No Good Deed

by Jerry Jackson

“Nice bunch of people,” Alister said sarcastically.

  Obidaan caught the remark, “What makes you say that? They seem pretty happy to me.”

  “Some do, yes.” Alister continued in a low voice, “I would suspect they are lackeys for the king,” his voice got close to a whisper, “As a bard I study human nature and expressions and I’m telling you all is not as it seems.”

  Obidaan was about to say something when he perked up and looked around. The Vanguard had seen this look before, but the Foxwealths and others had not, they were a bit confused. “Another paladin is in the room.” Terry told them.

  “He can tell?” asked Mr. Foxwealth.

  “Yes,” Terry continued, “They can sense each other out. Just keep watching.”

  Obidaan looked around the room, simultaneously calling the waitress to him. She was too eager to run to him, “May I help you?” her tone was more pleading than helpful.

  “That man over there in the corner. Who is he?” Obidaan found the paladin, and seemed a bit put aside when he made out the symbol.

  “T—t—that is Baron Llewellyn Vandarcathden. He is the paladin of this city,” she said quickly and nervously.

  “Buy him a round of his favorite drink, and put it on my tab,” Obidaan replied.

  The waitress was struck dumb by what she had just heard but did not question it. She simply nodded and ran off. In about 10 seconds she was setting a goblet of fine wine next to the Baron. He obviously whispered something to her because she was off just as fast and in under 5 seconds was at Obidaan’s table with a mug of the beer he was drinking. They looked at each other, toasted and drank up. After that the Baron got up and left the inn. A palpable collective sigh of relief was let go by everyone else in the room; this puzzled our travelers.

  “I think you are more correct than you realize,” Relina said, “this place seemed pretty uptight and now seemed relieved that that paladin has left. Something is going on here.”

  “Agreed,” said Don, “seems we may have our work cut out for us. It also seems your presence is more welcome than you realize.”

  “True. But first, we need answers.” Obidaan said. “I have a feeling our waitress will be accommodating.”

  They continued to eat and moments later the waitress came over to check on them. “Is everything all right?” she asked. Her tone was genuinely friendly now.

  “No it isn’t,” Obidaan replied.

  “What can I do to correct the situation?” she asked and began to shake a little.

  “How about giving us some answers, Marybeth?” Obidaan asked.

  “Well, um, ok,” she shook visibly now.

  “I’m not here to hurt you but I might be able to help, if I knew what was going on. Seems the people were relieved when that paladin left. I also know he’s not one of the good ones. Paladin of Pain and Suffering if I have my symbols correct.”

  “You do.” She said and ran off. A few minutes later she returned with another beer for Obidaan, this time there was a napkin under it. She placed them both down. “Enjoy your drink, sir,” is all she said and left again before Obidaan could ask her anything else.

  He was a bit puzzled but lifted up the mug. Under it, on the napkin was some writing. He scooped the napkin and while drinking read what she had written: The King holds us hostage. The paladin insures obedience, please help.

  Obidaan did not mention what he had read but discreetly passed around the napkin. When all had read it, they finished up, paid and left.

  “What are we going to do now?” Mrs. Foxwealth asked.

  “Have our audience with the king,” Obidaan replied.

  “So,” Wayford said slowly, “we’re just going to go there, like nothings wrong?”

  “Exactly,” Obidaan said, “we have the knowledge so there is nothing to worry about. If you want to make a trade agreement that’s fine, if not, that’s fine too.”

  “I’ve dealt with some ornery rulers in my day, but I must admit, this one gives me a bit of the creeps. I’ve never been in a town where the people were so afraid. I have a feeling, especially with their paladin advisor, there aren’t any dissidents around here.”

  “Well, you have a paladin protector. I don’t take orders from the king. I can and will guarantee your safety.” Obidaan was a bit arrogant when he said it.

  “You’re right Obidaan. With you on our side, I feel much safer,” Wayford said.

  “You have nothing to worry about,” Obidaan agreed.

  They headed off towards the castle on horseback. It wasn’t that far and they arrived in about 5 minutes. The guards let them in without incident. Once inside they encounter a snippy bureaucrat. He was standing outside the stable area with a clipboard and pen.

  “Name and nature of visit?” he asked.

  Before anyone else could answer, Obidaan piped in, “I am Obidaan, Paladin of Foresight and I have business with your king.”

  “Nature of that business?” he seemed unmoved by Obidaan’s proclamation.

  “That is none of your concern,” Obidaan began to move forward on his horse, the young man stepped in front of the horse.

  “I’m afraid it is, sir,” he said with a satisfied smile on his face.

  “Move!” Obidaan yelled.

  “And if I do not?”

  “Then you shall get up close and personal with my horse’s hooves,” Obidaan said without flinching. This caught the group off guard because the Obidaan of old would have reasoned with the man; this one seemed to have no patience. Obidaan reared his horse as if to trample the man. That is when a spark went off between the man and the hooves. Again he had a satisfied smile on his face.

  “That explains your brazen disrespect, boy,” he said unmoved by what had happened. He got down off the horse.

  “What was that?” Relina asked.

  “A warning beacon, ‘Paladin’s Protection.’ It’s what you put on a lackey. It informs those who would do him harm, that he is under the protection of a paladin. It doesn’t do any real damage but if he is tortured or killed, the paladin placing the spell will know and seek retribution against the perpetrator.”

  “How come you’ve never used that spell on us?” Alister asked, faking indignity.

  “Because it’s not a spell to be used on those who have a means of protecting themselves. It’s there to insure the safety of those unable to defend themselves, like this guy. There are, however, ways around it.”

  “How?” Don asked.

  “Like so,” Obidaan turned around and put his mailed fist squarely into his jaw, knocking him back and unconscious instantly, “Like I said, it’s for torture or killing. He’s going to have one sore jaw when he wakes up.” Obidaan then looked at the rest of the help around there. “Anyone else want to challenge me, or have you learned your place?” They all backed away. As he handed the horses off to one of the stable hands he commented, “They better be well fed and ready by the time I get back.”

  “Yes, sir,” was all he said.

  The others stayed quiet after that, they had never seen Obidaan act like that. Obidaan was changing and they weren’t sure if it was all for the better.

  They went into the castle and the king’s chamber, only the king and his paladin advisor were there.

  “Ah,” the king said, “honored guests, what can I do for you today?”

  Wayford began to speak, “We seek to open trade with you from the kingdom of Pinnacle. We have many fine wares and raw materials. I think we could come to a beneficial arrangement.”

  “No,” the king said flatly, “As a matter of fact, I am going to confiscate your caravan and you all will work for me in my mines. How does that sound?”

  “Unacceptable!” said Obidaan, who now stepped to the forefront.

  The king looked at his advisor, “Was this the guy you were telling me about?

  “Y
es,” he said.

  “Well naturally, it doesn’t apply to you, you’re free to go.”

  “And the caravan and everyone with it comes with me. This is not negotiable. By the way, cute trick with your lackey there. If that was supposed to be some kind of test, let’s just say I knuckled under and passed.”

  “Cute,” replied Llewellyn, “I guess he’ll have quite the headache from your lesson. No matter. I was curious to see what you would do. Now I know.”

  “And?” Obidaan ask.

  “And nothing,” he replied. “I just like seeing pain inflicted. He was a mere puppet for my pleasure, nothing more.”

  “That’s sick,” Obidaan said.

  “Thank you,” Llewellyn said, “I do try my best. Nice to know it’s appreciated.”

  “Enough of this useless banter!” Obidaan said. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be leaving.”

  “I said no!” the king reiterated.

  Obidaan was furious now, he began to march right up to the king, “Look you pompous…” he was intercepted by Llewellyn.

  “Look, tell you what. What say you and I hash this out. I’m not going to let you harm my king, and you’re not going to let us harm your caravan. We’re at an impasse. Have your people leave the room. I want to talk to you alone. I swear they will be well taken care of and no harm shall befall them.”

  No ping. “Ok,” Obidaan said reluctantly, “go wait outside,” he told the group. Still unable to deceiver his behavior, they did as they were told. They were met by some servants and offered food and drink. Once the doors were closed, Llewellyn began taking charge.

  “Relax, O, or do you prefer Obidaan?”

  “Obidaan, Lou.”

  “Lou is fine.”

  “Now let’s see what we can do about this situation.”

  “I think…” the king began.

  “Shut up!” Lou screamed at him, “You just sit on your little throne and keep your fat mouth buttoned until I tell you to talk! Got it?”

  The king nodded. “Good boy,” Lou said and patted him on the head.

  “Funny way to treat your king,” Obidaan stated.

  Lou burst out laughing. “So, you buy into that bullshit! You’ve been listening to too much of that goody—goody crap, my friend.”

  “I’m not your friend.”

  “Whatever. Let me ask you something. You’ve been in enough lands with single rulers. Who has more power, the king or the vizier?”

  “The king.”

  “And where do we stand on the food chain?” he was motioning to indicate himself and Obidaan.

  “We do not answer to rulers; only to our gods.”

  “So then, can you explain to me why I would want the position of a vizier, when the person I’m advising answers to me?”

  “The goodness of your heart?” Obidaan said facetiously.

  Lou burst into laughter again, “That’s a good one. I’ll have to remember that.” He went over to the king, grabbed his face under the chin with and squeezed his cheeks, forcing his lips to pucker. He then began to speak to him as if he were speaking to a baby, “Remember kingy, I’m doing this out of the goodness of my heart, yes I am. Aren’t I?” he forced the king’s head to nod. “Good boy.” He then shoved his head into the back of the thrown. “Pu—lease.”

  “He’s your puppet. You run this place, hence the name Vandicore and not something like Ironsides.”

  “You catch on quick. Yes, I’m in charge around here. All that crap you hear about paladins ‘advising’ countries is pure bullshit. Why the hell would we be bothered with such mundane activities? Let everyone think he is in charge, and let him have his way, until I tell him to do something. Now that’s advising.”

  “I get it. Now, what are we going to do about our impasse? We can’t fight each other. Care for a different type of challenge?”

  “Oh no. No matter what, if I engage you in some alternative contest, the results are still binding, and I don’t want to loose what I have here. So here’s what you’re going to do. You can go. I will guarantee safe passage out of here for you and all the members of the caravan.”

  “What’s in it for you?”

  “You will swear on your oath as a paladin that you, nor anyone else in your caravan, will mention what has happened here. You will make no mention of this land, how it is ruled, or what we are discussing.”

  “You’re out of your mind. I can’t agree to that.”

  “You don’t have a choice. You can’t fight me. If you kill the king, I’ll simply get another puppet, I really don’t care. You on the other hand do care. You care about your group. If I gave the word, the people watching the caravan will be slain before you leave this room. And you don’t want that.”

  Obidaan was fuming at his prospects. It seemed he had no way out, “What about the people of this village? Can I take any of them with me?”

  “Of course not. I guarantee, even if you compelled them not to talk, they would kill themselves to tell what’s going on around here. No, I’m afraid you have very little choice. Take your time before you make your decision.”

  Obidaan was beside himself with rage now. How could this have happened? “Why didn’t I get a premonition or something to let me know to avoid this place?” He thought to himself. “Why have I been put in this situation, it makes no sense.”

  Then he heard a female voice in his head. “We can’t tell you everything. Know this though; you needed to come here so you would know to come back. Pick your battles. This is not one to win.”

  Obidaan nodded to himself, took a deep breath and turned to Lou, “Ok, you win.”

  “You swear on your oath as a paladin?”

  Obidaan gritted his teeth and shot Lou such a look of hate. All this power and still he could do nothing. He could feel the power in Lou as well and knew that he was no slouch. A precarious balance of power was going on. He couldn’t win, but then again, neither could Lou. Lou would not have his spoils this day but Obidaan could do nothing to change the situation. This sickened Obidaan but he realized he had no choice.

  “I swear, I, nor anyone in my caravan will tell tale of what has transpired here,” he said through his gritted teeth.

  “Excellent! And the pained expression on your face says it all. If there is one thing I love more than physical pain, it’s psychological. It cuts so much deeper and even better, it’s self—inflicted. Your morality and guilt is eating you up right now. I’m loving every second of it. Now, be on your way,” he said with a menacing laugh.

  Obidaan made his way to the antechamber where the others were waiting. They could immediately see he was not happy about the situation. “Let’s go,” was all he said.

  “How’d the negations go?” Relina asked.

  “Later,” he was clearly holding back his anger, “Right now, let’s get the hell out of here.”

  “Can you give us a hint?” Alister asked.

  “Yeah,” he turned to Alister. “Shut up. Pack up. Mount up.”

  Everyone was concerned and upset at Obidaan’s behavior. They had been together too long, been through too much to start second—guessing him now, no matter what the reason. It was obvious whatever had happened wasn’t good.

  They headed toward the main gate. At the stables, they stopped to hook up the wagons and gather the last of their people. The Foxwealths weren’t sure what was going on but told the guards to be silent and just get the wagons hooked up.

  As they headed out of town, Obidaan looked across the street to the inn. In the window, he saw the waitress staring out at them, a desperate look on her face and she was biting her lower lip. He looked at her, then closed his eyes and moved his head down and forward before opening them again. A tear began to fall down his cheek. Obidaan’s expression told her everything she needed. She began to cry in the window. Obidaan looked back to see a ha
nd placed on her shoulder and move her away from the window and close the shutters. Obidaan held his head low as they left the city.

  “Have a nice day,” one of the guards said with a smile. Whether or not he was being sincere or was taunting, Obidaan neither noticed nor cared. He hopped off his horse and glared at the guard. He was about to say something else, perhaps apologize, when Obidaan reached into his mouth with his hand. His hand glowed for a moment, releasing a spell. The man then lay on the ground writhing in pain and bleeding profusely from his mouth. Obidaan looked at him with contempt for a couple of seconds before dropping his tongue on the ground near his head.

  Obidaan continued to look down at the guard. No one moved, except for Relina, who leaned over her horse and lost her lunch. She could not believe what her loving husband had just done. Without looking up or moving Obidaan addressed the other guard, “You got any smart—ass remarks, bitch?”

  “No sir,” he said smartly.

  “Good boy,” Obidaan turned, got back on his horse and led the caravan as they headed out.

  They continued in silence for ten minutes before Relina broke the awkward silence. “What is going on? Why did you rip that man’s tongue out? Please.”

  Obidaan’s anger still had not dissipated “I ripped his tongue out because he forgot his place. I am a paladin, no piss—ant lackey talks to me like that, ever!”

  “And what are we?” Relina contended. She pulled her horse next to him, “Are we piss—ant lackeys too, now? Are you going to rip our tongues out when we say something you don’t like?”

  That somehow seemed to get to him, or at least calm him for a moment. He stopped, which stopped everyone else. He reached to Relina and hugged her. He held her tightly in his arms. He squeezed her tighter than she had ever been held before and she squeezed back. He whispered to her, “No. No, my love. I wouldn’t, I could never do anything like that to you. You are everything to me,” he let her go. “Please, everyone, I must apologize for my behavior. I have something very important to tell you. Let us briefly make camp. I suggest you break out your strongest liquor. Coffee and tea will not do for this announcement.

  A few minutes later they were standing around the caravan when Obidaan began. “I have learned too much today. Things I wish I didn’t know. Firstly, the paladin in that town is not an advisor; he runs the town and uses the king as his puppet.”