When Sebastian woke him up at this hour, Max could only think of how surprised he was that he even fell asleep at all, given the circumstances. When the butler looked so alarmed and spoke so urgently, it jarred him several more notches awake. The mere mention of the name Freedan was enough to make him double-check that he still had his backup laser sword before stepping out for this late night audience. Then he followed Sebastian downstairs. Under other circumstances, the Great Hall would have been a most impressive sight. Stairs connecting three levels of walkways under a vaulted ceiling, hung with tapestries and various adornments. All of it carved and tiled in the same red-orange stone as the rest of Alta, only more polished and ornate and intricate than anything Max had ever seen. Right now, though, he didnât have time to fully appreciate it, given the imposing company he currently entertained. Nearly a dozen of Rawneâs men ranged around the cavernous chamber, but it was the two figures standing in the center beckoning to him. Aden Rawne he had seen before, but the smaller man, who fit Sebastianâs descriptions to the letter, could only be one person. No taller than Justin, and slight in build, wearing an expensive suit, leaning idly on a cane with a heavy silver knob. Blond hair spiked in a distinctly Outland style for this realm, face looking decidedly younger than his thirty-odd years. As Max drew nearer, he made out ice blue eyes that matched his arrogant expression, which made no secret of his reputed intellect and cunning. âAh, young Max,â Freedan greeted him, his tone sibilant and condescending in spite of his friendly words, âit is good to see you safely home. I hear you had quite an adventure yesterday. You really mustnât run off like that with your father still missing.â âIs this really all you came here to say?â Sebastian asked. âCould this not wait until morning? In this crisis, the Young Master should really be getting his rest.â âIt already is morning,â Freedan told him curtly. âThen again, perhaps someone who lacks the will to put in long hours isnât cut out to run a company. Why donât you go back upstairs and make yourself useful? Go dust some vases or something. The Young Master and I have some important matters to discuss.â For a long moment, Sebastian looked like he had a thing or two to say about that, but then he turned, nodding to Max with thinly-veiled worry, then plodded back up the steps. âWe know this has been trying for you,â Freedan continued, though Max could clearly hear more condescension than concern in that voice, âbut there is something very important we need to talk to you about.â âWeâve been hearing some strange rumors on the street,â Rawne informed him. âIt would seem that, not long after we brought you homeââ âCaptured me,â Max corrected him. ââfor your own good,â Rawne resumed, âI heard that a young man matching your description stole an ancient sword from the Market Quarter.â âWhy would I steal a sword?â Max shot back, bristling at the accusation. âYou stole mine!â âThe question is really more along the lines of how,â Rawne replied, completely ignoring Maxâs outrage as he reached into a flap in his duster, âsince you never made it that far.â Producing Maxâs laser sword and firing it up. âWhere did you get this?â Freedan demanded. âWe know you stole a sword, but not this one.â It took an effort of will for Max to refrain from drawing his concealed spare, with his fatherâs blade held right before him, reminding himself to wait until he could find a better opportunity. âWho does this belong to?â Freedan pressed. âI doubt MaâQuiver gave it to you,â Rawne added, increasingly certain there was something different about him. Knew Maximilian had learned a few moves from that fellow he insisted on taking in after the quake, but what he experienced yesterday was more intense than any fight the boy had put up before. Rawne could tell, even while he was still injured, that MaâQuiver was a warrior of exceptional skill. At first, he and Freedan were worried the boy might go and do something troublesome, like take him on as a bodyguard, but it seemed the itinerant swordsman had some unfinished business elsewhere out there. Still, he was the only person Rawne had ever seen in these parts with an energy blade, so it was hard to dismiss the connection. âItâŠâ Max almost said belonged to my father, but instead, recalling Sebastianâs account of MaâQuiverâs stay, tried, âItâs a friendâsâŠâ âYouâre a terrible liar, MaximilianâŠâ Freedan shook his head. âYou really must face reality. Weâre doing everything we can to find your fatherââ âHave you tried searching the ruins?â âNow, now, weâve been through thisâŠâ âIf you wonât,â Max countered, âthen maybe I should.â âWe canât allow that,â Freedan declared, tapping his cane for emphasis. âDonât you get it?â Rawne extinguished the energy blade. âIf he went down into the Undercity, then your father ainât cominâ back, kidâŠâ Rawne stopped short at Maxâs conviction. At something ablaze in that kidâs eyes he had never seen before, and he didnât like it. Every exchange only served to reinforce that sense that he was dealing with a completely different person. âI donât care what it takesâŠâ Max muttered, fists clenched against his own memories, âIf thereâs any chance his father is still alive, he wonât end upâŠâ Then trailed off, seeing the gleam in Freedanâs eyes. âWhat did you just say?â Grinning viciously. âHis father? You really arenât Maximilian Vandenberg, are you?â âI meanâŠâ Max stammered, already realizing his mistake, too late. âCould it be?â Rawne cocked his head. âSometimes the simplest answer is the correct one, no matter how preposterous it may sound,â Freedan mused, the very face of satisfaction. âI didnât know the boy was clever enough to find a body doubleâŠâ âWhat are you talking about?â Max demanded, not sure where Freedan was going with this, even less sure that he would like it. âItâs no use trying to hide it anymore,â said Freedan. âYouâre the spittinâ image of that boy,â Rawne remarked. âYou mustâve switched places before I caught up with youâŠâ âNow tell me, who are you really?â Freedan asked. âI donât know where he found you, or what he offered you, but I hold the purse-strings around here. One way or another, this company will belong to me, but if someone like you were to cooperate, we would both stand to profit.â âFreedanâŠâ Rawne paused, trying to figure out how to tell his employer a little something he had learned along the way as a mercenary: that some folks just arenât moved by money, and he was already quite certain this young man was one of those folks. Sure enough, Max answered: âNo deal. I wonât help you steal this manâs home.â âDonât be rash,â Freedan warned him. âItâs really your only choice. You could never convince the others youâre the real Maximilian. Youâre clinging to a sinking shipâŠâ Max stepped back, already resigned to the fact that this was going to come to blows, concluding that taking Rawne out first was his only chance of getting out of here alive. âHeâs not going to join us,â Rawne said darkly, âwhich means heâs just a loose end.â From his crouched perch up on the balcony, Maximilian watched and listened as this total stranger defended his home. Even from here, he could see the righteous outrage in this Maxâs eyes, and knew this was the look of a true warrior. It reminded him so much of MaâQuiver that he couldnât help but feel ashamed of hiding. âYouâre going to tell us where Maximilian went,â Freedan continued to threaten him, âeven if we have to beat it out of you.â âWouldnât tell you, even if I knew.â Maxâs tone flatter than Banditâs ears when his hackles were up. âThis is your last chance.â Rawne stepped forward. âWhere is Maxââ âIâm right here!â All eyes turned to Maximilian as he stood up on the balcony above them.
