Chain the Wild Pawn 2

The battered and battle worn Brass Line ascended from ground laid rails to an elevated line upon stone arches and golden cobbles as it cut through the farmlands surrounding the city of Highroot. The sight of the damaged train coming from the wilderness piqued the curiosity of the farmers that worked the fields but it was the sight of the harpy who descended from above to fly beside the train that made even the drivers of the steam tractors that littered them pause.

“Uh-oh~♪ I better get on before we get into town or else they might start shooting at me~♪”

Demonstrating tremendous strength and agility Melody grabbed at an open window with her talons and pulled herself into the train. Righting herself within the car she now occupied she happened to glance out the window and caught sight of a peculiar scene.

“Oh~ That’s weird…”

Leaving the farmlands the Brass Line entered the last stretch of land before the river that separated it from Highroot. What had confused Melody was not that the empty fields were not being used for farming or even defenses from bandits and the wilderness but that they were littered with countless weapons thrust into the ground as though it were the sight of some old battlefield. The harpy maid tilted her head at the sight before squeezing her eyes shut and giving her head a fierce shake.

“I better join Link before I really do get in trouble~♪”

Making her way to the front of the train in pursuit of Chain, Melody only slightly noticed as the Brass Line began to cross the river by means of one of the many impressive bridges that covered the span. Impressive as any number of the bridges were however they seemingly melted away before the display of elevated golden cobbled city streets that crisscrossed through the tight knit buildings and intricate aqueduct that descended from the castle and upper levels of the city. Under the watch of the giant, golden hued metal sliver of some impossibly massive tower the Brass Line itself melted away into the city only standing out from the steam cars that ferried about the bustling populace by virtue of its damaged form. Soon it would disappear in general as it pulled into the cathedral-like train station that serviced the many trains of the Brass Line and the city’s steam cars alike.

The long journey of the Brass Line that had ferried Chain from the Southern and Headland Kingdoms to the southernmost of the Northern Kingdoms at last came to an end was marked with bell song and whistles. Stepping off of the train by means of the forward-most public car’s entrance Chain and Melody discovered that the end of the train’s journey was also marked by cheers and applause. An incredulous look crossed Chain’s face at the sight of the crowd that had gathered to greet her while Melody simply looked on in wide-eyed awe.

“Look, it’s her! The adventurer who fought the Bandit King and lived to tell the tale!”

“She’s so young isn’t she?”

“So thin too. Did she really survive such an encounter?”

“Could there be any doubt? Just look at the condition of the Brass Line. It must have been quite the battle!”

“Eh? What’s going on?”

“Isn’t it obvious Link?~ ♪ You’re famous~♪”

“That’s not what I mean Melody. What I want to know is how did word of our fight with that grinning idiot get here before us?”

“By radio phone of course.”

Squeezing past Chain and Melody one of the knee-high mouse men of the Rattama answered for the confused maid.

“We had to call ahead to report what happened after all and it should be of little surprise that my fellows would chatter about such a momentous event. Your surviving was bound to warrant some attention in a city under the thumb of the Hero you did battle with.”

“But I wouldn’t have likely even survived that battle if not for that idiot Elliot!”

“Your words are most hurtful Chain.”

“Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha~♪ Link’s in trouble~♪”

“Would you shut up Melody?!”

Chain’s confusion was quickly turning to irritation as she had to deal with multiple people at once and she snapped at Melody earning an amused laugh from the harpy. Snarling in irritation knowing there was not she could do about her fellow maid Chain turned her attention to the source of pleasing to the ear voice of the young man who had called her words hurtful. As she did she nearly regretted it as from the Builders’ Song which permeated the world around her did she hear the lyrics of a verse rise up in a voice no mortal could sing with.

♪~ Gentle prince with golden mane ~♪
♪~ Knight of crown and goddess loathed ~♪
♪~ In silver plate and azure cloth ~♪
♪~ With gifts of man, god, and Builder all ~♪
♪~ From emerald eyes he views a dream ~♪
♪~ With sword of hope he strides undaunted ~♪
♪~ Ever noble the vanquisher ~♪

Descriptive as the song was it failed aptly to give any mention to the young man’s boyish beauty or the gentle smile he offered Chain. Chain nearly retched at the sight but kept herself composed with a fair bit of snark.

“And you Elliot; don’t even think of playing the victim here. If you hadn’t gotten knocked out in that initial attack I wouldn’t have nearly been killed by that grinning idiot.”

“Somehow I doubt I’ll ever be able to apologize enough for my failing Chain, but I am only all too human despite being a Hero. Still it would seem though that you are the hero of the hour.”

“Only because these poor idiots don’t know what actually happened out there.”

“I would certainly like to know.”

The gruff voice of an irritated man pushed itself into the exchange between Chain and Elliot with a harshness bespoken of great impatience. Turning to see who had the audacity to talk to her that way Chain was greeted by the stern expression of a tall lanky man with bushy mustache and eyebrows under a head of graying hair. His attire implied he was a man of importance and likely a warrior both, though his posture spoke significantly more of his history of battle even if his crossed arms sent the more immediate message of his extreme agitation. Elliot was not put off by the stern man’s demeanor however and greeted him cordial.

“Master Hawk Highperch I presume. A pity we could not meet under more favorable circumstances.”

“Highperch? You mean the head of Highroot’s Comapany House? Well there’s an unexpected turn of events. I never thought I’d meet you on my way north.”

“And I can assure you there is no pleasure in this meeting Chainmaid.”

“Excuse me?”

“Though we are not meeting under the most favorable of circumstances Master Highperch my men and I can personally vouch for Chain’s character and deeds.”

“Deeds which have insinuated that the Bandit King is bestable and will likely bring his fury against the city. Do you have any idea what that means? Did you not see the fields of blades which surround the city? Those weapons were thrust there by the Bandit King himself, taken from the cold dead hands of all who have fallen to him in battle as a message. I trust I don’t need to translate it for you two.”

“Not at all Master Highperch.”

The seriousness that came over Elliot fully displayed his understanding of what Highperch was saying. Chain on the other hand was not particularly fond of what the Company House head was implying and placed her hands on her hips defiantly.

“I think you’re forgetting who attacked who first here or the results of that attack. This train behind us full of the bodies of those who weren’t even prepared to be attacked in such a way. Or are you saying just entering the kingdom of Highroot was willing suicide?”

“I won’t waste my time pretending that a girl barely turned maid would even begin to understand.”

“You’re the one not understanding anything here. Those bandits I killed led by those two idiots attacked the train with no intention of leaving anyone alive. I did what I had to do to stay alive.”

“Better if you had died with the rest of them.”

“What did you say?”

“Um, Link… This probably isn’t the best time.”

“And why’s that Melody?”

“Because everyone is watching.”

Melody’s words forced Chain to acknowledge the silence that had descended upon the train platform beyond the work of the Rattama who serviced the train. Looking around Chain could clearly see the apprehension of the crowds that had gathered to cheer her victory. Even Elliot held a stern expression and held his ground letting Highperch sling his opinions about unquestioned. The interruption brought about by Melody allowed the gruff man the opportunity to unleash another one upon Chain.

“I would have thought Balgun’s student would have had more sense than one of Martin’s, especially a beast. I guess the world really is still full of surprises.”

A worried look washed over Melody’s face as she knew that it was unlikely that Chain would let the insult to either of the maids slide. It seemed that she truly was about to make a scene as a black mist began to flow from her chainmail from where the furthest reaches of her pectorals ended at her shoulders. The apprehension in the crowd gave way to true concern at the sight and whispers began to rise up from the crowd at the sight and even Highperch relaxed his stance to be able to act. Chain however surprised everyone as she closed her eyes and simply sighed heavily as the flow of mist from her chainmail extended to and connected on her back taking on the form of a cape. As Chain opened her eyes again the mist solidified into the object it resembled and Chain leveled Highperch with a cold glare as she spoke in a merciless tone.

“I guess you’re right Highperch. There really is no pleasure in this meeting.”

Grabbing her cape at where it emerged from the end of her pectorals Chain pulled free a before nonexistent fold of the garment and pulled it across her body connecting it to the origin point on her opposite arm. In an instant beyond what was above her cape Chain had disappeared behind the garment hiding her distinctive appearance from all onlookers. As her armor had disappeared so too did Chain aim to follow suit as she headed towards the crowds.

“Come on Melody, let’s go take in the sights so I can cool down a bit before reporting in. I’d hate to do something I’d regret.”

“Um… Okay Link…”

Melody was obviously nervous due to the animosity hanging in the air between Chain and Highperch as well as the fear of the crowd but began to follow Chain anyway. Highperch speaking up froze the harpy in her tracks and she swallowed fiercely as he addressed Chain coldly.

“You’ll be reporting straight to the Company House with the escort I brought along where you’ll wait for me to arrive after I’ve finished looking over the mess you made. I would hope that would provide you ample opportunity to remember how to conduct yourself.”

Chain looked back over her shoulder with a heartless look that would have made lesser men shrivel but Highperch simply glared on unimpressed by the maid.

“I don’t know Highperch, Soarmont’s Adventurer Company has never made me so mad before. Besides, I wasn’t even officially on any jobs or bounties while on my way up here.”

“Yet you took it upon yourself to capture one of Highroot’s most wanted bounties. Did you do any research before heading north or did you willfully ignore everything you needed to know. It must be one of the two because otherwise you would have known better than to engage Bearings in the Northern Kingdoms.”

“Actually Master Highperch, Chain played no part in Mr. Bearings’ capture. My men recovered him from the wreckage of the Brass Line after I had driven off the Banadit King and the Rattama Hero who accompanied him.”

“And so you brought him here of all places.”

“I could have left him to die in the wilds like a broken dog and invited the Bandit Kings ire even more so upon the city that currently accepts my patronage.”

Highperch narrowed his eyes as Elliot proved he was no stranger to the game of words that he employed to keep the city he called home safe. Elliot simply offered him a knowing smile before he turned his attention to Chain who was as a ticking time bomb between the crowd and the group of adventurers who had accompanied Highperch. Taking a gamble Elliot attempted to defuse that bomb.

“Perhaps though Chain, you could accompany me to the Soarmont Adventurer Company House. As it is, I have to conclude my business with the Adventurer Company now that I have arrived and I shan’t be long in Highroot. It would be a shame to not have a proper opportunity to speak with you before I depart further north. Besides, I believe I may have a solution for dealing with the stress you’ve built up.”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater