Jeremy Laszlo - The Choosing

Seth led Sara to the door, their hands clinging tightly to one another. As they reached the door Seth paused to read the inscription upon it, but found he was unable. The characters of the word were alien to him. Written in a different time, perhaps in a different language, the words meaning was lost upon the two attempting to decipher it. Seth turned and looked deeply into Sara’s eyes, and seeing her hope once again blazing in their depths, he grasped the handle upon the door. With a loud sigh Seth pulled the door open and warm air rushed past them from within. The scent of jasmine and other various spicy scents tickled their nostrils as they stepped into the small room through the door. Letting the door close behind them, they examined the room before them. It was empty except for two torches that were held in iron bands fastened into the walls to either side of them. Ahead of them, the only structure within the room was a staircase. Stone stairs led down into the earth and ended at a lighted room below. Besides the fact that the room below was lit, no other detail could be ascertained from the top of the stairs. Without speaking Seth led Sara down the stone staircase. They descended slowly towards the light, attempting to see what lay beyond. Reaching the foot of the stairs they peered into the room before them blinking frequently as their eyes adjusted to the bright light. The air here was thick with incents, and Sara coughed lightly trying to clear it from her throat. Even her cough reminded Seth of an angel. The room was larger than either had expected. It was not an elaborate room, having no furniture or decorations. The walls hung bare except for more torches running its length on either side. The room too was bare except for stone pillars that stood at regular distances supporting the ceiling above them. Looking across the long room Seth noticed one single statue standing at its far end looking back at them. Seth noted a familiar feeling about the statue, and wanting a closer look he began to cross the room towards it leading Sara by the hand. The back of the room was not as well lit as the entrance had been and being as such the statue was cast in shadow. Seth noticed that even as he was growing nearer he could not see the statue clearly enough to discern its details. As Seth made the halfway point across the room he thought he heard a foot scuff on the stone somewhere and slowed his pace to look around for its source. Spying nothing but the stone pillars Seth decided he must have been mistaken and turned his head once again toward the statue. Seth stopped abruptly before colliding with his intended target. Regaining himself Seth looked to the stone figure before him and gasped in realization. The stature before him was of a person he recognized. Not only did he recognize the stone features, but he remembered the voice that belonged to the stone woman before him. He remembered it, because it had only been a handful of days since he had spoken to her in a dream.

Before Seth stood a stone statue of a woman bearing a stark resemblance to his mother. Where before the woman’s hair had been braided in tight rows to her head, now it hung loosely across her shoulders. The statue stood, a calm look upon its face, its eyes fixed on Seth, who returned its gaze. Seth could not believe his eyes. In fact he closed them briefly only to reopen them revealing the same face as before. Without thinking about what he was doing, Seth reached out to touch the statue, a strange compulsion guiding his hand. Pressing his fingertips against the cool stone figure Seth heard a whisper. Removing his hand he turned to look at Sara to better hear her words, but Sara stood silently watching him with a curious and hopeful look upon her face. Thinking this odd, Seth returned his gaze to the statue in front of him. Again his hand rose as if of its own accord. Touching the stone again Seth could hear the whisper, only this time it was louder and more coherent. He closed his eyes to focus better upon the sound and found himself in a familiar stone room. The room was circular with no windows or doors just as it had been in his dream. He turned in the room mentally, conscious that it was simply a vision in his mind. Finding nothing out of the ordinary he again tried to listen for the whisper. No whisper came, instead as if standing directly before him, he heard the woman’s voice from his dream so many nights before.

“Seek me out amongst the oldest buildings of Valdadore.” The disembodied voice said into the room created by Seth’s mind.

“I have.” Seth replied not knowing what else to say.

“Go then. Call to me when you have need of me. Serve me and I shall reward you.” The voice said almost as if it were a command.

The circular stone room vanished taking with it the voice leaving Seth within the darkness of his mind. Seth’s eyes fluttered open and he found himself shaking as if from cold. Sara had come to support him, wrapping her arms around him gingerly from behind. Seth twisted in her arms attempting to turn to face her. Sara realizing his intentions loosened her grip upon him letting him turn. Seth turned, still in Sara’s embrace, and sought out her angelic face. Looking into her deep amber eyes Seth smiled to reassure her. Sara released his waist taking a step back to analyze him further. The shaking had ceased and Seth watched as Sara looked him from head to toe.

“I’m ok Sara.” Seth said.

“What was that all about?” Sara asked with a concerned expression.

“I’m not sure I can explain it correctly, but I will try.” Seth stated trying to plan his explanation so that it would make the most sense.

Just as Seth began to speak again a movement from something behind Sara caught his attention. Leaning slightly to his side he peered over Sara’s head to reveal a man cloaked all in black just a few paces away from them. Instinctively Seth sidestepped Sara and brought himself between her and the man that was now approaching slowly. Seth placed his hand on the hilt of his sword in silent warning to the other man.

“No need for that young master.” The man spoke with a thick accent causing his words to sound akin to a hiss.

“Why do you sneak up on us then?” Seth asked in a demanding tone.

“It has been some time since we have had a visitor to the temple, I was trying to see if you were vandalizing the statue.” The man hissed again.

“We mean no harm to your temple sir, in fact we were just about to leave.” Seth said, adding the last part as an afterthought.

The man again stepped forward towards them as if to get a better look. The man was staring intently at Seth’s face when he froze in place with a loud gasp. Regaining himself the man bowed low to the ground.

“Forgive me Sire for I did not recognize you. Nor was I aware you would be arriving with a guest.” The man spoke quickly making his hissing hard to interpret.

Seth was thoroughly confused at this point, sure the man was mistaken

“I am afraid you must have me mistaken for someone else.” Seth stated his thoughts.

“No sire, though you may not know it I have been expecting you. The mistress showed you to me and told me to await your arrival. I should never forget your face she told me and I did not. She too told me to give you something.” The man said quickly not stopping for a single breath.

“Who are you and what do you speak of?” Seth asked demanding an answer.

“Forgive me master, my name is Borrik. I am the last surviving follower of her holiness Ishanya.” The man stated beckoning towards the statue behind Seth. “She showed me a vision of you, in the very clothing you wear now. She told me you would come and she sent me to retrieve an ancient relic for you. I have it here with me now.” Borrik stated reaching one of his hands deep inside his robe.