110 Chapel Days · Scene 28
Chapel Days
Chapel Days · Scene 28 · Departure
The Chapel ~
Exterior ~ Airship Dock
Early Autumn ~ Morning, mostly sunny, breezy and warm
Early Autumn ~ Morning, mostly sunny, breezy and warm
Bustling nuns intermingling with airship crewmen
Three groups of guests gathering for ventures ahead
Three Sa·B·ers ready to face a future uncertain
Partings and prayers for those on their way
A final surprise for a future yet walked
Three groups of guests gathering for ventures ahead
Three Sa·B·ers ready to face a future uncertain
Partings and prayers for those on their way
A final surprise for a future yet walked
“O
|
h, I’m quite
sorry your holiness, but I must have forgotten to mention at some point that Soarmont’s
Adventuring Company chartered sole occupancy of this ship for leaving this
meeting with the Cardinal Church.”
“What?”
There was nothing Verdant could do to hide the twitch in his
eye as Buck winked at him with a sly smile. The two men had been striding
beside each other towards the gangplank but came across an unexpected
checkpoint set up by the crew.
“I probably should have mentioned that sooner, but I was in
the midst of business you see. I’m sure you’ll forgive me for letting it slip
my mind. You’ll forgive me at least won’t you good scholar.”
Leaving Verdant to fume, Buck turned his attention to Mosvei
and the other scholars of Vaerseal who accompanied him. Surprisingly, Mosvei
seemed legitimately bothered by the affair.
“I must admit I was not expecting to have to resume our
journey across the scarred Face of Icarus on foot. Perhaps I should have
realized sooner however. I can only blame myself for being enthralled with the
Chainmaid in the end though.”
“She’s a fine maid despite her youth. I’m looking forward to
the tales of her exploits to come.”
“I suppose we’ll have to as well, won’t we brother?”
Listening in on where he observed the happenings from within
the gathered crowds, Lute smiled exasperatedly as Verdant picked him and Pan
out with a cold glare. Pan took it better on a whole than Lute, but there was
perhaps a crack in his cool and professional demeanor as he spoke.
“As we have yet to return her to our client’s possession…”
“I suppose that’s true, but really, the challenge of this job
grows more impressive by the day. It almost makes me want to wait for her to
grow a little more just to make it worth it.”
“And do you believe that she will amount to anything Lute?”
“She’s already managed quite a bit since she first slipped
out from our grasp. Besides, you’ve already decided as much yourself, haven’t
you brother?”
A hint of a smile appeared at the corner of Pan’s lips and
Lute smiled far broader knowing he read his brother well. Together they both turned
to look back towards the entrance to the Chapel from the airship dock and
spotted Chain. She was joined by Maye and Squawk as the three of them bid
farewell to the nuns. Out of the nuns, Finch in particular was teary-eyed and
hugging the stub nose revolver that she always carried with her. Her weepiness
was put on hold however as she noticed Chain look away unaware that the Sa·B·er
had spied Lute waving at her as the Mouser Brothers returned indoors.
“Miss Chain! You’re not taking this seriously enough!”
“Ah! Sorry.”
Chain’s blank expression became a wide apologetic smile as
she returned her attention to Finch. Squawk took it as an opportunity to jab at
Chain and did not waste it.
“Hmph. You shouldn’t expect this idiot to take it seriously.
If you haven’t noticed, there are two of her and even between them they can
barely manage a focused train of thought.”
“Master, please. Finch is upset enough that we’re leaving but
you shouldn’t give her reason to worry more than she already is.”
“Why do I feel like I’m being insulted?”
“This part of us believes it is because we are.”
Drop’s observation did little more than compound Chain’s
dismay at her treatment by Maye and Squawk. Naturally, she complained about it
with a pout.
“Hrm~! Why do you two have to be so mean to me⁈”
“Because you’re an idiot.”
“Because you’re a heretic.”
“Eh~⁈”
Chain stared in disbelief at Maye and Squawk’s synchronized
insult of her. As shocked as she was Finch managed to laugh at how well the
three of them seemed to get along. Still, she felt for Chain and offered Chain
a path to at least get along better with Maye.
“You know Miss Chain, Maye may be a nun, but she loves guns,
especially revolvers. If you were to get one and get her to teach you how to
use it I’m sure she’d open up to you.”
“Finch! Please!”
The redness in Maye’s face earned a snicker from Finch who
teased her just a little more.
“But it’d help remind you that you’re a teacher too, wouldn’t
it?”
“Honestly Finch, for this journey I am the student in search
of the truth of the world.”
Growing haughtier, but still failing to prevent her face from
being so blatantly red, Maye tried to maintain some sense of respectability.
Chain smiled brightly at the friendship between the two but still had to speak
for herself. To emphasize her point, Chain summoned her cape and her sword
which she took in hand by the strap over her shoulder.
“Not that I care for guns anyway. They’re useless against
most monsters and I still prefer my sword.”
“You haven’t seen what I’ve been practicing heretic, as such
I refuse to let you slander firearms until then.”
“Oh~! Really~?”
“Would you two idiots put an end to this already! We’re being
waved over to depart.”
Ever the harsh voice of reason, Squawk brought Chain and
Maye’s attention to the waving crewmen from the outer railing of the lesser
hull against the dock. The two of them nearly panicked and spun back around to
bid Finch a final goodbye.
“Sorry, but we’ve got to go!”
“Take care of yourself Finch and know that I do intend on
returning one day. I don’t know when, but I hope to see you and everyone aboard
the Chapel alive and well when next we meet.”
“Get a move on you long winded horse!”
“I’m coming Master!”
Turning back from yelling her compliance to Squawk who was
already in pursuit of Chain and Drop, Maye took one of Finch’s hands in both of
hers.
“Until we meet again Finch, take care.”
Not giving Finch the time to respond, Maye pulled away and
galloped after Chain and Squawk. Finch realized what was happening and gasped
before chasing after Maye. For all of her engineering genius and maturity
instilled in her as a nun of the Chapel, she was still only ten and the adult
she perceived as closest to a parent was leaving her. Panic settled in and she
fought past the other nuns, but by the time she reached where the gangplank had
been lowered, the airship was already moving away from the Chapel. Still she
squeezed shut her eyes and cried out as loud as she could.
“Maye~! Take care of yourself, please! I want you to come home
too!”
“DON’T WORRY, I’LL TAKE CARE OF HER‼”
Waving with a huge smile on her face, Chain assured Finch
that Maye would be fine with her. Finch could only watch Chain waving for so
long however as the airship quickly ascended into the sky. As it cleared the
top of the Chapel, the mighty mobile fortress started up operations again and
began to head out on its own continuing journey’s for which Finch would be an
integral part.
Well above the Chapel, Chain watched it shrink as the airship
continued to ascend. Watching the steam that rose from it as it began moving
across the Face of Icarus widened her smile. But it was as she turned away that
massive eyes shimmered and Drop asked her question.
“Then it is time for our next adventure?”
“Yup! Let’s go!”
Running along the exterior walkways of the airship, Chain and
Drop made their way to the ship’s bow and Chain’s eyes widened even more as her
mouth fell open in smiling amazement. Before her the world awaited and all the
adventures she sought were in her reach. She was at last headed out to become
legend.
.
Chain’s
adventures will continue…
Copyright © 2019 Joshua D Tarwater
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