Chapter 289: A Jester Outpost
Maud
“I think we should bring the cats,” Maud said, looking over at John. She saw the worry across his face, but wasn't entirely sure how to ease that. She understood the dangers more than he did, but the bond she had with the cats these days and with what she had learned from Daisy, she just knew that they were important.
“I'm not sure that's a good idea. But if you really think it is, I won't argue,” John replied.
“Thanks to how I've pushed myself, I think we're just stronger together and we're going to need everything we can get if it comes to rescuing William. Those jesters are terrifying, John, and we have to fight something stronger than anything I faced in Alexandria. I need the help.” She attempted one of her trademark wacky smiles, but instead it only came out sincere.
“Okay. You're the fighter here. If you say it's what we need, it's what we need,” John said, returning her smile.
Maud opened her mouth, ready to continue the conversation, before a calm voice interrupted her from the ship’s intercom. She still had no idea how that thing worked. But she wanted something like it back home. “Alright, everyone, we've managed to dock successfully. I want the boarding team at the airlock in the next 10 minutes. Be prepared.”
The voice had belonged to Squidlen. It was missing some of the usual confidence Maud had come to expect from it. That worried her more than anything else so far. Just what fresh hell were they about to walk blindly into?
“Alright, I guess preparation time is over. Big, Hecate, come on, let's go,” Maud said, putting confidence into her voice she didn't feel.
“It's going to be okay, Maud. We're going to do this. Alex is counting on us, so we can't fail,” John said reassuringly, while placing his arm gently onto her shoulder, and giving a small squeeze.
“And we're gonna kick jester ass while we do it!” Some of Maud’s Bluster had finally returned. Only half of it was forced. She hoped that was a good sign. “I'll let Dave and everyone know back in Alexandria.”
She left the idea that it might be their final message unsaid. She also worried about what would happen if it were. While Dave had, in theory, stayed behind because of his duties to the city and empire, she knew the truth. It was only because he trusted in the people who had gone after William, and if they all died, he would come after them, and there was no way to stop it.
| Maud: Well, we've just docked at the chaos dungeon, and in theory, this is where the jesters have William. Hopefully, we're able to catch up to them before they make it to the other side. Wish us luck. :) Dave: How many guests are you guys expecting? I thought you were just chasing the ‘Best’. Maud: We don't know. The key problem is they've been using this chaos dungeon as a transport to speed things up, so we have no idea how much infrastructure they've set up inside of it. But I'm going to trash it all. :) Saud: Yeah, kick their ass, Maud! Karlinovo: Having both of you here is certainly an experience. Dave: We’re about to get to the competition ourselves. The preliminaries are tomorrow. So we may be slow to respond, but try to keep us up to date on any changes there. Alpha: Believe in Maud. See you and William soon. Hoary marmot well. Check Orca soon. Maud: Thank you, Alpha. :)
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