Decide, Boy
an excerpt

He sat in his stall speaking to an older man dressed in white leather from head to toe. The man kept fiddling with a strange looking iron spike, whatever the man was saying to Shaun’s father, his father listened intently without joy. Whenever Shaun saw his father he usually had a large smile or a loud bellowing laughter. This worried him, so he stopped and hid behind a pole while the man spoke to his father.
Finally his father stood up and closed the stall while the strange man stroked the metal spike and pocketed it. Shaun got spooked so he ran back home to his mother. She looked up startled as he entered the house again, Shaun felt tempted to go run into her arms, but he didn’t want to appear weak so he went into his room, from where in he listened to what was going on within the living room. He heard the door open once more and two distinct persons enter. He heard the man speak, but couldn’t make out the words as they got muffled out between the walls. The man seemed to be talking with his parents in an easy going manner, unlike what he expected after viewing him talk to his father. Shaun’s mother opened the door to his room, showing him that same motherly smile, making him feel all brave. “Your father is here now, seems like we have more surprises for you.”
He followed her into the living room where the man was sitting, while Shaun’s father got him a pint of stout. “You must be Shaun,” the man in white said, smiling softly, “I’m Jared.” He stuck out his hand to shake Shaun’s hand, but there was no reaction.
“What’s going on?” Shaun asked, looking to his father.
“This morning we got a letter through the Imperial Postal service. You have been invited to Diarc.” He said, looking proudly on Shaun, taking the rest of his edge clean off.
“And Jared here came to speak to your father because of a similiar situation just now.” Shaun’s mother said, handing him a cup of tea.
“I am looking for an apprentice.” Jared said, taking a sip from his drink, “I travel around Eameor, do a bit of trade, some consulting and bring news from realm to realm. I know it does not sound glamorous and believe me when I say it isn’t, but I can show you how to work your little gift.”
“Gift?” Shaun asked, completely puzzled “what are you talking about?”
Jared smiled and looked towards Shaun’s father. “Shaun, you know that Diarc is not a normal school like the one by the temple.”
“Yeah, kinda.”
“Diarc is what some would call a magic school.”
“I don’t understand, dad.”
Jared stood up and finished his drink, “my boy, you have a talent.” He said fishing out his odd spike. “This is my friend Graves, you can not hear him, I can however. He’s my compass. You see, when Diarc look for new students in faraway places, they use methods more complicated than the discussions I have with my friend Graves here. They use big, specific magic. Me? I ask Graves here where I can find a good apprentice, and he leads me here to your father.”
“Why me?” Shaun asked confused looking towards his father who was feeling quite sorry for his son.
“You can talk to the dead.” Jared said and stroked Graves.
“Liar!” Shaun said and hid behind his father.
“I’m sorry about this,” he said to Jared and took Shaun’s hand. “But I think you should go.”
Jared nodded and walked to the door, “I’m sorry if I’m being too blunt, but I really enjoyed the drink so thanks for that.”