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Original X-roads-2003
The merchant said nothing for a moment. “There was a statue there, a large monument. A man and woman stood there like giants. I had never seen anything so tall, they could reach the sky. There were strange symbols at the base of the monument. I had always supposed they were some kind of giants, left here to protect this sacred place. I always thought if I could somehow translate the symbols into words and recite the incantation, they would spring to life. When the riders came I ran to them, I cried and I pleaded to the stone figures to come to life and save my family.” He shook his head at his childhood innocence.
“Czar Kilji heard my screams long after everyone I everyone I ever knew was gone. He sent riders to grab me, I was his slave for the next fifteen years.” the merchant looked as if he would cry, but could not or would not. His mood changed as he let go of the memory and continued. “During that time I met that man from the statue, the man who never aged. He was the most dangerous man I ever knew of, no one could beat him in battle. It was if he could read your mind, and get inside of it.”
“His name was General Mark Chasarue. I never met the woman, I hope I never do after meeting the man. He was cruel to everyone he ever met, and he enslaved everyone to himself. I’m sure the woman is even more cruel.” he glared slightly at Naomi.
She took no notice of his hint at her treatment of people. She cared very little what his opinion of her or any other woman was.
“The famine I found out was no temporary thing, the entire lands turned into a sand covered wasteland. Only the small patch of land was still any good. The Czar and Mark took their armies and wiped out over three fourths of the population, the rest they took for slaves. I learned from other slaves of the water, and then from documents in the Czar’s library I found it was truth. Under the monument of stone, deep under the ground, runs a spring with water that will make the drinker immortal.” The merchant picked up the bag of gold and tied it to his belt. “That underground water is the only thing keeping that land alive and fruit bearing. There is only one place on all of Tehrat, where the trees still grow.”
“I’m aware.” Naomi was not pleased by the tale, “It is at Kilji’s castle.”
The merchant nodded, then walked out of the tent.