A bead of sweat trickled down Louis’ face as he looked at the mob kneeling before his boss. He glanced at his boss and saw that he too was in shock at how things had played out. The boy then followed Winston’s gaze as he glanced over his shoulder and saw Ogden leading the rest of the miners down the mountainside. They would be there soon, and though the mob badly outnumbered them, it was heartening to see them.

“What do we do, Mister Weaver?” Louis asked softly.

Winston took a deep breath and addressed the crowd. “I’m afraid you have the wrong person.”

“No,” the robed woman said. “The Goddess’ power still clings to you. I can feel it. I felt it on this man who attempted to accost you.”

She gestured at Steph’s former boss who bowed his head low. The woman continued, “There is no mistake. You are Her Champion.”

“So be it,” Winston said. His voice and demeanour turned icy, and Louis felt like he had become a complete stranger. “The time was not yet ripe, but you have forced my hand. Come with me.”

Tears appeared in the woman’s eyes, and she prostrated herself before Winston. “Forgive us Champion, we didn’t know.”

Winston looked over his shoulder at the villagers and clucked his tongue irritably. “It can’t be helped now. Come with me.”

He then turned to Louis. “You, boy, tell the people of this town not to follow me.”

Winston’s features softened, and for a split second he was the kindly innkeeper once again. He added softly, “I’ll be back, I promise.”

“Come,” Winston ordered imperiously.

Louis watched, stunned as the mob obediently rose and followed Winston down the mountain. At length, Steph elbowed him in the ribs.

“What?” Louis snapped irritably.

“Are we really going to let him just leave?” she asked.

“What else can we do?” Louis asked helplessly.

Steph then raised her eyebrows. “Was I mishearing, or did they think he’s the Great Enemy?”

“Who knows what those maniacs think?” Louis said absently as he looked up at the miners who had picked up their pace. Behind them, a second group of townspeople was beginning to make their way down the mountain.

Steph grabbed Louis by the shoulder and spun him so that he was facing her. “Are you really going to do that, just abandon him?”

“It’s what he asked me to do,” Louis replied quietly with tears in his eyes. He looked up at Steph and asked, “What do I do?”

His tears felt hot as they rolled down his cheeks. Louis looked down the mountain where Winston was leading the mob at a brisk pace, and he feared he would never see his boss again. His shoulders shuddered and he repeated softly. “What do I do?”

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Steph followed his gaze for a moment before steeling herself. “You trust him, don’t you?”

Louis blinked his tears back and stared at her blankly.

“You trust Mister Weaver, don’t you?”

Louis nodded.

“Then let’s trust him,” Steph declared. “We’ll do what he says, persuade the townspeople not to pursue him and keep the inn going until he comes back.”

“But…” Lous began.

“I’m taking a huge leap of faith here,” Steph said, overriding Louis. “Remember, he owes me a lot of money, so I’ll hunt him down myself if he doesn’t come back promptly.”

“So we just leave him to them?” Louis asked.

“We trust that he wants and is able to get out of his predicament on his own,” Steph clarified. She watched the mob grow smaller as they pulled further away. “Based on what I saw back at Estos, and the stories told about the Great Enemy, I think he should have little trouble escaping.”

“What makes you so sure he’s the Great Enemy?” Louis asked, deciding that he had better cover for his boss.

“Well for one thing, there was what that lady said,” Steph began. “And the other is that he has the shield of the Dragon Hunters in his room.”

Louis gaped at her.

“Don’t look so shocked,” Steph said with a sardonic smile. “I like to keep my options open in case I get double crossed.”

“No, how are you so sure about that shield…” Louis began.

Steph made a face. “Please, I grew up in the city where we are more informed about certain things. Anyway, here comes Ogden. Just follow my lead.”

“Louis, what’s going on?” the mayor asked. His knuckles were white around the haft of a pickaxe, and all of the miners behind him were similarly armed. Calvin looked particularly intimidating, and carried a huge hammer that was larger than Louis was.

“Oh, some friends followed Mister Weaver up from the city,” Steph said sweetly as she moved to bar their path. “He only spent two days in the city, which they didn’t feel was sufficient after being away for so long, so they banded together and dragged him back for some more partying.”

Ogden looked down the mountain at the fast disappearing mob dubiously. “They don’t look much like the partying sort.”

“I suppose they will celebrate in their own way,” Steph remarked.

“Louis, is what she’s saying true?” Ogden asked.

Louis took a moment before meeting the mayor’s gaze. “Yes. Mister Weaver said not to worry and that he would be back soon.”

Ogden blinked. “He should have told us that himself. Besides, I don’t see why they couldn’t have caught up back at his inn.”

“They’re Carthun soldiers, you see,” Steph said quickly. “He was worried you wouldn’t get along with them.”

Ogden grunted. “I suppose that’s fair enough. Did Winston say when he would be back?”

Louis shook his head.

The mayor sighed and turned back to the miners. “False alarm lads, old Winston’s just gone off to spend time with his friends.”

“He sure is a popular man,” Robert remarked. “Did all of them really come all the way up here to drag him off to some party?”

“Is that so strange?” Calvin asked with a smirk. “The entire town just came running because they thought he was in trouble.”

“I expect that we’ll all be packed into the Happily Ever After when he returns, too,” Ogden added. “Come on lads, back to work. We have quotas to meet.”

The men laughed amongst themselves as the tension eased and began walking back up the mountain. Ogden watched them for a moment before taking a deep breath and looking at Louis. “Say, I don’t suppose the Happily Ever After will be open tonight?”

Louis blinked. “I suppose the two of us could in theory…”

“Hey lads, the inn’s open tonight!” Ogden shouted as he hurried to catch up with the others.

“Hooray,” the miners cheered.

Steph walked up to Louis and elbowed him in the ribs. “Really?”

“It’s what Mister Weaver would have wanted,” Louis pointed out. “Besides, would you rather just mope around until he gets back?”

“I suppose you have a point there,” Steph conceded.

Louis looked down the mountain. The mob had disappeared from view now, and he couldn’t help but feel a little sick. “Yes, we’ll carry on, and when Mister Weaver comes back, it’ll be like he never left.”

“Say,” Steph ventured as they began walking back up the mountain. “Can you cook?”

“In theory,” Louis allowed. Steph made a face and he added. “I’ve seen Mister Weaver do it plenty of times and I think I’ve picked up a thing or two.”