The Choosing Read Online Free Page B

reading a book, aimlessly tracing absent symbols on the table with his free hand.  Trying his best not to eavesdrop, He looked up suddenly when James came between the lamp on the wall and his book.  They spoke in hushed tones and James picked up the man’s mug and returned to the bar to refill it.  After it was full he returned it to the man, again they spoke quietly and James turned and walked back across the room to his friends and sons.  As James walked up the twins were just finishing telling everyone good night and thanking them all again several times for the gifts.
    “The boy’s name is Ashton.” James stated.  “He is from Glenvale.  He says if you guys don’t mind he would like to hit the road with you in the morning, he too is going to The Choosing.”
    Both boys nodded to their father, and then to Ashton across the room, who was watching them patiently.  Almost simultaneously the boys said:
    “Good night dad.”
    “You go ahead Garret.  I need to speak to your brother for a moment.” James said.
    "Sure thing dad."  Garret replied.
    James, Emily, Samuel, and Jack watched as Garret turned to walk down the hall towards his room, carrying with him all his new belongings.  They all smiled at Garret’s retreating steps, knowing they would be missed, knowing they had given the boy all they could to prepare him for whatever might lay ahead.
    "Seth why don't you take a seat." James said pointing to the chair he himself had sat in just moments before.
    Seth looked around to the faces of his friends and neighbors before taking a seat, his father's tone frightened him and the fact that none of them would meet his gaze troubled him deeply.  Preparing himself for the worst he sat down as his father had instructed and waited for whatever it was that his father intended to say.
    "I wouldn't do this if I didn't feel I had to Seth."James said taking a moment to get his emotions in check and focus his thoughts.  "You know that everyone here loves you like their own child, we are all your family, and any one of us including your brother would lay down their life rather than see you in pain."
    Now Seth began to become afraid in earnest, he was not sure of where this conversation was leading, but nothing about his father's tone nor the grim faces in the room bode anything positive.  Seth began to shake from nervousness but tried to hold on to some semblance of control to hear what it was that his father was trying to tell him.
    "Starting tomorrow it’s just going to be you and your brother looking out for one another, and the gods know your brother is going to need some looking out for with his grand dreams of battle and all." James said.
    Seth let out a sigh of relief and even managed to smile a little at his father's comment.  This wasn't any new information, in fact Seth had been thinking the same thing earlier in the evening.  He nodded his understanding to his father and sat silently letting James continue.  James stood a second seeming to steady himself and gather his thoughts.  He was a large man both tall and muscular so Seth found it odd that he looked so worn.  Where he usually stood tall, his broad shoulders held back as if daring the world to face him, now he stood slumped, eyes downcast, ashamed.
    "You're a wonderful young man and we are all very proud of you, and I know if your mother was here today she wouldn't be able to let either of you go tomorrow."  With his last statement James nearly lost his resolve and his voice faltered slightly.  He could barely keep his emotions at bay.
    "What I'm meaning to tell you Seth..." James paused looking to his friends for support.  All of them had tears in their eyes, and Emily was openly weeping by this point.  Taking a deep breath James continued.
    "Seth, Garret isn't your brother, I'm not your father, and your mother wasn't your mother." James barely finished with a sob as he lost control of his emotions.
    Seth sat open mouthed, tears streaming from