No Good Deed (10 page)

“Sure, I’m game.”

Two ladies walked into the room, it was the same two who helped Alister get to Darla in the first place.

“Your m.. Darla, I’m sure you know Betty and Bianca, the chambermaids who fed you during your captivity. But what you don’t know is they helped me get to you.” They curtsied, “Since I had impersonated one of them, it became very dangerous for them to stay. One of the things I arranged was for them to escape and come here. I was hoping you could not only offer them asylum but positions as your personal chambermaids. You said so yourself you are short handed.”

Darla didn’t hesitate. “Consider it done!” she reached out and hugged both ladies. They let out a bit of a squeal and hugged her back, “I was so worried about you two. I’m so glad you’re safe. You can stay here as long as you like,” they hugged again.

Alister was a bit surprised, “That was easy.”

“You silly,” Betty turned to him, “we’ve been talking and keeping her company for a while, we developed a strong bond with my lady, yes we have. And we hoped that when she was rescued she’d find a way to take us with her, and it happened thanks to you!”

“Of course,” Alister thumped his head for missing the obvious connection.

They finished breakfast and hit the road back to Pinnacle.

Back at the castle in Pinnacle, the king, queen, and queen mother were there. She was frantic now, seeing that Darla was not with them and the chests still were.

“What happened? What went wrong? Where’s my baby? Why do you wear medals of Honor if Darla isn’t here? Oh, Darla, Darla, Darla.” She began to cry it was obvious she wasn’t thinking straight and missed the connection with the medals.

Obidaan went up to her and put his hand on her shoulder. “Nothing went wrong my lady. Darla is safe and currently working to restore Bocktaria. She regrets that she could not be here personally. Darla gave us these medals. She also told me to give you this,” he reached into his pouch and handed her Darla’s ring. “She said you’d know what to do with it.”

Wiping away her tears, the queen mother kissed the ring and held it to her ear. Her tears of sorrow now turned to tears of joy, “She’s safe! She’s
safe
! O praises to the gods! Thank you, thank you, thank you! She hugged and kissed each and every one of them.

“Party time!” yelled the king.

Over the
next several months our heroes filled their time with minor missions, training, visits to the orphanage, and watching Alister get out of trouble.

During this time, Relina went to visit with Mordechi. She walked into his chambers shortly after lunch, leaving Obidaan at the orphanage to play with the children. She knocked on his door.

“Come in.”

Mordechi was doing some writing at his desk. As the door opened, he turned to see who it was. “Ah, Relina, my dear, please, do come in. Have a seat anywhere. Wine?” He reached for a glass and poured some into it.

“Yes please.” She took it, had a sip and sat down.

Mordechi, refilled his glass, took a gulp and faced Relina. “I could ask why you’re here, but we both know it’s about what I told you a while back.”

“Yes. You said you had visions where Obidaan was both a hero and villain. I’ve got to know what is going on.”

Mordechi finished his glass and refilled it. “My dear Relina,” he trailed off, “I had visions of the coming darkness and Obidaan is the linchpin. He is either the savior or the slayer. At this point I can’t tell.”

“What do the gods say? Surely they know what to do,” she was clearly distraught by what he had said. She took a drink.

“Yes, they do, but as with all prophecy, they do not tell in fear of creating a self—fulfilling prophecy. Worse yet, I don’t know which is the better choice.”

“What?” Relina was shocked. She almost jumped out of her seat and nearly spilled her wine. She recovered and then took a large gulp, finishing it. Mordechi offered her more. She grabbed the bottle from him, poured herself another glass, downed it, and then refilled her glass before speaking again. “Am I to believe that the best thing could be that Obidaan destroys the world and we stand around and let him; or worst oppose him, or are even killed by him? What are you saying?”

“Whoa, hold on,” Mordechi stood up, and put his hands out, “I didn’t say all that. You’re reading too much into it at this point. Look, all I said was I can’t tell. Here’s what it could mean. Either he’s the savior, somehow averting the coming darkness or, in order to save the world, he takes on the darkness and a massive war wages, which devastates the land.” He sat back down. He was putting a spin on things, and Relina could tell he was still holding back, she wouldn’t let him.

“What’s the part you aren’t telling me?” she was still standing and anxious, she wanted to know everything, and wanted to know it now. “We’ve known each other too long. I know when you’re hiding something. Spill it.”

Mordechi sighed heavily. He finished the wine in his glass, got up and got the decanter that was now on the table, “The final one is that he is the darkness. Regardless of which one, the end seems to be the same, a new world order is ushered in. That, that…”

“That what? We get a thousand years of peace or something?”

Mordechi laughed at the concept. “No. We’ve proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that can’t happen, otherwise, there’d be no need for the paladins.”

“Even so, isn’t that a lot for one person?”

“He will be the catalyst, the linchpin. His actions will sway first a few, then hundreds, then thousands, then millions of people. Rest assured, he will have lots of help. Remember, no one does it alone.”

Relina sat thoughtful for a minute, “So, what are we supposed to do?”

“All I was told was I’m supposed to follow my heart. No matter what happens, follow my heart. It will lead me to the right decision.”

“Decision for what?”

“I don’t know, but I’m supposed to make one, and follow my heart when I do.”

“And what about me?”

“You, for you, the only advice I can give is,” and Mordechi got very solemn and serious, “love him. Love him with all your heart. Love him, even when you are mad at him. Love him, even if he makes the wrong decision; especially if he makes the wrong decision. Because, then only can love, your love of him, show him the right way.”

“Thank you,” Relina stood up, “I think I’ve heard all I can handle for one day.” She put her glass on table.

Mordechi walked around to her and they embraced. He held her, feeling her fear and frustrations and she didn’t hide them. A tear ran down her cheek. “I almost wish I didn’t know,” she said.

Still holding her, “I know, but the story is still unfolding. There are years to go before we have to worry about anything. That much I do know. There is time.” He let her go and gave her a kiss on the forehead, “Go with grace.”

Alister was having a blast in town. With his medal and new stories, he was becoming the hit of the night circuit. Where he played there was standing room only. He was well fed, had plenty to drink, and the choice of companionship. Yes, life was good. Then one day, life got interesting.

At the end of a great night at the Five Coins Inn, Alister was sitting on the stage recovering and talking to people, mostly ladies, when he heard a gruff voice call out to him.

“Little man on stage,” Alister ignored it at first but then the man called out to him louder, “Little man on stage!” and it was followed by a resounding “Thump!”

The crowd grew silent. People began to move away from Alister. Alister looked to where the voice was. There, was a very tall and burly man. Where he had thumped the floor with his club was now crushed and broken. Alister’s eyes grew wide with fear; he began to get up. “Gunther,” he said in a scared voice, “s—s—so nice to see you again. If you’ll excuse me, I was about to leave for the evening.”

“If you take step off stage, …I swing Thumper, bring entire building down on puny head. I walk away fine. You and most patrons will not. Sit. I see you start to cast, whole building be on head before you done!”

Alister was petrified. For the first time in his life, he didn’t have an exit strategy. For the first time, the situation got the best of him, and he knew there was nothing he could do about it. It was obvious Gunther was quite drunk. Alister knew he was screwed. He knew he was totally at the mercy of Gunther—the—Mad. Resolved to his fate, he sat, looked over at the bartender, and in a calm, almost surreal voice said, “Your finest stout, please.” There was no fear, no pain, no pleasure, just resolution. The bartender began to pour him a 30—ounce glass. They both figured it was his last drink.

Gunther advanced. No one stood in his way. The bartender gave Alister his drink, Alister thank him, and for the first time in his life, paid for it including a tip. The bartender then darted for the door.

Gunther advanced some more, Alister held up his hand, holding his index finger up as if asking for a minute. Gunther stopped and leaned on Thumper. Alister chugged his beer.

Now done, he motioned for Gunther to come on. Their eyes were fixed on each other. Alister just stared at him as he approached, “Ok, I’m ready,” was all Alister could say.

Gunther laughed, “Will beat you up later though, but not now. Today, we talk and I thank you as I curse you.”

“Thank me?” Alister was relieved and confused.

“Yes, thank you, for saving my marriage and curse you for sleeping with my wife. This I will not forgive. However, you have shown us a better way, so I not kill you. She has shown me things, things I like, things she likes, things we both like, all because of you.”

“Glad I could help?”

“Shut up fool! And you are fool. You brilliant yet stupid. That night, when she carried me to bed, I was mad but relieved. For the first time, you could say pressure was off.”

“Huh?”

“Always the man, am I, so always must the man be I. Not so with wife, I gave myself to her, she gave herself to me. That evening we gave ourselves to each other.”

“Oh, I get it. If you want a woman to…” Alister stopped himself.

“Yes. Now I know too. Now I understand. I am the man, but I have to let her be the woman. Now I understand.” Gunther zoned out for a moment of bliss, “But I digress. I love wife, could not kill her. Could kill you and was going to. However, the next morning we have talk, long talk, make love some more, then more talk. In the end, we realize how we mistreat each other. How I ignore her, how she not always see why I do things. She run to your arms because mine not available. For that, I blame me. Yet you still sleep with her. For that, I blame you. For other things, I blame her. We finally able to be together like never before. For that… I thank you. Apparently, you tell her things, she tell me. I understand, we together now. Still, you sleep with my wife, and for that you will feel pain, but not today.”

“Um, I don’t know what to say.”

“Say nothing! That keep Thumper quiet,” Gunther got up and began to walk to the door. “You good man, you also slime. You will get what is coming to you, just not today. I’d start worrying tomorrow if I were you.” Gunther staggered out the door.

Alister sat there, then passed out on stage. When he woke up, he looked around. Across the bar, sipping on some wine, seemingly oblivious to what was going on, was Lucinda. She winked at him and he went over to her.

Terry ran to the butcher shop. Through all the excitement they had, they had forgotten about their beef. She hoped it hadn’t spoiled by now. Mickey was behind the counter, as always.

“We forgot about the meat.” Terry started, “is it still ok?”

“Of course it is. When you didn’t come back, I figured you were on a mission, so I preserved it for you,” he went into the back and pulled out the beef. Saying a quick word, he removed the preservation spell that was on it. “There you go, fresh off the hoof.”

“Thank you, you’re such a dear.” She began flirting again.

“Anything for you.” He said.

Together, they put the side of beef on the wagon. Terry began to leave then all at once stopped the wagon.

“Is there something wrong?” he asked.

“Yes, you and I. Do you like me?” Her lack of social skills were beginning to show. One of the reasons she was a ranger, she liked being alone in the woods.

He was set aback slightly, “Um, yeah, I like you.”

“And I like you. Would you like to get a cup of coffee or something?”

“What?”

“Isn’t that what you say when you want to ask someone out without asking them out?” 320 years old, yet she was acting like a schoolgirl, “You say, ‘would you like to get a cup of coffee or something?’ Then you go to some little coffee shop, sit and talk.”

Mickey laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“I’m sorry, but you are.”

“Why? Because I asked you out?”

“No, because of the way you did. I’m sorry; I had this idea, you being an elf and all, being over 150 years old, you’ve lived over three lifetimes compared to me. I figured you had all this dating and stuff down to a sophisticated science. Hell, I was afraid to ask you out because I thought you would think I was being some stupid jerk or you would see it as some schoolboy crush. I’m laughing because I’m relieved. I guess we’re all just as fallible.”

Terry jumped down from the wagon, and approached Mickey. She put her hand on his shoulder, “No, I would never think you a stupid jerk, ever.” They reached for each other and hugged. As they drew back, they’re eyes met, and then they kissed each other. It was a long slow kiss, one of lost time and lost opportunity; a kiss given and received not necessarily of love, but of want of love.

“Um,” Terry said, “you still want that coffee?”

“No, but I could go for a beer.”

“Sit, young monk.” Don was back with his order. He had been practicing there for several weeks, sharpening his skills and mind. He was with his sensei, whom he referred to only as Teacher.

“Yes, Teacher.”

“Today, we shall separate the mind and the body. You must learn this so they can work better together. Are you ready?”

“Yes, Teacher.”

“Good, begin.”

They both went into a deep meditation and soon their spirit forms appeared before each other on the Astral plane. Teacher began to talk, it was all thought.

“This is a thought exercise. Do not forget that. We shall spare as two spirits. I will show you that what you really see is a ball of energy, with no form and no mass. Because of that, it can take on any form it chooses. You are not that far yet, so the only form available is that of yourself. Let us begin.”

They began a mock battle, hands and feet went flying everywhere. Don’s kicks were met with blocks. Teacher held back, allowing Don to block his attacks. Then Teacher surprised him. He began a midair leap, only to stop half way. Don looked up.

“Come up here young one,” he said.

“How?”

“Ah, young one, there is no form, no gravity here. All is only what we want it to be. I wish to be here, so I am here. Now, come up here.”

Don took a couple of deep breaths, then jumped and turned. He got about halfway, he was looking at Teacher’s stomach.

“Not bad, but simply will yourself further. You have been doing it the entire fight; this is no different. The only reason you see it as different is because that is your perception. Your perception is wrong. Do not deal in perceptions; deal in reality. Now, join me. Do not breathe so hard this time. Your breath will not help you here. Separate your physical from your mental.”