The Choosing (28 page)

“Yes ma’am one in the same.”  Garret stated and then as if to prove the meeting added.  “They approached me looking for signs of a goblin who had visited the area.”

Sasha nodded in reply and her eyes drifted from Garret around the table and fell upon his twin Seth.

“You then must be the brother who sustained injury in the encounter.”  Sasha stated recalling the details she had been told.

Seth nodded in response, unsure of the direction of the conversation.

“It appears you have recovered then from the injury you reportedly sustained.  I suspect it was no great injury then if you sit here already just a couple days later.”  Sasha spoke as if making notes of the details mentally as she did.

“Well actually…”  Ashton chimed in not wanting her to presume incorrectly.  “The goblin was able to drive his blade between Seth’s ribs and up into his lung and heart.”  Ashton spoke evenly as a physician might of the injury.

Seth shuddered at the thought, remembering too well the pain of the injury and the grief it had caused Sara.

“Truly?”  Sasha asked as if unconvinced.  “Yet you sit here with a beating heart, breathing air easily at my table.  How is this possible?”  She asked this time the disbelief audible in her tone.

“Like this.”  Ashton said, slightly annoyed by the woman’s disbelief.

Ashton pushed back from the table and kneeled beside it, raising his face to the heavens he spoke a prayer silently to himself.  Then focusing his gaze inward he chanted almost silently.  Twisting the power surging within him he began to focus the power at his hands.  Deciding that would not be dramatic enough he refocused the power to consume him and molding it to his will he unleashed it.  Bright light exploded from Ashton’s entire body consuming him in its soft yellow tinted glow.  The light pulsed more brightly than any of his companions had ever witnessed before, and the light appeared to dance around the boy’s body clinging loosely to his form.  As quickly as the light had appeared, Ashton forced himself to once again contain it as to not tire his body.  A smile spreading across the lanky man’s face the light vanished with a wink.  Ashton opened his eyes to find Sasha staring at him, her mouth wide open in disbelief.  Attempting to regain her composure, Sasha peeled her gaze away from the young healer and looked away to gather her thoughts before she spoke.

“A young powerful healer.”  She stated more to herself than anyone else.  “Who would have known?  Please accept my apologies for not readily accepting your tale.  It is just a surprise that you travel without the robes of your order.”  Sasha mused of her own thoughts as Ashton began to reply.

“I have not yet received my robes Miss Sasha, as I have not yet attended The Choosing, nor have I been properly trained.  My abilities are what my mother was able to teach me, as well as the result of much trial and error.”  Ashton stated honestly.

“I see.”  Sasha proclaimed.  “May I have the honor of learning your name?”  She asked having derived the rest of their names from the conversation.  His name alone was the only one not known to her.

“My name is Ashton Rayne, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”  Ashton replied earnestly.

“No my young friends, it is I that has the pleasure of meeting you.  I must send word to my husband that you have arrived safely.”  Sasha stated.  “He was most hopeful to see you again at The Choosing Garret, and I am sure he would be happy to learn that you have arrived intact.”  She stated happily.

“Who is your husband and why does he want to see me?”  Garret asked thoroughly confused.

“Oh how silly of me, one of the knights you met on the road was my husband, Lord Sirus.”  Sasha stated a look of pride spreading across her pretty face.

This time it was the four companions whose jaws dropped open.  None of them could believe that this woman’s husband had been the one to supply them with horses and food, and money for shelter.  The money that in fact had been used to pay for their stay at this inn.  The very inn owned by the man and his wife.  It was just too much to comprehend.

Allowing her four guests to regain their composure, and to let the information settle upon them, Sasha waited patiently. When they all had appeared to recover from the news, Sasha decided to finish answering Garret’s question as best as she was able.

“When my husband met you he was able to determine that with training you could become a knight like himself.  He said he could sense….”  Sasha’s words broke off as she pondered something.  “Wait if you are twins though than that likely means that Seth too has…”  Trailing off again Sasha was consumed by her own thoughts momentarily before she continued.  “Never mind me.  It will all be sorted out in the days to come.  That much I am sure of, but I must leave you with my apologies.  I must send word to my husband.  Perhaps he will even come to visit you before the ceremony.  In any case don’t worry about the meals.  They are free of charge, as well as any further services or food you might require whilst you stay under our roof.”  Sasha spoke the words swiftly, and when she finished speaking she turned and strode elegantly out of the room.

The four companions sat looking around from one face to another.  The meaning of Sasha’s words had been lost to them, and none of them wanted to voice their shared questions.  Yet her generosity made them all feel somewhat comfortable with the fact that something obviously beyond their understanding was going on.  Feeling concerned and a bit frightened Sara took in the faces around her.  Seth looked deep in thought, his eyes focused on some point straight ahead of him.  He still held her hand beneath the table, though his fingers felt limp, unfeeling.  Sasha had said that Seth apparently shared some unknown talent with his brother, a talent that could possibly lead him to being chosen for the vast armies of Valdadore.  This Sara knew was not what Seth wanted, nor did she want him to go with the army.  The possibility worried her, as it must be worrying him, judging by the look on his face.  Sara then looked to Garret.  He sat tall and proud in is chair beaming a smile across the table at his brother, however the look went unnoticed by its intended target.  Garret felt that in this moment his dreams and hopes had been assured.  He would be chosen to join the armies protecting Valdadore.  He might even be trained as one of the elite knights that served the Kingdom.  Not only was he happy that he would get chosen for what he wanted, but it seemed as if Seth was likely to be chosen for the same reason.  If they were both chosen for knighthood, then they would remain together.  Garret’s wishes all seemed to be coming true, and he rejoiced in the feeling.  Sara’s gaze left Garret and she turned to look upon Ashton.  Ashton sat across from her, looking back and forth from one twin to the other as she had just done.  Only his face was not troubled by concern as hers was, instead he looked inquisitive.  He looked from one brother to the other then back again searching for something he could not see.  Not finding what he searched for he sat back in his chair, slumping into it slightly as if defeated.  Sara looked back to her guardian, and seeing the pain still on his face she could not stop the tears from brimming her eyes.  She squeezed his hand lightly, all the while keeping her eyes focused as best she could through her tears, on his face.  When she squeezed his hand his expression shifted.  Turning his head slightly his eyes finally focused and he turned his gaze to Sara.  His face immediately twisted to one of concern and he pulled her to him wrapping his arms lightly around her.  He was trying to protect her even from her own feelings.  Seth kissed the top of her head and whispered into her hair.

“It is going to be ok angel, and if it turns out badly, we have already made such plans.”  Seth finished with another kiss to her head.

Sara nodded in his embrace and he carefully released her as to not make her lose her balance and fall from her chair.  She sat up and immediately looked to his face, assuring herself that his pained look had not returned.  It had not.  In fact his expression now looked as if nothing had even transpired.  Seth looked to his brother who was still smiling as if trying to air dry his teeth.  Seth nodded to his brother in understanding and then turned out of his chair and stood.

“So what do we do now?”  Seth asked no one in particular.

“Well it is getting a bit late in the day to explore the city.”  Ashton replied.  “However if you guys are up for a challenge, or a test if you prefer, I would like to try something.”

Sara, Seth, and Garret all looked to Ashton for explanation, and realizing that he had gained their interest he continued.

“Sasha said that Sirus had seen something about you that had caught his attention.  I recall someone once telling me that all Knights to the Kingdom possess the gift of magic.  Though each of them has varying talents, each of their talents lends to their skills of battle.  If Sirus thinks to make you a knight than he must have surmised that you have the gift.”  Ashton waited a moment to let his words settle in before he continued.  “If you do have the gift we can try a simple test to confirm it.  It is a test my mother used on me when I was young, and though she did not teach me how to perform it, I think I can replicate it well enough.”

Garret nodded immediately and so it was left to Seth to decide for himself.  Seth was a rational person, perhaps even calculated in his decision process.  Seth knew that no harm could come from this knowledge and so he agreed to the test.  Sara waited just as anxiously for Seth’s answer as Garret and Ashton had, and seeing him agree, she hoped that this test would not alter Seth’s perception of her or of himself.  They decided to return to Seth and Sara’s room for some privacy to perform the test.

Seth unlocked the door and allowed Sara to enter first.  Garret and Ashton followed her through and Seth entered behind them closing and locking the door.  They walked to the seating area with the overstuffed, upholstered chairs and benches.  Seating themselves comfortably, they prepared themselves for Ashton’s instruction.  All too ready to begin Ashton immediately started talking.

“Ok guys all I want you to do is clear your minds and relax.  Try to focus yourselves, but remain aware of your mind.  If this works you should be able to feel the power flowing through me, and if you can I want you to try and absorb that power and contain it within yourself.  It sounds easier than it is, but we have time to make a few attempts if needed.  I am going to pray and summon my Goddess’s blessing and through me I will try and channel her power to you.  Are you ready to try?  Ashton asked with a wide grin on his face.

Garret was the first to nod his readiness and so Ashton walked to him and knelt down beside him.

“Ok now relax and clear your mind, focus yourself inward and wait until you can feel the power.”  With his instructions completed Ashton tilted his head to the heavens and prayed.

His prayer completed, Ashton began a low chant.  As the intensity of his chant increased the holy light of his Goddess began to dance across his skin.  Ashton held the power within him.  Molding it to his will he let it consume him.  Reaching out with his hand he grasped Garrets exposed arm.  Not requiring healing Ashton released the power slowly in its pure form allowing it to flow unchecked into Garret’s body.  Garret gasped.

Garret sat still, his body as relaxed as he could make it and did as he was told.  He focused his mind inward pushing all thoughts and memories that tried to assault him away.  Clearing a space for him to focus Garret imagined himself in a pure space, surrounded by white nothingness.  He could vaguely hear his friend chanting but as soon as he realized it he washed it away as well.  Garret floated within his own mind waiting to see or feel something both magnificent and foreign.  He did not notice when Ashton grabbed his arm, he was too disconnected at this point for his body to relay the message.  He sat surrounded by a white abyss when he felt the tingle.  Reaching towards it with his mind he was able to see it for what it was.  A vast ocean of yellow light churned upon itself within him.  However try as he might he could not reach it, he made attempt after attempt to grasp it, yet the power remained elusive.  Then something struck him, the power was here, he knew it was here he could feel it and see it, but Ashton had told him to contain it.  Slowly carefully Garret lowered the barriers within his mind he had built to keep out unwanted thoughts and memories.  As the barriers slipped away Garret’s mind was flooded with images and thoughts but he ignored them, instead focusing himself on the power within himself.  This time Garret mentally envisioned himself building the barriers around his entire mind contained, as the power reeled away from a barrier Garret would let it fall allowing thoughts and images escape.  Before the power could too find the hole in his defense he replaced it.  It was a task that seemed to take a life time, forever removing his mental shields allowing thoughts to pass beyond, then, replacing the shield.  He slowly destroyed and rebuilt the barriers each time making them smaller forcing the power pulsing within him to focus tighter and tighter until at last a perfect sphere of roiling light was encased within his mind.  Garret reeled at the realization and without knowing it he gasped.  He had been able to detect, locate and contain the power, but now what was he supposed to do?

Carefully, deliberately, Garret opened his eyes, all the while focusing inward, keeping the power contained.  He located Ashton with his eyes he realized his friend had stopped chanting and now sat before him staring at him intently.

“What now?”  Was all Garret could mutter while retaining his focus on the power.

“Now if you have it focused, immerse yourself within the power, try to control it with your mind, command it to do something then release it.”  Ashton instructed quickly seeing that his friend was struggling.