Chain the Infamous Chainmaid 15

“You’re attention, people of Highroot.”

“Now what?”

Highperch near snorted his discontent as the inhuman voice that rose out of any under Corvina’s control washed over the city. Looking out the steam truck’s windshield and into the stormy sky Highperch eyed the fleet of Bright Rift airships and the first signs of antiaircraft fire from Highroot’s own army. It seemed unlikely that the attack would last much longer and if Highroot was to prevent a siege they would have to launch their own airships to bring down their Bright Rift counterparts. For that to happen however the Sentinels would have to be dealt with and Highroot had no military equivalent, and with the princess who knew the city so well controlling them it was unlikely a reasonable counter attack could be organized that would prevent a siege scenario. As Highperch had no part of any of that beyond making it through the city streets and getting King Stormflock VI to the castle all he could do was listen to Corvina so that he might know what to expect.

“I am aware that you chose this day to offer tribute to the usurper of Highroot so that you might go to war without fear for assault from within your borders, but as you can see Bright Rift’s forces are already upon you, and I control them. Now I can offer you salvation people of Highroot, but in return I desire the Chainmaid, the usurpers tribute. Bring her too me and I will spare your city and eliminate the bandit horde that defiles it. If not, I will scorch the earth and leave naught but ashes where this city once stood. Eh, he, he, he, he.”

“What was that about her regaining her composure your majesty?”

“Do not mock me Highperch lest you incur my wrath.”

“And what’s to stop your daughter from leveling the whole city.”

“Surely the Chainmaid would not sacrifice countless innocents when she can resolve everything by giving herself up.”

“Hm, hm, hm, hm, hmmm.”

Back on the bridge having been left alone by Finch save for the bandits who had not already left in pursuit of his tribute and awaited his orders the Bandit King laughed as though he heard Stormflock’s words. In truth it was Corvina’s own demands that left Roc laughing.

“You don’t know the Bandit Eater at all princess. She’s a monster who doesn’t care about this city in the least. If she did she wouldn’t have said that I was the Hero she needed.”

Looking back at the bandits behind him Roc offered them his typical toothy grin and some direction in regards to Corvina’s threat.

“So you heard her. She’ll cook the lot of you alive if she gets her hands on the Chainmaid. Since none of us want that I say it’s time we stole her flames right out of her hands. I want my tribute of course, but I’ll let her have a chance to run about if that’s what she wants. In the mean time as I said, take the flames right out of the princess’ hands and line your pockets with the spoils of war. If the princess thinks we’re no match for Bright Rift’s Sentinels she’ll be in for a cruel surprise. Now get out there, spread my orders, and do yourselves proud!”

With a roar what Bandits had stayed behind on the bridge charged across ready to pillage, steal, and carry out the Bandit Kings orders. Watching them with satisfaction the Bandit prepared to make his own entrance into the city stopping only muse a moment.

 “Now, I wonder who’s manipulating me more; our genocidal maniac or you Bandit Eater.”

Lifting his eyes above the city Roc set his gaze upon the sliver of a technologically advanced tower that once soared the heavens that would have been taller than the mountains it rose from if it were whole. The remnant of the tear of Automina was the entire reason the city was built their as the technology that was reverse engineered from it by the Rattama was what had allowed civilization to recover after Automina fell from the heavens and brought an end to the Age of Ash. Above all else though, the technology of Automina was pivotal in assuring that the Builders served mankind and not the other way around as the long lost empire had developed technology to control the intangible world shaping beings. Elevated above his fellow man by the world shaping song the Builders sung Roc was very familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of the Builders’ Song.

“So, how to proceed. Obviously I’ll need to thin out the Bright Rift forces but I’ll have to be careful about how much because otherwise you’ll make yourself unpleasantly scarce Bandit Eater. Unless you really weren’t bluffing when you claimed you needed me. Hm, hm, hm, hm, hmmm. Either way, I know exactly what you’re thinking seeing as you have met a great deal of unwelcome Heroes in my kingdom. A shame that whelp needs more work or I could have had her take me straight to you Bandit Eater. Oh well, I’ll just have to carve a path of my own and hope you and the Rattama don’t make too much of a fuss.”

Grinning with bared teeh ear to ear Roc the Bandit King began to stroll across the bridge picking up the short snouted mouse head of the Ratamma Hero who he had slain. A collection of a much smaller version of that head meanwhile worked tirelessly to get an underground train car through a series of tunnels as quickly as possible. Connected to a round furred body typically dressed in robes with a prehensile cat like tail and bare, long curved feet protruding from beneath the typical Rattama stood no taller than a man’s knee at most with head attached. This particular group however was particularly excitable making their bipedal rodent like ways seem more akin to their non-sentient cousins as their work was watched casually by Chain.

“How can you possibly be so calm Chainmaid? This isn’t the Brass Line you know. We barely have more speed than a horse and the Remnant of Automina is deeper in the mountains than you think. What’s to keep that crazy Hero from leveling the whole city before we ever get there?”

The excitable Rattama who assaulted Chain with his panic annoyed the maid and she groaned as she clutched at her left temple irritably.

“You’re asking me that now after you agreed to take me there.”

“Agreed Chainmaid? When you dropped down into our tunnels from above and threatened us to take you we only did so out of fear of your reputation. We both know the Song Smiths at the Remnant will never agree to your request and we’d be better served saving the city by tossing you back out onto the streets.”

“No, that’s just how you’ll incur my wrath.”

Opening her eyes Chain leveled the Rattama who spoke to her with a look that would have froze even the Great Bird Sol with its coldness and made him reconsider his words.

“Well, I know everyone involved would like to avoid a repeat of Black Mast, but why not just release that power Chainmaid? Surely even a Hero could not stop you if you did.”

“Ugh. There’s no guarantee of that since there weren’t any Heroes at Black Mast to try. Besides, I want this Hero to know I don’t fear them and that their powers mean nothing to me. For that I need to get to the Remnant. As for the city holding out until we you get me there, well let’s just say I’ve entrusted it to a Hero who shouldn’t fear anything in the Stoormroots.”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater