Melody of the Builders 6

“It feels like I just lost a game that I never agreed to play. I can’t believe that barely a day after we received reports of Kyte having disappeared that he would end up finding them before me.”

“Try not to let it bother you IO. This is Ardea we’re talking about.”

“I know. He’s a hunter of sorts so tracking down our errant Chainmaid and eastern Hero should be easy enough for him. Now if only it didn’t sound like he picked a fight and lost.”

The child of only ten springs sighed heavily as they spoke with the soldier who accompanied them in the mountain camp. The soldier was garbed in a green uniform bearing a lightning bolt shaped military symbol that marked them as member of Bright Rift’s army but the child had no such uniform despite being addressed as though they too were part of the military. Unlike the soldier, the child with short cherry red hair was dressed in a button up white shirt with an open collar and sleeves that changed at mid-bicep to black, fitted, fingerless gloves. A shoulder holster kept the shirt held fast against the child’s frame and also carried a white sidearm that had a shape reminiscent of a flat rectangular letter box with a gun grip affixed. From under the shirt a pair of mid-thigh length puffy shorts was gathered at their hem with elastic and gave way to a pair of black, steel toed and leather soled tights. The outfit was actually common wear for children who lived around the Stormroot Mountains and the child who held a military designation would have appeared as just any other regional child if not for the creature on their shoulder. The blue squirrel-like creature with flame tipped rabbit ears and mouse tail made a concerned squeak as it looked at the child whose shoulder it occupied anxiously.

“It’s all right Matches, Kyte’s an adult and Hero so I’m sure he’ll work everything out in the end. Then again…”

Looking over the report they held the child frowned before laughing softly.

“If the reports about the Builders breaking into song about the battle between Cometia and Cardinal is accurate he may have bit off more than he can chew. Though this is Kyte and everyone says that even if you were to kill him that he would just shrug it off.”

“Admittedly IO, Ardea is a considered to be quite an idiot despite his standing as a Hero.”

“I’d rather not say anything bad about my elders so I won’t comment.”

“Elder or not IO, you’re a Hero yourself if you’ve not forgotten. The child who rides the Sentinel Dragon’s Bane, Finch Misthead of the Stormroots.”

“Stop it. You’re embarrassing me.”

The child waved a hand at the soldier while burying their face into the report they carried and did not but earn a laugh from them. Having had their fun the soldier took on a more serious air and turned to their current operations.

“What of our orders IO.”

“Ah! Right.”

Placing the report down upon the table that dominated the interior of the military command tent they occupied Finch became significantly more mature than their meager ten springs.

“Our orders are unchanged. We are to remain here at the entrance to the temple and continue surveillance of the region for signs of bandit activity. Additionally, we are also to be ready to receive any members of the Chainmaid’s company should they have continued to travel in different parties. As for the troops scheduled to rotate down to the gondolas and relieve the main road unit they are to carry on as before with Professor Beaks taking command when he arrives in the Condor.”

“The Professor is coming?”

“Of course. The Builders broke into song and there’s no way he won’t want to investigate. That means we have to keep everything here under control though so he can investigate to his heart’s desire.”

“Does that mean you’ll be staying here then IO?”

“It does.”

“That will be good for moral then, especially since the location of the Bandit King is currently a mystery.”

“If you feel that way then go ahead and pass on the situation update please.”

“Of course IO.”

With a salute the soldier took leave of the tent leaving Finch alone in the command tent. A moment after watching the soldier leave Finch let go of their cheerful demeanor and donned a more serious expression.

“Like I would leave now of all times.”

Stepping out of the tent Finch saluted the soldiers posted outside. Walking purposefully across the military encampment that had been set up in the courtyard of a temple that rested in the peaks of the Stormroot Mountains the child Hero clenched their fists. Finch’s demeanor and the military presence at all undermined the almost paradisiacal gully that was surprisingly grass coated and full of blooming flowers despite the elevation of the mountain peak. Rising even higher above the gully was the temple itself which was positioned in such a way as to be afforded a view of any and all paths that cut through the region of the Stormroot Mountains that it occupied. Or it would have if not for the massive and light blocking canvas tarps that had been erected about it obscuring it and its view. Walking up the steps from the gully to the temple Finch saluted the soldiers positioned outside and stepped past the tarps into the temple that connected to the ruins that tunneled within and under the Stormroots.

“How could I possibly ever leave when I finally have the chance to prove to you that we don’t need you?”

The interior of the temple was more akin to a light house with the red striped columns that were prevalent throughout the ruins supporting a domed roof. Where there would have been a light fixture in a lighthouse however the massive temple differentiated itself not just in size but by the presence of the dragon that was held above an equally massive pit in a web of chains. Protruding from the beast’s forehead was a single great green horn that seemed to be made from light alone and glowed so brightly as to cast everything under the tarps in a green hue. Standing at the edge of the pit Finch drew their side arm and aimed it the dragon who had been imprisoned for so long that it and the chains that bound it were as covered in grass, moss, and vines as the Stormroot Mountains themselves.

“Just you wait, dragon. Once the bandits come to see why your light has gone out we’ll kill them all and lure the Bandit King here. Once he’s come between myself, the Chianmaid, and all of the Hero’s present we will finally kill him. Then we won’t need you. Not ever again. And when that day comes I’ll kill you myself.”

“HRM, HRM, HRM ,HRM, HRM…”

“Eh!?”

Finch could not hold back their surprise as a deep almost growling laughter reverberated throughout the temple. Taking a step back from the dragon Finch took their sidearm in both hands and leveled it firmly upon the dragon.

“Are you laughing at me dragon?!”

“HOW COULD I NOT, CHILD OF MAN WHOM THE BUILDERS ARE FORCED TO SING OF?”

Opening eyes of peerless green that held an unending abyss within them the dragon spoke disrupting the grass and moss that grew upon its head as it did. Looking past the dust it caused to tumble about in the light cast by its horn the dragon studied Finch with naught but contempt.

“YOU SPEAK OF NEEDING ME NOT WHEN IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN I WHO HAS NEEDED YOU. FOR CENTURIES HAVE I RESTED IMPRISONED AND ABANDONED BY THE DEATH OF MY FORMER MASTERS ONLY SUSTAINED BY THE PEOPLE OF YOUR VILLAGE. IN TURN HAVE I PROVIDED YOU PROTECTION AS YOUR KIND HAS LACKED THE MEANS TO FREE ME. IF YOU DESIRE TO TAKE YOUR DESTINY INTO YOUR OWN HANDS THEN FREE ME AND GLADLY WILL I REPAY THE DEBT WITH MY DEPARTURE. BUT WONDER I DO IF A BEING ELEVATED BY FORCED SONG CAN DO AS SUCH.”

“Don’t patronize me dragon. I’ve already taken my destiny into my own hands.”

“HAVE YOU NOW? WHAT I SEE IS EVER THE SAME CHILD WHO HAS NAUGHT BUT BEMOANED THEIR FATE WHILE THE OTHER CHILDREN WOULD FROLIC WITHOUT CARE.”

“I’ll kill you here and now dragon if you don’t stop. Unlike you I’ve taken the steps I need to earn my freedom. It’ll be just a little longer now and I’ll be able to choose my own path.”

“YET YOU WOULD DENY ME MINE OWN? HRM, HRM, HRM, HRM, HRM… I AM AMUSED CHILD OF MAN.”

“Be amused while you can dragon for the next time we speak I will be claiming my victory and your life.”

Holstering their sidearm Finch spun about and strode from the temple purposefully. Watching the child Hero depart the dragon laughed again.

“I DOUBT YOU WILL BE SO VICTORIOUS CHILD OF MAN. EVEN THE HATCHLING I HAVE SENSED WILL BE CHALLENGED TO WEATHER THE COMING STORM.”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater