UL1 - Book 11 - Chapter 075 -

Max smiled as he watched Lanyra, Queen of Sunreach, glow for a moment.

“I am honored,” she said after catching her breath, still kneeling before him.

“No, my wife and I are honored,” Max replied, holding out a hand and helping her to rise. “You and Edward have been the Kings and Queens we have both hoped for. Our people thrive… Your people thrive. Everywhere in this city they understand justice and order. Now, perhaps that little one that you have growing inside you will enjoy the blessing of two bloodlines as well.”

Edward came to stand beside his wife, finally looking like a king and less of a young man.  A hundred years had aged him but not in the way most who have lived this long might. Only a few small flecks of silver were in his brown hair. His wife, Lanrya had none and would most likely still have to wait at least five hundred more years before she started to show any.

The King of Sunreach had filled out, looking like a warrior, with thick arms, chest, and legs, yet it was the light and wisdom behind his brown eyes that spoke volumes of what the man had learned. For a hundred years he had ruled beside his wife and ushered in an era of prosperity that caused the other royalty from the different kingdoms come each month, discussing how to best rule.

“Thank you again for entrusting us with this task,” Edward said, slipping his hand around his wife’s waist. “And thank you for granting both her and our child this blessing.”

Tanila began to smile and Max knew what was on her mind.

“Lanyra, care to join me for a moment?” Tanila asked, holding out her hand.

“I would be honored as always to spend time with you, Mother,” the queen replied.

Edward leaned over and kissed his wife on the cheek, ignoring how she playfully protested.

After the pair had moved to the balcony that overlooked the capital, Max turned his attention back to the man tasked with the impossible.

“Are we ready for next week?” Max asked.

“Everything is in place. The entire city will be there, including the countryside,” Edward replied. “Those guards who were unlucky and are forced to man the walls will be greatly disappointed. Stil,l I cannot believe the child I watched grow up is about to finish the tower.”  Edward shook his head and chuckled for a moment. “Forget that, I can believe she is about to do such a thing. I lost count a long time ago about the number of times Miranna kicked my rear when we dueled.”

Sighing, Max nodded, rubbing his chin a few times. “How do you like the beard? It looks good on you… gives you some… character… age?’

“I like it,” Edward replied, grinning. “My wife… she isn’t a fan and occasionally jokes that she didn’t marry a dwarf. Still, as you have said, many see it as a sign of wisdom and age. Perhaps one day I will shave it off and try something different. But let me ask you a serious question. How are you and your wife handling this upcoming moment?”

Max slowly turned and studied the two elves, each of them sitting at the small table, looking out and discussing the current things taking place in the capital.

“We’re both struggling in our own ways,” Max replied. “I’ve given her all the rings I could acquire so that we can communicate when possible. She’s received all the training and knowledge about what comes next. I guess…” He paused, feeling his lips clenching and unclenching as he looked for the words to say. “Watching my child grow up, knowing the young woman she is and what she is capable of creates a little conflict within my heart. Knowing that my wife is just as nervous about it as I am helps me not to feel so bad about the pain in my heart.”

“And yet, as you have told me many times, we must allow each child of ours to choose their own path,” Edward replied. “At least you know she has chosen this path for herself.”

Max nodded. He had asked that question a hundred times at least.

I do not say this often, but this one truly was the best choice for your bloodline. He shall be a great loss when he finally passes away in a few hundred years.

Thank you, Bob. I appreciate that.

“Miranna chose a path she felt she had to take… often I had wished she wouldn’t, but I never doubted that she would try and surpass her mother and me,” Max said. “When her first group fell… I wasn’t sure if she would ever break free of the pain and doubt that lingers there. Seeing her now thought, with her new group and what they have become, leaves no doubt that this is the path she desired.”

Edward’s hand ended up on Max’s shoulder and the King squeezed it. “She came to me a few days ago and spoke with Lanyra and me. Miranna spent some time questioning us about what to look for in someone to care for her people. Unlike many, she didn’t say rule or lord over. Like her parents, she has a heart for others but is also a fierce warrior who defends those before her.”

“Yet her heart isn’t as soft as mine,” Max replied. “Which isn’t a bad thing.”

The king chuckled and shook his head. “No, that is a good thing. Though you have changed. While some might think becoming hard is bad, you were a little too kind. It is like Sog. Sharazael told me of what he did for his people. He gave them once chance, accepting the blame for a situation he created. Many times that moment has been brought up in our discussions and she said that was the moment she knew Sog was a worthy god.”

Edward moved slightly, getting into Max’s vision. “You are a god worthy of emanating. While I do not understand nor know everything that you and the others do, there is no doubt that you risk so much to keep us all safe. I cannot imagine the sleepless nights you would have if you required sleep.” 

Max smiled and nodded slowly.

“Do not brush what I say away so easily,” Edward said, his brown eyes fixed upon Max. “Cordellia’s people suffered for the last fifty years. Even now the weed that had taken hold occasionally crops up. But now she has allowed Naelith to do what any ruler must do. Rule. You didn’t hold myself or my wife back. Both you and Tanila gave us the freedom to carry out what you desired. When some… wayward individuals thought for a moment that they could take advantage of others, you didn’t step in. I handled it in my way, listening to the advice of my wife and the few who I trust with my ear. Since then there has been very little in the way of petty crime or any other problems in those areas.”

Edward turned and motioned to the city below with his hand. “You don’t just see us as a way of getting stronger. You, Max, see us as family.”

Sniffing once, Max held back the wall of emotions that were already present, knowing that when the day came for his daughter and the rest to leave, there would be very little he could do to stop the deluge.

“Thank you,” Max replied. “For everything. Our friendship, your words, and for loving on our people.”

Edward nodded and motioned with his head to their wives. “Come, let us join them before we end up signed up for something we didn’t get a say in.”

Laughing, Max clapped Edward on the back. “You’ve grown so much wiser than I could have imagined.”

***

Max twisted, his sword coming up, blocking the sword Sabon sent his way. His shield replaced his other weapon, stopping the massive ice spear that Agluur had sent toward him.

Miranna came from behind, her weapon a blur as she attacked.

You’re having to work harder than usual.

Bob teased a little, summoning a wall of air, which stopped the blade that would have struck.

A shadow fell over his head from above, its talons aimed at his upper body.

Max unleashed a barrage of strikes, forcing Sabon to protect himself with his shield. Putting their warrior between him and Shale Spark, Max made the dragon pull up, unable to claw him, but her tail came around, sweeping sideways.

During all this, his daughter didn’t let up, always on his back side, forcing him to deal with her and the aura she had, taking damage with each attack he sent toward her.

Outside the city, the ground they were fighting on was burnt, marred and had furrows from the training they were doing.

Agluur, the demon mage of Miranna’s party, sent dozens of attempts at his feet, stone and ice traps all trying to hold him in place. Anytime Max tried to get to their dwarven healer, Kurrar, Miranna, or Shale Spark drove him back.

Unable to help himself, Max smiled, already fighting above the level he should be using, knowing that they were in many ways a better team than his own party had been.

“Enough!” Rakonath called out. “You win!”

Without waiting, the five disengaged, leaving Max where he stood, shaking his head.

“We didn’t land a killing blow, though,” Sabon grunted.

“And yet, each of of here knows that you should have minutes ago,” Rakonath replied. “Surely you can tell that Max is cheating, forcing you all to push past what you might encounter in the tower.”

“Dad always cheats,” Miranna echoed. “He has since the day we first sparred.

“Please, Star, I didn’t cheat every time,” Max replied, winking. “Still, Rakonath is right. You five are a testament to how a party should work together. I can count the number of times on one hand when you needed to call out what was required. That is a testament to how well you know each other and trust one another.”

Laughter came from Fowl, who was moving toward Kurrar. “You do your people well, young one. Know that our crafters will fashion a statue of you that will be the first of many to come. Each one will be a tribute to those who have done what you have.”

Their dwarven healer’s cheeks reddened and he almost tripped when Agluur gave him a gentle shove. 

“Don’t mind him,” Shale Spark said, transforming into her humanoid form. “He’s the kind one in the group. The rest of us are all a bunch of jerks.”

“Too much time with Uncle Fowl,” Miranna stated.

Laughter from the other gods came as a playful scowl appeared on the dwarven god’s lips.

“That’s enough,” Tanila said, holding up a hand. “We have a table with refreshments, and each of you knows what is coming tomorrow.”

Max smiled, hearing the slight tremor in his wife’s voice at the last work.

Grins were present on all of Mirinna’s party members, but the truth was, Max could see the way their eyes tightened. Each of them knew what was about to happen and how difficult the next fight would be.

It seems strange that the system so easily allows one to read a book that is casually left behind, but I still can’t utter the words about the fight.

Part of me still laughs that you had thought what you had figured out was something unique and that no one else knew about it. The look on Phaius and Ockrim was priceless.

Ignoring Bob’s teasing, Max moved to where his daughter had gone, Miranna and Tanila standing slightly off the side of the others, waiting for him.

“We’re proud of you, Star,” Tanila said softly. “So very proud.”

Max watched as his wife’s hand trembled slightly when she cupped their daughter's cheek in her hand for a moment.

“I know, Mom,” Miranna said. Her voice was steady, and her gaze was firm. 

She’s grown so much. Changed really. Part of each of these gods is present in this one.

Which is the scary thing. Who knows what will come in the next few thousand years.

Max held back the emotions that wanted to be set free. 

Tomorrow would come, he would say goodbye for three hundred years, knowing that while it seemed like eternity, the truth was it would be gone before he knew it.