Chain the Bandit Eater 3

“Link, I don’t like this.”

Melody’s cheerful sing-song style of speech did not return as she returned to addressing Chain after finishing relaying the conversation that she listened in on for her. Chain’s demeanor on the other hand had completely changed and the young maid was once again enjoying herself. The smile that spread across Chain’s face as she cupped her right elbow in hand and pinched her chin in thought did naught but agitate the harpy.

“How can you be smiling at a time like this when someone is planning to kill you?”

“Relax Melody, It’s not like it’s the first time.”

“Well no, but it’s just the two of us.”

“Fortunately you’re wrong about that.”

“What do you mean by that Link?”

“Well, before we headed out I made sure to collect as much info as I could on troublesome individuals…”

As Chain spoke a phenomenon of magical origin began to play out around her as a mist of shadows began to flow out from her chainmail. Starting at where her pectorals ended at the shoulder and wrapping behind her to meet at the same height in the middle of her back the dark mist took on the silhouette of a flowing black cape before solidifying into the object it mimicked.

“Let’s see here…”

Though between train cars the train was still moving at full speed and Chain’s cape was pulled freely by the wind as soon as it finished forming. Snatching her cape with her left hand and pulling it close Chain reached into its dark interior with her right and began rummaging about. After a moment she pulled out a sheaf of papers and leafed through them as she resumed assuaging Melody’s worries.

“The idiot I spoke to is obviously named Bearings, and while we didn’t get the name of his associate I already have an idea that we’ve walked into someone else’s trap.”

“So then…?”

Melody tilted her head to one side as she egged Chain on in her explanation. Chain did not leave the harpy waiting as she found a most skillful drawing of the man who had interrupted her tea earlier. Shifting the sheaf of papers so that the sheet with the drawing of the man named Bearings was at the fore Chain continued.

“That man Bearings is supposed to be on this particular train. If anything we’re the variables and it’s rather surprising that the guards aren’t more on edge because of my presence.”

“Well, the other man did mention that there’s cargo from Lumirest on the train. Are you known in Lumirest Link?”

“Capital of the worship of the goddess Cardinal and the Kingdom of Light of the Eastern Kingdoms? Not a chance.”

“Really?”

“Yup. Though it does explain why the guards at most only seemed curious about me. Their lack of knowledge is resulting in them being over confident about the situation. Or it’s what they do know that assures them that they have nothing to worry about.”

“What do you mean Link?”

Prompted by Melody’s question to continue, Chain would only do so after returning the sheaf of papers to her cape and letting the garment dissipate back into nothingness. Placing her hands on the back of her head, Chain offered Melody a toothy smile as she continued.

“Lumirest is trying to establish good relations with Raptoria.”

Melody’s head tilted further in question but Chain did not let her voice the question as she berated the harpy for her lack of knowledge as she continued.

“You should already know this Melody, but Raptoria isn’t just the Kingdom of Light of the Northern Kingdoms but also the nation who controls the Tear of Automina they somehow got their hands on in the Eastern Kingdoms. Considering how heavily the Church of Cardinal is frowned upon throughout the kingdoms if Lumirest could get into good graces with Raptoria–”

“They’d have the backing of a really important kingdom!~♪”

Song returned to Melody’s speech as she grasped what Chain was talking about and was also rewarded a smile as she did. Chain wasn’t one to let such a simple explanation suffice though and moved to emphasize how influential.

“Not just any important kingdom, but one trying to take control of technology away from the Rattama.”

“So what role are we going to play in all of this Link?~♪”

A maliciousness that Melody knew too well tainted Chain’s lips and the harpy maid knew there was going to be trouble for the bandits.

“What else? I am the Bandit Eater after all. Besides, I’m being offered a drink and I won’t pass that up so I’ll play along for now even if I don’t know what the Lumirest cargo is. At the very least instilling fear in the bandits of the Northern Kingdoms just might earn us a great payday.”

A mirthful laugh escaped from Melody as she could not help but be amused by Chain’s entrepreneur spirit.

“That’s just like you Link.”

“And just like you to worry too much so I’ll head to the observation car so you can keep an eye on me from above.”

“Sounds like a plan~♪ …Oh wait!”

Melody’s cheerful chirping gave way to concern as she remembered something she considered important. Unfortunately for her Chain did not hear her as the opportunistic maid had already stepped into the next car in the time it took Melody to remember that she had something else on her mind.

“Well, Link can hear the Builder’s Song as well so I’m sure she’s already aware that it’s strangely loud right now. In that case I’ll just keep an eye on her and see if I can’t make out anything Link won’t notice while she’s working~♪”

Talking herself out of her concerns the harpy returned to her melodic speech pattern before taking wing. Elevating high above the Brass Lane so the disparity in vision between her and the passengers meant she could see them but they could not see her Melody went about her appointed tasks. But as much as she had worried herself about not being seen by the passengers she failed utterly as her visage faded from the water of a small bowl inside a private car on the train. Looking away from the bowl a generic sorcerer of some years turned his attention to the other individuals who joined him around the table the bowl sat on.

“So then, what shall we do about our interlopers?”

The sorcerer’s question was weighted with grave concern hinting at the importance he put into the mission he partook in. His concern was not shared however by a young man who spoke up in a voice pleasing to the ear and dressed in a calming tone.

“We will let them do as they please. The reputation this Bandit Eater possesses seems to instill quite a bit of fear in Mr. Bearings and that is to our advantage. Distracted by the thought of seeing the fall of a hated enemy the bandits we hunt will be less effective against our men. And if the young maid is as good as Mr. Bearings’ reaction implies our men may not need draw steel.”

“Forgive me for raising a concern, but surely this maid stands little chance against our quarry.”

The sorcerer was again countered by the same calming tone as before as the young man who was surely in charge reminded his man of who he was.

“Worry not; I have not overestimated the maid. But our men drawing steel is not the same as when I draw steel.”

“O-of course. Forgive me.”

“There is nothing that needs forgiving. After all, it would be unacceptable for me to let an uninvolved party come to harm. But let us not waste this opportunity or the one that Mr. Bearings has provided for us. We shall inform the men of the change of plans by exploiting his brazen call to the maid’s reputation and then watch as he realizes he is but a corned rat in our trap.”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater