Chapter 3.1: ​

Spoiler: Author's Notes Another bonus chapter and one that took longer than expected to finish. The main reason is because I found myself spending the majority of my free time binging through the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (currently on book 5 "The Fires of Heaven") and got myself distracted. Anyways, this one is inspired by the Atomicist faith and the fact that it is steadily spilling out of Deitscherei into Baltimore. I wanted to explore how the faith got into Baltimore and how Kaynich Reuchlin Ironside is influencing the world. I hope you enjoy!

Early October, 2671, the sun burns bright in the sky giving warmth to those that travel the Interstate below and red brown leaves fall gracefully with every autumn breeze. Carroll chews loudly as he ate the last of the pretzeled bread that he bought during their time in Philadelphia. “You know, I don’t mind the Reynolds much,” he remarked. Thick wool coats that replaced the summer hoods that they wore at the beginning of the pilgrimage caught some of the crumbs. “They seem to be a queer bunch but fun nonetheless.” He took another bite of his bread making a loud crunchy noise. “They make their city feel like…” He waved around a hand as if to find the rest of the sentence under a pile of nothing. “Like, it’s always sunny,” he said with a smile. Afterwards, he took one last bite to finish off the bread.Duke Henry thought back to his time in Philadelphia and then immediately regretted it. Duke Dennis Reynolds, or Dennis the Fat, was a scholarly man who claims to follow a lifestyle practiced in Ancient American colleges. Though drinking beer out of a funnel while being held upside down and forming a formula on how to seduce women are the least scholarly things Duke Henry can imagine. Though, it’s his bastard brother, Carroll Kelly, that acted the most peculiar of the bunch with his conspiracy theories concerning the Men-In-Black. He shook his head and made a mental note to never visit Duke Dennis ever again.“I don’t see the appeal of such a lifestyle,” Duke Henry muttered stiffly. “A ruler of a holy city should devout himself in upholding the Founders’ laws not carousing.”Carroll shrugged. “My father always told me to enjoy life or it’ll be the death me. He says that stress can kill a man just like any sickness.” He paused for moment with a worried look on his face. “Pardon me, my lord. I didn’t realized what I was saying.”Duke Henry shook his head gently. “Don’t be sorry, Carroll. I don’t get offended so easily. Besides, there is wisdom in your words.” He sighed. “But, remember this for next time, men of high birth cannot afford the luxury of living a stress free life or else risk failing his people.” Loud shouting accompanied by galloping horses attracted the men’s attention away from their conversation.“Stupid louts! Stop crossing the border uninvited!” A small man shouted. Duke Henry watched the small man and his men brandish their steel as they chase off a group of sickly people back to the woodlands. “If I ever see your lot here again, I’ll gut you and make you eat it before you die!” He threatened them until they disappeared completely. Afterwards, he turned at Duke Henry and pointed. “You there! Don’t think I didn’t notice you ride down from the Interstate!” He puffed his chest and spat. “State your business or I’ll be forced to persecute you lot,” he demanded.Duke Henry looked at the small man and thought that he was nothing but hot air. Then, he looked at the man’s followers and noticed that they are about as many as his. When he saw the red ox on white sigil embroidered into the man’s coat, he realized that the man must be a borderguard and is just doing his duty so, he answered his question. “I am Duke Henry of House Midfield, Duke of South Jersey,” he answered courteously. “I am on a pilgrimage, you see, and I would be grateful if you can inform the Duke of Delmarva of my passage through his lands. So that I may pass through it unmolested.”The man blinked at him quizzically. “I’m the Duke of Delmarva,” he replied with slight irritation.Duke Henry scanned him from head to toe trying to recall what the Duke of Delmarva is supposed to look like. As far as he remembered, Delmarva was rule by Duke Nicholas of House Derren, a man with skin the color of bronze and blonde hair. The man in front of him was a fair skinned man with black hair. Duke Henry asked, “Duke Nicholas?”Two spots of color flared up on the man’s cheeks once he heard the name. “Duke Nicholas! Duke Nicholas! Do I look like Duke Nicholas to you?” He took a deep breath to calm himself. “I am Duke Andrew of House Barksdale, the Duke of Delmarva,” he declared. “Nicholas Derren and Patricius Swanick, I’ll hear none of those names! House Barksdale rule Delmarva, now and forever!” He puffed his chest again.“I apologize if I cause any offense, Duke Andrew,” Duke Henry said. “If I may get your permission to pass through your lands.”Duke Andrew sniffed. “Are you saying that I, Duke Andrew Barksdale, aren’t fit to be your host and that Delmarva is so despicable that you have to go as soon as you get?”“No, but you sure bark a lot,” is what he wanted to say. But instead shortened his response to a simple “No.”“Then, I shall escort you to my keep in Wilmington,” he offered so confidently that it sounded more like declaration. “There you shall be my guest.” A smug smile curled his lips.“Pardon me, Duke Andrew, but, I would rather be on my way to Washington,” Duke Henry said carefully to avoid any hint of disrespect.“Nonsense! Wilmington is on the way. Might as well stay in my castle for a day or so.” His smug smile went away. “Unless, you feel that my company is so horrible that you’d rather stay at an inn or that my keep is so petty compared to yours that you’d rather sleep under a tree.”“I never made such claims,” Duke Henry replied with forced calmness.“My lord, if I may,” Carroll interjected.“Speak your mind, Carroll,” Duke Henry replied. Duke Andrew protested for being ignored to speak with a servant.“We might as well I take his offer, my lord,” Carroll said with a concerned tone. “The clouds, my lord.” He pointed at the dark clouds on the horizon. “That’s a storm, it seems. Better to have our horses in a castle’s stable and us under a stone roof than some cheap inn. Worse if that caught us while on the road.”Duke Henry lets out a deep breath. “Duke Andrew, I will be accepting your offer after all.”Duke Andrew sniffed and made his smug smile more apparent. “Of course you would.”Duke Henry saw lots of men gathered at Wilmington on their way to the castle and they carry a mix of expressions on their faces. Some are filled with despair, some eager, while some are just sad. Some of the men are armed with bills and pavises. While most are armed with farm tools or custom weapons and lightly armored or not at all. The sound of men being taught how to march and how to swing a sword caught the Duke’s attention.“Is there going to be a war?” Duke Henry asked respectfully but concerned.Duke Andrew sniffed then spat at the question. “There is one. Why haven’t you heard?”“As I said before, I am on a pilgrimage,” Duke Henry answered calmly. “And, the last place I’ve been in is Philadelphia and I don’t believe Duke Dennis has heard of it either.”“Dennis the Fat,” Duke Andrew said the name mockingly. “I heard that all he does is drink beer and, despite being really fat, he believes that his body is perfect, are those true?”“In a way,” Duke Henry answered dismissively since he couldn’t really confirm or deny those statements. “About this war that you found into?”“Since you’re going to hear about it anyway, I might as well tell you,” Duke Andrew said with a grim tone. “The Holy Columbian Confederacy declared a holy war against my ally, House Semmes of the Three Necks. Now, I’m mustering my men to lend aid towards my father-in-law and we’ll board our ships after the storm is gone.” His eyes flared with passion. “I, Andrew of House Barksdale, Duke of Delmarva, will be the savior of the Amercanist world!” He cheered.The gates of Wilmington castle opened and the two dukes and their parties entered. Duke Andrew bellowed at his grooms to help them with their horses and then escorted Duke Henry inside while boasting about the deeds that he has not done yet. Meanwhile, Carroll accompanied his horse to the stables.“Well, don’t you look good,” a smooth sounding man called followed by a deep mmm.Carroll looked at the man quizzically. He has ebony skin, a huge white powdered wig, and a thick black beard. He wore a black tailcoat partnered with matching pants, leather shoes, and tie that highlighted his glistening white teeth and round brown eyes. On his white cotton gloved hand he spun a cane with an eagle shaped pommel in a way that suggests it has more use than just being an accessory.The man raised a hand as if to keep Carroll away. “I meant the horse, by the way. Just so we don’t get any confusions,” he japed but Carroll didn’t find it funny. “Although,I must say, you do look good in that outfit. You can’t be just a mere servant.”“I am not,” Carroll declared proudly. “My name is Carroll, one of my lord’s commanders and the leader of his dragoons.”“Carroll, huh?” The man examined him while spinning his cane like a baton. “No last name? Just a mere man of low birth picked up from the streets of South Jersey by his almighty master?” The man grinned widely in a mocking fashion.“Who are you to talk to me this way?” Carroll can feel the anger rise within him. “I don’t see you ruling a castle of your own or an army under your beck and call.”“Well, not yet,” the man said as if it’s a guaranteed thing and everyone should know about it already. “My name is Summerset and I dare say that I do not intend to be nameless forever.” Summerset looked around and smiled. “Best that you and I leave now, Carroll, your lord is probably looking for you,” he said with an added emphasis on the word “lord.”Carroll grimaced as the other guy leave but realized that he spoke true. Duke Henry must be wondering where he has gone, he thought. He rubbed his horse’s mane a few times before saying farewell to the animal and handing its reins to a groom.When he turned around he was surprised to see that a woman was watching him all this time. She has long braided blonde hair and a pale complexion like ivory. I’ve never seen someone so pale before, he thought but shrugged it off as nonsense. His mother always told him not to judge people just because they look odd to him. When his light brown eyes matched her jade green eyes, the woman’s cheeks glowed a faint red. Carroll waved his hand and greeted the woman.“Hi,” the woman greeted back. “Don’t mind Master Summerset, Master Carroll. I saw you guys arguing, if you don’t mind me saying.”“Oh, no,” Carroll replied. “I can’t blame you. This place is hardly private. I’m sorry but, who are you?”The woman lets out a breath of relief. “My name is Katharine,” she answered eagerly. “I’m… a maid,” she said hesitantly. “Master Summerset just like to tease but he meant no harm by it. He’s a smart man, a very smart man, and he knows it. That’s why he acts that way.”“Well, if my mother saw me act that way to strangers, she’ll spank me,” Carroll joked. “And, don’t feel bad that you’re a maid. My mother’s a maid and that’s a respectable job, unlike thieves and scammers.” A loud crack of thunder made Katharine jump into Carroll’s arms. “Um, I should probably go now,” he told her. His cheeks burned red.Katharine nodded quickly, the colors on her cheeks are eminent. “I should go to,” she replied softly.“The Confederacy won’t see us coming,” Duke Andrew boasted as Carroll enter the state room. “Hundreds or thousands, it doesn’t matter. They are going to fight me with Founder Washington beside me. House Barksdale will be remembered for eternity.”Duke Henry bobbed his head and drank his wine. “The Confederacy is known to field at least twenty thousand men and Emperor Algernon Littlepage has shown himself to be a formidable emperor,” he said casually before drinking more wine.Duke Andrew swallowed. “Founder Washington will fight beside me,” he said nervously. “Surely the other Americanist dukes will lend aid, right?” Duke Henry simply shrugged and drank his wine. Duke Andrew looked around desperately to change the subject and his eye laid on Carroll. “Ah, there’s your man!”All eyes directed on Carroll and he gave them all a bow. “I’m sorry for being late, my lords.”“Not at all,” Duke Andrew said. “My man, Summerset, was just talking about you,” he said with a smile. “He said you’re a man with talent.”“He did,” Carroll replied with disbelief.“He also took the liberty of asking me for your help on a certain mission,” Duke Henry added.“My help, my lord?” Carroll asked.“You and the men, to be more specific,” Duke Henry clarified. “Duke Andrew has reasons to believe that there are unwanted migrants that have been hiding out in one of the abandoned warehouses near the old docks.”“Not to say that I don’t have the men to deal with this situation of course,” Duke Andrew interjected. “It’s just that it would be great if my own dragoons can see how an experienced dragoon regiment handle things. Anyway, it’s Summerset’s idea and the man has never been wrong before.”Duke Henry placed his wine glass down on the coffee table and looked at Carroll. “You are not to be a hero, Carroll,” he commanded. “When the situation feels dangerous, I don’t want you risking your life or the others’. I am under the impression that this doesn’t require excessive force and, if it does, back away.”“I will not hold it against you,” Duke Andrew cleared before nodding approvingly.The following day, the rain poured heavily and the wind blew Delmarva’s flag from its pole. Summerset sat on a chair by a window watching his liege berate the guards for letting such a shameful thing to happen. A sly smirk crept up from the edge of his mouth.“Master Summerset, here’s your order. Cartagenero coffee with three spoons of sugar and fresh milk.” The young maid placed the cup on the table in front of him with a smile.“Thank you very much,” he replied with a smile that made the young woman blush before excusing herself.Summerset eyed her carefully. Her name is Katharine, a young maid with blonde hair worn in a long braid and beautiful green eyes. She has a pretty face, a slender frame and a budding bosom. Her pale skin grew paler since the last time he saw her and spots of blood can be spotted at the corner of her eyes. Yet, she behaves as if she’s the apex of health. Summerset knew what it meant though. Knew it ever since he saw it. Those are all symptoms of a person that has been blessed by the Atom, the god-like figure worshipped by the crazed Atomicist. She came from Schuylkill, the capital of the Kingdom of Deitscherei, to Wilmington along with her family to escape religious persecution after Kaynich Reuchlin Ironside have decreed no religion besides the Christian faiths are allowed within their borders. He knows everything about her, more than she knows about herself, he thought. It’s part of his job as Delmarva’s Secretary of Defense and, any other day, the young woman would’ve already been exiled beyond the borders or sent to the galllows. For now, he allows her to continue her charade. She can pretend to be an Americanist all she want but I know what she really is, he thought distastefully.Carroll walked in the room and smiled as soon as he saw Katharine offer him a cup of coffee. The colors on the two people’s cheeks as they exchange pleasantries and small talk almost made Summerset cringe. Finally, Katharine dismissed herself and walked out of the room with a gleeful smile.“You summoned me,” Carroll asked scornfully.“Your lord have told you to lend me your aid, I assume,” Summerset replied with a slight emphasis on the word “lord” to irritate the man.“He did,” he answered with a grimace. “Are you here to share information and plan out the operation with me?”“No need for that. I already planned out everything,” Summerset replied with a wide grin that made Carroll dread every second of his presence.“Then why am I here?” Carroll demanded.Summerset looked at the man and pointed a finger outside. The sound of raindrops hitting the window pane filled the room. “The weather, Carroll,” he said calmly. “The rain is pouring too heavily for my tastes. I don’t know about you but, I’m not going anywhere with that much water above my head.” He chuckled. “I might as well go for a swim.”“So, what are you saying?” Carroll asked.“This will probably continue on for hours, Carroll,” he said. “I’m going to postpone the operation until the weather clears up.” He shrugged. “Maybe tomorrow.”“What am I going to do with all that time? I was under the impression that we would ride out today.” Carroll’s face was flushed with contained fury. “I already told my men to stay alert.”Summerset shrugged dismissively. “Go out to town and have fun. There are plenty of establishments here that has entertainment indoors.” Summerset spied Katharine walk inside the room with a pitcher of coffee. “Perhaps bring a girl to one of these establishments,” he said playfully while tilting his head to the young woman’s direction.Carroll’s head turned and lit up after seeing Katharine. “I… I’ll think about it,” he said with a nervous stutter.And the web was weaved, Summerset thought with an accomplished smile.Katharine did not know what to expect when Master Carroll suggested that they spend the day together or when Master Summerset gave her a day off.“It’s been a stressful few days for all of us these past few days with the war and all. We all have to let loose once and awhile,” he told her with that friendly smile he always have.“If you don’t want to, it’s okay,” Master Carroll added with the look that reminded her of a lost puppy. Big brown eyes that seem to call to her and never wanted to be let go.“I want to, I really do,” she told him eagerly.A few hours later, even under heavy rain, she had the best time of her life. Master Carroll didn’t know much about Wilmington so, she’s the one who’s been showing him to places. Though, she only knew of the coffee shops around the area and not much else, Master Carroll seem to enjoy his time regardless of what they do. He told her stories of far off places and different peoples. He told her stories about his childhood in Trenton and how he came to be at the service of his lord. But, when he asked her about her story, she froze. Is it okay to tell to him what she is, the thought raced through her mind. Master Carroll is a nice man and she really likes him. On top of that, he has a place in Trenton’s court and trusted by his liege. Can I lie to this man like I did so many others, the thought made her head spin.Carroll caught Katharine when she suddenly lost her balance. “Are.. are you alright? Are you sure you’re not sick?,” he asked her nervously. He had asked her earlier about her health when he noticed how pale she has become but, she dismissed the concern.“I… I need to go back,” she replied wearily.“I’ll take you back, just tell me where,” Carroll said.“No,” she said, sounding more worn out. She tried standing up on her own but her knees weakened and fell once more. Carroll caught her again.“You are sick,” he stated. “I’m going to take you home and I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer.” Shielded from the rain only by their own coats and an umbrella, the pair made their way towards Katharine’s home.Katharine felt that she had no choice. Her head is spinning and her legs are too weak. Master Carroll is a good man and she can’t just refuse a heroic gesture. Like a knight in the stories, she thought with a faint smile. Now, Master Carroll saw where she lives, a warehouse by the docks, abandoned for hundreds of years. He would probably leave now, disgusted and infuriated by the discovery.“You know about this place, huh?” Katharine said.Carroll nodded and said, “I’ve heard of it.” Katharine’s expression became grim.“Then, you now know what I am,” she said solemnly. “It’s okay if you want to leave now.”“No,” he said firmly before lifting her. “I’ll stay until I’m sure you’re well taken care of.” He carried her inside.“So that’s where they’re hiding,” Summerset muttered as he watch the two figures enter a ragged warehouse with his spyglass, an item invented before the End of Civilization. “Call the rest of the men, boy,” he barked to a young patrolman that accompanied him.Carroll stood idle as a man wearing rags that covered his hairless body and yellowy pale skin, referred to as a physicist, check on Katharine as she lay on an altar of sorts. “What’s wrong with her?” Carroll asked worriedly. A huge crowd, her friends and family perhaps, gathered around the altar. “We were just talking and she just became sick…” He was cut off when the man lifted a finger.“Hush, man, she’s fine now,” the physicist said. “She was just experiencing a vision quest and worst part is done.” Then the man pulled out an ore that glowed with a green hue in the darkness of the room from his satchel and placed it beside the woman. “Katharine! Katharine! Katharine!” The physicist called until Katharine displayed signs of consciousness.“Al… Allen… Is that you?” Katharine asked with much effort. Her eyes opened slowly.“Yes, girl, I’m here,” Allen, the physicist, answered cooly. “You went through a vision quest, Kat. What did the Little Boy and the Void revealed to you? What did you saw?”Katharine rubbed her forehead as she sat up. “I… I saw the Old World. A vast city filled with millions of people and their homes, oh god their homes, reached hundreds of feet unto the sky. Its lit by thousands of torches and their castles makes even the biggest castle of Reuchlin Ironside look like a farm cottage,” Katharine said with eyes overcome with wonder.Carroll stared at the woman, frowning with confusion as she hear her talk of her visions. Homes that reached hundreds of feet high? That is ridiculous, he thought. Millions of people in one city? New York is the biggest city he know and that city’s population never went above a hundred thousand. That rock has caused this woman to see a fantasy world. “What is she talking about?” Carroll muttered by accident.“Visions of the Old World, Master Carroll,” Allan answered in an awed tone. “The almighty Atom blesses the faithful with visions that is shown to them by the Little Boy and the Void. The visions vary from person to person, of course, and not all minds can handle them.”“Then the vast city that I saw turned into ruins and its populace came and went like a bleeding heart. Then there was father and his father,” Katharine trailed on, tears started to build up on the corner of her eyes. She turned to Carroll and weeped causing him to wrap his arms around her. “I turned away from it… It reached out its hand but I ignored it. My ancestors, all the way to the Old World, ignored it. Neglected it.” Carroll rubbed her back in an attempt to sooth her. “We ignored the Atom, Allan. We ignored its power and we locked it away. And, when the time came that we needed it, it's gone.” Katharine stopped crying and Carroll released her as she composed herself.“That is why we devote ourselves into finding a way to find the Atom, Kat,” Allan answered serenely. “We need a way to tap into it’s power as our ancestors did when Ancient America ruled the world.”“What would tapping into the power of the Atom do?” Carroll asked. His face riddled with confusion, the two looked at him as if he asked them what air is.Katharine lets out a chuckle and grinned widely revealing her blood stained teeth. “So we can become gods, of course,” she said as if to tease.“I’m sorry but, you’ll have to be gods later, young Katharine,” Summerset entered along with a regiment of soldiers, who quickly surrounded the surprised residents of the warehouse. With soldiers armed with spears and shields, Summerset can kill them all with a snap of a finger.Carroll looked around him and was surprised with Summerset’s sudden appearance. “What are you doing here, Summerset!” Carroll yelled ruefully. “These people aren’t harming anyone!”“You know nothing, Master Carroll,” Summerset replied with a mischievous grin. “These people are foul and I’m here to kick them out of my country as is my job.” Summerset’s soldiers’ took one step forward making the cluster even tighter. “They are nothing more than unwanted guests that overstayed their welcome. Feel free to walk back to your lord, Master Carroll, this needn’t concern you.”Grin now gone, Katharine frowned heavily. “My parents risked their lives to get here. To have a taste of the American Dream, my father said,” Katharine muttered sadly. Carroll can hear her voice was filled with grief and searched desperately to get her away from this predicament.“As did I and all of us here, Kat,” Allan told her as he hurriedly placed the mysterious ore back into his satchel. “A chance for a better life away from Reuchlin’s persecution but, it seems we are to be persecuted everywhere we go.” He turned to Carroll, bloodshot eyes staring at him intently. “You should go back to your people, this is no fight of yours.” Katharine nodded and apologize for getting him involved.“No,” Carroll said with held back rage. “This is wrong!” He held Katharine’s hand and gave it a kiss. “I know you for a good woman, Katharine. The short time we spent together has taught me that. You don’t deserve to be kicked out just because you are what you are.”Katharine shook her head. “I am what I am, Carroll.” More spots of blood became visible on the white of her eyes when she looked up at him. “And, what I am is not what you are. Your people cannot accept us, even when we try to live an honest life.”Allen gave his satchel to Katharine then walked slowly towards the soldiers with his arms raised. “We will go peacefully, Master Summerset. Away from Delmarva, away from your concern,” he declared. “No need for bloodshed, we will go today if need be.”“So more of you can comeback here at a later date?” Summerset spat. “No,” he said with a shake of his head. “What I need is an example for the others that are planning to cross the border to come here.” A sinister smile crept up from the corners of his mouth. “I’m thinking of a wall of corpses to serve as a warning for the rest of you Atomicists. After all, we need to tell the King of Deitscherei that he can’t just dump his problems down here and expect us to deal with it for him.”“No!” Carroll cried as Katharine hold him back from rushing into the spears. “You cannot do that! The Founders wouldn’t want that!”“They wouldn’t, Carroll? I couldn’t?” Summerset asked mockingly. “Surely, you can’t be that dumb. The Founders’ laws only affects Americanists and the American Dream is ours by right. In other words, I can and they would want me to.” He snapped his finger and the soldiers started to thrust their spears.Allen fell down, his blood drenched his clothes. More bodies followed every second. Katharine raised her hands as if to cover her mouth as she scream in terror. No stranger to battle or chaos, Carroll scanned his surroundings looking for an escape. There must be a gap somewhere, he thought. There is always a gap, a flaw in the opposing side that can be exploited, is what his lord always told him. But, since he has no soldiers and no weapon other than his belt knife, he can’t find any. Then, suddenly, shadowy figures began moving above. There was a second level to this warehouse, he remembered as he looked up. Men dressed in dark blue coats armed with crossbows rushed into position. “My lord’s dragoon!” he gasped.“Halt!” Summerset ordered frantically. “Stop attacking, now!” Duke Henry held his arm behind him and a dagger against his throat. Three men stood behind him with their sword drawn. “What is the meaning of this, Duke of South Jersey? And… how?”“I always keep a close eye on all my subjects,” the Duke replied cooly. “I do not enjoy having one of my men used in devious plots. Now, tell yours to back away and to shed no more blood today.” Summerset nodded and complied. “Good,” he said as he shoved towards to the men behind him.Blood flowed like a small dark river on the concrete floor and the sound of grieving men and women surrounded Carroll as he walk pass the dead. Katharine cried beside Allen’s body as she clutched his satchel against her breast. Carroll placed a hand on her shoulder to ease her pain and let her know that he is there for her. She placed a hand on his and looked up to him, her eyes glistened with tears.“He was my last family,” she told him. “After my brothers was lynched for being heretics back in Schuylkill, after my father died due to fatigue from working in the fields, and after my mother died due to grief.”Summerset’s men marched out of the warehouse as commanded. Duke Henry commanded his men to come down and form a line between the departing soldiers and the Atomicists. Carroll left Katharine and walked towards him.“Thank you for being here, my lord,” Carroll said with genuine appreciation.“I told you to not be a hero,” Duke Henry replied with a voice close to anger. “And, do not thank me, Carroll. I would’ve done the same as Summerset if this were to become a problem in Jersey.” He touched the scar that lay across his face. “I only acted to repay a debt that was owed so long ago and now it is paid.”Carroll smiled lightly. He remembered leading a charge to save his lord when he was struck down by the Baron of Harlem during the war against New York. He was just doing his duty back then, he thought. “My lord,” he said solemnly. “I do not wish to be rude but,-”“But, you want to retire from my active duty,” Duke Henry interjected. “Yes, I know. I saw the way you look at that woman.” His eyes gazed at the Deitsch woman kneeling beside a corpse. “Love can make a man do stupid things, Carroll,” he jested then threw a purse filled gold at him. Carroll caught it and the weight of it made his eyes widen.“My lord, I can’t,” he said hurriedly.Duke Henry shook his head. “Consider it a severance pay, your entire pension, and a wedding gift. I saved a lot of money, actually.” The entire dragoon regiment lets out a chuckle.Carroll smiled with eyes still wide. “As you wish, my lord,” he said gently. “What about Summerset and the Duke of Delmarva?”“Summerset is under the impression that they are under my protection and any more harm done to them is harm against me. Talk as he may, Duke Andrew know full well how much more powerful South Jersey is than Delmarva so, with the war with the Confederacy, I don’t see retaliating anytime soon if I did offend him,” Duke Henry replied calmly. “What about you?”“I… I’m going to lead these people out of here, my lord. I can’t stand by and watch people like them be treated like this.” Carroll gestured at the corpses.Duke Henry nodded. “You’re a good man, Carroll, and a good commander. No other man here would be more capable than you to lead them,” he said confidently and with a tap on the man’s shoulder. “I can ride with you to Baltimore, away from Delmarva’s influence. From there, I’ll have to continue on to Washington. The Founders only know that I took long enough with this pilgrimage.”So, they did. Carroll lead the Atomicists out of Delmarva with Duke Henry riding along to ensure protection. A quick wedding was held for Carroll and Katharine once reaching Baltimore. A physicist headed the ceremony and the two swore their vows under the Atom. Duke Henry and the rest of the dragoons said their final farewells to Carroll and went on their way.