Chain the Wild Pawn 3

“Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha~♪ This is so crazy I can’t believe it~♪”

“You’re an adventurer aren’t you? How can you not believe it when you see a sight like this at a company house?”

“Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha~♪ That’s not quite what I meant~♪ It’s more that I’d never expect to see anything this crazy~♪ But I guess this type of crazy is part of why I like visiting Company Houses~♪”

“What else could there be to love asides the craziness of everyday? Oh sure, Master Highperch has a stick shoved so far up his ass you’d think he has it in for the whole the damn world but this is still a Company House where adventurers can gather and enjoy the stupidity of our occupation.”

“That’s part of what I love about it~♪ Unlike out in the city or wilds where everyone just sees a monster, here I’m just another junior adventurer~♪”

“Junior? Who’d have thought when you seem ample as any maid?”

“Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha~♪ I may be as swollen as Link but I’ve still seen one less spring then her~♪”

“Well imagine that. Those Rattama bastards weren’t exaggerating when they commented on how surprisingly young you two were. But who’d have thunk that the South’s Little Trouble Maker and Martin’s Headache would be gracing our halls here in Highroot.”

“I heard that!”

“You should probably focus Link instead of listening to us over here~♪”

Chain frowned as she looked at Melody who conversed with the myriad of adventures in her near vicinity. Considering the size of the second crowd to surround Chain since arriving in the city of Highroot it would have been impossible for Melody to engage all present though they would not have been wary of her unlike the crowd at the Brass Line Station. Unlike that crowd the members of the crowd within the courtyard of the keep somewhere in the crowded city that served as the Company House of Soarmont’s Adventuring Company were all adventurers. The harpy’s inclusion with the crowd and Chain being the center of its attention implied that she was once again about to make a scene. This scene was not of her construction however and the maid irritably pulled her eyes away from the crowd and to who stood opposite her surrounded by the crowd.

“Is this really a good idea? I may have spent the rest of yesterday casting healing magic on myself but I doubt I’m one hundred percent yet.”

“You have no reason to worry Chain, I intend to hold back. After all, this little exercise is more about giving you a chance to release that violent stress you’re struggling so hard to keep under control before Master Highperch joins us than anything else.”

“Implying there’s more than just you being nice.”

Chain sighed heavily as she contemplated Elliot’s words. Seeing that Chain picked up on his ulterior motives for their duel the young man who was exalted by the song which shaped the world as a Hero offered her a knowing smile.

“If it makes you feel any better I also want to cross blades with the maid who could survive against the Bandit King.”

“Oh. You’re actually giving me credit for that and not just my chainmail?”

“It’s true the Relic from the Age of Ash separates you from the Builders’ Song and likely grants great strength, but no matter what power it possesses you were still able to stand before one who is strengthened by the Builders’ Song. Even if only for a little bit you stood your ground against a Hero and that speaks of tremendous ability both in combat and in control of your Relic. It is unlikely that I would soon have the opportunity to cross blades with so skilled an opponent in a friendly bout again.”

“Honestly…”

Clutching at her left temple Chain released another heavy sigh. Her expression of her exasperation did not have the desired effect though as Elliot simply smiled brighter as the maid further endeared herself to him. Further irritated Chain ruffled her hair in frustration before just giving up.

Lowering her hands from her head Chain allowed her cape to dissipate back into the nothingness from whence it came. As the garment disappeared it revealed a before unseen sword hanging on her left hip by a shadowy thread that emerged from her chainmail. Taking a hold of the two-handed hilt with her right hand, though the weapon’s quillons could have also served as grips, she drew the slender rapier-like blade of her sword.

“Again I see that most intriguing sword. It’s hard to think such a peculiar sword could do the damage that you inflicted with it.”

“Just a testament to its craftsmanship. But just to give you fare warning, just because the blade looks like it belongs to a rapier and not a long sword doesn’t mean a thing. Of course I’m just echoing your sentiments so I don’t even know why I wasted the breath. Maybe I’m just trying to delay this humiliation long enough for Highperch to get here and put a stop to this stupidity.”

“You underestimate yourself Chain. As my men tell it until the Bandit King displaced himself he had not scored one blow against you.”

“Yet all he needed was the one and it took me everything I had to hold out for that long. His blows were like boulders and my arms are still trembling from deflecting those strikes. You on the other hand don’t seem worse for wear at all after pushing him well beyond what he demonstrated against me.”

It was Elliot’s turn to sigh as Chain continued to put off the duel that Elliot had requested of her. His sigh was not of exasperation though as he still smiled kindly at the maid who obviously and rightly feared his strength. He did not however intend to let Chain get away so easily and looked her in the eyes with his emerald orbs full of kindness and offered her a taunt he was sure would put her pride ahead of her rational fear.

“If this were a true battle to the death your reluctance would be justifiable Chain, but as this is naught but a friendly match your hesitation bespeaks cowardice.”

Credit had to be given to Elliot for not revealing his surprise at the sudden silence that fell on the Adventurer Company House’s courtyard. A bead of sweat running down his cheek was all the sign of his surprise that he allowed to show as he was engulfed by the silence that was made complete by the walls of the keep that prevented the din of the city beyond from entering them. Having tasked the soldiers under his command with other duties that deafening silence reminded Elliot how isolated he was amongst the crowd of adventurers; adventurers who took none too kindly to the young Hero calling one of their own a coward, especially one who had just survived the attack of two other Heroes. It was thus not surprising that the silence was finally broken by a general call for Chain to put the young hero in his place.

“Ugh. Now you’ve gone and done it.”

The roars of the crowd did little to encourage Chain, instead further irritating her as emphasized by her once again clutching at her left temple.

“It would seem that my words have served to rile up the crowds instead of you Chain.”

“No kidding.”

Chain sighed yet again as Elliot pointed out the obvious but knew that things would soon get out of hand if she did not do something. She refused to take responsibility herself however for her involvement and leveled Elliot with a glare as she lowered her left hand to her sword and took a battle stance.

“But now that you’ve got everyone riled up you’re going to have to shut them up.”

Seeing that Chain acknowledged that she finally had no choice Elliot allowed himself to smile earnestly.

“Of course Chain, it would be my pleasure.”

Closing his eyes as he finished speaking, an air of change washed over Elliot. With practiced deliberateness Elliot took hold of the scabbard that hung from his hip with his left hand and drew the intricate two-handed long sword it held with his right. Holding the blade out and down to his side the Hero slowly opened his eyes revealing a look that made it impossible to be distracted by his boyish beauty. Chain knew there was no longer any backing out and steadied her grip on her sword as she waited for the battle to begin.

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater