Kingdom of Power, of Courage, and of Wisdom

The King's War - Escape

-Impa-

"Took you long enough," Dawn grunted.

"My apologies, there were things to clear up," Impa approached with Zelda in tow.

"Of course there was..." The man would have said more, but Midnight swatted him upside the back of the head.

"Stop playing around, let's get back on track," Twilight ordered.

Impa helped Zelda climb back into the barrel, and they were back on the road for the night. The ride to the final checkpoint was leisurely. It was approximately the second hour of the morning when they saw the inspection. They were almost there.

Twilight ordered a halt and cursed. Impa felt her gut fall as his professional demeanor cracked. She asked, "What is wrong?"

"That captain- I don't recognize him." The man replied. The other merchants grew tense and discussed with each other how to proceed.

"Are we able to go around?"

"This is the only pass through the mountains. It would require several days to go around it, and then we are nearing where there is an open battle. We're having to do this the hard way."

"What do you need from me?" Impa asked.

"Talk when they talk directly to you, otherwise let us handle it. Girly, are you okay in there?"

"Yes," Zelda said.

"Great. No matter what, do not make a sound. Got it?"

"Yes."

The men shared a glance. They coordinated themselves and situated the cart to look more accessible, open, and less like it was trying to conceal something. Impa relaxed on the back while Twilight took up the reins, and one of them mounted a horse by the cart.

The captain of the guard beckoned them to stop as they approached. "Get off," he ordered. "Stand to the side and present your papers while we look over this."

Impa pulled her forged papers while they discussed business. The smuggling leader smiled warmly, "You're a new face. What happened to Sou Mi?"

The guards approached the cart. Impa kept Zelda's barrel in her preferential vision.

"Sou Mi was found guilty of extortion. He restrained the wrong guy through without paying extra and..." The new officer smiled just as warmly. "Lost his head."

Dawn snorted in amusement.

"Well, I must say," Midnight put on the charm. "His loss is our mutual gain. He took a fair rupee off us unless we paid, and it seems you are a fair one. By the book. I like that in a soldier, really lets you know who you can rely on."

Out of the corner of Impa's eye, Zelda's barrel briefly shook. A guard turned his head with a frown. Impa felt her blood chill as the armed guard approached the barrel in question.

Then he pierced it with his sword to the hilt.

"What the realms?!" Midnight barked.

Impa froze in horror. Her every instinct screamed to kill the soldier, seize the princess, and run, but to do so was suicide. There were dozens of men at this post. All she could do was pray to whatever Goddess was listening that it wasn't Zelda's barrel the man pierced with his blade.

The merchants were not much better. They were extremely vocal about their 'product' being damaged. Impa followed the attempt to pretend, but it would all be moot if the soldiers saw blood.

The guard withdrew his sword from the barrel slowly. Impa's eyes were glued to its surface, waiting for the inevitable redness to appear.

Nothing.