Chapter 4

Chosen

- Some are called to serve, and some have no choice -

It was close to midday when Mirya saw the door to her house fly open from the corner of her eye. She had been busying herself with cleaning the table and the chairs which if left alone for too long, would be soon covered in a thin film of metallic dust from nearby industrial works. She had no time to enjoy Jubilee for she had a countless number of things to do on her list.

"Varu", began Mirya, but her eyes grew wide as soon as she saw her son's bloodstained face as he stepped into the house. "Varu! Your face! What happened? Are you hurt? Who did this to you? Is it one of the boys from that ga-."

The next question hovered on the tip of her tongue but was extinguished as soon as a dark-robed figure stepped through the door.

"Jess", called Mirya, her tone sharp and urgent, her eyes fixed on the dark-robed figure. "Come out now!"

The towering figure of Jesse Ironhand emerged from the bedroom. His gaze darkened as he saw the watcher standing at the doorway. Almost immediately, a tension filled the room as he moved to stand beside his wife, and his son. A massive forearm reached out to clasp Mirya's waist protectively. Then there was an awkward silence.

"I come in peace", said the hooded figure, breaking the silence, clasping his hands before him. "There is a matter I would like to discuss with the two of you. Alone", he added.

He then turned to speak to Thonavar.

"I am afraid I must speak alone with your mother and father boy", said the hooded figure gravely. "You will wait outside".

Thonavar stood at the doorway, his face an obvious mixture of anxiety and shame.

What has that boy done now?

Mirya gestured to an empty room and the three entered, leaving Thonavar standing outside. Mirya shot Thonavar a stern look before disappearing into the room. Thonavar looked away guiltily.

Once inside the room, Mirya closed the door behind her.

"Can we be heard from the outside? Are there any recording devices here?" enquired the hooded stranger, his gaze sweeping the room, not missing a single detail, observing everything from the furniture, to the small power sockets embedded in the walls.

Curious, thought Mirya to herself. It is certainly in our custom to fear the walls listening to our daily conversations. But not for allies of the Unity. Curious.

"We are alone, watcher", replied Jesse, his eyebrows, knotted in concern. His dark hair disheveled after yesterday's hard work, hung over his forehead in messy, curly locks. "Now, what business do you have with our son", said Jesse in a harsh tone of voice. Mirya saw that the hooded figure noted this and glanced up slowly to meet Jesse's icy stare.

"If there is some wrongdoing on his part, watcher, let us bear the brunt of the burden. But spare him. He is but a boy", whispered Mirya, her pale features betraying her anxiety as she prepared for the worst.

At this, a smile broke, appearing in the dim light, from under the stranger’s hood, and he turned to speak to Mirya, his tone soft. "You need not fear me woman. I assure you, I come in peace."

Satisfied that they were truly alone, the stranger removed hood and revealed his face. Mirya saw that the figure’s dark hair was short and cropped. His eyes, a steely blue, shone with fierce intelligence.

"First, allow me to introduce myself. I am Felix Vanyaga, a servant of the Angardian Council."

At this, Mirya felt her husband tense and saw his eyes narrow.

The Angardian Council. This is not good. This is dangerous business. What has that boy get himself into now?

Felix proceeded to recount the events that took place that day. Mirya’s eyes flew wide and she put her hand over her mouth as Felix told of how Thonavar had almost killed Alexis. Her husband though stayed silent, frowning throughout.

"I managed to get there in time to stop the boy from striking a bow to Alexis' stomach which would have been fatal. Following this, I asked your son if I could come by your house to speak with you. And that brings us to this very moment here."

Mirya was confused. Was Varu in trouble?

Jesse remained silent.

"What does this mean? Is Varu in trouble?" she asked, her confusion evident.

"Lady, if you will listen closely and carefully to what I am about to say, you will find clarity and understanding only but a whisper away", said Felix, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

"Speak simply, watcher", said Jesse sternly. “We do not have time to hear your riddles. We are simple folk and we must go on about our day.”

But as her husband spoke those words, a weight grew in Mirya’s chest and her heart became heavy. She knew what Felix was about to ask of them.

Felix paused and took a step back, and raising both arms toward Jesse and Mirya in another gesture of peace, he spoke softly but with great authority.

"The council must choose from amongst the populace individuals to defend and uphold the honour of our great city" said Felix firmly. "Your son has potential. I will take him to a testing." Felix's deep voice echoed around the room.

At this point, a deafening silence filled the room. Jesse remained expressionless, staring at Felix, who met his gaze. Mirya, however, was at a loss for words. She was about to speak but it was her husband that broke the silence.

"No", whispered Jesse finally, shaking his head slowly, maintaining eye contact with Felix. "No, you will not. I would be damned if I should let him go through one of your cursed games. I have heard of these things you put them through. These… places that do not exist...but only...in the mind.”

“As I said, your son has potential. Would you deprive him the chance to -…”.

“I will not wait to hear news of his death in that place! You will not take our son away."

Jesse’s fists were clenched and his eyebrows were knotted in anger.

"I am afraid there has been a misunderstanding about our relationship. I am not asking for permission good sir. By order of the council, the boy will come with me, whether it pleases you...or not," replied Felix.

But Jesse would have none of it. With a low growl, Jesse stood up. He was a big man and days spent labouring at the building sites had made him strong. But Felix spoke again.

"Think carefully about what you are about to do. You do not strike me as a reckless man", Felix warned softly. His eyes narrowed as Jesse took a step toward him.

"Stop", said Mirya, through gritted teeth, glaring at her husband, her face pale with fear. "Your foolish actions will only bring trouble upon us."

Her words registered on him and she saw the light of anger slowly disappear from her husband’s eyes.

"Calm yourself man. I do you and your son a great service", said Felix, his tone one of sincerity. "Just look at him", said Felix, and he gestured through a small crack in the room.

Mirya peered through it.

Outside, Thonavar could be seen pacing around the doorway, sometimes pausing to press his ear to the door. But the wooden doors were thick and it was difficult to hear anything apart from muffled sounds.

"Look at him", said Felix again, gently. "He is young. He is brimming with life. He is full of energy. There is much he can do if only given the opportunity. Where he is now, down here, in this forsaken place, he will never reach his potential. He will remain, forever entrapped by the snares of a system that determines one's fate from the very moment one is born. A system that has never failed in preventing good people from rising higher than their pre-determined place in society. Your son would never find his destiny. Would you, good folk as you are, deprive your son of such hope? Would you deny him the chance to soar? You will not find another opportunity as good as the one I offer him. This I assure you."

Jesse fell silent and exchanged looks with Mirya. Mirya could see that her husband was nervous and unsure.

"What then", began Jesse. "What then if he does not make it through, eh?"

"If he is sent to a testing, and succeeds, he will be taken to Sanctum", explained Felix. "He will be given a place to sleep. He will be given food. He will grow strong and he will grow wise. He will rise to become one of the elite guardians of this city. In time, he will earn a good wage. Far more than what he would earn if he stayed down here", assured Felix. "City below is no place for a child to grow in the world. But you know this."

"You still have not answered the question", said Mirya coldly. But, in her heart, she knew the hooded figure was right. Though Thonavar's education at the college would go a long way, it was difficult to rise beyond his circumstances, for though Unity officials preached meritocracy, in reality, Thonavar could not rise beyond city below, for there were gatekeepers, employed by the wealthy and the affluent, who were the ones in control, protecting the classes, ensuring and perpetuating the continued dominion of the elite. They would never allow a commoner to rise above his or her place. At the most, Thonavar could become an overseer, looking after the welfare of the labourers entrusted to his care and management. But being an overseer was hard. In some ways, it was more difficult than being a simple labourer who was merely to report, complete the work and to go home. If it were possible, Mirya hoped for a much better life for her son.

"You are a sharp woman", observed Felix. "If he does not make it through, you can rest assured that your son will be returned to you unharmed."

At this, Mirya relaxed slightly.

He would come back to us. He would be safe.

"But note this", said Felix suddenly. "It would be folly to discourage him from trying. As I have said before. This is an opportunity the likes of which he will never see again."

But Mirya spoke again.

"But if he succeeds, are the stories true? Will we not be allowed to see him for a time", she whispered, knowing the answer to the question. Felix nodded slowly.

"How long?" she asked.

"For five years, lady. When the boy is about to reach his eighteenth birthday, he will be allowed to visit and thereafter as and when he desires to", said Felix softly. "But only after then."

Mirya was quiet as she considered Felix's words. Five years! Five years of not seeing our son!

Her heart was heavy at the thought being separated from her son and she shot her husband a look of dismay. Oh Jess! I will not be able to bear the heartache.

Jesse's returned her gaze with a grim look.

"I have said enough. You may talk freely amongst yourselves", said Felix. He walked to the darkest corner of the room and melded with the shadows.

But Felix was right. They had to think about their son. And what was best for him. This was about Varu's future. Not their personal happiness. His destiny was in their hands. How shall fate deal with him now?

Mirya exchanged looks with Jesse. Without speaking, she knew that he was in reluctant agreement. Jesse nodded and that said it all. It was her turn now. She looked Jesse in the eye, pleading for him to be the one to say no. But he remained resolutely grim-faced. She shook her head twice. But then finally, she too nodded.

Jesse looked up. And so did Mirya.

"Watcher!"

"Have you decided then?"

"What should be told to him?" asked Jesse.

"Tis' simple", began Felix Vanyaga. “All shall be as was. But I shall call again. And when I call, he must be ready.”