By early afternoon the pace hadn't slowed down at all and reports still flowed in steadily along with additional requests. Ann was discussing one such request when all of a sudden the comms console buzzed again and Eva looked up from her desk with a frown.
"High priority apparently," she said, squinting at the monitor before her eyes widened in recognition, "Oh! It's Lord Brarthroroz."
"Well, we can continue this discussion after I suppose," Ann sighed, waving her hand towards the screen, "You can put him through."
The screen flared to life in front of them but the sight that greeted them was confusing to say the least. The screen was half filled with the background of what they assumed was a stone ceiling or wall, and the rest of the screen was taken up by one glowing red eye far too close to the lens.
"Ann?" Brarthroroz's deep voice rumbled through the speakers, clearly disgruntled,. "Is this thing working? I can hear myself echoing in the void…"
"You need to move back a little bit," Ann said, stifling a smile.
"I am back," he muttered, "This damn device is whispering in my ear… I don't like it."
"Oh no, Grandpa found the camera again," Maeve snorted. "Next he'll ask where the on button is. Crazy that something as simple as this is impossible for him to fathom, yet world bending and mind altering magick is as easy as a flick of his fingers."
Ann pressed her lips together to stop the smile.
"Don't worry, you're on the right line Lord Brarthroroz. We can hear you clearly."
"Hmm." He leaned forward again squinting at the camera and once more it was filled with an extreme close-up of an ancient eye ridge and a bit of horn. "How on earth do you stand speaking into these little boxes constantly? It smells like burnt metal."
"It doesn't smell like anything." Eva muttered under her breath, "It probably smells better than those portals anyway."
"I heard that," Brarthroroz said, affronted. "I prefer my portals actually, at least they make sense and the mechanics behind them are sound..."
"Yeah, the screaming skeleton gates of despair are much more practical," Maeve said. "Totally user friendly."
Ann adjusted herself in the chair as she tried to get the call back on track.
"So, Lord Brarthroroz. To what do we owe the pleasure? Did you have a report for us?"
Brarthroroz's indignation tone shifted back to his usual cadence, the aura of command dripping from every word.
"I thought someone should update you on a developing situation." He began, clearing his throat, "There are quite a few Daemon civilians that are surrendering as areas are cleared now that they know Eromaug is dead. We've had entire families leaving some of the ruins here, although we aren't entirely sure what role they played here. From what I can tell, the ones that have approached us were not here willingly and were either bound by contract or here at the command of Eromaug. Now that he is no longer alive, their contracts and orders are null and void. They just want to return home."
"I see." Ann hummed, knowing full well that there was little room left at the palace to accommodate them and the Dark Moon hadn't expanded their housing enough yet to take any more refugees in.
She sighed, wincing as an insistent foot jabbed itself under her ribs and she readjusted again.
"What is it that they want from us, Lord Brarthroroz. We're stretched thin here as it is."
"I am aware," he answered flatly, "All they want is safe passage and perhaps a little protection on the way back. I can have Steve send them home once they are away from the battlefield. I can hold them here for a short time, but they'll need a decision before nightfall."
"How many are there?"
"Ah only a few hundred." Lord Brarthroroz answered cheerfully, as if it was no big deal, "Maybe more by this evening. It depends how much further we're able to press forward."
"Is there any resistance or animosity among them?"
"No," he said. "The majority of them are carrying nothing but clothes and children so I have a slight suspicion that these were planned for Ely to make use of…no more than cattle to him I assume." He snarled in disgust, "I've already separated those showing any residual mark traces and if there's any more then I'll purge what's left myself."
"Good," Ann said, nodding slowly and then sighing, "We can open a controlled intake at the south gate. Coral can coordinate temporary accommodation and medical screening but it really does have to be short term...a matter of days at most. We just simply don't have the resources here to support any more people."
Coral was already busy taking notes, an excited light in her eyes as she began making the arrangements.
"Well, we can add the intake to the lower drill yard with the other refugees for registration. I think we're still ok for medics because its been a while since the last intake but are we going to need translators?"
Ann looked to Lord Brarthroroz and he rumbled thoughtfully.
"I'll send Steve." he announced and a tired sigh could be heard from behind him followed by the rustle of robes and Lord Brarthroroz turned his head to the side to focus on someone off screen. "What? No. Of course not now, Steve, after we've gathered them all."
"Ok, then it's decided," Ann said nodding at Eva, "I'll leave it to you to update the watch and the guards, Brad can you let the palace contingents and internal guards know?"