The Choosing

Chapter 2

As we paced the palace, following the man who had walked in only moments ago I couldn't help but notice the absence of heads before me. Not hundreds but around twenty. I was in first row. Not only that but I was front and centre. The Hall only fit forty people in one row, I would know after all these years.

I wondered if they were mistaken and had meant to place me last row but could only hope the King would not be offended at my presence. I had few moments to ponder the thought before we had reach the entrance to the Hall.

One by one the heads in front of me vanished through the door and I could only numbly follow wishing I had just a few dollars more to buy proper shoes to present myself before the King.

The decor of the room differed to how I remembered it last. The late King's personal touches no longer remained, only gothic tapestry and furniture. It was rather unnerving. I had yet to look up, scared of the man I had never met, whose face I couldn't picture in my mind despite the many Choosings I had attended. In all seventy days I had never seen him. Never been ranked high enough for him.

Now as I stood before him I couldn't help but feel glad this was the first and most likely last time I would be in his presence. Without looking up I could feel his eyes raking over us, his very aura spreading over us. That was the other thing, his birth mother had never been disclosed, with his father's variety of women it was hard to say what he was. But as he sat before me I knew he was powerful.

My gaze at the ground didn't last long for I heard a steady voice call out "Look up at me." Instantly I obeyed. As I glanced up I looked into an abyss of   eyes, entrapped I couldn't look away. Completely taken with his eyes I didn't notice his smirk until I heard a chortle from behind me.

Flushing red for the second time I quickly glanced down at his chest afraid to continue the eye contact I had unknowingly begun. Another laugh begun, however, it was from the man in front of me this time. With all the grace in the world he climbed down from his throne. Walking steadily towards me his posture languid and carefree.

I nearly died then and there. That was before he stopped a pace before me and grabbed my chin.

"Your name?" He posed the question without an inch of doubt of what he might do if I refused to answer.

"P-pip L-l-low, m-m-my King." I could only squeak out.

"Very well, Pipsqueak."  That was the end of our conversation and I had been glad.

I had been even more happy as he continued down the line and didn't acknowledge me again, eager to leave the Hall and return back to my stall in the barn. No one stopped me as I walked from the palace after first hour. Despite the woman instructing us earlier I stilled worried I would get in trouble for not following my itinerary, I could only hope she was right.

Upon returning home I climbed into my hay pile and dozed, waiting a few hours before I returned to receive my itinerary for the next day. I was beyond surprised to be shaken awake by the head of house and given my itinerary for the next day. In the envelope contained a letter describing my itinerary for the remainder of the week. There was only one session and it was on the last day of festivities. I had never made it through selections long enough to reach this day, always being sent home to work.

As I lay in the hay I couldn't help but wonder what was in store for me in that day. But I also felt an inch of relief for I couldn't have captured the King's attention if he only requested my presence once.