Paladins of Shannara: The Black Irix (Short Story) Read Free Page A

you owe me?”
    “I am saying I have made a vow and now you are asking me to break it.”
    “For a very good reason.”
    “A very good reason for you. But not necessarily for me.”
    Panamon sighed. “Shea, consider. You told me you were so sick you almost died, and
     that you found yourself blessed by your recovery. Of what use is all that if you spend
     the rest of your life hunkered down in Shady Vale, never venturing farther than its
     borders, never taking another chance on anything, never risking even once the possibility
     you might do someone a great service?”
    Panamon held up his hand quickly to forestall the Valeman’s next response. “And I
     am not talking about myself. I am talking about those who loved and cared for Keltset,
     and who would be made glad beyond words if we were able to recover his Black Irix
     and return it to them. Does that count for nothing?”
    Shea tightened his lips, thinking. “What do you get out of this? Wait! You are planning
     on returning it, aren’t you? You don’t intend to sell it yourself?”
    Panamon looked shocked. “No, I don’t intend to sell it myself! What kind of creaturedo you think I am? This is Keltset we’re talking about. He saved our lives, and mine
     more than once! I’m doing this for him. I don’t want Kestra Chule to make his fortune
     on the death of my friend! I intend that he not make a single coin, and that the Irix
     go back to Keltset’s people where it belongs!”
    “You’re telling me the truth? You’re giving it back?”
    “What would you do?”
    “What I would do isn’t necessarily what you would do.”
    “Don’t play games with this.” Panamon was flushed, angry. “Just answer the question!
     What would you do?”
    They were shouting at each other now, and upon realizing it they went quiet at once.
     Panamon picked up his tankard and drained it. Then he passed it across the table to
     Shea who took it without a word, carried it back behind the serving counter one more
     time, refilled it, and returned.
    As he sat down again, he found himself remembering what Flick had said about the woodswoman’s
     prediction. He hadn’t believed it possible that it would come true. He had thought
     it funny that it would cause Flick to be so concerned.
    Well, he wasn’t laughing now.
    “I would do what you are doing,” he said quietly. “How soon do we leave?”
    * * *
    It was the sort of decision you made quickly. There wasn’t much to think about when
     you came right down to it. You could make all the promises or vows you wanted, but
     ultimately everything hinged on the answer to a single question. How much did you
     owe someone who stood by you when you needed it and by doing so saved your life? If
     it didn’t matter to you, you turned them down when they asked for your help. If it
     counted for something, you didn’t.
    No matter the doubts or inconveniences attached to making this trip with Panamon Creel,
     Shea felt honor-bound to go. He tried to explain that to Flick later that same evening
     when his brother returned from the miller’s, but his efforts were futile. Flick was
     having none of it. Shea was deliberately and foolishly placing himself in harm’s way
     out of a misguidedsense of loyalty to a man of questionable character—although admittedly one who had
     helped him in the past. Was Shea forgetting that Panamon had tried to steal the Elfstones
     from him? Was he forgetting that Panamon’s mission—no matter its claimed virtues—was
     essentially another theft? Was he forgetting that the thief had a tendency not to
     be entirely forthcoming with what he knew and tended to shade the truth of whatever
     he did tell?
    “What about the fact that you only just got your health back?” he demanded as a last
     resort. “You almost died, Shea! Now you are going on a trip that could very well finish
     the job. Shades, you don’t even know where you’re going!”
    They were standing out back by the woodshed,