Chain Melody 13

“I’ll answer your question after the Chainmaid answers my own Bandit King. Then we’ll see if I don’t have a reason to change my aim.”

“I think you’re forgetting that I already said that the only question I want answered is in regards to the Bandit Eater’s relationship to Sycamore.”

“Then you’ll be glad to know that my question should answer your question as well.”

Roc finally took his eyes off of Chain and Elliot and looked back over his shoulder down the barrel of Uprooter’s gun and right into the Sentinel’s eyes. Finch showed no signs of fear and instead gave off an aura like a drawn blade waiting for a reason to draw blood. Roc locked eyes with the Sentinel for what seemed like an eternity but eventually sighed and closed his eyes. Turning his head back to face Chain and Elliot he bowed his head in resignation as he rested his hand cannon on his shoulder.

“Alright kid, ask away. Once we’ve gotten the Bandit Eater’s answer I’m completing what I came here to do regardless of what anyone else intends.”

Finch lit up within the body of Uprooter and could not restrain her excitement as she had achieved another victory over the Bandit.

“Of course Bandit King. Just remember that I still intend to kill you though.”

“Can we just get this over with already?”

Chain’s sudden irritated interruption brought all eyes back on the maid in question who was clutching at her left temple. Noticing that she had all eyes on her, Chain opened one of her own and looked upon the Heroes who surrounded her.

“I get that you all have some plan or another for me but I think somewhere you all forgot that I just want to find my partner and be done with the Stormroots and these two stupid kingdoms that flank them.”

“That is rather harsh of you isn’t it Chain?”

“Shut up Elliot. It’s time for the idiot girl in the Sentinel to talk before I run out of patience and decide I’m through waiting.”

Elliot was taken aback by Chains abrasiveness but wisely held his tongue. Instead he looked past the Bandit King and up into the eyes of Uprooter and like Chain awaited Finch’s question. Recognizing that letting Chain go wild would not be favorable in anyway Finch wasted no time in finally asking her question.

“Tell me Chainmaid, are you a student of Hazel Sycamore?”

“Eh?”

Chain could not hide her confusion though she did notice that Elliot and the Bandit King both seemed to be highly intrigued by her potential answer. With a groan Chain shifted her left hand from her temple to her forehead and hung her head. As she spoke she revealed that her reaction was not one of exasperation so much as it was of finding something funny.

“Honestly, me a student of that idiot? That’s got to be one of the biggest jokes I’ve ever heard.”

“Really Chain? Then what of the craftsmanship of your sword? I was led to believe that it is forged using the techniques of the legendary swordsmith?”

“That idiot is actually still considered legendary somewhere?”

“His relationship with his brother is more than enough reason for me to prevent him from having a means to redeem that foul name Bandit Eater.”

“So I was right to come north. Of course my plan was to head all the way to Raptoria and dig up one of the members of the Order of the Feathers of Sol who supposedly fought alongside him and get him to spill the beans on where that idiot could have gone. But hearing that he’s encountered you, you grinning idiot…”

“I’d choose your next words wisely Bandit Eater. Your reason for seeking either Sycamore could very well risk your life.”

“Considering you want to chain me up here as a replacement to the stupid dragon I don’t think it really matters what I say.”

“I disagree Chain. Your reasons could potentially earn us an ally against the Bandit King.”

“Ugh. Does it really matter? This is why I don’t like talking about any Sycamore. It’s nothing but a complete headache and invitation for trouble.”

“That explains then why Melody was so weary of your reaction when I learned that she was familiar with the name. Still though Chain, this is not the time to make a secret of your relationship. If you can personally imitate Hazel Sycamore’s techniques then Master Beaks and I believe that you can restore the Sacred Sword here to its original strength.”

“That won’t be necessary boy. The Bandit Eater should more than suffice on her own. Not that I’d ever let a Sycamore’s technique save the Stormroots and all else the Demon Lord here threatens.”

“Is that so…?”

Chain lowered her sword and turned her body so that she might look up the steps behind her to the dais. What she laid eyes on was quite the scene as embers of a long dulled fire drifted in the air between the columns that surrounded the dais and the massive crystalline formations of crimson hued ice. In the center of the dais a sword was thrust into the ground, its blade resembling cooling metal pulled from a smithy’s forge. The dimness of such light instead of the blinding brilliance of molten metal told Chain all she needed to know of the condition of the sword as its blade had no truly solid form. Staring at the dimmed blade Chain spoke confidently, though her voice was filled with an odd remorse.

“Then I guess you won’t be able to stop the Demon Lord sealed here from escaping.”

“What’s that supposed to mean Bandit Eater.”

“I shouldn’t have to spell it out at this point but why not. My greatest secret is pretty much out in the open now anyway so why not.”

Turning back away from the Sacred Sword, Chain looked emotionlessly on the Bandit King. In contrast to Chain’s calm demeanor the Bandit King was trying to hold back both his disbelief and erupting rage. Even before a Hero who had single handedly defeated armies and countless Heroes, adding their own strength to his own, Chain remained calm as she spoke.

“You see, you formerly grinning idiot, even if you were to agree to let me try to pull off that idiot’s spell folding technique to try and repair the Sacred Sword, I doubt I could pull it off without risking weakening the seal more than it already is. That means if I did mess up the only solution you would have with the stupid dragon gone is to hope that I really am turning into a Chain Dragon myself and use me to try to hold the seal. There’s only one problem with that; you’re hatred of Sycamore means you’d never accept being saved by me. Allow me to introduce myself beyond my chainmail related nickname. I’m the only daughter of the former most renowned and legendary swordsmith in the whole of the Western Kingdoms, Link Sycamore.”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater