Chain Melody 12

“What did you just say?”

“What do you think he said Bandit Eater?!”

The glare that Chain tried to give Elliot was interrupted as the Bandit King suddenly pulled her from his shoulder and swung her around. As Chain arced about she was afforded a fine view of the heart of temple and its vaulted ceilings and spacious chamber that was more than large enough for Finch’s enormous Sentinel.  The cross shape of the room would be the only true detriment to Uprooter’s maneuverability as the column lined, raised dais filled the center space and required stairs to allow a person access to the platform. Smashing into the ground at the foot of those stairs and placed between Elliot and the Bandit King, Chain would not have a chance to see what it was that the dais held.

“Guh! Honestly you grin–”

Chain was about to admonish the Bandit King for the way he handled her but as she turned her head back to look at him she outright stopped. The typical toothy grin of his that resulted in Chain calling him a grinning idiot was completely absent. The look that Roc gave her was instead one of nigh unbridled hatred that Chain had not seen the likes of for years. Desiring to take control of the situation before it got any worse Chain chose to rely on her wit.

“With a name like Roc I’d figured you were from the Northern Kingdoms and wouldn’t be affected by Sycamore’s actions in the Western Kingdoms. Unless you mean to tell me you were one of the idiots who agreed with Raptoria’s attempted invasion of the Western Kingdoms from before even I was born and just hold a grudge because him and the Junk Birds chasing them out?”

“Your disregard for human life Bandit Eater betrays your relationship with that monster.”

“Eh? What are talking about? Do you really honestly think that Sycamore was trying to drop that Tear of Automina on the Western Kingdom? Sure he was an idiot and negligent but I somehow doubt with his reputation and history that he intended to actually destroy the Western Kingdoms. Besides, he wasn’t the one who dropped it.”

“You mean to instead blame the Maiden of Ash Chain?”

Elliot’s question drew Chain’s attention to the young Hero and she turned her head back around to face him. He offered her a kind smile but there was no doubt questions were held in his emerald eyes.

“I’ve heard the stories myself of a maid who could control the Ash and confronted Sycamore, but to give Sycamore himself the benefit of the doubt… You must have a reason Chain.”

“Of course I have a reason. I had only just celebrated my seventh spring when that disaster happened and finished losing everything I ever had. If it wasn’t for Melody being with me and Swallow Martin saving us by that winter I wouldn’t be here today. The thing is though, swallow Martin was one of the people who was in the vicinity of the battle and heard that the Tear of Automina crashed after a stolen Junk Bird vessel approached it.”

“The Junk Birds? Then you mean to tell me that is part of the reason you hold them in such contempt?”

“Forget about that boy. I won’t allow the Bandit Eater to wriggle her way out of revealing her relationship with Sycamore. That monster doesn’t deserve any excuses and if you’re going to let her distract you then I’ll ask you personally about her relationship with Sycamore.”

“Considering your own treatment of human life and willingness to decide who lives and who dies Bandit King you seem ill positioned to criticize Sycamore.”

“Look around you boy and you tell me if you can’t figure out why I’ve ended so many lives. Conveniently forgetting that just shows your own immaturity boy. Now, one of you answer my question.”

“It seems things are going to get complicated in a hurry Matches.”

Matces squeaked sympathetically from where it perched on Uprooter’s shoulder as Finch commented from within about the situation. Watching Roc level his hand cannon at Elliot implied that the time for words would soon be over and Chain’s expression as she was squeezed by the chain that bound her implied the child Hero may need to soon intervene herself. A sudden notice from Uprooter’s instruments however distracted Finch from further observing the unfolding scene.

“Now I finally understand. It perhaps took too long due to my ignorance but now the need for your death is obvious Bandit King.”

As he spoke Elliot stabbed Chain’s sword into the ground and drew the two-handed silver long sword that hung from his hip.

“I thought you were going to use that.”

“I had intended to Chain, bit I’m thinking it might be better if you did now as it seems imperative that you defend yourself.”

As he spoke Elliot offered Chain a smile and she could hear the Builders’ Song rise up in verse.

♪~ As stars, land, sea, and storm ~♪
♪~ Held in Cardinal eyes are all the same ~♪
♪~ By her grace his dream made truth ~♪

In that moment Chain learned that the Bandit King was also one who could hear the Builders’ Song as he reacted to stop Elliot from making use of his verse. With a fierce stomp Roc splintered the earth and launched Chain into the air as he fired into the column of rock. Chain spun about as she rapidly gained height and was almost simultaneously able to see Roc go to pull on the chain that tethered her to him and Elliot deflect the shot fired at him. To her Elliot was significantly more distracting however as his sword blade dissipated into nothing and gave birth to a brilliant blade of blue light as he screamed out the name of his verse.

“EQUALIZER~!!!!!”

With a single motion Elliot cut away the ruptured earth before him and the chain that bound Chain for what she could only guess was days. Engulfed in the light of Elliot’s sword the Builders would not sing of the recovery of Roc’s weapon and Chain was free to recover amidst the shower of chain links. From where her pectorals ended at the shoulder a black mist began to flow from the chainmail that was all Chain wore and as though it were nearly her own skin covering all but her head from her chin up. The black mist took on the form of a cape as it flowed and solidified into such as Chain twisted around and through the air directing herself to land beside her sword. Drawing the weapon from the ground a smirk adorned Chain’s face and she faced the Bandit King with her characteristic confidence restored.

“Looks like the tables are turning you grinning idiot.”

“I would highly doubt that Bandit Eater.”

“You sure about that?”

Chain’s question was delivered with a slight flick of her head in an attempt to nudge Roc’s attention elsewhere. The Bandit King had no reason to see what it was that Chain was attempting to get him to see as he could clearly sense that Finch had made Uprooter draw its massive gun, which resembled her own rectangular side arm, and leveled it on him. With a solemn and irritable expression the Bandit King spoke with the intention to remind those around him of who he was.

“Need I remind you that I personally killed every Hero who once occupied the Kingdoms around the Stormroot Mountains and have been bested by none of my new challengers? There is no advantage that you could possibly have against me Bandit Eater. That is why I have to ask you as well kid; what do you believe you are doing?”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater