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Original X-roads-2003
“The girls father was a farmer, he gave eighty percent of his crops to the King in taxes every year to help pay for the vast expanse of land he resided on. So that year just as the crops were starting to grow and mature the Black Knight set loose thousands of pests on the farmers crops. The farmer was beside himself with grief, not only did he not have food to survive the winter but he did not have crops to barter for his tax payment. His only neighbor whom would have the money he needed to borrow to survive was the Black Knight. So naturally who else did he turn to.” He stopped for a second then continued. “The Black Knight agreed to help the farmer, by lending him all the money he needed. He was given money to pay his taxes, buy food stock for the coming winter, and replant come springtime. He asked for no interest on the loan, just that it be paid back in full by the next harvest season.”
He took a sip from the mug then continued the story. “The farmer was a shrewd man, he knew if he wanted to pay back this man and pay his taxes next year his family would have to live lean all winter, and so they did. By springtime when it was time to plant, they were not as prepared as they would have been from malnourishment and they still had to plant twice as much. The crops were planted, but at a very heavy cost. The wife of the farmer took ill from weakness and overwork, as did the youngest and frailest of their sons. They both died before harvest, and the workload for the survivors became unbearable. The crops suffered and became overgrown with weeds. When the crops should have been mature and ripening they were mostly withered and brown. The farmer harvested and sold what he had, but it was only enough to cover his taxes and nothing more. His family was set to starve through the winter, he cowered at the thought of the Black Knight and did not go to see him.”
Seleq paused for a second then continued again. “When the winter began to come, the Black Knight went to the farmer to demand payment. When he was refused, he took the daughter and bound her hand and foot then dragged her up to his fortress castle and pulled up the drawbridge. He refused entrance to any who came near, and had his men shoot arrows at all that dared try to enter. When spring arrived the farmer went to the King to beg his intervention and the return of his daughter, but the Black Knight slew arrows at even the Kings men.”
“So what happened?” I asked.
“The Black Knight forced the woman to marry him and he forgave her fathers debts.” he shrugged.
“The debts he caused?” I complained.
“I asked if you knew the story,” he said and raised his eyebrow at me. “And now you do.”