Maxine was in the communal baths with Orianna as she reviewed in her head what happened the past few days. The elders had been able to identify three suspects for Adam Marks murder in only a few hours. Unfortunately, Maxine was amongst them since Neesa was one of the people that looked up his flight plan, but according to Neesa, it was to confirm that he was actually leaving. Fortunately, Maxine was quickly dismissed as a suspect since she had an ironclad alibi since she had been sparing against Maxwell and Patrick at the time of Adam Marks' death. She just lamented that she mostly likely would not have been attacked by members of the Divine Marks clan if her sparring matches had been made a public affair.
As for the other two suspects, they were identified as Buck Wilder and Zabel Nodd. Buck Wilder surrendered peacefully when the elders came looking for him, but Zabel Nodd was no where to be found. It made him look very suspicious to say the least. Things looked quite damning when they found a report that he borrowed one of their combat ships on the same day that Adam Marks' ship had departed from the clan and returned with five fewer missiles than he had left with.
Maxine couldn't figure out why he did it. She had no memory of ever angering Zabel Nodd or doing him any wrong to give him the idea ot frame her. She had to assume that Adam Marks had enraged him somehow or that someone else simply used his credientials to borrow the ship to frame Maxine. Regardless, they would need to find Zabel Nodd in order to figure out which it was.
Maxine was brought back to reality when Orianna shoved a hair brush into her hand and asked, "Could you brush my hair?"
"Certainly," Maxine said with a smile and Orianna turned around to allow her to do just that. The two of them had gotten into the habit of brushing each other's hair after they finished bathing. She had thought it would be a good chance to talk to Orianna and at least make an attempt to bond with her. They were supposed to be sisters afterall.
While Maxine gently brushed Orianna's hair, Orianna asked, "Sis, could you help me get stronger?"
"Orianna, why do you want to get stronger? There are a lot of people that want and can protect you, including Maxwell," Maxine said as gently as she could.
"I know, but I felt so helpless when Maxwell got hurt protecting me. I don't want hurt again while I am forced to watch. I want to fight by his side. So please, help me," Orianna pleaded as she looked over her shoulder.
"You know how to cultivate so why do you need me?" Maxine asked.
"I never learned how to properly cultivate. I tried to use Maxwell's method, but I couldn't seem to gather any essence. I was left with no choice but to let my strength advance naturally like I had with my original body," Orianna answered. Maxine froze for a moment as she looked at the back of Orianna's head incredulously. She was able to overpower and dismember Patrick as well as kill all those people without knowing how to cultivate?! That's insane!
"Alright, I will teach you how once we get back to your room, okay?" Maxine asked as she finished brushing Orianna's hair and handed Orianna the hair brush, "Now it's your turn to brush my hair."
"Okay, hold still," Orianna said as she took the hairbrush and brushed Maxine's hair. Maxine felt the brush flow smoothly through her hair and every once in awhile found a knot.
While Orianna brushed her hair, Neesa barged into the baths and announced, "Young .. erm, Maxine, the Divine Marks clan's elder will be arriving soon. Your presence is required, so you need to get ready. Do you need any help in that regard?" Neesa still has trouble calling me by name even after more than two years. I guess somethings are hardwired.
"I'm fine, but I really wish they had believed Boreas when he told them that I was innocent," Maxine complained as Orianna brushed out the last knot in her hair. It's not like I don't understand why they believed Boreas had doctored that information. But still, it's insulting that they would think that I'm stupid enough to make a mistake like sending a video communication to Adam Marks' ship just before destorying it. If I had destroyed Adam Marks' ship, I wouldn't leave evidence of any kind and I definitely wouldn't have used a star ship to do it. That would haveleft and easily followed electronic trail for them to follow. Instead, I would have snuck a raven into his shadow and once on board, I would have it sneak its way to the reactor before self-destructing. The resulting kaboom would cause a chain reaction of explosions. Those explosions would destroy any sign that my raven was ever there. Assuming that they found anything after all of that, all they would know for certain is there was an explosion in the reactor room.
"I understand your greivance, but that won't change anything," Neesa answered.
"I know," Maxine admitted and decided to change the subject, "Did you bring my green dress?"
"Of course," Neesa said as she flicked her wrist as the green dress that Maxine wore on the day of the attack appeared in her hands. The left sleeve had been repaired and the blood stains removed since then. She didn't have much choice other than have it repaired. It would have simply taken far too long for a new one to be made.
"Thank you, Neesa," Maxine said as she used her essence to remove all the moisture lingering on her body and liberated her green dress from Neesa. She took a moment to marvel at the near perfect repair job. Unless someone had a microscope on hand they wouldn't even be able to tell it had been damaged at all.
Maxine opened a portal to the shadow world and brought her clone through it. She had already bathed and brushed it's hair while spending time with Orianna. She brought it out to go to meet the elder from the Divine Marks clan with grandma Victoria and Boreas while she returned to shadow world. She would wait in the shadow world until Orianna returned to her room.
Maxine pulled a set of clothes out of her dimensional ring as she entered the portal to the shadow world and switched her focus to her clone. With her focus on her clone now, she took the dress from Neesa and started getting dressed.
Maxine took a quick peak at what Neesa had brought Orianna to wear today. It was a dress with the same style as Maxine's own, but instead of being primarily green, it was red except with golden lace at the wrist cuffs and hem of the skirt. She knew it would look wonderful on Orianna.
Once they finished dressing, they walked out of the communal baths and found Madam Neshan patiently waiting in the hallway. "Come with me, Orianna," Madam Neshan said, "I believe you already know about Maxine's obligations today."
"Yes, I do," Orianna said and turned to Maxine as she left with Madam Neshan, "Take care, sis."
"I will," Maxine said before she made a beeline out of the mansion.
Boreas and grandma Victoria met her outside and lead her to a Special Assembly Hall to see what the elder from the Divine Marks clan was going to demand of them to avoid a war. Although in Maxine's opinion, it was the Kavros clan that should be making demands since they were the ones that had been attacked.
As they arrived at the Special Assembly Hall, Maxine had long since put up her ice queen facade and looked around the massive hall for the elder from the Divine Marks clan. She spotted him almost immediately as it was hard to miss his massive frame covered robes. He had to be at least six and a half feet tall and every inch of him covered in bulky muscle. He appeared to be in his late fifites, but that didn't mean anything. He could be five hundred years old or older for all she knew.
When they were about to reach that bulky man, a woman's venomous voice resounded in Maxine's ears, "So, this is the little slut that killed my son." A brown haired woman with romance novel cover beauty walked out from behind the bulky elder. She looked young enough to be Adam Marks sister. Why the fuck is Adam Marks' mother here? Do these idiots want a war?
"That was uncalled for, Nora. You have no grounds to insult or accuse Maxine of anything," grandma Victoria snapped.
"Be grateful that is all I did. I could have just as easily attacked and killed her instead," Nora Marks said offhandedly.
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
"If you had, neither of you would have left my clan alive," grandma Victoria responded back, "Not to mention Guan's wrath would be upon your whole clan."
"Enough," the bulky elder from the Divine Marks clan said, "Bickering like children will get us nowhere."
"Very well," Nora Marks grudgingly said.
"As you wish, Tiberius," grandma Victoria said.
"Now that the two of you are done, I will list my clan's demands," elder Tiberius said gruffly, "Your clan give us half of your annual earnings for ten years and your grand daughter, Maxine, must stay at the Divine Marks clan as our permnament guest." Don't you mean hostage, asshole?
"Absolutely not!" grandma Victoria yelled while Boreas simply answered with a firm, "No."
"These terms are non-negotiable. Either agree to them or there will be war," elder Tiberius stated calmly as if they had said nothing.
"You havn't even properly investigated the death of young Adam Marks," Borea said firmly, "You have no grounds to demand anything from us until you do."
"We have gathered sufficient evidence to make these demands," elder Tiberius retorted.
"You mean that video communication recovered from a damaged flight recorder?" Maxine asked and continued without waiting for him to answer, "Do you have any idea how easy it is for someone to change thier appearance?"
"That isn't a skill just anyone can use, child," elder Tiberius said.
"Oh really?" Maxine said as she used her essence to morph into Nora Marks' double and she made it so she even sounded like her, "If I can do it, so can others. Don't use such flimsy evidence to condemn me without solid proof to back it up."
"All you have done is proven that it was a member of the Kavros clan that killed Adam. Only those with shadow essence have the ability to change their external appearance with such ease," Tiberius stated logically and Maxine felt frustrated because she couldn't deny it, "Regardless of which one of your clansmen commited this crime, my clan's demands will not change."
"If you were only asking five percent of my clans annual earnings and keeping Maxine as your guest for the duration, I might consider it, but I will never give into such absurd demands," Boreas said coldly. So, Boreas would have thrown me into the lion's den had they been more reasonable with their demands. Good to know that he is still an asshole.
"I would have been surprised if you had," elder Tiberius said calmly, "No matter. This visit to your clan was something that the Alliance wanted my clan to do. If it was entirely up to us, we would have started gathering our forces to mount a large-scale attack to avenge our young master. It doesn't matter now in any case. Farewell." Boreas was scowling fiercely at Tiberius as the man began walking away. Maxine was furious. Don't they understand their own clansmen will die as well?! Is it really worth it to loose thousands of their own kinsmen to avenge one?
"What?! Why are we leaving without that little bitch in tow?" Nora Marks exclaimed angrily.
"I thought I made it clear that it was highly unlikely that we would leave with her," elder Tiberius said without missing a step.
"I don't care! I want her to suffer for taking my baby boy from me!" Nora Marks roared in rage as she spun around and charged murderously at Maxine.
Maxine saw Nora Marks turn into a blurr and tried to evade. Unfortunately, she was far too slow to avoid Nora Marks' assault, and knew that once that woman reached her that she would die.
Fortunately before Nora Marks could reach Maxine, Boreas appeared infront of her and punched at the human blurr that was Nora Marks. When the blow connected, she was knocked unconscious and thrown back like a rag doll into the arms of elder Tiberius.
"Take that woman and leave my clan or I will kill both of you," Boreas roared. Elder Tiberius simply looked at Boreas for a moment and left with Nora Marks unconscious in his arms.
After they were out of earshot, Maxine turned to Boreas and asked, "Why would they make such outrageous demands? It's like they want to start a war."
"It's because they do," Boreas answered.
"What!? But why?" Maxine asked increduously.
"Ever since most of their business partners abandoned them, they have been antagonistic towards the Kavros clan. They were under the mistaken impression that I was responsible for chasing them off, but in truth, they are the agents of their own fate. The real reason that their business partners fled is because of a simple rumor that they were responsible for hiring the assassins that killed your mother. They just couldn't take the risk that they would get caught in the crossfire if Guan sought vengeance," Boreas explained, "As you know, Guan never sought vengeance against the Dvine Marks clan, but the damage had been done. Resulting in the the Divine Marks clan falling on hard times. Eventually they recovered, and have held a grudge against the Kavros clan ever since."
"That's ridiculous to hold a grudge for that long," Maxine said.
"I agree, but it will not change their hatred towards us. Nor will it change the fact we are going to war with them," Boreas said sadly, but he seemed to perk up, "Although I doubt the Alliance will allow our two clans to have an all out war."
"What do you mean?" Maxine asked.
"Two large clans having at each other with everything they've got would result in loss of numberous gold and immortal stage combatants. I imagine the Alliance will restrict our war in some manner to avoid such losses like they did last time two clans had an unresolvable dispute," Boreas explained, "If I recall correctly, they restricted that war to silver and iron stage combatants on an isolated planet. The looser of that limited war had to give the victor half of their treasury."
"I see," Maxine said gloomily since she knew that people would still be killing each other for something that happened more than one hundred years ago, "Do you need me for anything else?"
"No, go back home," Boreas said gently, "Victoria, could you escort her? There is still a small chance there are Divine Marks clansmen in the city intent on kidnapping her."
"I was already planning to," Victoria said, "Maxine, let's go home." Maxine nodded her head and followed grandma Victoria in silence.
Maxine barely saw anything around her as she followed grandma Victoria, but she heard all the happy voices in the city. It made her further depressed thinking about some of them vanishing forever or others crying out in aguish over the loss of a loved one.
This was the very reason why she was always reluctant to kill another human being. She knew all too well how much it hurt to loose a loved one like that and she didn't want to inflict that kind of pain on anyone. It just felt wrong.
Tears threatened to fall down her cheeks when she sensed Turan talk to her via spiritual sense, [It's unfortunate that your clan will go to war. I could convince my elders to stop it from happening, but you would have to be a developing Shadow Queen for them to put in that kind of effort.] Maxine forcibly pushed aside her depression and focused on what Turan had just said to her.
[And how would you do that,] Maxine asked cautiously.
[By presenting the Divine Marks clan with the real culprit,] Turan answered and Maxine felt her rage bubble to the surface. That sunovabitch! He basically admitted that the Shadow Lord's had a hand in the murder of killed Adam Marks! Or at the very least, they are sheltering the culprit! However instead of accusing Turan of anything, she tried to remain calm. He wouldn't have said that unless he thinks I'm a Shadow Queen. Why does he think that I am though? I havn't shown any sign of being one. Maybe it's because I am the only one in my age group that is a lord-class cultivator.
[Stop the war or don't. It's in your hands. But if you don't, the death that occurs during this war will be on your hands, not mine. Now I'm going to do something to minimize losses for my clan,] Maxine said coldly and swiftly asked grandma Victoria, "Grandma, hypothecially speaking, can anyone volunteer to go fight in a limited war?"
[What are you doing?!] Turan asked in a panic, but Maxine ignored him.
"As long as they are part of the two groups fighting. Why do you ask?" grandma Victoria asked and concern filled her eyes the next moment.
"Because I want to fight against those unreasonable bastards," Maxine said and drew the eyes of several people around her, including a few young masters that happened to be close by. She never cursed in public ever since she came to the Kavros clan.
"You will not!" grandma Victoira said in an authoritive tone.
"Yes, I will. You know how good of a combatant I am. They will need me," Maxine reasoned.
"I know how skilled and powerful you are, but you are still no match against someone at the peak of silver stage," grandma Victoria retorted, "Not to mention you are not yet an adult."
"You may be right, but I am still going," Maxine said calmly and added via spiritual sense, [I have several trump cards that I have been holding in reserve and I will only be sending my clone to fight.]
"Fine, but I will be sending several skilled warriors to accompany you," grandma Victoria said in defeat and resumed walking towards the mansion, [If you are talking about your dragon and your numberous constructs, that won't be enough to make a difference.]
[No, I am not talking about those things. I can fuse my dragon together with my essence armor. It boosts my strength, speed and defenses by about fifty percent and enables me to fly. I will only use it if I need it to survive and thus far I havn't come across that kind of situation,] Maxine explained, [That is just one of my trump cards. I have a few more that I can use.]
[Interesting. You will tell me more about your trump cards later,] grandma Victoria said and for some reason, she changed the subject, [Have you told Emily about your male clone yet?]
[No, I havn't found the right time to tell her just yet,] Maxine admitted.
[You should tell her soon,] grandma Victoria said, [Preferably before ambassador Sutton leaves.] That coward wanted to leave as soon as he realized his bodyguards were not capable of protecting him and he already achieved his goal of getting some trade goods and technology for Earth. Although it surprised me that he allowed Maxwell to stay. I thought for certain that he wouldn't allow that after seeing Maxwell's injuries.
[I will. Did he say when he was going to leave?] Maxine asked.
[Sometime tomorrow afternoon,] grandma Victoria said as they finally reached the mansion.
[Thank you for telling me, grandma. I will go find her now,] Maxine said and started to head to Emily's room, [See you at lunch.]
[See you then,] grandma Victoria said. I really do not want to, but I have to tell Emily about my male clone in person. I just hope she takes it well and that I don't get yelled at too much for not telling her sooner.