“Truly?” Sasha asked as if unconvinced. “Yet you sit here with a beating heart, breathing air easily at my table? How is this possible?” This time the disbelief was audible in her tone.
“Like this,” Ashton said, obviously slightly annoyed at her skepticism.
CHAPTER 85
Ashton
Ashton pushed back from the table and kneeled beside it. Raising his face to the heavens he spoke a prayer quietly to himself. Then focusing his gaze inward he chanted, almost silently. Twisting the power surging within him he began to focus it at his hands. However, deciding that would not be dramatic enough, he refocused the power and, molding it to his will, he unleashed it. Bright light exploded from Ashton’s entire body consuming him in its soft tinted glow. The light pulsed more brightly than any of his companions had ever witnessed before, and appeared to dance around his body, clinging loosely to his form. As quickly as the light had appeared, Ashton forced himself to once again contain it so 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, she peeled her gaze away from the young healer to gather her thoughts before she spoke.
“A young, powerful healer,” she said more to herself than anyone else. “Who would have known? Please accept my apologies for not readily accepting your tale. It is a surprise that you travel without the robes of your order.”
“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 had probably derived the rest of their names from their conversation.
“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. 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 smiled happily.
“Who is your husband and why does he want to see me?” Ashton watched Garret ask thoroughly confused.
“Oh, how silly of me. One of the knights you met on the road was my husband, Lord Sirus,” Sasha revealed, a look of pride spreading across her pretty face.
This time it was the four companions whose jaws dropped. 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 had all appeared to recover from the news, Sasha decided to finish answering Garret’s question.
“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, then 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 then strode elegantly out of the room. Ashton watched her go, though for a different reason than Garret. She had hinted, though inadvertently, at something that now had captured his curiosity.
CHAPTER 86
Sara
Sara and her companions sat looking around from one face to another. The meaning of Sasha’s words had been lost to her, and apparently none of them wanted to voice their shared questions. More peculiar than her words, Sasha’s generosity made Sara feel somewhat uncomfortable with the fact that something obviously beyond their understanding was going on. She looked to Seth and his twin and saw her own feelings playing across their features as well. Only Ashton was grinning, apparently caught up in his own thoughts as he watched Sasha’s retreating backside swing from side to side as she walked down the hall.
Feeling concerned and a bit frightened, Sara again 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 his chair, now beaming a smile across the table at his brother. However, the look went unnoticed by its intended target. Garret must have 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 his happiness apparent, because he would get chosen for what he wanted, but likely also because it seemed as if Seth was to be chosen for the same reason. If they were both chosen for knighthood, then they would remain together, away from Sara. She envied Garret then, at least for a moment. Garret’s wishes all seemed to be coming true, and he rejoiced in the feeling as he should. It was too bad he didn’t know of Sara and Seth’s plan. If he had, then he wouldn’t be disappointed in the days to come.
Sara’s gaze left Garret and she turned to look upon Ashton. He was 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 appeared to be searching for something he could not see, and not finding it, he sat back in his chair, slumping into it slightly as if defeated. Sara couldn’t help but to think his reaction peculiar.
Looking back to her guardian, and seeing the pain still on his face, Sara could not stop the tears from brimming in her eyes. She squeezed his hand lightly, all the while keeping her eyes focused on his face as best she could through her tears. When she squeezed his hand his expression shifted. Turning his head slightly, he fixed his gaze to her. 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 our plans.” Seth whispered 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 expression had not returned. It had not. It now seemed as if nothing had even transpired. Seth glanced at his brother, who was still smiling as if trying to air dry his teeth. Seth nodded to him in understanding and then stood.
“So what do we do now?” Seth asked no one in particular.
“Well, I’m starting to think it is getting a bit late in the day to go and 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
, what talents they do have lend 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 sink in before he went on. “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.”
Sara watched Garret nod immediately and so it was left to Seth to decide for himself. Seth was a rational person, perhaps even calculated in his decision processes. 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. 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.
Seating themselves comfortably on the overstuffed, upholstered chairs and benches, 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 we need to. I am going to pray and summon my goddess’s blessing and I will try and channel her power to you. Are you ready to try?” Ashton asked, 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.
“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. Then he 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 Garret’s exposed arm. Since it wasn’t need for healing, Ashton released the power slowly in its pure form, allowing it to flow unchecked into Garret’s body. Garret gasped.
CHAPTER 87
Garret
Garret sat still, his body as relaxed as he could make it and he did as he was told. He focused his mind inward, pushing away all thoughts and memories that tried to assault him. He 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 that he had built to keep out unwanted thoughts and memories. As they slipped away his mind was flooded with images and thoughts but he ignored them, instead focusing on the power within himself. This time Garret mentally pictured himself building the barriers around his entire mind. As the power reeled away from a barrier, Garret would let it fall, allowing the thoughts to escape. But before the power could also find the hole in his defense, he repaired it. It was a task that seemed to take a lifetime, 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 concentrating inward, keeping the power contained. He located Ashton with his eyes. 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 and then release it,” Ashton instructed quickly, seeing that his friend was struggling.
Garret again closed his eyes allowing himself to focus wholly on the task at hand. Mentally locking the barriers that held the power, Garret was assured they would hold. He sent his consciousness to penetrate the barrier and be consumed by the power. Pure pleasure consumed him. Gone was any trace of pain or sorrow. Gone too was the uncomfortable body that contained his mind. He was one with the power within him, or perhaps one with the power he was within. Following Ashton’s instructions, Garret imagined himself aglow with the power, like he had seen his friend become several times. Pushing this image mentally throughout the power surging around him, he let the barriers fall and unleashed the power at his command.
CHAPTER 88
Seth
Seth sat watching his brother, looking for any sign of emotion. For long minutes Garret sat unmoving, his face like a stone statue. Everyone in the room at this point was leaning towards Garret, anxiously awaiting any sign that he still lived. Slowly, as if in answer to their curiosity, Garret opened his eyes. As Garret’s eyes focused on the man in front of him, his face bunched up in concentration. Garret had said something then but too low for Seth to hear only a few feet away. Ashton had heard his words and had relayed some new instructions, and Seth’s twin immediately closed his eyes once again. With the closing of his eyes, his face once again relaxed into a statuesque expressionless mask. A moment passed and nothing happened. The trio sat watching and waiting intently for something, for anything, to happen. When it did, none of them were prepared.
A thunderous boom exploded through the room, followed by a shockwave that shook the building. Ashton was knocked on his back from the force of the sound and all of them locked their eyes on Garret. Immediately following the deafening sound Garret began to shimmer. It started at his extremities and worked its way down his limbs to quickly encompass his entire body. He shuddered as he seemed to become something without substance, almost as if he were a liquid conforming to no specific shape. Another explosion rocked the building. Garret sat wide-eyed with a smile from ear to ear where a moment before he had only been as solid as smoke.
“Garret, are you OK?” Seth asked his brother.
“That was incredible,” Garret cried, nodding to his twin.
Ashton pulled himself up off the floor, all the while his gaze remaining on Garret. He brought himself back into a kneeling position where he had moments before coached his friend to wield magic.
“Well, I would have to consider that a success,” Ashton stated, a smile coming to his lips. “But I have to know, when I told you to mold the power to do something you wanted it to do, did you intentionally attempt to turn yourself into an explosive device?”
“No, actually I tried to make my body glow like you do. I don’t think that part worked out,” Garret grinned.
“No kidding brother, for a second there I thought you were a goner,” Seth confessed. “How did it feel? Do you feel any different?”
“I can’t really describe how it felt. It was more difficult than I had imagined. At least, it was at first. It was hard for me to isolate the power and concentrate it. I guess overall it felt great, though,” Garret told them. “You have got to try it, it’s amazing.”
CHAPTER 89
Sara
Sara listened to their conversation, still overwhelmed by the entire display. She realized then that if Garret was able to wiel
d magic, than there was also a good chance Seth had the ability as well. She wasn’t sure how she felt about the realization, but she didn’t imagine it would change anything between them, even if he could.
“You still want to try, Seth?” Ashton asked, afraid Garret’s near detonation might have changed his twin’s mind.
“Well, Garret seems to be fine so I don’t see any reason not to,” Seth answered as if trying to convince himself.
Seth gave Sara’s hand a light squeeze before he released it, silently telling her he loved her. He then sat forward in his seat awaiting his friend’s instructions. All Sara could do was watch. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, realizing that her heart was pounding in her chest, she leaned forward to watch events unfold.
“OK Seth, now relax and clear your mind. You need to try and focus on nothing. Leave yourself open and wait until you feel the power. When you do, isolate it from the rest of your mind and then you can control it.”
Sara watched as Seth nodded and quickly closed his eyes.
CHAPTER 90
Seth
Relaxing his body, Seth then tried to relax his mind. Images of memories past flooded his mind’s eye but he shut them away. He could faintly hear his friend’s whispered prayers and he quickly worked to tone them out, along with any other noise that might disturb him. Only a moment had passed and Seth found himself shrouded in darkness, alone in his mind. It was a peaceful feeling, yet somehow empty. The emptiness inspired a feeling of unease within him and he tried to banish it, but it remained no matter how hard he tried.
Not knowing how much time had passed, Seth realized he needed to find a way to unwind, to ease himself into a state of openness where he would be receptive to the magic. He hurriedly tried to force himself to relax but to no avail. Then it occurred to him. He could allow the memories to return momentarily and seek one out that was soothing. Once he became relaxed again, he could simply banish it away as he had done before, and then he would be prepared to accept the magic. To this end, Seth released the memories he had temporarily locked away. They flashed through his head in a flood of pictures and emotions. As each memory presented itself, he dismissed it, looking for something more calming. A few came close but did not quite give him a complete feeling of ease and so he too discarded them. The memories flashed one after another until one appeared that he could not release. Seth held the memory of Sara sleeping in his arms for the first time. It was the morning they spent in the grove of trees, his back pressed to one of them, Sara curled in his arms. Peace flooded through Seth’s mind. He had found the one thing that put him at ease. Seth berated himself mentally for a moment, realizing it should have been an obvious choice. Sara always made him feel comfortable and relaxed. Sara made him feel whole.
Age of the Gods: The Complete, twelve novel, fantasy series (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) Page 21