Chapter 6
Maxxus
Embarrassed, Maxxus stopped the communication. Why had all that information slid off his tongue so easily? He had not even admitted those things to himself, and still, he had informed Josie of his deepest thoughts. Did she have some kind of magical powers that drew such confessions from others? Was he hypnotized by her eyes? Those were ridiculous ideas. He was stressed, and it had gotten the better of him. He needed to leave the worry behind and refresh his soul. Once that was done, he would be able to control his thoughts and his tongue.
Winding his way through the palace would cause him to confront all the stress firsthand. Every corner of every room was loaded with crops and other supplies. To avoid seeing them, he went upward to the roof. Refusing to look down and focus on the throngs of citizens hurriedly preparing the city for devastation, he kept his eyes on the sky. His transformation took only a moment and then the ebony weredragon took flight. His destination was the nearest waterfall, still giving off energy and administering calm to those who sought it. He passed over it, filling his lungs with the scent of fresh air, cleansed of the evil near the village. On the second pass, he crossed through the plunging water and let it soak in to soothe his soul. His body begged for more. Seldom did he choose to land in the pool as a dragon, but today it felt necessary. In the center, the deepest part, he spread his wings and raised his face to the pounding falls. Standing there, he asked, “Give me the strength to save this world for its inhabitants. Grant me the wisdom to find a solution. I need to know that all will be well. Can you share a sign with me the way you do for Tae and Eveline? Please, give me the confidence to lead my citizens to victory."
Opening his eyes in disregard for the water streaming in and almost blinding him, he saw a vision in the ripples of the water: a pale face with black hair flowing gently as the pool moved. How ironic. He begged for help, and his mind played tricks instead, showing him Josie when he needed a savior.
Leaving the pool, reluctant to return to the city, he flew aimlessly until a target he had not been seeking came into view. The volcano was spewing lava, sparks rising into the otherwise clear sky. It exuded power and seemed to call him. He found a foothold among the burning ash, uncaring of the damage it might do to his claws. Sucking in the hot air, he felt the power lift him up. He was not alone. The land was fighting along with him. It would not die easily. Talonian history did not tell of a beginning for this world, and it would not tell of an end. It was his sworn duty to make sure of it. He gazed into the blazing fire and once again spied familiar faces. A sob escaped him. How could he save his home when he was losing his mind? There in the fire was Josie and behind her stood Maxxus.
Rest: that is what he required. Sleep would rid him of the insanity. There had only been minutes at a time to sleep for days. They added up to less than an hour. No wonder he was losing it. The palace would not suffice, not for a peaceful sleep. He would seek out a cave where no one would disturb him. Freedom from ruling for a few hours would restore his wits. He knew the perfect spot. Many times, he had hidden there as a child when his temper became too much to bear. He still carried scars from climbing the rocks to get to the cave in the shadows between the waterfall and volcano. Now climbing was not necessary. As an adult weredragon, he had the advantage of flight, and he intended to use it.
The cave was well hidden, blocked from view by foliage and in a deep shadow cast by the volcano. It was his private sanctuary. Maxxus had never told anyone about it. He would spend days camped out there when his life became too complicated. He stored supplies there: food, water, blankets, and wood. Standing in its opening, he felt oddly at home. It was smaller than he remembered, but he had been small too. The last time he had entered the cave was shortly before he had transformed for the first time. He had not come after that, though he was not sure why.
Walking further inside, he discovered there was a pile of wood and a stack of old blankets. They held the stench of long ago fires in their ragged stitches. It was a comforting scent. He spread them on the hard, rocky ground and lay his weary body on them. Here he could rest. His eyes closed, and he was gone.
Dreams swarmed in his head. Not the ones that had plagued him in the moments of sleep he had managed to capture in the last few days. Those had been terrorizing, filled with empty wastelands, starving weredragons, and diseased children. These were of warm, soft arms holding him tight. Whispers of encouragement were mixed with words of love.
His lonely heart and ravaged body soaked them up like the sponges that grew in the ponds. Even in sleep, he knew his mind was playing games. He did not heed the warning. It was all too delightful, and his soul was hungry for it. On he slept, until the dawn of a new day.
Maxxus rose with the sun. He was refreshed, and his mind was clear. He shoved the visions out of his brain and let the anxieties back in. He had been gone from the palace for too long. The citizens would be searching for the king, thinking he had abandoned them to their fate. He had not given Kelan the message from Josie. It was possible some of the scouts had come back with news. There were duties to attend to, and they would not be taken care of in a child's hideout. It was time to return to reality and all its pressures.
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.
