by Wolf Golan
Alex shot her head up with eyes widen in shock.
“WHAT?”
“What you Star People call a 'Year.”' Queen Ainera explained.
“Yes I know what a Moon Cycle is my Lady.” Alex replied, trying not to sound uncouth.
Alex nodded her head with mouth opened, dumbfounded. She didn't know how to react as she looked over to Queen who sunk her head in shame and sadness.
“We've banished him to Teewell Gardens, where he will remain until the next Snow.” Laedin explained.
“My King if I may, you don't have to punish him so severely, it was my doing as well.”
Alex said bowing her head and looking at the floor.
“We both know that is not true.” King Laedin humbly replied. “You have been among the noblest and fairest women I've come upon Lady Alexandra Parks. No, we are doing this to teach him a lesson. You are our guests on our world and for Cornigan to bring shame on you and Max is not befitting a Prince.” Laedin said staring at Alex, then, he looked over to the Queen, but ended up coughing.
“Are you okay my King?” Alex asked concerned.
“Yes, I'm fine.” He said clearing his throat.
Alex walked over to the dresser and poured him a glass of water. He took it and drank it and continued.
“If my son is to rule this world he has to learn manners. One cannot control a people if one cannot control oneself.”
“I agree,” Alex replied.
Alex stood listening as Queen Ainera stared at Laedin, not saying a word, listening and admiring her husband.
“Secondly, we have to show our people that even a Royal family is not above the Principles we're taught to live by.” King Laedin said, clearing his throat.
“Yes your Majesty.” Alex replied bowing her head.
“I wish the Kings of my world were like you.”
Silence followed.
“So let's go and find your love Max.” King Laedin said cracking a smile with his nice eyes, fighting his sickness. Queen Ainera reached over and hugged his head against her chest, her bright eyes getting brighter as she held the man she loved.
Alex glowed at the sight.
She was inspired to join the search.
“Yes, lets.” Alex quietly said.
She stared at the Royal couple holding each other in front of her.
Alex came onto the battlements above the Great Hall and found an airship waiting. Alex saw David and J.T. entering it with two Operators. David was already coordinating them as to the planned.
“I’m coming too!” Alex yelled walking up.
David and the boys turned.
“We might be overloaded! Only six people per ship!”
Alex squinted and yelled over the fans that were now starting.
“He’s my man! You can’t tell me to stay here! I’m going David! Get out of my way!” She pushed her way pass him and walked onto the ship.
David sighed, shook his head, and followed.
David came onboard and threw his bag down.
“Cast away!” He yelled at the Operators.
They nodded.
The Operators untied the ropes and the ship began to rise. Alex got a little nervous as it rose higher and higher.
“Okay trust us Alex! Just sit back and enjoy the ride.” J.T. said to her.
She nodded trying to stay calm, shifting her eyes back and forth.
J.T. noticed how nervous, she looked.
“Just relax Alex.” J.T. said from the rail.
The ship elevated into the sky and Densmere castle soon shrunk in size, and the land looked far below. Alex bent down scared.
“Whoa nelly!” She said bending down laughing in fright.
Alex slowly walked over to the rail and peeked over. She saw the vast city below and hundreds of tiny peasants moving about the city.
She smiled in wonder.
The city soon passed underneath, and they started going over the croplands. She got over the fright and started loving it, but still gripped the rail hard.
The ship made its way through the skies, heading south
For three days, Alex, David, and Ryan visited towns, villages, and hamlets along the Great River extending into the Eastern Droe Plains, but found no trace of Max. News of events had reached General Ryzen at his camp in the Plains, but he sent word back that he had not seen Max.
He would notify them if he did, for he cared a lot about Max himself.
Lt. Retgor decided to take the searches north to the Doon Canal but found no answers there too. The Lieutenant even sent word to Krix Gaa-the Gentee Mountain City of Darfast Mountains. They had not seen him, but he informed them of the situation.
Paedrin sent out brocks to look for certain signs and to inform other Magic Wielders in all towns in the kingdom, but he found no signs yet.
With every bit of disappointing news coming in, Alex felt sadder.
She was now concerned about his safety and if he was even alive.
She started crying again at nights.
Jenny again comforted her and sat with her into the evenings.
Thousands of Densmere's Knights continued to search towns, question town folk, farmers, and the forests folk, but no one saw Maxwell Wilkes.
The Doons searched the northern Densmere forest but found nothing.
After Alex returned from another search, she decided to have a cup of tea with the Wangs at the tavern with J.T.. She sat at a table in the main area with Donald and J.T. sipping her tea.
Terry brought over a dirty old peasant man.
“Alex, J.T., this man says he knows what people are saying about Max.”
Terry gestured for him to sit down, as she sat down too.
“Hello my name is UboHadorn.” He said taking off his peasant’s hat.
“Hello,” they said in unison.
“Tell us what you know?” Terry asked.
“Many rumors are circulating. Some folk say he was captured by Kraakon and thrown into the Great Deep,” Alex looked away biting her bottom lip at the thought.
“Other says he got on a ship back to the stars. Others say he is in the Dark Castle in the Great Wasteland imprisoned forever. Ubo continued, “Others say-”
“OKAY!” Alex yelling shooting her hands up.
Everyone looked at her.
“I heard enough!” She calmed down a little and put her hands down.
“All I want to know is if anyone saw him or heard from him.”
It was quiet, and no one replied.
She got up and stormed out.
A few more days went by and it turned into a week since Max had ridden out of Densmere and disappeared. Alex's concern grew to utter heartache and despair. They had searched the Southland’s again and King Laedin himself travelled south for a day but found nothing.
After another day, Alex started getting depressed. She did not get out of bed, drank lots of wine, and knew Jenny started to worry about her, as she still held her and stayed with her most nights.
The next morning, Alex had been reduced to moping on her bed when Jenny burst through the door.
“AL! RETGOR HAS NEWS OF MAX!”
“WHAT?” Alex said almost screaming with relief as she got up.
She tensed her face with concern as she jumped up and ran after Jenny who was already running down the hall.
“Come on! They’re meeting in the Great Hall!” Jenny yelled back from the end of the hall. Alex kept after her as fast as she could.
Jenny ran down the stairwell into the Great Hall, where a huge group gathered. King Laedin, Queen Ainera, Jenny, Ryan, the Wangs, J.T., Dallas, Ryan, David, and Paedrin all stood around Lt. Rigor, as he caught his breath resting on his knees bringing the fresh news.
Alex and Jenny ran to the group. Alex gently pushed her way through, bursting to the middle facing Lt. Retgor.
“WHERE IS HE?” She said snapping her head around, panting.
Lt. Retgor looked at her catching his breath. He put his hand up to give him a m
oment.
“Please!” Alex insisted.
“We captured a man who had his prairies in Donra, a town in the north below the Doon Canal Docks. He was said to be bragging in a sea tavern that he captured the great Max.” Lt. Retgor said explained.
Alex and the entire group listened quietly, wide-eyed.
“He told us he gave Max to a bounty hunter. The bounty hunter took Max to the great Wasteland to collect the bounty,”
Alex shot her hands to their mouths in horror.
“But our spy in the Wastelands says Max is not there. He never made it.”
Alex remained shocked with her hands still over her mouth.
“Where is he?” Ryan asked.
“We still don't know, but we now know for sure he is in the north somewhere.”
Alex sunk into a nearby chair in despair, blinked her eye then, fainted to the floor.
“ALEX!” Jenny yelled coming to her aide.
Max Wilkes... was alive.
End of Book I