Chain the Bandit Eater 1

“Excuse me miss, but If I am not mistaken are you not the Bandit Eater herself?”

“That’s not really the most flattering of titles.”

The young maid should not have been surprised that her reputation preceded her, especially considering her environment. Seated at a table in a sitting car on the Brass Line, a double-decker train that housed freight on the lower level and passengers, typically merchants, on the top level, she was bound to stick out. Even considering that this particular train of the Brass Line that tore north through wooded valleys possessed a larger contingent of guards than the less skilled adventurers that normally guarded the trains from monsters and the wilderness in large beyond the rails she would have stood out. Where most adventures who took work as guards for the Brass Line tried to match the garb of the typical patrons, such as the waistcoat and bowler hat of the distinctly non-greasy and rotund yet lean man who addressed the maid, the maid stood out even amongst their number. Were it just the youthfulness of the pretty maid, with her long brown hair and large brown eyes, she may not have warranted much attention from the man she believed to likely be a merchant of some kind, however it was her attire that defined her and made it impossible for anyone not to notice her even barring her reputation. Where most adventurers stood out due to their armaments and armor the maid stood out even more for her armor as it did not clash with her attire as her attire was naught but her armor, in a matter of speaking. The armor that the maid wore was a most impossible suit of mail armor, a mesh of chains that she wore as though it were nearly her own skin. From the underside of her chin to her feet she was covered in the chainmail with no signs as to how she could possibly have ever put it on as there were no seams, buckles, straps, or clasps of any kind. It really did appear that she had chainmail for skin and it was this appearance that gave rise to her other titles as the man who spoke to her recalled in apology.

“Ah my apologies miss, it is a rather crude title is it not? The Chainmail Maiden, or perhaps the Chainmaid would be more appropriate?”

“Honestly Chain is perfectly fine. It’s what everyone else calls me anyway.”

Chain gave the man a disarming smile as she introduced herself and derived a small bit of a bemusement from his failure to hide his flustered reaction. Flustered as the man appeared though Chain could tell it was a fain attempt at acting due to his likely occupation as a merchant. The fact that the merchant’s gaze lowered to Chain’s body told her that he was rather glad to have received what he obviously interpreted as an invitation that did not exist. Not feeling threatened in the least by the strangely non-greasy, likely merchant, Chain played along as he seemed to forget that he really had no reason to be talking to her.

“I must say though considering your reputation–”

“You didn’t expect me to be so thin?”

Chain’s smile took on a hint of maliciousness as the man practically squirmed as he knew he had been caught staring. Chain was not surprised though as she was not unaware of her looks. While she was not short she was definitely not tall but was still possessed of long graceful limbs. But as she said, she was thin, which was unusual for someone in her profession. And it was not just being lean and lithe in Chain’s case, as despite having curves in all the right places, and what should have been a great figure, she was a touch too thin to take advantage of them. Chain did have one asset though that she knew was sufficient for tipping the man past the point of no escape though and tapped one of her breasts with the knuckles of her right hand as she spoke.

“On the bright side though my bosom is nice, don’t you agree?”

“Please miss! You have my utmost apologies!”

Getting the man to finally reel back Chain’s smile added smug satisfaction to the hint of maliciousness that decorated it. Taking in her victory Chain turned to the tea cup and saucer that awaited the return of her attention and partook of the savory infusion. Unfortunately her victory drink was soured as the man was not sufficiently discouraged from talking to her and resumed leading with yet another apology.

“Forgive my continued intrusion of your afternoon tea Lady Chain, but despite my inappropriateness I am still most surprised to find the, excuse the crude term, Bandit Eater so far north. To my understanding the Southern and Headland Kingdoms are typically the domains of your exploits with only the occasional trip so far north as the Border States of the Central Kingdoms.”

“That explains it. Now it’s starting to make sense.”

“Pardon me?”

With a sigh Chain returned her tea cup and its accompanying saucer to the table before her so that she might address the man’s confusion. Turning an irritated look onto him Chain spelled out what she observed.

“Considering I’m so far north I didn’t really expect anyone up here to know who I was. Considering my chainmail though, it really isn’t a surprise that I draw a lot of unwanted attention. The problem was that you didn’t comment on my chainmail first like most people do. No, you used that unflattering title of mine from back south.”

“Excuse my interruption Lady Chain, but is that so unusual?”

“Didn’t I just say why it’s unusual?”

Chain’s irritation had managed to find its way into her voice and the man visibly shrank as she glowered at him. It was obvious that he wanted to clarify what he meant but instead drew a handkerchief from a pocket and dabbed nervously at the perspiration forming on his face from the heat of the situation. Taking his silence as answer to her question Chain continued.

“As I said I didn’t expect anyone so far north to know who I am, but you mentioned the Border States which is where most merchant’s of the Central Kingdoms do trade with the Southern and Headland Kingdom. Considering your attire is, from what I’ve been able to tell on my journey north, passable fashion in every city along the Brass Line I should have been able to tell at first glance that you’re well traveled. Considering that, it shouldn’t be surprising that you’ve heard of me.”

“Admittedly your mentors are more well known then you…”

The man seemed to relax a fair bit and put his kerchief away as Chain’s annoyance seemed to shift from him to her reputation. His mention of her mentors seemed to fully take her attention off of him even as their mention turned her voice bitter.

“Not surprising considering in most company halls everyone typically just calls me the little troublemaker. It’s really only merchants, bandits, and travelers that know me as the Bandit Eater.”

Chain’s irritation was reaching a head and she clutched at her temple with her left hand as she spoke through nearly gritted teeth. The man nearly drew out his kerchief again out of habit as he attempted to prevent the situation he was at the heart of from boiling over.

“It may not be the most flattering of titles but amongst merchants and travelers the name is nearly synonymous with being a Hero. Perhaps it is why despite the large number of guards for this train they seem so relaxed. They surely know they have nothing to fear with one so infamous amongst bandit ilk such as yourself aboard.”

As the man had hoped Chain’s irritation dissipated but he was not prepared for the incredulous look that replaced it as she lowered her arm and looked at him in disbelief.

“Did you honestly just compare me to a Hero? That has to be the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard. And I can assure the guards for this train definitely aren’t relaxed because I’m here. I don’t think any of them even know who I am since the most attention I’ve gotten from them is a curious look.”

“Perhaps then it is your mentors who have instilled such calm in the guard. They are more well known than you after all.”

The man could not stop himself from extracting his kerchief once again and putting it to work, even going so far as to remove his hat to dab at the mostly bald dome it hid. He found a bewildered Chain to be significantly more frightening than an irritated Chain and found himself significantly more relieved than Chain became as his attempt to calm her seemed to succeed. With her sensibilities apparently restored Chain’s next contribution to the conversation surprised the man who had initiated it.

“That’s definitely not it either since this trip is supposed to be my fifteenth spring celebration and they’re probably following the tide of scholars to Raptoria’s Tear of Automina.”

“Really?! So you’re travelling alone? Ah, excuse me yet again. I should be saying congratulations. Crossing the threshold from girl to maid is surely cause for celebration. I hope you will forgive me for interrupting the celebration you chose to enjoy in solitude. Surprised as I am by your appearance I had not meant to intrude upon your celebrations. If you’ll excuse me I’ll leave you to it.”

Excusing himself far too late to allow Chain any sense of enjoyment from her trip Chain watched the man leave the sitting car without revealing her emotions. As he disappeared into the next car Chain allowed herself to express her thoughts, grabbing at her left temple with more ferocity and sighing exasperatedly. Through gritted teeth she spoke under her breath just to vent without drawing the attention of any of the other patrons of the sitting car.

“It would be nice if you were sincere but unfortunately for you I’m good at reading people and you were definitely scouting out the situation on the train.”

With a sigh Chain abandoned her tea and rose from her seat.

“So much for just celebrating the freedom of adulthood. I guess I better get to work.”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater