Chapter 3: A Choice

  We moved through the line quickly. Before we knew it, Cassidy and I were at the front, facing King Justian the Bold, our supreme ruler. The whole experience was vastly underwhelming. He looked like any other middle-aged man, with short brown hair and a greying beard. If it weren't for the shining crown upon his head and the regal robes he was dressed in, I would’ve taken him for just another visitor to our humble town.

  But then my gaze shifted to the velvet cushion, the small carved box, and the treasure held within. King Justian was talking to Cassidy, asking her questions, but all of my attention was trained on the talisman. The rest of the world was a blur to me.

  The box in the velvet cushion had been propped open, presumably so that those who came up to be questioned by the King could see that which they so dearly wished to have. The talisman was beautiful. It was almost like a necklace or an amulet, made of burnished copper fashioned into the form of a powerful flame. I wasn't sure how I knew it was a flame and not just a mis-mashed shape of wires, but somehow I just knew. The copper reflected the sunlight brilliantly, almost blinding me. I peered closer at the amulet. I possessed a strong curiosity about that which was desired by so many. It must've held tremendous power to warrant such a search for the proper user.

  Within the heart of the copper flame, I saw something glint. Something reflective and shiny. A jewel, perhaps. But it didn't look like a jewel. It looked like a glass orb with shades of orange and red running through it. A delicate glow emanated from the orb, flickering like a candle. The flickers entranced me, calling to me. Before I knew it, my hand was reaching for the amulet. The orb's glow flared as bright as the sun. Then it dimmed almost to nothing.

  The entire crowd went silent. Even King Justian turned to look at me. I had no idea what I had just done, but apparently, it must've been something impressive. Or something terribly, terribly wrong.

  "What is your name, boy?" the King asked of me. His tone was commanding but also friendly.

  "I-I'm Firth Henderson," I said shakily. "I didn't do anything to it, I promise! It was just an accident - it won't happen again."

  King Justian gave a hearty laugh, startling me. "It won't happen again, he says. It was just an accident, he says." He laughed again. "My son, I don't think you know how this all works!" He took the carved box and held it out to me, showcasing the amulet's beauty and finesse. "This here is an Elemental Amulet," he said, "And it has chosen you. It will work for no other. Only you can unlock its secrets."

  "This has got to be a mistake!" Foley protested, pushing through the crowd with my other brothers just behind him. "The rest of us are just as worthy, if not more than he is! Why should we not be chosen?"

  "If you were worthy, you would've been chosen," the King stated. "You are neither worthy nor chosen." He turned to me once more. "You will have three days to prepare for your departure. Pack your things, say your goodbyes, and then you will come with me back to the Manor of Elements, where you will begin your training."

  "What if I don't want to go?" I blurted out. King Justian looked at me in surprise. It seemed that it had not occurred to him that the chosen one might refuse to go with him.

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  "But you do want to go," the King insisted. "Only a fool would reject his destiny."

  "Just give me a few days to decide," I said.

  "So, what happened today? Did King Justian find who he was looking for?" Father asked later that night.

  It was the middle of dinner, but we had spent over half an hour in silence. On my side, it was due to thoughtfulness, but my brothers were silent because of envy and greed. They all wished to have been chosen like I had, and their jealousy made them angry. I, for one, wished to have not been chosen, and I would've given the "honor" away in a heartbeat if I had the chance. I would much rather stay at home, where I knew all the risks and dangers available, than venture into a world and a life where I never knew what to expect. Some people would consider it exciting, but I called it unsettling. I liked to be in a familiar setting with familiar faces. Familiar is always good. Familiar is safe. Unfamiliar is not.

  "Firth was chosen by the King. He's going to the Manor of Elements in three days," Cassidy said, always one to pipe up in my favor. Except in this situation, I didn't think of it as favorable. If it was up to me, I would delay telling my parents for as long as possible.

  "Really?" Mother gave me a look of pride. "This is great! I'll miss you, honey boo, but it's for the best."

  "Maybe we'll get some gold for our trouble..." Father wondered. "It would be nice to have a bit extra, especially with ten kids to take care of."

  "Why are you acting like I already agreed to go?" I confronted my parents. "I never said that I want to leave. In fact, I'm going to say no to King Justian. I'll tell him when he comes to pick me up in three days."

  Torin slammed his fork on the table. "For goodness sake, Firth! You have a chance that none of us will ever get, and you're going to turn it down? At least have the decency to take this opportunity, for the good of all of us. Turning it down will only rub it in our faces even more." There were murmurs of approval from my other brothers. Only Foley remained quiet.

  "Get out there and show them what a Henderson can do!" Brone pumped his fist in the air. Madden, Kieron, and Rian let out a few whoops. Even Fergus got in on the cheers, despite the glares he received from his twin. But I still didn't want to go. I couldn't leave the farm, the only place I'd known for years. I wasn't ready to head into the world. There was only one person capable of changing my mind.

  "Please go," Cassidy said, giving me an encouraging smile. "It'll be good for you. You can come back and tell me all about your adventures."

  I was starting to bend a little, but I still resisted. "I don't have what I need for traveling. What if I need something later but don't have it? It just won't work."

  Caolan laughed at my feeble excuses. "I think we all know you're just trying to get out of this. We can take you on a shopping trip in town, and I'm sure King Justian will supply all your needs, since you're so important to him. Come on, Firth, admit it - you want to go, but you're not letting yourself give in. You've always been too stubborn for your own good."

  I sighed. "Okay, yes, I want to go. I'm just... scared it won't work out. What if the King doesn't like me? What if my teacher's mean? What if I have no idea what I'm doing?"

  Brone put a hand on my shoulder. "You'll be fine. You're a Henderson, after all! We're made of tough blood. I'm sure you'll figure it out."

  Something settled within me. I was finally at peace with my decision. "Then that's that. I'm going."

  Rian cheered, and I got pats on the back from Brone on one side and Caolan on the other. I smiled. Now that I had thought about it, my brothers actually weren't half-bad. They were actually pretty decent siblings when it came down to it.