As Raven looked up again, she saw movement at the gate. Though she knew it was most likely a kamikaze Hurali trying to plow through the gate as an escape, she could not tear her gaze from the crippled structure. As she watched further, she saw a head of hair as bright as the flames themselves emerge from the massive beams of the frame. At first she thought that she was merely imagining, seeing what she wanted to see. Still, something kept her gripped fast in reality; this was real. She watched in amazement as Espergrai stumbled from the rubble, then collapsed, still much too close to the flames.

Raven sprang to her feet began running toward Esper in a single movement. As she neared the gate, the searing heat was almost too much to bear. She reached his side in seconds, and saw then how bad it was. He was sprawled on his stomach, panting in raspy breaths. He could barely look up at her as she kneeled beside him. His skin had not been burned, miraculously, but he was jarred and injured from falling debris. Raven turned his head gently toward her, opening his half-shut eyelids in turn with her thumb to make sure he was still conscious. He made eye contact with her, and opened his mouth to speak, though he could only manage to mumble incomprehensibly. He was clearly sending her one message, though; “we’re safe, and we’re getting out.”

Raven quickly lifted him over her shoulder and carried him from the burning debris. She almost collapsed from the heat. It felt like there were invisible flames creeping up around her, surrounding her. She somehow made it a safe distance from the gate, still close to the mighty outer wall of the village. The cool stone was comforting, and they were far enough out of the way to be unnoticed by the Hurali. Raven gently sat Esper up against the wall. He was fully conscious by then, and it was clear that he was in agony. He cringed as his back came in contact with the stone, trying to lean away from it.

“What happened, Esper?” Raven asked, gesturing toward his back. He shook off her concern, but she looked anyway. As she lifted his shirt, she felt warm and sticky blood on her fingers. His back was covered in gashes. He cried out softly as she ran her finger along one of the wounds, still breathless. The gashes weren’t particularly deep, and the blood was beginning to ease in its flow. They would have to leave it until it could be properly bandaged later.

Esper could stand on his own by then, but he only managed a few dazed, shaky steps with Raven’s help. It was clear that they could not travel far as they were. The village was burning closer and closer to them. If anyone was left alive in the houses, it was far too late to save them. Raven searched her mind for any kind of way out, as she knew the village better than anyone. There was no doubt in her mind that she was leaving, now. Esper was one villager she could yet save.

She remembered a ledge on the village wall where they situated two of the cannons, not far from their current position. The top of the wall was covered in dense thorns, however, and could not be escaped without further injury. As well, the drop off the other side of the wall was at least five metres. Raven visualized the ledge as vividly as she could. There had to be a way around the thorns. In her mind, the cannons poked through small, square peepholes. Yes, that was it! The Hurali would never be able to squeeze through such small openings, but Raven and Esper would be able to just barely fit through. Esper was watching Raven’s facial expression expectantly. He knew she was devising some sort of plan. When Raven noticed this, she quickly explained her idea.

“How are we going to get up there, m’lady?” Esper pointed toward the ledge, which was no more than ten metres away. The wooden stairs were merely a pile of smoking rubble by that point. It was a good two metres up to the ledge, which was already an eroding cliff. The village was burning fast. Surely they had not more than five minutes before the entire place was an inferno. Raven gazed over the scene of chaos before them, almost to the point of defeat.

As she watched the panicked Hurali soldiers charge at the gate with their mounts, she noticed one horse in particular that stood out from the rest. The steed was steel grey, and not black like the rest. The creature seemed to be in battle with his rider, whose only tack was a makeshift bridle. It only took Raven a second to realize that he was riding Sahmaraf! The creature must have jumped his fence to escape the flames, then been hijacked by this Hurali soldier to ride to safety. Raven had wanted to gather her mount before the battle with the Hurali, but the trip out of their way to get to him wasn’t one to risk. She had thought him either burned to death or shot by the heartless Hurali.

“He’s riding Sahmaraf!” Raven exclaimed, both shocked that her stallion was indeed alive, and that angered that he was about to become nothing more than a sacrifice for the soldier to get through the gate. Esper was way ahead of her.

“I’ll shoot him off,” he said flatly, drawing his bow. Though the soldier was more than a hundred metres away and moving quickly, Raven knew that he would not miss his target. He nocked an arrow and aimed carefully, leaning against the wall for support. He shot swiftly, and watched his arrow penetrate the soldier’s chest cavity with grim satisfaction. Sahmaraf took the opportunity to buck the man into the stone wall, then gallop away from the flaming gate.

Both Raven and Esper called Sahmaraf, and he steered toward them, his eyes wide and frightened. He slid to a halt in front of them, then buried his head against Raven’s chest, snorting in a deep sigh of relief. His neck was arched, and every vein and muscle on his body stood out. The creature’s coat gleamed with sweat as he trembled.

Raven rubbed his neck vigorously. “Sahm... you’re alive…” she whispered into the massive stallion’s ear softly, caressing his muzzle. It was then that she realized that her and Esper might have a way out. She looked up to the ledge, then gently into Sahm’s eyes. “You can jump up there, Sahm, can't you?” He was their last hope of escape. Though it was nearly impossible for a horse to make it up an obstacle of that scale, she knew that Sahm was more than an ordinary horse.

Esper did not argue with her. The flames were consuming everything in sight, and the air was so thickly choked with smoke that it was nearly impossible to breathe. Raven pounced lightly onto Sahm’s familiar back, then, with some effort, pulled Esper up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist tightly, using every last bit of strength he possessed. Sahm, though frightened, remained steady. Raven had led him from danger without a scratch time and time again, he trusted her beyond a doubt. She couldn’t bear the thought that she was about to fail him.

Raven urged Sahm into a gallop, grasping his makeshift reins gently. They completed a large oval, then headed straight toward the ledge. Esper was dangerously close to losing his balance as they approached. If he fell, he’d pull her off with him. Raven grabbed a handful of Sahm’s mane to keep herself planted on his back, and urged the stallion on. Sam did not balk at the obstacle, as many another horse would have. Raven kept her gaze above the ledge, though tempted to stare at the frightening outcropping; she knew she'd end up wherever she was looking.

As Sahm approached, Raven pulled back on the reins to collect him underneath her. He slowed slightly, coiling himself like a spring, before tucking his front legs tightly to his belly and pushing off with his hind end. Raven leaned forward, Sahm’s mane in one hand, the other holding Esper’s arms to her waist to keep him up with her. It was clear, however, that Sahm wasn’t going to make it up the ledge. Though he’d put in more effort than any other obstacle he’d ever jumped, he simply could not get to the top.

Sahm tried to dig his hooves into the eroded land, but he could not clamber up. As he was about to slide back down, he fiercely threw his head forward and kicked his back end in mid air. The flames were nearly at his heels. Raven and Esper were just barely thrown onto the ledge just as Sahm slid back down. The flames licked at his flanks as he galloped from them, in a panic. He looked back to Raven for only a second, with frightened eyes, as he galloped away from the fire – and toward the mass of Hurali soldiers.

Link helplessly watched the Hurali continue to charge gate's burning debris. He couldn’t see to the other side, and had no idea what had become of Raven and Esper. Occasionally, a horse’s head, or Hurali helmet would be visible through the flames. The Hurali were undoubtedly going to get through the gate, even if they had to sacrifice the majority of their army to get through the flaming debris. Link had no aspirations of being their first target, once they did break through. He made his way around the large wall of the village, out of sight from anyone who emerged from the gate, but still close enough to watch what was going on.

As soon as he rounded this first bend, however, he was met with a familiar presence. Before him was a young boy, perched on a mount much too large for his small stature. He didn’t notice Link, at first. He was far too intrigued with what looked like a purple hand mirror. As he glanced up at Link nonchalantly, he grinned. Link’s jaw momentarily dropped, as he realized who sat before him. That smile could belong to none other than Ganondorf Dragmire. Of course, thought Link. Garof must have ordered the Hurali to seize him, then leave him as a post outside the village to be safe.

“Who are you?” the boy asked, outright, more intrigued than alarmed for his safety.

“I’m Link,” he replied flatly, staring into the boy’s beady eyes. “…And I do believe that your name is Ganondorf.”

“Yeah…” Ganondorf replied, spinning the purple mirror in his hands, his interest obviously lost on Link. He must think that Link was just another Hurali. As Link watched the boy hypnotically spin the mirror, he suddenly realized what it was: the Lens of Truth itself. With this mystical glass, anyone could see through the illusions of the desert and navigate the entire land. If Link could only obtain it from the boy, there was a chance that the Hurali would die in the desert, even if they escaped the village.

“What’s that mirror for?” Link asked, trying to appear no more than inquisitive.

“We can see through the desert with it,” the boy replied. “One of the soldiers told me to keep it safe for the battle.” He looked confused for a moment, as if he’d said something he was told he shouldn’t have. Link thought quickly, then asked the one question he really wanted to know.

“Do you need it to see?” he asked slowly, trying very hard to remain civil to the child. If he was careful, he could outsmart the child to extract from him the information he needed. Garof had the ability to see through the desert without aid, and Link was fairly sure this was the kind of skill he’d grant his child.

“I’m not supposed to tell,” Ganondorf replied carefully, already sensing that Link did not want to be his friend.

“Well, then,” Link started. “If you don’t mind…” Link had lost all sense of fighting honour, by this time. Aside from that, this wasn’t just any child.

He moved quickly toward the black mare. She jumped, startled, as Link approached. The young boy, obviously not familiar with riding such a creature, dropped the Lens and clung to the mare’s mane. Link jumped forward again, and retrieved the Lens in one swift movement. The horse was less wary of Link’s movement, but still skittered just enough to dislodge the boy from her back. Ganondorf was left hanging onto the horse's saddle, close to falling. Link pondered, for a moment, killing the boy right then and there. By doing so, he could change a history of war and turmoil in the land of Hyrule. But the consequences of such a deed were unfathomable. Would he even exist in the future, if it weren’t for Ganondorf?

Link tucked the Lens safely into his tunic, then plucked the boy off the mare and set him down. As his arms came in contact with Ganondorf’s skin, he shuddered inwardly. He could not handle the temptation of slicing the child’s throat any longer.

“Remember me,” Link stated coldly as he mounted the mare. He thought of leaving, but knew he couldn’t risk the boy’s escaping. He had Ganondorf right where he’d always wanted him, and he knew that the child must mean something to Garof. As long as Link had Ganondorf as a hostage, Garof might reconsider his treatment of Rauru. Link picked up the boy, with some difficulty, and held him tightly, pinning his arms. The boy was vicious, and not afraid to use his teeth. Little brat, Link thought as he spurred the mare into a swift canter, and disappeared around the wall of Sahaar.

Raven and Esper had managed to move the heavy cannon from its firing hole. They both breathed in welcome gasps of clear air as soon as they could stick their heads outside. The smoke still burned painfully in their eyes and lungs. They were in the midst of the blaze, now, saved only by their height for the moment.

Esper was growing very tired. Raven worried she could not safely help him down the stone wall. She insisted upon going first, to find the safest route. The stone was just rough enough to climb, but still very unstable. The wall tilted outward for the first two metre, which would make it easier to climb. The last three, though, were a straight drop. At least they were coming out halfway down the wall, Raven mused, rather than the thorny top.

Raven climbed out carefully, then scaled sideways to allow for Esper to escape. She sacrificed her hold on the wall with her right arm to help him through, guiding his left leg to a safe hold. They carefully made their way down the wall in this fashion, Raven directing Espergrai's feet into her former handholds. Pieces of the stone crumbled threateningly with every move they made. They descended the wall as far as they could, then prepared for the jump.

Raven leapt first, rolling into the sand unharmed. Esper followed wearily, half into Raven’s arms, and collapsed as soon as he reached the sand. Raven went down with him and held him next to her. The feel of the cool sand in the shade of the wall was the most comforting thing they could have imagined at the moment. For at least a minute they lay, staring into one another’s eyes. Esper had come to save her, and she had saved them both. Both were breathless from their charred lunge, Esper the worse of them. He closed his eyes, resting his forehead against hers.

“I’ll never, ever let you go again,” he hissed fiercely, then pulled her as closely to him as he could. He savored the feel of her against him. He could feel her heart beating quickly against his own chest; feel her breath against his neck as she panted for fresh air; feel her warm skin against his own. She was alive, she was with him, and they were out of immediate danger. That was all that mattered for the moment. Raven closed her eyes, as well, and rested her head on Esper’s strong shoulder.

“Thank you…” she whispered into his ear softly. He held her tighter as a response. She opened her eyes again to stare into his. They were a kind, deep brown. She could see that through his pain and exhaustion, he was grateful to have her with him again. He stared back into her eyes, as deep a brown as his own. He noticed a few silent tears fall from them. Raven had never let anyone see her cry, if she even had cried, in all her years as a warrior. This was her release.

Espergrai found tears in his own eyes, as he moved his face close to hers then closed his eyes again, as the tears spilled gently from them. His lips found hers and pressed against them softly. Though their lips were chapped beyond sensation, Raven could feel his gentle closeness, his love, more intensely than she ever had before through his kiss.

“I love you,” he whispered to her, gently. “I always have…”

“I love you, too, Esper,” she replied, nudging her face closely to his. “I always will.”

As she spoke these words, she became aware of movement in the ground. She looked up in time to see a black horse galloping toward them. Had the Hurali escaped the village already?

Link noticed the two figures on the ground as soon as he rounded the corner. He galloped toward them in disbelief. Once they rose to their feet, Link had no doubt about whom they were. Raven and Esper were alive, though Esper looked very much worse for the wear.

As they were about to draw their weapons, Esper and Raven recognized the rider in just as much disbelief. Link halted in front of them, turning his attention to Ganondorf a moment, as the child struggled. Link looked first to the wary couple, then up to the hole from which they’d emerged.

"You...” Link trailed, in yet further disbelief, motioning to the opening in the wall.

“We did,” Raven affirmed, helping Esper toward Link and his hostage. As they neared Link, Raven caught a glint of light in her eye from something protruding from the top of Link’s tunic. She recognized the purple glass immediately.

“The Lens!” She exclaimed, her eyes wide.

“Yes,” Link replied. "If we follow the way the Hurali came, we can probably make it back to Hyrule."

He dismounted carefully, barely managing to keep Ganondorf pinned.

“Raven, do you have anything that could restrain this creature?” Link sighed, exasperated. Raven produced a small length of twine from her sheath, which Link used to tie the boy’s hands behind him.

“Let’s just watch the teeth, now,” Link mumbled.

Raven helped Espergrai onto the black mare’s back. Not all of them could fit on one horse, so the logical choice was to designate the horse for the injured and bound. Raven and Link tossed Ganondorf over the horse in front of Esper and tied his boot laces together, to keep the boy from being able to do anything but fall off if he moved. Raven and Link walked at the horse’s head. They spoke quietly, Raven filling him in on her and Esper's escape.

They inched around the last corner before the flaming entrance to the village, wary of any Hurali who might have escaped. The scene at the gate was horrifying. The screams of horses who had been trapped within the debris was all that could be heard from a distance. There were a very few Hurali that had escaped; only one mounted.

However, Raven knew that it would take more than just an ordinary horse to jump through the flaming gate. She was right -- the coal-grey creature on the outside of the gate was indeed Sahmaraf. A Hurali soldier had again hijacked him. Though Esper was much too weak by that point to put his archery skills to use, Raven was fairly sure she could shoot off the soldier without drawing too much attention to herself. If they had Sahmaraf with them, they could make a swift escape, leaving the few surviving Hurali to fend for themselves in the desert. Nor could she bear to leave him behind again. Neither he nor the Hurali would not last long in the desert.

“Link, that’s my horse out there,” Raven motioned toward Sahm. Before he had a chance to respond, Raven drew her bow and carefully nocked an arrow. She let it fly, and tried to keep the thought that she might hit Sahm – rather than her intended target- out of her mind. The horse and rider were skittering around quickly, and she missed right out the first time. Her arrow stuck, unnoticed, into the sand near another soldier.

She fired again, this time making her target. Sahm once again bucked off his debilitated hijacker, and looked around for a moment, confused, before spotting Raven and galloping toward her. Raven helped Esper from the black mare and ordered Link to mount up with Ganondorf. Though Link was the physically stronger of the two, he did not protest when Raven insisted upon mounting up with Espergrai.

Though they could outrun the Hurali, the small caravan would still have to pass through firing range – and passing quickly was their safest option. The Hurali had noticed them as soon as Sahm reached Raven. Though there were only ten escaped soldiers, they were all armed with bows. Sahm had hair singed off in several places, and was in shock, but he was otherwise fine. Raven pounced swiftly onto Sam’s broad back, then pulled Esper up behind her, once again. She spurred Sahm into a gallop, one hand on his mane, the other holding Esper’s arms tightly around her waist. Link followed closely behind on the black mare, trying to keep a low profile, both to hold Ganondorf on, and to minimize his chances of being hit. The Hurali angrily fired all the arrows they possessed, but their skills were in hand to hand combat, not far-range shooting.

Once they were out of harm’s way, Link drew the Lens of Truth. Even if he had failed in his mission to save the village, he had perhaps saved even more lives by destroying the Hurali race. Still, he had a long journey ahead of him. Link looked through the Lens for the red flags leading into the Haunted Wasteland. The party kept their horses at a canter for a good ten minutes, just to ensure the Hurali had not tailed them. A swift wind picked up in the desert, stinging their already burning eyes with particles of sand.

Raven finally slowed Sahm to a walk, exhausted, and Link followed suit. Any hoofprints they left were blown up into the oblivion of swirling sands. The desert could pick up one’s sense of direction in its winds and twist it around into a beige oblivion until it was impossible to even tell which direction you'd just stepped from. It was no wonder, Raven mused, that so many had died out there.

Next..