Chain the Infamous Chainmaid 9

“Well, ain’t this a surprise. It’s been sometime since we last met face to face Stormflock. Hm, hm, hm, hm, hmmm.”

As the procession that led Chain through the city of Highroot had shrank down considerably to just the steam truck she was displayed on and the king’s carriage along with a number of mounted and foot soldiers they reached the center of one of the great bridges that left the city. There they were greeted with a toothy grin from the giant who led an army of bandits who flooded not just the bridge behind him but could be seen filling the fields beyond as well. The sight was intimidating even with Highroot’s trained army on the city side of the bridge but Stormflock proved himself unshakable and stepped out of his carriage. Stepping out of the passenger side of the steam truck Highperch watched the meeting between the Bandit King and the King of Highroot from the front of the vehicle. From the flatbed of the vehicle Chain was possessed of a spectacular view of the scene unfolding but it was the song that rose from the Builders’ Song as she looked upon the grinning giant that reminded her what it was that Highroot faced.

♪~ Under forest high and forest low rose man as giant tall ~♪
♪~ Skin black as ash from battle’s scorch ~♪
♪~ With envied purse for bounties won ~♪
♪~ Garbed for war for guarded coin ~♪
♪~ Left held dragon’s maw and right the moon in chain ~♪
♪~ Hailed as savior and sung as king ~♪
♪~ Ever nimble, the highwayman ~♪

“As I have been led to understand it Roc, the people of Highroot have caused you undue affront by harboring those who have earned your ire. Naturally, to pay tribute for our mistake and to seek your indifference in the war coming to our doorstep I had to be personally present.”

“I’m glad you did come Stormflock. Being left out here in the rain and thunder in the middle of a bridge would otherwise seem like a trap. That is unless of course the rumors I’ve been hearing about your daughter seeking the crown have any merit of truth.”

“Oh I’d definitely put some stock in those rumors if I was in your shoes.”

“I’d keep my mouth shut if I was you Chainmaid.”

“Or what, Highperch? You wouldn’t do anything to your tribute right in front of the man you’re offering it too would you?”

Highperch gritted his teeth as Chain mocked him with a cocky grin on her lips. Having already yelled out at Roc the Bandit King however Chain had no time to engage with Highperch as the giant took note of the centerpiece of his tribute.

“I wouldn’t have thought that the infamous Bandit Eater would have been caught so easily, no less held without a fight. I hope the meager men and maids of Highroot have not already made you heel Chainmaid.”

“You mean these little old shackles?”

Chain flexed against her bonds as she attempted to demonstrate the shackles that had her stretched out above the flatbed of the truck like a displayed fish. Seemingly unbothered by the resistance the restraints offered her Chain indulged the Bandit King with an explanation of her situation.

“I thought I was kind of pulling off the damsel in distress look rather well. Besides, after a rough time up in the Stormroots it was kind of nice to have Soarmont’s Adventurer Company pampering me with a trip around town in the lap of luxury.”

“You really have lost it haven’t you Chainmaid?”

Highperch was not amused by Chain’s dialogue but had little he could do with the legendary Bandit King sharing a bridge with him. He could though be surprised as Roc burst into laughter at Chain’s inexplicable opinion of her situation. His toothy grin growing ever wider the Bandit King spoke playfully to Peregrine Stormflock VI.

“It would seem the tribute you meant to offer me was looking forward to this meeting Stormflock.”

“I have no idea what it is you mean Roc. I have been informed that she has been deprived of food and water and kept in shackles since she was captured in the Stormroots.”

Taking his eyes off of the Bandit King, Stormflock glared in Highperch’s direction. Highperch did not whither under that glare, though his brow did furrow with a serious expression as he nodded the confirmation that was sought of him.

“That’s a rather horrible way to treat a maid Stormflock.”

“Isn’t it? They even had the nerve to mock me by putting food stalls all along the route they’ve been parading me down all morning. I’ve had all of no luck since coming north but I’d like to believe that that’s finally changing. You see you grinning idiot, I could really use a Hero about now.”

The change in tone from playful to serious in Chain’s voice brought an unexpected weight to the maid’s words. Her choice of words nearly unhinged Highperch but he wisely held his tongue as the Bandit King probed Chain’s motives.

“I hope you weren’t hoping to earn my pity with that little display then Chainmaid.”

“Well they do call you a Hero and I needed the opportunity to gather up my thoughts so I thought it’d be an entertaining jest at the least. But I guess as a bandit the damsel in distress look doesn’t work for you. That’s a real shame too since I’m positive the rain really helped with the distressed part.”

With a sigh and a shrug Chain broke her shackles as easily as one would a twig and dropped down onto the truck bed. Kicking free the shackles that held her ankles Chain hopped down from the truck and strode confidently towards the Bandit King. The soldiers who stood guard around Stormflock looked bewildered at the maid’s display and though Highperch matched their expression he did not forget himself before the display.

“Don’t just stand there, stop her!”

The barked order restored a sense of place to the soldiers and four spear wielding foot soldiers detached from their post around Stormflock to confront Chain. Undaunted by the approaching soldiers Chain did not change her pace though a phenomenon about her did give the soldiers pause. From where her pectorals ended at the shoulder a shadowy mist began to flow out from her chainmail and took the form of a black cape eventually solidifying into that form. With her cape flowing out behind her in the rain and thunder and a cocky smile on her lips Chain unsettled the soldiers enough that one of them lowered their spear to halt her advance. For Chain it was a pleasant opportunity as she was unarmed so she took the spear from the soldier and swept them and their three companions aside all in the same motion. Resting the weapon on her shoulder Chain stepped up to the Bandit King and offered him her typical cocky smile.

“So, here we are again you grinning idiot. The Bandit Eater and the Bandit King. Last time we fought you humiliated me pretty badly and set the tone for Heroes humiliating for my whole time in Highroot. But there’s a problem with that, Bandit King. I’ve heard about how you’ve purged the Stormroot Kingdoms of all of their Heroes in the past so having encountered at least four since our meeting makes me want to say you’re losing your touch.”

“Are you implying that you might be able to beat me then Chainmaid? Hm, hm, hm, hm, hmmmm. Our last meeting implies you wouldn’t be able to.”

“I didn’t say I could, though if I had the chance to cast a spell or two I might put up a better fight than I did last time. But no, I’m talking about you Bandit King and how there are currently six other Heroes running around here besides you. I’ll give you a pass on half of them since one can’t seem to be killed, another is actually more of an imitation, and the last one is working with you.”

“Working with ne? Oh, right. You mean ol’ Dandelion. Well the thing about that you see Chainmaid…”

Looking back at the bandits behind him Roc motioned them into action. From amongst the throngs of bandits a group came out carrying a palanquin much too small to hold a person. Perhaps the mouse-faced and only as tall as a man’s knee Rattama could fit in so small a palanquin but even that seemed unlikely. Chain and everyone else would not be left waiting for long to learn what was inside as it was placed on the ground beside the Bandit King who pulled back the covering. With his toothy grin in full force the Bandit King made a joke about the palanquin’s contents.

“…ol’ Dandelion lost head over it.”

Revealed within the palanquin was the head of a Rattama who easily stood taller than most men and Chain could hear the echoes of the Builders’ Song still ringing out from the corpse.

♪~ Where the sun sets and Ash blows on the wind ~♪
♪~ From shadow of empire long fallen from sky ~♪
♪~ A Rattama rose up and saw tragedy recurring ~♪
♪~ Taking bow up and traveling the land ~♪
♪~ To those who sought power he showed them its curse ~♪
♪~ To those who did suffer the sky he did fill, with wish granting stars where none did still twinkle ~♪
♪~ Ever the champion so was the archer ~♪

The sight of the giant Rattama head was shocking enough in itself due to the nature of the typically diminutive size of the peoples who controlled most technology in the Five Great Theatres of Civilization, but it was more shocking still to Chain who could identify the deceased as a Hero. At the sight of the dead Hero the maid’s cocky demeanor washed away as she was faced with the reality that Heroes could truly be slain. Seeing Chain’s reaction intensified the Bandit King’s toothy grin even as Chain spoke solemnly in response to the head.

“So you really can kill a Hero. And judging off of the bloodstains on his fur he didn’t go gently. Still…”

Chain fell quiet for a moment as though she needed to once again find her resolve. As she stood before the Bandit King that time was afforded to her by virtue of the fear and inactivity he inflicted upon those who joined him on the bridge. Keeping her head down and her eyes hidden behind her bangs Chain spoke quietly and asked the Bandit King a question only he was close enough to hear.

“Tell me, the Sacred Sword beneath the Stormroots, are you protecting it?”

“That’s a question I did not expect to hear from you Chainmaid.”

“No, you probably didn’t, but…”

Looking up at the Bandit King a wide smile spread across Chain’s face. Lifting the spear above her head as she stretched Chain took a step back from the giant and spun on her heel turning her back to him.

“…your response told me everything I needed to know. You really are the Hero I need right now.”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater