By the time Alcander had made it to the Manor, he had been too late. The building was already riddled with bullets, and the only evidence that the assailants had come and gone were the tire tracks in the snow, with great heaps of the stuff in mounds, tossed by the twisting motions of the speeding vehicles. It was only by the grace of Apollo (as he often said) that he managed to find and incapacitate a straggler. 

"Du wirst mich nie dazu bringen, zu reden, Schlampe!" the german had said in his native tongue, refusing to talk to Alcander. The surprise on his face was priceless when Alcander replied back in german. "If you do not, I will shoot you." and pressed the gun to the man's temple. 

Hours later, Alcander had made it to South Hampton in the first taxi he had been able top procure, having found some peace in the knowledge the Baron Cormack had been unharmed as far as the german's knowledge, as had Bertram and Jack, though why Jack had been there was beyond Alcander. He would have more answers at the ship. 

The group had formed up at the deck of the Demetor, a lovely ship if Alcander said so himself. Stepping out of the Taxi, they would see the olive skinned young adventurer with disheveled hair and a ruddiness to him he hadn't had the day previous, and his clothing, a linen shirt and rolled up sleeves along his jacket had clearly had dirt brushed off of it. 

He felt even further relief when he saw Baron Cormack and Bertram stood at the front of the ramp that led onto the ocean going vessel. "Oi, we're to cast off in one hour!" a voice called out. Another voice rang back from the aft of the ship. "Aye captain! Another hour lads!" 

"Aye! An hour!" 

"Must they yell so loud, Bertram?" The Baron said aloud, a smile playing on his lips as Alcander approached. 

"Are you alright?" Alcander asked him, worry on his face. The Baron was already waving off his concern, clearly already tired of experiencing it once. He'd rather not relive it again, and it was writ upon his face as clear as day. "It is alright, my young friend. You should worry more upon yourself, for you are the one going into the very heart of Africa, not I." He laughed. "I have many places to live, and many powerful friends. Believe me, I am fine. I believe you'll need to speak with Jack about further details however." 

"Indeed sir," Bertram said. "The ship leaves in an hour you know." 

"Yes I...yeah." Alcander said back. 

"Bertram has a peculiar sense of humor." The Baron Cormach said. "Now off with you lad. I know you and the others will succeed. After all, for what other purpose do we humans have the capacity for faith for, than for journey's such as these?" He held a hand out to Alcander, which the scholar took, and shook. 

"Godspeed, my boy." 

"Thank you, sir." 
[@Penny][@Amaranth][@Hero][@Stormflyx][@ihinka][@Dervish]