The Choosing (5 page)

“For Valdadore!”

The plains echoed his battle cry as a thousand voices joined his own and rumbled the very earth beneath them.  “For Valdadore!”

The image shifted then, as both armies charged one another.  First the grass went from blood smeared green to black, and then the sky went black as well.  All traces of light were lost, and with it, all sound.  The image faded from Garret’s mind leaving him in darkness.  Leaving him to ponder the horrible sights he had witnessed.  Leaving him alone in his mind, in the dark comfort that was his subconscious, to get some needed rest.

Both brothers slept restfully within their own beds, within their own minds.  Neither would again dream this night.  Both would remember their dreams though, all too well would they remember them.  Perhaps one day, they would understand the meaning, if dreams held any meaning at all.

Both of the twins awoke to the knock at their door, and both in turn mumbled some sort of reply.  The door cracked open a bit and James poked his large head around the door.

“Get moving boys, if you want to get in a good day of travel today you need to be ready by sunrise.”  James stated.  Removing his head from the door he closed it gently, turned and walked back down the hall, his head hung low, and shoulders slumping.  Today was not going to be a good day.

The twins quickly rose from their beds; Garret lit a lantern, and placed it in the window sill.  Whether it was nervousness or anxiousness that guided them, both were dressed more quickly than was usual.  Seth sat on the end of his bed pulling on his new boots.  Lacing them up tightly, he looked across the room at his brother who was doing the same.

“Well I guess this is it.” Seth said in a tone of resignation.

“Yeah.”  Was the only response Garret could muster.

Good. Seth thought.  At least Garret is finally getting the picture.

Both boys rose from their beds, and exchanged compliments on their new attire.  Garret did indeed look like royalty in his blue and silver travel garb, with his sword already sheathed at his hip, and dagger at his waist.  Seth reached down to pick up his belt and new sword, and threaded the belt through the scabbard.  He then did the same with the dagger and strapped the belt around his waist.  It all felt a bit heavy, almost uncomfortable.  Garret looked Seth up and down in appreciation and laughed loudly.

“What?” Seth demanded. “Did I put something on wrong?”

“No it’s just funny seeing you like that.”  Garret continued laughing.

“What’s so funny about it?”  Now Seth was getting a bit annoyed.

“Well.”  Garret said trying to compose himself.  “You’re all dressed in black, with a black cloak, black sword, black, black, and more black.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Seth questioned, sounding a bit harsher than he intended.

“Nothing. It’s just that you look like what I imagine an assassin would look like creeping around on roof tops.”

Both twins started laughing then and Seth imagined what he must look like all dressed in black as if he were clothed in darkness.

“An assassin huh?” Seth thought out loud.

Now there is a profession I hadn’t thought of.  I wonder if assassins are picked at The Gathering.  Just one more worry to add to the list.

The boys picked on each other’s new stylish looks a few more minutes then headed out of their room, to the common room, where they could hear their father talking to someone.

Rounding the corner into the seating area where they had received their gifts the twins saw the other boy from last night seated at the bar eating and nodding to a question James had asked.  He was a tall, skinny kid, awkward looking, with a child’s face.  His hair was a light blonde color, and cut just above the ears as if a bowl had been placed on his head and then cut around.  His eyes were a bright penetrating blue, seemingly full of happiness.  Beside him were two more plates of food.  James looked over to the boys from behind the bar, and waved them over, pointing at the plates of food.

“Eat while its hot boys.”  James smiled.

“It’s Ashton right?”  Seth asked the boy at the bar.

“Yes, Ashton Rayne.” The boy said with a smile on his lips looking over the twins.

“You must be Seth.” Ashton said.  He reached out and clasped hands with Seth briefly and then turned his head to look past Seth.

“That makes you Garret then.”  Releasing Seth’s hand he then extended it to Garret.

“It’s nice to meet you.”  Was Garret’s reply, Seth merely nodded his agreement.

“Your father has been telling me all about all the extra work he is going to have to do when you guys leave today.”  Ashton added.  “It seems we all are leaving things unfinished behind us.”  He trailed off on this last part as if thinking of something far away.

“Well boys.” James said.  He didn't like the mood this last statement from Ashton was bringing out.  “Eat your fill, you got a long journey ahead of you.  If you need more food just holler I'll be in the kitchen.”  With that James turned on his heel and walked through the door to the kitchen.  The boys, all three, watched him go uncomfortably each seeing the tears gathering in the big man's eyes.

The twins seated themselves beside Ashton, Seth the nearest, and began eating.  They each had a heaping plate of scrambled eggs, day old bread, cheese, and fried pork.  This was to be their last home cooked meal for a while, and it seemed James wanted to make sure it lasted.

Ashton, being the first to sit down to eat was the first to finish.  Being a good guest, patient to let the twins eat, related to them his journey from home to here at Vineleaf.  He also told them as much as he knew about The Choosing ceremony, much of which they had already been aware.  Ashton then told them about his older brother, Alex, who was already in service to the Kingdom as a healer.

“I have the gift too.”  Ashton stated proudly, and then continued. “Though I’m not as advanced as Alex had been when he left.”

With Ashton’s last words, the twins shoveled the last of their food into their mouths, as the door to the kitchen again swung open.  James came out of the kitchen looking fully composed.  He rounded the bar without a word and went to stand by the front door of the inn.  Taking his meaning, all three boys dismounted their stools, and picked up their packs hoisting them onto their backs, and cinching down the straps until they were snug and comfortable.  Looking at the three of them James gave a big sigh as his shoulders again slumped, and heaved the door open, walked briskly through, the three boys following behind him.

Outside the sky was changing from black to blue, the sun still hidden behind the mountains to the east.  The air was cool, but dry, and there wasn’t a cloud to be seen in the sky.  Today it would not rain.  To the Twins’ surprise, their entire village was gathered just outside the inn.  Everyone was watching them, taking in their new attire and nodding in approval.  Most importantly though, Jack, Emily, Rose, and Samuel smiled at them, knowing they had done their best for the boys, and for that the twins would be as prepared as they could be for whatever lay ahead for them.

James was the first to take the three steps down into the awaiting crowd.  He was greeted by stiff handshakes from the men, and hugs from the women.  By the time he had thanked everyone in turn for coming, and greeted them all, his tears ran freely down his cheeks. The look of composure he previously had fixed in place had been lost somewhere in the small crowd.  Seeing their dad in such pain both the boys’ too began to get misty eyed and walked down the three steps to tell everyone they loved, good bye.  It wasn’t until Garret had picked up the toddler Samantha, the youngest daughter of max the butcher and his wife Ellen, that he started crying openly.  He would miss her tremendously.  She was very much like a younger sister to him, he had spent many afternoons teaching her new words, playing peek-a-boo, and running around with her little body on his shoulders pretending to be a horse.  Garret tried to imagine how the years to come would change her little face, and it broke his heart.  For Seth it was when he hugged Rose, Emily’s sister, which caused him to start crying.  Rose was very much a mother to Seth and his brother, as was Emily.  It had been Rose however that had taught Seth to read, and to write.  They had spent many nights with Rose reading a book from her small collection Seth on her lap listening intently.  He remembered those nights now and they tore at his soul.

Both boys felt homesick already.  They hurriedly said their farewells to everyone, and came last to their father.  James stood now with his shoulders thrown back, his face in a pain stricken grimace, trying with all his might to hold back the emotions that tore through his body.  He gathered both of his sons up in his arms, hugging them so tightly it made breathing difficult.  The twins hugged him back just as fiercely.  When the hug relaxed, and they were all able to breathe once again, James took a step back and looked at his sons.  He looked from Seth’s eyes to Garret’s and back again looking back and forth.

“You boys be careful now…"  James choked.  Blinking his eyes a couple of times, an attempt at fighting back the tears, he then continued.  “You look out for each other, and keep each other safe.”  The twins nodded as he continued.  “You’re all I have, and as much as I wish I could, I can’t come with you.  From here on all you have is each other, that’s more than some have, and more still than many deserve.  Don’t you go worrying about me, I’ll be fine, Emily and Rose will see to that.  You just worry about yourselves and each other.  Dammit keep safe and don’t do anything stupid.  Don’t go trying to be a Hero and get yourself hurt.  You bring yourselves back in one piece, whenever that may be, and I will be here waiting.”

All three of them, tears streaming again, gave each other one last hug.  Wiping the tears from his cheeks James continued.

“Now you boys get going, Ashton’s waiting for you just down the path there.”   He pointed down the small path leading into the woods to the south.  Sure enough Ashton was there just down the trail sitting on a tree stump, again reading his book.  The twins both nodded to him, wiping the tears from their cheeks, turned to head down the trail.  James grabbed each of his sons’ shoulders, nodded once as if in farewell, turned and began walking back towards the inn.

Garret and Seth watched him trudge, shoulders slumped, up the steps to the inn.  James got to the door and paused as if to turn around for one last good bye, his shoulders sagging a bit more, he heaved the door open and walked inside, never looking back.  The twins watched the inn for a moment longer, then with a shared look of pain and remorse, put on as best they could a pair of determined faces and slowly walked to where Ashton was waiting for them. 

The twins walked down the path to where Ashton sat waiting patiently.  They paused briefly, just long enough for him to put away his book and grab his things, then started off back down the trail, Ashton falling in alongside them.  An hour passed with them walking in silence, the twins dwelling on their home, their father, their past.  Ashton had inhaled loudly several times in this hour as if to say something, then thinking better of it decided to let the twins brood in silence.  Again Ashton took a deep breath, hesitated, and tired of the gloomy silence continued.

“You guys have a very nice father.” Ashton stated whole-heartedly, and continued.

“He didn’t charge me a single copper to stay last night, nor did he charge me for my food or drink.”

Both Seth and Garret were looking at Ashton now, each with a small grin on their faces.

“You know...” Ashton continued.  “You guys are really lucky.”  Again the twins waited for Ashton to continue, looking at him with questioning glances.  Ashton noted their looks and again continued. 

“Twins are really rare.  So it occurred to me that sure sometimes a kid might go to The Choosing with a neighbor, or a cousin, or even a good friend, but how often does anyone get to go with their brother or sister?  It just seems to me that you guys are lucky kind of like you get to take a little bit of home, of normal everyday life with you.”

Garret thought on this a moment and nodded in response, his mood lifted a bit.  Seth too pondered Ashton’s statement and realized that indeed he was quite lucky having his Garret along with him.  Seth imagined what Ashton must have felt leaving home alone, traveling two days through the mountain passes alone until he reached Vineleaf.

“You know Ashton.” Seth began breaking his silence for the first time.  “You are absolutely correct; we are indeed blessed to be twins.  However, when I say it’s nice to not be going to The Choosing alone, I say it meaning not only am I glad to have Garret along as my brother, but to have you along as well as a friend.”

“That goes for me too Ashton.”  Garret added.

Ashton smiled at them both, glad the silence was over.  He had had enough silence traveling through the mountains by himself, he was glad to have company.

The three continued to talk, most of the day into early evening telling the stories of their lives up until this day.  Seth spoke mostly for himself and Garret, with his brother adding in details he missed along the way.  Ashton told too of his past with his family in Glenvale.  His father had been a soldier in the armies of Valdadore, His mother a priestess of Lorentia, the Goddess of healing.  When Ashton’s father was injured in battle, and near to death, he was given into the hands of Ashton’s mother to be watched over and taken care of.  She had spent months healing his wounds, and in that time they had fallen in love.  Not wanting to lose each other, and there initial enlistments to the Kingdom already passed, they left their services to the King and moved to Glenvale.  Here they had two children, Alex, the eldest son now in service to the Kingdom, following his mother’s footsteps as a priest of Lorentia, and Ashton, the younger son, hoping  to follow his mother’s and brother’s footsteps as well.