Chandeera

by Wolf Golan

  “… Of which I am losing control.” He said downing the cup of water.

  “No your majesty! You are a great King, and no one could've found out.” Max replied.

  “You are most kind Maxwell.”

  The King finished his water and slammed the cup down.

  He turned to Ryan.

  “And what of you?”

  Ryan's eyes got big as he sat clueless biting his lip, as he answered.

  “Well my King... I... ” He looked at Max who was staring at him too. “I guess it’s good thing he didn't succeed, for we would lose a great warrior as well.”

  “Yeah,” The King said uplifted.

  “Kraakon and Luthrick have learned of your skill, so they are attempting to kill or capture you.” King Laedin explained turning back to Max. “Would you like a couple of Guards?”

  “No your Majesty, I'm fine.” Max answered.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes your Highness, they won't catch me off guard again.” Max smiled at him.

  King Laedin looked down blinking his eyes trying to accept his answer, he turned back to Max and calmly replied:

  “You are a strong man Maxwell Wilkes.”

  “Thank you... my King.” Max said bowing kept his head low.

  Max looked at Ryan who was still humbled by his presence and bowed as well.

  “Very well,” King Laedin got up. “See your lady and be good.”

  “Yes your majesty.” Max replied.

  “Good morn,” King Laedin said to them both as he stood up and started to the door.

  “Good morn sire,” Ryan and Max replied after him.

  “CLEAR A PATH!” The King’s Guards yelled.

  People cleared a path and bowed as King Laedin passed them walking out the door. After he left, the chattering in the tavern resumed. Max took another drink.

  Ryan stared at him.

  “You were attacked?!” He asked tensing his face in concern.

  “Yeah, the mutant jumped out of the shower stall.” Max sighed and finished his ale.

  “You have a shower?”

  Max eyed him and chuckled.

  Ryan chuckled too.

  Ryan sat silent for a minute watching Max shaking his head in disbelief, he then noticed the food.

  “How the hell did you get Chinese food on Chandeera?”

  “Mrs. Wang. I asked her the same question, but she wouldn't tell me.”

  “You're such a brat.” Ryan said taking a drink of his ale.

  Max chuckled.

  “I'm going to get going.” Ryan said finishing his drink and getting up.

  Alex burst through the door, glanced around, and spotted Max. She ran over and jumped on him hugging and kissed him.

  “Love birds, puh!” Ryan shook his head smiling.

  “O MYLOVE! YOU’RE BACK!” She squeezed his head and he put his arm around her.

  Alex wrapped her arms around him squeezing, as his face turned red. “Jeesh, don't choke me to death.” Max said from her back.

  She leaned back smiling at him then turned to see Ryan.

  “Oh! Hi Ryan!” Alex replied.

  “I gotta leave before I start blushing.” Ryan said jokingly.

  They laughed.

  “See you later Ryan,” Max replied.

  “Bye,” Alex added.

  Ryan saluted and walked across the tavern and left.

  “I heard about the attack and got your note are you okay?” Alex looked into his eyes.

  “Yeah I'm fine. I just needed to get out of the castle. It was too much.” Max said waving his head. He looked into her eyes.

  “I didn’t know where you were, so I came here. I needed a drink.”

  Alex sat on his lap and kissed him again. Alex kissed him hard but noticed his smell. She detached herself.

  “You smell like Chinese food?”

  Max smiled and gestured to his plate.

  “Where the hell did you get Chinese food in Chandeera?” She asked.

  “Mrs. Wang, she surprised me too.”

  Alex scoffed at the thought. Max brushed her bangs aside. Alex kissed him one more time, before she turned to the food and started forking some of the noodles into her mouth.

  Max leaned back and enjoyed watching his girlfriend eat. She bent back up and looked at him still chewing.

  “Here,” Max said gently pushing her off of him and letting her sit to resume eating. Max stood up and rested his hands on his hips looking about the tavern. He saw Donald and Tarry looking at them giggling in delight from the bottom of the stairwell. They walked over and held each other.

  “Hello!” Donald said with his giant smile.

  Max extended his hand and they shook. Alex continued forking noodles into her mouth, oblivious.

  Terry bent down to Alex.

  “You should've been here earlier Alex. I would cook a good meal for you too!” She said squeezing her face in happiness at her. Alex smiled back with her mouth full and Terry rubbed her back as she continued eating.

  Max gestured Donald outside.

  They walked out the door and leaned on the frames. Patrons passed, and buggies galloped by on the road, along with riders, and packers streaming the streets.

  Max looked over to see the market sparsely populated, then turned back to Donald.

  “So everything okay Donald?” Max asked.

  “Yeah, yeah,” Donald nodded.

  Max relaxed and nodded to him.

  “So what do you sell here?”

  “Ah… refined silk, fabric, and sometimes food.” Donald answered nodding and smiling.

  “Neat! How did they take to Chinese food?”

  “Good! They like it!” He said.

  “We are starting to miss home Max.” Donald said bluntly.

  “I know! Ryan and I were saying the same thing.” Max replied. “I'm going to try to help out David and the team, so we can do things done faster.”

  Alex came walking out talking to Terry.

  “Hey,” Max said.

  “Hey,” Alex replied.

  “Well it was nice seeing you guys.” Terry said to Max and Alex, as Donald held her in his arms.

  “You too!” Alex replied.

  She hugged Terry one last time.

  “We're going to head back to the castle now.” Max said.

  “Yeah okay bye! Come by any time!” Donald answered.

  “Sure, see you.” Alex added.

  The Wangs waved at them as Max and Alex waved back starting up the main street.

  The Wangs started the opposite way speaking Chinese to each other. Alex and Max calmly walked along arm-in-arm.

  “Alex,” Max said turning to her.

  “Hmm?” Alex replied.

  “Everyone is getting homesick... ”

  “I know,” Alex replied. “David and Dallas should be done with the plans soon.

  Max heard the rustling of the leaves on the sycamores and yells of children playing in the street alleys to the side.

  “How was your trip with the Prince?” Max asked point blank.

  Alex smiled but unsure of what she just heard.

  “What?!”

  “I'm just curious about how the trip went that’s all.” Max asked.

  “It was okay.” She slowly replied, narrowing her eyes at him looking at him disturbed.

  Max tried to calm her with his smile.

  “I’m fine with it, really I am.”

  She nodded slowly, as she held him again and continued.

  “I had to get into a very uncomfortable dress and try my best to act Noble-Born.”

  She played with his collar straightening it out, as they continued to the statue.

  “Where did the Assassin come from?” Alex asked.

  “Kraakon.”

  She furrowed her eyes.

  “He's heard of you?”

  “Yeah, apparently my military prowess is getting a rep. He sees me as a factor that can tip the scales of the war, so he wants me taken out. The
King offered me security detail, but I turned it down.”

  “What?! Why?!” Alex said, aghast.

  “I handle it.” Max replied.

  She shook her head.

  “For once, I’d wish you’d swallow your dam pride and think wisely.”

  He changed the topic.

  “The wisest thing would be to get on Dallas to start the mission sooner.” Max replied.

  “I'm sure Dallas is going as fast as she can. We're all homesick.”

  They continued quietly.

  They slowly rounded the statue and arrived at the grand steps.

  “So are we still going to our bedchambers?” Alex asked grinning at him.

  “Yeah,” Max said sinking his head heavily.

  “What is it?” She asked eyeing him with concern.

  “Why the affection? Did you do something with the Prince that made you feel guilty?” Max asked.

  Alex let go of him, crossed her arms, and looked away upset, shocked.

  She snapped him narrow eyes of anger.

  “You just can't help it can you?!” Alex sneered.

  “Help what?!” Max asked.

  “Max I want to leave back to earth just as much as you do okay?!” She yelled. “NO! NOTHING HAPPENED OKAY!”

  Baelyins walking by stared at them.

  “I HAD NO CHOICE! The King asked me to go with him! I had to do it for the group!” She yelled. “You want to get home don't you?!”

  Max only returned a stern stare.

  She folded her arms and turned away.

  “We went over this a week ago remember? It's definitely why I left you on Shin Bay and that was me breaking up with you… BUT YOU FOLLOWED ME!”

  “YOU BROKE UP WITH ME?! WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME!” Max yelled.

  “I don't want to continue this conversation. I want to be alone.” Alex answered upset.

  She started storming away.

  “Why didn't you break up with me and tell me!” Max said after her. “That way I wouldn't've have followed you and ended up here! You guys would find your own damn rock!”

  Alex froze, turned, and stared at him in and anger. “You Shit turd!”

  Alex turned back and continued storming away.

  Max backtracked down the street. He stopped and turned toward another tavern on the other side of the street, it was a taller with a balcony. He walked over and went through the door. The people were just as loud and drunk, so he sat down at a clear table and didn't move.

  Max wanted to think.

  Dallas unexpectedly came up and plopped herself by him.

  “Hey!”

  “Hey!” He replied trying to seem enthusiastic.

  “Hey yourself, you want ale?” She lifted her mug up.

  “How old are you?”

  “Screw you! You're the second person to say that.” Dallas said taking a drink.

  Max gestured the waitress for an ale, she nodded, and went to get one.

  “So Dallas,” Max said folding his arms and turning to her,“ how are you going to fix the ship and how do you know it'll work?”

  Max wanted to focus on something else.

  “What is this, an interrogation?” Dallas replied.

  She wiped the ale foam off her lips.

  “I’m just curious.”

  The waitress came with a cup of ale and gave it to Max.

  Though a little buzzed, Dallas explained:

  “As part of my Alien Logic course, I studied interstellar meta-mathematics.”

  “What the hell is that?”

  “It’s the study of methods, symbols, and mathematical terms for the purpose of establishing consistency in anything chaotic. UEF Engineers use it to adapt to Alien technology. I used it to learn Riven's structure and electrical functions, then, I study a little descriptive, solid, and differential geometry to figure out how the warp units work and the engineering to create the holes.”

  She took another drink.

  “Dallas?”

  “Yeah,” she turned to him with bright eyes.

  “My head is hurting. You're too far out for me. Sit somewhere else.” Max giggled and took a drink of his ale.

  Dallas pushed him as he poured a little on himself.

  “Hey!” Max sneered at her.

  She giggled as she took another drink, leaned her head on him, and closed her eyes, snoozing for a few moments.

  Max sighed at her, shook his head, and turned to the window to stare out.

  Chapter 21

  When Max Wilkes is upset and heartbroken he usually dealt with it by a combination of keeping busy, the prayers his aunt taught him, exercising, or finding work.

  He went by the barn to see J.T., but J.T. had everything under control and told Max he could help build an Airship they had just started on in the north platform.

  Max started to the castle and the long walk to Paedrin’s lab.

  He climbed the castle steps and made his way along the battlements to the south stairwell and arrived at Paedrin's door.

  He knocked.

  Paedrin opened the door and gave him a welcome look.

  “Hello Max! Come in!” He said gleefully gesturing him in.

  Max walked in. Paedrin went to his workbench to pour a steaming liquid into a flask. Paedrin's cauldron still smoked too. Paedrin filed a book on his shelf then turned to Max,“ so Max, how may I serve you today?”

  “I want to help build the airship.”

  Paedrin nodded.

  “Well they've lifted the hull onto the north platform and have already started it, so you may help them if you would like.”

  “Sure,” Max nodded.

  “Good, I think David is over there too.” Paedrin added.

  “Thank you, I'll go over there.”

  “Good luck Max,” Paedrin said walking back to tend to his flask.

  Max walked out and started down the hall.

  He walked up the castle to the training yards and continued to the North Platform. He wanted to train but felt his time would be better spent helping the ship-building.

  He went to the training grounds anyways and met with Guyin and explained. Guyin understood and wished him luck.

  Max walked down the long narrow walkway to the north platform. He neared the small stone house and soon cornered it. As he rounded it, he saw an unfinished ship on shores. A Baelyin man hammered boards on the hull and a Baelyin teenage boy scuttled equipment to him.

  Max saw David with a clipboard and a Knight awaiting him.

  David noticed Max and smiled hard, before coming over to him.

  “Max! You're just the person we need right now.” David said finishing up his writing. He showed him the clipboard. It was schematics of the ship.

  “We want to attach two wings and two huge fans.”

  Max looked at it and rubbed his chin.

  “How will you run the fans?”

  “An engine what else?” David smirked.

  “Well how the hell are you gonna get fuel in a preindustrial world?”

  “Gas,” David replied.

  “Where do you get gas in Chandeera?” Max said.

  “A methane bed at the Darfast Mountains. J.T. and Dallas went up with the Purifier we found in one of the Miners' bags. It can concentrate and purify methane into gas and we filled three gallons already. I can also distill helium as a byproduct, so we can make the blimps for them. Neat huh?” David said smiling.

  “Where did you get the engine and fans?”

  “Parts stripped from the ship, J.T. and Dallas built them in no time.”

  “Don’t we need the parts for the repair?”

  “No, they’re spares.”

  David turned to the Baelyin Shipbuilder and instructed him briefly. Max raised his eyebrows and folded his arms, impressed with the progress.

  David finished and brought forward a Knight.

  “This is Lieutenant Retgor. Paedrin has been briefing him on the locations, so he can be the guide and extra warrior on the crew.” David
said resting his hand on Retgor's armor.

  “Yes we met already.” Max replied.

  Lt. Retgor looked young in his early 30s.

  “What's your first name again?” Max asked.

  “Bak Retgor, son of Golorus.” He bowed.

  “Good to meet you again Maxwell Wilkes.

  “You can call me Max.”

  Retgor nodded pretending like he understood.

  A Baelyin builder came up with long black hair in a ponytail and a beard. “This is Gadian, son of Gedwood.” Lt. Retgor gestured to him, “Knight, repairman, driver.”

  Max shook his hand.

  “Good to meet you, Max Wilkes.”

  “Good day sir,” he bowed.

  “Hey guys,” David interrupted them.

  He pointed out points in the schematics and started talking about them:

  “It’s too big. We want to make the ship small, so it can go in and out of the places clean and quick, so would it be okay to take off some stationary artillery? Instead, enlarge the wings and fans for efficiency and maneuverability?” David asked.

  “The Airship Defense will be limited to archers then,” Lt. Retgor explained.

  “Will it suffice enough for Max, or whoever, to bolts in and out locations?” David insisted.

  Gadian and Retgor nodded and looked pensively at the schematics. Max twisted his lips.

  “Sacrificing defense is never a wise thing for military campaigns.” Max added.

  David only returned a blank stare.

  “He’s right, but you’re right too.” Lt. Retgor commented.

  Max shook his head at David and let it go.

  “I want to know more about the propulsion?” Max asked, changing the topic.

  Gadian went back to work and Retgor started examining the ship.

  “J.T. took a couple of pieces off of Riven's Interior that was not significant and shaped them into propellers.” David continued, “We had them hauled up a few days ago. They're over there.” David pointed to them.

  Max turned and saw huge propellers lying under tarps.

  “Okay good.” Max replied. “Let's get to work!”

  “Patience,” David replied with a smirk.

  The crew slowly began hammering and sawing boards and building the hull all day, until David suggested they retire to the South Dining Hall. Max, David, Gadian, and Lt. Retgor started back to the castle and saw dinner waiting in the South Hall. The four men sat, ate, and went over more details.

  When the meeting ended at dark, Max was dead tired yet again.