Melody of the Builders 14

“Tch!”   

Kyte clicked his tongue as his attempt to skewer Chain was interrupted not by the maid or Varen but rather an ornate silver spear. The weapon had appeared in a flash of sunlight forcing Kyte to reverse his charge and leap back as the weapon impaled itself between him and Chain and cast up a cloud of dust. Shrouded in the dust Kyte had any number of ways he could approach resuming his attack but knew he did not likely have the time as whoever threw the spear was faster than him. Expecting such Kyte could not help himself but smile as a beautiful young man with blond hair and emerald eyes garbed in silver plate and blue cloth descended from the sky

 As he landed Elliot put the ornate silver long sword he wielded in his right hand to use by striking just behind the head of Kyte’s spear and planted it in the ground. Releasing his sword for only an instant Elliot took it up in a reverse grip and ran it right up the spear shaft and past Kyte’s arms stopping it with blade right against the Hero’s throat as it transformed from metal to light. Leveling Kyte with a steadfast battle glare Elliot was greeted by the other Hero’s widening smile. Whistling Kyte addressed the man who had him in a bad spot.

“Oh~ the Hero from the east is even more impressive than I imagined. I know my guard was down but I was at least expecting trouble any way.”

“Trouble would be putting it lightly my friend. I’ve heard that you cannot be killed but I can assure you that my Equalizer is more than to task of allowing me to vanquish that which cannot be slain.”

“Oh~ is that so? I wouldn’t have thought so after the tall man back here failed to do so using the Chainmaid’s imitation. Though I am curious how you’ve heard about me already when I doubt that the Chainmaid had enough time to tell you about me before getting back to where I had stopped in the tunnels.”

“That was pretty easy actually. When I reached the end of the tunnel and stepped outside I got lucky and spotted my partner. Once I had her attention all I had to do was trust her eyes and signed her that I had some un-killable trouble following me.”

Chain held up her hands as she talked and demonstrated a number of hand signs for Kyte that he could tell were for communication. He did not pay the maid attention for long however as he noticed the wry smile spread across Elliot’s face.

“A shame you had to rely on striking the cliff side with magic and nearly burying us alive.”

Kyte burst out laughing and again drew all eyes onto him.

“So you even try to kill your friends Chainmaid. Somehow that’s spectacularly comforting and makes me feel that much closer to you.”

“Ugh.”

Chain groaned and clutched at her left temple as she returned her other hand to her hip and found herself subject to Kyte’s bright smile. Chain was not the only exasperated by the Hero as Varen slumped his shoulders and sighed heavily.

“Seriously? I was sure I was about to fail to repay my debt to Chain and here you are laughing it off and seeing trying to kill people as a sign of friendship.”

“You don’t tall man? It’s only on the brink of death when you learn who your true friends are after all. And by now that the Fates have not allowed us to kill each other despite our numerous attempts I was thinking we must be fast friends by now. I even told you my life’s story and learned that you detest nearly all Heroes.”

“Is this true Varen.”

“I wouldn’t listen to him Lord Elliot. He’s as slippery as a fish out of water and flopping about with his intentions just as much.”

“You’re wrong there Varen.”

Lowering her left hand back to her hip Chain interrupted and gave Kyte the benefit of the doubt. Varen and Elliot were both surprised but the later did not yet remove his sword from Kyte’s throat as he waited to hear what Chain had to say. Given the opportunity the maid did not waste it.

“He’s been straight forward from when I first met him back in Nest Cliff. He’s obsessed with taking on challenges and is loyal to a fault to Bright Rift. Also, his desire to kill the Bandit King is genuine. Whether it’s because that grinning idiot killed his betrothed or not is debatable…”

Chain paused as she watched the light fade in Kyte’s eyes along with his smile and moved to correct herself.

“…but even before that he was out for the idiot’s head because there can be no doubt that the death of the Bandit King would benefit Bright Rift. As for him trying to kill us that’s just part of who he is. Honestly, I feel sorry for any friends this muscle bound idiot actually does have.”

“You’re being so cruel Chainmaid. As a Hero it’s hard for me to even talk to most people and as a fisherman most people want nothing to do with me so they don’t get attached with someone who will likely die sooner than most.”

“It sounds to me like you consider Chain a friend then. So why would you again try to kill her.”

“That’s my fault Elliot. I just happened to figure out that there’s a Sacred Sword Shrine here in the Stormroots.”

“Really?”

“Yup. It’s the only thing that made sense and when I tested to see if I was right…”

“This Hero tried to kill you.”

“You can’t really blame him. The knowledge of a Sacred Sword Shrine’s location could cause an upheveal in political power that would put even Raptoria’s possession of a Tear of Automina to shame.”

“Yet here you are sharing that information with all that would listen Chainmaid. I’m starting to think that you want me to go on a rampage.”

“I’m starting to think that I might be beginning to understand why the Bandit King made these mountains and the surrounding lands his home.”

Chain’s words drew surprise from all three men who joined her on the ledge and she couldn’t help but smile herself at their surprise.

“Is it really that surprising? There’s a Sacred Sword from the 1st Builders’ Era here and he’s a bandit of such repute as to be a Hero. The thing that get confusing is why he hasn’t claimed it. I could guess that even he doesn’t think he could best the Demon Lord it seals as he relies on the power of the Builders and even they could not best the Demon Lords.”

“That’s all just legend though isn’t it?”

Varen’s question drew a groan from Chain and she crossed her arms so that she wouldn’t lash out at the swordsman. Looking down at one of the spires of crimson ice that erupted from the pit below the gondola station above Chain spelled it out for Varen.

“Those spires of ice say otherwise. The Crimson Lord of Darkness, the Dark God Cometia whose chilling presence would freeze all the world before shattering it to dust. His power is reflected in that red ice down there. Or at least whatever it is that has its dark power channeled throughout these ruins.”

Taking her right elbow in hand Chain pinched her chin in thought as she continued.

“There’s no doubt that whoever built these ruins constructed it around the shrine and the paint here that affects the Builders is likely made from that ice and probably was intended as a Weapon to use against Automina and maybe even the Ash. After all Cometia is said to have killed the Star Goddess Nyr who Sol is either the child of or reincarnation. As for why Soarmont’s Adventuring Company hasn’t found it yet is likely because of a secret agreement with the Bandit King. That might even explain Highperch’s extreme reaction to my battle with the grinning idiot. By coming to the Stormroots we’ve upset the delicate balance that was held here Elliot.”

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying Chain.”

“Since I can’t read your thoughts I won’t answer that, but at the least when I revealed that I realized what was here I gave Kyte the right to actively pursue my life.”

“Chain, what are you saying?!”

“Relax Varen. I said I gave him the right not that I’d let him. If I didn’t know that Elliot was already watching me I would have never said it. But now I’m wondering what Raptoria knows since they tasked Elliot with coming through the Stormroots and killing the Bandit King should he encounter him…”

Elliot and Varen exchanged looks as they realized that they too might have walked into a political quagmire. Chain however seemed to of finally relaxed and placed her hands on the back of her head as she began to look for a way down from the ledge.

“Well I’m an adventurer so I’m supposed to stay out of political affairs anyway. So what do you say Kyte. You spare my life and I keep my mouth shut.”

“You’re cruel Chainmaid bargaining while the eastern hero has his sword at my throat.”

“It’s just negotiating while I have the advantage.”

“More like had Chainmaid.”

“What?”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater