Chain the Bandit Eater 2

“So, is it meal time yet?~♪”

“Only if we’re going by my work reputation.”

“Don’t say that Link! People get the wrong idea about me as it is!”

 Chain had extracted herself from the sitting car in the opposite direction of the man who had disturbed her tea and met up with another maid between cars. The maid had greeted Chain with a tune to her words but quickly lost it when Chain responded. The disappointment on the maid’s face could not be seen by any passenger riding the train as intended and even Chain had to look up to see who she shared a conversation with.

“That’s why we didn’t even bother trying to get you on the train in the first place. But now that’s going to work out to my advantage since we’ve got an idiot scouting out the train.”

Perched upon the roof of the train with eagle like talons that could easily crush a man’s head was far from any normal maid but rather a harpy. Amongst monster kind the maid was rather unique in that she spoke the common tongue and was atypically adorable. Large blue eyes stared out at Chain with disappointment from a round face under straight cut red bangs. The rest of her long red hair was tied either into a ponytail with a large blue scarf or dangled, gathered by one of two massive blue beads on either side of her face and below the trembling pout of her petite mouth.

“But that means now I’m going to have to work too~♪”

With skin that was softer and whiter than Chain’s if people only saw the maid’s face from which her melodic complaint emerged they may think her a child they may like to spend the day in the company of. As she was also significantly smaller than Chain mistaking the maid for a child would be reasonable if she wore more than a custom tailored white leotard that revealed a figure similar to the maid she conversed with.

“We’ll get to having you use your wings to scout out how large of a party we’re dealing with in a bit, but first I need to know something.”

As Chain brushed aside the harpy’s complaint she casually made mention of the large, pure white wings that extended from the other maid’s shoulders instead of human arms. In conjunction with the long, pure white feathers of the bird tail that extended from the base of her garment any looking upon the harpy would have no doubt believing she could fly on those wings at least if she had them spread. Like her legs with stilt-like feet equal in length to her shins that ended in her talons and allowed her to stand as tall as Chain, the harpy’s wings were tightly folded against her body as she spoke with the other maid from her train roof perch.

“Since we’re nowhere near civilization and surrounded by forests and mountains can you make out what the passengers are saying on the Brass Line’s radio phones?”

“You’d think it be easier out here but merchant’s are really chatty~♪”

Chain sighed exasperatedly and clutched irritably at her left temple. The harpy knew the warning signs of Chain’s short temper well and added another sentence in verse to try to keep Chain from losing it.

“But the scenery is kind of all the same out here and with the train so well guarded I’ve been practicing to pass the time~♪ If I knew what all the merchant talk meant I could probably earn a fortune of meat in the markets!~♪”

Chain lowered her arm as she looked back up at the harpy with an incredulous look before closing her eyes and sighing again. Opening her eyes to resume speaking with the harpy Chain stopped herself as her companion had a look of uncharacteristic concentration on her face.

“Um, Link, someone just started talking about you. Should I try to see what they’re talking about?”

“Melody, if I have to answer that question…”

The smile that Chain offered the harpy as she addressed her by name sent a chill down her spine and elicited a distinctly nervous laugh. Not wanting to invite further trouble Melody furthered her concentration and as quietly as she could began to sing a wordless song. As she concentrated and sung the words of a conversation between the man Chain had spoken with earlier and a calm, deep voiced man became distinct to her amongst the radio noise her magical nature allowed her to hear.

(I understand why you’re calm but this is still the Bandit Eater that we’re talking about. Everything could fall apart with that monster here.)

(Bearings, maybe I didn’t make myself clear the first time; the Bandit Eater’s presence isn’t a problem. and you should know what I mean. Just consider who I am and why we’re after this train and it should start to make sense. If it helps take a deep breath first.)

Something about the mirthfulness in the deep voiced man’s tone encouraged Bearings to follow his advice and he took a deep breath providing a moment of quiet amongst the radio transmission. When he spoke again it was with a stilled nervousness but not in ignorance.

(That is an incredible risk.)

(But if I pull it off…)

Bearings did not have a chance to express his opinion further as the deep voiced man hinted at untold benefits of challenging Chain. With a sigh of resignation he posed a question to the man that he surely knew would not hear anymore concerns.

(So what would you have me do until you strike>)

(Nothing too hazardous. Keep an eye on the Bandit Eater for now and get an idea on how much she knows about what the Brass Line is hauling all the way from Lumirest.)

Understanding that his orders would give Chain reason to distrust Bearings the deep voiced man became significantly more mirthful as he made a suggestion while recalling the beginning of his conversation..

(But just to make sure you don’t do anything foolish and come across as suspicious why don’t you offer the girl a drink. Nothing poisoned mind you. As I recall you mentioned something about her being alone to celebrate her newfound adulthood and frankly, even the Bandit Eater deserves to taste of the sweet drought before she dies. Hm, hm, hm, hm, hmmm…)

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater