They were about to get started when the two guards at the front door screamed. People turned and it looked like both of them were attacked from behind. As they fell to the floor, there stood Alister, his rapier, with blood, in one hand and his other still holding three magical bolts between his fingers. “Someone is roughing up my favorite bar, and I don’t like it,” he began. “Why don’t you all do yourselves a favor and beat feet, before things get ugly.” Alister looked around and surveyed the situation.
“It’s just him,” the leader said, “Get him.” He now turned his attention to Alister, as did the other seven. They all came at him at once. He let off three bolts one at each of three guards. They hit, doing some damage, but not enough to drop any of them. He then attacked a fourth with his rapier, which went through his armor like it was cloth and gave him an electrical charge. This dropped him to his knees and forced him to catch his breath. Six left. Alister had more devastating spells he could use but he did not want to damage the bar, further he was trying to pull them outside, where he could unleash his fury. They didn’t go for it. They grabbed him and threw him inside, on a table dislodging the rapier from his hand. They began to hit him with their fists, pounding through his leather armor and his face. He summoned the rapier to his hand and shocked a guard, five left, but they were too many. He could feel himself slipping into unconsciousness. The overwhelming numbers and inability to cast were costing him the fight. He wasn’t rugged like the others. He had to hold his own at a distance. This was too much. Just before he was about to lose consciousness, a long poll came in through the door striking two of the guards and moving them off of him. Then a spinning sword came through, hitting one more guard and two arrows each found their mark on the remaining two. It was Don and Terry. She caught her sword, and using a familiar maneuver, turned her bow into a bo stick and they charged the room. Between the two of them, they made short work of guards who were still awake.
Don began to tie up the guards and Terry went over to heal Alister, “What happened?” Don asked.
“They,” the owner began, “they tried to extort money from me. They thought it was safe since it’s been a few months since everything happened.”
Don closed his eyes and sighed hard, “Obidaan is not going to be pleased with this. Make peace with your gods, now,” he told the guards.
“Alister!” Terry said. “Alister wake up! I don’t believe it, my healing isn’t working on him. The Darkness is affecting me. Get Relina and Obidaan.” Don raced off to the castle.
While Alister lay in a state of shock, Terry began questioning the bartender again. “It was strange, we were walking around when Alister said meet him here, he used a solo teleport to get here, beating us by several minutes. Do you have a coin or something of his?”
“Yes,” the bartender began, “many people.” he stated. “Alister gave them to us several weeks ago saying if we run into trouble, rub it and it will alert him. He told me it was a ‘beer call’ coin.”
Terry laughed a bit. “For him, more like a ‘booty call’ coin. He gives those out to his many mistresses and they let him know when they’re available.” She looked down at Alister, “Glad to see you put those things to a more practical use.”
“Thanks,” he said, coughing up blood.
“Rest, Obidaan will be here soon.”
A few minutes later Obidaan and Relina arrived on the scene. “Where is he?” Obidaan asked. He looked around surveying the situation. Don had already filled him in. Relina spotted him and ran over to him.
“My poor brother,” she said, “You just relax and I’ll have you fixed up in a moment.” She cast a spell on him. Any other time he would be up and ready to go but not this time; it healed more of his damage but not enough. “I don’t get it? You should be turning cartwheels now. You look like I only did half the job.”
“It is the Darkness.” Obidaan said. “It’s beginning to affect divine spells now since we’ve been out of contact with gods. However, I have a feeling, since I’m a paladin.” He laid hands on Alister and healed him completely, “As I suspected. I’m probably the only one around here at full power.”
“Do you think it’s just you or do the other paladins have it as well?” Terry asked.
“Now that I think about it,” Obidaan said, “It would make sense that all of the paladins are still empowered. Arcane of course is still usable since it comes from the planet but it can’t heal. This does however; inform me that we must move quickly with our plan. But first, justice must be done.” He looked over at the guards now tied up. “Do any of you have anything to say before I hand out my sentence?”
They were all silent.
“Very well. I have increased your salaries, made sure you got better armor, food, uniforms, and bunks. Still you find it necessary to engage in thuggary. Were you just common thieves I might just throw you in the dungeon, where your ex—king remains. But you are guards, keepers of the peace, and defenders of the realm. For this grievous transgression, there is one sentence, death. You shall be executed in the town square right now.”
Relina tugged at Obidaan and whispered to him, “Is this really necessary? Please honey, reconsider.”
“I will not,” Obidaan was firm whispering back. “You don’t have to watch, but I will do this.”
By this time other guards had gathered and they took their fallen comrades to the beheading block. There, one by one, the axe fell on each man’s head. At the end, Obidaan got up on the stand and spoke. “I hope by now you understand that I am deadly serious about what I say, pun intended. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. As you can see, we are vigilant and these men guessed wrong.” He left while they still applauded him. When he got back to the castle, he gathered the Vanguard together, “Pack up, it’s time for us to go. Not you Alister.”
“Why not?” Alister asked.
“Seems you’ve marked this town as your own. I want you to take care of it while we’re gone. I still don’t trust the advisors, but I do trust our captain of the guard. He’ll have your back. Especially now that certain rabble will be out. Here’s the plan, we’re going to conquer the three remaining kingdoms around here.”
“May I remind you that one of them is not only friendly, but loves us?” Relina said.
“I know, and that’s why we’ll do Bocktaria last. We walk in, make the ruler abdicate, set the rules, then leave. The difference is we’re going to do it quicker and I’m going to leave one of you in charge of each of the places, to clean things up. Don, you’ll get our first stop, Terry the second. When Relina and I walk into the third, we won’t ask for her to abdicate, merely that she join our alliance.”
“And if she refuses?” Relina asked,
“Then we ask her to abdicate.”
“And if she won’t?”
“Yes! Ok sweetheart, you want me to go ahead and say it? Yes. I am prepared to kill our friend the queen if she does not go along with us. Ok? I really don’t want to do it, and I would be very reluctant, but I will if I had to. I pray that it doesn’t come to that. I believe we can persuade her to just follow along.”
“I’m not letting you out of my sight when we get there,” Relina said.
“I swear to you this. You will be at my side the entire time. I will not make a move without you know about it. Ok?”
“Agreed.” She kissed him and they packed up.
The next day they were off. They visited the neighboring kingdom of Mermidan, where the Emperor, as he called himself, was oblivious to what had happened in Qualtar. He hated that country and dealt with it as little as possible. While rumors did fly around, he simply ignored them. Obidaan was able to get to the inner chamber before encountering any resistance.
“Ah, a paladin and friends,” he sat uncaring, unaware that his throne soon would not be his. “What can do for you today?”
“Abdicate or die.” Obidaan said dryly.
“Excuse me?” he replied, “I don’t believe I heard you correctly.”
“Yes you did. Now what’s it going to be?”
“Now see here! I don’t know what kind of game you are playing but you are a paladin and as such…” he never got to finish his statement.
“I don’t feel like playing this silly game.” Obidaan rushed the stand and produced Mystic. A couple of guards noticed him and rushed him but they were no match. He went through them like they weren’t there then proceeded to stab the emperor in the stomach. The surprised look on the leaders face said it all. Obidaan pulled back and stabbed him again, in the chest this time. He repeated it 2 more times till the emperor lay dead in a pool of his own blood.
“Seize them!” The captain of the guard yelled.
The four of them had quite a fight on their hands; however, they made short work of the guards. Diplomats went running for cover. Don was fighting with his pole, at one point using it to brace on the ground as he kicked in a circle around it. Relina’s sword continued to protect her and was sharper than before allowing her to slice through armor more easily. Terry, wielding her bow stick and sword made short work of any who came around her. None could stand before Obidaan; he took out guards with a single swipe, breaking weapons, shields, and armor. He tore into flesh and bone like cutting butter. It didn’t take them long to surrender.
To the empress, he offer two choices either the dungeon or to join her husband. He was surprised when she chose to join her husband. When asked why, her reply was simple. “You have taken over my empire. I’d rather die than take orders from you.”
“As you wish.” Obidaan said, and proceed to swing Mystic and sent her head flying across the room. “Anyone else care to join her?” The room was silent for a moment. From the back, a young man, now in tears, grabbed a sword and headed toward Obidaan.
“You monster!” he screamed, “You killed my parents. I’ll kill you!” It was obvious he was no match for Obidaan. As he got closer Obidaan looked at, first with pity, then contempt.
“If this boy wishes to throw away his life so easily, then so be it.” Obidaan thought. The boy came at him and thrust his sword at him. He had a few lessons but was still no match for a seasoned vet like Obidaan.
With a single move, Obidaan disarmed him, then pulled Mystic back for the killing blow. As he came down on the youth, who did not flinch, his sword was blocked by two poles. Both Relina and Don used their weapons to intercede on the event.
“He’s just a child!” Relina screamed, “We do not kill children.”
“He came at me.” Obidaan said, “He wishes to be a man. He can suffer the consequences.” Obidaan was still trying to go through their weapons.
“No brother.” Don said, “This is wrong. He is grieving. Let him be.”
“I..” The initial wraith had now drained out of him and he saw the situation in a clearer light. He stopped his attack and put Mystic away. “I’m sorry,” was all he said.
“You’re a monster!” he screamed again and kicked and hit Obidaan, who felt nothing through the armor.
Relina took hold of the boy, who was now hitting her and she held him till he finally gave in, held her, and began crying on her shoulder. Soon a maid came by and took the boy away.
“I hope you’re happy,” Relina said.
“No, I’m not,” Obidaan replied.
Obidaan established himself the same way he had in Qualtar. Everyone was happy to see him, even the nobles. The emperor and empress kept everyone under their thumb and with their secret police, it was impossible to speak out against them or rebel. Obidaan offered the secret police amnesty if they would come forward and reveal themselves. Some did. From those that did, and the journals of the emperor, he found the rest of the secret police and slaughtered them. The people, no longer fearful and energized, hunted down a few of them themselves. Much mob magic was used over the month. Leaving Don behind, he was off to the next area. Here, though he encountered problems. News of his conquering ways had reached the area and the King put out his army. This is also where he got some unexpected help.
“It seems we will have a difficult time taking this land. I can’t charge with only one paladin. Our spells will protect us for a while and I will be able to kill many, but I fear in the end, I would be the only survivor. We will have to go back to the other two areas and raise an army to fight.”
“Or you could just use us.” A gruff yet familiar voice was heard coming up the hill, “word is spreading there’s a paladin out to bust some heads in this land. I’m here to sign up.”
Obidaan had not yet looked back. “I don’t recall asking for volunteers,” he turned and was surprised to see who it was. It was Gunther—the—Mad and his wife. “Gunther? Wait, why would you want to join us, I saved the town you trashed a few years back.”
“So what, that was the past. Besides,” he looked to the horizon, “looks to me you can use all the help you can get. If you think you three can take on that army, you’re sadly mistaken. Where’s that pipsqueak bard Alister? I still owe him a good thrashing.”
“He’s maintaining one of my other areas,” Obidaan said, “Now, let me get this straight, you’re willing to join me, to fight against other countries?”
“Yep.”
“And what’s in it for you?”
“A chance to bust some heads, I told you. Besides, I figure joining with a pally, even a rouge one is worth some adventure.”
“So now I’m a ‘rogue’ paladin.”
“Hey, news travels fast. Word of mouth, bard, it all adds up. Plus, you haven’t exactly been bustin’ your hump to get the job done.”
“May I use the cliché then, ‘you and what army’ are going to help me?”
“That one there,” he pointed down the hill. There about 200 barbarians stood ready to fight.
“I’m surprised they didn’t send up a cheer when you pointed.”
“Hey, we’re a horde, but we’re disciplined. Look they don’t know you’re here and I’m not about to give you away, not at least until we’ve reached an agreement. I look at it like this, at this point you have to either face ‘em alone or go get an army. By the time you do that, he’ll have tripled his force. You don’t have a lot of time, or options. Besides, I figger it won’t be long before your pally pals catch up to ya and try to stop you.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” another familiar voice came over the hill. Obidaan turned in disbelieve.
“Gheriballi?” he said, both surprised and happy. “Wha.. Hell, what have you got to say about the situation?”
“Well, I’m here to evaluate what’s going on. Some see you as rogue, some as a new way of doing things. Some say the ‘good’ paladin has gone evil. I’m here to see for myself.”
“I’ve conquered territories, that’s not a good thing.”
“Depends. Some might see it as liberation. Uniting the world under one government; a new world order per se.”
“No, I’m just shuffling dictators; that’s all. I figure if there going to be there, then it might as well be me.”
“I heard about your children,” Gheriballi said.
“No way?” Gunther interjected, “That story is real? His own preacher. Dude, that sucks. No wonder you’re taking over the world. Hell, I’m with ya and all we ask is a chance to kick some butt, a small place to call our own, and some of the plunder. I trust ya to be fair about things.”
“What about you Gheriballi?” Obidaan asked. “What do you want?”
“All I want is for you to find peace with the world and your situation. I want you to truly understand what it is you are doing, how lives will be affected, how countries will change. I want you to see the power of one man and know that he can be the salvation or destruction of the world. I want you to choose which one you will be. Whichever way you choose, I will accept it, and do what I can
to help you.”
“What if I choose to be its destroyer?”
“This world has been destroyed and rebuilt many times, my friend; that’s why we exist. It was hoped that such cycles would end with our presence. Seems they just continue but use us as the new paradigm.”
“Like I said before, you do realize what I’m doing is evil?”
“I choose to see it as bringing order to chaos, with extreme prejudice.”
“So now you’re saying evil is relative?”
“Oh no, there are absolutes. Killing of the innocent, that’s evil. Killing without a reason, for fun and profit, is evil. Destroying someone’s good works simply because you can is evil.” Gheriballi thought for a moment, “And there are some gray areas. Sometimes two people can’t figure the best course. Neither is necessarily wrong nor is one evil compared to the other. Ask any politician. They love to disagree and label the other side evil, yet both sides are striving for the same goal. Once I have labeled you, then I can put you in my little box and deal or not deal with you accordingly. The problem is we often mislabel thing, like calling those who disagree with us evil, morons, idiots, misinformed, or jerks. They just have a different perspective. So you may label what you are doing evil but remember, you’ve haven’t hurt the peasants, you’ve only gone after ‘evil’ dictator and you have done more to liberate the people than the previous regimes did. If that’s evil, then I can agree with it.”
“And how are your powers? Now that we can’t communicate with the gods?”
“The same as before. Remember, we are directly connected to the divine. One almost has to ask themselves, with that kind of a connection, do we really need to talk to the gods? Is it possible we can shape the world any way we want?”
“You mean just use the magic as we see fit, without asking for permission first?”
“Exactly.”
“Interesting observation.” He turned his attention to Gunther, “I’m sure we can find you a place Gunther; however, it won’t be around here.”
No Good Deed Page 33
