Melody of War 8

“Now please don’t make a scene.”

“That desperate pleading of yours sure does make me want to.”

“Yeah, and that would probably be a bad idea right now.”

Varen’s desperate pleading as Chain put it did not naught but make the maid more curious but as he had yet to open the flaps on the sling she had been in a magically induced torpor within she could see aught but darkness. Even confined as she was her senses had quickly returned to her along with her consciousness at Varen’s prodding and she was aware that she had been placed upon a soft surface. Shifting her weight ever so slightly she tested the soft surface and was rewarded with the sensation of springs fighting back against her movements.

(A mattress? Or it could be another piece of furniture. I guess I’ve got no choice but to ask the idiot.)

True to her thoughts Chain turned her attention back to Varen and sought out an answer to the obvious question. Varen was promptly thrown off however as Chain did not ask the obvious question to get the obvious answer.

“So how long have I been out?”

“What?”

“Come on, don’t be a bigger idiot than you already are. We’re obviously in an inn room and since I don’t hear anyone else I’m guessing something happened.”

“How did you–?”

“Remember how you asked me not to make a scene? I’d recommend you get me out of this stupid thing and start talking fast since the lack of Melody’s presence is very likely to result in just that.”

“Alright, alright I get it. Just at least hear me out before you decide to freak out. The last thing we need is the having the whole Highroot Army coming down on our heads.”

“An army that’s too afraid to even take on one Hero and likely doesn’t stand much of a chance against me either.”

“Just keep telling yourself that.”

“Now I’m really curious what type of mess you’ve gotten us into while I was sleeping.”

“Come on; give me a little credit here. I at least managed to make the best of a bad situation and didn’t turn you over to the army.”

“And that probably doesn’t amount to accomplishing a lot.”

Varen was not given the chance to offer another reply beyond surprise as he received a chainmail skinned fist to his face for his troubles of opening the sling Chain occupied and was promptly knocked on his rear. Having managed to somehow free her arm from the swaddling blanket and the straps that kept her secure in the sling Chain proceeded to undo the straps and extract herself from the sling. As she stretched out on the bed Varen clutched at his face as he admirably managed to keep his own temper in check while rising back to his nearly two meter full height.

“What was that for?! What part of don’t make a scene did you not get?”

Varen’s hushed voice combined with a tone that obviously implied he wanted to yell brought a smile to Chain’s face and she hopped off the bed and made a quick survey of the room. The first things she noted was the location of the door and the window opposite it as well as the give of the floor as she landed. From there she noted that Varen had seemingly lost his uniform jacket though his claymore still hung from his hip as most would carry a long sword. Acknowledging the relative safety of the situation Chain strolled over to the window as she stretched some more and answered Varen’s question.

“Sorry, I was just stretching.”

“I could swear that’s a lie.”

“Maybe..,.”

Chain’s mischievous smile aggravated Varen but the maid would have to take in his expression by reflection in the window as she peeked through the curtains to the view outside. Immediately the sight of rain falling confirmed a number of her suspicions about her location.

(So I’m not only upstairs but there’s at least one more floor above me as well.)

Spying the streetlights that were lit below along the narrow, dark cobbled roads that weaved through buildings with similar gothic architecture and red tiled roofs to the city of Highroot confirmed Varen’s claims that they were likely in a city controlled by the nation of the same name. Noticing the ambient lighting beyond the reach of the streetlights Chain’s curiosity grew even more.

(Huh. The streetlights are lit but it’s also still daytime, and I don’t feel hungry enough to believe that a whole day has passed yet either. Maybe a few hours at most but with the rain and clouds blocking out the sun… I guess I can always ask this idiot again.)

Letting the curtains that framed the window fall back into place Chain turned away from the window and faced Varen as she placed her hands on her hips.

“So, about me hearing you out before I make a scene how about you get around to the part where you explain what happened.”

“Seeing as my nose isn’t broken that shouldn’t be a problem.”

Chain smirked with amusement at Varen’s complaint and earned another sigh from the tall and lanky soldier.

“You may be an idiot but honestly I may end up liking you after all even if I can’t throw you off with my figure.”

“I can’t help it if you’ve only got one thing going for you that’s wasted on that stickly frame of yours.”

“So you have been paying attention.”

Varen’s attempts to bite back at Chain’s teasing were met with a twisted glee that was somehow made to come across as playful due to the mischievous smile that played across her face. Varen for the most part could do nothing to hide his embarrassment that was writ with a reddening of his face as he managed to hold a comparatively serious expression in contrast to his obvious emotions. The contrast nearly left Chain bursting out in laughter but she managed to stifle the laugh into a muffled giggle as she clamped a hand over her mouth while clutching at her sides.

“Honestly, I just can’t wrap my head around what is wrong with you.”

With a sigh Varen gave up on trying to deal with Chain’s childishness and focused on the task at hand. Taking a seat on the bed Varen waited to make sure he still had Chain’s attention before beginning.

“So, I guess the best place to start is our location; the border city of Nest Cliff.”

“Nest Cliff? Seriously?”

“You’ve heard of it?”

“I researched ways to reach Raptoria before Melody and I set out and got tangled up in this whole mess and Nest Cliff was a potential point we’d pass through. When everything went sideways back in Highroot and we had to make a hasty retreat I didn’t think we’d end up here just because of trying to avoid Highroot forces.”

“Then I guess you won’t be surprised to hear that it’s also the military capital of Highroot being the only city on a border with another nation that isn’t in the Stormwood.”

“Historically speaking before the Junk Birds brought their airships to Highroot it was also the main trade highway with the Northern Kingdoms by land. The city of Highroot itself was really just the monarchy’s stronghold despite there being such a massive piece of a Tear of Automina wedged into the mountain there. But what a bad spot to end up. If not for the military presence this place would be a ghost town but I guess with Bright Rift possibly planning to start a war they can’t just leave their borders unguarded even with the Bandit King running amok.”

“Believe it or not but this place isn’t as abandoned as you’d think. Between the mining operation and the families of the soldiers stationed here it’s pretty lively.”

“Even so, seeing how you lost your uniform jacket rather conveniently I doubt Elliot could possibly be comfortable here.”

“Well, about that…”

The nervousness that came over Varen more than told Chain she was not going to like what she heard next and she donned a disapproving expression as her hands found their way back to her hips.

“So now we get to the part where you worry about me making a scene.”

“Yeah pretty much, ‘cause you see, we’re the only two here. Lord Elliot and our Rattama charge decided to have Melody use her harpy song to clear a path in the nigh perma-fog that we woke to and just like she warned them the military soon took notice. Since we didn’t know their intentions I made the decision to cut them off and give them a reason not to pursue a harpy while the rest of them got away.”

“So why exactly did you bring me with you.”

“Well, since you saved my life back in Highroot I’m honor bound to return the favor and so I couldn’t trust the others to keep you safe.”

“Seriously you idiot? Elliot is a Hero for crying out loud and I wouldn’t be surprised if Melody is your better by no small margin yet you couldn’t trust them but kept me with you when you went to face an unknown force. And to top it off you have no idea if Melody and others are fine at all do you?”

“Well…”

“I knew it, you’re a complete idiot. Lucky for you in your idiocy you just happened to bring the smartest person around with you. Of course considering we’re in the military capital of Highroot with a war possibly looming I’m going to have to work extra hard to get us out of this mess in one piece.”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater