance to the sweltering heat for their mining inside the volcanic Death Mountain. Several brave Gorons trekked the vast kingdom selling these gifts from the mountain, hoping to earn a living by luring potential buyers in such markets as Castle Town. For leisure, it was not uncommon for them to compete in wrestling matches to test their strength and skill against one another.
Despite what he knew about the proud race, Rusl found their tribal patriarch, Darbus, was in an entirely different class of his own. His enormous body was twice the size of an average Goron, brimming with strength in every stone that composed his being. Rusl figured he stood up to the rock giant's mid-stomach region at best. His face was identical to something found on a totem pole; square-shaped and etched into an angry expression. Extra thick boulders sat atop his shoulder blades while rock spires protruded from his knuckles all the way to his arms. His massive body was marked with tattoos, as was customary for all Gorons. His very presence inspired fear and demanded respect.
Ashei, Auru, Shad, Rusl, and a handful of scouts had been sent ahead to Death Mountain to assess the situation before the main army arrived. Auru was leader of the scouting mission, mostly because of his previous military experience and the amount of esteem he had acquired in the eyes of the Royal Family. Much to everyone's surprise, the scout troop found Darbus, the four Goron elders, and much of the Goron tribe awaiting their arrival in Kakariko Village, not Death Mountain.
Kakariko Village had seen its fair share of hard times, bordering on the brink of a ghost town just after Zant's invasion seven years ago. There were still signs of decay, such as the crumpling graveyard behind the village. However, Queen Zelda, in an effort to rebuild the settlement, offered benefits to those brave enough to leave Castle Town and resettle in the quiet village near the mountains. Now the village was bustling with construction and activity as carpenters and masons worked tirelessly to construct a town that rivaled that of the main city. The completed buildings gleaned with polish and smelled of fresh wood. The hot springs bubbled with tourist activity, and the original Malo Mart boomed with business selling mountain souvenirs and essential items. The denizens went about their daily business along the dirt road that ran through the center of town, dangerously naive to the conflict encroaching toward their peaceful village. They gave not so much as a passing thought to the large crowd of Gorons gathered outside the entrance to town. If they did, they showed no indication for fear of upsetting the denizens of Death Mountain.
Auru stepped boldly forward from amongst the crowd of scouts and approached Darbus. All eyes focused on the seasoned veteran as the two locked stares. The large Goron scrutinized the man as he approached, looking carefully for any signs of fear but finding none.
Satisfied, the tribal patriarch nodded and greeted the group of scouts. "I am Darbus, head of the Goron tribe. My brothers and I are grateful for your help." He looked around at the small group before him. "Surely our brothers in Hyrule sent more men than this."
Auru cleared his throat. "The group you see here was sent ahead to scout the situation. The rest of the army is on its way as we speak. I am Auru, the authority for the Hylian Royal Army until Captain Nadal and Lieutenant Geoffrey arrive."
One of the elders, Gor Coron, stepped beside Darbus. While not as big as the tribal patriarch, the village elder was still heavily built and quite fit. Two finely shaped rocks formed sideburns on his head, and tattoos colored his arms and chest. From his manner, it appeared he had been in charge at one point and now acted as an adviser to Darbus.
He whispered something in the patriarch's ear, which was met with a firm nod. Gor Coron then addressed Auru in a softer voice so that it was audible only to those in close proximity.
"I am Gor Coron, one of the village elders." He paused for a second. "We think it best if we discussed the present situation elsewhere. The village shaman has allowed us to meet in his house for the time being. We don't wish to alarm the villagers until we've figured out what to do."
Auru nodded in concurrence. "A wise idea," he said.
The war veteran beckoned for Rusl, Shad, and Ashei to follow him into the shaman's humble abode. He ordered the other soldiers to wait outside and notify him upon the Captain's arrival. As the four entered the large hut, they felt the curious gaze of the other three elders upon them. Rusl barely even noticed, figuring all would be explained once introductions were made. As if to put the elders at ease, Auru took the initiative.
"May I present to you my fellow companions: Ashei, Rusl, and Shad. Their input will be as valuable as my own in finding a solution to our problem." He pointed to each person with a wave of his hand as he mentioned their name.
"Very well," Gor Coron said. He nodded and pointed to the other elders. "I introduce to you our brothers: Gor Amato, Gor Ebizo, and Gor Liggs." Rusl looked at each elder as Gor Coron introduced them. He was amazed how all Gorons looked remarkably similar yet showed subtle differences. Gor Amato was the smallest and eldest Goron by far, and was huddled over with a cane. Small amounts of steam emerged from geysers on his head and back. Gor Ebizo had a long stone beard, and stood with the posture of a hunchback. A significant amount of "hair" covered his head for one as old as Gor Amato. Finally, Gor Liggs was skinny with a plethora of colorful tattoos, even for a Goron. Clearly the youngest of the four, he sat with legs crossed meditating on the dilemma at hand.
"Enough introductions," Darbus said. "We have no time to waste on formalities with puny humans." His foot tapped impatiently against the ground beneath him.
Everyone nodded in agreement. With time of the essence, Auru stabbed at the heart of the matter. He asked for the reason of the distress call, and why the Gorons were in the village instead of their mountain home. With shared looks of humility, Darbus and the four elders relayed the tale of their defeat, each adding their own commentary as necessary.
They spoke of how no one sensed the attack before it happened. The sudden assault of beasts from deep inside the mountain shocked the entire tribe like a lightning bolt on a clear day. With little chance to retaliate, the proud rock people felt it a higher priority to ensure the safety of the younger ones than stand and fight. They retreated down the mountain in anticipation of further help.
"Strangely, the monsters never pursued us," Gor Coron said as he concluded the account. "They stood still as statues while we left, staring at us like hawks as if they were waiting for something."
"Will they attack the village?" Auru inquired. His face was grim as he etched every detail into his memory.
"As inevitable as the harvest every autumn," Rusl said. His mind went back to the words of the Queen concerning her dream. He blinked a few times and continued his thought. "Why just stop with Death Mountain? I'm reckoning they'd take all Hyrule if we let them."
Everyone muttered in agreement.
"Then what about the villagers?" Shad asked. He clutched his book tightly. "It'd be impossible to evacuate everyone in time."
Initially, one elder voiced their opinion. Another soon interrupted. The room erupted into a heated debate. Plans were thrown around like cannon fire as each person advocated their own idea. The chaos was soon quelled and the room silent when the door was kicked open and a large man entered the room. Rusl and his friends all stood at attention.
Captain Nadal was not a man to be trifled with. Though not as big as Darbus, he was a six and a half foot giant loaded with muscle. He was covered in silver plate armor from the neck down, and had the Hylian phoenix emblazoned on his breastplate. Shaggy black hair ran down to the back of his neck. His matching black goatee contrasted sharply with his pale skin. His breath and body stunk of beer and sweat, but no one dared comment in his presence. His hand rubbed a large scratch across his face.
"Wretched beast," Nadal muttered to himself. "Should've killed the monster when it wasn't looking. Cursed wolf doesn't belong at a military meeting anyway."
A young soldier marched through the door and nearly ran into the large captain. He backed away cautiously and looked at Auru. "Sir, the Captain has arrived."
Auru scowled at him. "I know, soldier. Dismissed." The young man hurried out the door.
He shook his head in disgust and looked at Auru. "Report!"
Auru saluted and retold the Goron's account.
"And the final decision?" Nadal asked with eyebrows raised.
"Well, none yet, Captain." Auru said. He tensed slightly. It was odd to be addressing what had once been an inferior officer. He had once been the leading general of all of Hyrule's army, and Nadal had served as one of his lieutenants at the time. Brash, arrogant, and reckless, the wise old man never understood how his inferior officer had gained so much esteem in the army. Perhaps it was because Zelda left matters of the military to those with more experience.
"Useless bunch of women. How come you haven't thought of a plan yet?" Nadal mocked. His tone was bitter as a grapefruit, another of his well-known traits. Ashei bared her teeth and went to say something, but a sharp look from Auru silenced her comeback.
She wasn't the only one insulted. Darbus stepped in front of the Captain with his chest puffed and fists clenched. "We Gorons don't appreciate insults from puny humans. Perhaps you'd like to say that again."
A sly smile crept across the captain's face. He went to say something, but was interrupted when Geoffrey entered the meeting house.
"Captain! Renado and the other scouts have begun ushering the townsfolk into their homes. They've been ordered to remain indoors for their own safety. The main road is currently in the process of vacating. I await further orders, sir."
"You always were a diligent one," Nadal said. He turned back to Darbus. "Perhaps another time. It seems we have more pressing matters. Scouts further up the mountain have informed me the enemy is on the move. They approximate one hour until their arrival. Any suggestions? I doubt any of you are smart enough to think of one but I'll humor a response." Darbus backed off while Nadal looked around the silent room in pompous arrogance.
After a few moments, Ashei couldn't resist speaking. "Well, Captain, meet them here, yeah?" She paused for a second. "We can take them."
"And how do you suppose we do that?" Gor Coron objected, folding his arms in doubt.
"We really don't have a choice," Rusl said. "The Hylian Cavalry can't travel up Death Mountain. Their best chance would be to fight here on flat ground with the Gorons." He looked briefly at Darbus and the elders. "Plus, there're the cliffs on either side of the village. They'd make ideal positions for archers to shower the enemy. We have a terrain advantage; we should use it."
Nadal laughed smugly to himself. He walked uncomfortably close to Rusl and looked down on him with condescending eyes. "Well, isn't someone the little strategist? I suppose a country peasant like you would know the intricacies of war." He turned back around and faced the rest of the group. "So who, besides me, has a better plan?"
Auru folded his arms and looked at Nadal resolutely. "I think we should go with Rusl's idea. It's the best we've got on such short notice."
"Darbus agrees. I look forward to smashing those puny monsters between my powerful fists." The tribal patriarch squished imaginary monsters between his knuckles as the desire for vengeance burned within him.
"But what about the villagers? There'll be innocent casualties if we fight here," Shad objected.
"Looks like your plan is flawed, peasant." Nadal said quickly. He couldn't hide the smug smile on his lips.
"They'll just have to hold out!" Ashei broke in. "We don't have time to move equipment and soldiers. Besides, the villagers are already taking shelter."
"She's right," Gor Coron said. "The mountain is steep. Moving large amounts of supplies and soldiers costs too much time."
"Bruddas, what about Hyrule Field? There is plenty of open space and no worries of innocents." Gor Elizo spoke for the first time. Everyone murmured amongst themselves.
"Not a good idea," Gor Liggs countered, breaking out of his meditation. "The village would be undefended. What if they attacked here instead?"
The room was silent once again as the situation seemed to be at an impasse.
"With all due respect, Captain," Geoffrey broke the silence, "I still fail to see any reason why we cannot go with Rusl's idea. As far as military strategies go, his logic is solid. We'll just have to be vigilant to protect the villagers."
Captain Nadal's confident smirk faded to a distasteful scowl. He glared menacingly at Rusl before turning to Geoffrey. "Know your place, Lieutenant. This isn't your father's army anymore. While this discussion has been entertaining, don't forget that I am the captain. I am the authority of this army, and you will do as I say. We will confront the beasts on Death Mountain, butcher them, and return to Hyrule by nightfall for celebratory drinks. Geoffrey, those are my orders." The captain gritted his teeth but saluted and left to carry out his orders.
"But that's madness!" Rusl and Ashei protested. "You'll get us all killed!"
Captain Nadal brushed them off with a wave of his hand, not even bothering to listen to their objections.
Nadal turned back to Darbus and the elders. "If we intend to do this, your men had better be fighting with us on the front lines."
Darbus punched a fist to his chest. "Do not worry, Hylian captain. Gorons do not know the meaning of the word 'fear'." He motioned to the elders. "Come, brothers. We prepare for victory." They passed through the door single filed, leaving just the Resistance Group and Captain Nadal.
"I doubt that's the only word your rock-brained people don't know," Nadal remarked when he was sure they had all left. He turned to the resistance fighters and looked them over disinterestedly. "You're fortunate your reputation precedes you, Auru. I expect great things from you and your little group here."
"Just give us orders, and we'll be ready," Auru replied respectfully. His eyes didn't leave the captain's face.
"Obedient as a dog, just like your son," Nadal said with a grin. "Just make sure that none of your lackeys jump out of line. Otherwise, I'll kill them myself if the enemy doesn't." Auru nodded but said nothing more.
Satisfied, the Captain exited the room.
"Such a cocky, arrogant-" Ashei said, her face as red as a newly polished apple.
"Still your tongue, Ashei," Auru reprimanded her. "I don't like him either, but we must show the proper respect. We should instead find Lieutenant Geoffrey and find out where we are to go."
"But you heard the way he talked about us? Plus, he's going to get us all killed! And you wonder why I hate the Hylian military so much," Ashei said. Her hand reached for her weapon, but Shad placed a calming hand on her shoulder.
Auru continued. "Patience, Ashei. I once served in the Hylian military as a general. My son, Geoffrey, serves as well. Please hold your judgments, at least for our sakes."
Ashei was silent. Shad and Auru had helped put her at ease. Rusl merely watched in silence, his own mind filled with thoughts of his son in Castle Town.
"Wretched animal! I'll have your head a trophy for my fireplace!" Captain Nadal's shouts could be heard from outside the house. Everyone raced outside to see the cause of the commotion.
They arrived to discover the captain circling a lone wolf. The animal was low to the ground with its teeth bared and its mouth snarling. The captain had his favorite lance in hand, ready to spear his weapon right through the canine.
Rusl immediately recognized it as the same animal Ilia and he discovered in Castle Town. His mind raced with explanations of why it would follow him here, but no conclusion he arrived at made any logical sense.
Without warning, Captain Nadal thrust his weapon straight at the wolf but the animal dodged the attack with an anticipated jump to the side. As the burly captain approached, the animal backed away to keep its distance. The other soldiers laughed at the spectacle, only adding to the captain's fury.
With his face steaming like a geyser, Nadal hurled his spear at the animal in fury. The long weapon sailed through the air and just missed grazing the back of the wolf's silver coat. The wolf stared interestedly at the spear and somehow managed to pull the heavy weapon out of the ground with its mouth, drawing many a gasp from the onlookers.
Clearly, this was no ordinary wolf. Some whispered it might be a demon, or even one of the noble deities taking on the mere form of an animal to toy with mortals.
Nadal ran after the wolf, drawing the sword he kept for emergencies. Burdened with the heavy armor, he was too slow to catch the canine as it dropped the weapon and bolted out of the village towards Death Mountain. Cursing like a sailor, the humiliated captain grabbed his spear. After shouting several threats to preserve his dignity, the defeated soldier retired to a nearby building to prepare for the battle.
Just when Rusl thought the situation couldn't get any worse, he heard a familiar voice in the distance.
"Miss, you must get indoors. It is for your own safety." A soldier said.
"Not until I find my friend. Where's Rusl?" Ilia asked, looking desperately around for the swordsman as she tried to brush by the soldier.
The guard continued to try and push her into one of the nearby houses, but she resisted. Ilia looked over his shoulder in time to spot Rusl with the other soldiers. She tried to shout over the soldier restraining her.
"Rusl, I finally found you!" Ilia's hopeful voice snapped the swordsman back to reality. "There's somethin' I hafta tell you."
Rusl turned around and made no effort to hide the disappointment on his face. He walked over and reassured the soldier. "It's okay. I know her." The young man paused for a moment but the decided it wasn't worth the struggle. When he walked away and it was just the two of them, Rusl faced the ranch girl. "I thought I told you to stay behind in Castle Town," he said. "I trusted you, Ilia."
The young woman's eyes averted his own for a second. "I know, Rusl, and I'm sorry. But I hafta tell you somethin' important."
"You have five seconds." Rusl's face took on the appearance of a stern parent disciplining a child. He crossed his arms and stared expectantly at her.
"It's about the wolf," she said.
"That's it? I already know." Rusl sighed and turned around.
"You do?" "Of course, I saw it with my own eyes. Now get where it's safe." His back was to her now. He took a step back towards the other soldiers.
Ilia looked at him questioningly. "So you know Link's sword is missing?"
Rusl turned around to face her again and raised his eyebrows. "What are you talking about?" She had his full attention now.
Ilia put her hand on her hips. "You don't know, do you? Link's sword is missing from the basement. Colin and I found strange footprints in the basement. We think someone's using the wolf to track you."
Rusl shrugged his shoulders in skepticism. "Who cares? You probably just misplaced it." He looked towards the village. "Now get inside." He cringed a bit as he saw the hurt in her eyes. "Where is Colin, anyway?"
Ilia looked to the ground. "I was hopin' he was with you. I lost him after the guards mistook him for a page."
"Nayru's love," Rusl sighed, placing an exasperated hand on his forehead. "I'll keep an eye out for him. In the meantime, Ilia, I need you to get inside where it's safe. Monster's will be here any moment, and I promised Bo I'd keep you out of harm's way."
"Okay," she said grudgingly. "Stay safe, Rusl."
She turned around and hurried to one of the houses serving as a shelter for the citizenry. By now, nearly everyone in the village had learned of the impending attack and complied with the requests of the army. A few boisterous individuals attempted to join the fight, but they were soon persuaded otherwise.
Rusl sighed with relief when he was certain Ilia was safe. He turned back around to see his companions looking oddly at him. They didn't say anything, but he could tell by their eyes the thoughts going through their heads.
Finally, it was Auru who voiced the unspoken words. "Is everything alright?" he asked. He gave Rusl a reassuring pat on the back.
"Everything will be fine," he replied. His eyes wandered emptily down the street. His attention was soon grabbed as he saw Geoffrey heading briskly in their direction. It didn't take him long to approach them.
"Captain Nadal has decided to change our strategy and has charged me with relaying the message." Geoffrey eyed each person individually as they expressed their surprise. "I know this is short notice but I assure you the Captain has finally come to his senses." A triumphant smirk crossed his lips. "We will stay here and defend the people of this village. I have everyone's assignment for this battle. You will each oversee a company of men according to your talents. I will give you your orders, and then you are to report to your station immediately." He paused for a moment and sighed, allowing his professional resolve to drop only for an instant. "This will be difficult. May the goddesses watch over all of you."
There was no mistaking the smell of bokoblins. Even without the sound of squeals and the warning from the lookout, there was no hiding the large band of monsters headed their way. The foul odor was distinct from anything domestic or otherwise, giving an ominous forewarning of the battle to come. A bell rang out from atop the lookout tower; its sound of warning echoing off the endangered buildings and alerting the ears of every soldier within range. A startling transformation took place amongst them all: one from human being into warrior, husband and father into soldier. Arrows were notched, spears made ready, swords unsheathed; all in anticipation of what lay ahead.
Rusl commanded a company of foot soldiers amongst the front lines. Ahead of him stood several comforting rows of Hylian Cavalry and angry Gorons. He knew nothing of his other companions' whereabouts save Ashei. He could spot her high atop one of the cliffs, readying her own bow and barking orders to those under her command. They would be the first to initiate an attack.
Rusl felt his breathing grow heavy as he withdrew his sword and gazed upon his reflection on the polished steel surface. His mind still lingered on Colin.
Where could the boy be? Din, please protect him wherever he is.
"Archers!" Ashei called above the trampling of the monsters. Every bow wielder notched an arrow and pulled back. The sound created by the stretching string chimed in unison, creating a surprising harmony. Every soldier carefully eyed the monsters descending from the mountain, picking a particular target to bless with their gift. The army was now in sight of all, moving clumsily towards the village and its defenses. Ashei held her hand high, her cold gaze freezing any soldier from firing prematurely.
"Fire!"
At the sound of her voice, every trigger finger released instinctively the tight string they held. Like a shower of steel, the arrows flew high in the sky and rained upon the unsuspecting monsters. The first wave of bokoblins and bulbins fell in great numbers from the deadly projectiles. Their fellow monsters watched in unsuspecting surprise as their comrades fell before them. As if suddenly awakened from a long slumber, they no longer walked lethargically towards the village. They charged with a revitalized fury, brandishing their clubs and ready to kill all in their path.
"Brothers! Now is the time to take back our home!" Darbus roared with righteous fury. With a wave of his hand, he signaled for the ground attack to commence. He curled up and rolled mercilessly towards the encroaching army, followed closely by over a hundred members of his tribe. The strength of the rock people was demonstrated firsthand as they plowed through the next ranks of bokoblins like stalks of grass. Even after they had lost their momentum, the Gorons punched and strangled any unfortunate soul close enough to their grasp. By the dozens, the monsters disappeared into a cloud of black smoke that was typical for their death. Even those monsters brave enough to fight back found their clubs useless against the solid rock exterior. Clearly overpowered by these foes, the monsters' one advantage was sheer numbers. Those monsters unwilling to fight the Gorons swarmed around them like a flowing river.
"Hylian Cavalry, prepare yourselves!" Geoffrey's voice rang out from high atop his horse. "Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth platoons! Charge!"
With a wave of his lance, he signaled the next stage of the attack. An impressive array of Hylian Cavalry thundered down the dirt road to their would-be attackers. Axe, lance, sword, and bow connected with the monster flesh as the mounted soldiers stopped the next barrage like an ocean wave crashing against a steep cliff. Their momentum stayed with them only temporarily, however, as the monsters soon recovered. Unable to fare as well as the Gorons, some units were dismounted as their horses were knocked to the ground. Those fortunate enough to recover from such a mishap soon faced an overwhelming amount of foes.
"They have no commander," Rusl thought aloud. "Their movement is disorganized and sporadic, and they look weak." He was no soldier himself, but he knew disorganization when he saw it. This was no army they faced, but an overwhelming mob. And that mob was quickly approaching.
"Infantry! Attack those pitiful excuses for life!" one of the other lieutenants ordered from in front of the remaining soldiers. Upon his signal, Rusl and the other soldiers charged at them with as much bravado as they could muster. Within seconds, the infantry was upon the monsters. The two forces bashed and stabbed each other chaotically like a tavern brawl. It soon became difficult to distinguish friend from foe. Rusl found himself nearly struckby friendly arrows on more than one occasion.
"This is almost too easy," Rusl muttered to himself as he blocked the club of one Bokobin with his sword and cut off its arm. Two more rushed him from his sides. He jumped back, allowing the two monsters to stop at the last second to avoid collision. That one second was all he needed as he dispatched both of them with a powerful horizontal slice.
He hadn't even time to rest before he found himself sidestepping a lunge from a new opponent. He clutched his chest as he felt claw rip his shirt and scratch against his chain mail. He turned around angrily and nearly dropped his sword. Was this really happening?
His attacker was none other than the blue-eyed wolf that had followed him here. Remarkably and much to Rusl's confusion, the monsters had stopped approaching and formed a small circle through which none of them dared trespass. Rusl danced around the outside of this circle as he glared at his new opponent.
"So, Ilia was right. You really are after me." He raised his sword to the wolf. "Then, I'll slay you now, beast." He paused, for what was once a wolf in front of him was one no more. It was transforming before his eyes, becoming more humanoid with every passing second. His eyes grew wide and his breath left him in shock as the metamorphosis completed itself.
"But how?" he said with mouth wide open. "It's impossible."
Ilia cringed as she heard the yelling and screaming outside. The fighting couldn't have lasted any more than five minutes thus far, but to her, it was an eternity. With no knowledge of Colin or Rusl, she found worry her constant companion. More than once, a body slammed against the bolted door to Barne's shop, causing her to jump. However, the barrier held up remarkably well thus far. Several others took refuge with her, including the cowardly shop owner himself, Barnes. To make room and prevent an accident, all of the bombs had quickly been moved from this building to the storehouse high atop one of the cliffs.
Ilia pounded a fist on the sales counter. "I can't take this, anymore. I have to do something," she said. Everyone stared at her in silence. She ignored them as she would a fly.
"Ilia, I know you're worried about your friends," Barnes replied, walking up to her. "But the best you can do is stay here and wait it out."
The shopkeeper was a middle-aged gentleman. He had lost most of his hair long ago, clinging desperately to the remaining brown strands near his ears. A steel mask he used for bomb production covered his face. Perhaps it was better, as it hid his rather unsightly mutton chops. He wore a white shirt and sleeveless green vest, coupled with matching green pants and orange platform shoes.
She sighed and said nothing. Then, suddenly, her face lit up with inspiration.
"Can the monsters get on the cliff?" Ilia inquired, ignoring his previous statement.
"No," he stuttered at first. "No, I don't think so. They would have to fly or go through the shop."
"Great," she said. Without another word, she was up the ladder and on her way to the upper levels where the archers were stationed.
"Wait!" Barnes called out after her, but he was too late. Within seconds, she was up the ladder and out the door. With a deep sigh, he leaned heavily on the counter. "Me and my big mouth."
"What's the matter? Were you expecting someone else?" The young woman that had once been a wolf taunted him.
"What sort of demon are you?" Rusl said, unable to mask his fear and surprise.
The stranger looked at him with honest surprise. "Demon? You've never seen a shape shifter before? Last I knew, you were friends with one."
"You obviously are mistaken," Rusl responded as coolly as possible. He tried to free his body from the paralysis of fear, but his eyes never left the enigmatic figure in front of him.
"That's what you'd like, isn't it, Rusl?" The swordsman glared at her. "Yes, I know who you are. But my own identity remains a mystery to you."
The battle around the two seemed to vanish, as if they were in their own protective bubble. Rusl could vaguely see and hear the cries of soldiers and the grunting of monsters around him, but they seemed miles away compared to the dark-skinned woman standing in front of him. Her midnight armor indicated she had come prepared for a fight.
"Then introduce yourself." He had finally succeeded in overcoming his initial shock, but now a more subtle fear crept up his back. How did this woman know of him?
The woman brushed her long black hair behind her. "I suppose it is only fair you know my name before I kill you." With her hand, she pointed to herself, as if making a formal introduction. The red markings on the back of her hand were clearly visible. "I am Atrayu, a mercenary from the land of Nevkah hired by Zant. My mission was to spy on you using the form of a blue-eyed wolf to infiltrate your ranks."
Rusl raised a skeptic eyebrow. "Why are you telling me this?"
Atrayu stretched casually. "Now that I've learned all I need from you. I have to kill you. It's nothing personal; you just know too much already. What's a little more information before you die? I do hope you put up a good fight." She winked at him. "It's far more entertaining and makes the job worthwhile."
Rusl brought his sword in front of him. "What's so special about a blue-eyed wolf? And what kind of information?"
Atrayu shrugged indifferently. "Do you really have to ask that?" She paused slightly. "The same form Link uses? Do you know how difficult it was to remember to change my eye color as well as my body?" She moaned when she saw Rusl's face was clueless. "I was infiltrating your ranks by posing as the one person you trust most. It was Zant's idea from the beginning. I don't understand why he was so specific about it." She blatantly ignored his second question.
A smile spread across Rusl's nervous lips. "I understand now. You're trying to deceive me, to get into my mind. But it won't work. Link was never a wolf. He would've told me."
Atrayu rolled her eyes. "Clearly he didn't. How naïve you are." Her eyes narrowed and her face became solemn. "Pity he's dead now. He was one heck of a fighter. He had such potential and deserved a warrior's death." She reached behind her, revealing a sword he previously hadn't noticed. "Anyways, it's no fun if you're too ignorant to fully appreciate my deception. No matter. At least I can gain some entertainment by using Link's sword against you."
Rusl looked at the sword with disgust. The weapon really had been stolen. There was no mistaking his craftsmanship in the blade and the hilt.
"This is the beginning of the end, Rusl." Atrayu said, her hair waving in the wind. "We've learned of every one of your tactics and come prepared. As commander of Zant's army, I assure you this battle will only get harder." She paused to let her words sink in. "Your life ends here."