The Choosing (30 page)

Ashton and Garret had finally settled down, and listened to the couple speak.  Seeing that their short, lovey dovey conversation had come to an end, Ashton had some questions he wanted answered.

“Well Seth how did it feel?”  Ashton asked.

“I don’t know.”  Seth began his reply.  “It was hard at first for me to focus, but when I finally found a way to, it really wasn’t hard.”

“Well each time you use the magic it gets easier.”  Ashton stated.

“It felt good though, almost natural.”  Seth added.

“How do you feel now?”  Sara asked her concern evident in her voice.

“I feel terrific Sara.  I promise I was not harmed in any way.”  Seth said to reassure her.

“Well then.”  This time it was Garret who spoke.  “It seems to me that we both passed the test, so what do we do now?”  He asked honestly unsure.

“Well, there really isn’t anything to do I suppose.”  Ashton said and then thinking further on the subject added.  “It will all depend on what you are chosen for, and which god you should choose to worship.  Even then you aren’t guaranteed a blessing from the god.  Even if you are, each god only lends their power with a predetermined purpose, and that purpose will be the only way you will be able to wield the power.  Some of the blessed are able to perform various tasks with their blessing, but most often someone is only able to perform one thing specifically.”

“So that means the only way I will be able to do that again is if I swear myself to a god and worship them like you do?”  Seth asked

“Yes and no.”  Ashton answered.  “Like I told you once before, there are many gods, and each require from their follower’s different things.  I would suggest waiting until after the choosing, and learn which god or gods fits the best with what you are chosen for, and what they expect from their followers, then choose which one of any you want to follow the teachings of.”

Sara sat quietly listening to the conversation, trying to learn all she could about the ability Seth possessed.  She knew he held no intentions of worshipping any god.  This much she had gleaned from him in past conversations with Ashton.  She too realized that the only way he could use the gift is if a god blessed him and allowed him to summon their power.  She found that she was happy about the fact that he was likely to never worship a god, and so was likely never to use the gift he had been born with.  Sara was unsure why it made her happy, and she felt guilty about the feeling.  She pondered both her happiness and her guilt when a knock sounded from the door.

They all rose from their seats at the sound and curious about the interruption, they approached the door together.  Sara was the first to reach the door, and unlocking it, she pulled it open wide.  Sasha stood in the hall, and looked at each one of them briefly.  A look of relief washed across her face as she noted their condition, and she quickly replaced the look with a smile.

“Sorry to interrupt you.”  Sasha stated.  “I have just returned from visiting my husband.  In my absence the servants said they heard an explosion.  I assumed it was the God’s tear, but it appears to be intact, and so I’m checking on our guests.”

The group nodded their understanding, unwilling to admit the source of the explosion.  Sasha invited them to come and eat, as the evening was growing late, and the companions assured her they would come to dine shortly.  Accepting their reply, Sasha turned and strode down the hall, her hips swaying in her near transparent gown.

Sara quickly closed the door on Sasha’s retreating form and turned to face her companions.  They all shared a knowing smile and Sara couldn’t help but giggle a little at what had just transpired.

The companions arrived at the dining hall shortly after their conversation with Sasha.  This time the hall was not empty as it had been earlier in the day.  A few random tables were occupied, however the one they had sat at earlier in the day was vacant, and so they again resumed their places around the table.  They spoke quietly for a time, a bit uncomfortable with others in the room.  Before long the same man who had served them earlier appeared in the same outlandish white clothing he had worn before.

“Greetings honored guests.”  He said to them a wide smile splitting his face in two.  “What can I have the pleasure of preparing for you this evening?”

Sara found herself once again unprepared for the question, but quickly decided upon a solution.

“I really hadn’t thought about it sir, but it seems to me you enjoy cooking.  Is there any dish in particular you enjoy preparing more than another?”  She asked him happy to see his surprised reaction.

“Indeed there is such a dish.”  He stated honestly.  “Would you have me prepare it for you?”

“I most certainly would.”  Sara answered.

“What will you be having Master Seth?”  The man asked Seth with a smile.

“I will have what she is having if it’s not any trouble.”  Seth replied

“Me too.”  Garret added.

“I would like the same as well.”  Stated Ashton.

“You are all so very kind.”  The man told them with a smile.  “Four of my specialties coming up.”  He added with a twirl of his finger in the air.

With that the man spun and limped his way back across the room and disappeared into the hall.  The four companions again spoke quietly while waiting for their food.  They once had seen Sasha pass through the room and each of them flashed her a smile as she passed.  It was not long before the man returned with their food.  He placed in front of each of them a steaming plate.  Each plate contained a small duck smothered in a thick tangy sauce that made all of their mouths water.  Beside each duck was a large pile of mixed steamed vegetables, and several fried apples carved into the likeness of rose buds and drizzled with honey.  Each plate was its own astonishing masterpiece and they each thanked the man whole heartedly before he left them to eat their meal.

The meal was beyond delicious.  Each savory bite left their mouths watering for another.  The duck was tender and nearly fell from the bone.  The vegetables were steamed to be tender, but not overcooked as to lose their flavor.  The apples were like nothing any of them had ever tasted before.  They were soft but not mushy, and the tart flavor hinted at wine and lemon, all the while added to by the sweet honey filling every carved crevice.  The entire meal was like ecstasy to their taste buds.

They finished their meal quickly and waited a while hoping the man would return so they could share with him their compliments.  He did not return however and so they decided to head off to their rooms early for some sleep so they could begin exploring the city in the morning.  They pushed in their chairs and headed for the hall.  Telling one another good night, they departed at the room Seth and Sara were sharing, as the two other boys continued down the hall to the stairs that would lead them to their own room.

Garret and Ashton entered their room and set about undressing.  They climbed into their respective beds, and putting out their bedside lanterns went quickly to sleep.

Seth let Sara through their door before him, and closed it behind him.  As Sara crossed the room towards the bed Seth locked the door and tested it to be sure t worked correctly.  Turning towards the bed Seth witnessed Sara picking up a small package.  She peeked inside it with a smile as he approached.

“What’s that?”  Seth asked, eyeing the package suspiciously.

“A surprise.”  Sara answered a teasing smile on her lips.  “There is one here for you too.”  She added pointing to another smaller package.

“Hmm…what do you think it is?”  Seth asked reaching for the package.

“Why don’t you open it and see?”  Sara asked again with the teasing smile.

Seth reached his hand into the small container and pulled out its contents.  In his hand was a small bundle of silk.  He unfolded the small bundle, and holding it before him revealed a pair of black silk men’s undergarment.  These particular ones were fashioned as quarter length shorts.  Seth eyed the garment scrutinizing it as if it might hurt him somehow.

“What is it?”  He asked her quizzically.

“Something for you to sleep in.”  Sara stated, eyeing the garment he held with a big smile on her face.  “I like it.”  She then added.

“What did you get?”  Seth asked silently hoping she did not have anything to sleep in.

“I guess you will just have to wait and see.”  She said in her most angelic voice, the teasing smile returning.  “Why don’t you change here, and I’ll go change over there.”  Sara instructed pointing to the small partition in the corner.

Seth nodded his understanding, and waited for her leave.  Sara walked across the room purposely accentuating the sway of her hips, knowing he watched her go.  She stepped behind the partition and immediately began to undress. 

Seth watched Sara cross the room, her swinging hips holding his attention until she disappeared behind the screen.  He undressed as fast as was possible, not wanting to get caught in the act, and pulled on the black silk garment he had been given.  Looking down at himself he realized he didn’t look nearly as silly as he had imagined he would.  He climbed onto the bed and sat patiently watching for Sara to reappear.

Sara stood naked behind the screen.  She was not worried that Seth might come and catch her in this condition.  She knew he would wait patiently, though she thought it might be more convenient if he did appear.  She reached into the package she had requested and pulled out two silk garments.  Looking them over she realized they were actually two halves of one garment.  She placed the bigger of the two upon the clothes she had just removed, and attempted to ascertain what the remaining piece was meant to cover.  It was a small triangle of silk no bigger than her palm with a satin cord attached to all three corners.  Two of the corners were connected by the cord in a large loop.  The other cord was sewn by its end at the middle of the loop created by the first cord.  Sara held the piece before her face turning it this way and that when it struck her.  Holding the garment by each end of the large loop, the triangle in front of her, she stepped into it with each leg on either side of the remaining cord.  She pulled the garment up her legs and into place expecting it to be uncomfortable.  The placement of the cord that wrapped under her and up her backside was not as uncomfortable as she had assumed it would be, but it wasn’t exactly pleasant either and would take some getting used to.  Having successfully figured out the first piece she reached down and retrieved the other.  This one looked a bit more self explanatory, and only took her a second to derive its orientation.  This too was made of black silk, but it was much thinner than her lower garment, nearly completely transparent.  She flung it around her shoulders and pushed her arms through its sleeves.  Pulling it around her she tied the single tie upon the front.  Finally dressed, she turned to look in the mirror that sat behind the screen.  Looking in the mirror she decided to unbraid her hair and let it fall around her shoulders.  She ran her fingers through her hair straightening it as best she could and stood to look at herself.  The top was open from top to bottom revealing her bare skin from her neck all the way down well below her navel.  The only tie on the garment was just below her breasts, pulling the front together slightly.  It accentuated her body nicely but left nothing to the imagination.  The Sheer fabric was so entirely see through she hardly seen any use in wearing it at all.  The bottom also left very little to the imagination.  It was a thicker silk and so hid the portion of her body it was designed to conceal, but it left the rest of her totally revealed.  The thin cords traced lines up over her hips and came together in the back.  Her backside was completely exposed except the thin cord that ran down its length disappearing between her legs.  The outfit was significantly more revealing than Sara had intended, but she found it did appear to make her body more attractive somehow.  The black silk stood in stark contrast to her creamy white skin making her seem more visually appealing.  Sara gathered what little courage she had, and with a nod to herself in the mirror, she turned and walked out from behind the partition.

Seth watched the partition patiently waiting for Sara to reappear, all the while imagining what she might be wearing when she did.  None of his imagined fantasies had prepared him for what he saw when she did.

Sara strode out from behind the small screen, her head held high, and a look of determination on her face.  Seth tried not to stare, but was unable to wrench his gaze from her.  He could not believe what he was seeing and silently swore to himself if there was anything at all worth worshipping in the world, he had found it.  Sara strode across the expanse of the large room and stopped at the foot of the bed smiling at him sheepishly.

“Do you like it?”  She asked, her teasing smile returning.

Before he could reply she turned around slowly allowing him to see her from every angle.  Seth, try as he might, could not help but study her inch by inch in fascinating wonder.  Her outfit composed of two pieces, both made from black silk like the one he now wore.  Her top was split from top to bottom revealing a trail of milky white flesh from her neck to her lower abdomen.  The silk of the top fluttered at the edges with the rise and fall of her breasts as she breathed.  These too he could see clearly through the clothing though he tried his best not to stare.  As far as he was concerned however they were perfect, firm and round, and apparently she was a bit cold.  As she turned he watched her hips twist, and his eyes followed her bare hips down the entire bare length of her tone legs.  She paused briefly when she had her back to him, and he traced her body again with his eyes up her calves, to her thighs and up again to her completely bare backside.  Seth’s breath caught in his throat at the discovery and he choked unable to control the reaction.  He heard a small giggle escape Sara’s lips as she began to turn again.  She twirled slowly to face him again, and it pleased her to find that Seth’s face had gone completely red.