Louis took a moment to catch his breath after dropping the latest load of dirty plates off in the kitchen sink. Just then, the wind began to howl outside, making a low, ominous sound as it sent flurries of snow flying past the window. A shutter began to flap somewhere nearby. Then, there was a crash as the wind tore it loose, sending it flying into the side of another building.

“Barylon’s sake,” Calvin Danson, the massive North Man swore as he bumped his head on a ceiling beam in his haste to rise. “That sounded like it came from our place.”

“You’d better catch it before it causes any damage,” Winston warned from behind the bar. “You can settle your bill tomorrow.”

“Much obliged, Winston,” Calvin said as he rushed out the door without waiting to put his coat on.

The North Men are built different, Louis mused to himself. Winter had well and truly come by now, and the boy felt like he had to put on every piece of clothing he owned just to cross the street without freezing. However, that had not deterred the people of Chalybe from coming to their favourite and only watering hole. It was too cold to do much of anything else, and Winston liked to keep the inn nice and warm, which meant the others could sit in comfort without having to burn their own firewood.

Despite being full, the mood in the inn was muted. Part of that was due to the weather outside. It had been days since anyone had seen the sun. Another was because the landlord had seemed a little… distant since the strange visitors had left abruptly and without a trace. That had been the talk of the town for the week since they’d left.

“Hey Louis, come sit with us for a moment, eh?”

Louis blinked to see Ogden and Greg sharing a table close to the window, which struck him as an odd pairing.

“What can I get for you?” he asked tiredly. He had spent much of the day chopping the firewood that most of the town was now enjoying, and most of the evening serving their meals.

The pair exchanged looks and Ogden pulled out a chair. “Come, join us.”

“I can’t,” Louis began as he gestured to the full room. “It’s a full house tonight.”

“Come on, everyone’s eaten,” Greg said. “You can spare us a minute or two.”

Louis saw that Winston was looking at him from behind the bar. The landlord nodded his head, indicating that the boy should do as they said. He sighed as he sat down warily. The two men huddled closer, and Ogden whispered, “So, what’s eating Old Winston?”

Louis blinked. “What do you mean?”

Greg made a face. “You know what we mean. He’s looked distracted since that strange pair left.”

“Whatever became of them, anyway?” Ogden ventured. “Winston wouldn’t let us go looking for them.”

“It’s like Mister Weaver said,” Louis began, reciting the story they had concocted that very night and had repeated to the curious patrons ad nauseum. “They said they came by sleigh and wanted to leave at once.”

“I still think we should have looked for them,” Ogden remarked. “They’re probably dead by now.”

“Well, it’s like Mister Weaver said,” Louis sighed. This was a conversation they had repeated many times over the past week. “They made the decision to leave despite his pleas not to. Sending people out into the wilderness in this weather would only have risked the lives of our people. A body would get completely buried by the snow in minutes out there.”

“Still doesn’t sit right with me, do you know what I mean?” Greg said, shaking his head. He paused to finish off his beer and let off an annoyed belch. “I wager that’s the reason Winston has been so distant. Their deaths must weigh heavily on him. They must do.”

“Tell him he shouldn’t beat himself up, eh?” Ogden added. “It’s not his fault.”

“Well, we don’t know that they’re dead,” Louis pointed out.

The two older men’s eyebrows shot up in unison. “You said it yourself, it’s madness out there. No one could have survived a night outside. No one,” Ogden pointed out.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The door slammed open a moment later and Calvin stepped inside, covered by at least an inch of snow. “I’m afraid I owe you a window, Robert,” he said gruffly. “Your bedroom will be in a right old state. I’ll help you clean up if you like.”

Robert scowled. “It’s fine, Calvin. I’ll clean it up when I have the time.”

The huge North Man raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? Everything in your room will be covered in a foot of snow within an hour.”

“Not like I have anything in there worth anything,” Robert shrugged.

“Well, if you say so,” Calvin grunted. He dusted the snow off his body before walking back into the main room.

“Who were those two anyway?” Ogden ventured.

“Visitors from the Central Kingdoms from the look of it,” Louis shrugged. “They kept to themselves all night, as you saw. They must have underestimated the mountains, or perhaps we have underestimated them.”

“I think something else is eating at Old Winston,” Ogden observed. “Never seen anything like it.”

“Like what?” Louis ventured.

“Him looking so distracted,” Ogden replied. “He’s not told a story in a week.”

Louis licked his lips and decided this was as good a time as any. “Say, Mayor Ogden, I hear you have the best collection of books in the town.”

“I have the only seven books in town that aren’t the Book of the Three, I reckon,” Ogden remarked. “Why do you bring them up?”

“Do you have a book on the history of the two wars?” Louis ventured.

Ogden gave the boy a curious look and nodded. “I do. Did the appearances of people from the Central Kingdoms pique your curiosity about the wars?”

Louis nodded. “May I take a look at them?”

Ogden looked at the glass of ale in front of him for a moment before nodding. “You’re free to come over and take a look when you have the time.”

Louis nodded. “That’ll be splendid, thank you, Mister Ogden.”

He then looked at Winston who was absorbed in polishing glasses behind the bar. “I think the weather is just getting to Mister Weaver a little. You know how things get at this time of the year.”

Ogden nodded thoughtfully. “I do suppose everyone gets a little miserable around this time.”

“Louis,” Winston called from the bar. “Mister Danson would like another bowl of stew, please.”

“Coming right up Mister Weaver!” Louis called as he leapt to his feet.

“Go on, back to work with you, lad,” Greg grinned.

Louis duly fetched a fresh bowl of stew and no sooner had he placed it in front of the giant North Man when the bell at the bar began ringing. Everyone stopped what they were doing and focused their attention on the bartender.

“Gentlemen,” Winston said after clearing his throat. “I have an announcement to make.”

Once he was sure he had everyone’s attention, Winston continued. “I have decided in the spring, when the road is accessible again, I will be heading down to Estos. I will be closing the inn…”

Gasps of horror went up among the patrons.

“Say it isn’t so!” Franklin wailed.

“If it’s about those two what went missing, it wasn’t your fault!” Ogden cried.

“You can’t leave us, what will we do without this place?” Terrance agreed.

“Gentlemen, gentlemen, let me finish!” Winston called out with his arms raised.

When the din finally died down, he continued, “I will be closing the inn for ten days! We will be open for business as usual upon my return.”

He paused and smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Thank the Three for that!” Ogden cried.

“Hear hear!”

The inn was more lively after Winston’s announcement, but the patrons left obediently when the closing bell was rung. Calvin and Robert left together to survey the damage to the latter’s bedchambers. Ogden and Greg were the last to leave, and they stopped at the bar where Winston was washing the cups.

“You sure gave us a scare there, Winston,” Ogden remarked.

Winston paused and looked up from his washing. “I’m sorry, that was not my intention. I realize now that I could have worded that better.”

“No, it’s quite alright,” Ogden chuckled and clapped Greg on the shoulder. “We were just worried we would have to suffer through what this one calls service again.”

“Oh no, not me,” Greg snorted, shaking his head. “I’m not serving you ingrates again. You lot will just have to go without a watering hole if Winston here ever decides to shut up shop.”

“Barylon forbid,” Ogden laughed. He then looked at the landlord for a moment. “How long have you been with us, Winston?”

Winston dried his hands on a dishtowel and blinked. “Why, I’d say eight years come spring.”

“You’ve not once left this town since you set up shop,” Ogden remarked. “Do you mind telling me why you’re going to Estos?”

Winston tugged on his waistcoat and sighed. “Oh, I just thought it was high time I caught up with some old friends.”

Ogden smiled and shrugged. “I suppose that’s fair enough. Just don’t let them keep you away from here for too long, eh? I’m not embarrassed to admit that we need you here.”

“I will be back, don’t worry,” Winston said with a slight smile. “You have all made me feel very welcome here.”

“Good night, Winston,” Ogden said.

“Good night, Ogden, Greg.”

Louis watched silently as the pair left and moved stealthily over to the bar where his boss had already resumed his washing.

“Say, Mister Weaver,” he began.

“Yes, Louis?” Winston said without looking up from his washing.

“What am I supposed to do while you’re down in Estos?”

Winston looked up and blinked. “Well you can come with me if you like.”

Louis could have leapt up and shouted with joy. It took all of his self-restraint to just say, “Are you sure?”

“Do you want to come?” Winston asked.

“Of course I do,” Louis said, not able to stop himself from smiling. “I’ve never been to a city before.”

“Then I think you’re in for a treat,” Winston remarked. “I hear Estos has become quite an exciting place.”