“So what are your plans for today master Garret?” Sasha asked, one of her eyebrows rising.
“Well, we had discussed visiting the knight’s training grounds, however I get the feeling I may be seeing them a lot in the near future, so Instead I was thinking about a visit to the local temples to get a feel for the different gods and Goddesses.” Garret admitted.
“Well that should make for an interesting day indeed. The Temples are some of the oldest buildings in the city. Most of them are both magnificent and ancient. They are certainly a sight to see.” Sasha stated excitedly. “You know though, you don’t have to spend too much time now learning about the gods, if you are chosen for any position within the army, or with the mages for that matter, most of your first lessons will be about the gods.”
“That is good to know.” Garret exclaimed. “I was beginning to wonder how I would choose a deity without a proper education about them.”
“So Ashton, I assume you hope to be chosen into the ranks of the white robed healers. Am I correct?” Sasha now turned her gaze to Ashton waiting for his response.
“That is my plan. I really can’t see my future played out any other way.” Ashton stated honestly.
“And you Garret what are your hopes?” Sasha continued her questioning.
“Well I had hoped to join the army, but I think the knighthood would be much more exciting.” Garret too answered with complete honesty.
“Well I am unable to guarantee you anything, but if my husband has his way, I think the knighthood is where you will find yourself in the days to come.” Sasha told Garret watching the smile spread across his face as she did. “What of your brother then? Does he too hope to join the knighthood?” Sasha asked her curiosity getting the better of her.
“I honestly don’t know.” Garret stated. “He really isn’t into the whole live by the sword glory bit, however since he and Sara met I have yet seen him back down from a challenge. He even used his own body to protect her from the goblin.” Garret stopped before he revealed anything more of the subject afraid it might upset his twin.
“So that is how he had been injured, protecting young Sara. That makes sense, it is so obvious how much he cares for her. So you know nothing for his hopes about the choosing ceremony then?” She asked again still curious.
“No not really, it’s hard to say. I think he would make a great fighter, he is fast and strong. Honestly though I can’t say, at this point I think he would be happy hand scrubbing latrines so long as he could stay with Sara, but I hope he gets something worthwhile.” Garret told her.
“What of Sara then, does she have any hopes about the ceremony or does she too just wish to stay by his side?” Sasha asked, promising herself she would stop prying for information as soon as she got this answer.
“I honestly don’t think that she cares or has really put any thought into it. As long as she is with Seth though she will be happy, Seth will see to that. I’m just afraid how it might affect them if they are separated though.” Garret said relieved to finally speak the fear that had been hanging around his neck like a weight. “I really just hope they get to stay together.” He added.
This time it was Sasha who nodded her understanding, and true to her promise to herself she did not continue her line of questioning.
“Well I hope all goes well for all of you at the ceremony.” Sasha said earnestly. “I have to admit, from my experience it seems everything happens for a reason, though we may not realize it for many years. I think it will all turn out just fine.” She added almost as if to assure them.
They sat silently for a while, all of them caught up in their own thoughts of their pasts or futures. Garret and Ashton lost in daydreams of what yet might lie ahead, and Sasha thinking back to The Choosing ceremony she had attended once upon a time.
Felix returned, carrying with him two plates and a triumphant smile. As he approached the trio remaining at the table stirred from their thoughts and one by one greeted the man eyeing the food he carried. Setting a plate in front of both Ashton and Garret the man asked if he might join them for a while. The trio happily accepted his company and he quickly seated himself.
Felix knew he had a talent for food. He enjoyed preparing it each time he did, no matter how many thousands of meals he had created, he enjoyed making each as if it were his first. What he enjoyed more than cooking however, was watching the reaction people had to his creations. This was the reason he actually asked to join the boys this morning, though he did find the group intriguing. It was odd to Felix how all four of the companions had quickly decided to let him make their meal choices for them. He enjoyed being able to choose what he would prepare, as more often than not he was cooking the same things again and again. Yet this group had seen to it that he could prepare whatever he liked for them, and he appreciated the kindness they had shared with him in doing so.
Garret and Ashton looked to their plates in anticipation. Upon each plate was a steaming pile of some sort of golden flat bread. Each plate contained several of the round pieces stacked one upon the other and drizzled across the top and down the sides was thick honey-brown syrup. They each thanked Felix for the meal, which he told them was named pancakes. He also told them that each subsequent layer was cooked with a different fruit mixed in the batter. Felix and Sasha watched the boy’s faces as they took their first bites, and couldn’t help but smile at their reactions to the medley of flavors.
Both Garret and Ashton complimented Felix and his creation, assuring him it was the best breakfast they had ever eaten. Felix took the compliments with grace, and continued to smile as the boys devoured their food. Devour they did. It was only a few moments and both boys were scraping the last remaining crumbs from their plates, wiping their mouths and patting their full bellies.
“Don’t even give Seth and Sara an option when they come for breakfast.” Garret told Felix. “Just make them some pancakes. That truly is something they need to experience.”
Felix again thanked him and agreed to his wishes, happy to be able to once again watch someone enjoy his food.
The four chatted quietly about the city and the inn as the early morning grew less and less new. Garret and Ashton asked many questions about the festivities that would be in full swing later in the day and received some very informative answers. They also learned much about the lay of the city. They now understood that it was divided into blocks, and several blocks that looked the same was called a district, and the further you traveled to the center of the city the older the buildings became, and the larger the districts sprawled. Garret and Ashton learned the location of several places they hoped to visit including the many temples of the gods, the healing order’s tower, as well as the knight’s training grounds. Sasha told them if they became lost in the city simply continue straight down any rode until they either reached the city’s outer wall, or one of the four main city streets that each led from the outer city wall to the palace. This in mind Garret worked at deciding upon a route they could travel through the city to visit all four locations they had intended to see. Their route decided upon, Garret again joined the others in small talk about the city and its origins. They spoke for nearly an hour until a pair of the Inn’s other guests entered the dining hall, at which point Sasha and Felix each rose from the table to excuse themselves. Sasha greeted the newcomers and spoke to them briefly before disappearing down the hall. Felix too greeted the pair and took their meal orders before he too vanished into the hall.
The newcomers had seated themselves across the room from where Garret and Ashton sat, and being a large room, it was hardly even evident that anyone else was in the room with them. Garret and Ashton spoke for a while about the conversation they had just had with Sasha and Felix and waited as patiently as was possible for their remaining companions to join them.