Dark Secrets

How to Choose Part 20

Tori sat quietly in a chair watching as the potential enforcers faced off with each other. Watching them she couldn't help but feel it was pointless. She could easily see the differences between them in strength. Some were obviously very strong and evenly matched. It left the decision to feel more like a coin toss as to whom to choose.

"This isn't getting me anywhere," Tori sighed feeling slightly annoyed.

"Tori?" Lucas said looking over at her. One look in her eyes and the future king understood the problem. "You're not seeing enough of a difference in them."

"No," she agreed. "Strength, they each have. They all have skills in one form or another but... I can't choose this way. It just isn't working for me. I need to think of something else."

"Alright," Lucas said. "I will end the testing for you. If you wish to go on a run I understand but take someone, anyone, with you." Tori smiled and giving him a nod she rose from her seat and left the room.

"Enough," Lucas called out and rose to his feet. Everyone was surprised by the abrupt end but quickly turned their attention toward the high prince. Realizing Tori was no longer there next to the future king made them feel a bit uncomfortable. The prince noticed immediately and decided to address it without delay. "Tori has witnessed each of your strengths and abilities. We both feel you each possess skills and have been trained well. Unfortunately, in some ways some of you are too evenly matched."

Lucas watched as the majority of them gave some form of motion of agreement. Even they recognized the difficulty it would be to choose between them. "Tori will have four guards. I will not allow any less. She's far too important to me and I will not take a chance where her life is concerned. However, that is all I will dictate. I may make suggestions but it is Tori that will make the decision however she deems fit. I can quite honestly say with her there is no telling what criteria she could use to make her choice. The only thing I can tell you is that her decision must be made by tomorrow night. For now I suggest that everyone take some time to themselves and should she send for you that you not disappoint her." He gave a nod to Warner and Viktor and everyone bowed as Lucas left the room.

Tori left the room and had at first thought to go for a run but then suddenly decided against it. She entered the courtyard at the center of the castle and glancing to her left she caught a glimpse of Ken. A smile was on her face in an instant. "Ken!" she called out. She watched as he turned her direction. "Can you spare your sister a little time?" Ken smiled and nodding walked away from under an overhang of the castle and headed towards her.

"Testing not going well?" Ken asked reaching her.

"It's pointless," she replied. "Take a walk in the forest with me?" she asked hopeful. Ken laughed but nodded. He knew his sister well enough to know if she wanted to go for a walk in the middle of the day with him it really meant she was frustrated and needed to bounce her thoughts off someone.

The two headed off onto the trail through the woods away from everyone so they could speak openly without anyone hearing. "Alright, what's on your mind?" Ken said once he knew they were safely away from everyone.

"They all have strengths and weaknesses of course," Tori began. Ken nodded in agreement. "Some of them are just too evenly matched. It feels like I should just toss a coin. I can't choose enforcers based on strength or skill. Some of them are more skilled but not as strong strength wise," Tori explained, "Some are the opposite and some have both!" she said nearly throwing a piece of hair out of her face. "I can't choose based on this type of stuff!"

"So don't," her brother told her. "What can you decipher between them? Where have you seen differences? Where is your comfort level with each of them?" He asked.