Original X-roads-2003

Meanwhile in the Past…
 
    By the time Rasfer had reached Asron, Peit and the Knights had already been there.
    His hopes shrank as his shoulders fell. “No…” he moaned and fell to his knees.
    The city had been set ablaze, though the fires were out now. Smoke filled the air and rose high into the sky. Wheel barrows full of the slaughtered villagers were being carted out past the entrance where Rasfer now knelt in despair. Rasfer felt a deep weight drop inside his core as he saw Gart Hesmith on the top of the first one.
    Rasfer was beside himself in grief. He got up and walked away slowly from the city to the east. He walked til his legs gave out from under him, then he laid on his back on the ground. He glanced up at the sky, at the millions of lights above his head. What were those lights? Did anyone ever climb high enough to see them up close? Was there anything that high to climb on? He fell asleep.
    When Rasfer woke up he was on the floor in a one room shack. There was a kitchen area, a sitting area, dining area, and sleeping area. The dining area was just a table and four chairs sitting near the fireplace, the table was set for two. An elderly man was leaned over a large pot in the fireplace. The house smelled like fresh stew and homemade bread. He sat up and looked around, an old woman was sleeping in a bed in the far corner. Rasfer stood up and walked slowly towards the door.
    There was no reason to bring trouble to these good people. Rasfer knew he was a hunted man, and his fate would be like that of his friend Gart.
    “You bring news of Asron?” the old man called out to him just as he reached the door. “We saw the smoke on the horizon but dared not venture out that way. Lest we receive the same fate.”
    “Yes.” Rasfer turned around slowly.