Oh. I did not realise that your sodalis was wounded. Do you come from the front then? I cannot remember to have seen you here when you went out. Let's get him into the sick room straight away, and Clarissa can see to him. She is our most seasoned chirurgeon. We have casting tablets for the healing rituals too, if you have the vis for it. Do you need a stretcher to get inside?
Caela shouts a couple of orders, and one of the shepherds leave the animals to help Luciu's shield grogs to get him inside, bringing a stretcher if required. You are all invited inside. The sick room, full of beds, occupies most of the first floor, leaving just a small storeroom for the chirurgeon, a conference room, and a hallway.
If you do not object, Luciu is competently placed in a bed for Clarissa to see to him, while the rest of you are offered a meal in the conference room.
Do you want me to get a casting tablet? We have both Purification of the festering wound and a sixth magnitude Chirurgeon's Healing Touch if you need it.
A moment after Caela shouts her orders a shortish but solidly built man exits one of the outbuildings. He has straight reddish-brown hair of a shaggy cut, clothes still dirty from travel, and is buckling a sword belt to his waist, sword in the scabbard. When he sees the grogs helping Luciu he quickly finishes buckling the belt and begins running to see yelling, "Luciu!" Not that far, he is soon upon you and helping the grogs with the wounded magus. Luciu knows him to be Ealhstan who he last saw at Magvillus and had been expecting here in Stonehenge last season.
"Good day, I am Edwin, one of the custos of the covenant of the White Horse. Following its demise in the war, I have been serving these magi. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to assist this covenant." Edwin smiles at the grogs, desperate to please.
"Back off!" barks Jack as he sees the shaggy haired warrior rushing at Luciu, appearing to Jack to be preparing to pull out a sword. The giant of a man pulls out his own sword in a practiced move, stepping directly into defensive posture in front of his injured lord.
"Slow up ye shaggy yaldsond!" calls out Jack again. "We di'nt brave the sardin' woods to have the likes a you, churl!"
Luciu speaks up, "It's ok, Jack, he's an old friend." He heaves himself off the seat. "Greetings, Caela. Nice to meet you. I am Luciu of Guernicus." He waves at the running man as he approaches. "Hello, Eahlstan. I've had better days, but good to see you again." He walks forward, wincing in pain, but determined not to be an invalid, and greets them both politely. "What's this you say about reinforcements, Caela? Do you speak in the looser sense of new faces, or are you facing an armed foe? I'm afraid I'm not much for combat, except for my talent in stopping arrows from going about their business. I won't object to a bed, but I'd like to look around first, if I may. Is anyone here the keeper of an enchanted raven? Not a familiar, but a very lifelike talisman, I thought..."
Caela have you sit down at the conference table before she starts talking. Food and drink is served, better than you have had for a week or two.
The need for reinforcements is very real. All our magi went North more than six months ago, where the Diedne is still a threat. They were expecting more hoplites to follow them shortly, but you are the first to arrive here unfortunately. The situation is likely desperate.
She looks apologetically at Luciu.
We need to see you patched up first, though.
Less apologetically, she looks at Thomas,
... and with respect, I don't think it is wise for one magus to go alone. I trust more will arrive. What's your specialty?
"I have bad news for you, Caela. Magi on the continent consider the war all but over. Neither of us is a hoplite, and I don't think more will be coming. I've been sent here to clean up after things, and tie up loose ends, see who's survived, and so on."
"WOAH! WOAH WOAH!" Ealhstan says in Mercian accented Saxon as he stops abruptly and leans back, hand on pommel of the sword but not drawing it and his left hand raised in a "stop" gesture before he relaxes as Luciu begins,
After Luciu has made his rounds and begins asking Caela about things Ealhstan knows nothing about and they begin moving into the building, Ealhstan leans in towards Jack and says in a low voice, "I commend your protection, glad Our Lucky has a vigilant protector," then lowering his voice a little more but still above a whisper, "but perhaps that vigilance would be more useful with real enemies than here, among friends." A smile is apparent in his voice.
«Really?» Caela pauses, almost startled. «Have the redcaps going South in the last year all been intercepted? What can you tell me about the situation elsewhere? You asked about an enchanted raven? The Diedne very often given raven cloaks to their mundane spies. Did one follow you when you came here?»
Jack's tension eases quickly at Luciu's assurance of friendship, and he quickly slides his sword back into its scabbard.
The big fellow leans down to hear Eahlstan better, a smile starting to warm his rugged face. "Been a bit of a shite trip to get Lord Luciu and that one here," he says quietly, gesturing over at Thomas. "Nothin but Sardin' bandits and fat-kidneyed fools the whole stinkin' way. How you know Lord Luciu?"
"Specialty?" asks Thom as to Caela's question. "Not sure what you mean."
The handsome young magus looks over at Luciu for a moment and then back to the blue-robed woman.
"I'm what's left of Castruum Antiquum. Passed my gauntlet a little more than a year back, but we haven't had opportunity to do much more than survive. When Magus Luciu and his group came to check on us, I joined him. And I'm glad I did."
Grateful his joking was taken in the spirit it was meant, Ealhstan says, "At Magvillus, spent long hours in the library and studying under the grueling tutelage of Guernicus magi, a monk or two, and less... um, savory, teachers. Originally from Cheshire, near the border with Powys. Ealhstan," he says as he puts his hand out in offer of a shake.
Luciu frowns. "I'm not sure if redcaps have been intercepted, but I wasn't aware of any calls for help.
The Raven didn't follow us here, it left us a while ago. An item to disguise a magus makes sense with what I saw. It did see us being attacked, and I announced my house."
Jack takes Ealhstan's hand in his. "Jack Burton. Grew up and raised at Cad Gadu. Too big to fish like me Da but not too big to swing a blade. Started lookin after Lord Luciu when he got these fair isles. What you good at?"
Thom looks at the woman and shrugs. "Oh. I'm not a soldier, that's for sure. I've learned foundational spells of illusion and disguise. And I can shoot a bow well enough. Only recently shot at a person for the first time."
The young magus grimaces slightly. "I didn't miss."
The Merinita listens to Luciu, frowning, likely recalling the battles and end of Castruum Antiquum.
Indicating to Jack they should make as much space as possible from the magi talking while also allowing for Jack to sit and eat in the new spot, âBit oâeverything but mostly the Quaesitors didnât want to be caught with their robes down in case there wasnât someone willing to do the Good Lordâs work the next time the Titanoi step out of line,â he realizes his companion probably doesnât have any idea what heâs talking about, âI help them hunt demons and those who work for them. Got skills their magic canât do for rooting out the devils among us.â Sniffs, eyes narrowing, âto be honest you smell a bit of brimstone to me, boy.â And Ealhstan looks harshly at Jack for a moment hand moving towards his sword before breaking into a wide and friendly grin and he shows his open, empty hands.
Caela has gathered the magi at one end of the table, while the grogs and companions can socialise on the other. Edwin did not get much attention at all; «I am sure your masters need you wen they get ready for the next step of the war.» was all they said.
Caela looks a bit worried.
I wonder if the raven still report to the Diedne insurgents. It is not certain. I am sure there are many such raven cloaks left with former spies after their masters have been defeated. On the other hand, it could mean that there is a Diedne nest nearby. We are somewhat in a blind spot here. All our hoplites and scouts have been out for ages, and we have heard no news for ages. The few covenfolk left are fully occupied growing food for their return, except for a bare minimum of guards.
Caela continues to question you about the area you have travelled through and the hardship you have seen. How forthcoming are you.
So Castrum Antiquum is completely abandoned now? That's disconcerting, that leaves us the last and only standing covenant in all of England. Then there is Cad Gadu in Wales, but they keep themselves to themselves.
Thom listens carefully to Caela's words, glancing occasionally at Luciu to track his reactions.
"Castrum Antiquum is essentially abandoned. My parens lives but has retreated into a regio for safety."
The blond magus pauses for a moment before continuing.
"When you introduced yourself, you did not identify yourself by House, Caela. You introduced youself by your parens, Tacitus. You said you are constable of Ungulus but are you yet an apprentice? Who else of Ungulus's council remain in residence?"
Tacitus, of Tremere, Tessa of Tytalus and Frederic of Flambeau are the full members of the covenant, but they have been on campaign for the better part of a year. You are right that I did not state any house, since I am not yet sworn in. I have merely been tasked with managing the covenant, and the rallying of reinforcements, on behalf of my pater.
She draws her breath and continues,
I am glad to hear that Castrum Antiquum is not entirely abandoned. What else can you tell us about the lands beyond Carlisle?