Melody of the Builders 13

“Just so you know Chain, I wasn’t thinking of actually joining him in his hunt for the Bandit King. I was listening to what he had to say because he seemed pretty convinced that the Bandit King would be after you again and from what I saw when we did encounter him I didn’t see it as implausible.”

“You’re being so heartless tall man.”

“Will the both of you just shut up already? I said what I had to say and now it’s time for you two idiots to see what I wanted to show you.”

With a groan Chain accelerated down the narrow passage she lead Varen and Kyte down forcing the two men to up their pace. At such a brisk pace it did not take the group long to reach the end of the passage and they stepped out onto a grass covered ledge that overlooked a massive pit. Bathed in the golden crimson light of sunset the pit was a sight to behold as the floor of the pit and any cliff which was not vertical was covered in grass and blooming flowers. From above the shadows of gondola cars and cables were blown out of proportion within the pit and marred the natural beauty of the landscape. The marring was nothing compared to the glimmering spires of crimson ice that erupted out of the flower strewn pit as unwanted teeth however. The crimson hued ice shocked Varen and he stepped up to the edge of the ledge Chain had led him and Kyte out to and stared out transfixed on the unnatural ice.

“It’s quite the sight isn’t it?”

With smug satisfaction with the wondrous sight she had found Chain placed her hands on her hips and donned a cocky smile. Varen was not as amazed as Chain was by the sight and seemed to be more terrified than anything.

“Is this because of our fight?”

“Maybe, but not for the reasons you may think.”

Kyte frowned as he looked out at the crimson ice that so resembled the most powerful of attacks his verses granted him in battle and that he had used against Varen and Chain. The maid and the swordsman paid him little heed however as Varen desired clarification.

“What exactly do you mean not for the reasons I think?”

“Because I think I finally understand what makes these mountains so important to everyone. But only maybe. First I need Kyte here to clarify something for me. You are listening aren’t you, you muscle bound idiot.”

“Hm?”

Kyte was obviously distracted and Chain clutched at her left temple in irritation.

“Hello? Idiot Hero? Are you still with us or have your wounds actually caught up to finally.”

“Huh? Oh, sorry Chainmaid, I was just thinking is all.”

“No wonder you came to a stop. If an idiot like you is going to start thinking it’s going to take everything you have just to pull off the attempt.”

“Come now Chainmaid, that seems harsh even for you.”

“Well I’ll give you chance to prove me wrong then. I’ve got some questions for you and I was hoping that you could answer them.

“Oh~ You have questions for me Chainmaid. I’m flattered.”

“You’ll be dead if you keep acting like that.”

“Now, now Chainmaid. No need for threats. Go ahead and ask your questions and I’ll answer them as best as I can.”

“Good. Now let’s see… where to start?”

Taking her right elbow in hand Chain pinched her chin in thought. Looking up at the gondolas above Chain let her eyes wander over the equipment that moved the cables and eventually closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath Chain concentrated for a moment and left Kyte and Varen waiting. Finally Chain opened her eyes again and turned her brown orbs onto Kyte as she asked the Hero a question.

“The gondolas here are different from the ones in Highroot, so, does that mean that they were built by Bright Rift?”

“Hm? Yeah they look like some of our older gondolas but I don’t know why we would have built them here since this is technically Highroot territory.”

“Maybe as a show of your technological prowess compared to that of Highroot whose peoples and technology rely on the knowhow of the Rattama.”

Kyte eyed Chain curiously as he tried to determine what she was hinting at. Noticing the maid still pinching her chin and her obvious curiosity about the gondolas Kyte believed he figured it out.

“Oh~ that’s right, you can hear the Builders’ Song Chainmaid.”

“Don’t mind me for sounding like an idiot but what exactly is that supposed to answer.”

“Don’t worry about it Varen. You are an idiot so you can’t help but sound like one.”

“Seriously?”

Varen’s shoulders slumped as he was assaulted by Chain’s harsh words. Chain’s harshness surprisingly ended with her words as she took the time to loosely explain it for Varen.

“Almost all of our technology is built from what the Rattama have salvaged and repurposed from the Remnants of Automina. If you haven’t somehow forgotten that the Automina Empire is most known for their conquest of the Builders then it shouldn’t surprise you that to someone who can hear the Builders’ Song that places with lots of machinery can be headache inducing.”

“I guess that might explain why you would prefer abandoned ruins to anywhere Heroes would hang out.”

“Those are two completely different things. Now I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t keep interrupting and giving the muscle bound idiot here any ideas about me.

“Now, where was I? Right, pretty much all technology derived from Automina naturally is effected by Tuners, the devices that Automina and the Rattama use to coerce the Builders into using their song to give shape to the world. That means anywhere there is working technology I should be able to hear the Builders’ Song since I can hear it.”

“So does that mean that the gondolas aren’t working then? That is what you’re getting at right?”

“Tall man, you’re not particularly astute are you?”

“Seriously. Now even you’re insulting me?”

“I can’t help it. I thought where the Chainmaid was leading was pretty obvious.”

“So I was right then.”

Chain lowered her hands to her hips and looked back up at the gondolas.

“So, the question is what does power these gondolas?”

“Wait. I thought they didn’t work.”

“You really aren’t listening are you tall man?”

“If the two of you have nothing intelligent to say then please shut up”

“I thought you were going to give me a chance to prove I wasn’t an idiot Chainmaid?”

“It’s too late. I already figured everything out.”

“What? Figured what out Chainmaid?”

“As I said; everything…”

Chain stepped up to the edge of the ledge and took in the beauty of the pit but still frowned as she trusted her senses to tell her everything. Closing her eyes for a moment to prepare herself Chain began her explanation.

“There is nothing more important in all of the Stormroots than these ruins themselves. Even Bright Rift’s recent bid for them makes sense. Right now I can sense the Ash and that should terrify the both of you.”

“What?! The Ash?! Here?!”

Opening her eyes Chain eyed Varen and gauged his reaction against Kyte’s. Where the swordsman predictably was freaking out at the mention of the apparent presence of the corrupting power that gave birth to monsters and ate away at the very earth the Hero was calm and gave off an air of confusion as to why anyone would freak out about the Ash. Satisfied by what she saw Chain continued her explanation as she admonished Varen.

“Instead of freaking out Varen you might want to notice that Kyte isn’t.”

“What?”

Pulled out of his panic by his confusion, Varen turned his own attention onto the calm Kyte. Crossing his arms Kyte looked at Varen’s confusion with his own. The calmness of the Hero bothered Varen and he naturally asked a question.

“I get that you’re a nigh invincible Hero, but this is the Ash we’re talking about and even the Builders can’t control it.”

“Don’t bother Varen. This idiot doesn’t understand why we consider the Ash so dangerous. It’s a natural part of his life after all.”

“What?”

Met with Varen’s next repetition of the question he kept repeating Chain turned her eyes back onto the gondolas above.

“I told you I sensed the Ash but I didn’t mention that I also sensed a presence I can only call divine.”

Varen was so confused he was about to repeat himself yet again but Chain made sure to continue before he did.

“That that presence is intermingled with the Ash tells me that Bright Rift doesn’t rely on the Rattama for their technology. No, they somehow figured out how to extract the divine light of Nightyr from the Ash and how to use it as a power source.”

“You really are amazing Chainmaid. There isn’t anyone outside of Bright Rift who should know that yet you figured it out just from looking at some old gondolas.”

“I appreciate the praise but I already had a run in with one of your sentinels so this isn’t my first time. Additionally this is only the start of what makes the Stormroots so important.”

“Oh~ What more are you referring to Chainmaid? I somehow doubt that it’s the strategic value of the mountains, and something tells me that you wouldn’t be content with just believing that Bright Rift’s desire to claim these mountains is just to be able to mine the Ash which our kingdom desperately needs.”

“Unfortunately you’re right, which is a shame. I think it would be absolutely wonderful if that was all since I doubt you can tell the rest of the world that you idiots actually mine the Ash. The reactions would be disastrous to say the least despite the fact that if they just thought instead of panicking they could be rid of any Ash they encounter just by selling it to Bright Rift.”

“Wouldn’t that be a dream come true Chainmaid?”

Varen grew more confused as Chain and Kyte shared a smile but did not clarify anything. Further there was a growing tension that he could clearly feel and he felt a need to prepare for battle.

“It would be. But you already made perfectly clear the need for power that you and Bright Rift have. You claim it’s the Bandit King who forces your hand but that’s only because he’s already in the way.”

Kyte’s smile belied the truth in Chain’s words and he could not help but sigh.

“You keep surpassing my every expectation Chainmaid. But, I think I’ll have to ask you to stop now. If you say any more I may have to kill you and the tall man and I’d rather have your help in bringing down that bastard Roc.”

Twirling his spear around Kyte leveled the weapon at Chain and lost his smile.

“Believe it or not but despite everything else I really do want to kill that bastard. Even before I learned what I know I wanted to kill him for the great kingdom of Bright Rift. And after that for the death of my betrothed. The funny thing is I’m a Hero because of bastards like him and not good people who just want to make Bright Rift even greater.”

“So if I revealed that there’s likely a Demon Lord sealed here by one of the Sacred Swords of Legend.”

“I’d have to kill you.”

There was no way that either Chain or Varen could have reacted in time to stop Kyte from skewering Chain. Despite her eminent demise Chain simply smiled smugly as Kyte moved to end her life.

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater