Chain the Infamous Chainmaid 20

There were any number of sights that could have terrified an individual but then there were sights that chilled the very soul. Chain had not been able to keep proper track of time down in the Rattama tunnels and so she had no context for the presence of the bandits swarming over the castle grounds and the some dozen towers that comprised it. The bandits on the other hand had plenty of context for Chain but were still not prepared for her as she emerged within the castle grounds.

Within a hidden garden filled with any number of variety of rare flowers Chain seemingly emerged from the shadows with her head drooping low as she dragged the spear she carried behind her. The bandits who had found their way into that garden could not spy her eyes hidden below her bangs but the animosity she emanated froze them in their tracks. The sight of the chainmail clad maid had prompted one of the bandit’s to pull a two-way radio from their belt but the Chainmaid’s demeanor and reputation struck them with a gripping paralysis and they harmlessly dropped their radio. A moment later the serene and peaceful garden which had been enjoying the first rays of Sol’s light after the storm had finally started to break was filled with screams and the splattering of blood. The now blood splattered two-way radio did not escape Chain’s notice and she picked it up and put it to use.

“I don’t know who’s on the other end of this radio and I don’t care. I’m in a bad mood and I don’t care if you’re a Bandit or part of either the Highroot or Bright Rift militaries. I don’t care if you’re one of those witless idiots under that idiot Hero’s control or a hapless idiot who happened to pick up a radio you happened to find lying around. I’m just calling out to tell you that I’m going to be taking my anger out on anyone I come across who’s armed because I blame every power in the Stormroots right now for my irritation so if you don’t want to die drop your weapons, shed your flags, and run for your lives. Maybe then you might escape my wrath…”

Chain dropped the radio and did not wait for a reply before promptly crushing it under foot. As the bits and pieces of the destroyed radio flew through the air she snapped the fingers of her left hand summoning a sphere of light that turned to darkness as she began an incantation.

“~ From the depths of the Sixth Well I call forth your dark power ~
~ Rush forth from your prison and release you destructive will ~”

Chain did not complete the incantation, instead kneeling down and touching the ground with the swirling mass of darkness. As she touched the ground the sphere of darkness vanished from her hand and a small ring of darkness appeared on the ground for a moment before disappearing from sight. Rising back to her feet Chain departed the secret garden with no sense of direction or set destination, intent to simply slaughter anyone and anyone who crossed her path. Though she did not have a set destination in mind herself someone else did have one for her and shared it by radio.

“I won’t fault any of you if you make a run for it as I didn’t bring you here to die by the Bandit Eater’s hands. Should you find yourself unfortunate enough to encounter her though know that you probably will die. Do not despair though, use what time you have left to guide her towards the throne room. If you can do that then you’ll be one step closer to saving the lives of your brothers and sisters. Once you bring her to me I shall force her to heel and never again will a bandit have to fear the Bandit Eater.”

“I wouldn’t have thought a bandit could care about others. Especially after you slaughtered Bright Rift’s and Highroots’ forces.”

“You have a problem with that kid?”

Lowering the two-way radio he held Roc looked up from where he had lounged on the throne in the throne room of Highroot’s castle. The throne was obviously two small for the giant even as the back of the glamorous seat easily rose three stories in height. The throne room on a whole was like the back of the chair and rather excessive in its design, an oval room of some dozen story height ringed by stories of columned balconies with a glass domed roof that let the light of Sol fill the chamber. To describe the throne room as a chamber was inaccurate however as it was more a building apart from the rest of the castle connected by columned walkways not dissimilar from the balconies within. Those balconies and walkways beyond could be reached by a pair of massive bowed stairs that rose up from beyond the dais raised throne and opposite a pair of massive ornamental doors that stood tall enough to have allowed Finch’s eight meter tall Sentinel to stride in at full height standing upon its own shoulders. That very well might have happened at some point while Chain was ferried about the labyrinthine Rattama tunnels below the city as Finch accosted the bandit from where she stood in front of her kneeling Sentinel. She was not alone in the throne room with the Bandit King however as she was joined by a number of three meter tall Sentinels and the men and maids who piloted them. Their eyes were clear of the black soullessness inflicted by Corvina’s power and they had rallied to the girl Hero if only to not perish in the chaos outside.

“Of course I do Bandit King. When the soldiers returned to their senses they were defenseless. How many could have been spared had you just shown mercy.”

“Hm, hm, hm, hm, hmmmm. Now you’re thinking like a Hero kid, but I don’t show mercy. Even without the princess’ involvement they were still sent here to take my life and lay siege to Highroot. They knew what they signed up for and looking at the few who’ve joined you here you managed to save some of them after all.”

Finch clicked her tongue and earned a toothy grin from the Bandit King who had otherwise been wearing a solemn expression.

“I can’t believe I agreed to help this monster deal with the Chainmaid. But what choice do I have? The soldiers may have been released but I doubt that the threat against Misthead has been lifted. If the Bandit King is my best chance to capture the Chainmaid then I’ll use him even if it means working with him.”

Muttering under her breath she stepped back to address the soldiers who found themselves gladly under the command of a Hero but still ill at ease due to their confusion on the situation and Finch’s age.

“Can you pinpoint where that radio transmission came from. If we can intercept the Chainmaid…”

Finch purposely did not finish her thought as she kept an eye on the Bandit King out of the corner of her eye though he seemed uninterested in her. He was instead focused on the two-way radio that he carried as he relayed orders to the bandits that reported in to him and seemed as much a battlefield commander as any general. Finch did not want to have any respect for him but knew she had to at least respect his ability if she was survive the day and save Misthead. That her own soldiers had no good news for her soured her mood further however.

“Even if there was enough time IO before the radio was destroyed we haven’t been able to intercept any of the bandits’ radio chatter. It doesn’t make any sense either since we’re still able to intercept Highroot chatter.”

“Come now, I thought the people of Bright Rift were smarter than that.”

The Bandit King revealed he was not as distracted by his bandits as he appeared and shared his opinion of the soldier’s report.

“Highroot is a trade hub, but to avoid my ire and maximize the nation’s profits from its position ol’ Stormflock here purposely uses inferior technology and instead relies on magic to make up for the difference. Me and my mates however, we steal our technology from wherever we roam and that is far from limited to the Stormroots.”

As he explained his technological superiority to Finch and the soldiers who joined her he motioned to where a number of bandits also occupied the throne room and stood guard over King Peregrine Stormflock VI and Hawk Highperch. The two coconspirators looked anything but pleased with their situation, especially with word that Chain was likely going to be led there with naught but a desire for violence driving her forward. The concern of the two men was shared by Finch but she was still in a position to act on it.

“Ignore him. If we can’t track the Chainmaid by radio we’ll need to rely on our eyes. Two of you take position on the upper floor and see if you can’t pinpoint her position. The rest of you take up sniper posts in here in case she arrives before we can act. Don’t worry about the Bandit King either; should we find the Chainmaid first prepare to engage from range and leave the Bandit King to me.”

“Understood IO! Moving out!”

With defined orders the Sentinel piloting soldiers sprung into action and left Finch alone on the lowest floor of the throne room. It was a much different situation now than what she had been experiencing in the streets but her objective had not changed from when she was ordered to retrieve Chain. Phasing into her Sentinel she set Uprooter to face the throne room door and waited for the inevitable arrival of the blood seeking Chainmaid.

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater