“I can fix most anything,” said Rose, smiling at the group. “How about some steaks and eggs and perhaps a few potatoes?”
“That would be nice,” said Thrang.
Rose nodded and hurried off to get their drinks. Alex and his friends sat down at two small wooden tables, speaking softly to each other while they waited. Alex’s attention returned to the man standing alone at the bar. He sensed something about the stranger, but he couldn’t make up his mind exactly what it was. He didn’t think there was any danger, but still, there was something vaguely magical about the man.
Rose returned with their drinks and a basket with fresh bread, butter, and jam. Alex helped himself to the bread and let his eyes wander around the room. The locals glanced at them from time to time, as did the three men standing together at the bar. Only the man standing alone seemed to pay no attention at all to the company, which Alex thought was a bit odd.
“Walsh, the landlord, says the town’s only been here for about thirty years,” Thrang said.
“It looks a hundred years old,” said Arconn. “The weather has been hard on the wood—and the people.”
Thrang nodded. “They would have done better to build from stone.”
Alex was only half-listening to his friends. Kat had gotten up from the other table and was approaching the solitary man at the bar. He wondered what Kat was doing, and without thinking about it, he nervously shifted his staff in his left hand, ready to use it if necessary.
“Alex,” said Thrang, a bit louder than normal.
“Sorry, what?” Alex looked away from Kat and back to Thrang.
“I was just asking if you thought the weather would hold,” Thrang said, looking unhappy about having to repeat himself.
“It should,” answered Alex absently. “The weather should be good for the next few months.”
“Away, witch!” the man at the bar shouted in a commanding tone.
All eyes turned to the bar. Kat backed away from the man, turning and hurrying to the back of the bar. She sat at a separate table, obviously shaken.
Alex looked quickly at his friends. They all looked as stunned as he felt, but none of them made any kind of movement. He felt a wild and reckless surge of anger rising up in him, and he gripped his staff in his fist.
“Alex, no,” said Thrang, his voice low and urgent.
“What?” Alex had started to rise to his feet, but Thrang’s voice stopped him.
“Don’t,” said Arconn.
“What are you saying?” Alex asked in surprise. “Did we not agree to uphold each other’s honor?”
“This is different,” Thrang whispered.
“How?” Alex asked, confused.
“He’s not just a man,” said Arconn, nodding toward the man at the bar. “He’s a paladin.”
“A what?” Alex asked, angry that his friends were trying to hold him back.
“A paladin,” Thrang repeated. “A holy or sacred warrior.”
“And that means we should let this insult pass?” Alex said hotly.
“They have powers of their own,” said Arconn, putting his hand on Alex’s shoulder and guiding him back into his seat. “Some say they are the equal of wizards—if not greater.”
“I doubt that is true,” said Alex, the reckless feeling getting the better of him.
“Perhaps it is not true, but this is not the time to find out,” said Thrang, his voice full of fear.
“The little one wishes to defend the witch,” one of the three men at the bar said loudly.
“Listen to the dwarf and the elf, boy,” the second man added. “They know better than to meddle in things that do not concern them.”
“But the little one carries a staff,” said the third man with a laugh. “Perhaps he thinks himself a wizard, free to meddle when and where he chooses.”
It happened too quickly for Thrang or Arconn to say or do anything. In a flash, Alex was on his feet, his staff blazing like the sun and filling the room with light. The three men at the bar were picked up and thrown across the room, pinned to the wall by Alex’s magic. The locals screamed and ran for the door, and Alex ignored them. He moved closer to the men he magically held against the wall, the reckless feeling burning inside of him and threatening to overtake him completely.
“Enough,” the man at the far end of the bar said loudly. “Release them, wizard, and face me.”
Alex did not release the three men, but he turned toward the man who had called Kat a witch. The man looked directly into Alex’s eyes with a slight grin on his face, as if he had heard everything Thrang and Arconn had said and was not at all amused by it. Alex moved to meet him, shifting his staff from his left hand to his right, ready to confront the paladin and whatever powers he might have.
The room seemed to vanish around him, and all Alex could see was the stranger by the bar. He held the paladin’s gaze and felt the contest of power and will begin. Alex immediately knew he was the stronger of the two. Time seemed to stand still. For Alex, there was nothing but the stranger in front of him and the recklessness inside of him.
You must bow to me, said a voice in Alex’s mind. You must bow and acknowledge that I am greater.
No, Alex answered in his own mind, directing his thoughts back at the stranger. You will bow to me and apologize for your rash words.
They stood, locked in combat that no one else could see, for what seemed like a long time, Alex resisting the words of the stranger and forcing his own will and words back at him.
The end came as quickly as it had begun. There was a flash in Alex’s mind, and he knew that he had overcome the stranger. He blinked once to clear his eyes and the wild, reckless feeling slipped away from him. He stood in the middle of the room, though he didn’t remember moving there.
“Forgive me,” said the stranger. “Forgive my pride and arrogance.”
Alex looked down and saw the stranger kneeling in front of him. He glanced at his friends, their faces frozen in fear and amazement. The three men he’d held against the wall had fallen to the floor, pale and gasping for breath.
“What is your name?” Alex questioned the kneeling man.
“I am known by many names,” the stranger answered, his head bowed almost to the floor. “In this land, I am called Bane.”
“Why did you attack as you did?”
“I felt your power when you entered,” the paladin answered. “I heard your conversation with the dwarf and the elf. For a moment, I thought they would convince you to let my harsh words pass. I was already angry with myself for speaking too quickly to the seer, and I wanted you to confront me. Then my friends spoke out of turn, and you attacked them instead. I could not let them suffer for what I had done.”
“Why did you not just apologize to my friend?” Alex asked, his tone softening.
“My pride would not allow that. It was also my pride that forced me to test myself against you. I thought myself more powerful, but I was wrong. Forgive me, master wizard, I have been a fool.”
“Will you take back your hasty words and apologize to my friend?” questioned Alex.
“Gladly,” said Bane, looking up for the first time. “I know you could force me to apologize, and I appreciate the opportunity to ask the seer for her forgiveness.”
“Then I will forgive you as well,” said Alex, putting his hand out and helping the man back to his feet. “I am Alexander Taylor, but my friends call me Alex.”
“Then I hope to be among your friends, young wizard,” said Bane, smiling weakly.
Alex nodded. “There is only one thing left for you to do before we can be friends.” Alex glanced to the far corner of the room where Kat sat, looking as shocked as the rest of the company.
“As you wish,” said Bane, bowing and walking quickly toward Kat.
Alex watched for a moment and then turned back to his friends at the table. Thrang and Arconn still looked dumbstruck, as did Nellus and Barnabus. Thrain looked pale and terrified, like he wanted to run and hide. Alex sat
down at the table, and that seemed to break the spell that was holding his friends motionless.
“I . . . I don’t know what to say,” Thrang stuttered, looking at Alex. “I’ve never seen or heard of anything . . .”
“An impressive feat,” Arconn said, his voice a little shaky. “I have never heard of a paladin bowing to a wizard.”
“How did you . . . ?” Nellus stammered, unable to finish his question.
“It was a test of will, but it is over now,” Alex answered. “And I was only doing what Thrang asked us all to do.”
“Yes, but . . . a paladin,” Thrang managed to say.
At that moment, Kat and Bane walked up to the table.
“My thanks, Master Taylor,” said Kat, bowing to Alex. “I am in your debt.”
“As am I,” Bane added, also bowing.
Alex glanced at the three men who were struggling to get off the floor. “Perhaps your friends need some assistance,” he said to Bane. The paladin hurried over to them and said something that Alex could not hear, and then returned to the table.
“If it’s all right,” said Bane slowly. “They would like to ask your forgiveness as well.”
“Perhaps I should ask for theirs,” said Alex. “I don’t make a habit of throwing people around magically, and I’m afraid I’ve hurt them more than their words hurt me.”
“No, master wizard,” said the first man, kneeling down with his two friends. “We spoke as fools, and you were right to punish us.”
“Forgive us for our rash words,” said the second man in a pleading tone.
“We did not think, and we are sorry that we offended you,” the third man added quickly.
“Then rise as friends,” answered Alex.
The three men stood up and bowed to Alex and the rest of the company. Bane nodded to his friends, and they quickly made their way out of the tavern.
“And all is well between us, then?” Alex questioned, looking from Kat to Bane.
“All is well,” answered Kat. “And I ask that you not place all of the blame on Master Bane. I offered help where it was neither needed nor wanted.”
“And I spoke too quickly, without thought,” Bane added. “In the future I will not be so hasty.”
“Good,” said Alex. “Now, I think we should eat. Bane, you are welcome to join us.”
Bane glanced at Thrang. “The leader of the adventure should be the one to invite guests,” he said politely.
“My apologies, Master Silversmith,” said Alex. “I seem to have forgotten my place.”
“What’s that?” said Thrang, looking between Alex and Bane. “Oh, yes, we would be honored if you would join us.”
“The honor is mine,” said Bane, bowing to Thrang. “I would count it a great blessing to share a meal with your company.”
Thrang offered Bane a chair, and Alex suggested they push the two tables together into one long table. Bane and Thrang sat at opposite ends of the table, and Alex sat next to Bane. He wanted to talk to the paladin and find out more about him.
“Changed the seating, then, have you?” Rose remarked as she returned with a large platter. “And added a new friend as well. The two of you have scared away my regular customers, you know,” she said to Alex and Bane.
“I am sorry,” Bane said. “The fault is mine, and I will gladly compensate you for the loss of business.”
“Oh, that’s not needed,” said Rose with a laugh. “Those old grumps needed a bit of shaking up. They sit here every night and drink one mug apiece, and they never leave a tip. After tonight, I expect they’ll be drinking a bit more for the next few days.”
“If it’s not too much trouble, there will be eight for dinner,” said Thrang. “And please, put the mugs on our bill.”
“No trouble at all,” said Rose, putting the large platter of potatoes on the table. “I’ll be just a minute with the rest of it, and then I’ll leave you be.”
Rose moved surprisingly fast, and soon everyone in the company had filled their plates with hot food. Alex noticed that Bane made sure everyone had enough of everything before helping himself, and he smiled approvingly. He had never met a paladin before, and he didn’t remember reading anything about them in any of his studies.
“Have you traveled far?” Bane asked, looking at Thrang.
“Not yet,” said Thrang, cutting into his steak. “Our adventure is just beginning, and we have a long road to travel before its end.”
“May I ask which direction that road lies?” Bane asked. “Of course, if you’d rather not say, I understand.”
“We go east,” said Thrang simply.
“I have just come from the east,” said Bane. “I had heard stories of trouble there, though I had none myself.”
“What kind of trouble?” Thrang questioned.
“Rumors of bandits or maybe trolls,” Bane answered. “I saw few tracks in my travels, so I can’t say which, if any, of the rumors are true.”
“Trolls have more wealth than bandits,” Alex pointed out.
“And are often more dangerous,” Arconn added.
“And both are best avoided,” said Nellus, his voice troubled.
“Well, we won’t go looking for them,” said Alex. “I was just thinking if we had to face one or the other.”
“I doubt that either would be much trouble for Master Taylor,” Bane said.
“You are too kind,” said Alex. “And please, call me Alex.”
Their meal went on with a great deal of talk, but not much laughter. Bane knew a great deal about the land to the east, and they all listened closely as he told them about the difficulties he had run into and rumors he had heard.
“There are more dangers in Thraxon then there once were,” Bane concluded, pushing his chair back from the table.
“Not enough adventurers,” said Thrang, nodding his head. “If more adventures were going on here, many of the troubles you’ve heard of would be removed.”
“Perhaps,” Bane allowed. “Though the people of the land have some responsibility as well. They should not wait for adventurers to come and solve their problems for them.”
“True,” said Thrang, stroking his beard. “And the different peoples of Thraxon have not worked together for many years. I will mention it to King Thorgood when we return to Benorg.”
“Do you know the king well?” Bane questioned.
“Better than most,” said Thrang. “I have been one of his ministers. And this is his adventure, in a manner of speaking.”
“Then perhaps I could impose on you,” said Bane, leaning forward intently. “I am on my way to Benorg, and I need to search its history. Perhaps you could send a message to the king, asking for his assistance in my quest.”
“We know nothing of you or your quest,” said Thrang carefully. “I would need to know something about you and what you are looking for before I could ask the king to help you.”
“Yes, of course,” said Bane. “I will be happy to tell you anything I can.”
“But not everything,” said Alex, looking at Bane.
“You see much,” said Bane with a nod. “Yes, there are some things that I cannot tell, not even to a wizard like yourself.”
“Then tell us your story if you will,” said Thrang. “If there are parts you must leave out, we will understand and not ask questions.”
Chapter Seven
The Paladin’s Tale
Alex and his companions leaned back in their chairs, waiting expectantly. For several minutes Bane said nothing. His head was bowed slightly, as though he was trying to remember something from the distant past. If Alex hadn’t known better, he would have thought that Bane had fallen asleep.
Bane lifted his head, and Alex was surprised to realize that Bane was actually a great deal older than he appeared to be. The paladin looked worn and tired, and his face had turned a slight gray color.
“I was born in Goval,” said Bane slowly, “before it was divided into two lands. I had an easy childhood, or at least as eas
y as any childhood can be. Nothing of great importance happened to me as a child, and I mention it only so you will know that I was once a normal man.”
Bane paused, a troubled look crossing his face, but it was quickly gone, and he continued his story.
“When I was sixteen years old, the wars in Goval began. At the time, I didn’t know who started the wars, or why. To me, war looked like a great adventure, an opportunity to win fortune and fame. With such thoughts in my mind, I left my happy home and joined one of the many armies that marched across the land.
“I was a boy pretending to be a man. I knew nothing of war and less of life. Sadly, I learned too much about both, for I had a gift. The art of war came naturally to me, too naturally, in fact. I should have stayed at home, but that thought did not occur to me until it was much too late to go back. By the time I was seventeen, I had killed twenty men in single combat, and many more than that in the massed attacks between the armies.
“War is bloody, dirty work, but I took to it willingly, and my fame began to grow among the soldiers of our army. I was respected as a warrior, though I was still a boy. The fame went to my head, and I became proud and arrogant, two things I struggle with even today.”
Bane took a long drink from his mug. Alex could understand Bane’s feelings and desires, as he had sometimes felt a similar thirst for battle when wielding his sword, Moon Slayer.
“As my reputation grew,” Bane continued, “so did my responsibility. When I was eighteen, I commanded a squad of men. By the time I was twenty, I commanded a company. In four short years, the army had become my life. I had almost forgotten the home and family that I’d once had.
“When I was twenty-one years old, our army joined with another, and we received a new lord to rule us in our deadly game. He was a wise man, cunning on the battlefield and careful with the lives of his men. He had heard about me and ordered me to stand before him. At the time, I thought it was the greatest moment of my life.
“He began to train me to be more than just the mindless leader of a company. He taught me tactics and strategies. He showed me how to win men’s loyalty and get the most out of them. Those were the good lessons he taught me—but there were other lessons as well.”