Melody of the Builders 16

“Don’t tell me that bastard has abandoned me now.”

Kyte leapt back from his exchange with Varen and Melody and momentarily turned his attention to the airship above. With the cannon fire ceased and Kyte at the disadvantage everyone joined Chain and Kyte in turning their eyes to the sky. Well above the pit a massive airship comprised of numerous catwalks, decks, gondola cars, and rigging wrapped around a core of five zeppelins loomed above with cannon ports still smoking from the barrage they had but ceased moments ago. From the body of one of the zeppelins a port opened and a single man descended by wire and winch on an L-shaped frame. The sight of the man made Kyte click his tongue in disgust.

“You bastard Beaks. Disgracing descent from an airship in such a cowardly way.”

The man Kyte referred to as Beaks was quite a sight. Dressed in a coat he wore like a cape of gaudy conglomeration of lab coat, military dress coat, and a cape with flashy epaulettes on already over-padded shoulders he appeared to be quite the fop. At least that was at first glance as the ornamental chains that held the coat in place stood out strongly against the simple black button-up shirt and pants with officer boots that he wore beneath it. The upturned collar of the shirt spoke of haughtiness and the unbuttoned cuffs spoke of arrogance but the shoulder holster for the side arm he carried spoke of competence. All of these features were emphasized by the silver eyes that peered out from behind a set of glasses adorned with numerous adjustable lenses below bangs of black hair that was at once greasy and weighty and spiky and wild. The man was any number of contradictions but it was what Chain and Melody heard as they looked upon him that made the two maids grit their teeth.

♪~ The scientist was gaunt, yet a man as strong as trees ~♪
♪~ With raven hair and silver eyes his words were magic true ~♪
♪~ As Builder would his word does too ~♪
♪~ Shape the world as he see fit, an artist born of spell and mind ~♪
♪~ Armed with genius, spell, and ready always too ~♪
♪~ Our song is his to call and bend as we are forced to knee ~♪
♪~ Ever inquiring the academician ~♪

“Just what I needed, another damn Hero.”

“Chain?!”

Elliot was distracted from the Hero who descended from on high as Chain forced herself back to her feet. Her eyes had again returned to their normal brown color and her blood flowed over her chainmail as rivulets over rocks. The blood pooling at her feet spoke gravely of the consequences of using her chainmail as the Relic it was. Despite her appearance Beaks had naught but praise for the maid as he leapt from the L-shaped frame and landed before her.

“Hyup. That was utterly delightful Chainmaid. I’d have never expected such a show from a simple Relic wielder.”

Straightening out Beaks looked down on Chain with total satisfaction. Chain was less amicable than the recently arrived Hero as spoke in a sarcastic tone.

“Well I’m glad you liked it…”

“Ah, forgive my lack of manners Chainmaid. I am Professor Plume Beaks, lead researcher of the Bright Rift Royal Court.”

“Just what are you playing at now Beaks? I may not have been in the best of positions but just like you sent the Commander and I out for I located the Chainmaid and the Eastern Hero.”

“A success I find most delightful, Ardea. However, you should remember who it is that you address, fisherman”

Looking back over his shoulder Beaks leveled Kyte with a look that made the Hero step back. A worried look crossed Varen’s face as he finally realized that the man who descended from the airship was no regular man. Varen did not go unnoticed however as Beaks took note of him and his expression brightened considerably.

“And what have we here?”

“Varen Elcourt, adventurer by virtue not license.”

“Silly man, I could care less about you.”

“Gah?!”

Varen recoiled in surprise as Beaks was suddenly before and above him looking down on him.

(No way. I didn’t even see him move even while I’m bolstered by Lord Elliot’s power.)

Varen was not the only one to express surprise at the ability of the Hero as Chain also could not believe her eyes. In spite of the ability demonstrated by Beaks however he demonstrated no animosity as he landed and turned his attention to Varen’s left arm.

“It was this rather interesting arm of yours that caught my attention.”

“Step away from Varen, Master Beaks.”

“Is something the matter Knight Prince Silverlance of Lumirest. I intend your man no harm if that is your concern. I simply desire to study such a delightful surprise.”

Looking at Elliot with a smile that spoke volumes of his control of the situation Beaks snapped his fingers. Behind him Varen’s left arm suddenly exploded in a flash of light and the swordsman cried out as the others called his name.

“Varen!”

Chain did not call out with the others as she had simply gritted her teeth in preparation for something bad happening but instead found herself surprised. Beaks took note of Chain’s surprise and was further delighted.

“You delight me even further Chainmaid. I had not expected you to be an intellectual considering your reputation. It would seem that I have underestimated both you and Sorcerer Balgun. But perhaps this is not the time to discuss our peers when such a marvel of a Relic is in our midst.”

The Relic that Beaks spoke of was a surprise to all present as it was revealed with the fading of the light that had engulfed Varen’s left arm. In the place of the light, and where the sleeve of Varen’s jacket had been, a perfectly fitted gauntlet of copper hue that ran from finger to shoulder became visible to all.

“Is that a really a Relic? I don’t get it. I thought those possessed by Relics couldn’t be affected by the Builders’ Song but Varen was affected by it when we were attacked by the Bandit King and he’s being affected by it now isn’t he?”

“Give it rest Melody. Honestly I’m surprised the rat hasn’t figured it out either.”

“A rat Chainmaid? Your degradation of my personage and the Rattama on a whole are uncalled for.”

“Yet she is right Master Song Smith. That you fail to understand what is going on is disappointing at best. But you Chainmaid, you continue to delight me.”

Having shared his opinion on Wherks’ ignorance Beaks turned a delighted expression onto Chain, ignoring the fact that he turned his back to Varen.

“Won’t you delight me further Chainmaid. Tell me what is it that you have observed that makes the appearance of this Relic so unsurprising. Is it the work perhaps of the civilizations of the Age of Ash?”

“What are you doing Beaks? She’s a foreigner and has no reason to be involved with anything besides killing the Bandit King.”

“You do disappoint me Ardea. While the Bandit King does need to be dealt with that is a task for Heroes such as yourself.”

“Funny a Hero would say that.”

Chain offered her opinion in response to Beaks’ words to Kyte and her surprise earned yet another delighted look from the scientist.

“So it’s true. You can hear the Builders’ Song as well. How utterly delightful. Then perhaps it’s also true that you can draw on the Seventh Well. A shame that I do not have the time to overly entertain myself with so much potential research. I have a guest coming you see and they are very demanding. It’s nothing I can’t handle mind you, though I suppose I could set about evaluating your ability to take down the Bandit King for me.”

Withdrawing a partially eaten green apple from his coat Beaks took a bite out of it as he looked around at the group of battle ready warriors. There was Varen who was equipped with both a Relic and a Hero’s verse who stood behind him and possessed a certain fury in his eyes. There was Elliot who held his sword in his right hand while keeping his left resting on his scabbard but was also undoubtedly ready for continued battle. As his eyes passed over the bloody and broken Chain, Beaks simply offered her a smile as he took another bite out of his apple. Passing Chain a look of contempt crossed his face he first passed Kyte and then turned enough around to look upon Wherks who offered a contemptuous look of his own. As Beaks continued his turn a look of surprise came upon his face.

“Oh? Well this is a surprise is it not? I had not been informed that a Concubine Heir of the Holy Empire of Light was a member of Lumirest’s army. What a delightful surprise this is.”

“I hope you’ll forgive me… Master Beaks was it? I’m afraid I don’t find our meeting anywhere near as delightful as you.”

Not sure what was going on Mail found herself put on the spot in all of the chaos that had erupted in the pit. Faced with the impossibly fast Plume Beaks she knew there was naught she could do but she still readied an arrow and took aim with the hunting bow she had borrowed from Chain some days back. Beaks simply offered the distraught maid a smile that sent a chill down her spine in disgust which was furthered by the Hero’s words.

“You need not fear anything from me maid. You are after all just a bargaining piece in the grand scheme of the Holy Empire of Light. Though, that does give me an idea. I have some time yet so why don’t we speak of business, Chainmaid?

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater