Chapter 36: Chapter 32 – A Homecoming Long in the Waiting

"Five years ago, I let my granddaughter go with trepidation. She was a scared young girl, who was distraught and hadn't even fully come to terms with what she had… become at the time. I worried for her sake, and yet knew that if someone could help her sort out her unique worries, it would be the Bone Lord himself.

 

Now that I had seen her after she returned home, I realized I should not have worried. Where a distraught, scared girl had left, a confident, strong young woman returned. It was evident just how much Aideen had changed over her years with the Bone Lord, and while some might call that a corrupting influence… I consider it a change for the better." - Diary of Theodin Fiachna, Pope of the Theocracy of Vitalica, circa 40 VA.

Grand Chapel, La Fiachna, Theocracy of Vitalica, first day of the second week of the first month, year 40 VA.

 

"Are they here yet?" Asked the pope to the gathered people within the grand chapel of Vitalica.

 

Behind the pope who walked the corridor in his agitation, Brenegan and Sera, as well as little Mimia - now an adolescent girl of fourteen - hid their smiles behind raised hands. The three who had come from Ptolodecca as "hostages" has gotten close to the Fiachnas in the five years they spent together, and had long since learned that behind his stern, commanding exterior, the pope was just another doting grandfather within.

 

He even spoiled little Mimia quite a bit when they were in the privacy of their home, beyond the purview of outside eyes, and Mimia had grown quite close to the old man as a result. The incident where an assassin broke into the house a few years ago was unfortunate, as the only reason she got hurt was that the girl was sleeping on the pope's bed that night.

 

She still liked to cuddle with "grandpa" while she sleeps and had missed him at that particular night.

 

"That's the tenth time you asked this morning, grandfather," said Faerghus as he cleared his throat. Behind him, the dozen or so lined up templars pretended to be dumb and deaf while they watched what happened before them. Of course, only truly trusted members of the templars were even in the chapel, with the other dozen behind Ciarran acting the same way.

 

Turning a blind eye when their exalted pope was in a grandfatherly mood was just a regular occurence for these men and women, and most of them just found it endearing to witness.

 

Ciarran at his post across the hall from Faerghus, just lightly shook his head. It made sense that his father had missed the grandchildren he had not seen for five years now. After all, unlike himself and Faerghus he didn't get a chance to spend time with them during the Junoran expedition years ago.

 

The pope's agitated musings ceased when they all heard the clops of horses nearing the chapel, and on this day, it could only have meant one thing. He straightened his old back, and smoothened his clothes as he stood dignified, and waited.

 

The same black carriage from years ago had returned, this time openly drawn by eight skeletal horses, as it parked itself near the chapel.

 

Before their eyes, the door to the carriage opened, and the Bone Lord descended. His small figure felt gigantic to look at due to the pressure he emanated, although the few in the chapel who were personally familiar with him ignored the pressure.

 

Behind him, Ciarran saw Diarmuid descend from cart, the young man now more mature in both looks and demeanor compared to the last time they met. He extended a hand to the cart and helped his mother, then his sister descend, but to Ciarran's surprise kept his hand extended. That question was answered when a young, gaunt, long limbed elven woman took the hand and descended from the cart as well, with a fond look given to Diarmuid.

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"We greet the Bone Lord," said the pope in welcome as he gave a slight bow. Behind him the three necromancers from Ptolodecca knelt and lowered their heads, while Ciarran, Faerghus, and the templars gave deeper bows, a salute of respect with their weapons pressed against their chests.

 

"Glad to see you in fine health, Theodin," said the Bone Lord as he gave a slight nod of acknowledgement in return. "You sure have aged… how time flies."

 

"It is how life is, Bone Lord," replied the Pope. "My thanks… for having cared for my grandchildren these past years."

 

"And my thanks for looking after Mimia for me," answered the Bone Lord similarly. "I do hope you had not spoiled her rotten over these years, though."

 

Mimia looked offended at those words but kept her silence, while nearly everyone else in the chapel other than the templars quietly snickered as they remembered how the little girl had acted the past few years. She had been quite doted and spoiled on, which was always a point of teasing for others.

 

"And may I ask who this is?" Asked the pope, as he glanced at the young elvish woman, whose hands was still interlocked with Diarmuid's all this time. "I do not believe we have been introduced."

 

"Certainly," said the Bone Lord with a nod. "Her name is Kestera Derovne, and she will be acting as ambassador for Ptolodecca here in Vitalica. I would like it if you can send an ambassador to Tohrmutgent as well, ideally chosen within the week so we can bring them along when we depart."

 

"Certainly, Bone Lord," said the pope as he considered who to send for the task. "This matter will be arranged with utmost haste."

 

"That's good," replied the Bone Lord, as he looked sideways at Aideen and Diarmuid behind him. "In that case, I guess we should not delay your reunion any longer then."

 

At his word, Diarmuid and Aideen approached their grandfather, and the three gathered into a warm embrace, as they basked in their reunion.

 

"Welcome back, my child," muttered the pope as he hugged his grandchildren. "And welcome home."

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