The Choice

Brand thought over the offer from Stelro and the other elders. Were their any downsides to their offer? What were the benefits? The offer seemed nice on the surface, but what would his obligations be if he joined this country of elves? Should he wait and see if he would fit in to a country of humans better? Would that make him racist?

As he was considering all of these things, Brand looked behind him and saw Alreya looking at him with expectant eyes. Ever since he had arrived in this world, this strangely good looking elf had been with him. She felt comfortable to be around already. Would he be okay if they suddenly went their separate ways, most likely never to see each other again? Would she think it was creepy that he was already thinking like this? It wasn't his fault right? I mean he is a young man. Isn't it perfectly natural to think these thoughts?

"Now, what will your answer be Brand of Earth?" Stelro interrupted Brand's thoughts.

"Alright." Brand thought in his head. "I'll just tell them I need some time and then consider my options carefully. This is a big decision after all. And if they pressure me then I'll just insist. My future in this world is at stake."

Brand looked back one more time at Alreya who looked at him with impatient eyes and gave a little motion for him to answer the grand elder. He turned to look at Stelro and then said absentmindedly "I accept your offer."

"Wait." Brand thought. "That didn't sound right." Suddenly realizing his mistake, Brand was about to speak up when Stelro suddenly interjected.

"Wonderful!" he shouted seeming entirely too happy. "Well then, we can go ahead and perform the ceremonies. Brand, if you would kindly come up here and give the tooth you are holding to Calreme, we can begin."

Brand turned to see Alreya, who had a small smile on her face, giving him a thumbs up. Seeing that it was too late for him to back out now, Brand went up the couple of steps to where Stelro and Calreme were now standing in front of their seats. He handed the dinosaur tooth to Calreme who accepted it with a stern face.

"Alright, now please take my hand." Stelro told Brand. Brand did as Stelro said and grabbed the outstretched hand of Stelro. "Brand, you have been invited to join the Ostish Forest. Do you accept?"

"Uhh, yes?" Brand answered uncertainly.

"And will you never betray the Ostish Forest, even if it results in your passing?" Stelro said seriously.

"Err, yes." Brand answered a little more confidently.

"And will you never become a citizen of any other country, other than the Capital Country, unless given the express permission of the grand council of the Ostish Forest?"

Hearing this Brand became a little concerned. "I won't have to renounce my American citizenship will I? I mean the country I'm a citizen of back on Earth."

Stelro smiled warmly at Brand's question. "I believe it should be fine not to. It seems my instincts about you were correct. Loyalty is no small feat. Especially when there is nothing to gain from it. Let me rephrase the question. Will you never become a citizen of this world, other than the Capital Country, unless given the express permission of the grand council of the Ostish Forest?"

Feeling a little relieved, Brand said "I will."

"And in the event that you are called on to defend the country, will you protect the Ostish Forest with your life?"

This seemed to be one of the obligations Brand had feared, but he supposed it was a reasonable request as even his country back home had similar obligations. "I will." he said.

"This is your oath." Stelro said loudly so his voice echoed throughout the room. "Make sure you remember it." After saying that, Stelro started muttering some gibberish under his breath. All of a sudden, the hand that Brand had been holding Stelro's with began to burn. He gave a surprised yelp and tried to pull away but Stelro hung on tight. After a minute of the burning sensation, Stelro released his hand and Brand looked at it. There was a plainly visible mark on his hand of a tree with three branches. As he looked at it, the brand began to fade from view and his hand looked normal again.

"What was that?" Brand asked.

"Proof of your citizenship." Stelro answered. "The first ceremony is now complete. You are now officially a member of the Ostish Forest. Now, if you'll please step down, we can begin the second ceremony."

Brand did as he was asked and stepped back down to where he was standing before. Calreme followed him down and started to stiffly speak almost the same words he had asked Alreya earlier. "Will you uphold the honor of the Ostish Forest as you attempt to become a dragon rider?"

Brand felt as though Calreme was even less enthused about this than he seemed about Alreya's ceremony. "I will." he said firmly.

"Will you treat your dragon as not just a beast, but as your partner for life?" Calreme once again asked.

"I will."

"And will you fight with your dragon, til your death if necessary, to defend the free countries from all the enemies they should face?"

"I will." Brand responded with a resolute look on his face.

"Then I bless you with this tooth Brand, son of..." Calreme trailed of as he looked questioningly at Brand.

"I never knew my parents." Brand told him, shrugging his shoulders.

"Then I bless you with this tooth Brand of Earth." Calreme improvised. "And I wish you luck in the upcoming ritual." With that the room once again started clapping. Although this time there was significantly less enthusiasm than before. Calreme returned to his seat, Brand returned to Alreya's side, and Stelro once again started to speak.

"I would like to congratulate you two, and wish you luck in the upcoming ritual as well. You both will be representing Masarch, and I expect you to represent us well. Get a good nights rest, because you will be leaving tomorrow to make sure you make it to Ragash, the capital of the Ostish, on time for the ritual. You are both dismissed."

After he finished speaking, Stelro motioned for Alreya and Brand to leave the room. Turning away from the elders, the two of them walked silently out of the room.