Chain Melody 10

“You know, this isn’t what I was expecting to happen when I decided to go after Highperch and the king of Highroot.”

Chain’s words were meant more to distract herself from the scene she watched as she looked over her shoulder. Morning had come, or so she surmised as the natural ventilation system of the underground labyrinth from the Age of Ash ferried about day light illuminating the whole of the ruin and the group no longer needed their campfire to see by. What she was able to watch though from where she hung on the Bandit King’s back behind his right shoulder probably did not require daylight however. Roc drew his hand cannon from its holster on his left side and aimed it at the wall of Ash that shimmered with a consumed inferno. Pulling at the chain at his waist which connected the two ends of his weapon and entangled Chain on his back, he began to whip it in a spiral motion. As he worked the chain it began to grow longer and longer, slowly resembling a circular gateway. As he continued the time consuming ritual he decided to entertain himself by asking about Chain’s intentions.

“And what were you expecting Bandit Eater?”

“Not you two at least. I didn’t think either of you had a reason to go after those two idiots.”

“Why not Chainmaid? We were both hunting you down, even if for different reasons, and the last we saw of you, you were in pursuit of them.”

“So neither of you considered that my disappearance could have resulted in me bailing from the city? I guess I should have gone through with my original plan.”

“And have convinced the Rattama to use the Remnant of Automina to force the Builders into leaving us Heroes crippled?”

“Eh?! You mean you knew?”

Chain could not hide her disbelief and Roc’s face split with his typical toothy grin.

“It was obvious to me Bandit Eater considering the circumstances, what with the princess of Highroot manipulating nearly the entire Bright Rift Invasion Force. I actually intended to follow you to the Remnant and confront you there but when lil’ Corvina decided to withdraw I figured you’d pick back up where you left off once you found out. If anything, you showing up when you did was ahead of what I predicted.”

“And what about the little girl over there?”

“I still intended to kill the Bandit King during that operation as well as capture you Chainmaid. Following him to the castle when I couldn’t find you myself seemed like the best idea at the time. Additionally, if I could get the survivors of the Invasion Force to the castle and Capture King Stormflock VI I could assure their survival. Not that that matters now. There was barely anyone left alive after you destroyed the castle. I’m lucky I was in Uprooter when you leveled everything or I may not have been so lucky myself.”

“Your Sentinel huh?”

Chain took her eyes off of Roc’s ritual for a moment and let her eyes drift over to where the eight meter tall steel armored biped stood. Letting the Builders’ Song wash over her Chain took a moment to marvel at the machine.

♪~ Once a toy for yet weaned girl ~♪
♪~ A comforter in times of tears ~♪
♪~ Now it stands her champion knight ~♪

“I guess if you have to bring that thing along it’s going to take quite a bit longer to get to the Sword Shrine.”

“If I did this the traditional way Bandit Eater, but since the scientists of Bright Rift have long ago proven that power can be extracted from the Ash I can’t afford to have you figure out how to yourself by feeding you quite that much.”

“So I guess that means it’ll have to stay here then.”

“I can summon Uprooter from anywhere at any time Chainmaid so it won’t be a problem.”

“Beyond Bright Rift’s top peacock knowing everything you can do kid. No, just like I told the Bandit Eater, I’m not doing this the traditional way. In fact kid, I’m going to need the help of that spirit who hangs out with you since I can’t risk us getting to the shrine without you already in your Sentinel.”

“Matches? What can matches do?”

“The Sacred Sword that we’re heading to is forged from the Spirit Well of Fire as the power of the Demon Lord it seals is derived from extracting the cold out of the air through the ice it wields. My plan is to prepare a portal to take us right to the shrine by the link I’m guessing exists between a spirit and the Great Spirit Well which shapes the powers beyond into one of the elements that we know that it shares with it.”

“Your theory is actually pretty sound even if your terminology is a mess. I’m surprised a larger than life bandit like yourself would be able to grasp Higher Gate Theory at all.”

“Hm, hm, hm, hm, hmmm. I’ve lived a long life Bandit Eater and have seen plenty of things. I only realized the potential of the spirit there though when it shook off a direct shot from Dragon’s Maw here however like it was nothing. But enough idle chit chat. It’s time.”

Looking back at Roc’s handiwork Chain immediately saw it was not just a light grasp he had of Higher Gate Theory. His chain framed gateway could easily sustain a portal and he wasted no time demonstrating his intention as he fired off a shot into its center. In a brilliant flash of light a swirling inferno filled the gateway but Chain did not marvel as she instead screamed out in pain as she could feel the Ash rushing into her through the chain that bound her and formed the gateway.

“There’s no more time for waiting kid. We either do this now or we risk her getting free as we take a very long walk through the Ash to the temple. Sure there’s a trolley once we get so far but I already said I want your Sentinel and you ready for combat.”

“This is awfully mad Bandit King, and I have no way of knowing if Matches can do what you want him to.”

“Hm, hm, hm, hm, hmmm. If not me kid, then have a little faith in the spirit there. Just hurry up and make up your mind. Creating a path through the Ash is more straining than you can imagine and the longer we take the greater chance the Chainmaid will have to escape.”

Finch frowned as she looked at Roc who did not turn to face her as he concentrated on his work. It would be the perfect opportunity to attempt to kill him and then simply take Chain as her own prisoner.

“It’s what I want anyway isn’t it Matches?”

Looking down at Matches, who was on the ground and required her to kneel down, Finch queried of the rodent shaped spirit her own thoughts.

“I mean what more could I want. The Ash really has been below the Stormroots all of this time and I’ve finally found it. And If I kill the Bandit King then the dragon will have to keep its word and let me kill it. And if I take the Chainmaid to that Hero I’ll know that home is safe.”

Matches simply squeaked at Finch who had to take her gaze off of the veritable treasures before her to look at the rodent’s concerned expression. Smiling Finch scratched the grateful rodent under the chin.

“You’re right Matches. It’s not that I couldn’t but even I’ve noticed the glow the ruins have taken on since I freed the dragon. There’s no doubt that something powerful down here is about to be freed unless we do something. Think you’re up to it Matches?”

Matches offered Finch a reassuring squeak and ran off towards the gateway that Roc worked to maintain. Rising back to her feet Finch took one last look at Chain who fought hard to resist the pain of the Ash flowing into her.

“You really are something other than human Chainmaid. Most people exposed to the Ash so directly either would have been killed instantly or turned into a horrible monster with little resemblance of what they once were. But you, you’re fighting it…”

Finch watched Chain for just a moment longer before clenching her fist and gritting her teeth. In that moment she hated Chain and how her existence controlled her every bit as much as the dragon who they were aiming to have her replace as a part of the Demon Lord’s seal.

“It won’t matter though. I’ll just bury the shrine when were done and no one will ever have a reason to worship you like a god like my home has the dragon for generations.”

Turning away from Chain and the Bandit King, Finch dashed for her Sentinel and the machine knelt down to receive her. Running up the hand and arm that Uprooter extended towards her, Finch phased into the body of the steel biped and disappeared from sight. She did not go unheard however as her voice rang out through the chamber.

“Now Matches! Do it!”

Matches gave out an affirmative squeak and the flames that adorned its tail and ear tips suddenly became as a blaze instead of a simple candle flame. Roc’s toothy grin grew ever wider as he watched the spirit run into his gateway which in turn became a window to an underground shrine of an age and design from long before the Age of Ash.

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater