Jeremy Laszlo - The Choosing

“Well…” Garret started to speak again. “As it turns out we are out of food, but I think I can remedy that, that is if Sara will loan me her crossbow and a few bolts for it.”

Sara nodded in response and reaching down, she unclasped her belt and pulled it around her body freeing it. She handed it to Garret and told him to have fun. Ashton, wanting to help said he would go gather some herbs, or whatever wild vegetables he might find. Both Garret and Ashton left the small dwelling quickly, eager to see if food would rouse Seth’s body.

Again Seth was alone with Sara, his Sara. He held her still, and resumed satiating his addiction. He traced her every feature with his eyes. Starting at the top of her head he tried to memorize every strand of her midnight hair. Her face he dwelt on for many moments, taking in her soul penetrating amber eyes, high cheek bones, and her plump, firm lips. He next admired her slender, petite neck, a place he had never kissed her, though knew he would not resist it much longer. Seth continued to study the small form in his arms meticulously. He had nearly lost her, or rather sacrificed himself to save her, and so also sacrificing a future with her. He found it odd just then. There it was, right there in his mind, the inevitable word, Sacrifice. Seth had heard and thought the word entirely too much as of late, and he quickly tried to put it out of his mind. Refocusing his thoughts, he returned his gaze to Sara’s entrancing, depthless eyes.

Sara smiled at Seth, not knowing why he stared at her. She sat up in his arms, and pressing her lips gently to his, crawled out of his embrace. Seth stared at her with a confused look on his face. She recognized the look and tried to reassure him with a wink. She turned and walked across the open room accentuating the natural swing of her hips to be sure she kept his attention. When she reached an area she could stand comfortably, she turned around, and with one raised finger she signaled for him to join her. He half crawled, half walked to where she was, careful not to bang his head on the rock above him. Sara then asked him to lie on his stomach, and he did without complaint. Sara knelt beside him, and pulled up his shirt to inspect his back. Nothing but a hair thin scar remained where a gaping hole had once been. She traced it lightly with her fingertip asking Seth if it hurt. He shook his head in reply. Sara then asked him if he would like a treat. Not knowing what she was talking about, Seth began to roll over to try and determine her intentions, but before he could shift his weary body she was on top of him, pinning him face down, to the floor. She straddled his body with her legs, and slid her hands up the back of his shirt. She began to massage the muscles in his shoulders, and slowly worked her way down his back, all the while pressing parts of her body into him that made blood rise to his face. It was a good thing his face was buried in the floor. Sara kneaded the muscles in his back from top to bottom time and again until she felt that they were all relaxed. When Seth was completely relaxed and unwilling to move now that he felt so good, she pushed his shirt up his torso all the way to his shoulders. She then pressed her warm lips to his back. Over and over she kissed him hovering so closely he could feel her breath. She kissed him all over leaving no bare flesh untouched. When she kissed the new scar on his back she let her lips linger, this scar was because of her. The wound had nearly taken him away from her, and though she had only known Seth a short time, she could not picture her life without him. If only she could find some way to tell him how she felt. Finished with his back, Sara pulled his shirt back down, and crawled up his body still straddling him. She laid her body, pressing it firmly, against his. It lasted for only a moment fore she knew well his rule about lying together. She kissed his cheek, and not wanting to push her luck, she sat up. Reluctantly she got off of Seth, and asked him to just lay there and relax. Not waiting for a reply she rounded his body, sat near his head, and absently ran her fingers through his short brown hair over and over.

Garret had only left their shelter a few moments before. He had fought, once again, through the thick brush to the wide path they had traveled two days before. Here he hoped to find an intersecting game trail he could follow to hunt up some food. Reaching the trail, Garret turned left, the direction they would soon be traveling, and walked examining the ground. He had taken only a few steps when he heard a snort. Jerking his head up he stared down the trail ahead of him where three men on horseback stood. Garret froze, he could not make out much detail at this distance, but even from where he stood he could see the gleam of their armor, and their weapons glinting in the sunlight. The men must have noticed him at the same time, and kicking their horses’ flanks, the beasts exploded forward at a neck breaking speed. Garret was frozen. He did not know whether these men were friend or foe, but was afraid that if he ran, and they were not friendly, he might mistakenly lead them to the others. The horses and their riders approached him without slowing. The armored men reigned in their steeds only inches before trampling Garret, who was frozen in terror. One rider remained directly in front of him, his mount’s hot breath exploding in great bursts into Garret’s face. The other two riders urged their mounts to either side and behind him, leaving him no room to flee.

Ashton was kneeling in the dirt, expertly removing some wild onions from the soil when he heard the thunderous pounding of hoof beats coming down the trail. Leaving the onions on the ground, he crept through the brush to see who had approached, and why they had stopped. Reaching the edge of the trail he could see Garret surrounded by three heavily armored, heavily armed men. Each of the men sat upon an enormous white steed. It was a breed Ashton did not recognize. From this distance he could not hear what transpired, but he gathered from the men’s postures that they were not to be taken lightly. He watched the three armored men dismount their steeds, their highly polished armor all the while shining in the sunlight. Then Garret was off into the brush, and the men followed directly behind him. Ashton, unsure of what was happening raced through the brush, sure he could beat them to the shelter where Sara and Seth remained, unaware of the coming danger. Racing to the clearing Ashton paused to be sure Garret and the men had not yet arrived. Assuring himself they had not, he raced into the stone shelter not stopping until his eyes found his companions in the dimly lit space. Sara sat at Seth’s side near his face, and as Ashton approached, she raised a finger to her lips telling him to be quiet, telling him Seth was asleep.

“Wake him.” Ashton responded to her unspoken command.

“Whatever for?” Sara demanded in a hushed tone. “He needs his rest.”

“Yes but we may be in danger.” Ashton responded, turning Sara’s face grim.

“Again?” She asked

“Yes, three men met Garret on the road, they follow him now, and they follow him here. They are all armed.” Ashton related as much as he could, without being long winded.

That was enough information for Sara. She asked nothing further. Instead she leaned her face to Seth’s ear and whispered.

“Seth darling, I need you to wake up.”

Seth’s eyes popped open immediately scanning the room. He had perceived in Sara’s words a tone of fear, one she had not intended. No danger located he looked then to Sara.

“Men are coming, with weapons, they found your brother hunting, and he leads them here.” Sara spoke quickly not knowing how much time they had if any.

Seth nodded, and rolling to his knees, warily rose to his feet. Though knowing he was too weak to fight, he drew his sword, then reached to his belt and brought forth his dagger as well. Motioning for Ashton to follow, he handed the dagger to Sara, and led them towards the opening of their small cavern. As they neared the entrance Seth could hear voices and motioned the others back. Seth paused a moment to listen. Men were talking and there was the sound of a sword being drawn. Next the sound of bones breaking, followed by a hollow thud, the sound a body might make when it hit the ground. He listened a moment longer, his heart filled with sorrow, his brother was probably dead. Unable to dwell on what might be happening outside their hiding spot, Seth listened for a moment longer. Straining his ears, he could hear someone approaching the entrance. He turned and this time led Sara and Ashton to the farthest corner in the back of the cavern, where the shadows were darkest. If they could surprise the men who had followed his brother, they might stand a chance. Seth, knowing this may be his last chance to do so, looked at his Sara. She did not notice his gaze. Instead she watched the entrance, unblinking, shaking, fear in her eyes. How it pained him to see her this way, yet she had every right to fear. He would be unable to protect her in his weakened condition, and Ashton was not even armed. Her dagger would not be enough to protect her, and after the men disposed of him and Ashton who knows what they might do to her.