UL1 - Book 10 - Chapter 25

“You’re pouting again,” Max pointed out. “Why? What’s wrong?”

Fowl grunted and turned the empty mug he held in his hand. 

Both gods sat on a stone bench above the dwarven capital, watching life move like ants below.

“This whole fighting in the arena and I’m stuck here… doing… bah I don’t know,” his friend huffed. “We’re training people to fight, get stronger, make ale, and about a hundred other things. Meanwhile, you’re off fighting and visiting other worlds.  This whole god thing isn’t what I thought it would be.”

“And what was that?”

A sigh came from Fowl as he motioned his empty hand toward the city below. “Not this. More of what you’re doing. I guess… I thought I’d be fighting other gods, bigger monsters, I… I don’t know what I thought.”

“And what Phaius and Ockrim showed us didn’t give any clue that this is what it would be like, did it?” Max asked. “I mean, all we saw were these powerful beings coming to our world, rippling with power. Even watching the pair of them fight, Thuyja was a reminder of just how large the gap is between them and us.” Max frowned and gave his dwarven friend a gentle tap on the shoulder. “Learning that they were actually limited in the power they could use because they shared a world makes me feel a lot less confident about punching above my tier. Especially after…” He shuddered and shook his head. “One hit Fowl. I died in one hit from an ability of a tier seven god.”

“Oh, I get it. I do. It’s just…” The warrior who had tanked every creature that came at them during the tower sighed, brown eyes focused on Max. “Don’t get me wrong, I know we were spoiled in the tower. You carried us. When you vanished and left us alone, forced to fight like normal adventurers, it reminded me of how dangerous and difficult that journey was. Part of me…” Fowl stroked his beard, pausing for a second. “Part of me wondered how far we would have gotten if you hadn’t returned. Don’t get me wrong, Dexic was strong, but she’s not you. None of us is.

“Watching you return and breeze through those levels of the tower after the 50s was a wake-up call about how much stronger I needed to become. Sure, I’m way beyond my days of a foolish boy chasing a dwarven girl focused on becoming a healer. But I also know that if we all faced you, we wouldn’t win.”

“Are you sure about that?” Max asked. “You all held my double off and worked together as a team. While I’d like to bet on myself, I also know you’re smart and resourceful.”

“Bah, we both know that you’d never be in real danger. Not with Bob and his ability to reset your skills.”

Max nodded, ignoring the chuckle in his brain from his skill. “Yeah, that does kind of make things a tad harder to overcome. Still, you and I both know the dwarf that sits next to me now is about to have a bloodline, five sparks, and is about to catapult in power. Tell me what’s really bothering you.”

Fowl chewed on his lip for a moment, eyes pointed at the city, not looking at him.

Both gods sat in silence for a few minutes before the dwarven one turned and faced Max.

“Honestly… It’s what you just told us about that Leviathan god. You died, Max. You! The guy who shrugs off almost everything. You’re the strongest and like you said, one hit took you out. If that’s the kind of power we’re facing, how am I going to protect Batrire?”

Max took a deep breath and slowly let it out, knowing exactly how his friend felt. “The weight of protecting those we love never gets lighter. It doesn’t matter if it’s the tower or these next steps in everything. I mean, I just wanted to bake and now… Now I’m married to a goddess and have a daughter who is getting stronger than Bob or I imagined was possible.”

“Bah, another person who will soon kick my arse!” Fowl exclaimed. “How long till Miranna is beating up her uncle in these duels we have?”

“I don’t have an answer, but I also know that I need you to help me protect her,” Max replied, his voice softer than before. “I… I know she’s going to be a target of others and what happens when they come? How do I stop gods that are stronger than Yukoreek? How am I supposed to get strong enough to protect her and everyone else I love?” He sighed, turning his gaze to the city below. “For so long I thought if I could just get a little stronger, I could protect you all. I just needed to be able to stop the elves from attacking me. Then it was the Adventurers' guild. Soon, it was a king. And now… now it’s gods. At what point will I fail or fall behind? When is someone I love and care about going to die?”

“You really believe that will happen?” Fowl asked, frowning at him.

Max nodded, able to sense the tension on his friend's face due to his sonar skill. “It’s going to happen. We’re supposed to live forever. Tell me you haven’t considered this after witnessing the death of Kherbann in the arena and knowing that Yukoreek killed Eyorakoa.  That doesn’t bode well for us, and I won’t lie about it. I’m just glad we have Jazzjak Junior to help guide us. Without that… I’m not sure how successful we’d be right now.”

“Bah, you’d be doing what you do best,” Fowl replied, taking a turn at giving his friend a gentle hit on the shoulder. “You’ll blaze a trail across the sky, showing us the way to go.”

“Yet we’re talking nineteen and a half billion DP, Fowl,” Max replied. “That number is… overwhelming.”

“And unrealistic,” his friend said. “You don’t have to get all those in three hundred years.”

“Don’t I?” Max asked, voice higher than usual, hand motioning before him. “All this is at risk when that day comes. You and I know it. I need to be able to provide some kind of protection and we need some kind of answers that will only come from the Archons.”

“And you’re certain about that?”

“Jazzjak thinks so.”

The dwarf grunted and looked in his empty mug, pulling out a cask from dimensional storage and setting it down on the bench between them.  With a well-practiced twist of the handle, Fowl filled his mug, replaced it mid-stream with a new one from his dimensional storage and filled it also.  Soon, the keg was gone, and two frothy drinks were in his hands.

“Drink it. It’s a new variant that I’m having one of my brewmasters work on. It’s a recipe from Batrire’s family.  I think it’s close. Perhaps in a few hundred years I’ll have it there.”

Max chuckled, taking the drink from his friend and after they tapped mugs, drained it.

“It’s close,” Max replied after wiping his mouth clean. “It’s definitely missing something. What… I’m–”

He needs to let the yeast and wort sit together for a little longer, most likely another day. Also, they need to add a bit more lemon peel, not much. Perhaps a tenth more than he used last time. And then it is the honey, I think they added with the sugars. Batrire should know what kind to use. One that’s different than what Fowl had.

How do you know that?

I can remember what you remember and all that baking and taste testing you have done carries over. I’m certain if you attempted it you could have done the same but I’ve got nothing else to do while he shares his thoughts.

“You okay?” Fowl asked.

Realizing his mouth was still open and he had stopped talking, Max nodded and then chuckled.

“Sorry, Bob told me what you’re missing in the ale.”

“Wait? I’m sorry, your skill knows what I’m missing?” Fowl asked.

Max shrugged. “Now that I think of it, he’s right. You need to let the wort and yeast sit a little longer. Perhaps a day isn't enough, and the amount of lemon peel you’re using isn’t sufficient. Also, ask Batrire if the honey you used is the right kind. It might need to be a darker variant.”

He started to laugh as Fowl’s jaw dropped and the dwarf stared at his empty mug for a second before looking up at him.

“That’s… genius! Tell Bob thank you!” Fowl was smiling as he stood. “I keep forgetting, just like us, you’re not doing this alone. I’m glad Bob’s not turned you into a crazy murder hungry being.”

I’m not sure if he’s joking.

A little but he’s not.

“We good?” Max asked, rising to join his friend.

“We are,” Fowl replied. “I’ll stop complaining for a few years at least. Perhaps I can give Batrire a surprise sooner than I had hoped for a little taste of home.”

Max clapped his friend on the shoulder and smiled. 

“I’m just glad you’re here with me. It’s nice having someone who understands the weight of this all.”

“That I do, Max,” Fowl replied. “That I do.”

***

“I’m glad you and Fowl are doing better, yet I’m still not sure how I feel about this plan. I know it’s the only way,” Tanila muttered. “Every time I turn around, I find you facing danger and our lives are tied to your success. Now our daughter is part of the equation also.”

Max said nothing, just holding his wife’s hand as they moved through the streets of their capital, nodding and waving at those who bowed. Miranna was laughing and playing with a few of the other children who had nothing to do this evening. 

All around them, the sounds of life filled the air as people returned from work and made their way toward home.  

“Fowl and I talked about this,” Max finally replied. “Let me ask you the problem in a different way. If the only way to protect Miranna and me was to take the risks I must, would you hesitate?”

Tanila frowned at him, pulling him closer before hip-checking Max. “That’s not fair and you know it. Of course I would.”

“Is it because of Miranna or me?”

She winced, and he saw her golden eyes look ahead at Miranna and the other kids who were laughing and playing tag.

“You never like the answer I give,” Tanila muttered. “For her… I would do anything. Not that I wouldn’t for you, but it’s different since she was born. A part of me is… her, and I feel this connection that’s different from what you and I have.  Not that it’s bad, but I would kill for her faster than I would for you. Maybe it’s because I know she can’t protect herself yet.”  She paused and frowned, slowing down her stride.

“It’s okay,” Max said. “I understand. You’re my person and will always be that number one in my life. Rakonath and Sog are my number three and four. Miranna, I guess, is my one and a half.”

Tanila rolled her eyes as he smiled.

“I’m serious. I know it's the momma bear in you that protects her,” Max said. “And I’ll kill and die for her but you’ll always be my first.”

She leaned over, kissing him on his cheek, and nodded.

“And for that, I know why you do what you do,” she replied. “Still… if you’re certain this will go the way you think it will, I’ll stop complaining.”

“Don’t,” Max said, gently turning her face toward his with a finger. “Never let me lead like that and not speak your mind. We both know I sometimes get carried away and believe Bob and I can overcome anything. You keep me centered. You help me stay focused on what is important and what risks are worth taking. If you ever feel what I’m doing is foolish, tell me. I promise to listen.”

“Thank you for that,” she whispered.

“You two, please stop that!” their daughter called out.

Both Max and Tanila turned to see Miranna rolling her eyes at them from a dozen yards away, as the other kids all laughed and pointed. 

“What?” Max asked. “I’m just telling her I love her!”

“No, you’re showing PDA, Dad!” Miranna argued. “Remember what you said, no kissing in public!”

“That’s only for you,” Tanila replied, winking at their daughter before grabbing Max’s neck and pulling him in for a kiss.

“Moooom!”

The people gathered around laughed and clapped.

“I love you,” Max whispered after they pulled apart. “You'd better be careful or she’ll make you suffer.”

“Please, that’s a job you hold a lock on,” Tanila replied before letting him go, and they moved to where their daughter was waiting.