The rise of a Hero

Chapter 15

Knight's Code of Honour

13. The knight is the servant of every suffering creature, the defender of every oppressed being. They must give their strength and life selflessly to overcome suffering and opposition, without expecting anything in return.

oOo

Early in the morning, Link walked quickly through the corridors of the castle's ground floor. As the captain of the royal guard, he had been summoned to resolve a dispute that had just occurred between two of his fellow guards. The knight had to hurry because he would then need to join Princess Zelda to ensure her safety. Link arrived in the common room of the royal guards and found them seated opposite each other, one with his back turned to his superior who had just entered.

"What's going on?" the young man asked immediately, crossing his arms.

The guard who wasn't facing away stood up indignantly and pointed at his counterpart.

"He humiliated me in public!" he exclaimed. "All of this just to get Her Majesty's attention!"

Link's expression became even more stern upon learning this. What was this unworthy story? The other royal guard, a bald man with a beret covering his head, finally turned and clenched his fists.

"Stop with your lies, will you? You're responsible for what happened. If you hadn't loudly proclaimed that the soldiers had no merit, I wouldn't have put you in your place."

"You literally made me fall to the ground before mocking me in front of everyone, you jerk!"

The young captain saw the two men launch themselves at each other to come to blows. A surge of anger twisted his stomach, and his indignation didn't help. Suddenly, he grabbed one of the guards and forced him back in a swift motion, making him sit down on one of the armchairs. Or rather, the man was almost thrown into it and fell heavily onto it after stifling a hoarse complaint. Immediately, Link turned his head to the second guard and gave him a stern look.

"Have you forgotten where you are?" he asked them in a dry tone. "You should be ashamed of such behavior."

His two fellow guards cast their eyes down or to the side.

"A royal guard must remain humble in speech and action. Under no circumstances should they have the right to judge other warriors, simply because their title isn't as prestigious as theirs."

Link now scrutinized the one who had caused his comrade to become the target of ridicule for the king and the other royal guards.

"Humiliation as punishment is not a method I can approve of. As adults, you should have the wisdom to make others understand if their words are unacceptable. Both of you are at fault, and I disapprove of your actions. Now, behave as your title obliges you and learn from this lesson."

"Yes, Captain..." they said in a hushed voice.

"Good. Now, return to your posts. I cannot afford to waste more time with such quarrels."

With that, he turned on his heel and went back to the corridor that would lead him to the princess. The castle staff were bustling and trying not to jostle Link on their way. The young man paid them little more attention; he was already contemplating his own day's schedule. Unexpectedly, he crossed paths with Impa coming from the opposite direction, holding a stack of four large books in her arms. The Sheikah stopped and offered him a smile before greeting him.

"You look tired, Link," she observed, then returned to a neutral expression.

"I just handled an affair I would have preferred not to be involved in."