Chapter 56 - Nightfire Plans

Max talked for a long time. Longer than he intended to. He just let it all pour out. What kind of situation he was in, what he felt and what he was going to do. Joshua’s gathering started with fifteen or so people listening, but by the time Max was finished, over a hundred people sat around him still and alert, with nothing but the crackling of the fire and a few stray whispers.

He told them about Maverick and what had happened when Max had chosen his Cultivation path. Then he told them about the tribunal and the apex species of the ICCB, masters of their fates, as well as three other races. Last he told them about the bounty.

Billions of people would attack him on sight. And Max wasn’t exactly hard to miss with his giant golden revolver in tow. Sure enough, any representatives of opposing species would probably attack on sight, depending on which party was stronger. But people would go out of their way to look for Max.

“And that’s why I think I should leave,” Max said, trying to keep the tremble out of his voice. “It's not safe anywhere for me anymore.”

There was some murmuring in the crowd. Max hung his head. They couldn’t deny it of course. Except for Bill who rose up.

“What the hell are you talking about, Max?” He asked. “You think it’s been safe for anyone so far?”

Max raised his downcast gaze. Bill smiled and shook his head.

“We wouldn’t even be alive without you, Max,” Bill said and looked around him. “Everyone here knows that. While you were a fun little rumor to pass time while working before, after that panther attack, you’re our hero.”

The clapping started slowly but finally rose up. The crowd held the applause for a long time. Max looked from Joshua, to Elena, to Lily, to Sid, to Marie and so on. They all smiled in approval and clapped.

“You ain’t going anywhere, Max,” Bill said. “Maybe we’re screwed if you stay with us. Maybe. But we’ll sure as hell be damned if you leave us be.”

“Joshua’s a good leader,” Max said. “He will know—”

“Of course he is,” Bill cut in, raising a hand. “But don’t ruin the moment.”

That drew chuckles from the people around. They all seemed to be in consensus.

Marie, who was sitting nearby spoke in her soft, mild-mannered voice. “Did we really need all this spectacle for such an obvious thing? Of course you’re going nowhere, Max.”

Max must have gotten some dust in his eyes. He wiped his eyes on his sleeve and smiled at the crowd in gratitude.

*

Max, Joshua, Brian, Mike and surprisingly Christie were sitting around the night fire. Time for heartfelt speeches was over, and time for mindful planning had come.

“Despite everyone being all mushy and grateful to me, we have a problem,” Max said. “Even if

“These nightly bonfires might be a bad idea too,” Max said.

“Been saying that for a while,” Mike said, nodding to Max.

“Come now,” Joshua said. “It’s a signal for stray people to converge at.”

“Also a signal to the enemies,” Mike said.

Brian didn’t say anything, maybe because he didn’t have his bravado quite back, but he seemed to nod in agreement.

“How many people do you think are still stray by now?” Max asked Joshua.

“Me and my little lambs were stray just a few days ago, darling,” Christie said in her throaty voice. “While I precaution admirable, I think you’re being cold-hearted.”

Max regarded Christie for a silent moment. “I suppose I misspoke. I didn’t know your story.”

“How could you, darling,” Christie said in a tone dancing at the edge of accusation and playfulness. “You never asked.”

“I’ve been busy,” Max admitted.

“Tsk tsk,” Christie sighed. “So self-centered.”

Joshua coughed loudly. “So Brian and Mike are against the nightly fires. I’m for them, as is Christie. What do you think, Max?”

“I think I’m flattered, but you need to stop involving me in these kinds of decisions,” Max said, and shook his head. “I’m just an attack dog.”

“You’re a damn good one at that, I’ve heard,” Mike said. That must have been the longest sentence Max heard out of the man’s mouth.

“One with a bite,” Brian said and gave Max half a smile. “But look, Max. You can’t come at me and tell me you call the shots, and then not follow up.”

Max scoffed. “Damn it.”

Of course Brian was right. Max didn’t know where he had put his bravado, but this was a sensible, straight-forward man. Max wasn’t going to go as far as to say he liked him, but at least he could give Brian some respect.

Max turned to Joshua. “Fine. The signal-fires can stay. But that’s twice the reason to train an attack force. How many [Combatants] do we have?”

Joshua thought for a moment, speaking half aloud. “You, Mike, Brian and his lot, William, Nick and Tate, Sarah, and… Of course Christie and her lot.”

“You’re a [Combatant]?” Max asked.

“Surprised, darling?” she said and smirked. “I don’t strike you as dangerous?”

Max snorted. “In more ways than one.”

Christie winked at him, and not too subtly. “I have five fighters in my team, myself included, Joshua.”

“Less than twenty,” Max said. “And all but me, woefully underleveled.”

“You could remedy that,” Brian said.

“Yes,” Christie agreed eagerly. “Take us with you to the Dreadlands.”

“I was actually going there anyway,” Max said.

“Thought you weren’t leaving,” Mike said.

“I’m not,” Max said. “But I need to visit the dwarves to get an upper hand in Cultivation.”

“From what I gather, you already have an upper hand,” Brian said.

“Maybe,” Max smirked. “But I like to push my advantages.”

“Smart guy,” Brian said.

“I have a suggestion,” Joshua said. He waited for every head to turn. “Since Max took care of the panther situation, I believe it is safe to assume our little community is safe from attacks. For now.”

The people gathered around the campfire murmured in agreement. Mike deigned a silent nod as he put more wood to the fire. Few sparks flew off, like fleeting fireflies before dissipating.

“So I think it would be profitable to form an outpost in the dreadlands.”

“An outpost,” Brian stroked his chin. “Another camp?”

“We can hope, eventually,” Joshua said and nodded. “It will be rough to start with. I assume there’s food to hunt?”

“There’s game,” Max said. “I think you’ll need me to take down the first few ones.”

“Oh, such arrogance,” Christie said. “I am sure you won’t say that after you’ve seen me fight, darling.”

“Uhhuh,” Max said. “I’m sure you’re great.”

That actually made Christie miss a beat, and a micro-expression of surprise or shock flashed on her face. She quickly poised herself and smiled at Max like a cat with her milk.

“Okay, so how do we do this?” Max asked. “I escort most of the [Combatants] there, show them how to kill stuff. And then what?”

“Good start,” Joshua said. “We will also have to get some [Artisans] and [Laborers] with you. Don’t pick considering level, pick considering grit and bravery. Christie, you’ll be in charge of that.”

“Yessir,” she said.

“What do you want to do, Mike?” Joshua asked.

“Stay,” the man gruffly said.

Joshua looked at him expectantly and Mike grunted.

“The camp will still need protection from the stray panthers,” Mike said. “I ain’t leaving Sid’s cooking for dust and death.”

“I suppose you do have a point,” Joshua said.

“He does,” Max agreed. “Few [Combatants] should stay. Mike is a [Scout] anyway, right?

“Right,” Mike said. “I will keep leveling as long as I keep scouting around and killing whatever beast I come across.”

They all nodded in agreement. That settled that.

“And you Brian,” Joshua said. “I want you to be the leader of that outpost.”

“What?” Brian was taken aback. “You would trust me? What about Max?”

Max raised his hands protectively. “Don’t give him any ideas, Brian.”

They shared a chuckle over that.

Brian looked like he was embarrassed. “Are you sending me away, Joshua?”

Joshua raised an eyebrow. “No. I meant what I said when I said you should take up the [Leader] class.”

“It’s been… stressful out here,” Brian said. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking these last few days. I got caught up in something silly. Those men of mine got the better of me. They saw me better than I am, and I believed them. Good men, but not always the wisest.”

You sure did get caught up in something silly. I’ll wait and see if you make amends. Max thought, but figured it best to remain silent.

“A part of me still thinks I’m the better leader,” Brian said, letting himself unhunch his shoulders. “But I suppose I should prove it first.”

“I will still let Joshua wear the cowboy hat,” Max said. “Sorry dude.”

They laughed at that and Christie who was sitting next to Max placed a hand on his shoulder as she chuckled in her throaty way.

“We will see, Brian,” Joshua simply said. “But for now let us focus on the opportunities. We need to take over Dreadlands. There are more resources out there. More experience. We could trade with the dwarves with Max as our liaison. Many possibilities are ahead for us.”

“We will need to make a plan of action,” Max said. “I need to leave tomorrow. I could take Brian’s group with me and teach them how to kill the Vilefiends. Maybe find and clear a cave with them to set up for camp.”

“I am coming with you,” Christie said.

“You’ll need to find us people willing to venture in the Dreadlands first,” Max said.

“Then I’ll do it, darling,” she said in a voice that brooked no argument. “I’ll have a group ready to leave by breakfast.”

Max nodded at that. He had to respect her attitude.

“Alright,” Joshua said. “Let's go over the whole plan once more in order of execution. Come tomorrow morning Max will leave with the [Combatants] and Christie’s support crew. Then you will…

Maverick woke up from his slumber. He asked through their soul link if they were going to Cultivate more tonight. Max shrugged internally. He wanted to. If they had time, they could squeeze out a pill or two before sleeping another few hours. Maverick agreed. He was ready to go. Through their link he asked if it was okay to use time on this negotiation and planning thing. Max said it was and Maverick shrugged at that. This was important. For the first time Joshua’s camp wasn’t huddling and scraping by. They were forming a plan of attack and that excited Max.