Chain Melody 18

“You’re choosing the wrong time to interfere boy.”

“I have to disagree, Bandit King. Are you even aware of what it is that you have done?”

Elliot squared off against Roc as the giant had made to pursuit Chain from the Sacred Sword Shrine held aloft by the magicks of the airship segments that comprised the Condor. Leveling his brilliant sword of light at the giant before him Elliot showed no fear in spite of the ease with which Roc had ended the life of Plume Beaks.

“I simply ended the life of a troublesome Hero who has foolishly exposed the world to a Demon Lord. Now you would be wise to stand aside boy while I collect what I will need to end this threat.”

“Chain is our best hope Bandit King. You’re hatred for her blood relation will only assure our doom.”

“Are you saying that you can forgive Sycamore for what he did?”

“Lewis Sycamore is one thing, but Chain is a monster of her own making. Her crimes are unrelated to those of Lewis Sycamore and her age alone should tell you that.”

The rage that Roc looked down on Elliot with turned to contempt and he snorted at the young hero.

“Your ignorance astounds me boy. Do you have any idea how refugees of the Western Kingdoms were forced to survive after the fall of the Tear of Automina? They were forced to steal and resort to banditry. They were first stripped of their home by Sycamore and then the Bandit Eater gladly ended their lives, depriving them of any chance to make a new life for themselves. Yet you would defend that monster? I may have killed more than my fair share boy, but it was always so those who were stripped of their way of life could have a chance at a new one. Sycamores do not but cause death and suffering for their own selfish whims. The world will be better off without them and I will see it done.”

“No…”

Elliot spoke in denial but could not offer an argument against Roc’s words. His head hung for a moment and as his resolved wavered Roc looked at him with a hint of pity in his eyes. Roc did not linger on Elliot however and stepped past the young Hero so that he might attempt to pursue Chain. As he prepared to leap away Elliot spun around and again tried to waylay the giant.

“You’re right Bandit King; Chain is a monster who kills for her own selfish whims. But she was still willing to help prevent a disaster the likes of which has not been known since before even Automina rose up in this world. Her willingness to do good is reason to give her the chance to redeem herself. She is barely a girl turned maid and you would deprive her of her future for the benefit of those who would deprive others as well. If you believe in giving even those who prey on others the chance to start anew than you must give Chain that chance as well! And under our very feet is the starting point for her new beginning!”

“You’re naïve optimism serves no one boy. Just remember the stories that surround the Bandit Eater and you will see how foolish it is to keep her alive.”

“Black Mast…”

“That’s right boy, she will lay waste to anything without a second thought if she is angered enough. Even King Stormflock VI lies dead and buried now by her hand.”

“What?!”

Elliot’s eyes widened in shock at the revelations of Chain’s most recent crimes and froze in place. Roc did not wait for Elliot to interrupt him again and threw himself into the city of Aperture from the Sacred Sword Shrine. Conflicted as Elliot was the sound of ice creaking brought him back to his senses and he took note of both the Bandit King’s departure and the spreading crimson ice and rise of temperature that accompanied it. Knowing what needed done Elliot took a step to pursuit the Hero he stood against.

“Wait!”

Finch called out to Elliot and he froze again before turning to see the child Hero rise to her feet with a steadfast air about her.

“I’ll stop the Bandit King and bring back the Chainmaid.”

“I mean no offense Lady Misthead, but I doubt you are any match for the Bandit King on your own.”

“You’re right. I’ll probably die just trying, but I would stand even less of a chance against the enemy we need the Chainmaid’s help to stop. You on the other hand Knight Prince Elliot Silverlance of Lumirest, the Builders sing of your connection to goddess Cardinal. I know the disdain held for her by most people, but the person who left me in Misthead up in the Stormroots didn’t. I barely remember them but I know they praised her and spoke of her once saving the world from the Crimson Comet God of Destruction, Comteia. I may be young and naïve and inexperienced, but even I know that the Demon Lords are his servants. If we can’t bring the Chainmaid back or she can’t’ restore Nyr’s Tear to full strength then your connection to Cardinal will be the only hope we have. We can’t risk you facing off against the Bandit King and dying.”

“You would be giving up your life though young Lady Misthead…”

“That’s what a Hero does isn’t it? You sacrifice something to achieve your goal, and I have no goal beyond saving the village I call home and share a name with. Besides…”

Finch trailed off as she began to walk and ascended the steps to the dais where the Sacred Sword stood. As she neared the sword she knelt down and took Matches up in her arms. Looking fondly upon the rodent-like spirit she rose to her feet and again looked upon Elliot.

“The Chainmaid is the only one who can save Matches, so I have to at least bring the two together again.”

“Lady Misthead…”

Finch shook her head at Elliot and offered him a smile that tore at his heart.

“No Hero from the Eastern Kingdoms. There isn’t anything else to say. Even if there were I still have the advantage with Uprooter. With Professor Beaks dead its gun is the only thing that can deal with these tendrils that are holding the city at the command of some other Hero. If I make enough of a ruckus I might be able to lure them out and get them and the Bandit King to go after each other.”

“And then safely retrieve Chain…”

“That’s right, so stay here, please. Call out to the goddess Cardinal and be our last line of defense against our mistakes and foolishness.”

“To think you are only a child…”

“No, I’m a Hero. Uprooter!”

Calling out to the eight meter tall, steel armored biped, Finch offered Elliot one last smile as she was scooped her up in Uprooter’s hand. Taking her place upon the shoulder of the over-sized Sentinel with the gaping hole in its chest, Finch rode it into the city beyond the displaced temple. Elliot could only smile at his own powerlessness and ascended the dais himself.

“To think that I am called a Hero. It feels a jest before her. To think that this journey would have let me see so much and learn so much more. I must thank you for blessings your Eminence, Lady Cardinal. If I did not have them I could have never taken such an enlightening journey. But now I must ask even more of you my Lady.”

Reversing his grip on his sword Elliot lowered himself to a knee and stabbed it into the crimson ice before the Sacred Sword. Placing his left hand onto his sheathe Elliot closed his eyes as he lowered his head in prayer. After a moment his eyes snapped open and he took in the shadow of the great demonic entity within the spreading crystal ice below him.

“Should this darkness wake it will fall to us to banish it.”

Copyright © 2018 Joshua D Tarwater