Melody of War 1

Under straight cut bright red bangs a pair of pure blue eyes opened. Before them the blue of a clear sky was decorated with gentle clouds that drifted freely on the wind. Beyond even the sky the boughs of a great tree embraced the world and only far off on the southern horizon could the ends of the tree be seen. To the north tall jagged mountains of onyx hue reached for the heavens and where they met the earth it exploded into jagged fang like spires. The sight was beautiful but not enough to distract the owner of those blue eyes set in a child-like face from a warm sensation in their side.

“It hurts…~♪”

Though a complaint the musical voice of the maid was full of song, if not also the grogginess of oversleep. Her complaint did not go unnoticed and a figure strolled over to where she lay on the ground to check on her. Though cast in shadow from the light of a great bird of light serving as the sun in the eastern skies behind him beneath the boughs of the great tree the girl could not help but recognize the man who stood over her. In her ears she heard the song that gave the world form and as she looked upon the young man before her she could hear lyrics sung by a voice belonging to no mortal describe him.

♪~ 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 ~♪

“Good morning Elliot~♪ Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha~♪ I guess we wrecked the hotel~♪”

“Unfortunately, but you seem to have found a bed of grass to your liking Melody.”

In a voice most pleasing to the ears the young man Melody identified as Elliot and knew as a Hero as sung in the song she heard greeted her with a smile. The sight pleased Melody but she was a bit confused.

“Grass?”

Grimacing against the pain in her side Melody sat up, a task made rather difficult by her having large, white feathered wings instead of human arms and hands. Her feet were similarly different, being stilts of flesh and bone that ended in a four toed, eagle like talon large enough to crush a man’s head. The feathered white tail that protruded out of the custom white leotard that embraced her shapely, slim, and adequately endowed torso was still under her however and the motion of sitting up proved uncomfortable. Pulling her legs into a W shape with her talons by her knees Melody griped the ground and summarily sprang to her feet, her tail popping out behind her and pointing toward the horizon.

“Ah~, that’s much better~♪ I never did like lying on my back~”

Laughing joyfully Melody gave herself a quick self-examination and once she was satisfied she turned her eyes to her surroundings. The lack of any signs of civilization and the presence of jagged grasslands stretching out in all directions under the teeth of the mountain surprised Melody. Quizzically she tilted her head towards Elliot and promptly forgot her question when she noticed that the ornate two-handed long sword on his left hip was joined by an equally ornate silver combat spear in his right hand.

“I don’t remember you having a spear Elliot. And don’t think I just never noticed before because I’m a harpy so I must be bird-brained~♪ If you do I’ll tell Link and then there’ll be all sorts of trouble~♪”

“I wouldn’t think about it Melody. Besides, until Chain confirmed for me that you were a harpy I had thought you were naught but her mage-beast. I can only imagine how a harpy has managed to live a relatively human life.”

“Well how does a human live a human life? You’re not making any sense at all Elliot~♪ Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha~♪ And you avoided my question~♪”

“Not intentionally. To answer then it’s a verse in my part of the Builders song and I can summon it as needed. According to Master Wherks due to the nature of Hero’s verses there should have been no risk with me summoning it.”

“I get the feeling that I’m missing something or another~♪ For example; who’s Master Wherks?~ ♪”

Mirthful laughter erupted from Elliot and Melody was left confused again. Tilting her head the harpy maid visually prompted the Hero to continue while she complained again.

“Don’t laugh at me~♪ I wasn’t trying to be funny~♪”

“My apologies Melody. I did not mean to offend as my laughter was aimed at myself. The urgency with which we moved to avoid detection and the subsequent event’s of the night left me forgetful of your ignorance on the matter. Come, let us join Chain and Master Wherks so that I might begin introductions and allow your fellow adventurer to explain the situation.”

Offering Melody to follow him as he explained himself Elliot set forth toward one of the stone spires of the teeth of the mountains to the north. Eager to learn Melody set off after the Hero and into the foot hills of the mountains. Through grassy ravines and vine strewn crevices the two made their way to the meadow atop one of the mountain’s teeth after nearly an hour and the pain in the harpy’s side was flaring up enough that she had to squat down.

“Ow~. I can’t stand it anymore. It really, really hurts…”

“My apologies Melody. It seems I underestimated the extent of your injuries and the efficiency of Chain’s healing magic.”

“Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha~♪ Link isn’t good with healing magic at all~♪ She can cast a basic spell or two but life threatening injuries are beyond her without a few days of uninterrupted work~♪”

“Really? Than what of her own injuries from fighting the Bandit King but a twin-day past?”

“She was casting secretly all day while we were in Highroot~♪”

“I didn’t know. And to think I challenged her to a duel.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it~♪ Link is too stubborn and prideful to let a few bruises keep her down~♪”

“I would not call her injuries suffered at the hands of the Bandit King mere bruises.”

“Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha~♪ To Link that’s all they are~♪ I bet Link would never let a little wound like this keep her down~♪”

Smiling against the pain Melody forced herself to stand back up earning a concerned look from Elliot.

“If you would like Melody, I would be glad to carry you the rest of the way.”

“No thanks~♪ I’m a harpy after all and who knows how I would act while hurt if I was on the back of a healthy strong man like you Elliot~♪”

“That is–”

“Just kidding!~ ♪”

Melody burst out laughing at Elliot’s expense as he clearly had been taken by her false warning. Closing his eyes and sighing as he lowered his head Elliot allowed himself a hidden smile. Melody was oblivious to Elliot sharing in the amusement of her joke and continued talking joyfully.

“I’ve never felt any urge to act like my wild cousin’s~♪ Maybe I’m broken for a harpy but that just makes me all the more me~♪ And if there is one thing I am above anything else it’s Link’s best friend and partner~♪ So come on Elliot, I’ll race you to the tip and greet Link with a smile!~ ♪”

“You’ll lose in your condition.”

“We’ll see about that~♪ Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha!~ ♪”

Taking the smile Elliot offered her as accepting her challenge Melody turned around away from the Hero and sprinted towards the tip of the grass covered tooth. At a much more casual pace Elliot made after the harpy with a concerned smile.

“Just don’t overdo it Melody. I’d prefer not to have Chain yell at me should you open your wounds.”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater