Chain the Wild Pawn 12

(Not quite how I expected things to end. Not after everything I went through, even going so far as to face a hero and survive.)

The blue uniformed soldier was spectacularly coherent for being buried alive in the collapsing hotel but had no illusions of his survival. Even so he tested his range of motion against the crushing weight of the rubble in vain though he ironically discovered he was uninjured. A sigh escaped from the soldier before he allowed himself to smile and struggled against his imminent demise.

“What a joke. I mean what are the chances someone my size could manage to end up in this mess yet be no worse for wear? But if I survived maybe some of the others have as well.”

Struggling with all of his might the soldier inched his way forward to an eye sized gap in the rubble that buried him. Peering through it he caught sight of Elliot standing amidst the rubble with the violet-eyed maid from the unit of soldiers leaning on his back for support. The sight strengthened the buried soldier’s smile but it was the sound of Wherks’ voice that allowed him to close his eyes and give up.

“What are you doing Sir Elliot?! We’ve no time for your heroics or the consequences they entail! The building is soon to fully collapse and you’ve your mission to carry out!”

“I will not abandon the men and maids under my command Master Wherks!”

“How, beyond using a verse and leading the assassin right to us in a situation you have no control over?!”

“That’s right Lord Elliot, listen to Master Wherks and get out of here. We were all prepared to die for the mission anyways, so don’t throw it all away for us.”

The buried soldier may have agreed with the agitated Rattama but his voice could not escape from his makeshift grave to reach the Hero’s ears. Even if they had Elliot seemed intent on doing more than was required of him as he argued with Wherks.

“What about Chain and the patrons of the hotel? They were uninvolved with any of this yet they have become unwilling victims!”

“The loss of the Chainmaid is unfortunate, but she is just another casualty like the passengers of the Brass Line. Use your head Sir Elliot. We can ill afford to have you try to save anyone in this situation if there is even anyone left to save with these damnable night crawlers infesting this death trap.”

“But–”

Even from under the mountain the buried soldier could clearly hear the distinctive ringing sound caused by the snapping of Chain’s fingers that cut off Elliot.

“Of course the Chainmaid would still be alive. Woe betide those who witness her fury.”

Wherks’ words seemed to be me more wrought with terror than any surprise that Chain was still alive. His horror was perhaps meant to be shared by all present but Elliot was a Hero and the buried soldier had given up on surviving his predicament. Uncaring for their opinions however Chain’s voice reverberated through the air as she cast her incantation.

“~ Flames of the First Well, ignite with my rage ~
~ Rush forth as a force of nature and bring beauty and destruction ~
~Vol Bloom! ~”

None present and still alive in the hotel had time to react before Chain’s spell went off and lit the night sky and the city of Highroot in a crimson explosion. The might of the blast drew the attention of the whole city, from the monsters that filled the sky, the guards on patrol, and the citizens peeking out their windows to Highperch at the royal castle.

“What the hell was that?”

The answer to Highperch’s question resided in the hotel that just had its upper stories and roof blown apart but the fiery explosion called forth by Chain’s spell. Elliot and the maid soldier at his side could only look on in awe at the magical devastation wrought by the Chain’s spell. Wherks was simply terrified by the display and had fallen onto his rump as he became hypnotized by the flames that raged around him. The buried soldier however found himself transfixed on the chainmail skinned maid who in the time between unleashing her spell and destroying the upper stories of the hotel and his subsequent fall into the abyss that had opened beneath him had found the time to catch him. There was a fury in her eyes that made even the flames they reflected seem dull in comparison and the soldier could hardly believe that she had taken the time to save his life.

“Why did you save me? You don’t owe us anything especially after we left you to fight the Bandit King by yourself.”

“You were still alive and now you and Elliot can owe me. But I’ve got more important things to worry about right now so if you value your life you better hope I forget about this.”

The soldier had no time to respond to the answer Chain provided him as the maid casually pulled his nigh two meter tall form from dangling above the abyss and threw him over her shoulder to Elliot’s feet. The surprise shared by the Lumirest soldiers, Hero, and the Rattama charge meant little to Chain as she strolled across the burning remnants of the hotel floor and sheathed her sword. Stopping above Melody’s curled up form Chain knelt down and frowned as she saw the pool of blood beneath her partner. Opening her eyes Melody looked up at Chain and was greeted with a smile that quickly replaced the maid’s frown.

“Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha…~♪ I messed up Link~♪ I should have seen it coming~♪ I’d probably be dead if the ceiling hadn’t fallen down~♪”

“Well you’re not and I won’t let you die that easily anyway. Can you stand up?”

Melody weakly attempted to move and the pain that tore across her face caused Chain more pain than the harpy was feeling. Giving up on the attempt Melody looked at Chain through teary eyes and forced a smile.

“I think I’ve lost too much blood to try~♪ I don’t have any strength at all and the pain is awful~♪”

“Well try to bear with it for now Melody. I’ll get you patched up in no time but until we’re safe just think of the pain as a sign that you’re alive.”

“I’ll try Link~♪”

“Good.”

Offering Melody a bright smile Chain picked up the harpy who was too weak to do much about the pain except complain.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch~♪”

Melody’s weak mewling as she squeezed her eyes shut against the pain gave Chain all of the focus that she needed to save the harpy. Turning around to face Elliot and company Chain leveled them all with a fierce look.

“What are you all standing around gawking for? My partner’s bleeding out and I need to get her somewhere safe now so if you don’t want to die then you better follow me. And Elliot, if you’re really a Hero you should have no reason to offer any arguments because if Melody doesn’t make it no Hero in the world will stop me from wiping ever kingdom involved off the face of the planet.”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater