The High Druid's Blade (The Defenders of Shannara, #1)(20)
“No, it doesn’t seem likely,” he agreed. He felt a sinking in his stomach. He was in a lot more danger than he had imagined. “If he went to all that trouble, he won’t give up until he has the sword in hand. He’ll keep coming after me until he gets what he wants. What should I do?”
Her smile returned. “This is what I brought you here to talk about. I want to make you an offer. Come to Paranor and live with us. Learn to use the magic of the sword fully and responsibly. We can help you do that. When your training is complete, remain here with us for three years as our paladin. It would constitute repayment in full for our services and provide you with practical experience using your sword. You would be given tasks to complete, helping us to secure various items of magic and to deal with those who refuse to cooperate in our efforts to protect against misuse of that magic. At the end of three years, if you so choose, you would be free to go.”
She paused. “And you would be allowed to take your sword with you when you leave.”
Paxon stared at her in disbelief. “Are you asking me to join the Druid order? To become a Druid?”
She shook her head. “I am asking you to serve with the order, not to join it. But there is work and responsibility enough just in that, Paxon. I wish you to be what was once called a Knight-errant. Our order comprises students and teachers, but few are trained as warrior Druids, as some once were. Few have fighting skills and weapons knowledge. And no one has a weapon like you do. You could accompany our Druids while they do their work searching out and recovering lost magic and confronting the threats such magic poses. You could help keep them safe. You could act as their protector. Will you consider doing so?”
He knew right away it was what he wanted, what he had been searching for—a chance to do something besides haul freight and pass the time between runs. He also understood the importance of what it would mean to be associated with the Druids. He was not afraid of what that might involve or of the Druids themselves; he was confident in his ability to make good choices when the need arose. Still, an acceptance of the offer could not be given lightly, and the offer itself should not be accepted out of hand. There were still uncertainties to be resolved.
“By doing this, you would remove me from Leah and from any danger of Arcannen catching me unawares? Or coming after my sister again?”
“That is my thinking.” She arched one eyebrow. “Though we might need to do a little more early on.”
“But my mother and sister depend on me to work the airfreight business,” he said. “There is no money for them if I leave.”
“We will give them money to replace what your departure will cost them, enough so that they can live comfortably. You can either sell the business or ask someone to run it for you in your absence. I will repeat what I said before. You needn’t worry for your family’s welfare. If I deem it necessary, I can provide them with someone to help look after things.”
She was promising an awful lot, and it suggested that she badly wanted him to accept her offer, which was both reassuring and a bit intimidating. What would she ask of him as an agent of the order? How much would he be expected to do in her service?
“What if, after you’ve trained me, you ask me to do something I don’t feel right about, something I can’t make myself do?”
She regarded him steadily. “I won’t ask you to do anything like that. We aren’t what some people say we are, Paxon. We don’t act in ways that bring harm to those who don’t invite it. And should you feel we are crossing a line you yourself would not cross, we will let you step aside.”
“But I will be expected to fight?”
“Mostly, you will need to be prepared to fight. Your presence alone should help deflect most of the violence.”
Paxon wasn’t sure that was true, but he saw no point in arguing about it. What really mattered was whether or not this was something he wanted to do badly enough to take whatever risks the work offered. “I don’t know if I’m up to this,” he admitted. “I don’t know if I’m good enough to do what you expect. What if I’m not?”
The smile returned. “Paxon, I’ve lived a long time, and I’ve come to be a pretty good judge of character. I’ve been wrong about people, but not very often. So when I tell you I believe you are what we need and will be able to do what’s expected, you can feel confident that I am right. I think you should consider giving it a chance. If we are both wrong, you can walk away.”
She held up one cautionary finger. “You’ve been looking to do something more with your life; I could see it in your eyes when I told you what I wanted you to do. You want a chance to do something important, something that matters. You want your life to have real purpose. Why not see if the opportunity I am offering you isn’t what you’ve been looking for? Why not discover if it isn’t the chance you are seeking?”
“You make a persuasive argument,” he admitted, smiling back at her. “How long do I have to decide?”
“Do you really need time to make this decision?” she asked gently. “Don’t you already know the answer? Isn’t the answer in your heart?”
He stared at her in surprise. He hadn’t expected this. He had believed she would tell him to take the remainder of the day to think it over, maybe more. He waited for her to say something more, but she remained silent, watching him.