No Good Deed by Jerry Jackson Read Free Book Online Page B

perspective, there is a ninth color, black. An eye color extends beyond the iris to the sclera. A person with black eyes looks very strange. Since the pupils cannot be seen, you can never tell if they are looking at you or not. It is as though they are looking at everyone at once. This tends to make people very uncomfortable. Also, it only appears in half—elves. Some think it has to do with the mixing of elf and human that causes the defect. It is rare, and for the half—elf who has it, makes them stand out. Most try to hide it with glasses or spells but glasses can be removed and mana runs out. Lucinda was the rarest exception. She never hid her eyes.
    There she sat, in the corner, alone, eating a steak and drinking ale. When she looked up it was as though she was scanning the entire room at the same time. It was only the fact that her head turned toward Obidaan that he became aware that she was aware of him. A brief nod exchanged between them and they both went back to what they were doing. Relina squeezed Obidaan’s hand extra tight.
    “Pardon my ignorance but I ‘m obviously missing something,” Mordechi said. “There seems more to this than mere recognition and acknowledgment.”
    “And you’d be right,” Don said, “There is a bit of history between them.” At that moment, the waitress came by. She sat a pint of ale in front of Obidaan. Looking at the table, she asked, “May I take your order?”
    “Chicken and wine” said Terry
    “Beef and beer,” said Don
    “Stew and beer,” said Alister
    “Hmm, it all looks good, but I think I’ll take pork and wine,” said Mordechi.
    “Ma’am, sir, what would you like.” she broke Obidaan and Relina out of their trances.
    “Um ...,” Relina was a bit flustered, but recovered, “Chicken and wine, please”
    “And you sir?”
    “Beef stew. And please send a glass of ale to Lucinda, put it on my tab.”
    “Thank you,” and she was off. Seconds later there was another glass of ale sitting in front of Lucinda. Obidaan picked up his ale; she picked up hers and they toasted, took a healthy drink, nodded, and went about their business.
    “What was that about?” Relina asked.
    “Courtesy,” Obidaan replied, “as a sign of good faith toward another paladin, it’s common to buy each other a round, then toast. It is a way of recognizing each other and respecting the station,” Obidaan went silent after that. Relina continued to hold his hand.
    “There’s more to this, isn’t there,” Mordechi looked over at Obidaan. “I do remember you mentioning someone in your past, is that her?”
    Obidaan nodded.
    “Let’s just say they have a bit of history,” Alister replied.
    “Let’s say Obidaan feels responsible for her,” Terry butted in. Mordechi got a puzzled look on his face. “Obidaan still, wrongly, believes he is responsible for her becoming a paladin.”
    “I am responsible, if only indirectly.”
    “I doubt it,” Terry shot back. “You can’t make those types of choices,” Terry was playing her big sister roll. “She chose it; you can’t blame yourself for that.”
    “I don’t. What I blame myself for is her being given the option. Go ahead, Alister, you love to tell a good story, they don’t get much more interesting.”
    “Well, I am the foremost expert on paladins, hanging around one and all, ...”
    “You’re the foremost expert on everything, according to you.” Don quipped.
    “Yes, well, I do know how most paladins came to be chosen, even Lucinda; if you’ll excuse me for a second.”
    He got up and made his way across the room. Without permission, he took a seat at Lucinda’s table.
    “That’s a pretty ballsy move, bard. Especially considering the table you just came from. Were I in the mood, I’d bash your pretty little face in,” Lucinda greeted him.
    “It’s nice to meet you too. I am Alister, and yes, I am a bard and a wizard, and the foremost expert on paladins.”
    “Really? That nice,” there was a bit