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Ganon sighed as he watched his Hero training.
Link was, as always, immaculate in his swordsmanship, his footwork light and fluid, his stance open to adaptations to turn his opponent's skills back on them, his posture ready for retaliation.
But what really irritated Ganon was that he was too godsdamn handsome.
It actually made Ganon kind of angry.
His dirty blond hair was soaked in sweat as he practically danced with one of Ganon's soldiers, teaching the others who were watching firsthand, and it caught the light like gold, and Ganon was sorely tempted to drag him into the nearest tent to ravish him.
By the Depths, Ganon was aroused enough to take him right then and there on the battlefield, but unfortunately, Ganon was currently listening to a vital war meeting with his generals as they prepared for tomorrow's skirmish with the forces of Hyrule's King, spearheaded by the Hyrulian King's lead tactician; his daughter, the Princess of Hyrule.
So, to Ganon's truly utter disappointment, he was forced to actually pay attention to his generals as they discussed siege timing against cavalry charges, supply route protection, synchronizing troop movements, and sorcery preparation.
Dragon Knight Volga, as usual, took charge of the meeting in Ganon's silence as he discussed the actual combat plans, with Gerudian Warlord Kael'thar discussing cutting off enemy supply routes by using her elites to circle around.
His Hylian High Inquisitor Serathiel was discussing propaganda and assisting a local town with food to gain support and turn Hylians against their king.
Virex, his Zora spylord and Rhuan, his Stalfos head of supplies, were mostly listening, and occasionally offering their advice for the main attack, and offering units to Volga's personal flank attack unit.
Kharuun, his priest and spiritual advisor was resting near the war table, eyes closed as he quietly prayed in his native Lynel tongue for swift victory and minimal suffering.
Wizrulfus his Dark Sorcerer was sitting quietly, saying not a word, as usual, but occasionally moving one of his troop tokens where he believed his sorcerers would be best placed.
It was already all taken care of really. The conflict was leaning in their favor, and the tactics were sound.
And if anything really went wrong, Ganon could take the field himself and crush the opposition.
But the details did need to be ironed out, and that meant Ganon had to be available to deny any specifics as they went, and approve any new additions to the plan.
After all, as King he held responsibility for his generals and the actions of his troops, so he needed to be apprised of their plans in case they might jeopardize his long term goals for the realm.
But they all knew he wasn't really paying attention, and instead his gaze was focused out the flap of the tent.
On the training field that was within sight.
Ganon sighed once more, playing with one of his many pieces of jewelry as he fantasized.
Link's firm body under him, hearing him gasp, his hands on Ganon as he thrust into his king.
Ganon felt himself grow aroused, and was sorely tempted to walk out, but he was the King, and contrary to what a commoner might have expected, Kings had many important duties and responsibilities they had to attend to.
So instead he sighed, and scratched his chest under the darkened crimson linen cloth that covered his chest.
“Move this unit to the foothills, I can conjure stormclouds to give them cover.” Ganon spoke, using his magic to move the miniature models to the location he specified.
He didn't even need to look, he knew the map of the area intimately and knew exactly how the unit would fit in the area he had given.
“Of course, my lord.”
Ganon nodded more to himself, “Serathiel. Deliver a breeding pair of my personal Gerudian Bulls, as well as two additional male bulls to the rivertown as an offer of peace on our behalf. Access to the river could prove invaluable for trade and supplies if they decide to ally with us.”
“Yes, my lord. I shall have the bulls selected and delivered by nightfall.”
“Good. Good.”
“Any preference for the size of the Bulls?”
“Medium to small. Nothing too big, but Gerudian Bulls are much bigger than Hyrulian steer, and I have no doubt that even a smaller Gerudian Bull would look massive to these Hylians. Even if we lose, which I highly doubt, I want my Bulls to overtake the herds with their own young. The villagers are farmers and ranchers, they'll see the gifts as far more valuable than simple gold. And everyone knows the Gerudian Bulls of the royal herd are the best of the best.”
“Are you sure it's wise to gift such a valuable resource to a town that hasn't offered tribute to us yet, my Lord?” Rhuan asked, “What if they slaughter the Bulls instead of letting them breed?”
Ganon shook his head, “They will not. These are not central Hyrulians, these are rural folk. Their allegiance is to their continued survival. I have read Serathiel's intelligence report on the area and the last few years have been rough, have they not? Minor droughts, a famine two summers past, they cannot afford to be picky. Especially if they know that Gerudian Bulls were bred for foraging in arid regions with sparse vegetation. This skirmish against King Franz Hubert Hyrulia is mostly a show of power, we will win, even if we lose, because he doesn't realize my true goal. He thinks me simply a foreign conqueror come to take his wealth, and I have cultivated that idea in my missives and directives to him. And I do intend on plundering his castle, so he's not wrong.” Ganon was playing with his hair, curling the crimson locks around his finger lazily as he spoke, still watching his Hero show a soldier a spin technique he invented, “My goal is lasting influence. If I ingratiate myself into the local villages and towns as a benevolent foreign royal who seeks to liberate them from their distant king, whose tax rates have grown drastically in the past two decades, might I add, I can chip away at his realm without truly having to face him, and he won't realize I've already won until my sword is already upon his neck.”
He turned towards the gathered generals, “Princess Zelda on the other hand, she is the one to watch out for. She has an eye for optics and relations, and a mind for tactics and military. She may lack the economic prowess and acumen of her father, but she knows war, and commands the hearts of the people. She is also a gifted sorceress who, according to rumors, has the ears of her people's goddesses.”
“Those rumors have never been substantiated, sire.” Serathiel spoke up, “In my prior life before my service to you, in all my years as a courtier of Hyrule Castle, never once have I seen a display of magic from the Princess that could not be attributed to simple sorcery.”
“She has divine sorcery, have no doubt of that, Serathiel. I can feel it in the land itself. Every town I claim is less magic she can draw from. If I can place the outer countryside of her kingdom into my control, even if not officially but through subtle allegiance and geomantic tampering, I can slowly start to starve her and her goddesses of power.” Ganon kicked his feet up onto the table, leaning on his elbow onto the arm of his throne. His plans were well thought out, he knew it, so getting worked up was simply pointless. “And once I have enough of the land under my control I can annex Hyrule and claim their holy relic. Also Wizrulfus, have your men construct a storm banner. I wish to offer it to the town as a ward against drought.”
Wizrulfus nodded, growling out a guttural noise that Ganon knew was an affirmative in the Black Wolfos magus’ tongue.
Ganon sighed, “Link's form is excellent today, is it not, Volga?” He asked, glancing from Link to his Dragon Knight.
“Yes, my Lord. The Hero's form is always at its peak.” He inclined his head down, his blond facial hair catching the light under his dragon helm, and his eyes as hidden by the darkness of the helm as inscrutable and obscured as ever, but Ganon knew Volga was fond of the Hero. The only one of his generals to truly trust the young man and the emotional power he had over their king.
They would soon realize how precious his Hero was, and how central he was to his goals.
His emotional attachment to the young Hylian made him stronger, not weaker, Ganon knew this to be fact.
Ganon nodded, reaching down and rubbing his groin as he pushed his arousal to the side, sighing, “It is. Okay. The plans for the skirmish. Let's discuss them once again. Volga, as warlord and general of my forces, walk me through the general steps of the skirmish from sunrise to sunset.”
“Of course, Ganon, sire.” The Dragon Knight then moved all the pieces back to the field they were currently occupying over the hills and began to reexplain each step of the battle plan, his other generals adding in details as needed.
Once the meeting was over he would drag his Hero to his personal tent and satiate himself with the flesh of his most beloved soldier.
Until then, war meeting it was.