It was a clear spring day and there was a crisp chill in the air as the wind blew down the snow topped peaks. Louis looked along the roof with disdain. The winter ice winds had taken their toll on the roof, and he would have his work cut out. However, he welcomed a little private time. Steph was downstairs helping Winston get the inn ready for the afternoon service, and the place had certainly been livelier since her arrival a month ago. She had settled in well and was now a favourite amongst the guests, which suited Louis just fine. The boy was about to get back to work when he noticed Franklin the Hunter running at full pelt down the street. His curiosity piqued, he hopped down from the roof and walked towards the street to intercept him.

“Trouble’s coming!” he heard Franklin scream as he rounded the corner. “There’s trouble coming!”

Louis frowned, wondering if the Count had made another trip up the mountain to see Winston and wondered how the town would react to a second visit. Perhaps questions would be asked.

“What sort of trouble, Franklin?” Louis asked.

“Big Trouble!” Franklin cried without slowing down. “There’s a gang of men coming up the road. Must be at least a hundred of them.”

Louis’ heart began to pound. “What do they want?”

“It can’t be anything good!” Franklin shouted over his shoulder as he continued sprinting down the road. He stopped in front of Ogden’s door and began pounding on it.

“Mister Fuller’s down at the mine with everyone else!” Louis called out.

“Tell old Winston, everyone should get ready!” Franklin cried as he set off towards the mine.

“Get ready to do what?” Louis thought to himself he ran into the inn. He’d heard that banditry had been a problem during the wars but even then, they never bothered venturing out this far. The only thing of value out here was… Winston’s collection. Who could have told them? Who else but Steph!

“We’ve got trouble, Mister Weaver!” Louis cried as he walked in through the front door. “Mister Fletcher says he’s spotted at least a hundred men coming up the pass!”

Winston was in the midst of polishing the glasses from behind the bar. His hands stopped as he looked at Louis with concern. “Is he absolutely sure?”

“He looked it,” Louis panted. He paused before asking. “Should I go get your sword and shield?”

A pained look crossed Winston’s face and he quickly shook his head. “No.”

Louis’ eyebrows shot up. “Why not? We might be able to scare them off.”

“Let’s find out what they are after before threatening violence,” Winston said as he walked out from behind the bar and out the front door.

“Wait, Mister Fletcher’s rousing the miners,” Louis protested. “We should go together.”

Winston didn’t seem to hear him and walked swiftly out the door, leaving Louis staring after him helplessly.

“What’s going on?” Steph asked as she emerged from the kitchen.

“There’s a gang of men coming up the mountain road,” Louis said hotly. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

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“Just what are you insinuating?” Steph demanded as she placed her hands on her hips.

“That you told your thieving friends about how much Mister Weaver’s collection is worth,” Louis cried. “And now they’re here to take it.”

Steph’s eyes widened. “And just how would I have told anyone? The only people from out of town I’ve spoken to are Carla and Carson!”

“You could have used other nefarious means,” Louis shot back. “Like a carrier pigeon.”

Steph raised her arms to gesture at their surroundings as her face contorted in anger at the ridiculousness of the accusation. “What pigeon?”

“Wait,” she said looking around. “Where’s Winston?”

“He went to confront them,” Louis replied.

Her eyebrows shot up. “By himself?”

Louis nodded. “The others are on their way.”

“He’s out there by himself,” Steph spat as she stalked towards the door. “And you’re just standing here?”

Louis was still trying to think up reasons for him to remain at the inn when Steph stormed out the door and slammed the door behind him, leaving him feeling guilty for some reason. He briefly debated taking the weapons from Winston’s room before remembering his boss’ words and then shouted, “Three’s sake!” to the empty room before running out of the door.

Once outside, he looked up the road and saw the miners assembling outside the mine. It would take them a while to mobilize. Down the other side, Steph was already a good distance away, running down the road that would take her out of town, while Winston was nowhere to be seen.

Shaking his head, Louis ran off after her. She was surprisingly quick despite wearing an ankle length skirt, and the boy struggled to keep up with her, never mind close the gap. Soon, they were outside the town, and Louis was concerned that he had still seen no sign of Winston and was beginning to worry that they had missed him. Perhaps the mob had abducted him. Then, he spotted the wiry landlord, standing in the middle of the road a good distance down the side of the mountain, leaving Louis to wonder just how he had made it that far with what was at most a five minute head start.

Further down the winding road, was the mob. Louis’ stomach turned when he saw that there appeared to be more people than Franklin initially said. If things got ugly, it would be impossible for their little town to fend them all off. What could they possibly want?

By the time Louis reached his boss, he felt like his lungs were about to explode. Steph was standing next to the wiry landlord, doubled over with her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. Winston cast them a sideways glance and sighed. “The two of you should go back to town. You really can’t help here.”

“What do they want, Mister Weaver?” Louis panted.

“I don’t know.” There was a touch of worry in his voice as he watched their progress up the road that wound its way up the mountain below them. They were being led by a figure in a black hooded robe.

“What will you do if things turn violent?” Steph asked.

“I don’t know,” Winston repeated. “But I would prefer it if no blood were spilled today.”

“It doesn’t look like they’re here for a friendly chat,” Louis mused as he watched the crowd draw nearer. Many of them were armed with crude weapons, and they were close enough now to see that they were mostly of the rough and tumble sort. Many had a strange zeal in their eyes that Louis found deeply unsettling.

The wiry landlord looked over his shoulder warily. There was still no sign of the townspeople. “Louis,” he said at length. “Could you take Steph back up to town and convince Mayor Ogden to have everyone stay up there?”

“No, Mister Weaver,” Louis said firmly. “I’m not abandoning you.”

“Neither am I,” Steph added.

“Louis,” Winston said quietly. “You know a little about my history, don’t you?”

That caused a chill to run down the boy’s spine. “Do you intend to…”

“As I said, I would prefer it if no blood were spilled today, but if it came down to it, I’d prefer it if you and the others didn’t see.”

“See what?” Steph asked suspiciously.

“I think that ship has sailed,” Louis remarked as the head of Calvin, the eight foot tall Northman appeared up the road.

Winston’s shoulders slumped as he returned his attention down the road just as the first of the mob rounded the corner. To Louis’ surprise, the person in the black robe was a woman. She carried a staff in her hand, the head of which was carved in the shape of a woman with her arms outstretched. He then spotted Steph’s old gang boss amongst the mob and shot her an accusatory look. She noticed him too and bit her lip.

Louis’ heart was pounding in his chest when the woman brought the mob to a halt fifty yards away from Winston. To his surprise, she knelt on the ground and bowed her head. The rest of the mob followed suit a moment later.

Her voice was clear and crisp in the spring air. “We hereby reaffirm our eternal loyalty to the Goddess’ Apostle.”