Original X-roads-2003

    The boy still cowered in silence, it was clear that he meant no real harm to the commander.
    The commander watched the crowd closely. ‘The boy may not mean any harm, but whom ever gave him this rock may have.’
    Cas managed to get them to separate and she glanced at the medium sized red rock sitting in the commanders hand. Quickly she grabbed it and asked the boy, “This is a pretty rock, where did you get it?”
    “It is from just outside my village, near the mine.” he replied and smiled at her.
    Casandra looked at the red color of the rock. “I’ve never seen a rock with this many shades of red. It’s very interesting. How does it come to be this many shades of red.” She glanced at the boy hoping to learn some old local legend, of spiritual tale.
    “Come to my village and I will show you how it becomes red.” he smiled and motioned for her to follow.
    “It could be a trap.” The commander warned. “An ambush.”
    “I’m far too interested and would rather find out.” Casandra ignored his warning. “Besides we have a small militia here, I don’t think we’re in any danger.”
    The group followed the boy to a mine near the outside of his village.
    Casandra gasped in horror as she watched soldiers dressed in black bashing in the heads of females against the rock outside the mine.