“So you’re not asking me if you can kill the queen?” Max shook his head and held up both hands. “No, absolutely not! I’m simply telling you what Bob wanted me to try and get permission to do.” “Sounds like someone pulled a Fowl,” their warrior muttered. “ Hey babe, do you mind if I go and kill your mother, you know the one you don’t like? ” Max and Tanila both shot him a glare and the dwarf quickly went quiet. “He’s not wrong,” Cordellia whispered. “I wasn’t asking for permission to do that, nor am I saying I’m going to do it!” Max exclaimed. “I was simply saying what Bob wanted me to talk about.” I feel like I’m being thrown under the cart. You did tell him to do it, but this still seems like a better technique. He’s sacrificing you to get what he wants. “Right or not, I can’t order her death like that,” Tanila stated. “Why not? You were the one who kept him from killing her the first time?” Batrire asked. Max watched as their mage glared at their healer. “Don’t get mad at me, I’m just trying to spark conversation. Part of you is upset because you know it has value and merit. The other part is frustrated that you know inside you is a part that is still hurting from her and wouldn’t mind seeing Sylvandra suffer.” Batrire pointed a finger at Tanila and shook her head. “I agree, we don’t want Max to murder anyone and I worry like you do about how this might impact who he is, but we’re nearing the end of our time on this world. What’s left for us to do?” Both women sat there staring at each other and Max listened to the small voice in his head that came from himself. “I don’t think he should do it,” Cordellia stated, rising from her chair. She moved to where Max was and held out her hand. Slowly, Max took it, and all their ranger did was squeeze it. “The man who saved me didn’t kill because he sought power. I know you’ve done that before, but it was all about me when you rescued me. Did you enjoy it? Probably, but none of that matters. What matters is why you would do it now and it’s all based upon growing stronger.” Cordellia let go of his hand and knelt before Tanila, putting her hand upon the one that always seemed present on her belly. “He would do this for you and your child as well as us. If Max were honest, I think he’s scared about what may be inside the tower. For weeks, he’s spent all his time making weapons and armor, ensuring all of us are outfitted for whatever comes. Bob knows that. As much as that skill scared me initially, I realize now that it too cares about us because Max cares for us. “Maybe it’s the three hundred plus points I got in intelligence, but my heart says no. Don’t do it. At the end of the day, we’ll conquer this tower as we are. A team and not because of one of us sold a part of themselves, hoping that it would be the missing piece to finally take away his fear of losing us.” Max had to blink a few times, the blurry vision from the tears that had come as their ranger spoke surprised him. “She’s right,” Fowl muttered. “I’d rather not have you lose anymore of yourself.” “I’m sorry,” Max whispered. “I… I am afraid. Everything I have cared about for so long is in this room. I… I’ve given everything I have to get where we are and now… I guess I was willing to give a little more.” Forgive me, Max. I didn’t consider this part of all this, and I shouldn’t have asked you to consider this path. No… I know you made that decision because you wanted me and my friends to survive. Cordellia is right. You care about all of us. He sensed others coming close, and soon four bodies surrounded him. As the group stood there for a moment, Max couldn’t help himself. “Whoever has their hand there, please move it.” It was like when he struck that mountain, everyone backed away, looking at each other. As he laughed, hand gestures came from the three women while Fowl howled with laughter. “All those intelligence points and still acts like a man,” their ranger muttered. “How many more days?” Tom asked as he stood next to Max, the pair of them watching the training of Faction members by Sulenda. “She’s good. Almost as good as you,” Max said. “Yes, she is, now stop dodging the question. How many more days?” “One. After tomorrow, we’ll enter the tower and tackle the last floor.” He could feel Tom’s pulse quicken, the vein on the side of his neck throbbing. “You know I can’t tell you thank you enough times or find any way to express the gratitude I have for you and your team?” “I do,” Max answered. “That goes the same for us. You gave us a home, trained us and made us better. Without you, I’m fairly certain we wouldn’t be here.” Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Scoffing, the older man turned slightly and shook his head. “Don’t give me that load of goblin shite. We both know you’d still be alive.” “I might be, but not everyone else. What’s the point of all this if I don’t have someone to fight for?” Tom grunted and then slapped him on the back. “You’re smarter than most, Max Hoste. I give you my word, your family and this Faction are always first.” “I appreciate that. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have somewhere to go.” As he started to walk away, he felt Tom’s hand grab his shoulder and twist. “No, I don’t think so, not without a hug first.” Max didn’t fight it. He pulled in the man who had helped teach him to use his skills and be a better fighter, hugging him in the afternoon light before each of them patted the other's back three times. “Don’t cry too much,” Max said as he wiped a tear from his eyes. “They might think you’ve gone soft.” Aimee’s squeal filled the shop and she leapt over the counter and slammed into him. Grunting, she looked up and frowned. “You’re as soft as a rock? What have you been eatin?” “Nothing as good as your buns… I mean your dad’s buns… I mean…” She burst into laughter, and Max joined her after a second, watching as her father came through a door to see what the ruckus was. Waving his hand at his daughter, he took off his apron and held out his hand, smiling as they shook. “Gods boy you’ve grown! The hero of the Kingdom! Slayer of–” “Let’s not,” Max said as he motioned to the people in the shop who were starting to get over their shock at his appearance. “Anyways, free for a minute? Or more?” “Dungeon grinding?” Aimee asked, rubbing her hands together as she smiled. “One last time. I made this trip just for you two.” “Then the answer is yes,” Baker Wright replied. “Tell them you’ll be back in a couple of days,” Max said as he motioned toward the doors. “A couple of days? Why a couple of days?” Aimee asked. “Because tomorrow my party is going into the tower to defeat the 100th floor and you two will be outside when I do.” “Tell me, when we first met, could you have defeated me?” Max shook his head and sipped the ale in his mug. “No… You were far beyond me. When I saw you standing there, your foot pressed against that troll and it could not fight back, I got a real glimpse at what I wanted to be like. You, Dexic, spurred me on.” “You know if you want to sleep with me, just ask. I don’t need you to talk sweet to me.” A spray of ale and foam covered the table as Fowl and Cordellia choked on their drinks. Max couldn’t help but laugh, summoning a rag and wiping off the spray that had hit him before tossing it to the famous golden warrior. “If only… somehow, I think my wife might have a problem with that. Besides, according to Fowl, I have a long line of women waiting for their turn.” More choking took place as Fowl’s face turned red. “I… I never said those things!” “Oh how I wish Tanila were here,” Cordellia said. “Nothing like a good fight between women over a man to make you glad you don’t have to deal with that.” “So it’s true then, you’re involved with Max’s dragon?” Fowl started to howl and once again choke, still not having caught his breath as their ranger's eyes bulged, her mouth flew open, and no words came out. “She’s a bit shy about that,” Max pretended to whisper. “Besides, we don’t want to turn this into an adult-only moment. You’re the strongest in the Faction, and I’ve left a gift with Everett for you after we enter the tower.” “A gift? Beyond all the other items you’ve given me? How in the gods can I ever pay for all of it?” Max smiled and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Sliding it across the rough table, she took it from him and frowned. “I’m almost afraid to open this.” “Just stop being a baby and open it,” Max said, retrieving a bottle of alcohol from his storage. You’ve shown me what true strength is. It’s willing to die for your Faction and friends. It’s being willing to do the hard things and carry a load that isn’t yours. I will always be grateful for the day you kept me alive, preventing my death when I was stupidly standing outside the Troll dungeon. What you did while I was captive for my party is more than I can ever repay. You helped my family keep moving forward. Tomorrow, after I leave, Everett will give you something. It’s one of a kind, and I made certain it was your color. Someday, I look forward to when you finish the tower. Until then, be the warrior I know you are. Shine for everyone else to see. Tears were rolling off her cheeks and falling onto the paper that trembled in her hands. She looked up and smiled, soft and real, and just nodded. He knew words were hard and let her be. “Tomorrow, be there in the morning. Now, if you’ll forgive me, an old man runs this place I need to see.” “Why in the gods do you want to meet in here?” Everett asked as he sat down in one of the missing faction chairs. “It feels weird for everyone else but you in this place. Besides… isn’t this one of the missing Faction tables?” Laughing, Max nodded and pointed at a pair of books on the table. “I need to step away for an hour or two. There’s plenty of light stones and even something to drink in the cabinet over there. Whatever you do, don’t look at the second book. I can’t talk about it. Now the top one’s blank and yours in case you need it, and a few pencils. Again, don’t look at the second one as I can’t discuss any of what’s inside.” He winked and saw his Faction leader’s eyes widen, his head snapping to the pair of books and then back at him. “Have to go! Behave! Remember, I’ll be gone for a few hours!” With that, he shut the door to his dimensional space, trapping Everett inside with a blank journal and the one in which he had written down all his notes about the tower.