“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.
