Paragraph 34: Hurried Return Home

Albertus sat considering the days events. For the first time in weeks he was home again, sitting alone in his study surrounded by his many manuscripts and books collected over the years cataloguing both the history of the Republic and as much lore and history of the world as he could get his hands on. It was a beautiful autumn day outside and the one tall arched window of his tower let in rays a bright, warm sunshine. Outside the sounds of distant water, busy birds, and playful children could be heard. The building the Republic had acquired was a gracious gift indeed. It made the perfect Great Hall and a focal point for his people to settle in to.

The building itself was a tall fortress built of white granite with several towers, beautiful to behold. It had spacious courtyards, beautiful green lawns, and a powerful wall meant for defense. Its gate were wrought iron, kept open to allow the people to come and go as they pleased to their village they had built in their usual likeness and architecture closer to the sea. The plot of land they now occupied was not part of any particular country and under the rule on none but themselves. The two nations of this land Kryta, and Ascalon had worked together at the request of Prince Rurik and King Adelbern of Ascalon through Ambassador Zain of Kryta to five Albertus and his people a place to start anew for their help in fighting against a common enemy.

It as a beautiful place altogether with soft rolling hills, an abundance of wildlife, beautiful trees of all colors in this autumn season complete with a waterfall and a Oceanside cliff affording a most spectacular view of how the Republic now made their living. There had been a port constructed and a flourishing trade had been established with nations far across the water. Immortals were a crafty and hard-working lot and they had quickly set to reestablishing themselves after their hard journey to this new home.

With a deep sigh Albertus returned to his thoughts. His long white hair was tied loosely behind his back, and his reading glasses rested precariously far down his long nose as he looked at his folded hands lying in his lap and began to go over the past days events again.

Albertus had only returned home yesterday from weeks in the fields of battle leading a small group of Immortals to assist Prince Rurik in the defense of Fort Ranik, an inland Fort the Ascalonians fought hard to protect. It had been less than a month ago that the Char had pressed forward under the command of their General Bonfaz Burntfur and taken the Great Northern Wall meant to protect what land the Ascalonians still held in relative safety. Prince Rurik, and Albertus along with their forces had been pushed all the way back to the Fort to make their stand. In an attempt at one last push the Immortals and Ascalonians made a huge push and managed to break through the Char and reached their leader, some unknown lesser officer of their ranks, and retook the wall to secure the lands. The dead officer had had some papers on his person written in his native language which Rurik had one of his men, versed in their crude language, translate.

Albertus had been sitting with his men at their camp conversing with Azcon and Ultima when Rurik approached and asked to speak to him alone. In a feverish tone Rurik had explained to him that before the invasion Ascalon had been an academic stronghold to the region having had many academies run by mages who were versed in teaching various forms of magic. Most of these academies had been decimated as where their teachers who resided there. Rurik had gone on to explain that one such academy had been in a now ruined city called Surmia which had been located just north of the Great Wall. It had been this city that Albertus, Dennizon, Kitana, Phoenix, and Freedom had first seen lighting the sky in its destruction on that fateful night.

Rurik explained that the documents recovered from the defeated Char officer told of a prison camp in the ruins of Surmia in which it appeared that several of the mages thought to be dead were in fact alive and being held prisoner for nearly two years now. He had paused then, and looked hard into Albertus’ eyes before continuing. He of course was there to solicite the help of Albertus and his people in securing the freedom of these prisoners, but it was not that news that had set Albertus into these chaotic thoughts and rushes of emotion he now felt.

Rurik explained that there was also mention of another camp of prisoners, further into Char territory than Surmia. These prisoners were more heavily guarded and were slotted for execution. Foremost among those mentioned where a group of people that could only have been attached to the battle that infamous night that Dennizon and Freedom led their parties into the midst of the Char forces coming to engage them as Albertus and Kitana led the remaining refugees of women and children to the safety and hope of the city of Ascalon. The news had shocked Albertus to the core.

It had been nearly two years now since that fateful battle and it had been a grievous loss for Albertus and all others involved as they lost many a life. In those two years Albertus had slowly come to terms with the loss of so many of his people there and had been able to recover and put it behind him, reaching a point of closure. But with this news, the cover was ripped off of those old wounds and the feelings of pain, regret, and anger coursed through his veins again like poison sapping his optimism. Thinking of his brave comrades resting in peace was one thing, but thinking of them being in captivity for two years and waiting to be executed in ways no doubt cruel he could not handle so easily. Of course he wrestled with his logic as well, for the papers did not confirm that these prisoners were his own people, but the mere chance that they were ate at him like a canker sore.

So it was that Albertus had sent his help with Rurik to the one front, and returned home to call a meeting of the war council on the other. He worried that he might seem rash in his proposal and dreaded having to think on these things any more than he had to, but the thoughts of any survivors pushed him on regardless.