This is the end of this story, but I plan on writing more about these characters. Other related stories are Carra Mine and The Nature of the Beast.
Chapter 12 A Name to Choose
Khedrick called a town meeting. Everyone except those on watch and two groups that had gone out to watch for Ancar's troops was there. Raver was glad no one was watching Olhaven anymore. He didn't think they could have continued to watch and not try to stop what was going to happen, to do so would have been to endanger them all.
The people had come slowly, two or three at a time as they left their current projects. Once they were sure everyone who could come was there, Khedrick called for the meeting to start.
When the voices quieted he said in a clear voice that carried Olhaven has died today".
When he had quiet once more he continued "Raver has seen it, everyone the guards didn't take they killed, they also burned the town. There was nothing left".
"Then this is Olhaven"one of the men shouted from the back.
Khedrick shook his head "do you really want the name of such a Tragedy hanging over your head day after day, I think we need a new name for our settlement".
The debate raged on several candlemarks, many wanted to keep the old name for their new home, while others took what the mayor had said to heart.
It seemed the two factions would never agree. As time went on the mayor worried that it would destroy their fragile new community and now he almost wished he hadn't suggested a new name, but in his heart he knew he was right.
It seemed that every new name thrown out was not acceptable to everyone, there was always someone who took offense, then the debate would start up again.
Raver sat in the corner, he didn't want to directly influence events. He sometimes had a feeling that it would be a bad thing, like when he had let the Heralds go. He had the same feeling about this decision. He wasn't sure why, but he knew he wasn't to be the one who came up with the new name for the town.
It was frustrating though, not to say anything when he knew what the name was going to be.
Then in a lull a child's voice rang out "If the old town was Olhaven, why can't the new one be Newhaven".
There was laughter as people were caught by surprise, the debate went on for a time, but the child's suggestion caught on. It had a little of the old and it was a new name,it seemed to be a good compromise.
In the end it was the name chosen for the new town.