"They say that there is no better way to devote yourself to this country than to join the ranks of the nameless", sighed Mace, "To earn respect from the King himself by joining the regiment as another nameless unit in the lines. How could you discover yourself when those damned colonels are trying to make every recruit look and act the same?" Asked the man. Mace had a large frame, a man of strong build with dark eyes and straight blond hair. He had a wide face, a wide jaw, stood about six feet tall, and well, was the exact opposite of his wife, Hela. She was fair-faced, had darker hair, bright blue eyes and a pointed chin.
Both were sitting at the table in their small home in Kakariko. Mace was staring down at another recruitment list.
"In these times of peace, why in Din's name would they be calling up the Kakariko regiment?!" He asked in dismay.
Hela shook her head, "It is peace in Hyrule, but in other provinces..."
Mace sighed in Dismay, "Other provinces, The wilderlands of the west, and places of the sort. No, the Kakariko regiment marches for Ikana upon two morrows. I vow right this moment: Our little lad Link, shall never see the struggle of war", said the irate Hyl.
Hela nodded, looking down at the sleeping babe in her arms, "Not as long as he in our arms.
Mace smiled, "My little chap. Who knows what Hyrule will be when he comes of age. Maybe, if these conflicts will wain in Ikana, maybe he will lead a life, where our people need no recruits, no glorious players of wicked games. Perhaps he will live in peace", he said admiringly.
"Perhaps", said Hela.
"Goodbye, Dear Hela. I will fight off as many browns as come my way to see your fair face again", said Mace rising to his feet. He was clad in silver Hylian armor and had a Hylian shield and sword on his back.
Hela smiled at him, "Write me often", she said.
Mace smiled and walked over to her, looking down at the baby Link in her amrs, "Goodbye, my son. Don't grow up too fast on me", he looked up, his eyes watery, then turned and walked out the door with his pack.
"Colonel Mace! What kept you, we were supposed to have set afoot an hour ago!" Called Sir Galandrim, a young knight of the royal court. Most of the regiment was gethered and packing in the town crier of Kakariko. The dark eyes, dark haired Galandrim was among them; he would be traveling with Mace's Kakariko Batallion to Ikana.
"What hurry are you in, are you so anxious to die in some far off land?" Asked Mace digging through his pack.
Galandrim laughed, "I am anticipating the oppurtunity to fight alongside one of the finest soldiers in all Hyrule. I know of your fames heroism in the Wilderland conflict", explained the knight looking over at him.
Mace glared at the young hyl, "Oh yes, how honorable. To kill off Easterlings, for what sir knight? To fight for a rainy dull region with not but a few inquisitive scholars poking at the ground for artifacts? Why, why am I compelled to journey to some far off Province to fight of Garo because the king wishes to rule a desert?" Asked Mace sounding rather frustrated.
Galandrim shrugged, "We knights are trained to obey orders, not question them. I do not think though, that the king would put so mcu toward this conflict if he did not see a great threat in the future", explained Galandrim.
Mace laughed, "A threat? Who's army could possibly enter Hyrule? Come Galandrim, we must part now. Come soldiers! Come, let us march for nowhere as it so seems", Mace suddenly looked back at the village, "I will return"
“Yeah, we’ll return. That’s because if we don’t leave now, we’re going to be guarding the cuccus in the mess hall for the rest of this conflict. Eh, Mace?”
The blond haired Hylian looked up from his pack, “You know the general, we mustn’t be late”, he looked up at the sky and shook his head, “Two days to reach Ikana, it can’t be done”
Galandrim loaded his gear onto his horse and mounted, “Well, war is never easy, you would know”
Mace stared around at the village, his hopes of a peaceful life suddenly fading. He had come here to start a new life, a peaceful one with his family. Now, he was off to war again, fighting for a land with villages like his.
Suddenly his face hardened, “Let’s move”, he said and with that they summoned the soldiers and left the village, for war.
“Look at your brave father, Link. He’s going to save our people, for the glory of Hyrule”, said Hela standing in the threshold of her house. Her eyes were glassy, and her voice was shaky. She didn’t know how long Mace would be gone, or even if he would come back.
