Melody of War 12

“My apologies Chainmaid for my hot headed companion. His battle lust is a  little out of hand”

The individual who had interrupted Kyte and Chain’s fight turned their attention from the Hero to the maid as they offered an apology and explanation. Kyte groaned as any fun he was having quickly dissipated with the gun wielder’s arrival. Chain had any number of wry replies at the ready but had to first deal with her surprise.

♪~ Child framed with red cherry locks ~♪
♪~ Azure eyes and resolute hands ~♪
♪~ From above the storm astride metal doll ~♪
♪~ Crafted by genius and forged by hope ~♪
♪~ With pearly gun and fiery ally ~♪
♪~ An unyielding aim for a future dreamt ~♪
♪~ Ever straight the pretender ~♪

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Eh?! Is something the matter Chainmaid?”

“There’s plenty the matter, especially with you.”

Struggling to her feet Chain looked past Kyte to the individual who had interrupted their fight. As the verse that rose up in the Builders’ Song claimed they were indeed a child of perhaps only ten springs with bright red hair. They were dressed in a button up white shirt with the collar turned up and sleeves that turned to black tight fingerless black gloves from just above the elbow. They’re legs were similarly clad in the local children’s attire with black tights with leather soles and steal toes emerging from a pair of elastic hemmed, puffy short pants that ended about mid-thigh. Of greater interest to Chain however was the shoulder holster they wore for the white rectangular sidearm they carried as well as the blue squirrel like creature on their shoulder with flame tipped rabbit ears and mouse tail. All of that was difficult to take in as there was a sound in the Builders’ Song that was nagging at Chain and causing her temples to throb. Clutching at her left temple with her recently spell vacated hand Chain strained to focus.

“A military commander, a Hero, in possession of a spirit, and there’s something wrong with the Builders’ Song around you, like it’s out of tune.”

“Wow! So you really can here the Builders’ Song! That’s amazing! Though I can’t say why it sounds funny around me because that’s a national secret. Though I can at least introduce myself and clear up the confusion around Kyte’s joke.”

“Well you might as well be a commander Finch.”

“Please Kyte, you’re just going to confuse her more than you already have.”

Holstering their sidearm the child Hero turned their attention fully to Chain and snapped to attention.

“Independent Operator Finch Misthead of the Bright Rift Sentinel Corps.”

“Misthead?”

Under her breath Chain uttered the name that matched that of the town in the peaks of the Stormroot Mountains where she meant to meet up with Melody and the others. Her surprise did not go unnoticed by Kyte who kept quiet and made a mental note of Chain’s reaction for future reference if necessary. Finch totally missed Chain’s reaction as they were absorbed in their introduction though they relaxed significantly as they motioned to and introduced the creature on their shoulder.

“And this here is Matches, a fire spirit who’s been with me for as long as I can remember. I don’t know why Matches hangs around me but I’ve always been grateful for his company.”

“I guess that doesn’t matter nearly as much as why a pair of Heroes from Bright Rift are on the Highroot side of the border. Though hearing you’re involved with a Sentinel unit and considering the one I spotted in the Teeth last night I’m starting to guess that my suspicions that a war is brewing is pretty close to the money.”

“Ah–”

Finch started to say something but stopped realizing further explanation was necessary. Fortunately for the inexperienced child Kyte was more than willing to do just that.

“Of course a war is brewing Chainmaid. Remember that bastard Roc. He’s at the heart of all of this, and frankly his fascination with you is the reason Finch and I came looking for you. When our spies told us that you vanished in a monster attack in the city of Highroot it was obvious to us that the maid who could hold her own against that bastard wouldn’t go down there. Then this morning’s reports of harpy song and the appearance of a mysterious adventurer led us to believe we were right in thinking you might make for the border crossing here at Nest Cliff and Cliff Home. Combine that with the reports the Mole was getting from his men that a chainmail clad maid was beating them senseless for information and it looked like we were proven right. The best part is now that we’ve seen you with our own eyes and you have beaten the ever living daylights out of the Mole’s men we can confidently finish preparations to engage the Bandit King and the forces he’s supposedly amassing to go after you and the Hero from the Eastern Kingdoms.”

“Now I get it.”

With a heavy sigh Chain clutched at her temple in exasperation more so than in pain as the scenario she had walked into came into view.

“I’ve managed to walk right into another trap meant for that grinning idiot and if things don’t go well it’ll likely be what finally kick-starts your two kingdoms into war.”

“That about sums it up Chainmaid. Though, since you are known as the Bandit Eater and our spies tell us that the Hero from the Eastern Kingdoms is meant to vanquish the Bandit King we would like to implore your help.”

Chain looked up at Finch as they confirmed her deduction keeping an eye closed in an attempt to mitigate the headache inducing effect of the Builders’ Song being off around them.

(What is going on here? I’m possessed by a Relic from the Age of Ash so the Builders’ Song shouldn’t be able to affect me yet I’m getting a headache from it being out of tune. Is it just a natural hearing response or is there something else going on. He did mention that it’s a national secret so maybe they’ve found a way to manipulate the Builders’ Song in a way that allows it to affect those possessed by Relics. But if that’s the case…)

“Um, are you alright Chainmaid? I thought perhaps you were thinking of a way to make this situation work for you but you honestly look to be in a pain.”

“Of course she’s in pain Finch. I may have been holding back but I still smacked her clear into a solid stone wall and the Builders’ Song does not enhance us lightly.”

“Of course Kyte! Her pain is obviously a result of you not being able to control yourself.”

“Hey!”

The earnestness with which Finch accepted Chain’s discomfort being the fault of Kyte earned the child Hero a scowl and complaint as they clasped there fist in palm in exclamation. The scene entertained Chain more than she wanted to let it and she closed her eyes and allowed herself to smile before straightening up and placing her hands on her hips and addressing the two Heroes.

“Look, I’d love to help you and get payback against that grinning idiot but one of the rules of Soarmont’s Adventurer Company is not to take on political jobs. As for Elliot I can’t tell you what that idiot would say but if you were to help him get to Raptoria he might be tempted to return the favor by lending you his sword. Problem is though the idiot isn’t here because we got split up by the Highroot Army which is how I ended up here in the first place.”

“Eh? That doesn’t make sense. If the Highroot Army believed you were alive they would surely have blamed you for the monster attack in Highroot and have branded you a criminal. There’s no way they would let you wander around here freely. But you’re implying you didn’t come here by your own free will like we had guessed.”

“Sorry if that doesn’t make sense to you but it really doesn’t matter to me. You’ve clarified everything I was worried about though so I’ll at least be grateful enough to say thanks. Now if you’ll excuse me I have plans of my own to make.”

Restoring her impromptu robes as she spoke Chain offered Finch a smile with her thanks before turning to ascend the stairs back to the alley above. Sheathing her sword at last and acknowledging that her fight with Kyte was over Chain placed her hands on the back of her head and strolled out of the underground chamber.

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater