<div style="text-align: center">Ashley had never heard the word 'Earl' used before, but he assumed it was the leader of this place. He wasn't nervous or resistant, instead, eager to meet with the person who was in charge of all of this. Giving a firm nod, he walked with Gunnar, or did his best to keep up as they cut through the crowds of people. He hadn't noticed before, but there was a rather large house not too far off, and they were headed straight for it. His eyes took in the sights before him, mainly the woodwork and craftsmanship that showed on everything in Kaupang. He was almost envious of all of this, having spent all of his life in a concrete cage. The man tried to keep his head up as they passed the powerful looking female guards.<br/>
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They made it passed the door, and Ashley exhaled the breath he'd been holding since they made it up the stairs. <i>Hate to be on their bad side. </i>He thought to himself, stepping into the Earl's longhouse with an inaudible sigh. He looked up at the ceiling and the large fire pit, the animal trophies that hung from the walls. He paused briefly when he set eyes on a maroon banner hanging overhead, but before he was able to address the woman sitting on the throne, he bumped into another woman scrubbing the floor. Ashley cleared his throat in embarrassment, an apologetic smile on his lips as he carefully maneuvered around the woman who he'd nearly stepped on.<br/>
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It seemed so quiet now, as he and Gunnar stopped in front of the Earl. Ashley wasn't usually shy but being in the presence of these strangers as they conversed in their own language was a little...nerve wracking. Finally, when the woman known as the Earl addressed him, he swallowed and stepped past Gunnar, looking to the sides to see if the guards would harm him for moving closer to the Earl.<br/>
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"With all due respect, ma'am. My people and I had no concept of...these lands." Ashley responded in a rather neutral tone, before continuing on. "My name is Ashley - Ashley Karspinski. We were living in a bunker, a bunker that dates back to before I was even born. Generations of human survivors have grown up there, but there are less of us now than there were in the past. We're all the descendants of presidents, government officials, doctors, architects... I guess that doesn't matter much now, but back then it did. We had enough supplies to get us to this point, I guess. What's left of us are the survivors who couldn't be taken down by lack of food, or sunshine..."<br/>
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"Now, I'm not asking for anything. Your people," Ashley said, motioning to Gunnar with a nod in his direction, as if to call him out. "Are the ones who found us. Our bunker caved in, I don't know how or why. I'm guessing time had just decided it wanted to put us out of our misery. I won't argue with you if you want us to leave, but you're holding about four of my injured, and after I've made sure they're safe, we'll gladly get out of your hair. Start over fresh somewhere, and just figure things out for ourselves. You've done a service by bringing us here, and I am grateful." Ashley finally concluded, his gaze never leaving the young blonde woman's. She certainly wasn't what he expected of an Earl, but he respected her, and hoped she was as kind as her subordinates seemed.​</div>