Melody of War 10

“Ugh. I can’t believe Melody has already been here before. She could have at least mentioned it when I was planning my trip up here or over the last four-day at some point while we were traveling.”

Chain’s exasperation was writ on her face for all to see except that she was well outside of the sight of most observers. Kneeling atop a rooftop and behind a large tower with a massive light at its top for driving back the night and the monsters it brought Chain dismissed the two glowing circles of light she had stacked in front of her. Standing up Chain allowed her cape to flow forth from her armor and promptly flipped it over her head and converted it into a hood to keep the suddenly returning rain from drenching her. Not stopping at only protecting her head Chain let flow a second cape to fill the typical role of the first. With that done she proceeded to pull free yet another flap of fabric from where her now two capes began and connected it to the opposite shoulder securing a covering for her front. Enveloped in her impromptu black robes Chain turned her eyes to the western skies and to where the Great Bird of Light Sol flew between cloud top and the canopy of the Builders’ Tree that covered the sky beyond.

“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter. It’s been at least four springs since Melody would have been out here and things outside of those ruins have probably changed. Still, I can’t believe how jealous I am that Melody is more familiar with ruins from the Age of Ash then I am.”

As she commented aloud on her feelings on Melody’s knowledge of the region Chain caught herself chewing on the tip of her left thumb. With a groan and the taste of metal staining her tongue she withdrew her hand and turned it to clutching at her left temple.

“Ugh. This whole trip north is turning into a bigger headache with every passing moment. I’m really starting to regret it… but I guess I’ll have to hold off complaining until I’m at least out of this mess.”

Lowering her hand from her temple to her hip Chain looked up and to the north where a massive wall of stone been erected cutting off the city from all that lay north.

“Somewhere on the other side of that wall is a second one and the Bright Rift border town of Cliff Home. If I’m going to get any information on a potential war before heading out for Misthead I’ll need to get over there and gather info since I can’t do that here without drawing any unwanted attention. The problem will be getting that idiot Varen to come along and avoid drawing any more attention than he already has. Well, I guess when trying to smuggle people across a country’s border there are no better people to ask for help than the local criminals.”

A playful smirk formed on Chain’s face as she made up her mind and jumped from the rooftop into the alley below. It was as good a starting place as any for Chain to seek out the seedier elements of Nest Cliff that a city of its size surely had despite primarily being a military installation. The only concern that Chain had as the balance of light shifted from the influence of Sol to the light towers that illuminated the city in the Great Bird of Light’s absence was encountering soldiers who were more loyal to country than coin purse. In an age possessed by radio communication it was unlikely that the soldiers station in the city were ignorant to her existence and that truth should have forced her to be more cautious. Chain however was in a bad mood still from hearing about Melody’s prior trip north and sought the information she desired with her fist in a number of back alley scuffles. Eventually a particularly unfortunate victim of the Chainmaid’s methods led her to a hidden alley stairwell sometime after Sol’s light had fully disappeared beyond the western skies.

“This is it you damn maid! Head down these stairs and you’ll find the Mole. If you really mean to get to Cliff Home he’s your man though I hope he instead shoves a knife ‘tween your ribs.”

The man spat at Chain’s feet before turning to leave but found himself stopped as a chainmail clad hand took hold of his shoulder. Looking back slowly the man was greeted by a most chilling smile from Chain and swallowed something fierce as she spoke.

“And here I was hoping you’d introduce me.”

A horrified scream escaped the man’s lungs as Chain kicked his feet out from under him and threw him over her shoulder and down the stairs into the darkness below the alley. Listening with smug satisfaction she heard knives being freed of scabbards in response to the unfortunate man’s tumble down the stairs. Straightening out and placing her hands on her hips Chain strolled casually to the stairs while shaking her head with a smile.

“What a bunch of rank amateurs. I know my hearing is better than most but they should still be able to draw their knives quieter than that. Oh well.”

With a shrug Chain descended the stairs into the first chamber of what she presumed was an underground network of similar chambers and tunnels connected to city sewer and used by the local criminals for their work. As this entrance was supposed to lead straight to a significant member of the criminal underbelly the number of armed thugs who lunged at her as she descended surprised the maid naught. The same could not be said for the thugs who Chain easily dispatched with her bare hands as she made her way leisurely down the stairs until she finally reached the bottom surrounded by a pile of toppled thugs.

“So, if any of you are still conscious could you get up and maybe set up a meeting with the Mole for me.”

“I’m afraid the Mole is indisposed right now Chainmaid, but I was told to expect a nice surprise if I waited long enough. Who would have thought the Chainmaid herself would stroll right to me though?”

Chain’s eyes narrowed as she was addressed by a confident voice from the far corner of the chamber and turned her gaze in its direction. As she did a tall muscular man with a garish scar running from brow to chin through his right eye stepped into view with a weighty war spear in hand. The sight of the shirtless and tattooed man meant little to Chain as such men did not threaten her but she still gritted her teeth as a voice belonging to no mortal rose up from the Builders’ Song as she looked upon a Hero.

♪~ Chiseled man in paint of war ~♪
♪~ Marked by scar of greatest hunt ~♪
♪~ Piercing eyes with mane of flame ~♪
♪~ Darkness splitting the spear he wields ~♪
♪~ Beasts weep and flee for all are prey ~♪
♪~ Even man and maid are trophies all ~♪
♪~ Ever ambitious the fisherman ~♪

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater