Chapter 18
Sleeping with the fishes
"Shh…Quiet! Are you trying to let every moblin from here to the never-ending forest know we've arrived?"
"Sorry, my leg got stuck in a gopher hole back there…or something. I mean, you're having us run through this tall grass like were being chased by Demise himself! It felt like something jumped up and yanked me, I couldn't help it. Could hardly see! No moon and not a star in sight tonight!"
The man struggled to keep up with his fellow infiltrators but as he caught up to rest, he let out an awfully loud sneeze. All heads jerked to face him as he blew like a trumpet, each waving a finger over their lips.
"Shh, quiet!" the leader whispered back, snapping back to pinch the man's nose before he could let out another squeak of a sneeze. They were all huddled now behind some tall brush, eyeing the shoreline below their position.
"I'm sorry," the man sniffed, a raspy cold in his voice. "It's just so terribly chill out tonight. This unholy rain we've been having ain't no help either."
"Be still man or every monster is gonna' hear that racket you're carrying. I told you not to bring any gear. Now drop your stuff and leave your sword and buckler. We're not going to need them where we are going. And do it quietly. There, over there into the thicket."
"What? Have you gone mad, how are we to fight!?"
"Shh, I said quiet. You can talk without having to yell in my ear ya' know. You're two feet away, I'm not deaf. "
The man crept a little closer and began to whisper. "Sorry…but uh, no sword or shield, eh? What are we to do then?"
"Trust me, you aren't going to need them. They won't be missed," Link replied smugly, wearing a cool smile on his face.
"Won't be missed! How will we defend ourselves?" the man panicked, raising his voice yet again.
"Shh…We'll be going in only with dirks. But still…we are not to use them unless we absolutely have to. Got it? Can't be lining the castle grounds with corpses, raising suspicions before our task is done."
The nervous and over anxious man gulped, nodding in agreement. Another voice was then heard to the other side of Link, soft as a whisper. "So, it looks like we will have to ferry across the moat. It's too cold for you all, so I'll swim across silently for us and steal one of those paddle boats they have docked. It shouldn't be too difficult."
"Yeah…It only looks to be two Bokos covering the post from what I can see. But, be extra alert just in case they have any friends nearby. Hard to tell with only two watch torches lit near them. Remember, without the masks, they can still see you. So, be snappy about it. We can't have them sound the alarm."
"Don't ya' worry friend, I'll be as quiet as the mist. And besides, Bokos are my specialty!" The Zora prince smiled. "If Snappy is what you want, then snappy is what you'll get," he said, dashing way ahead from the others who were following him, jogging in a single file line, keeping low to the earth as they made their way up to the shoreline, opposite to the island where the castle stood.
Sidon twirled back to face them, only just to perform a friendly salute with a farewell grin as he calmly strolled into the moat, careful not to splash or cause a further ruckus. And as his head disappeared beneath the waves of the water and into the depths, all that was left for Link and the others to do was wait.
"Your majesty, we cannot delay any longer, I must give the orders to march, or the battalion won't be in position to strike," demanded Simon, taking off his horse-tailed helmet to speak more freely. The camp was in an uproar, soldiers were scrambling about and assembling their gear, infantry and Cavalry alike.
"Also, I cannot spare to leave any of my men behind at this position, so you'll just have to come along with me. I cannot risk your safety here being unguarded. I know you care deeply about your friend, but you are my priority, not her, and the army must move. The dawn comes quickly," he reiterated to her.
The princess however was spuriously busy, coordinating with others nearby, still pacing about the infirmary camp, delaying her leaving.
"Your grace, did you hear me? We must leave. There is no time!" Simon raised his voice.
Appearing to ignore his demands, she was talking in hushed whispers to the head surgeon, just steps away from a comatose Riju. She had been going over last-minute preparations with him.
Feeling ignored, Simon's face went red as an opened hydromelon and he took a bold lunge forward when Buliara stood up beside him, in-between him and the princess. She had been on guard watching over Riju and didn't particularly like the Lord's hasty and hot-headed nature attitude toward the princess, nor his aggressive tone. The strong and proud gerudo woman stood menacing and quietly growled toward the lord of Illiastar. The fierce woman reminded him that she wasn't going to tolerate any disrespect directed at the princess, or allow any forcefulness from him. At least not without any consequences.
After giving the tall woman a one-two over glance and not wanting to stir any trouble, Simon thought better of it to back off. He didn't want to contend with the fire in her eyes that he saw. "I'm just trying to talk to the princess. No need to get all worked up."
Buliara huffed, firmly placing her hand on the hilt of her scimitar.
Upon noticing the humorous confrontation, Zelda cocked her head back to the lord of Illiastar, and waved him down with a single motion of her hand. "Yes, I hear you my lord. Just a moment please," she deflected. "Don't worry Buliara, I do believe I can handle this one. Thank you," she said letting out a soft giggle. Buliara smiled back with a reverent tilt of her head and resumed her watch, sitting next to Riju.
"There won't be any more moments if we delay any longer," groaned Simon as he leaned in closer toward her under the tent, fully ready for war, wearing all his pristine battle armor. He appeared like a grand warrior out of an ancient painting. The ones you can only find adorning the halls of great castles.
Zelda then spun to a soldier nearby and interrupted him just steps away, as he was busily gathering provisions. "You there!" She called out to the man, alerting his attention. "Get whatever wagons we can salvage that weren't destroyed over to the infirmary ward as quickly as you can. We're going to have to move the wounded tonight as the army marches ahead, alright?"
Simon's mouth fell to the floor. "I can't have my men spare valuable resources. We need these wagons to move whatever weaponries and war supplies we have left. The wounded will just have to stay here. They should be alright as long as the battle goes according to plan—"
She cut him off with a snap in her voice. "Didn't you just say how you couldn't leave me here, on account of my safety and yet, now you tell me that it will be safe here. So, which is it my lord, I'm confused, is it safe here or not?" she shot an icy glare at him.
He nearly fell a step back at her ice piercing stare and coughed. "No…for you… it is not! But being as it may, I cannot suffer any wagons to be wasted on this endeavor," he retorted.
"Wasted!? This is my friend and your soldiers! These are our people! I'm sorry, but I'm not leaving the wounded defenseless to be at the mercy of our enemies. You will suffer me this one act of kindness!" she fired back.
Simon was about to speak when the soldier waiting on her orders interjected. "Am I to go and prepare wagons your highness?"
Simon glanced to the princess and back to the man, nodding in approval, not wanting to debate the matter further or waste anymore time, relenting to her demands.
"Yes, you are to go, quickly, whatever you can manage to save from the fires earlier will have to do," she commanded as she beamed back at the soldier with a warm smile. Wasting no time, the man crossed his arm over his breastplate in a bowed salute and left in a hurry to fulfill her wishes.
Simon was about to speak again when she spoke first before he could utter syllable." Thank you, my lord. And don't worry, we only need several wagons. And, besides we will only use the ones that are unfit for moving munitions or weapons. We'll only take the slow and rickety ones. They will suffice for now. Just…never ask me to ever leave my people behind. That is something I could never do."
"As, you wish your grace, we will then just have to make do accordingly. But I can only give you twenty minutes, and that's it. Then we will have to move out or we won't make the first marker in time."
"You just ready your army to march, and let me handle things over here, okay? We'll be following up after you all in the tail end," she said, smiling as she turned back to face the other care workers bustling about, hurrying to prepare for the journey.
With the matter settled, Simon tilted his head in response to her decree. He swiftly spun around, war cloak flapping in the wind as he stomped off.
After buying herself a few more minutes to prepare, Zelda resumed her assiduous attention to the task at hand. She'd been directing a small group of Soldiers that was left at her behest and the medical staff that were stationed there.
"Your highness, we have assembled three wagons at your request just outside the tent. A fourth one as we speak is getting one of its wheels fixed. Several spokes need replacing. Ten minutes is what I'm told when it will be ready," a soldier reported.
"Very good captain, thank you. Now, we must be careful with the wounded. We must take extra care while we move them in their beds when we lift them. Please, let your men know that they must be gentle," she said to man as she was walking alongside several nurses and soldiers who were busy at work getting the ill taken care of. They were also loading up whatever medical supplies and gear they could afford to take with them for the march, since space was limited. Unfortunately, due to lack of space, a lot of needed things were to be left behind.
"Careful!" the princess called out to a group of soldiers who were about to lift the cot where Riju lay. "Here, let me help," she asked.
"We can handle things here your highness. You should go. They are preparing your horse for you to ride," one of the solders replied, grabbing the edges of the bed of her friend.
"Nonsense!" the princess countered. "I will be riding along with Riju in her wagon,"
"But your highness—"
"No buts. I will not leave her side, not now."
"I'm afraid there wouldn't be any room in her wagon with it being stacked to the brim with supplies and all. And what about your horse?" another soldier asked.
"Let someone else ride. I'll be fine. I'll just have to march alongside her then. Besides, you need all the horses you can get for the battle. Can't be wasting any on me," she insisted.
"But your majesty?"
"Now go, that is an order," she smiled.
"Yes your grace," the man bowed, leaving her and the others to finish loading up the wounded.
Back in his tent, Sylmoor had been preparing for the inevitable battle as well. With his face drenched in sweat and filled with fear, he had been in the middle of being suited up by a squire. He was wrapped in every manner of armor imaginable. The time had finally arrived for them to embark and follow the army south to the field of where the battle was to happen. The lord was no exception, per the princess's decree. He had even been charged to lead a side offensive with a company of men himself.
In from the flap of his tent stormed in Seabass, the zora's proudest soldier. "Ha Ha! We'll aren't you all the fanciest dressed army I ever did see? How do you expect to actually fight wearing all that armor anyways?" The giant laughed as he evaluated the shaken man in an up and down evaluation.
Sylmoor of course looked ludicrous. He had been layered in a ridiculous amount of gear, consisting of multiple forms of chain mail, padding, shoulder plates, breast protection and a glistening silver helmet to finish the ensemble.
"Fight!? Me? No, I don't expect to fight! I expect to live!" Sylmoor retorted, voice muffled by the helmet. He then ripped it off his head and continued. "This armor is the finest in all of Illiastar—NO, of all of Hyrule! This is no ordinary armor that you see standing before you now! This is old Crystal armor! The finest in all the land. These are the very same that only the old KNIGHTS of Hylia wore! Forged by the ancient dwarven smiths from the era of myth and legend! "
Sylmoor stood proud, chest out. "It is said that it can even repel the mightiest of strikes, even from the fierce blow of a lynel's sword mind you! And I so happen to have one of the only sets out of three left in existence!"
"But my Lord, you said you don't believe in the old legends, remember?" his moppy-haired young squire spoke, still latching up the last bits of gear around his liege.
Sylmoor elbowed him to hush up. "Well I do now! I don't plan on dying anytime soon, especially not sober! This armor is the best chance I got at keeping my head on my shoulders! It has got to work!"
Seabass, lifted his burly hand to his chin, cupping his great white shark grin. "Well, if it's from the era of myth and legend as you say, then how do you know the story behind those shiny hunks of crystal metal you're wearing isn't just a myth or legend?" Seabass chuckled again, walking about the tent.
The lord blinked in realization that the zora had a point. A worry shot up his spine and his face went pale as the moon.
Seabass grinned again, seeing the ghost face of Sylmoor. "Don't ya' worry little man, my prince has charged me to look after ya during the fight. You just stay close to me and my men and we'll keep ya alive," he roared, letting out another full belly laugh.
Suddenly, a faint horn was heard throughout the camp and Sylmoor jerked to its trumpet song.
"Its is time. The march has begun. Or dear goddesses...why me?" He gulped. "I hope you are as good as they say sir—" Sylmoor paused, forgetting his zora guardian's name.
"Seabass' the name! C'mon, what are we waiting for? We have a castle to conquer!" he said, smacking the back of the lord, knocking him down from his dressing stool.
"Eyahh!" Sylmoor shrieked as he tripped. But, he had been swiftly caught before he completely fell from his new friend.
"Easy my lord, wouldn't what you to injure yourself before the great fight now, would we?" he laughed.
"No…we wouldn't…come, let us be off before someone makes off with my stallion," Sylmoor said, motioning them all to join the rest of the caravan of soldiers outside, marching away.
"You there, it's almost time for a change of watch! The boss wants us to switch early tonight, but I have a better offer for you scum. You do my watch for me and I'll share ya some of this fine and tasty meat I've been roasting? How about it? I haven't slept in three days! And for what! Nothing! Quiet as the night is long, just like every night!"
"You can keep your filthy rotten meat. I know where you've gotten it from! No way am I giving up an hour's rest for your maggoty old boar! Hardly anything tasty about it! And besides, you thinking on going against the boss's orders? Perhaps I might tell him you ain't liking his leadership much? Perhaps, you be thinking you ought to lead?"
Sidon quietly poked his head from out of the water, underneath the dock on castle shore. Hearing muffled voices of two enemies chatting as they walked among the wood planks above him, he had to wait for his opportunity. The dismayed voices could only be described as sounds of growls and screeches to his ears, with one of the beasts aggressively barking back to the other. It was all spoken in a corrupt language, unknown to his recollection.
The voices continued. He even heard one shove the other but couldn't be sure at what all the fuss was about or what could have had them so riled up. Could they have seen spotted me? He thought. No, that can't be it, surely, they would have sounded the alarm if they did. What was all the commotion about?
Unsure what they were up to or how long he would have to wait, he realized he couldn't waste a moment longer. The army was probably already on the move. He had to act quickly. So, he decided to devise a fast plan.
"What you say to me!? Red maggot scum like you dare to challenge my authority!? You will obey and keep quiet or I'll shut you up forever myself! Now, are you going to take my offer or does forever sleep among the fishes' sound more appealing to you?" the silver boko snarled, cocking back his fist to offer a well overdo beating to his subordinate. "No one will miss a low level red anyways!"
A sudden splash was heard, just behind the leader bokoblin as he was chastising his underling.
"What's that!?" the silver spun around, crept and leaned over the side of the old wooden pier to have a look.
The other went still, peeking one eye open, certain that moments prior he was just about to receive a throttling, but realized something had happened instead. There he stood several feet away, confused, poking his pig nose from behind his leader to have a look as well. As the leader stared deep into the dark water below, he was unable to see what could have made the splash in the calm tide just moments prior. A thick and unnatural fog also began to blanket over the water making visibility even harder for the cretin to see.
"Err, well it was probably just a fish, now where was I—" he spoke but was startled again by an even louder splash. He jumped back around to that noise, this time it came from behind where his comrade stood.
To his fright and shock, his fellow boko had disappeared into the night without a trace. As if he never existed at all. The water became still and lifeless once again. He gazed over the side of the dock and into the water once again, this time over the edge where his friend was. Once again, he couldn't see a thing stir beneath the surface.
Just as the monster was to turn away, in a flash, two great red arms lunged out from water and pulled him into the depths below. It would be the last his eyes would ever see. Zora were unmatched in the water. And this wasn't just any mere zora, this was their prince.
Seconds later splashing out from the water and onto the deck was Sidon. "Well that was easy. Now, if only I could invite the entire scourge army to face us all in the water, this battle would be over before it's even begun. My people would have this handled no problem," he whispered to himself, grinning. "Now, time to get the boats."
The prince crept as fast but as quiet as he could on the docks until he met up to where the boats were tied. But before he cut one loose, he thought it wise to blow out the two torches that had lit up the area. Cover of darkness would be their ally until they were able to spring their trap, he realized.
With no time lost, and as silent as a mouse, he cut the rope and shoved the boat off the deck, sailing back across to the other shoreline. The breach has finally begun.
Authors Notes: Short Chapter! I had to split this one up, it would have been too large if I kept it one. Next one will be juicier. Stay tuned for that. I do hope you are all enjoying the story so far, let me know if its entertaining. I love reading your comments. And it motivates me to improve and deliver a better story for you all. Also,if you haven't checked out the audiodrama version yet, what are you waiting for? It needs some love. please check it out on youtube. You can find it if you search Zelda botw sequel(fanmade) audiobook part 1. Episode two of that will be released shortly as well.