{"id":599,"date":"2026-08-17T16:33:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:33:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=599"},"modified":"2026-08-18T22:13:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T22:13:17","slug":"both-villages-had-a-warning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=599","title":{"rendered":"Both Villages Had a Warning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tales from the Universe<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Moral Dilemma:<\/strong> When two sides each have legitimate reasons to fear the other, how do you protect yourself without allowing inherited fear to decide who your enemy must be?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The people of Northbank warned Lio about Southbank before they showed him where he would sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDon&#8217;t cross the river.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio put down his pack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey steal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The innkeeper counted on her fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLivestock. Tools. Grain. Boats.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She leaned closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cChildren.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey steal children?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy grandfather&#8217;s brother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSouthbank.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That apparently explained everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio had been hired to repair the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This immediately seemed inconvenient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bridge connected Northbank and Southbank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Technically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice, a wooden barricade stood at the Northbank end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone had painted:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CROSS AT YOUR OWN RISK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Underneath, someone else had added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>AND DON&#8217;T COME BACK CRYING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio admired the specificity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bridge was old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stone piers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Timber deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beautiful construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Terrible maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several boards were missing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One railing had collapsed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The center sagged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy hasn&#8217;t anyone repaired it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The innkeeper looked at him as though he&#8217;d asked why nobody repaired lightning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSouthbank.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDid they damage it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDid anyone see them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey&#8217;re Southbank.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio was beginning to understand the local method of evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next morning he crossed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Northbank residents watched from behind the barricade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody stopped him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several behaved as though attending a funeral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Halfway across, Lio looked down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The river was perhaps twelve feet deep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the Southbank end stood another barricade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It read:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>NORTHBANKERS TURN BACK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone had added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SERIOUSLY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio stepped around it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three people immediately pointed crossbows at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBridge carpenter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He raised both hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One woman lowered her weapon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFrom Northbank?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFrom three days west.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhere are you staying?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNorthbank.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The crossbows rose again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eventually they let him enter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Southbank looked almost identical to Northbank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Same stone houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Same sheep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Same muddy roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Same suspicious elderly people watching from windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A baker gave Lio coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDon&#8217;t trust Northbank.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio nearly choked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey steal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He put down the cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLivestock. Tools. Grain. Boats.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio closed his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cChildren?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The baker looked surprised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Southbank had a story too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A girl named Mara had disappeared seventy years earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Northbank took her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone knew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The baker frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow do you know Northbank took her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe disappeared near the river.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWas she found there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDid anyone see someone take her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThen\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The baker&#8217;s expression hardened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou sound like them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He inspected the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both sides had damaged it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This was obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Northbank had removed boards near Southbank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Southbank had weakened railing supports near Northbank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each side had made crossing more dangerous to keep the other side away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then each used the dangerous bridge as evidence that crossing was dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio found this almost impressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He returned to Northbank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey damaged the bridge,\u201d the innkeeper said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She nodded triumphantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo did you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNorthbank removed six deck boards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDefensive measure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSouthbank said the same thing about the railing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey would.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio rubbed his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He began repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both villages objected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Northbank wanted its half repaired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Southbank wanted its half repaired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neither wanted the middle repaired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe middle is the part connecting you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio stared at the council.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou hired a bridge carpenter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe need a safe bridge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat doesn&#8217;t connect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat is called a pier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio repaired the whole thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mostly because nobody could agree who had authority to stop him in the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This was the advantage of disputed territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then tools disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three chisels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A small iron hammer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Northbank immediately blamed Southbank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Southbank blamed Northbank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio blamed whoever stole his tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This position satisfied nobody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He searched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Found footprints near the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Probably a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The tracks crossed beneath the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was a hollow inside one of the old stone piers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone had been using it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blankets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Candles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And a girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She screamed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio screamed because she screamed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then both stared at each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her name was Tessa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Northbank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fourteen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy are my tools here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI borrowed them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat word is doing difficult work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She looked embarrassed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then another child crawled into the hollow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Southbank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also fourteen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio closed his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOh, excellent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They were friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Secretly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They met beneath the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat do you do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tessa shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTalk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAbout what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The boy added:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMostly how stupid everyone is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPromising generation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They had been carving something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Into the stone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not theirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Old names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dozens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio touched them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat is this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tessa said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPeople who crossed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAlways.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The children had been collecting stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not the official ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marriage records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trade records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Letters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People from Northbank and Southbank had crossed the river constantly for centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes secretly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes openly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes during periods when the feud relaxed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then something happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another disappearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The border hardened again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio saw two names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One caught his attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>ARLEN VALE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The innkeeper&#8217;s grandfather&#8217;s brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The stolen child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beside it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>MARA SEN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The missing Southbank girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio stared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen were these carved?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tessa shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLong time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWho were they?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The boy smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe think they ran away together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Records confirmed part of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An old marriage register in a town eighty miles south listed:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Arlen Vale of Northbank<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">and<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mara Sen of Southbank.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Married.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Same year both disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio laughed until his stomach hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He brought copies to both councils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Northbank said Southbank had seduced Arlen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Southbank said Northbank had abducted Mara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio stared at them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey married.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Northbank:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUnder what circumstances?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Southbank:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio discovered evidence had limits when identity was at stake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then something worse happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Northbank barn burned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three Southbank boys had been seen nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Northbank men armed themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Southbank did the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the first time, Lio understood that the feud was not merely ridiculous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People could die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Old stories could become instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He investigated the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not because he was qualified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because everyone qualified had chosen a side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The three boys had been nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They had also been fishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio found the cause inside the barn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A broken lantern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The owner admitted he&#8217;d left it hanging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTell the council.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The man looked toward the armed crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey already know Southbank did it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo. They think Southbank did it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSame thing now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio felt cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He dragged the broken lantern into the town square.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Literally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He threw it onto the council table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis burned the barn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He shouted louder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou are about to kill people because a lantern fell over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Someone yelled:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow do we know they didn&#8217;t knock it over?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There was always another possibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Certainty could manufacture itself forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Southbank arrived at the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Armed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Northbank waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Armed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio stood in the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This was not bravery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had simply become extremely angry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tessa and her friend stood behind him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He told them to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They refused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio held up the marriage record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNobody cares about this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That confused everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis proves almost nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt doesn&#8217;t prove Northbank is good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He pointed south.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOr Southbank.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He pointed north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt doesn&#8217;t prove nobody ever stole anything. Doesn&#8217;t prove nobody ever murdered anyone. Doesn&#8217;t prove your grandparents were fools.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He paused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt proves one thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He pointed at the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou don&#8217;t know as much as you think you do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody lowered their weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So Tessa did something much more effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She walked across.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From Northbank toward Southbank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her friend walked the opposite direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Parents screamed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neither stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They passed each other in the center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nothing happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two children crossed a bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes history needs embarrassingly simple demonstrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The feud did not end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That would have been ridiculous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People still argued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There were still thefts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Real ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Southbank farmer stole three Northbank sheep five years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He was caught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For several days everyone said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSee?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then a Northbank merchant cheated Southbank buyers on grain weights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Southbank said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSee?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio, unfortunately still living nearby, said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes. I see two criminals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody found this satisfying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the bridge stayed open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That mattered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trade returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then marriages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then arguments about trade and marriages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People discovered new reasons to dislike one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some were even based on current events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Years later, Lio walked across the bridge with his granddaughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She pointed at the two old signs hanging in the carpenter&#8217;s workshop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CROSS AT YOUR OWN RISK.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>NORTHBANKERS TURN BACK.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy did they hate each other?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio thought for a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey had reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGood ones?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBad ones?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMany.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhich was which?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lio looked across the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI still don&#8217;t know all of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His granddaughter frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat isn&#8217;t very helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut it&#8217;s considerably safer than pretending I do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They crossed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nobody stopped them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: When two sides each have legitimate reasons to fear the other, how do you protect yourself without allowing inherited fear to decide who your enemy must be? The people of Northbank warned Lio about Southbank before they showed him where he would sleep. \u201cDon&#8217;t cross the river.\u201d Lio put [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tales-from-the-universe"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Both Villages Had a Warning - Depth Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/depthguide.com\/?p=599\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Both Villages Had a Warning - Depth Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Tales from the Universe Moral Dilemma: When two sides each have legitimate reasons to fear the other, how do you protect yourself without allowing inherited fear to decide who your enemy must be? 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