Chain the Wild Pawn 1

A young maid drinking tea within a train’s sitting car was not inherently an unusual sight, but this was perhaps an exception. There was of course the problem that the upper level of the train car that served as the sitting car was full of holes and nearly all of the windows were shattered. There was also the problem that the young maid enjoying her tea was the sole passenger present in the sitting car. That the maid was none other than the infamous Chainmaid of the Southern and Headland Kingdoms though spoke volumes of what had likely left the double-decker train known as the Brass Line in such a state of disrepair. More simply known as Chain, the maid who wore naught but a suit of chainmail that covered her from chin to sole as though it were her own skin though seemed unbothered by the condition of the train save for having to keep her long brown hair from being blown in her face.

“Link!~♪ Link!~ ♪”

The sound of a musical voice from beyond the windows of the sitting car called out for Chain. Opening her large brown eyes the maid turned to seek out who it was who called her name and was greeted to the sight of a harpy flying alongside the train. The harpy was far from a typical beast though and appeared more akin to a human maid. If not for her large white feathered wings instead of human arms, similarly feathered tail, and stilt-like talon toed feet the harpy would have been mistaken for a human maid herself. As she wore a custom white leotard and had her bright red hair with straight cut bangs styled into a ponytail adorned by a tied large blue scarf and two large blue beads adorning that hair which hung loose it was obvious that she was domesticated. Perhaps too much so as her soft skin was even whiter than Chain’s and her large blue eyes implied a certain naiveté.

“What is it Melody? Don’t tell me that we’re already there.”

“A testament to Rattama song smithing isn’t?”

Interrupted by a peculiar voice the two maids who had similar builds, with Chain being the taller if not for Melody’s unique feet, turned to see a Rattama at the head of the car standing in the open doorway. The robed knee-high ball of fluff stood on the toes of his long and bare curved feet and stared at the two maids with large eyes from a short snouted mouse face. Sniffing the air the Rattama made a face and changed the topic rather hurriedly.

“Though perhaps we could speak about Rattama song smithing in a more suitable environ. I don’t see how you can stand the stench no less drink tea with it permeating the air.”

“The broken windows help honestly and if not that I typically stink of blood, oil, and sweat as it is. It’s not like I’ve been able to really clean up since yesterday’s battle since you guys couldn’t spend the time to get the water back up and running.”

“Of course not. The Hero of Lumirest may have driven off the bandit Heroes but they could have returned at anytime. Sure the corpses of all their men are now filling the train with the bodies of the majority of our passengers like so much cargo, but that seems like all the more reason to be in a hurry. Surely the Bandit King will desire vengeance for this insult and defeat.”

“I didn’t say I blamed you guys for getting us out of there as fast as you did, I was just answering your question. Honestly you idiots are too sensitive.”

“You say that yet insult us all in one breath. As ungrateful a human as there ever was.”

“Uh-oh~♪”

Melody sang out her worry as the Rattama’s words hit a nerve and Chain set her tea cup down very quietly. The chilling look that emerged from under Chain’s long bangs sent a chill down the Rattama’s spine and his fur trembled with a fear. The next moment he was gone, fleeing for his life with his cat-like prehensile tail flailing wildly behind him. Chain however was already in rapid pursuit yelling at the top of her lungs and shaking her fists.

“Come back here you cocky rodent and say that again! I dare you to call me ungrateful just one more time after I nearly got killed yesterday because of you stupid Rattama!”

“Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha!~ ♪ Good luck you adorable little ball of fluff~♪ You’ve gone and done it now angering Link~♪”

Melody’s musical laughter filled the air at the scene on the train but she did not pursue it. Putting her wings to use the harpy took her slight frame and long limbs high into the sky where she could marvel at the scenery that rolled out below her. The forest and valleys that lay to the south from where she and the Brass Line had come was long behind them giving way to rolling green hills that were punctured by spires of black rock that erupted randomly from the landscape. They were but a small precursor to the sight of the black and jagged Stormroot Mountains that rose up to meet the blue sky that resided under the boughs of the Builders’ Tree which loomed beyond the sky and past all horizons. Were it not for the giant bird of light known as Sol who flew beneath those boughs there would have been no daylight for Melody to take in the scene or the sight of the city at the foot of the Stormroot Mountains.

Under a giant splinter of a metal tower that would have been taller than the mountains were it whole a bustling city awaited Chain, Melody, and the Brass Line. A collection of tiled roofs and gothic towers rose to meet the zeppelins and airships that filled the sky above and bathe in the light of Sol. Even higher above beside the waterfall that fed a river that cut a natural moat around the city a palace of some dozen spires sat as the seat of power. Were it not for the absence of roads crisscrossing the landscape beyond the farmlands that sprawled out from the city it would have been an imposing sight but instead was one of relief as it meant the travelers had at last returned to one of the slivers of civilization were humankind and Rattama flourished.

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater