“That’s not the way it should be,” Alister said. “Paladin’s advise don’t they?”
“Apparently not. He basically said why should someone who answers to him be in charge?” People began to nod in understanding.
“Didn’t you mention,” Don said, “that Gheriballi said paladins couldn’t rule, that it would cause them to loose their status?”
“That’s right, however, technically he isn’t ruling, he’s ‘advising’ and there is a legitimate king on the throne. Evil just needs to adhere to the letter and not the spirit of the rules. I have more bad news though. We… made a deal. It was the only way to get the caravan out of the city. He didn’t care about the people but he knew I did. The only way I was able to get out of there, with us was to swear on my paladin oath I would never speak of that place again.”
“Obidaan, that’s terrible,” Relina said, she stroked his hair gently.
“It gets worse. I also had to swear y’all would never speak of it again also,” he said.
“What!” Relina couldn’t believe it.
“I don’t believe it,” Beatrice said, “that other paladin has to be out of his mind.”
“He knew this would cause me pain. That’s why he did it. I hate to do this but I must get a solemn oath, from all of you that you will never speak of this place again.”
“So we’re going to let this maniac off the hook, so he can continue to snare people into his city?” Terry said, “You know that isn’t right, Obidaan.”
“I know, but there was no other choice. Your lives were on the line and I wasn’t going to play with them. I can tell you one thing though, Lady Seer spoke with me and said I will return to the city. Perhaps I can help then.”
“What does it mean to be divine? To you I mean,” Don brought the question from out of nowhere. There was an uneasy silence.
Obidaan took a deep breath, then took a long drink as he mulled over an answer. “It doesn’t mean what you’re thinking, brother,” Obidaan started. “Remember, the person I just made the deal with is equally divine. What it means is we are in touch with a higher…” he had trouble finding the words, “order. I don’t run out of energy, I don’t fear, but obviously, I still get angry. I don’t question my purpose or place, but I get frustrated when others can’t see what I think is obvious. You’re right about one thing,” it’s as if he were reading Don’s mind, what Don was really asking was for him to justify his recent actions, “it has made me short with people, especially those who work on the side of evil. It’s as if something says, ‘don’t they know I’m a paladin? Why are they challenging me? Don’t they know what I can do to them?’ then an answer comes, ‘Obviously not, let’s give them a demonstration.’ I never felt like that before and I admit I don’t like it when I do it. But it feels…necessary, like I have to. I don’t get it.”
“I think I do,” Don replied. He had taken in everything Obidaan said. “You seem to have a fascination with ‘place’ now. Everyone has a placed. Yours is just below the gods, then everyone else falls somewhere below that. Those that challenge your place challenge the order. If someone lower than you can get the better of you, then it is as if you are diminished and they are exalted by the experience. So, to make sure that doesn’t happen, you take extreme measures. That’s my guess.”
“You may have a point, Don,” Obidaan agreed. “However, we still have another matter to deal with.”
There was silence for a moment. Then Relina was the first to talk, “I swear.” She said. Soon others followed and as they were going around one of the workers said it but pinged Obidaan. Obidaan got up and walked over to him. “This is no game. If I can’t fulfill my oath, I shall be stripped as a paladin.”
“I said I swear, and I mean it, I swear, I won’t tell anyone. Cross my heart,” said the caravan worker. He pinged again.
“Didn’t you just hear our conversation, are really this stupid?” Obidaan was growing angry with the young man.
“I swear!” he said. Only his tone was sincere, again he pinged.
“Apparently you are,” he said without hesitation.
“No, look, really. I mean it. I won’t tell a soul,” he pinged again.
“Stop lying!” Obidaan screamed. The man began to back away but it didn’t help. Obidaan grabbed him and placed his hand on top of his head. As his hand glowed, he stated, “You will be unable to speak about this place or this situation, for the rest of your life,” Obidaan released him. The young man was speechless. “Ok, now that that is done, let’s pack up and head out. Terry, I’m taking the lead, you cover the rear” Obidaan seemed to have calmed down to his normal self.
“Ok.”
They packed up in silence and continued on. It was getting near dusk when the road forked off. Obidaan continued straight.
“Hey,” Terry said, “We need to take the fork in the road. We’ll reach a village just after nightfall.”
“Maybe so, but we need to make a different stop first and for that we have to keep going straight.” Obidaan said.
“For how long?” Wayford asked.
“Till dusk. About ten more minutes,” Obidaan said.
“Then what?” Wayford asked.
“It’s a surprise, but I guarantee you’ll like this one,” Obidaan looked back with a sly smile on his face.
After that conversation, Don moved his horse next to Terry and began to whisper to her, “Since when can Obidaan detect lies like that?”
“I guess he had a spell up or something, to make sure everyone was sincere,” Terry retorted.
“He cast no spell, said no prayer when he started talking. He should not have known that young man was lying, yet he did.”
“Should we confront him about it?” Terry asked.
“No. But do remain aware of it. When the time is more appropriate, I will mention it to the others, especially Relina,” he continued to stay next to Terry. They both pondered their newfound knowledge.
When dusk came, Obidaan closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths and then opened his eyes. The caravan then moved out of the woods, in to a clearing that could easily be called the middle of nowhere. As they cleared the trees, there in front of them stood a magnificent structure, with an open drawbridge and no guards.
“Welcome to the Hall of Paladins,” Obidaan said. “We’ll be spending the night here.”
“Wow,” Alister said as they rode to the entrance, “this place is amazing looking. No description does it justice.”
“I thought it was in the other direction?” Don said, “Much further away.”
“One of the things I discover spontaneously.” Obidaan said. “I finally realized, it’s not anywhere, per se. If you want to get to it, you must ride in one direction till dusk, for at least an hour.”
Relina said, “I’m curious about this place and anxious to meet Cecilia.”
“Just remember, she’s just a celestial being and can’t leave the building,” Obidaan tried to console her.
“Right,” the jealousy was obvious.
They rode into the hall and toward the main area. As they did, they passed the hallway with paintings of paladins doing heroic and horrific acts. They were not all the same pictures as before. There was a picture of Lou taking over the town.
“Hey! There you are Obidaan, and us.” Alister said. It was a picture of him obtaining his soul weapon. There was also a picture of the Paladin Charge. “Wow, so that’s what a paladin charge looks like, not pleasant.”
At the end of the hall, servants came and took the horses and caravan. They were going to set a watch when Obidaan piped in, “No need for that. Everything is safe here.” They agreed and walked to the main counter. The caravan staff stayed back and admired the scenery. As they got closer the manager appeared, seeming out of nowhere but it was as if all he did was turn around.
“Greetings Mr. Grailann,
Mrs. Grailann. Mr. Straif, Miss Waystar, Mr. Foxwealth, Mrs. Foxwealth,” he intentionally saved Alister for last, he was having a hard time reading him, “Mr. W.. C.. Mr. … Alister. It is always a pleasure to see you Mr. Grailann and we are delighted you have brought guests. I have your usual room for you and the Missus. I also have individual rooms for every member of your party. Except you Mr. and Mrs. Foxwealth, I’m assuming you will also be sharing a room.”
“Um, yes, thank you,” they were caught off guard by the efficiency of the place.
“Excellent,” the manager replied, “for you new people, understand you are the guest of the paladin who brought you. If he leaves, you too will have to leave, unless prior arrangements are made. This does not extend to immediate family. While here, you have complete run of the place. Everything is free. Anyone can help you with anything, at any time.” He handed keys to each of the people and a handful to the Foxwealths. “All the rooms are on the same floor in the same section. I do suggest you read the pamphlet of information you will find in each rooms. I have valets to help you find your rooms and to help with your bags. Any questions?”
“Where’s the book?” Alister asked.
“Can you be more specific?” the manager asked.
“You, know, the ‘book’ of um, …” he was making grinding gestures,
“Ah yes, the book of available escorts,” he reached down and pulled a book out and placed it on the table. “Take your time, say the name of the one you are interested in and she will appear in front of you.” He looked over at Terry, who looked like she had a question but wasn’t going to ask. “We have a male version as well,” he said and placed it on the desk. She sheepishly picked it up and began to thumb through it.
“I knew you’d be back!” A voice came from across the hall. It was Cecilia. She ran to Obidaan. Relina moved between them, to block her, but it was pointless, Cecilia simply went incorporeal and jumped on Obidaan and kissed him, “You poor baby, I had to write all about what happened between you and Lou,” she kissed him again.
“Excuse me!” Relina was very jealous and angry now, “would you mind not slobbering all over my husband?”
“Oh, sorry,” she let go of him, “Relina, you’re looking radiant.”
She then jumped on Relina and gave her a huge hug, kissing her on both cheeks. Her celestial presence removed the jealousy filling Relina with love; she stopped worrying. She hugged Cecilia back. “Um, yeah, it’s ok, really. I just had no idea. Are you all this warm?” she asked.
“To you, yes. Have you ever been really nervous then all of a sudden a warm and comforting feeling comes over you? That’s one of us holding you. Since paladins feel that all the time, we have no real affect on them.”
“Oh,” Relina said, she was very relaxed. Cecilia moved on.
“Terry!” she hugged her, relaxing Terry as well.
“Don!” she hugged him. Though he tried to resist, he couldn’t.
“Wow!” he said, “I’ve never felt such a feeling. So warm, so caring so…loving” he hugged her very tight. Don was all too happy to let his feelings show right now. He had never experienced anything like this; it was pure bliss. She gave him a great big kiss.
“Wayford and Belinda,” her hug immediately calmed them down.
“And finally, Alister,” she knew what Alister would do, so she saved him for last. Sure enough, he took advantage of the situation, but she didn’t mind. “Just as I imagined,” she said when they got done. She then turned to Don, “Mind if I show you to your room?”
“Me?”
“Oh yes.”
“What about me?” Alister protested.
“I’m not worried about you. The way you act. you’ll have an orgy in your room. I’m not really interested in that.”
“You’re not all the same?” Alister asked out of total ignorance.
“We’re just like humans, except we’re celestial beings,” she didn’t seem at all offended by the question, “So Don, you ready?”
“Um, ok,” he said awkwardly. He was a bit standoffish but very glad to be going with her. Something about her made him feel very good, very special. He liked the feeling.
She smiled and grabbed his hand, “follow me,” and they were off.
Soon other valets were there showing people to their rooms. All of the hired help went through the book of escorts before going to their room.
When everyone was settled, Terry came sneaking back into the place. The manager was at the desk.
“Are you always here?” She asked.
“I appear when needed.”
“Oh, well um…”
Without a word, he took out the book of male escorts, placed it on the desk, and then disappeared.
Terry opened the book, and flip through it. “Keith” she said, “he looks like he’ll be fun,” she thought to herself. A beautiful, short dark hair, and deep red eyes, completely chiseled man appeared in front of her.
“May I be of assistance?” he said in a silky masculine voice.
“Um I’d like someone to show me around.”
“My pleasure.”
“One more thing?”
“Anything for you.”
“Can you look like an elf?” at that he slimmed his figure and made his ears pointed and softened his face.
“Better?” he asked.
“Perfect.” She said, and put her hand in his. The warmth was intoxicating as he walked her back to her room.
Relina was amazed by the accommodations, “All of this is yours?” she asked.
“Yes, it is darling,” he said, dropping his armor and clothes on the floor.
“Hey, honey,” she started, “I know this is your place and all, but you should still try to be neat.”
“Just watch,” he said with a wry smile as he stripped to his underwear. He began to walk upstairs to the loft when his clothes disappeared.
“Where’d they go?” she said with a gasp.
Making his way to the closet, he opened it up and pulled out the shirt he was just wearing, now clean and perfectly pressed. “Right here,” he said. Putting it back he grabbed a robe “Beer,” he said, and one appeared on the table in front of him. He took a large swig, finishing it all at once.
“So, I take it if I want something, I just need to ask for it?” she observed.
“You got it darling. I’m going to take a nice long hot bath in the hot tub up here, wipe away the slime of today. Care to join me?”
“In a little bit.” she said, “I want to check this place out. Roast chicken and rosemary potatoes,” she said to the room. On the table next to her appeared a plate of chicken and potatoes. She noticed she got a breast and a wing. “Dark meat.” She said and the meat turned into a leg and a thigh. She sat down and took a bite. “By the gods, this is the best chicken I’ve ever had. White wine,” she added. A goblet appeared. She took a drink. “This is grape juice,” She said.
Obidaan popped his head out, “I guess it knows you’re pregnant and won’t serve you alcohol.”
“How thoughtful, I nearly forgot. I’m going to have to get used to that,” she laughed. She drank up and ordered another one, “Grape juice,” she said this time.
Obidaan was relaxing in the tub, letting the bubbles and heat melt away the day when Relina appeared in the door, dressed only in a robe. “You just drop your stuff on the floor, like this?” she asked and very sensuously dropped her robe to the floor, revealing a well—kept figure, accentuated by a bulge in the stomach where their baby was growing.
“You look as sexy as ever, my love,” he stood up to reveal his naked and chiseled body. Taking her hand, he helped her into the tub. Once settled, they embraced and kissed passionately.
“Why me?” Don asked. He was laying in bed with Cecilia.
“Because you need me,” she replied, “Obidaan doesn’t,
he has Relina, Alister doesn’t need anyone, and Terry, we’ll, I can’t help her there. But you, I could feel it when I hugged you. I could feel your longing, your crying out to be wanted and loved by someone. That’s why you smiled when I hugged you. Why do you isolate yourself?”
“I’m a monk. I have to maintain my discipline.”
“That doesn’t mean a vow of chastity does it?”
“Obviously not.”
She laughed at her question, “What I mean is, there’s nothing preventing you from dating or falling in love or getting married, yet you don’t. Why?”
“I choose not to.”
“You choose a lot of things. Like being unemotional, not dating, loyal to Obidaan and the others, loyal to your monk skills,” she was more looking through him than at him. Don was going to protest but she continued, “it seems you’ve sacrificed a lot to become the monk you are. Believe it or not, I know you. I have to write about you and the others since you hang around Obidaan all the time. But see, when we’re writing we don’t get just the raw data, we get the emotion related to what’s happening as well. And I can tell, you’ve repressed a lot of emotion. Who broke your heart?”
“Huh?”
“Who? Your parents? An old girlfriend? Someone must have done something to you to make you shut down like this.”
“No one,” he said evenly, “it is a byproduct of my discipline. It is necessary for us to stay balanced and focused. If we become too angry, we loose control of our skills, too happy and we do not take them seriously enough. That doesn’t mean I can’t feel, it just means I have to be careful. I am proud of what I’ve accomplished. I have inner ...”
“Is that all you want?” She didn’t let him finish.
Don thought for a moment, “No.”
“You need love, Don.”
“Maybe I’m…” a wall went up in his mind, “afraid of love.”
“You can’t be.”
No Good Deed Page 24
