Chain the Infamous Chainmaid 23

“Damn her! Damn her! DAMN HER!!!”

Bursting his way out of the mountain of stone that was once the castle of Highroot, Highperch expressed his disdain for Chain with all of his strength. The image of King Peregrine Stormflock VI impaled on Chain’s spear was still fresh in his mind as well as the sudden explosions that tore through the castle reducing the once great landmark that marked the beginning of the Northern Kingdoms. How he had survived was a mystery to him but he was consumed by rage and did not care. He was given a chance for vengeance and would take.

“CHAINMAI~D!!!!! I know that didn’t kill you so show yourself!”

Highperch rose to his feet among the remnants of the castle, taking the axe he held in both hands and looking about frantically. All around him the devastation of Chain’s spell was on full display with the tops of towers rising up out of their own collapsed bases and columned walkways strewn about like a child’s broken toys. Astoundingly, a solid portion of the balconies in the throne room still stood and up in them Highperch spotted one of the three meter tall Sentinel’s of Bright Rift. The pilot had not seemingly spotted him however as even with the distance between them Highperch could see them visibly shaking as they tried to aim at something.

“DON’T YOU DARE!!! She’s mine…”

The Sentinel froze as Highperch screamed at the pilot and then its head slowly turned in his direction though the pilot did not hear the aged adventurer’s claim on Chain’s life. That did not matter to Highperch however as the Sentinel’s reaction told him that what his claim would go unchallenged. Noting the direction the Sentinel had been aiming Highperch turned about and spied Chain drenched in blood upon the mountain of rubble she had created. Her back was turned towards Highperch and she looked up into the western sky. It was not the Great Bird Sol who she watched however but rather the dragon Thurlix who had perched upon a tower that had somehow escaped her wrath. The dragon’s presence meant nothing to Highperch though as he hefted his battle axe and charged at Chain.

“CHAI~NMAI~D!!!!!”

Screaming at the top of his lungs Highperch scrambled over the rubble, his rage giving him a strength he had not had in many a spring. His strength was followed by agility that allowed him to scamper up the rubble that tumbled about underfoot without stumbling or suffering a loss of footing. All that slowed his pace was an unexpected headwind from the west that lifted Chain’s blood soaked cape and hair into the air. Before Highperch’s eyes Chain’s cape became as a black mist that dissipated leaving the chainmail skinned maid fully exposed with no way to disguise her movements. She did not need them however as she lowered her head and with a turning step drove her fist deep into Highperch’s gut.

“UHGYAAA!!!!!”

Highperch’s eyes bulged and he vomited a gout of blood as he was struck with a force that should have sent him flying. Chain was not so kind however as her rage and strength far outweighed that of Highperch and she had managed to strike him in a way that left the old adventurer locked and supported on her fist. For Highperch, Chain’s fist was all that supported him for her blow had ruptured his insides and cracked his lowest rips, vertebrae, and the top of his pelvis. The pain that tore through his body was beyond paralyzing and even his vision dimmed. For all of the pain though Chain’s fist still held his attention as he could feel the chainmail that covered it shifting and swirling against his flesh.

“I should thank you Highperch. I almost lost myself there but your petty little grudge reminded me where I came from and who I am. I should give you a reward.”

“D-damn… you…”

“I already am you idiot.”

The corners of Chain’s mouth twitched upward ever so much hinting at the beginnings of a wry smile. The smile did not come though as instead Chain exhaled softly and withdrew her fist from Highperch’s stomach. She did not leave him to fall though as she immediately grabbed his throat and lifted him as high as she could. She was too short in comparison to Highperch to lift him off the ground but as he was paralyzed with pain he could not support himself and his weight choked him against Chain’s hand. Highperch dropped his axe and his hands and feet twitched as he was strangled by so frail looking a maid.

“Ghrk…!”

Highperch’s eyes bulged more even more as blood and bile spilled from his mouth. His eyes rapidly became wild with fear of death, rage, and utter hatred but even as he looked down upon the maid who strangled him she did not look up at him from beyond the shadows of her bangs. For all of his rage however he could not struggle to free himself or support his weight. He was going to die and Chain knew it.

“You told me that I couldn’t understand anything when I first got here Highperch. But the truth is… The truth is you were right. I couldn’t understand and because of that I made a bunch of decisions that led me here. But I understand a lot more now and now it doesn’t even matter. Had you greeted me cordially and followed business as usual for Soarmont’s Adventurer Company I would have come and gone and none would have been the wiser. But I must have scared you. Or at least the fear of the Bandit King’s actions accelerated you plans. Or maybe even it was just bad timing and you were just a victim of your own ambitions… It doesn’t matter now though. You crossed me and you should have known what that would mean. Being involved with the mad plots swirling about these mountains just makes it that much worse for you. But none of that really matters at all. Not to me anyway. This madness you were involved with has hurt Melody and I only punish that one way…”

“And I already said that I would end your rampage Bandit Eater!”

Even with her eyes hidden by her bangs the surprise on Chain’s face as the Bandit King’s voice erupted forth along with a spiraling length of chain that encompassed the entirety of where the throne room had been was beyond obvious. More clear to Chain however was the singing of the Builders and the verse they sung.

♪~ With all the Stormroot in his reach and a chain that binds the moon~♪
♪~ All who ventured forests low and high ~♪
♪~ In his trap they did walk ~♪
♪~ Face his might no choice they’d have ~♪

Chain knew the verse painfully well but that did not matter. Even knowing that the Bandit King had appeared behind her there was nothing she could do. She could not turn around fast enough to face him or leap away in time to avoid his attack. Her lack of speed did not stop her from trying to turn about however to see the giant who had somehow survived having his abdomen blown away by the same spell that leveled the castle. It was a vain attempt as her world became darkness as the Bandit King drove his fist into the top of her head and her into the ground in kind with enough force to blow away the rubble of the throne room.

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater