by Celeste Raye
He stopped by Kelan's home to relay the message. Kelan was in the shower, so Michelle invited him to eat breakfast and then talk business. She placed a full plate before him, declaring, "All this was going bad, so we can feast on it before it rots. I'm sending some with Kelan for the men working in the mines. I can't let it go to waste."
"You're the king, aren't you?" Keshel, Kelan's young son, asked.
"Yes, I am. Did they tell you that in school?"
"Nope! I'm too young still. Mommy teaches me. I'll go to school in five more weeks. Right, Mommy?"
"Four and a half now," Michelle replied.
"You are a smart young man. Are you looking forward to it?" the king asked, charmed by the boy.
"Kind of, but I'll miss Mommy and playing on the balcony. Will there still be school by then? Daddy told Mommy Talonia was in trouble and we might not get to have school or gardens or anything good."
"Keshel! You're not supposed to listen to adult conversations, and you certainly shouldn't repeat them," Michelle admonished with a blushing face.
"He has a right to know the truth. Surprising the children with catastrophe would be a mistake and make it more difficult for them to adjust. Keshel, I hope that you will be able to attend school when it's time. I am working with your father and scientists on Earth to fix Talonia. If things get worse, I will need you to be a strong example for the other children. You can assure them that we will be okay someday. Do you think you can tell them that?" Maxxus asked.
"You bet!" the little boy shouted. "I'm a tough hombre."
Maxxus looked to Michelle for an explanation.
"I brought videos from Earth when I came here. Keshel has watched them too often. He speaks more like me than a Talonian: using slang, contractions, and words from other countries. Hombre means man. It's Spanish."
"Maybe I should watch them. It might help when dealing with Earth's leaders."
"You can watch them with me. They're funny. Cowboys and Indians dress strange and ride horses. Daddy says I won't need a horse, because I'll be able to fly like him. I want one anyway," Keshel pouted.
"I saw one of those on Earth. They are beautiful creatures. I bet all little boys on Earth want one. But, you are special. You get to be a weredragon. They are bigger, stronger, and breathe fire," Maxxus told him.
Michelle smiled. It was good to see the king share a few moments with her son. Kelan had told her how upset and panicked Maxxus had been. Keshel was excellent at distraction. She saw his shoulders lose their tenseness and the firm lines of his lips relax while explaining the wonders of being a weredragon.
Kelan's arrival came too soon, and business took over the conversation. Michelle took a reluctant Keshel out to the balcony for a counting lesson so the men could speak without having to censor their words.
"I should have come yesterday to give you the instructions from Josie. I found myself seeking refuge with the land instead. It was a selfish endeavor. I left my kingdom without a king and delayed delivering an important message. I make too many mistakes. Perhaps Acer made the wrong choice in heir," Maxxus proclaimed.
"Mistakes are common in leadership. Acer made plenty of them as do the rest of us. You are new to the role and expect perfection of yourself. However, the people do not. Most of what you see as mistakes they never see at all. The citizens are looking for someone to tell them how to handle this situation, and you are doing that. They do not recognize the stress and worry you are going through. There has to be an outlet for it and if spending a few hours with nature gives you the strength to continue, then so be it. No one was harmed or in danger. Now you are back and have delivered the message. We go forward from here."
Maxxus heard the words but still chastised himself for hiding out. No one could be harder on him than himself. He made a slow walk through the city to make up for his absence, spending plenty of time answering fearful questions and praising the efforts of his citizens. He left them with smiles and the comforting assurance that help was coming.
The reassurance did not last long. Marching into the southern edge of the city, one of the scouts brought an entire village. Maxxus drew in a sharp breath and ran to greet them. "Come into the square. Rest, and I will have provisions brought to you," he told them.
To the scout, he asked, "Where are they from? What did you discover?"
The scout replied, "I never made it to their village. They were already halfway here when I ran into them. They had stopped at a small pond to rest, and I had landed there for a drink. I was informed that the waterfall near them was no longer blue and it had a bitter taste. They used it anyway, boiling it to drink. Watering their garden with it caused the plants to wither and die. Their elder left to come here and report the issue weeks ago. He never returned and obviously did not make it here. Not knowing what else to do, they started walking. Of course, they passed many excellent places where they could have remained, but they wanted to find their elder and speak with you."
"Why did the whole group need to come? They could have stayed in a safe spot and sent one representative. Why walk when they could have flown?" Maxxus inquired.
"I asked both of those questions, sire. No one would volunteer to come alone, and they all feared whatever evil had ruined their village would follow them to the next resting place. They are under the impression that an evil entity is punishing them for something. I tried to explain, but they wanted to see you. As to flying, they said there were too many children to carry safely, and there were supplies to bring as well. They have brought all their grain and stored food. I will turn back now and continue my journey. As I go, I will search for their missing elder," the scout promised.
"Stay and rest for the night. Visit your family. You have earned a break. I will settle this group and inquire about the exact location of their village," the king replied.
He approached the group with trepidation. What had they encountered on their trek across Talonia? Were their fears of finding other devastated spots founded? What had kept the elder from reaching the city and where was he now?
As he neared, everyone's eyes turned to an older woman sitting on a large bag that he figured must contain some of the grain they had carried all this way. She must be their official spokesperson, he thought, perhaps the mate of their missing elder. Instead of forcing her to rise, he went down on his knees to have the conversation. "Madam, can I get you anything special to eat or drink? You seemed to have carried a rather heavy burden a long way."
"Give the children a treat if it can be spared, some fruit as they have not had any for a long spell." Her voice was quiet and quivering, but the words sounded like a command. This was a tough lady, Maxxus decided. He waved a worker over from the garden and asked her to fetch fruit for the children.
The woman nodded in satisfaction, and Maxxus asked, "What village did you come from? How far have you walked?"
"We come from halfway across the planet. If we had gone left out of the village, instead of right, it would have taken the same amount of time to reach the city. We chose right, because it was the direction my mate took, and I hoped to find him. We have been walking for a month, according to the sky and the marks our historian makes on his paper."
"Where is your communicator and why did you not use it?" he demanded.
"It has not worked since the explosion. We did not realize the importance of replacing it until the waterfall began to fail."
The same story had been told by those in the near villages. Maxxus would see that the communicators were replaced. Acer must have overlooked that detail. Kelan was correct. The previous king made costly mistakes.
"Did you encounter other places with the same destruction?" Maxxus asked.
"One valley had lost a portion of its greenery. I pray the evil has not followed us to the city. It might have been better for us to stay away," the woman said, wringing her hands.
"Dear lady, you did not bring the evil. It is a consequence of the bombing by the Savra. Your village did nothing to cause this
devastation. You will find sanctuary here. We will add your crops to the storage areas, as we are rationing food. You will be given places to reside and jobs to perform after you have regained your strength. Welcome to our capital. I am the king, you may call me Maxxus, and I swear I am doing all that is possible to restore Talonia.
Chapter 7
Josie
The spaceship was loaded, including the tents Maxxus had so hated to ask for. Josie was settled in her quarters. She had hugged a tearful Helen and put her on a transport to be with her grandchildren. The crew was arriving, and the ship was scheduled to depart with the rising sun. Going over her lists one more time, she checked off the items to be sure all was finished, and nothing had been forgotten. Every available corner was filled with supplies, including her own quarters and those of the crew. The only area off limits to such storage was the lab. As they soared across the sky, she fully intended to take atmosphere samples and analyze them. Each change would bring her closer to finding a better solution for Talonia.
Her last conversation with Maxxus was weighing heavily on her mind. She'd made promises she didn't know if she could keep, but she'd meant it when she told him she'd die trying. His confessions had stirred something inside her. It went beyond science. She was seeing individuals rather than objects. The citizens of Talonia had begun to matter. They weren't just part of a problem that needed solving. They were lives with feelings. For too many years she had been living in her own secluded world, forgetting that others loved, laughed, and cried outside the walls of the lab. Helen's joy when Josie had remembered she had grandchildren had given her a jolt of reality. The crew of the Outreach II volunteering for this mission had further opened her eyes. Maxxus was the final catalyst for her rebirth. Scientific discoveries weren't for prizes and praise. They were meant to provide a better world for people: to provide food, medicine, or save a planet. Josie was changing, and it felt good.
This was her first flight into space. She was excited but had to admit to fear. Out there, deep in space, they would be all alone. Mishaps occurred. This crew was proof of that, though they swore it wasn't likely to happen again. Too many things had to go wrong at once for another crash like theirs. The exact coordinates to Talonia were now known, and the solar system was charted, with the aid of the soldiers left on Earth. The weredragons' secrets were now documented facts. Earth would be listening to the ship's communications and so would Talonia. Should the worst occur, both planets would respond. So, maybe they wouldn't really be alone. Of the two worlds, she trusted Maxxus the most to come for her. He would move planets, stars, or warring aliens to save them. Why she had such confidence in a stranger, she didn't understand. It made no sense, and in Josie's scientific world everything was supposed to make sense.
Sleep came suddenly, and with it dreams. Maxxus was there, holding her close as they examined a tiny green sprout rising from ashes like the many that spread as far as the eye could see. He was smiling as he helped her stand from where they had been crouching and admiring the tiny spark of life. He kissed her lips, and in her sleep, a warmth filled her. Then, in the dream, he leaned down and planted a kiss on something lying against her chest. Black hair and a tiny round face peered out of wrappings strapped to her chest. It was a baby, and somehow, she knew it was her son. Startled, she awoke and ran to the bathroom, promptly losing her supper. Was the dream a manifestation of her desires? Since when did she want children or for Maxxus to kiss her so gently? How was she supposed to face him without blushing and spouting out the crazy dream? For once in her life, she needed self-control, badly. He couldn't ever learn of her ridiculous dream. He would refuse to work with her if he knew.
She couldn't go back to sleep. The dream might return, or worse yet, become more detailed. She'd go to the lab and work. It would keep her mind occupied until it was time to leave. Maybe she could come up with a formula to erase the dream from her memories. No, it was too vivid, and she liked it. Shaking, she dressed and left her quarters.
Maxxus
The sun was setting, and yet Maxxus lingered in the city center. Kelan was sending the last of the pellets into the sky. Maxxus watched as they exploded in space, far above the clouds. His hopes exploded along with them. How could they reverse what had already taken so much? A volcano, two precious waterfalls, and a valley were lost. His brain told him there would be more, but his heart clung to the idea of a savior. Why was Talonia chosen for such a terrible fate? Was this punishment for wiping out the Savra planet and most of its species? They had caused the issue in the first place, so why take paradise and turn it into ashes? Was this a test for the new king? If so, then why should the Talonians suffer? Did seeing Josie's face in the pool and volcano mean something or was he delusional? Too many questions without answers, most of them philosophical in nature, flooded his overwhelmed mind. So, he simply stood and watched the pellets explode.
He had received word that the Earth spaceship was on its way, but not from Josie. She had not reached out to tell him, and it hurt. Had his admission pushed her away due to its intensely personal nature? Spilling his guts to her had been a mistake of epic proportions, and he would not ever speak of his heart again. If he pretended it had never happened, she might be willing to let it be. Direct communication with her was a necessity. He would have to gain her trust all over again because of his confession. He had crossed a line, and it was inexcusable.
Darkness fell, and he had to leave the city center. Lights shone from all the residences. Families were sharing meals and telling stories just like they had for many years because he had promised he could save their home world and protect them. Where had his arrogance gotten him? He was alone. Not even Josie was speaking to him. Well, he would show them all! He would fulfill his promise and save Talonia. His name would be known by every generation as the king who would not let their species die!
Hardening his attitude and rebuilding the wall around his heart, he marched toward the palace. Studying the piles of food on each floor, he let pride rise up to bolster his ego. He could defeat this unseen enemy the same way he had defeated others. He was the mighty warrior Maxxus, and he had the power of his kingship to overcome any force that opposed him. Josie was not necessary. She would just be present to witness him conquering another enemy. He needed no one.
Those were lies, all lies. They could not stand up to the reality staring him in the face. A small child, holding tightly to his mother's hand stepped out of one of the palace offices. His eyes had almost lost the fire behind them. This child was one of the displaced villagers, and he could see through the bravado Maxxus was trying to exude, right into his terrified, lonely heart. He recognized that Maxxus was not the savior. In his experience, children did not lie. This one spoke the truth without saying a word. His faith was not in the king.
Entering his quarters, Maxxus found he wanted only one thing. He wanted to have a conversation with a friend, namely Josie. Was she awake? He had no idea where the ship was in space. He knew from experience that it did not matter. Bodies sent flying so quickly in space and time could not keep up with days and nights. You slept when you could no longer keep your eyes open and awoke when you could not keep them closed. He hesitated at the COM link, afraid she would refuse his call. Courage, that was what he had to discover within himself. The children had it. He had seen it in Keshel's face and in the determination of the children who had walked away from their village and continued on for an entire month. All he was faced with was a chance that Josie might reject his call. "Grow up Maxxus," he told himself.
The COM link rang through on the deck of the spaceship. The captain answered, "How may I help you, King Maxxus? Did you want to know our current location and estimated time of arrival?"
"Certainly, Captain. Has the flight gone smoothly?" Maxxus countered, searching the background for Josie.
"No glitches so far. Thanks for asking. We've reached one-third of the way to Talonia. Earth is out of sight. We should reach your world in two days, most likely early in
the morning. That is an estimate barring any problems with the ship or encounters with other spacecraft. Anything else, sir?"
"The scientist, Josie, is she on the deck? I wanted to catch her up on conditions here."
"I believe she's in her lab. She hasn't left it very often since we departed. She keeps insisting on taking samples from space approximately every fifteen minutes. I can patch your communication into the lab if you would like."
"I would appreciate it. We have learned a few things she should be made aware of," Maxxus replied. He hoped the captain accepted the reason for the sudden call and did not see through it to his desperate desire to see and hear Josie.
Absorbed in her work, Josie did not look up when the COM link buzzed. "I'm busy, Captain. Did we get another sample?" she asked.
She gasped and dropped the vial in her hand when she heard the familiar deep voice. "Are you avoiding me?" Maxxus inquired.
"Maxxus, no, of course not," she stammered. "Why would you ask that?"
"You allowed someone else to inform me of your departure and have remained out of touch. Did I offend you when we last spoke?"
"No. I'm sorry if you imagined that. I've been so busy, and there was nothing I really needed to discuss with you, so I left communication to others." She looked closer at him and noticed his downcast demeanor. "You've received bad news, haven't you? How far has it spread?"
Her concern comforted him. She filled the empty place inside of him, and he was alone no more. "An entire village came to the capital for refuge today. Their village is on the other side of the planet. The waterfall there has become rancid, and it has killed the garden. Without food and water, they could not remain in the village. They passed a valley where the greenery was dying. Their elder disappeared somewhere between the village and the capital. He has not been found. I also learned that communication devices have not worked since the explosion. If that had been remedied, we would have known about the devastation sooner."