Chapter 112: Rush to Aid
…
Link was only about halfway up the tree when he ran out of breath. It was about the same time that he realized that he did not know which branch the Island Symphony was docked on.
Fortunately, someone had thought ahead. While Link thought he was coming close to the right doorway, Line was already standing in the doorway as he continued to ascend. Link was not sure what to make of Line's expression. He stood with his back leaning on the doorframe, arms crossed and a blank look on his face as if he himself was not sure how to react. "What's going on?" Link asked between heavy breaths.
"We got a mailman onboard," Line replied as he uncrossed his arms. "He says he's got a delivery for you."
Link gave a small frown. Mail was usually received by the main office and sent out to branch offices when it was convenient. But then, he reminded himself that the Skyriders' offices were probably still shut down. And while the kingdom's mail service was known to go almost anywhere (and he knew how true it was, having once watched a mailman deliver a letter in the middle of a bar brawl), it was, needless to say, really strange that a mailman would have dared venture into the Undying Storm. He must have been relieved when he had seen the storm gone.
Then there was the fact that mailmen only ever delivered directly to a person when someone had placed a priority on the mail.
Now concerned, Link asked, "What is it?"
Line shrugged. "A letter, I guess, but he won't give it to any of us. He's waiting for you."
"You couldn't take it yourself?" Irleen asked. "You know. Fake it? Say you were Link?"
"Link's blond," Line said, pointing to his hair. "I'm not. He already knows who he's looking for."
"I wonder who it's from," Link said as he and Line began walking down the branch toward the ship.
"He wouldn't tell us," Line said, picking up his pace so that Link would move faster. "Think it could be the king?"
"Could be," Link replied. "He knows where we're at. How long have we been looking around?"
"Whoa," Line said, tugging Link's sleeve. "This way, Link."
"Oh," Link uttered as he moved to jog behind Line.
"Almost an hour and a half," Line replied. Link expected more comments about being gone for an hour and a half, but Line fell silent instead.
Link was glad Line had come to take him back. Twice, Link was confused as to which branch to choose, having not paid attention to directions as he had been walking down to the island. Within moments, Link and Line set foot on the quarterdeck. Immediately, he saw that a small cutter had been moored on the port side, and the few deck crew were circled around someone wearing red. Line hollered "Captain on-deck" while Link hustled down the stairs with Irleen trailing. He jogged across the main deck, and his crew parted so that he had clear sight of a man in his late twenties standing with his back to the cutter, his red uniform a certain indication that he was a mailman. He started at the sight of Link, eyes immediately falling on the sword hilt hovering behind his head.
"I'm Captain Link of the Island Symphony," Link immediately told him.
The mailman blinked at him. "Oh, you are?" he asked. "I-I'm sorry. I expected someone… taller…"
Someone behind Link snorted. Link crossed his arms and asked, "I understand you have a letter for me."
The mailman glanced around at the crew as he dug into a messenger bag slung across one shoulder. "Uh, yes, Captain," he said as he removed an envelope. Offering it to Link, he continued, "Sorry it took so long to find you. I was told you'd be at Skyrider Port, so I went there." He went on as Link looked over the envelope. "Well, I couldn't find you, but then someone told me you would likely be on Castle Island. I was directed to the Governor's office since the lady on Skyrider Port told me you would be heading there. I got to meet the Governor. And then she explained that, after you recovered at the castle, you had gone to… well, here. Me and my partner—" He turned to indicate another mailman at the helm of the cutter. "—were a little nervous coming here, but we figured, you know, no mailman's ever backed down from a delivery. Right?"
"Right…" Link said, his attention on the fact that Captain Alfonzo's name decorated the front of the letter.
"Why would someone ventuh this fah knowing that the Undying Stohm is heh?" Leynne asked him while Link opened the letter.
"Well, it was a priority," the mailman said. "The man who sent it paid an extra twenty rupees to make sure I delivered it personally. I got pride working this job."
"And you didn't think for one second that flying toward the storm was a bad idea?" Flower asked him. "What would you've done if the storm was here?"
"Well, if someone else was out this way," the mailman explained, "we thought that it couldn't be that dangerous. Right?"
"What could be such a priority to chance sending a mailman in this direction?" Leynne asked.
"It prob—"
"Leynne, Line," Link spoke up, cutting the mailman's words off. "I need the other captains in my cabin. Now."
"What?" both Leynne and Line asked at the same time.
"Thank you for the delivery," Link told the mailman. "I… wish we had the money to spare…"
The mailman held up a hand. "No, it's no trouble," he said, his face molded into a worried look.
"Do yourself a favor and don't go back to Autumn Island."
"What!?" Flower and Dholit asked, having stepped closer since Leynne and Line had disappeared.
The mailman closed his eyes and gave a solemn nod. "We weren't planning to," he replied. "If anything, we'll pass by and then head to Turtle Island."
"Follow us in so you might make it," Link said as he started walking toward his cabin. Then he ordered, "Dholit, stand by the sails. Flower, on the moorings. As soon as the captains have been informed, we're leaving!"
Irleen, still hovering in Link's wake, rushed forward and asked, "What's going on?"
Link held up the letter. "We know where the storm went."
…
"'—Link.
"'—By the time you read this, it's likely that the Undying Storm will be on top of Autumn Island. We noticed it on the horizon the next evening after you departed. At first we thought that there was something on the island causing all the lightning and smoke we thought we were seeing. Then, the next morning, we could faintly see it in the distance. It's been two more days since, and we've realized that it's coming straight for us. I've talked to the Skyriders out this way, and we've come to an agreement that I will turn myself in to the navy in exchange for them to agree to organize all the vessels out here to evacuate the population to Skyrider Port or any other island capable of holding us. I hope you're at least done with your task by the time this gets to you.
"'—If at all possible, it would help us if you could inform the main office (if it's still open) to make arrangements to receive refugees from Autumn Island. Do not come to Autumn Island! There won't be anything here.
"Signed 'Alfonzo'." Link then set the letter down on the desk and looked around his cabin. Captain North, leaning his back against the corner post of his bed, had a dark look on his face. Link could imagine why, figuring that North was upset to hear that the Undying Storm might have become a threat to the kingdom. Both Captain Luke and Chief Mallard appeared shocked and speechless. Lieutenant Blair, standing against the bulkhead next to the door, had hidden his face behind a hand. Leynne, who had been eying the maps on the table next to him until Link had first mentioned the storm, released an exhausted sigh after having held his breath for the duration of Link's reading.
Irleen, hovering above Link's head, was the first to break the silence. "This… this has got to be a dream."
"I'd agree with you there, Miss," Mallard said, "but the captain doesn't joke around like that." Luke nodded at him in agreement.
"But what is the storm doing there?" Blair snapped, finally showing an angry scowl on his face as he looked around at the rest.
"Any thoughts, Ihleen?" Leynne asked.
"Sorry, Leynne," she replied. "I'm… I'm just clueless. Nothing like this has ever happened before."
"What kind of effect would that storm have on an island?" Luke asked.
"It's hard to say," Irleen said. "The storm could just push the island out of the way, or it could swallow the island. From there, I suppose the lightning might strike the surface, maybe even knock it out of the sky."
"Oh, pehhaps, not do anything at all," Leynne spoke up.
"That's true," Link pointed out. "I mean, the storm had to pass across Forelight Island here. Other than the Sorians being gone, everything looks perfectly fine."
"Yeah, true…" Irleen said.
"Clearly," North spoke up, "we should make our next destination Autumn Island. Not only is it a lead on the Undying Storm and Her Highness Zelda, but as servants of the kingdom, we are obliged to render aid to anyone who may still be on the island. Captain Link, Lieutenant Blair, will your vessels carry injured should we find survivors?"
"We've got plenty of room," Blair said with a nod.
"So do we," Link said. "We don't have a surgeon, but we have first-aid kits on-board."
"Are we in agreement?" North asked the room.
"Oh, yeah," Luke said as he and Mallard stood.
"Agreed," Blair said, pushing away from the wall.
"We're there with you," Link told him.
"Then we'll follow the previous formation," North said. "If anything happens, it should be to us first."
"Great," Luke commented as Link's guests started filing toward the door. "Let's go hunt down a storm."
Link waited for them to leave before standing up. "Leynne," he said. "As soon as we're in the Sky Line, rouse the rest of the crew. If we're gonna lend a hand, we'll need all hands on-deck."
"Shall I make ahrangements foh a shoh pahty as well?" Leynne asked. "And shall I assume you'll be going ashoh?"
"I'll need people capable of handling themselves in a fight," Link said. "That'll be me, Layna, Flower, and Biluf. Helo will also come along just in case."
"I've recently pehfected the musket I'd been examining," he pointed out. "I should go as well."
Link shook his head. "You and Twali will be staying here and defending the ship in case Cunimincus' men show up."
"So why Biluf then?"
"She's our explosives girl. I'd like both her and Twali preparing for a fight. If possible, have Twali make enough arrows for both her and me."
Leynne nodded. "I'll pass the wohd along." He turned and left the cabin.
"This is crazy," Irleen said after the door was shut. "Are we just that unlucky today? First we find out that my people are gone, then we just happen to find out that the storm went to Autumn Island? Is that even possible in the real world?"
Link scratched his head with a slight air of irritation. "I don't know," he said. "North's right, though. We need to get there as soon as possible. I just hope no one was hurt or… killed."
"I'm sure Captain Alfonzo got everyone off in time," she said as Link stood up.
"I hope you're right," Link said as he stepped over to the window. He started through the frosted glass for a moment. Then he marched across the cabin to the door. "I'll be right back; I've got a ship to command."
…
~~Day 95 (Command, Day 58)
~~We found out that Forelight Island was abandoned about five days ago, and that the Undying Storm is now running loose in the kingdom. We don't know where the Sorians have gone or whether we can find them anymore. If they aren't here, then maybe there's another island beyond the kingdom they decided to move to. Still, since Lutock disappeared on his own (as far as we know), it's possible that they may have even gone to the surface.
~~Unfortunately, returning Irleen to her people has to be put on hold. I received a letter from my father saying that the storm is nearing Autumn Island, and that was two or three days ago. As I write this, the Island Symphony, the Moon's Shadow, the Summer Breeze, and the Grand Sails are heading for Autumn Island to see if we can render aid and find out where the storm might have gone. For all we know, we could be sailing right into it. It'll be the early evening by the time we get there, so we're looking at probably having to search into the sunset. I just hope Cunimincus decided to move on from the island instead of trying to take it. Who knows what his crew might've done.
…
Kon kon kon.
The sound roused Link from his catnap, and he sat up on the edge of the bed. "Come in," he called to the door as he rubbed the rest of the sleep from his eyes.
"Cap'n," Gold said as he stuck his head through the door. "We're 'ere at Autumn. You… You go'a see this, sir."
The grim tone in Gold's voice served to jar Link back into full alertness. "Thank you, Mister Gold," Link said. "I'll be out there in a moment."
"Aye, sir," Gold said before shutting the door.
"That couldn't have been more ominous," Irleen said as she rose from Link's desk.
Link moved over to his footlocker and started putting on his gear. "I don't think it means we've found the storm," he said. "Otherwise he'd probably just say so."
"The man was spooked. I'm sure what's here can't be much better."
"We'll see," Link said as he slung his shield over his back. After making sure the Lokomo Sword was secure, he picked up the Bow of Light, which he had left to rest in between the footlocker and the wardrobe. "I'll be right back."
Once outside, Link hustled across the deck until he was standing on the forecastle next to Leynne. He took in a deep breath to steel himself against the sight before him.
Autumn Island was covered in a rolling mass of black and red smoke which seemed to pour over the edge of the island before disappearing into the air below. The smoke's color was caused by the setting sun, but Link could also see a jagged line of orange and yellow fading in and out with the thickness of the smoke. He had never seen an island be taken over by a wildfire before, nor had anyone else for a few decades. The sight horrified him. Did the storm start it? Or was it Cunimincus?
"Link," Line said. Link glanced over at him, and he indicated ahead with his chin. "North wants us to heave-to."
Link gave the island another glance before he told Line, "Drop us out of the Sky Line and pull us to starboard."
"You got it."
"Leynne, go see what he wants. He'll probably have an airman holler at you from the main deck or the quarterdeck."
"Right," Leynne said with a nod before turning and disappearing behind Link.
Line lowered the ship until they were out of the Sky Line and turned to starboard before the ship drifted to a stop. The Moon's Shadow dropped from the Sky Line just after the Island Symphony and immediately turned about. The black ship sidled up to the Island Symphony's port side, and Link watched as Leynne, standing halfway down the main deck, was hailed by one of North's airmen. Both men had to cup their hands over their mouths to shout over the Sky Line's background sound. While they spoke, Link watched the Grand Sails pull to the opposite side of the Moon's Shadow. The Summer Breeze, being a smaller vessel, had moved further down the Sky Line before it could drop out and was doubling back by the time Leynne's conversation with North's man finished.
"So," Line said as Leynne started back toward the forecastle. "Question."
"What?" Link replied.
"How come this guy's your second-in-command?" Line asked, jerking a thumb in Leynne's direction. "He's kinda grouchy. And he talks funny."
"That's just the way some of the surface people speak," Link replied. "And, yeah, I know he gets a little cranky. But he's a good man, and he gave me quite a bit of help while I was on the surface. And. He's good at taking a punch if Dubbl gets violent."
"Which one's Dubbl?" Line asked. "Is she the killer one?"
"No, that's Layna. Dubbl's the one who speaks with that really weird accent. The one you almost can't understand."
"Oh, that one," Line said with a nod.
Leynne, having just stepped up behind Link in time to catch what Line had said, gave him a confused look before he addressed Link. "Nohth wants to go to the opposite side of the island and dock, if possible. The Summeh Breeze will hold above the island while the rest of us conduct a seahch. Although…" Leynne took in a deep breath. "He feels that, given the presence of fihes across the suhface, anyone left behind may already be dead."
Link shook his head. "We can't think like that," he said. "We'll proceed from here. Line, as we approach, I want to dock the cargo bay so we can take any survivors right to the berthing deck."
Line hissed from the back of his mouth. "As if that wasn't annoying the first time…" he groaned.
"At least you'll have moh light," Leynne commented with a slight grin.
"Leynne, did anyone find those first-aid kits?" Link asked.
"Lawrence and Hahley did. Sello was hoahding them."
Link was taken aback. "Sello?"
"The drunk?" Line asked. "Why?"
Leynne sighed and looked down at the deck. "He… discovehed that the kits contained small jahs of rubbing alcohol," he explained.
Link placed a hand over his eyes. Then he brought the hand down across his face. "Naturally," he groaned. He glanced out at the island. "We have a few minutes before we dock at the island. Ask around and see if anyone knows first aid. If they do, have them ready in the cargo hold."
"Undehstood," Leynne replied, turning to return to the main deck.
Link glanced back toward the Moon's Shadow to see the Grand Sails pulling away. "Line, engine full ahead," he said.
"Full ahead," Line said with a sigh. He turned to engage the engine. The lever began fighting his push, prompting him to growl, "Get in there, you miserable piece of shit…"
After resetting the masts (and Line won his fight with the engine controls), the Island Symphony fell into the same course as the Grand Sails. Halfway to the island, they were overtaken by the Moon's Shadow and the Summer Breeze. As they rounded the southern edge of the island, Link felt his despair lift when he saw that the fires were mostly consuming the forested area on the western shore. Only a few small fires spouted smoke from the town area. The Moon's Shadow was docked by the time the Island Symphony and the Grand Sails caught up; the Summer Breeze was hovering over the port area while covered lanterns were directed ashore by Luke's men. From the scant light of the setting sun trying to push through the billowing smoke opposite the island and the Summer Breeze's spots of illumination, both crews could see that the town and the port of Autumn Island had been thoroughly trashed. Many of the wooden buildings that comprised the town had fallen, as had a few of the stone-built warehouses. Part of the southern docks had collapsed. There was not an intact barrel or crate to be seen in the port area. Debris covered much of the docks and the streets for as much was visible from the port.
The Grand Sails docked behind the Moon's Shadow, and part of its crew disembarked to join North's airmen. The Island Symphony took a little more time due to Line complaining about having to dock the ship in a place he couldn't see. Once the ship was moored, Link, Irleen, Flower, Biluf, and Helo stepped off while, presumably, Layna took her usual position hidden somewhere close by. They were immediately hailed by one of North's men, who was a little cowed by Helo's enormous presence. From there, they were taken to North, who was standing over a pile of broken crates.
At the same time, Chief Mallard and two of his own airmen approached. North turned to face them, one piece of broken wood in his hand. "Gentlemen," he said. "I believe we may be dealing with little more than wanton destruction here."
"Is that so?" Flower said as he looked down at the pile.
"These crates had rations inside them," North said as he turned and tossed the piece of wood back onto the pile. "They're empty now. My men have reported similar findings among the port's remaining supplies. It would appear that your Captain Alfonzo made good on his word to organize an evacuation; the number of supplies that could be stored in a port like this would conceivably be enough to feed the population of the entire island on a short journey."
"So why are the crates busted up?" one of Mallard's airmen asked. "You'd think that it'd be faster to just pop off the lid and overturn the whole thing."
"Well…" Link spoke up. He had to pause to think a moment while eyes turned to him. "The Undying Storm is full of lightning and wind. It could've caused this kind of destruction."
North turned and picked up another piece of wood. "Is the Undying Storm also capable of wielding weapons?" he asked as he held the piece up.
Most eyes widened upon the sight of the piece, but Link was a little slow on the uptake. He realized that this piece of wood had been split clean by some type of blade, evidenced by a diagonal cut on the end of the piece which was not plumb to the length of the otherwise intact board.
"Cunimincus…" Irleen whispered.
"It would appear that they've been through here as well," North said as he nodded. He tossed the board back onto the pile. "However, I wonder if he might have any interest in remaining, Miss."
"I-I don't know," Irleen replied.
"I don't think there's a reason to," Link said. "Autumn Island isn't a big island, so the technoworks here won't have direct control of the Sky Lines. They'd be better off going to one of the major islands further south."
"'Technoworks'?" one of Mallard's airmen asked.
"The underlying structure of each island," Irleen explained. "The larger islands are capable of creating and maintaining the Sky Lines. There wouldn't be any such control here."
"Noted," North said, "but we should still keep an eye out just in case. That's why the Summer Breeze is sailing overhead."
"If Cunimincus was here," Flower spoke up, "shouldn't we assume that any survivors still on this island might already be dead? I mean… it's not like he's short on prisoners. He's got our princess."
"As hopeless as this seems," North said, "I would rather not chance that we could be leaving behind innocent people. We won't be making a thorough pass over the island, just a quick sweep. Until the night, when both sailing and searching will become too hazardous for us. Do you think this is acceptable, Captain Link?"
Link nodded. "It sounds fine, but we should get moving further into the town."
"Of course."
"Captain, I'd like to send a few men further ahead," Mallard said. "Our captain was last known hiding at a clinic further in."
"Airman Drew," North addressed the airman standing across the pile from them. "Find two more airmen and escort the chief's men to this clinic. If you find anything there, report back at once."
Airman Drew shot him a salute. "Aye aye, Captain," he said.
"Airman Geoff!" North then snapped at an airman that was just about to pass behind him unnoticed. Airman Geoff, wearing one arm in a sling, immediately stopped in place and turned to meet his captain's gaze. "Start herding the men toward the main street; we're starting our search there."
"Aye aye, sir," Geoff replied, saluting with his uninjured arm.
"Captain North," Mallard said as North ushered them along. "Do you mind if I ask a question?"
"I will if you don't walk while you do it," North replied. "Go ahead, Chief."
"I noticed a bunch of your men seem to have broken their arms," Mallard mentioned. Helo snorted while Link covered his face with his free hand. Mallard had not caught their reactions before he asked, "What happened to them?"
Link groaned, prompting North to give him a quick glance. "Engagement with a vengeful enemy over a month ago," North replied, allowing himself a half-grin at Link's expense. "We were only lucky those involved in the assault only had broken limbs. Most of my men are still recovering, but they're still able-bodied." Mallard gave an impressed whistle.
"Is that what the Gelto did to his crew?" Irleen whispered into Link's ear.
"Yeah…" Link groaned.
The sights of the town as the combined search party moved down the main road told more of the pillaging that Cunimincus' men had done. Entire stores had had their goods dragged out into the streets. The one item of delight seemed to be meat, as every other kind of food had merely been thrown or trampled. Some neighboring buildings sported large holes that seemed to go through three or four whole buildings. Flower pointed out to Link that these were likely the results of cannon fire. Further from the port, they found more buildings had been merely set ablaze, leaving only smoldering remains as they walked past. Link barely recognized the spot where the Skyriders' branch office had been built, the building having been utterly demolished until the only indication of what it had been was the remains of an airman's tunic protruding from under the rubble. In spite of damage that easily outshone the level of vandalism Link had seen in the middle of Might Island, he was at ease as it became clear just how thoroughly the island had been evacuated. The only bones in sight came from the looted meat, and he was hardly disturbed by the blood. No Hylians had been harmed.
At least, that was his feeling until the search party that had gone ahead returned. Link was flanking North with Biluf and Helo nearby, so he heard part of a report that the smaller search party had found survivors hiding in the remains of the clinic Alfonzo had been receiving care from. The news caused Link's heart to skip a beat. Was it possible that Alfonzo had stayed behind?
North directed the search party to follow Mallard's group to the clinic. What they found was a building with its walls collapsed inward, as if internal support was completely gone. This left the walls, large slabs of mortared stone, broken in large chunks over a pile. There was a narrow slit from which someone's arm was reaching out to them.
"Get them out of there!" North barked at his men. Immediately, while one of Mallard's airmen spoke to the owner of the arm, North's men surrounded the remains.
They ran into the problem of being unable to move the heavy slabs of rock, most of which were larger than two men put together and difficult for five men to simply shove aside. So Link turned to Helo and asked, "Would you give them some help?"
"Of course, Captain," Helo replied as he stepped forward. North's men backed away as Helo approached one slab. He had to find a slit just large enough to fit his fingers in to grip the slab, and then he simply pulled backwards.
"Help him," North ordered. Two of his airmen climbed onto the pile and fit themselves into the gap Helo was opening. With a shove, they pulled the wall vertical, and Helo stepped aside so that the wall could crash back to the ground without landing on top of him. "Be careful you don't collapse it on top of them. Find some ropes if you need it."
"Captain!" one of Mallard's men called as he approached Link, North, and Mallard. "The guy here says they've got a whole family down here, along with three women and a man with both his legs broken."
"They'll be taken directly to the Grand Sails then," North said. "Do they know of any other survivors?"
"I-I didn't ask," the airman replied.
"Go ask then," Mallard told him. The airman saluted and returned to the pile.
"I don't like this," North said as he turned to survey the landscape. "If the rest of the island was evacuated, where did these people come from? And why are they under this building?"
"Maybe they didn't wanna give up their home," Mallard suggested.
"Maybe," North agreed, "but my gut's acting up."
Mallard's man returned and said, "They don't know if there's anyone else on the island. They think they might be the only ones left behind."
"Okay," Mallard told him. "Go give North's men a hand pulling them out."
"Right."
"Hey!" Mallard snapped when the airman spun around. The airman turned back. "Where's my salute, Mark?"
"Oh," the airman replied. He immediately snapped Mallard a salute. "Sorry, Captain."
Mallard had not even gotten in his return salute before Mark turned back around. He turned to North and asked, "Did he just call me 'Captain'?"
"I thought that was a little unusual," North commented, his tone a little relaxed.
However, Irleen's tone was on-edge when she spoke up. "Unusual, nothing. He called you 'Captain' twice. That man completely forgot who you are.
"That's a sign of mind control through magic." All three pairs of eyes turned to Irleen, who was hovering over Link's head.
Then a loud crack sounded in the distance, echoing throughout the ruined surface of the island. Some of North's men had stopped walking among the rubble of other buildings and looked in the same direction, somewhere further down the main road.
North's face steeled. "That sounded like a gunshot," he told them.
The sight of a sudden glint in the direction of the sound caused a number of North's crew, including North himself, to flinch. Link was clueless as to what had just happen, having seen nothing at all.
Biluf, still standing behind him, tapped him on the shoulder. "Kyabtin," she said. Link turned and found her hand thrust in his face. In her hand was a short bolt, completely black save for a bare metal tip that capped the point. "Layna," Biluf said. He looked up at her face to discover a concerned look. He quickly worked out the relation in his head.
The bolt was from Layna. She was in trouble. "Oh, no…" he uttered.
North heard his voice and jerked his head to see what Link was worried about. Then he looked up above the horizon toward the Summer Breeze. From where they stood, the cutter was hovering to the south. Still cast in the fading light of the setting sun, North immediately realized that an airman on the deck was waving two red flags in his hands. He pulled his flintlock from his belt and cocked it. "Get away from the pile!" he ordered as his eyes passed over their surroundings.
"But si—" one airman attempted to protest.
BAM! Some of North's airmen were flung from atop the pile while the rest, including Helo, jumped away as an explosion blew open the pile. Rock and dust was sent high into the air.
North did not wait to see the group of armored skeletons emerge from the dust to bellow out, "AMBUSH!"
Link, upon seeing the Stalarmors, dropped the Bow of Light to the ground. Already deciding on which part of the ambush he was going to attack, he ripped the Lokomo Sword from its scabbard and pulled his shield off his back. Gunfire sounded as North's men, surprised by the sight of the metal skeletons, pulled their own pistols and fired. Barely any of the shots hit their mark, and the pistols were abandoned as the airmen backed away further. Helo grabbed one airman and lifted him out of the way. Then he picked up a smaller fragment of stone slab and swung it, bashing the nearest Stalarmor in the head and sending it reeling.
Link charged forward at the same time a Stalarmor decided to charge for Captain North. The Stalarmor, a shorter, rounder specimen compared to those Link had encountered on Sagacity Island, changed its mind and huddled behind its shield. This did not help it much since Link's charge activated his boots. He rammed his own shield into the Stalarmor, and the Stalarmor stood to its full height and flailed to keep from falling over. Link then thrust his sword forward, knocking the Stalarmor's head off with a powerful jab. He did not get a chance to press his attack as a second Stalarmor sidestepped his falling companion and attempted to take off Link's outstretched arm with a double-bitted battleaxe easily larger than Link. Link withdrew his arm and jumped backwards. He could feel the swing create a soft breeze, and the bit intended for Link's arm embedded itself into the ground before him. Because it left itself exposed, Link could see the Stalarmor's life stone forming its left elbow. He raised the Lokomo Sword above his head and brought it down on the elbow as hard as possible. What he hit was actually the Stalarmor's radius, but the force behind the hit caused its elbow to collapse. The life stone struck the rocky ground hard, shattering it. The light disappeared from the Stalarmor's eye sockets, and it collapsed in place.
Link looked up just in time to see the stout Stalarmor rearing back to get him with a stab. Then a rock the size of a footlocker sailed directly over Link's head and smashed into the Stalarmor's face and chest. The rock flattened the Stalarmor against the ground, leaving it flailing helplessly as it tried to wriggle its way free. Link looked over his shoulder to find Helo standing almost directly behind him, a friendly grin on his face.
Then Link, his puzzlement drawing him from the battle for a moment, realized that the surroundings had broken out into a large swordfight with the occasional crack of a gunshot nearby. He hunched low and moved back to where he had dropped the Bow of Light. He placed his sword and shield on the ground, and then he tugged from his belt the quiver he had traded Twali for the use of his stolen bow and quiver. He pulled an arrow and nocked it. Then he located a Lizalfos spewing flames at two of North's retreating airmen. They were across the wide street, so Link decided to draw the arrow and take aim. He had no particular target in mind when he loosed it, only hoping that the arrow would at least get the Lizalfos' attention. The arrow pierced the Lizalfos' throat, and it immediately choked back on its own flames. It lifted its head in a panic and snapped the arrow in half to remove it. But, before it could focus itself back on its targets, one of the airmen lunged forward and sliced its throat open with a cutlass. Link quickly nocked another arrow and searched for another target he could easily hit.
Whumph! A sudden pillar of fire and smoke blew into the sky further down the road. Link first thought it was Biluf until he spotted her dragging an injured airman to cover in between some of the building remains.
Then a high-pitched laugh pierced the air, echoing off the buildings in between gunshots and the clanging of swords. "Swaixghe!" the voice cawed in the distance. "Swaixghe tahvi! Aswuk vaxghse ivexhqe!"
"Irleen!" Link shouted.
"Right here, Link!" Irleen replied from behind Link.
"What is that shouting?"
"It's a Wizzrobe! Just our luck! That's what was controlling that airman!"
"What's he going after?" Link asked as he prepared to fire at a Geozard pinning an airman to the ground with its greater girth. The airman had its enormous mouth just seconds from biting into his face, his hands holding the creature's toothy maw open.
"I can't tell; it's gotten too dark." She paused, and Link loosed his arrow. The arrow struck the creature in the side, and it no longer had the strength to eat the airman's face. The airman rolled it off, grasped at a broken board, and delivered a bone-breaking smash to the Geozard's head. "Wait!" Irleen called over their surroundings. "I think I see it! It's chasing…"
"Layna!" Biluf suddenly cried out. Link had spotted her at the same time. Another pillar of fire had revealed Layna's dark, agile form dashing between walls and over rubble to get away from the source of the fire. The creature following her looked like a gigantic bird. Illuminated by its own fire, Link saw black wings waving about in a manner that could not possibly support the flight it was achieving. The creature wore a red cloak with a hood over most of its head. What was visible was a large, colorful beak the likes of which Link had never seen on a bird before. Something in its right hand shimmered before another pillar of fire burst from a pile of ash not too far behind Layna.
Link then saw Biluf run across his vision and called out, "Biluf! Wait!" He nearly started after her before remembering the discarded items around him. He dropped the bow so that he could pick up and replace his sword and shield.
"This is bad, Link!" Irleen shouted. "They're both gonna get fried!"
"I know!" Link shouted back just as he hooked his quiver back to his belt. "Is that the only one?"
"Looks like it!"
Link dashed after Biluf, who had already crossed the street and was moving to intercept Layna on one of the adjoining roads. He had to pull to a stop to avoid a pair of Geozards that had stepped directly in his way. One attempted to club him, so he jumped backwards to avoid the hit. After he dropped the Bow of Light, his hand found his boomerang and drew it. He was too close to throw it, so he opened it and sidestepped the advancing Geozard's downward blow. This put the Geozard into perfect strike range, and Link bashed it in the face with the boomerang's metal center. It fell out of the way, and the other Geozard swung a board that barely missed Link's scalp. Link leaned backwards to avoid a subsequent backhand that would not have missed and switched his boomerang to his opposite hand. He deflected another swing with the boomerang just as he placed his hand on the Lokomo Sword. He drew it and twisted right away, aiming a swing at the board. The board was cleaved with a clean slice, which the Geozard then dropped in surprise at finding that his target had a better weapon.
Ka-BAM! The gunshot sounded from behind Link. A hole opened in the wide space directly between the Geozard's eyes, and it simply slumped lifelessly to the ground.
Link spun around. "Keep moving!" North shouted at him as he holstered his pistol.
Link replaced the Lokomo Sword and retrieved the Bow of Light. Then, after jogging for a moment so that he could put his boomerang back in its pouch, he picked up his pace in an attempt to find Biluf and Layna.
BOOM! He found them just further down the road, where there were considerably more Lizalfos and Geozards and less Hylians. The explosion that had just left Link's ears ringing, however, had succeeded in scattering Cunimincus' men about. It had come from the right side of the street, where Biluf stood with a pair of ball-shaped bombs cradled in her arm. Link was not sure how she was doing it, but she seemed to just give the fuse of one bomb a sharp tug to light it. Then she bowled it at a pair of Lizalfos charging at her from across the street. The sight of the bomb caused them to pull to a stop and quickly retreat, but they did not get far enough away before it blew up. BOOOM! Both Lizalfos were tossed into a produce stand, collapsing the wooden structure on top of themselves after landing.
Link immediately nocked an arrow and loosed it at a Geozard approaching her from behind. The arrow found its shoulder, and it spun around in an awkward manner as it tried to find who had shot it.
WHUMPH! Link had only caught a fleeting glimpse of Layna dash across the street before the Wizzrobe's pillar of fire burst to life in the middle of the street, incinerating the wounded Geozard. Its cackling followed as it sailed overhead, completely unaware of Biluf or Link.
Biluf was determined to change that as she reached into the messenger bag slung across her shoulder. She produced a smaller bomb than what she had been using and gave chase into an alleyway. Link could not follow because the Wizzrobe's fire had saturated the cobblestone road and would not die down. So he opted to leap onto one of the nearby buildings. From his vantage point, the Wizzrobe was clear as day. Layna, however, was out of sight. Biluf was just making her way out of the nearby alley, so Link tore across the roof and leapt onto the next building to keep up.
Then Link caught sight of Biluf's bomb sailing into the air. The sight of it surprised him, especially since it was lit. He slid to a stop and ducked down, covering his head with his arms.
BOOM!
"Yaaaaah!" the Wizzrobe hollered. It stopped in the air and spun around. Link looked up to see it spot Biluf running back towards the center of the fight. "Sahxghv mbeg njihjswuxgh, fix!?" it shouted at her as it swooped low to the ground.
WHUMPH! The sudden rush of fire caused Link to fall backwards. When he recovered, he quickly moved to the edge of the roof and looked down. The Wizzrobe had sent Biluf sprawling into the middle of the road, her bag's contents spilled across the ground. Link quickly looked up and saw the Wizzrobe performing a turn high in the air, doubtless coming back to finish the job. His concentration faltered, and his hand fumbled around the quiver, seemingly unable to grasp an arrow. Biluf recovered from her fall and turned in time to see the Wizzrobe heading straight for her again.
Then, in a blink, Biluf had completely disappeared.
WHA-BOOOOOOOM! Link was flung backwards again by the combined force of the Wizzrobe's magic igniting Biluf's bombs almost instantly. The largest cloud of smoke thus far encompassed the immediate area. Link rolled onto his stomach and looked up to find the Wizzrobe hovering just above the cloud, head swiveling as it looked for its prey.
Link then heard coughing and crawled across the roof. Layna was emerging from the neighboring buildings with Biluf slung over one shoulder. Biluf was an encumbrance; Layna could not run anymore.
The Wizzrobe started cackling. "Bvax njihjswuxgh, aswuk vaxgh?" it asked as it slowly hovered in their direction. Link immediately stood up and leapt onto the next building. It put Layna and Biluf out of sight, but it gave him a better angle from which to shoot. "Jahghshoxghen mbagh."
Link ripped an arrow out of his quiver and nocked it. His draw was strong. "Not my crew," he growled to himself as he sighted the Wizzrobe along the arrow's shaft.
SHIiiiiin! Link had not even realized that something had happened to the arrow until he saw it strike the Wizzrobe in the back. Instead of a simple arrow, a large shard of light pierced through the Wizzrobe's chest. The Wizzrobe gave a jerk and seemed to just freeze in place.
Then it turned around and gave Link a surprised look, as if just realizing he was there. It looked down at the light protruding from its chest. It touched a hand to it. Then it proceeded to flip out. "XGHEGEX PWAXGHVEXGH SMEXH!" it cried out as it bounced about in midair, arms flailing. "BWEVXH TWAXH IMBEX DAGH!? MOGH EXHANG DAGH TWAXH!?"
Link pulled another arrow and had it aimed at the Wizzrobe in seconds. The shaft suddenly burst into another shard of light, which Link seemed to simply hold in the bow without feeling any sort of effect. He awed at it for a moment. Then he fired. The arrow showed none of the usual wavering or arcing that he had seen when he had fired arrows before. Its path was true, and it pierced the Wizzrobe in the head. The Wizzrobe ceased all movement and fell to the ground with a hard thump that Link barely heard. He stared at the bow, surprised at what he had just done with it.
Then he started and dashed across the roof to jump back down to the ground. He found Layna and Biluf huddled against the side of a building. They went unnoticed by Cunimincus' men since North's men had moved onto the street and engaged them. Link approached them and came to a stop just over Layna's shoulder. At first, he was concerned that Biluf had been seriously hurt.
And she had been. Sitting against the building, Link could clearly see that her face had been seared by flame, the skin on her right cheek and the outside of her right eye red and horribly blistered. Some of her hair had also been singed around her temple, but, amazingly, it only appeared that it was only that narrow band on the side of her face that had been touched. He looked down and saw that her right leg was bloody from a large wound on her shin. She was gritting her teeth, forcing herself to keep her screams in check.
"Biluf…" Layna whispered.
Biluf managed to smile. "'Inu nadcilixak, Layna," she said through her teeth. "'Inu masohak, 'itab 'inu salwobak."
"Biluf… wabin caddix…" Layna said as she carefully moved some of Biluf's singed hair away from the blisters.
"'Inu xwicikak, Layna," Biluf said.
Link gently placed a hand on Layna's shoulder. "Layna, she's all right," he said to her.
"Captain Link!" Link looked over his shoulder to see Flower and Helo jogging toward them. That was when Link realized that the fighting around them was dying down. Most of Cunimincus' men lay dead on the ground. North's airmen were also strewn about, but they were being tended to by their fellows. None of them in immediate sight appeared to be dead.
Link turned to them. "Helo, we'll need you to take Biluf back to the ship; she's hurt."
"Yes, Captain," Helo said with a nod.
"How's the fighting further down?" Link asked.
"Still bad," Flower reported as Helo stepped around Link. "These lizard things are a pain to kill. And there's still one of those skeleton things wandering around, too."
"Layna, we shou—" Link said as he turned to face the Gelto. However, he found that Layna had already disappeared. "Never mind."
"North is looking for you," Flower said.
"Helo, take care of her," Link said over his shoulder. Then he indicated the main road with his free hand. "Let's go."
Together, they returned to the main road and were almost immediately immersed in the continuing fray. Link used the Bow of Light to shoot two different Lizalfos while Flower, wielding one of the Lizalfos' machetes, repulsed a couple of Geozards looking to attack them. North was holding position in an alley with two of his airmen. Both airmen held their pistols aimed down the street in the direction of the forest while North was resting against the opposite wall, where he had a clear view of where they were aiming while he was reloading his pistol. He gave them a word of warning as Link and Flower approached.
"Any news of that thing causing the explosions?" North asked as Link and Flower placed their backs against the wall across from him.
"Dead," Link replied. "How are things here?"
"It looks like they may be falling back," North said. "But they're moving in the direction of the port. They're circling this position and using the backstreets."
"Could be thinking about commandeering a ship," one of North's airmen pointed out.
"Captain," the other one said. "Come have a look at this."
North slid down the wall and looked in the direction his airman indicated. "Captain Link, I think your ship is signaling," he said.
Link hunched low and peered around the corner. To his horror, a red flare hung in the air over the port. "Oh, no…" he uttered.
"What is that?" North asked.
Link gave a frustrated sigh. "A signal, all right," he said. "Our ships are under attack."
North swore under his breath and glanced down the other side of the road. "Okay," he said. "Boys, let's get moving."
"Go, go!" one of the airmen shouted. Both of them then charged out into the street.
"Stick with me," North told Link just before joining them. Link and Flower ran to catch up. North then bellowed, "All hands, fall back! The ships are under attack!"