The Choosing by Jeremy Laszlo, Ronnell Porter Read Free Book Online Page A

through the mountains by himself, he was glad to have company.
    The three continued to talk, most of the day into early evening telling the stories of their lives up until this day.  Seth spoke mostly for himself and Garret, with his brother adding in details he missed along the way.  Ashton told too of his past with his family in Glenvale.  His father had been a soldier in the armies of Valdadore, His mother a priestess of Lorentia, the Goddess of healing.  When Ashton’s father was injured in battle, and near to death, he was given into the hands of Ashton’s mother to be watched over and taken care of.  She had spent months healing his wounds, and in that time they had fallen in love.  Not wanting to lose each other, and there initial enlistments to the Kingdom already passed, they left their services to the King and moved to Glenvale.  Here they had two children, Alex, the eldest son now in service to the Kingdom, following his mother’s footsteps as a priest of Lorentia, and Ashton, the younger son, hoping  to follow his mother’s and brother’s footsteps as well.
    “How do you guys make a living?”  Seth asked.  “That is if I’m not asking anything too personal.”  He added as an after-thought.
    “Well my mom continues to heal people.”  Ashton said with pride. “Though she only accepts donations because some people can’t afford much, or sometimes they can’t afford anything at all.  My dad however no longer wields a sword.  He spends most of his time helping people build houses, and it pays pretty well.  Glenvale is growing fast, I guess it’s because we are so close to the ocean, and it’s the only pass around the mountains to the north.”  Ashton ended, his childish face alight with a giant smile, thinking of home.
    As it were however, against his awkward boyish looks, Ashton was nearly 4 months older than the twins.  This had come as quite a surprise to the twins as they compared birthdates with their new found friend.
    They continued walking and talking like old friends as they wound their way southward, following the narrow trail through the forest as the sky slowly began to darken.  The day had been perfect for traveling, warm, but not uncomfortable, a slight cool breeze at their backs, sunshine, not a single cloud in the sky.  Though the day was fading, rapidly becoming night, it appeared that they too would have a well weathered night.  As daylight was fading the three companions decided they should look for a spot to make camp.  Continuing down the trail they looked this way and that searching for a suitable spot to rest for the night.  It wasn’t long before Garret spotted a small clearing just off the right side of the trail where a large tree had uprooted and leaned against its neighbors, making a large depression, sheltered from the elements on three sides beneath its roots.  The trio could not believe their luck, and set to making camp.
    The air was cooling off a bit as the last of the debris was removed from the hollow beneath the tree, but it wasn’t yet cold enough for a fire, so the boys unanimously agreed against starting one.  The twins dug their blankets out of their packs and unrolled them and laid them in their makeshift shelter.  Ashton pulled a large leather hide out of his pack, which he told them was from a small bear, and laid it in the shelter as well.  They all pulled food from their packs and shared with each other happily, and talked about their hopes for The Choosing.  Obviously Ashton wanted to join the white robed healers who followed the teachings of their Goddess Lorentia.  Garret too had no problem telling them that he was hoping to join the ranks of the army and win glorious battles.  It was then that Ashton told them that there were two gods that most of the army worshipped, Gorandor, the god of honor and valor, and Vikstol the god of battle.  This brought Garret’s hopes to a screeching halt.  Sure he had heard of the gods,