“Ok, you have my word on it,” Alister said; Obidaan didn’t get an indication he was lying so he said no more about it.
At the end of the meal, Obidaan asked for the check. Shyrellia insisted that the meal be on the house, but Obidaan had other ideas, “Thank you for your kindness sweet lady but you must earn a living, I insist on paying.”
“Please, it is not necessary. You have graced my bar with your presence that is more than enough.”
“Very well then, I accept your kindness,” he pulled out five silver coins and dropped them on the table. It was more than enough for the meal they had, “You may consider that a gracious and well earned tip.”
Shyrellia nodded and thanked them as they left; she pocketed the coins and began to clear the table.
Over the next few months, the Vanguard took on several new missions, with a vengeance. Obidaan was more determined than ever to help protect the world. The problem was, he was able to handle it alone. Everyone was amazed at his new powers, but it wasn’t till they went on missions again that they truly saw what a paladin could do.
In one instance, against a band of marauding troglodytes, he single handedly took out the raid party of 10 trogs, found their base, took out those guards, and negotiated a deal with the chief to trade what the trogs considered worthless silver ore, for food, peace, and supplies, all without killing them. In another instance, he wiped out a nest of kobolds, who thought it would be neat to take over and enslave a small village. He showed them the error of their ways.
In these and many other cases, Obidaan was able to handle the situation on his own. Obidaan was able to finish it before things got started. This left the other bored and frustrated, they no longer felt like a team, the sense of danger and excitement was missing. They went through the motions but it wasn’t the same. The most useful they had felt was when an army of orcs tried to seek revenge on a village that would not pay them tribute. Here they got a chance to fight in a 50 against 5 battle. Someone should have told the orcs they were outnumbered.
In this battle though, each person did find out more thing about the items they acquired. Obidaan learned Mystic could emit a minor force shield, holding back the orcs and forcing them to come at him 2—3 at a time, where he mowed them down. Relina learned with a flick of the wrists a buckler appeared on the sword giving her extra protection. Another flick and the blade split into 3 blades allowing her to break weapons with ease. Alister’s hilt extended to a buckler providing extra protection and when he penetrated armor, the tip extended skewering the opponent. Terry’s sword became an extension of her hand, being virtually weightless while she wielded it; she also noticed that no matter how hard they tried, she could not be disarmed. For Don, as well as the pole shrinking, it could also extend beyond its original length, and planted in the ground, he could easily climb it, though no one else could. When Tomas threw the dagger, it returned — Tomas is not in this fight, he is safe at home at the orphanage. He too is bored because as of recent, he has not been asked to join the group like before.
After the battle, the Vanguard returned home. They were at their favorite spot and Obidaan was talking up a storm when he noticed the lack of enthusiasm on the others.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, putting his mug on the table.
“Nothing,” Alister replied, a clear lie.
“If you’re not going to tell me, what am I supposed to do?”
The others were staring into their drinks; no one really wanted to talk about it, which meant Don was going to talk, “It is simply that recently we feel less useful. Now that you have realized your full powers, it is obvious that we are not comparable in abilities any more.” The tone appeared cold but Don felt he had to give it to him straight, “This is the true life of a paladin. We did not see it before.”
Obidaan sat and listened thoughtfully. He finished his beer and ordered another one, “I fear you are correct, brother. I’ve never felt such power. I have never wielded such forced before in my life. The power that surges through me makes me feel more alive than I have ever felt before. It brings me a happiness I can’t describe. I feel. I feel everything! The problem is I know I can do so much more. I can help so much more. There were times we would leave areas broken and battered and it would take days for us to recover. I can end that,” his beer was now in front of him and he took a swig, “I can make sure we all come back safe and sound. Isn’t that worth something?”
“Yes, it is, Obidaan,” Terry was now talking, “but now for us the ‘thrill of the hunt’ is gone.”
Obidaan pondered their words. He looked over at his wife, who seemed to want to say something but appeared to be holding it in. “Did you want to add something, dear?” he asked.
“I..I..I think I’m going to be sick,” and she rushed out to the bathroom. When she got back, Obidaan asked her about her health.
“I’m fine,” she said, “the chicken tasted a little funny, I knew I shouldn’t have eaten it.” She motioned to their waitress, “I think this is bad, could I get a steak, medium, instead?”
Since they were regulars, and well paying customers, the waitress complied without comment. A few minutes later Relina’s steak was brought to her. She tore into it like someone who had not eaten in a week.
“Slow down, sis,” Alister said, “we have time, no rush.”
“Sorry,” she said through the food, “I just feel so hungry.”
They got back to the matter at hand, “So,” Obidaan inquired, “what shall we do about our dilemma? The last thing I need is such a cohesive group feeling like a bunch of fifth wheels.”
“Well, you could hold back a little,” Alister suggested.
“What?” Obidaan was almost out of his chair at the idea.
“Ok, calm down a sec,” Alister said, “we discussed it amongst ourselves earlier, and here’s the idea. You don’t have to engage right away, let us do it, and then you can come in later. Or if it’s a small group, let us handle it ourselves, you can lay back and support us. Now if it’s a big fight, don’t hold back, give it to them with everything you’ve got, and then some. I think we can all live easier with bruised prides easier than bruised ribs.”
Obidaan sighed heavily. “Ok,” he agreed, “we have the convoy mission starting tomorrow. I’ll hold back. But if it looks like anyone is in over their heads, I’m stepping in.” They toasted to the deal.
That night, as Obidaan lay in bed, he couldn’t help but feel a bit betrayed by his team. Here he was, going through everything he had gone through from the humiliation of not knowing his full potential to now the humiliation of holding back. “Is this what it’s going to be like from now on?” he thought to himself, “Am I so powerful now that I can no longer be with my family? Gheriballi tried to warn me about this but I didn’t listen. Could he be right? No! It’s just that we have to redefine our roles now. Before, we were a cohesive team; everyone knew their place. Now, with me the way I am, everyone has to find their place again. That’s all.” He closed his eyes and went to sleep.
While he slept, he dreamed and had a vision. In it, he was on top of a mountain. In the distance was lightning but no rain. He was laughing but not a good laugh, an evil laugh. The laugh of a madman. Before him laid a crumbled world, broken and battered kingdoms situated before him. In his left hand was Mystic, bloodstained from tip to hilt, in his right he held several heads. They changed every time he looked. First it was Mordechi, then the Vanguard, then The Seers, then Lucinda, then Gheriballi. Each one was brutally severed, still bleeding and he had destroyed them all. He continued to laugh. Through the vision, while Obidaan still lay sleeping in his bed, he smiled.
The next morning had them up bright and early as they escorted a merchant caravan across the continent. Along with standard fare, there were diplomats along who were looking to open diplomatic relations with other countries.
Since it was escort duty, everyone was
on a horse. Terry was out front in her scouting position. Relina and Alister were on the left side, protecting against the road, Don to the right covering the wooded areas, and Obidaan brought up the rear, covering their backs.
Over the next few days, things were pretty uneventful. A band of kobold bandits tried to attack the party but the group, without Obidaan’s help was able to repel them. Relina seemed a bit sluggish during the battle but none of the Vanguard really took note of it. It was about three weeks in after she had gotten sick that night, that Belinda Foxwealth, wife to Wayford, the leader of the caravan said something. She saw Relina run to the woods claiming to have to ‘go’ but Belinda knew otherwise. She tapped Obidaan on the shoulder and asked him to help her getting some stuff out of the wagon. She started pulling out blankets and pots and stacking them in Obidaan’s arms. Turning to Obidaan she asked, “So, how long has your wife been pregnant?”
Obidaan was caught off guard and began to stumble over his words, “We, I mean, she isn’t, can’t…” he took a deep breath, “She’s not pregnant. We’ve been trying for years with no luck.”
“For a paladin of the Seer, you sure are blind,” she laughed at her joke, “trust me son, I have 7 children and 12 grandchildren, I know pregnant when I see it and Relina is quite pregnant, pretty recent I might add by her boughts with morning sickness. That’s the reason she isn’t getting any better. Magic is a wonderful thing but it can’t relieve the nausea of morning sickness, can’t stop the pain of childbirth; just got to deal with it.”
“Huh?” again, Obidaan was caught dumbfounded.
“Yeah, she hides it, waits till she thinks no one is looking, or ‘excuses’ herself. She’s trying to heal herself. Problem is she ain’t sick, hehe. That’s why it doesn’t work. Go over there and sit with her. I can handle this stuff,” she took the items from Obidaan.
He walked into the woods, past the group. They looked up briefly but continued to listen to Alister tell another one of his bard stories. As he walked into the woods, past the campfire, using the moonlight to guide him, his mind became flooded with thoughts. “Here? Now? All this time and NOW is when she finally gets pregnant. So much for planning.” He could not figure things out. When they had time, and tried, nothing. Now that they’re on a mission, Bang! It hits. By the time they get back she’ll be almost ready to have the child. “What a mess,” he thought.
Obidaan found her about 30 yards away, lying against a tree and saying a prayer. She proceeded to throw up again and began crying in frustration. Obidaan walked next to her, in her misery she did not hear him, “You ok?”
She looked up, only the light of the full moon let her know who it was. She dried her eyes and attempted to recover some composer, “Yeah, fine. It’s just this darn virus, can’t seem to shake it.”
“That’s because you’re not sick. Belinda was right,” he began to smile broadly. All of his previous worries melted away. All he could see now was his beautiful wife and that she carried life inside of her. Nothing else mattered to him at this moment. He sat down beside her and took her hand.
“Right about what?” Relina said, sniffing.
“You’re,” he hesitated for a moment, “you’re pregnant,” he squeezed her hand.
She sat there stunned for a moment. The words were sinking in but she was resisting. Finally she let the idea overtake her. It explained everything. She was so used to not being pregnant that when it finally happened, she denied it. Tears began to stream down her face, then panic set in, she got up on her knees, putting her hands on Obidaan’s shoulders. “By the gods! What are we going to do?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean the mission. We’re traveling between all these countries. It will be six months before we make it back home. How am I supposed to fight in a few months when I’ll be too big to get on a horse? I’ll become a burden. I’ll…”
“Sh..” Obidaan said, “It’s going to be ok. We’ll keep going and deal with it as it comes. We can check in with doctors in the various towns; all towns have churches of healing. And when you get too big for the horse, you can ride with the caravan. It’s going to be fine,” he held her in his arms and hugged her tightly. She hugged him back even tighter, tears still falling. For a brief moment in time, there was no one else in the universe but them and their baby.
“I love you,” she whispered to him.
“I love you, too,” he replied. They sat there in silence for several minutes.
“Come on.” Obidaan said finally, “Let’s go tell the others.”
Hand—in—hand they emerged from the woods and entered the campsite where the Vanguard, the Foxwealths, and the rest of the caravan drivers and hands were listening to the end of Alister’s story. They let him finish before butting in. “We have something to announce.” Obidaan said, getting everyone’s attention. They all turned toward the nervous couple. They talked between themselves for a moment, trying to decide who was going to give the news, when Belinda broke in.
Standing up she said, “Relina’s pregnant,” and smiling, she sat back down.
The Vanguard had a look of stunned silence on their faces, as they watched the happy couple acknowledge what Belinda had just said by nodding. The rest of the group, who were used to hearing such news, clapped in approval. The Vanguard crowed around Obidaan and Relina asking the standard who, what, why, what next, questions when Wayford stepped between them, shoved a beer mug in to Obidaan’s hand and patted him on the back, “Congratulations!” he said. He snapped his fingers and in seconds everyone, except Relina, had a beer mug in there hand. Belinda gave her a mug of herbal tea.
“Bitterroot tea, it will ease the nausea a bit. About the only thing on this planet that work for it. Don’t taste very good but it’ll do.” She said.
“A toast!” yelled Wayford.
“A toast!” the crew replied. The others, noticing it, raised their mugs also.
“To Obidaan and Relina. May their baby inherit their beauty, strength, and moral fortitude. May it be as loving and caring Relina, as brave and forthright as Obidaan, and may this world be better blessed for this blessed event!”
“Yeah!” they all yelled and drank up.
“Now,” he turned to Obidaan and Relina, “Don’t you go worrying about what’s going to happen, ya hear? Don’t know if Ma told you but she’s a natural born midwife and nurse. As a matter of fact, she delivered 5 of her own grandchildren. Isn’t that right Ma?”
“Sure is Pa. I can always handle one more. Now y’all don’t worry about a thing.”
Obidaan laughed inside, Ma, Pa. He wondered when they got older would they refer to each other like that.
It became not only the buzz in the caravan but also wherever they went. It wasn’t so much that she was having a baby but more she was married to a paladin and having a baby. She even ran into a few people who had babies by paladins and were left on their own. They expressed sympathy and a bit of jealousy that she was married to the one she loved and all they had was a love child.
Overall, the caravan was making great progress. Obidaan had settled a few minor disputes, still he had to create contracts and file them. When there are no magistrates around, paladins work even better, especially since breaking a paladin contract can have dire consequences.
All seemed to be going well till they hit the land of Vandicore. Obidaan had never been out this far but the Foxwealths had. They also recalled that it was previously called Quesvenistan. The current ruler is Malcior Ironsides or “Iron Fist”, because that is how he ruled. He held the town in an iron grip and no one dared speak out against him.
He used the town like a Venus Fly Trap, luring in people and caravans, then taking what he wanted, and enslaving the owners. Those that helped him were richly rewarded and had free run of the town. Those who opposed him were put to death. All of the guards were 100% loyal to him and killed anyone who tried to leave. It was
the reason no one heard of his brutality; no one ever left. The caravan would find this out too late.
When they approached the gate, Wayford Foxwealth spoke to the guards. “Greetings and well met.”
“Hail caravan. What brings you to our fine kingdom this day?” A guard replied. Note: Since to the guard, it was a fine kingdom, no lie was detected.
“We seek to open trade relationships between you and the town of Pinnacle. We also have wares we would like to sell, some I am sure you have never seen around here.”
“You might find some buyers inside. As for trade negotiations: the king keeps court after lunch, you may visit then. There is a fine inn not two blocks up the road. They can house your caravan, give you rooms for the night, and serve a fine meal, so you can negotiate on a full stomach.”
“Thank you very much,” Wayford replied, “By the way, is this still the land of Quesvenistan?”
“No, good sir, this is now the land of Vandicore. His Majesty King Malcior Ironsides now rules. He is quite formal so do address him as King Ironsides or Your Majesty.”
“Thank you,” Wayford said, and they were ushered through the gates. Because lands changed hands in this world so often, it is not uncommon for people to not ask what happened. Everyone will naturally assume it was conquered by the current ruler. Sometimes it a good thing, sometimes bad; the Foxwealths have learned to take their chances. To date it has worked out, even when ruled by tyrants and thugs. Everyone understands the value of money.
Two blocks up the road they found the Golden Goose Inn. There they parked the caravan, had the horsed washed and fed, and went across the street to the inn.
As they walked in, they noticed everyone was smiling and appeared happy. It didn’t take Alister long to realized that some of the smiles were forced. They found a large table near the center of the dining area and sat down. A waitress came by promptly and took their orders.
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