“Uh hem,” said the lady and all eyes turned to her, “it’s time for the testing to begin. As I mentioned before, silence is essential for this test. I hope the parents would cooperate. As you well know, this test will determine the future for each of your children. The bird they speak to will determine their station in life hereafter and while we know it’s mostly hereditary, there have been some exceptions.”

 

Quiet fell over the parents and the lady retrieved a list from her assistant.

 

“Anderson, Mark,” she cried and a little boy near the front row jumped off his seat and toddled to the lady. He was dressed in fine robes that sparkled even in the dim light and sitting near the front of the parents, his father, the Marquis of Shadowtain, waved at him.