The Crossroads

 

Around 47 A.S. calm was slowly beginning to settle on the lands. In an attempt to expand settlement the Maurstein elders issued an order. To their people they chose some of their bravest boys to travel with their mothers and sisters. They were to find a small farmland and settle there. One hundred women, young girls, babies and young boys filled the group as they set out east.

They traveled with little trouble across the land. The only problem they ran into was the wild animals that roamed around. Most other settlers were more concerned with rebuilding their losses.

As they were traveling across what is now known as the crossroads they met someone. Aliza will never tell who it was. Maybe for the fear that her life would be ended if she revealed the criminals. The events that unfolded are gruesome, even for a young 13 year old girl to witness. This is what she wrote :

“ There was several of them. I couldn’t count it happened so fast. They came from the woods but I don’t know which ones. Maybe all of them, i don’t know. I was so scared, they screamed and yelled at us. They rode their horses around us and reared back on them. The boys were getting mad. They should not have tried to be big, those boys were so brave. Foolish even to start what they did. Dragonfly pushed me and told me to run. He was so wonderful, he was to be mine someday. I didn’t think, I just grabbed sis and ran. I don’t think they seen us run. We looked out to see the boys being cut to pieces by the men. They were laughing and calling them names. Some of them would trample the boys after they fell. It was horrible, I don’t know where mother went to. There was a man shooting them, shooting the girls. Why were they shackling the older girls? I couldn’t watch anymore, I started to cry. I fell asleep. I was shaken awake by a woman. Her name was Elkrid Meanir.”

Elkrid hated her name and always introduced herself as “EM.” Em found Aliza and her sister that day along with the rest of the slaughter. She was on her daily ride, in an area which has been peaceful for years. Em had never seen anything like this before.

“Stay here Aliza, I’ll be right back.” Em rode her steed around the area seeing any other were alive. Most were dead, others taking their last breaths. Em had arrived an hour to late to help any of the fallen. She rode back to Aliza and her sister and saddled them up. Only 30 minutes away was Em’s small ranch home. She left the two girls to her chambermaid a went to inform her husband of what happened. He had good ties with friends in town and with the royalty. Even his voice went unheard as to what happened when the news got out.

In 49 A.S. Em struck up the plan to build the Villa at the Crossroads. It would be a safe haven for any travelers passing through. With the help of some hired guards and a strong husband Em built her villa. Raised roadside it now stands proudly by a field of crosses place by her. Aliza and her sister Emma now live in the villa and attend to all the guests. Each cross reminds every traveler of the danger and unexpected nature of the lands.

Chapter 2

Nothing has changed with the crossroads. It remains neutral and safe. Many adventures at the crossroad helped defend it from the surge.