Chapter 19 - The Plan
Moving the camp had been a difficult affair. Everyone knew what was at stake and had a sense of urgency. Most of the people left were still wounded and exhausted however.
The camp tents were easy enough to put down, Link stepping in to help take down most of them along with Sabbah.
They had finished packing up around the time the sun set. A scout who had been treated by Zelda before hand was sent to find a new location that was easy to defend. They had returned a short while later, pointing out a spot on top of a cliff that was still easy to reach the shore with if they needed to.
Zelda spent the last of her energy healing those who needed it. The ordeal had cost her a great deal of energy. She had eaten nearly an entire bag of her favoured tablet sweet to keep her going. There were a few crumbs left.
Link had hitched Epona to the wagon he had spent nearly two days travelling in. He was still marvelling at being able to move again. Rolling his shoulders because he could.
As the wagon was loaded up with the camp supplies, Hylian Army horses led other carts the army had brought with them ahead of time. There was at least food and fresh water. Though with the lake as polluted as it was, it didn't bode well for anyone.
He fed Epona some carrots he had kept wrapped for her and brushed her mane. She appreciated the attention with a happy rasp.
The other horses looked strong, but Link knew they couldn't match Epona. He often wondered where her endurance had come from. There were a great many breeds of horses out there. She was a Flaxen breed, that much he knew. But somehow she had outpaced and outmatched every other horse she had come in to contact with. Including Cyd, Zelda's royal horse which would have had the best care available.
Maybe it was something to do with his piece of the Triforce or maybe just bountiful luck that he was her rider. He whispered a 'thank you' to the air, to whatever force had brought her to him.
Zelda walked to him, breaking him out of his idle thoughts.
"I think we are all packed and ready" she said as she looked behind her.
Following her gaze, he saw there was none of the camp left, save bootprints and a few bloodstains.
The entire operation had been done in around half an hour. He was grateful Zelda had allowed him to rest on his horse whilst the others packed. The day was wearing hard on him now. Every muscle was taut and ached from exertion. He would have happily slept on pointy rocks, he thought.
"Fine work! I don't really know the route we're taking though. Am I following the army's horses?" he asked.
"Yes. The scout is riding at the front wagon and I am assured it will not take long. "
She gestured ahead to the carts lining up on the path out of the shoreline. She tuned her head back again.
"Link, there's no room on the cart now. Do you mind if I ride with you?" Her voice carried a softness, a rare moment where the burden of leadership seemed to lift just a little. She glanced at him, almost as if seeking permission not just to ride Epona, but to allow herself this brief reprieve.
"You don't need to ask," Link replied with a small smile, offering her his hand. "You know you're always welcome."
She took his hand and settled behind him, exhaling a quiet breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
She settled in to the saddle easily enough and adjusted herself. Riding tandem on a horse wasn't impossible. It was however a lot easier if both riders were experienced.
The last preparations were almost done. Sabbah made her way over to them both.
"We shall go on foot. Want to be able to respond fast if we are attacked." she said a little more lightly than she usually did.
Since Link had spoken to her and sworn to not forget the fallen Gerudo, Sabbah had been a lot more relaxed around him. He hoped she was feeling like she could trust him more. Though anyone fighting a desperate fight together would naturally bond together, he felt.
"Of course, Sabbah. I am grateful to have you and your Gerudo with us. It makes a big difference." Zelda said kindly.
"Even though we suffer, I am glad to have fought with you all. Hylian soldiers lack skill, but work very well together" she remarked.
Link smiled to himself. Even her bluntness had softened somewhat.
The lead cart set off, creaking under the weight of its load as it rolled over the uneven ground, followed closely by the next. Link nudged Epona forward, falling in line behind the convoy. The world around them seemed to exhale as the sun dipped below the horizon, and the first silver rays of the moonlight began to paint the landscape in shades of blue and gray. The air grew cooler, a sharp contrast to the warmth of the day, and with it came the stillness of night—a stillness that felt almost sacred after the chaos they had endured.
The gentle clatter of wooden wheels over rocky terrain and the occasional rattle of metal from the packed supplies became a rhythmic lullaby, weaving through the quiet night. The sounds were comforting in their regularity, a reminder that despite everything, they were still moving forward. Every so often, a soft breeze would stir, carrying with it the faint scent of the earth and the distant rustle of leaves, as if the very land was whispering secrets to the stars above.
Behind him, Zelda's quill scratched lightly against the parchment of her notebook, the sound almost lost in the night but close enough for Link to hear. She paused briefly to offer him her last piece of tablet, a small gesture that felt like an anchor to reality. He accepted it with a grateful nod, the sweet taste lingering on his tongue, a reminder of simple pleasures in the midst of uncertainty.
As they slowly ascended the hill, the landscape began to change. The dark silhouette of the cliffs gave way to the vast expanse of Hyrule's fields, now bathed in the ghostly light of the moon. The sprawling plains stretched out endlessly, their familiar contours now unfamiliar in the night. The tall grass swayed gently, a sea of shadows that seemed to ripple with every breath of wind.
In the distance, the fields appeared both serene and unsettling, as if they belonged to another world entirely. What was usually a sight of comfort in the daylight now felt laden with mystery, as if the darkness concealed more than it revealed. The distant hills and valleys were shrouded in a veil of uncertainty, and the silence that hung over the plains was thick with unspoken fears. It was a landscape caught between worlds, where the familiar became strange, and the night seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the dawn.
Link kept his eyes on the horizon, the eerie stillness of the plains stirring something deep within him. It was as if the land itself was whispering a warning, cautioning them against the unknown that lay ahead. Yet, despite the unease, there was a strange beauty in the moment—a fleeting sense of peace amidst the tension, a reminder that they were still moving forward, even when the path was uncertain.
Eventually, the caravan arrived at its spot on the cliffside, the moon shining bright. Now, there was more work to do.
Everyone, now healed thanks to Zelda, started unpacking and building the new campsite. Several soldiers went to fell a few trees near the cliffs and hauled them back, starting on making a rough wall to help funnel any attackers in to a kill zone. Link rode Epona back and forth, helping to haul fallen trees with the cart. Sabbah tended to her sisters and set up a tent for them all. After which, all of the Gerudo came to help build the wall as they were given axes to chop the wood.
Link was proud that both Hylian and Gerudo were working together so seamlessly. He had worried that the pre-conceived notions from both sides would make working together impossible. But here they were, as if they had been friends all along.
With their help and strength, the work on the wall was finished within a few hours. Link tried his hand at chopping trunks down to size.
His arms felt numb afterwards, having also helped bind the standing logs together and bracing them.
Zelda oversaw the raising of Hyrules flag. Should reinforcements show up, then they would at least have an easier time finding the camp. Finally, as the moon stood high in the sky, everyone could finally stop working.
Link sat around a campfire, staring aimlessly in to the flames. He had eaten dried meats and fruits provided by the Hylian army. Though grateful for the free food, he thought of Telma's bar once more and her home cooked food. He might just empty his entire wallet next time he saw her.
Karlsman came to join him by the fire, exhausted and ready to sleep on the spot.
"I've never looked forward to retirement once in my life. But now..." he said sleepily.
"You'd think. But I bet if everything went nice and quiet for a few years, you'd be itching for something to do." Link replied.
"Well of course, but then I'd take up smithing. Or knitting. I don't know, but I can be things other than a soldier"
"Fair point."
"How about you? I bet you've got a lot on your plate, but what do you imagine doing when you finally put the sword down?"
Link thought for a moment. He had considered a few ideas, but then some new crisis reared its head. He hadn't really thought hard about any long term things he'd like to do. He was a good swordsman, but he didn't imagine he could be that for the rest of his life. He had already worked a farm, but that seemed so far removed from his current life that he couldn't imagine going back to it.
"Maybe an instructor. A lot of different people have given me good advice over the years. Might be nice to give back?" he wondered aloud.
"Could work actually! I bet people would pay well to learn straight from you" Karlsman suggested.
"The last thing I need is more money. I keep getting it but people keep refusing it, as thanks for what I did in the Twilight crisis. I can't remember the last time I paid for a simple meal… It's frustrating."
"Oh no! Not free meals!" Karlsman teased "Or the love and adoration of the people! The horror!"
"Alright…"
"Goddesses, not the freedom to operate as you feel fit!" he continued, enjoying his sarcasm. "Heavens above! You might even have lovely old women give you cookies next."
"Come on…" Link bemoaned, unable to summon the willpower to fight back.
"Ah, relax. These are good problems to have Link. If you're honestly frustrated with being unable to spend anything, why not put it to use somewhere else? There are orphanages in Castle town, disabled veterans who can't find work, people with ideas for a business they need an investor for. There's loads of ways to spend your rupees."
Link felt surprised at himself. Karlsman had pointed out such simple ideas that he hadn't even considered. All of them sounded good too. He would have to think more when he had free time.
"Good thinking. I'll sleep for a decade first, then I'll get back to you"
"No problem, rich boy" he teased finally. Link narrowed his eyes.
"Thank you, wise peasant"
They both burst out laughing again. Link was feeling better with some solid ideas to follow up with. Karlsman was turning out to be far more capable than he had originally given him credit for.
They sat around the fire for a while longer and eventually went to their tents. Link found his in Zelda's tent, in a separated area. It took him no time to fall in to a deep sleep.
As the hours melted away, he didn't dream anything for once. His own mind exhausted as well as his body. Eventually, the sun warmed his face through a small gap in the tent. Right on to his face.
Stirring, he woke slowly and took some deep breaths to help perk him up. He stretched, yawned and rolled his shoulders as the mire of sleepiness finally wore off of him.
He stepped out of the tent flap after a few minutes and saw everyone was already up and active. The Hylian soldiers were between exercises and hauling things around the camp. The Gerudo were doing some painful looking stretches or in animated discussion about something. The scout, who Zelda had sent to find the new campsite, dashed past his tent.
Worried, Link followed after him. He made his way through the alley of tents, finding himself by Zelda and the two doctors who were looking over the edge of the cliff, down to the shore where the battle had taken place. Zelda noticed him and waved him over as the scout was explaining something. To his relief, the scout didn't look concerned at least.
"Good morning, Link. Our scout here has news about our reinforcements. Tell Link what you told me" she said, looking to the small thin man.
"Yes, your majesty. Sir, I've spotted a column of Hylian soldiers making their way to us across the field. There are supply wagons as well as cavalry. By my estimates, they will be here tonight or early tomorrow." he said.
Link was surprised. Zelda had only ordered the scout out last night. How could the Hylian army have deployed so quickly?
Zelda noticed his surprise.
"When I had the twenty soldiers dispatched here, I had reserves ready themselves for reinforcement if needed. As for the speed? I ordered a chain of runners to be deployed across the fields. Scout Nax here reached the first of six runners who relayed the request and the reinforcements were already kept on alert for this. Hence their rapid arrival." she explained.
Link stood in amazement at her foresight. With a little preparation, she had possibly made their position far more secure.
"What can we expect?" he asked, eager to know more.
"A detachment of some fifty soldiers and spearmen, twenty cavalry as well as supplies to last for a season if needs be."
"Well...I'm impressed! Things will be a lot safer with that kind of force here. Still, it doesn't solve our issue with the hostile Zora" he pointed out.
"It does not, no. However, I believe you both have some news regarding that?" she asked to the two doctors.
"Yes, your majesty. We performed an autopsy on one of the Zora this morning. Our initial suspisions were correct. The one we found had a single parasitic worm attached to its brain. Though what kind it is? We cannot say for certain. But that it was embedded directly in the brain stem, well it certainly lends credence to the idea that they are all under the control of at least one parasite each."
Dr Villesna didn't seem to care that an entire race of people had been suddenly taken over by parasites. But his words were at least direct and honest, as far as Link could tell. But something didn't feel right to him.
"What about the growths on their bodies? Do they have something to do with this?" he asked.
"It is possible. Though we had only just barely found the parasitic worm before we came here. Dr Wenbream is going to be studying those growths as the day goes by" he followed up.
"Very good. Thank you both. Let me know as soon as you know more." Zelda said as she dismissed them. "Scout Nax, you may be relieved for now. Rest and drink then return to your duties"
"Yes, your majesty" Nax said with a firm bow.
As he and the doctors left, Zelda walked to the cliff and looked down on the dead Zora. Along with the algae infested lake, the whole scene looked surreal.
"Parasites. Of course it would be something as insidious as that" she sighed.
The thought was unsettling, Link found. To have his body controlled by some other being felt wrong on many levels.
"I have to imagine that if these parasites are killed, then the Zora will hopefully regain their former selves."
"It sounds reasonable, but I don't think they would willingly sit for...brain surgery" he remarked.
"No. So we must then destroy whatever controls these parasites." she said flatly.
Something that controlled the parasites...of course there would likely be something worse in all of this. Though what she alluded to made sense. All of the Zora had seemed to operate as a single entity. When they had sustained significant losses, they had retreated in to the water in unison.
Whatever force was at play here, it had intelligence of some form.
"I'm willing to bet whatever is controlling the Zora is in the lakebed temple. Especially if the entire lake is this polluted with algae." Link surmised.
Zelda looked over to the lone island of the lake, standing out from the sickly green and brown. The entrance to the temple was under the water on this small island.
"How are we supposed to get inside?" he asked aloud.
"I...do not know. I recall you telling us about the entrance being underwater. It is almost a pity we cannot just crack open the top of the island and go down that way."
Then, he had an idea. They might not be able to crack open the top of an entire island, but the entrance led to a small cave on the inside. Link also had a supply of bombs in his equipment pouch. If they could reach the island and dig down to the cave roof, perhaps enough bombs could blast through, saving them significant trouble.
He explained his idea to Zelda who listened with rapt attention.
"Ah! That could work perfectly! We have some bombs being delivered with the reinforcements if you need a larger supply." she offered.
"That would be perfect. I think arranging the bombs in groups of three per layer could produce the effect we need. So thirty bombs. I had around ten the last time I checked. But there's one more problem…"
"How do we actually get to the island without touching water..." she said as she immediately started thinking of possibilities.
"Well, we found enough trees to make a wall for this camp…" he began as he whispered the rest of his plan to her.
"Oh I like it!" she said, a little excited. "I think this may be our best option. Take whoever you need. I do not think we will be attacked again, at least for the moment. The Zora suffered enough losses to make their new master feel it."
The idea seemed solid enough and could be done from the safety of the camp too. The idea would require a minimum of twelve trees.
With new found determination and a little optimism, Link set himself to work. He gathered some soldiers and asked for Sabbah's help too. As he gathered them all around the entrance to the camp, he explained his plan to each of them and what they were going to do.
Slowly, as the details were explained, comprehension dawned on everyone's faces. And then, excitement. They all realised that his plan could be what solved the problem.
"So, we have time until the reinforcements arrive. We need at least twelve trees felled and then split vertically. Can you help?" Link asked them all.
With a clear purpose, everyone responded eagerly. Helping themselves to axes, they set off towards a nearby treeline.
The work began before noon, with axes swinging in rhythm as the soldiers and Gerudo worked side by side. The sun hung high, its heat bearing down on them, but there was a shared sense of purpose that kept everyone moving.
One by one, thick trees were felled, their trunks creaking before crashing to the ground with a resounding thud. The soldiers sawed the trees in half, their muscles straining with each pull of the saw, while the Gerudo swiftly cleared the fallen branches. The first few logs were loaded onto carts and hauled back to camp, where they would be worked on later for the plan.
As the sun climbed higher, sweat began to pour freely from the brows of the Hylian soldiers. The Gerudo women, however, seemed unaffected by the heat, their skin barely glistening under the relentless sun. The contrast did not go unnoticed.
"Is it just me, or do you Gerudo have ice in your veins?" one soldier called out, wiping his brow with a rag. "How are you not sweating in this heat?"
Sabbah, who had been overseeing the operation, translated the question to her sisters. A few of them exchanged knowing smiles before responding in their native tongue. Sabbah smirked as she relayed their message.
"They say it's because you're wearing all that armor. How do you expect to keep cool when you're practically cooking yourselves inside a metal oven?"
The Hylian soldiers chuckled, but the competitive spark was lit. One of the soldiers, a broad-shouldered man with a thick beard, grinned and started to remove his splint mail, revealing a sweat-soaked tunic beneath.
"Alright, fair enough," he said, holding out the armour. "But let's see how you do in this, then! Bet you can't last ten minutes in full gear."
The Gerudo women exchanged glances, and after a moment, one of them stepped forward, her eyes glinting with determination. She took the armor from the soldier, though its weight made her stagger for a moment. Her sisters chuckled as she awkwardly strapped it on, the ill-fitting armor clanking as she moved.
"How do I look?" she asked with a smirk, though the question came through Sabbah's translation.
Like a Hylian who's about to melt!" the soldier retorted, folding his arms with a grin.
The Gerudo woman took a few steps, trying to move as she normally would, but the weight of the armor and its bulkiness made her movements slow and cumbersome. Her sisters burst out laughing, and even she couldn't help but join in.
"Too restrictive!" she declared through Sabbah, pulling off the helmet and shaking out her hair. "No wonder you sweat so much—you've turned armour into a sauna!"
The soldiers laughed, but they weren't ready to back down. "Fine, but let's see how well you can swing an axe in that!" another soldier challenged, handing her an axe.
The Gerudo woman accepted the challenge with a grin, hefting the axe over her shoulder. She took a few tentative swings, the armour hindering her range of motion. The axe bit into the wood, nowhere near as deeply as it normally would.
"Alright, alright," she conceded, laughing as she unbuckled the armor and handed it back. "This isn't for us."
"But let's see how long you can hold this overhead," one of the soldiers countered, grabbing a large log and holding it up to demonstrate. "We do this all the time in training—builds strength and endurance."
The Gerudo women exchanged glances, and one of them stepped forward, her expression serious as she took the log. The soldiers gathered around, cheering her on as she raised the log above her head. Her arms trembled slightly under the weight, but she held it steady, her gaze focused.
A soldier stepped forward, grabbing another log and holding it overhead, matching her stance. "First one to drop it has to do push-ups," he declared, grinning.
The two held the logs aloft, the sun beating down on them, sweat trickling down the soldier's face. The Gerudo woman's arms shook, but she maintained her grip, her determination evident. The onlookers began to cheer and shout, encouraging their respective sides.
Minutes passed, and it became clear that neither was willing to give up. Finally, the soldier's arms gave out first, and he dropped the log with a groan, earning good-natured jeers from his comrades.
"Alright, alright, I'm down," he admitted, shaking out his arms as the Gerudo woman dropped her log with a triumphant grin.
"Better start those push-ups!" one of her sisters called, and the soldier obliged, dropping to the ground and starting his set, much to the amusement of the crowd.
"Not bad," the soldier panted as he pushed himself up. "But you Gerudo don't get off that easy. We'll see how you handle the next challenge."
The teasing continued, each side proposing more physical challenges—who could carry the heaviest log the farthest, who could chop through the thickest tree in the shortest time. The competition was fierce, but all in good fun, with both sides pushing themselves to their limits while enjoying their time together.
As the work finally finished, the sun was setting once more. The landscape bathed in golden light. Anyone else walking by would be blissfully unaware of the carnage that had unfolded on the shoreline the day before.
Everyone walked back to the camp with the last load of logs. Spirits were high and the Gerudo, through Sabbah, were enjoying talking to the soldiers as much as they enjoyed talking with the Gerudo. To Link's surprise, one of the soldiers was speaking to Sabbah, asking her how to write the Gerudo alphabet. He was trying to learn their language.
She almost burst from the enthusiasm as she rushed to find some paper and a pencil back in the camp.
The curious soldier sat with her as everyone ate a stew prepared during the day.
Link had a portion and loved the taste. It was a hearty strew full of meat and vegetables.
Eating a second portion, he watched over the soldiers and the Gerudo as they sat together. Each of them working through their own stew as they listened to Sabbah explaining the Gerudo language. Some trying to sound out the letters she wrote down. Eventually, they moved on to a few key phrases. 'Hello', 'Goodbye', 'Thank you' as well as 'Yes' and 'No'.
The playful banter from before had gone, but now the soldiers were eager to learn more of the Gerudo language, a burden Sabbah was happy to shift after so long.
The soldiers made their own notes for a while. Before they knew it, night had come once again.
Then, an alarm bell rang at the rear of the camp. Instinct flaring, Link jumped up and ran towards the overlook at the back of the camp. Zelda and Karlsman met him along the way and joined him.
Finding the sentry that sounded the alarm.
"Zora attack! Coming from the Lake!" he yelled as he pointed.
Coming to a stop, Link looked over the cliffside and his heart sank. Swarms of glinting tridents appeared in on the darkened shoreline, more appearing from the polluted lake. The mass of Zora running in eerie unison towards the camp.
They had moved the camp to a clifftop that overlooked the shore. A natural ramp descended to the shoreline. Though the Zora would be fighting uphill, their numbers would make fighting at the crest of that slope a losing fight. The walls they had put up surrounded most of the camp entrance and created a funnel. They would have to hold them back there.
"The gate! We hold them at the gate. Keep people near the fences to stop any Zora from getting us in a pincer move" Link shouted as he started running towards the main gate, drawing the Master sword once more. Back at the fireplace, the soldiers and Gerudo were prepared. Their armour on, weapons drawn and shields beared. Karlsman was quick to update them and divide roles between them. A shield wall would be used again, but this time with their sides far more guarded.
Everyone broke apart, Sabbah instructing her Gerudo to assist as they had the previous day. Three of them were sent to guard the side walls in case they were compromised.
The shield wall was quickly deployed, the soldiers grim and weary but determined nonetheless.
Karlsman stayed amongst his soldiers as the other Gerudo guarded their flanks. Link had the longest sword of anyone there, so a space was made for him in the shield wall. His Hylian shield being one of the only metal ones there.
Then the swarm came.
Running hard, the mottled green Zora brandished their tridents as they charged the gate entrance.
Link and the soldiers of the shield wall tensed ready to take blows on their large shields.
The crashing of tridents and shields resounded loudly in an instant. Link felt the combined weight of repeated thrusts from the tridents. Their reach was too great for anyone to thrust back with their swords. If they stayed like this, eventually their shield arms would tired and weaken.
He had to try something, anything to turn the attack back on them. Tentatively, he lowered his kite shield a little, revealing his head just a little. In an instant the gap was filled as a trident thrust towards him at blinding speed, but this was what he wanted. Jabbing the shield back up, the thrust was deflected upwards enough that a Gerudo behind him leant forward and grabbed the head and yanked it towards Link. One of the many afflicted Zora stumbled towards him off balance as he dispatched them with a quick thrust in to its heart.
It had been a good idea but too risky. Had he been a moment slower, he would have died. The shield wall was continuing to hold but he had taken the only kill so far. He thought about what he had that could give them an edge.
The idea came to him quickly. He had mentioned using his bombs to Zelda not too long ago and any blasts might carry far enough to alert the reinforcements, if he was lucky.
Leaning in to his shield more, he brought the master sword back a little as he lay it down. Fumbling around with his free hand, he didn't dare take his eyes of the swarm of Zora in front of him.
Eventually, he found the pouch on his belt that held his bombs.
Feeling the weight appear in his hand, he knew he had at least drawn one out as his heart started racing.
This could either work really well or kill him. But no matter what he tried, he couldn't light the fuse. Trying it one handed would have been enough of a risk, but without looking at where he was igniting it, he could light it far closer than he meant to.
He dared to look behind him. The Gerudo that helped pull the lone Zora to him was Amina, the same Gerudo who had saved him during the first attack.
"Amina!" he shouted, she looked to him.
Nodding to the bomb beside him, she followed his gaze. Unable to voice what she wanted, she looked back at him and shrugged. So, he shook his head from the bomb towards the Zora.
A moment passed as she thought what he meant. She grabbed the bomb and did a perfect overhand throw as it arced over the shield wall, unlit.
Through the din of shields being smacked, he did at least hear the dull thunk of the bomb hitting some Zora's head. But no explosion.
"Karlsman?" he yelled this time. Hoping the sergeant was near enough to hear him.
His arm bore the brunt of more thrusts and was already starting to feel numb. To his relief though, he heard a voice behind him.
"What is it?" Karlsman said over the noise.
"I'm going to put a bomb down. I need you to light it and throw it in to that mess!" he shouted back.
Though most of the Zora knew Hylian, these ones didn't seem to comprehend what he had shouted. He drew another bomb and rolled it behind him as his arm started to tense under the attacks.
This time, the plan worked as he had hoped. He saw a blue bomb fly overhead as sparks flew from the fuse. Within a couple of seconds, a deafening blast ripped through the attacking crowd. The bomb that Amina threw was caught in the blast and detonated too.
A mist of Zora blood blasted out along with flesh and bones. Chunks of gore struck the shield wall as the blood mist sprayed over the defenders.
How many had died, he had no idea. A gap in the attackers could have been five or twenty of them. But at least there was an option to attack now. He withdrew another bomb and rolled it backwards again. This time, Amina was the one who picked up the bomb, lit it and threw it perfectly again.
The bomb was flung to the side this time. The blast came another moment later as more torrents of blood were flung out with body parts landing in a shower around the place.
Seeing his bombs blast apart the Zora made him feel sick. Parasites or not, he had helped vapourise entire families. Doing his best to swallow his rising bile, he would beg them for forgiveness when he made it to the sacred realm again.
The three blasts though had caused a significant lull in the attack as the Zora backed off from the shield wall, collecting fallen tridents from the bloody mess soaking the entrance to the camp.
They all retreated backwards as they all kept facing the shield wall. With the defenders exhausted, Karlsman spoke up.
"Defenders! Swap out!"
The soldiers besides him backed away too, but were replaced by fresh ones carrying much larger shields, as big as tower shields and even studded. Hardly invincible but much better than planks of wood nailed together.
Link was grateful for the break. His actions left him feeling hollow inside, like he had lost a part of himself in providing the bombs. He didn't have long to wallow though.
"Ranged attack!" Karlsman shouted.
Link looked up and saw the glints of tridents in the air, thrown by the attackers. Some twenty glinted in the moonlight as they fell to the earth. Raising his shield to protect his head, he was surprised to find that none of them came close to him. Then, he heard two different screams.
One of the original defenders was now pinned to the floor by a trident lodged in his foot.
Worse, the other scream was from Karlsman. Two barbs of a trident stuck in his shoulder, shattering the bone. His arm hung limp as he bellowed in agony.
The soldiers around him turned their heads, scared of his outcry as they faltered.
Gritting his teeth, Karlsman snarled at them. "Face the enemy, you fools. Keep the wall up!".
The soldiers snapped back to reality and focused. They braced their shields again, ready for the next attack.
Zelda came through from the rear, running straight to Karlsman. He saw her coming.
"Your majesty, get back! It's not safe here!" he barked, straining under the immense pain.
"I am well aware!" she bit back. She folded a long strip of leather and handed it to Karlsman. "Now, bite down on this" she said.
He lost even more colour from his skin as he knew what was coming next. Closing his eyes hard, he used his good hand to stuff the folded leather in to his mouth and bit down hard.
As he did, his breathing quickened as he tried to mentally prepare. Zelda acted immediately.
She pulled the trident out of his shoulder as hard and fast as she could have, bringing a gout of blood from his shoulder.
His pitiful screams were muffled but not quiet.
She threw the tirdent to the side and immediately started chanting her healing magics, as golden light suffused her hand. Passing it over Karlsmans devastated shoulder, he writhed under the sensation as flesh and bone knitted back together.
A moment later, he opened his eyes once more and gently rolled his shoulder to check if it was still there. Looking down at it, he broke in to a wide smile and got back to leading his men.
Zelda took some deep breaths, the exertion on her notable. She looked over to Link with a subtle smile before the soldier with the impaled foot yelped in pain too.
"Don't mind me, I'm fine…" he said meekly, dripping with sarcasm.
Zelda wheeled on the spot and rushed to the soldier with another strip of folded leather and set to work on healing him.
"Master Link!" came a frantic voice from behind him. It was Dr Villesnas, hiding behind the corner of a tent. He didn't judge him. Even a seasoned veteran understood how terrifying war could be. He moved to him.
"What is it?"
The doctor was breathing rapidly. Either from nerves, running to him or both. Steadying himself, he looked to Link.
"We have an idea that could solve this...problem" he said as he pointed to the front gate.
"Oh? Well now would be perfect. What's your idea?" Link asked quickly.
"We were experimenting on the parasites. We shined a bright light on to it as we intended to dissect it, but the strangest thing happened...the bright light made the parasites body shrivel up and...then it just...disintegrated!" he said, not quite believing his own account.
"What? It just...broke apart or something?" Link asked, incredulous.
"Incoming!" Karlsman shouted
Another swarm of tridents filled the air, their wicked points shining in the moonlight. To Link's immense relief, nobody was wounded in this volley. Nobody had fallen silently either as he saw the shield wall firmly standing as it had before. The dull smacks of the tridents impacting the only alarming sound in the camp.
Zelda had healed the wounded soldier and moved from the spot he had been pinned to. She was at the side of the wall, passing out tablet pieces to the recovering soldiers of the first shield wall.
Dr Villesna had ducked low, covering his head. A trident would still have made short work of him if one had landed on him, Link thought to himself.
"Doctor! Get up." he said sharply. He needed to know more about the bright lights affecting the parasites.
"It just took a bright light?"
"Y...yes!" he stammered, fear getting a grip on him. The poor man was shaking. Link slapped the doctors cheeks gently to shock him a little.
"Doctor, remain calm. We're going to be alright. But I need your help." he said as calmly as he could.
"Yes...yes you're right" he said as he took a shaky breath, finally steadying himself a little.
"Alright. The light was quite bright. I have no idea why the parasite disintegrated, but perhaps a bright flash of light to the Zora out there could produce similar effects? Though I don't know…" he explained.
Links mind was racing now. If he could somehow create a bright enough flash, then if it didn't kill the parasites, it could at least do something. So he hoped anyway.
"Ok. I've got bombs. They release a lot of energy quickly, but not particularly bright. Do you think we could add something to them maybe? That might produce a flash instead of an explosion?" he said, praying he wouldn't need to use live bombs against innocent Zora again.
Dr Villesna went over something in his mind, racing through possibilities.
"Metal paint!" he exclaimed after a bare moment.
"What?" Link replied.
"Yes! Metal paint! It contains a metal called aluminium. Under heat, it burns brightly! If you could fill a bomb halfway with it, then it'd likely create a bright flash with a weaker explosion."
The doctor was excited now, forgetting his fear of the battlefield. "I think I may be able to produce at least one bomb like this. Do you have any?"
Link took one out of his pouch and handed it over. "Please be careful with it…"
Dr Villesna took it under his arm. "Follow me! If we work on it together, we will be faster!" he said as he turned and ran for his tent further back in the camp.
Link looked over his shoulder. The shield wall was still standing strong. Zelda was helping the drained soldiers, Karlsman was instilling confidence in his men and Sabbah was encouraging her Gerudo warriors. They could all hold out for a moment.
Link caught up to Dr Villesna in a moment as they both reached his tent.
Hurrying inside he cleared a table, brushing everything to the floor. Link saw the severed head of a Zora cut open with precision and a bright light shining in to the skull. He looked away quickly, hoping he could forget the lifeless rage filled eyes.
"Open the bomb and dump its contents on to the table" he said. Link unscrewed the cap for the stem of the bomb with some force. Thankfully, it gave as it the cap span on its threads.
He poured the contents in to a tray as a black powder trickled out in to a growing pile.
"Perfect! Now, let me add this…" Dr Villesna said, bringing over a pot of flat grey powder. Carefully, he poured both powders in to a large glass flask, swirling it around gently to mix the two together. He continued with his breath held and making very careful motions.
"Couldn't we just pour it on top and be done with it?" Link asked, eager to get back outside, away from the surgically opened head.
"No. We need the black powder mixed all the way through. The entire mixture has to ignite at the same time or it won't work. Imagine having a drink of tea but all the milk is on the top and the tea is on the bottom. It wouldn't be right" he explained.
Surprised, Link was grateful for the doctors explanation. He waited patiently for him to mix the powders until they became a darker shade of grey blended together.
He poured the mixture carefully back inside the bomb and rubbed some salt inside the cap before Link scrwed it back on. To 'help with water vapour' he had said.
Link thanked Dr Villesna and ran back to the main gate where an odd stalemate was going on. The Zora had retreated form the gate, hoping to avoid bombs. Several tried their luck at pushing in to the shield wall but retreated quickly when they made no progress.
Link formed a plan. It put him at great risk, but if it worked then he may be able to neutralise a great many of the Zora without killing them.
He met with Zelda first and explained his idea. As he did, her face fell more and more.
"Link...you know there are easier ways than this do you not?" she said, wearily.
"Yes. But none of those ways will get all of their attention. They're waiting for bombs, so we need a distraction for this to work. You, as usual, will be vital in making sure this works." he explained.
"There is no means to persuade you against this?"
"No"
Sighed sighed, letting her shoulders slump. "Very well…"
Nodding to himself, Link steeled his resolve. The weight of the decision pressed heavily on him—this wasn't just another fight. Every step toward executing his plan felt like stepping deeper into a void where failure meant more than just his own life. He moved with purpose, first to Karlsman, then to Sabbah, explaining the plan. Their concerned reactions mirrored Zelda's, but like her, they understood the necessity. Link could see the worry in their eyes, but he also saw the trust they placed in him. This had to work. There was no other choice.
He took six torches and bound them together, their flames merging into a single, fierce light. It cast long, wavering shadows across the ground, making the moment feel even more surreal. Link handed the newly modified bomb to Sabbah, their fingers brushing briefly—a silent exchange of trust. He caught Karlsman's eye, giving a slight nod.
"Let me through," he said, his voice steady despite the pounding in his chest.
As the shield wall parted, the weight of what he was about to do settled fully on his shoulders. One deep breath, then another, and he stepped forward into the darkness, where the flickering light of the torches met the eyes of the waiting Zora.