"I'm going to die, huh?" Rusl repeated Atrayu's remark with sardonic humor. Despite the swordsman's outward sarcasm, the open threat spurred something deep inside of him. An animal instinct to survive bubbled to the surface, one he hadn't experienced in a long time. His hearing became more acute and his eyesight became sharper than it had ever been. He felt light like a feather as blood pumped to his muscles, preparing himself for the conflict ahead.
Beneath the casual indifference of those amber eyes facing him, Rusl knew his deadly opponent was out for blood. He inhaled and focused, preparing himself to match the tune of the goddesses' eternal dance of life and death as many warriors before him had done. A single misplaced step could mean the difference between the two.
"I'm not ready to call it quits quite yet. I have too many promises to keep," he said.
Atrayu took the Ordon Sword and brought the hilt to her face so the blade was pointing vertically in the air. Her amused smirk was perfectly symmetrical across both sides of the weapon. The professional apathy with which she normally carried herself melted to the intensity of her bubbling excitement. This intensity was matched by the fire in her eyes.
"Such strong determination you have. Just like Link. I'm looking forward to this." She paused for a moment. "In my country, battles such as this distinguish the warriors from the cowards. It is an honor to die in battle and an even greater honor to kill. Those who fear death are shunned and even banished."
With a quick twist of her wrist, she maneuvered the sword so she held it over her shoulder with the tip pointing at Rusl. She leaned back on her right leg and bent closer to the ground. "Ready your weapon."
"It's always ready." Rusl replied with a smirk. It quickly disappeared as he focused his entire effort on his opponent. Every motion, every step, every breath; he couldn't let a single detail of his adversary escape his notice. Not if he was to win this fight.
As the two combatants began their dance of death, the battle around them raged on. High atop the cliffs, Ashei and the other soldiers shot hundreds of arrows down on the battle below raindrops during a storm. Gorons below pummeled their way through the relentless sea of monsters, one fist filled with rage over the taking of their home and the other filled with the determination to get it back.
Clangs of steel and war cries filled with the mountain village with a chaos that it had not seen for a long time. Polished buildings that shined only that morning were now covered with blood and dents. Corpses were beginning to accumulate on the ground like rocks from an avalanche, making a difficult battlefield all the more dangerous to traverse. The overwhelming dust stirred up by the chaos choked the combatants on both sides.
From high atop his horse, Geoffrey looked around for a brief moment over the sea of monsters from his position by the spirit's spring. The water rippled as his faithful steed splashed nervously away from the foul beasts approaching. Glancing over their ugly faces, he spotted Rusl viciously dueling Atrayu across the village. Though he didn't recognize the shape shifter, he assumed she was the commander as she was the only human amongst the monstrous army. The numerous monsters made it impossible to ride to his aid.
Suddenly, Geoffrey's body lurched forward as his horse's front legs collapsed. His helm crashed against the horse's muscular neck from the sudden jerk. The surprised lieutenant was thrown off his mount and into the spring. The chilly water penetrated his armor and soaked his clothes underneath but also cushioned his fall. Luckily, he had the presence of mind to avoid impaling himself. The soldier rolled off the impact and quickly splashed to his feet before getting surrounded by enemies.
He cursed himself for having dropped his guard. In the moment he had spotted Rusl, a bokoblin capitalized on the opportunity to club his horse, throwing him off balance. Now fully recovered, Geoffrey brought his double headed spear parallel to his body. It was a beautiful steel weapon consisting of a thin handle inscribed with the Hylian symbols for "honor." On either side were silver spearheads, completing a devastating weapon used by his father during his service as a general in the Hylian Royal Army.
Wielding his spear like a deadly baton, Geoffrey kept the monsters surrounding him at bay. Those foolish enough to wander too close felt the full wrath of the spear pierce through their torso. Geoffrey could only hope Rusl held out long enough for him to arrive.
The battle between the shape shifter and her prey was deadlocked. Blow for blow, slash for slash, the two combatants continued to parry one another as if they could read the other one's mind.
"It's been a while since I've had this much fun." Atrayu said through short breaths. Her hair was blowing slightly in the wind as she circled her opponent. Rusl faced her at all times, never letting his guard down even for an instant. His sword was ready to strike at the slightest twitch.
"Glad I could entertain you." he replied through short breaths. Sweat fell from his brow and accumulated on his headband. His fingers ached from the tight grip he held on his weapon. His vigilant eyes glanced quickly to the bokoblins surrounding them. The swordsman was grateful for the fear she commanded from the monstrous spectators. If she hadn't been so insistent on a duel, he was sure the monsters would have interfered long ago.
His rest didn't last long. Rusl attempted a quick series of thrusts. Atrayu redirected the first few with her sword. She circled around the last one and countered with a quick vertical slash of her own. Rusl repositioned his blade over his shoulder just in time to stop the blow. The two struggled in a contest of strength as Atrayu used her weapon to push Rusl's own blade closer to his skin. He could feel the sting as the sharp edge slowly punctured his shoulder. His only hope laid in changing the momentum of the fight back in his favor.
He bent his knees slightly to get the sword off his shoulder and spun around. He stepped back and let the momentum from Atrayu's strength send her sword slashing toward the ground, leaving her vulnerable for only a second. That second was all Rusl needed as he delivered a swift but shallow horizontal slash across her shoulder.
Blood spattered on his face as his blow found unprotected flesh. Atrayu backed away and held her hand to her wound as it emerged with viscous blood on her palm. She smelt it and casually smeared it against her black armor. Superficial wounds had a tendency to overreact with excessive bleeding. Both combatants were ready for plenty more.
"Well done, Rusl. I have to congratulate you. Not many people can make me bleed." Atrayu complimented.
"So I'm giving you a good fight?" Rusl asked confidently. His hand went to his own shoulder. His shirt felt a little damp, but it felt like there was minimal blood loss.
"Indeed. Perhaps too good. I'm beginning to think I may not be able to afford to duel you fairly anymore." Atrayu raised the sword above her head, and firmly thrust it in the ground. The edge clung to the dirt road, causing the weapon to stand straight up like a lightning rod.
"I thought these kinds of battles are celebrated in your culture," Rusl said.
"They are," Atrayu replied, rolling her shoulders. "But we're not in Nevkah. I'm a mercenary with a contract to fulfill. I also have a battle to win."
Rusl looked around him, seeing that his comrades were holding their ground fairly well. The monsters' numbers seemed to be dwindling, although there were still plenty remaining.
"It looks like your side is losing." Rusl eyed the sword in front of her, wondering why she would drop her weapon so readily. Like a ton of bricks, the realization hit him; she had no more intention of using it.
"Appearances can deceive as I'm about to show you," she taunted. She transformed into a wolf once again. Her long black hair became fur that covered her entire body; her long fingernails became claws. The red markings were now clearly visible on her canine face. Her appearance as a wolf was different from before, her fur was black instead of silver, and amber eyes stared at him instead of the blue Rusl had become accustomed to. "I'll demonstrate why our warriors are feared the world over."
Rusl's face soured into a scowl. She should know that her wolf form would be useless in a one-on-one fight. With his sword and armor, he would be able to track her movements and counter without much trouble. As he tried to figure out what she was planning, the shifter let out a long howl and dashed into the mob of monsters that had surrounded them. It was as several bokoblins started rushing towards him that he realized her plan.
The monsters were going to distract him and hide her movements.
Several of the bokoblins ran up to the swordsman with clubs swinging. He dispatched the first two with ease, but soon found himself surrounded. As he eyed the monsters ready to hit him, he planted his foot and executed a spin slash. The sword whirled around him like a hurricane and knocked all the bokoblins back. Even so, more swarmed around him like angry hornets.
Atrayu saw her opening while Rusl was distracted. Hunched low to the ground, she stalked between the monsters hunting her prey unnoticed. While his back was to her, the shifter sunk her sharp canines into his exposed calf.
Pain shot up Rusl's leg like an electric shock. He instinctively slashed at his leg and just managed to graze Atrayu's cheek with the tip of his sword before she backed away, drawing more shallow blood. No doubt that would leave a scar. The swordsman fell to one knee, gritting his teeth in pain as he saw the blood staining his pants a dark crimson. Even as he endured the wound, bokoblins battered his back mercilessly with their clubs.
"Stop right there, witch!" Captain Nadal's voice boomed even above the growls of the monsters. The large man threw his silver lance at the shape shifter, causing her to halt her attack temporarily. The wolf jumped back and gazed curiously at this new interloper. Several of the monsters backed off as they saw the giant captain approach them.
"Thanks for the support, Captain." Rusl breathed a sigh of relief. The monsters had backed off momentarily so he was able to rip a portion of his sleeve to wrap around his bleeding leg.
"Get out of my way, wench. I'll deal with you and that disobedient traitor, Geoffrey, later," Nadal said as he shoved Rusl aside. The swordsman ate dirt as his face hit the ground. Debris agitated the fresh wound, igniting in Rusl's leg a pain comparable to astab wound.
The captain retrieved his lance and loathingly glared at Atrayu. "Right now, I have a score to settle with this hag. No one insults Captain Nadal and lives."
"Traitor?" Rusl asked angrily. His blood was boiling as he rose to one knee and finished wrapping his wound.
"I gave orders to attack the enemy at Death Mountain. That snake Geoffrey deceived you into disobeying a superior officer. That is treason punishable by death." Nadal said without shifting his gaze.
Rusl scowled as he rose unsteadily to his feet, leaning on his sword for support. He understood why Geoffrey had done what he did. Still, he had little time to dwell on the issue. In his present condition, he was at a severe disadvantage. He leaned his weight on his good foot to relieve the pain. With sharp eyes and a spirit far from beaten, the swordsman readied his weapon as bokoblins once again surrounded him.
Nadal laughed at Rusl's predicament as he turned his focus on Atrayu. His deep voice taunted her while he slowly approached. "Now where should I spear first? Your heart or your lungs?"
Atrayu transformed back into a human. "You decide. If you're willing to be whipped a second time, then have at me," the shifter replied back, kicking the dirt with one of her boots. "This time, I'll be sure to finish the job."
While the two warriors clashed, Geoffrey at last reached Rusl's location. When he saw the swordsman struggling to hold his ground, he immediately intervened, fending off a few pursuing bokoblins with a solid stab of his lance.
"Are you okay, Rusl? What happened to your leg?"
The swordsman smiled wearily. "Thanks for the help, Geoffrey. Turns out my prey got me when my guard was down." He winced as another jolt of pain stung his leg. Geoffrey gave Rusl his spear to lean on while he withdrew his sword.
"Don't overdo it, Rusl." The lieutenant warned sternly.
Meanwhile, a soldier from the front line ran over to Lieutenant Geoffrey. He hollered as loud as his lungs would allow. Even though he was right next to the lieutenant, the soldier's panic caused him to overreact.
"Lieutenant! We have an emergency! Hundreds of monsters have marched behind us from Hyrule Field! What are we going to do?"
"Specifics, soldier. What kinds?" Geoffrey asked earnestly. He looked over his shoulder towards the spirit's spring on the other side of the village to see hundreds more monsters than he anticipated. In making their battle plans, they had anticipated the enemy coming from the Death Mountain Trail. Only the village entrance by the mountain would be blocked. This allowed for an escape route to the Kakariko Gorge if things really became dangerous. Now, they were trapped on both sides.
"Not just Bokoblins, Lieutanant. They have skeletons and lizard warriors that I've never even seen before." The soldier was beginning to lose his resolve. His boots quaked and his spear vibrated as if to an earthquake. Geoffrey slapped him across the face to calm him.
Rusl was listening intently when he noticed several shadows moving rapidly on the ground before him. Puzzled, he looked above him. To his horror, he saw dozens upon dozens of kargaroks flying above like a hungry flock of vultures. Several flew in high circles above the cliffs, while the remainder dove to attack the cliff-residing archers.
Rusl punched Geoffrey on the soldier and pointed to the sky. When the lieutenant saw the flock of monsters overhead, he grunted in disgust. Like a switch from high tide to low, things were quickly moving against them and he knew it. The arrival of Darbus from amongst the crowd of monsters did little to bolster the lieutenant's confidence. The tribal patriarch had a bokoblin in each hand. He smashed them together before speaking down to Geoffrey.
"Brother! Dozens of dark creatures with armor have descended from our mountain and are wreaking havoc amongst our men. Gor Coron tells me they are called Dark Nuts." He paused for a second to point them out. They were easy to distinguish; tall creatures completely covered in armor and armed with devastating claymores. "We've already lost several strong soldiers and Gorons to their blades. They are on their way here, ripping through our men as we speak."
Geoffrey glanced around him, looking for any sort of divine inspiration that might make his decision easier. He had fought against monsters several times, but nothing on this magnitude. The realization hit him like ice water that they had come ill prepared. The fight for Death Mountain had turned into the fight for survival.
"Rusl, Darbus. Spread the word. I am ordering a full-scale retreat. I don't care what Nadal says. Save as many of the civilians as you can. We have to break through to Hyrule Field."
It came as no surprise to Ilia when she received harsh remarks from the soldiers for being out on the cliffs. Civilians had been clearly instructed to remain indoors; a mandate she had deliberately disobeyed. Not that she was in immediate danger for the time being, but they couldn't afford to have a liability among them. The young woman continued to look around, searching for anything she could do to assist. She didn't have skill with a bow or any weapon for that matter, but she figured there had to be a practical way someone like her could help.
Within a few minutes of staying on the cliffs, a bewildered Ashei approached her.
"What in the Underworld are you doing?" Ashei look fiercely at the audacious young woman before her. Her hands effortlessly reached for another arrow from her quiver and notched it onto her bow. "Get out of here! This is no place for someone like you!"
"I want to help!" Ilia stamped her foot down in assertive authority. They would have to use force before she backed down.
Ashei looked quickly over one of the cliffs and fired her arrow. Her hands automatically reached for another one. "Then go bug, Auru! Just get out of here!" She pointed quickly to the storage shed at the very top of the hill. She then returned to her previous task, firing off as many arrows as possible and barking occasional orders.
Seeing she would get nothing else out of Ashei besides an angry grunt, Ilia heeded her instructions and ran up the path towards the bomb shed. Upon opening the door, she was greeted by the sight of Auru and a handful of soldiers working rapidly at something. She couldn't quite discern what at first glance.
Auru looked up with wide eyes, expecting an urgent message. The muscles of his face relaxed when he saw only Ilia, but there was still concern written in his gaze. Still, any surprise he might've expressed quickly left him. A long life had taught him events seldom occurred as one expected, and his life in the military had taught him considerable patience.
The other soldiers looked up curiously, but a quick shout from Auru had them immediately returning to their work. He turned back to her, working diligently with his hands as he spoke.
"You must be either very brave or very foolish to come all the way up here in the midst of a battle," he said. His eyes squinted as he looked Ilia over carefully. "You're a friend of Rusl, aren't you? Why are you here? Shouldn't you be somewhere safe?"
Ilia turned her gaze to the items Auru was working with. He attached a black arrowhead to the point of the normal arrow. It appeared to contain a rough texture like charcoal and had a small string at the edge. She looked back at Auru with resolute eyes. "I want to help. I can't stand idly by while our freedom is stolen from us."
A small smile gleamed on Auru's lips. "If Hyrule had more people like you, we wouldn't need an army. Here." He tossed her a string and an arrow. She caught them with nimble hands and gazed curiously at the objects. "At this rate, I'll take all the help I can get. We're making bomb arrows in case of an emergency. It's very simple. Just tie the arrowhead securely to the tip of the arrow with some rope." He paused for a second, his eyes containing a dangerous sincerity. "Just don't light it or this whole place will blow."
Ilia nodded in acknowledgment. This task would be simple. Chores around the farm had made her fingers strong and dexterous; not to mention she knew how to tie one heck of a knot.
Several more minutes passed in silence while the crew made bomb arrow after bomb arrow. After a set of ten or twenty arrows was complete, they were placed in a wooden quiver and set near the door. The pressure inside the shed was nearly intolerable as everyone felt the sharp edge of the knife they walked. One wrong move and all of their work would be in vain. To make matters worse, all of Barne's combustible stock loomed over them like flammable night owls, watching their every move and threatening to undo it all if ignited.
Everyone's diligent work was stopped like the end of a day's shift when a soldier burst through the door. The panic in his eyes foreshadowed his urgent message. "Lieutenant Geoffrey has ordered a full-scale retreat! Again, the lieutenant has ordered us to retreat!"
No sooner had the soldier finished his sentence when several kargaroks tore at the backside of his armor with their vicious talons. He turned to defend with his spear, but they were simply too numerous for him to overcome. He soon fell dead to the ground; his last breath used to protect the sole remaining hope of the army.
By then, the remaining soldiers were ready. On Auru's orders, they all grabbed as many quivers of bomb arrows as they could carry. Several soldiers held bows in hand, firing regular arrows to push back the monsters attempting to enter the combustible shed. After a few well-placed shots, the exit was clear and the group rushed out of the shed. To their dismay, they found dozens of the bird-like monsters swarming the skies like vultures picking off archers and attacking anything that showed life. Ilia imagined it to only be worse on the ground.
Auru bent down and picked up the dead soldier's spear on the way out, whispering a grateful prayer for the lad under his breath. He handed it to Ilia.
"Here, you'll need a weapon to defend yourself. It seems things have taken a turn for the worse. We'll be lucky to leave here alive."
Ilia nodded and thanked him. The spear was stained with blood and other internal fluids. She winced and held the weapon as if it were diseased, keeping the point as far from her face as possible. The ranch girl gagged and did her best to push back the feelings of discomfort from holding the weapon; never mind the dread of having to use it.
They rushed down the hill to join their beset comrades, showering the aggressive birds with the explosive gifts they had been preparing.
"It's about time, Auru!" Ashei shouted while dodging the sharp beak of a hungry kargarok. She trapped its head in her bow and beheaded the blasted bird with the rapier in her other hand.
"We don't have many! Just enough arrows to help the others escape!"
"What about us?" Ilia asked automatically.
"There is no us." Ashei replied sternly. "You're leaving. We were told to get as many citizens out of here as possible; that includes you." She looked back at the sea of monsters, Hylians, and Gorons below. "We will die a proud soldier's death," she whispered to herself.
Ilia looked to Auru for assurance. His solemn face agreed with Ashei's demand, and Ilia knew the choice was out of her hands. Not that she would have defied them anyways. At this point, she knew she would only be a hindrance. She handed the quiver of bomb arrows she had been carrying and turned around. With the crusty spear in hand, she raced back down the path towards Barnes shop, adrenaline pumping at full speed.
SNAP! CRUNCH!
Captain Nadal fell to his knees, hollering and cussing. Blood squirted from his side as Atrayu thrust the captain's own spear into him. Her amber eyes stared at the mass of armor in amusement as he crashed to the ground. He grabbed the top of her boot just as he fell. She smirked in amusement as his grip weakened with each second, his life draining away in the pool of blood accumulating around his body.
He had been a fairly easy opponent. His massive armor may have protected him from her fangs and claws, but it also made him incredibly slow. On top of that, in his arrogance, he had only armed himself with a spear. His anger and pride weren't enough to hold back the mob of bokoblins that rushed him while she stole his spear and made the finishing blow.
If things were bad before, they were downright hopeless now. Rusl and Geoffrey spotted the mutilated remains of Captain Nadal's corpse a short distance away as they fought off a horde of monsters. It took all of the resolve within them to maintain cool despite the chaotic atmosphere attempting to engulf them.
"Who's next?" Atrayu remarked casually to herself, wiping the blood from her mouth and hands. "Of course, they all will die eventually. It's just a matter of who wants to go first." She eyed the former captain. "The arrogant ones usually volunteer."
"Where's Darbus?" Rusl yelled to Geoffrey as the two fought a Lizalfos. Rusl's stamina was quickly running out. Slashes he could normally parry with his sword were coming dangerously close to his body. His vision was beginning to blur and his hearing felt like cotton had been stuffed into his ears. Luckily, Geoffrey was acting as his second set of eyes. Shivers went up their spine as they spotted monsters parting like a sea for the shifter slowly approaching them.
"He and the rest of his tribe are clearing an escape route," Geoffrey shouted back. He eyed Atrayu and the battle ensuing behind her. He swept a bokoblin off its feet with his spear, and killed it with a strike to the heart. "The real difficulty lies in front of us. We have to break through their lines. Half of our cavalry has been wiped out; not to mention our infantry. With as few men as we have left, there's no way we can break through without some sort of miracle."
As if in response to Geoffrey's request, a miracle did occur.
Behind Atrayu, a dozen explosions rang out as bomb arrows sailed from the cliffs above. The force of impact from the fiery blast sent both monster and soldier flying that weren't already incinerated. Like a riverbed run dry from a drought, a clearing opened up that lead to Eastern Hyrule with little resistance. The clearing only enlarged as a second round of bomb arrows rained down on the enemy ranks. To Geoffrey's great fortune, the less intelligent monsters succumbed to their fear and backed off, making them easy targets for Hylian weapons and Goron fists.
Atrayu hid the frustration on her face well. The only hint to her exasperation was the quickly closing fist in her right hand. This was not a strategy she had come prepared for. When she had been disguised as a wolf, she had overheard the war meetings. The use of bomb arrows had never been mentioned. She knew she had to put a stop to this surprise if her mission was to be a success. Yet, that would leave her prey unattended. She would have to be quick and resort to drastic measures.
She looked straight at Rusl and Geoffrey and pointed at him with a long finger nail. "This isn't over." She then transformed into a large peregrine falcon, complete with blue-gray feathers on her back and a head black as night. With wings the size of a great eagle, Atrayu launched off the ground and sped towards the cliff like an arrow..
"Like I'm really going to wait for you to kill me," Rusl mumbled to himself.
"Rusl!" Geoffrey called out to him.
The swordsman looked at him, only to turn back around to feel a dagger rattle against his chainmail. Apparently, the more intelligent monsters were not impressed by the explosive projectiles. Rusl saw a gleam out of the corner of his eye and hit the ground. A bomb arrow came sailing where he once was. Smoke, heat, and dust washed over Rusl as he watched the incineration of his lizard-like opponent.
"Thanks for the warning," the swordsman said as Geoffrey helped him up. Rusl felt his leg going numb with pins and needles. Pretty soon, the swordsman would no longer be able to stand.
Geoffrey nodded and pointed towards the escape route their companions on the cliff had opened up. "Atrayu's distracted and the road is open! Now's our chance to evacuate the villagers!"
Rusl winced as his leg gave out from under him. His weakness forced him to one knee. "Go on ahead, Geoffrey. I'll catch up."
The lieutenant nodded.
Capitalizing upon the opportunity afforded by the continuing barrage of bomb arrows, the lieutenant rallied his remaining soldiers around him. Like a wall of bodyguards, they began evacuating villagers starting with Barne's shop. As Rusl watched the people leave, a great sigh left his lungs as he saw Ilia amongst them. When she saw him, she ran to him without hesitation.
"Rusl! You're alive! Praise the goddesses!" Ilia exclaimed. She dropped the spear and embraced Rusl, not caring about the blood or sweat all over his sullied shirt.
Rusl pulled her off and directed her gaze towards his. "I'm glad you're safe too, Ilia, but now's not the time. This may be your only time to escape! You need to follow the other villagers to safety. The Hylian Cavalry will be there to protect you."
"What about you, Rusl?" She looked at his bloodstained pant leg. "And your leg?
"Go on ahead. I'm going to stay behind and help as many villagers as I can."
Ilia wanted to protest but she saw the sternness in those eyes. She calmed herself and looked towards the spear. However, her panic quickly returned. "Where's Zephyr? I completely forgot about her!"
Rusl was quickly growing exasperated. "Ilia!"
The young woman cringed and was silent. She picked up the spear and ran to the alluring safety near the exit of Kakariko Village. Despite her feelings, she had to trust that both the horse and Rusl would find safety before it was too late.
The rescue operation raced ahead, fully aware that every second mattered. The Gorons distracted the more powerful Dark Nuts, while the Hylian Army defended against the weaker monsters and ushered the villagers to the exit. The townspeople obeyed every word like sheep to a shepherd, driven by fear and raw instinct to the safest haven they could find. The archers continued their explosive assault, aiming carefully to defend potential attackers and avoid hitting innocents. They resigned themselves to their fate, knowing they would die the proud deaths often romanticized in old legends. It wasn't long until their supply of bomb arrows ran out, the last remaining stronghold staving off an inevitable massacre.
Unfortunately, the evacuation was only half-way complete when the monsters realized the deadly shower of explosives was over. Like a pack of bears awakening after a long winter, they aggressively renewed their assault. A majority of their forces had been pushed back as far as the village spring, but now they inched forward with unstoppable momentum.
"Geoffrey! We have to leave now! We're losing our last chance for escape!" Rusl pleaded earnestly. He could sense the tide moving against them once again. This time, he knew it would drown them if they didn't flee.
"But the other villagers! I swore to the Queen I would protect them!" Geoffrey stated resolutely.
"We can at least save half of them. If we don't leave now, then they'll all die!"
"Then you go. I see no greater fulfillment of my duty then dying for my country," Geoffrey replied with dignity. Rusl tried to pull him to safety, but the lieutenant refused to budge. The swordsman admired Geoffrey's bravery, but he knew he had to escape. After all, Colin, Uli, and Zen were waiting for him.
"Then come back with everyone, or not at all." Rusl said. Geoffrey nodded, and the two shook hands.
Rusl turned around and limped towards the exit. He had gotten a few steps when his leg finally gave out on him. He stumbled to the ground, the rough ground scraping his face like a used towel. All the monsters appeared to be blurs now. The ground spun around him. His hands and whole body shook from the blood loss—even the makeshift bandage couldn't stop the precious liquid from leaking out between the cloth. In retrospect, he realized he shouldn't have stood so much on his injured leg.
"Is this how it's gonna' end?" Rusl wondered to himself. "I have no strength left. I can't go any further."
But even when he thought things couldn't get any worse, they did.
"If you want your son to stay breathing, then stay right where you are, Rusl!" Atrayu shouted from her safe perch in the sky as a falcon. The swordsman felt his heart drop to the center of the earth. Struggling and thrashing within her sharp talons was Colin.
Rusl closed his eyes and wiped them. He had to be dreaming. Or perhaps his injuries were causing him to hallucinate. When he opened them again, the reality hit him like a goat's horns to the stomach. He didn't know how it was possible, but Atrayu had his son as a hostage.
"Let him go, Atrayu! He's not involved in this!" Rusl yelled.
"I'm the one making demands here, Rusl. If you want your son to live, then stay where you are."
Rusl was motionless. It's not like he had a choice.
"Don't do it, Papa! I'll get out of this somehow!" Colin protested. He winced as Atrayu dug her talons into his shoulder even harder.
"If you don't, his death will be on your hands. What kind of father would you be, then?" Her tone contained a bitter sweetness to it.
Still no movement.
"Throw your weapon aside or I will kill the boy." Atrayu's tone became harsher as her patience thinned.
"Papa! Save yourself! You taught me to be strong, and that's what I'm- gah!" Atrayu dug her talons even harder, finally silencing the youth with pain.
Rusl finally took his sword and brought it to his side. Atrayu watched him carefully.
Something Shad had told him came to the swordsman's memory. "If I give myself up, I want your vow that you will allow no harm to come to him. I want your word he will leave here safely." Rusl said
In a land of Nevkah, a spoken vow was more binding than chains. Once a vow was taken, the shifter was bound to it until the terms of the vow were fulfilled, death, or the pactmaker released them from their obligations. Violation of the oath under any condition resulted in the inability to transform. Thus, the shape shifter would become as ordinary and defenseless as a human, and an easy target for other predators. In one final maneuver, Rusl hoped to use her own customs against her.
"I solemnly vow to uphold this oath, as long as you willingly give yourself up," Atrayu said grudgingly after a few seconds of thinking. In the end, she decided she wasn't interested in Colin anyways. As long as Rusl was eliminated and the battle won, her honor would remain intact and she could report a successful mission.
"I see," Rusl said quietly. "I guess that just leaves my end of the bargain." He tossed his sword to the side, a sad smile approaching his lips, the smile of one who knowingly accepts their fate no matter how bleak and painful it may be. He knew with his leg, escape was impossible. Now, he was fighting for his son's safety.
"Papa! What are you doing? Don't do this!" Colin yelled at the top of his lungs, fighting through the searing pain in his shoulders.
"There! I've fulfilled my end of the bargain! Now let him go!" Rusl demanded.
Atrayu surveyed her opponent. "Step away from your weapon."
Rusl complied with her demand, struggling as he dragged himself with his only good leg.
Against her will, Atrayu descended quickly as her strength gave out and released Colin from her grasp. The young man landed with a thud and rolled in the dust as she returned to her human form, gasping and panting for breath. Maintaining a shifted form required a large amount of energy, and she had already expended hers. She looked at her opponent and saw the desperation in his eyes. He was in no condition to escape. She hurried to grab the sword she had used earlier.
Colin got up and ran to his father without delay. "Papa! Let's go!" Rusl didn't move as his son grabbed his sword and brought it to him.
"Colin, stop." Rusl said at last. He couldn't bring his eyes to look at his son.
"But why? You sound as if you don't want to escape." Colin replied, his voice beginning to choke.
"I have to stay here for your sake. But you, Colin, you need to go. You can't win against her. By what I'm doing here, I am allowing you to fight another day." He paused, beginning to feel his own emotions well up. "I know when that day arrives, you will bring peace to all of Hyrule."
"I don't understand, Papa. Why won't you come with me?" Colin dropped the sword and buried his head in his father's chest.
Rusl looked on his son with compassionate eyes. He gave his son one final embrace. "You will someday, Colin."
"I don't want to leave you, Papa."
The swordsman took as deep a breath as he could. "Colin, I couldn't be more proud of you. I love you. Never forget that." A short pause. "Please, for my sake, leave here while you still can."
Colin was speechless. He stayed as close to his father as he could. The young man wished desperately that he could halt time just as it was and savor the moment.
The swordsman scowled as he saw the return of his adversary. From her stagger, he could sense the battle was taking its toll on Atrayu as well. Nonetheless, she was quickly approaching, sword in clawed hand, with the intention of finishing their duel once and for all.
Rusl grabbed his sword and rose to his feet. The effort proved too much for his weary body and he collapsed to the ground, the sword slipping from his grasp. His leg throbbed with pain. Atrayu's blow had taken its toll. He couldn't have escaped with his son even if he wanted to.
Colin grabbed his father's weapon and raced between him and Atrayu. He glared darkly at the shifter. "I won't let you lay a hand on him."
Atrayu scowled and sighed in annoyance. "Get out of my way." Too tired to deal with him herself, she signaled for a nearby Dark Nut to do the dirty work. "Get him out of here. But don't harm him," she commanded. She cast a sinister look in Rusl's direction. "I'm under oath to keep him intact."
The monster obeyed. As it came for Colin, he sliced at it as hard as he could. His attack bounced harmlessly against the monster's thick armor. The youth was helpless as the monster grabbed him by the neck, causing the weapon to drop to the ground. Colin struggled as he felt its grip around his throat tighten, turning his face pale from the lack of air. It took a few steps and threw him to the ground with incredible force.
Colin rolled several inches before landing on his side. Dirt covered his face and blood trickled from his lip from the rocks he had hit. His eyes didn't stray from Atrayu and his body didn't move. The monster had sapped all the strength from him.
The Dark Nut grabbed Rusl by the arms and held him in a powerful lock. The swordsman didn't struggle. He spoke quietly to himself as his eyes gazed up at the heavens.
"Uli, Zen. I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise to you. Looks like I won't be returning to Ordon after all."
Atrayu walked up to her prisoner and placed the sword inches from his throat. An amused smile came to her lips. "Rusl, fighting you has been an honor and killing you will be even more so. It is a shame I have to kill you, but you know too much already. You would have made a suitable sparring partner. In honor of your fighting prowess, I will make this as quick and painless as possible. Any last requests?"
Colin pleaded desperately with the goddesses as he struggled to move, but his body refused to budge. His mind harkened back to old stories of the Hero and other such legends he had heard as a boy. When things looked their bleakest, a hero had always emerged to save the day. Things always turned out okay in the end, and everyone lived happily ever after. Now more than ever, he needed a hero.
But that hero never came.
Rusl muttered one final response to the shifter but Colin couldn't hear it. Atrayu nodded and took the blade, sinking it through his heart as far as it would go. The swordsman shook with a grunt and let out one final heroic breath. His eyes glossed over and rolled to the back of his head. His muscles went loose. The last fist of determination he had been holding went limp as the proud swordsman's spirit left him.
"PAPA!"
The goddesses had mercy on Colin that day, for he couldn't see the life leave his father's face. The monster's large frame prevented that. His heart wrenched in his chest and he puked, Atrayu's cold and ecstatic smear branded in his memory
Colin didn't remember much of what happened after that. Everything else happened so quickly. Geoffrey later told him that Atrayu had ordered an all-out attack on the retreating army. They all would have been killed if the Light Spirit Eldin hadn't intervened. In a great display of incandescent power, the spirit had temporarily blinded Atrayu and all of the monsters with a burst of light, allowing a few others to escape including Geoffrey, Darbus, the Goron Elders, Shad, and Colin. Unfortunately, Ashei, Auru, and Rusl hadn't been as fortunate. After the army escaped, the spirit had blocked the path of pursuit to allow the refugees to reach Castle Town. Atrayu wisely called off a pursuit, and was content to gain the village as a new stronghold.
News of the tragedy quickly spread throughout Hyrule, sending shockwaves rippling across the panicked populace. Over half of the Hylian Cavalry, a third of the Goron tribe, and a third of the Royal Army had been killed. Many more were injured, but would soon recover with rest and medical treatment. A solemn vigil was held in rememberance of those who had given their lives that day. The loss of Death Mountain and Kakariko Village served as a decisive blow to the morale of both the Hylians and Gorons. Yet, to Colin, all of this tragic news paled in comparison to the gaping hole he now felt in his heart. His father's last words and Atrayu's twisted smile branded themselves in Colin's mind; an ever present reminder of the innocence he had forever lost.