Glenn cursed quietly and spun. Zack leaned against the wall of Ziva’s tailoring shop, grinning with his arms crossed. The morning sun gleaming off his dark skin. He now wore a brand new set of [Dusk Leather] that absorbed, rather than reflected, the sunlight.

How long had Zack been watching from [-Shadow Walk-]?

“You’ve been busy,” Glenn said, indicating Zack’s new armor.

“Came into some money recently,” Zack said. “Though I imagine that won’t be a problem for you any longer, Protector of All. You’re set for life.”

Glenn searched Zack’s words for jealousy or resentment, but found only dry amusement. Zack’s solo Leveling must really be going well if he’d managed to afford [Dusk Leather]. The armor wasn’t cheap, and it was the best Shadower armor an Adventurer could purchase in Wolfpine.

“So, about Erika,” Zack said. “You get she’s been after you forever, right?”

Glenn spun and walked away. “What are you talking about?” He didn’t want to have this conversation right now, and certainly not right in front of Ziva Willowbraid’s shop.

“Back before you took up with Becka, how many times did Erika wander in your yard and ask you to pin her to the ground? She practically begged you to kiss her with everything but words, and you, my sadly earnest friend, never had a clue.”

Glenn rolled his eyes. Zack assumed every woman who so much as smiled at him was interested in taking him to her bed. “She just wanted wrestling lessons.”

Zack raised both hands and moved his fingers as if puppeting Glenn’s words. “Wrestling lessons.” He shook his head. “Others might say you’re hopeless, but me? I never give up on friends.”

Glenn really didn’t have time to think about this right now. He had a job to do. “Do you have something you actually need, or are you just here to annoy me?”

Zack slapped him on the shoulder. “How are you, my friend?”

Glenn stared a moment. “How do you mean?”

“With everything,” Zack said, as some of his mirth faded. “Not becoming a Blazer, not leaving here with Becka, not fulfilling your dreams. That can’t be fun.”

Glenn immediately wanted to be angry about Zack’s callous words, yet he knew Zack wasn’t trying to be hurtful. His old friend actually did seem concerned about him, in his own clumsy, tactless way. Yet Glenn didn’t need reminders of what could have been. He needed to focus on what was.

“I’m just fine, you idiot.”

“Good!” Zack said. “Then you should ask Erika to dinner tonight. It’s time you bedded a woman, and I’m certain you two would have a great time.”

Gods, Zack was unbelievable! Glenn turned away. “We’re not having this discussion now.”

He quickened his pace toward the town square, hoping Zack would take the hint and wander off. What if one of Wolfpine’s gossipy Townsfolk overheard Wolfpine’s newest town guard plotting to bed Ziva Willowbraid’s daughter? That wasn’t an example Glenn wanted to set on his first day!

Yet Zack fell into step beside him effortlessly, moving with easy grace that Glenn had always envied. Glenn suspected Zack was fast closing in on Level 6. The Crackpaws of Crackpaw Mine likely now spoke of Zack as a terror in the day, given how much time he spent hunting them.

“Becka told you to move on herself,” Zack said airily. “So move on, my friend.”

Glenn gripped Zack’s shoulder, but not roughly. “Stop.” He’d had quite enough of this.

Zack brushed futilely at Glenn’s arm. “Stop what?”

“Helping,” Glenn said, and released him. “I get what you’re trying to do, and because I’m far more generous than you deserve, I actually appreciate it. But it hasn’t been a day since Becka left, and as hard as it might be for you to understand, I can’t simply move on.”

“Ah,” Zack said, and nodded. “Good point. It would look desperate if you boned Erika before your old girlfriend was even in Evolan. Better to let her build up a thirst.”

Glenn sighed and rubbed his face. This was like arguing with a statue, with about the same chance of success. He set off toward the town square once more.

“You Leveling today?” Glenn asked, hoping to change the subject.

“Off to terrorize the Crackpaws with my new girlfriend,” Zack agreed, which was a blessing from the Gods Themselves. “But I needed to check on my old friend first.”

Despite Zack’s obvious cluelessness, Glenn did understand that Zack had been genuinely worried about how he was dealing with his new circumstances. Like him, Zack always looked out for his friends. It was good to know that hadn’t changed.

“You’ve now checked on me,” Glenn said firmly. “So go kill some dogmen, and Gods, don’t die in there.”

“I haven’t died yet,” Zack said confidently.

“And we’ll grab some drinks tonight night, maybe. If you’re not having supper with your mother, which I assume you did last night. If you don’t want me to arrest you.”

Zack laughed. “Oh, no. Please don’t arrest me, Mister Town Guard!”

Glenn gave Zack a shove, or tried. Yet Zack had vanished again, and all Glenn shoved was the wind. How was a Town Guard to deal with an unruly Shadower, anyway? Glenn knew he was going to have to ask that question of the others, and soon.

Taunting laughter rose from the air. “Too slow, my friend, too slow!”

Glenn gave it a moment, concluded Zack was finally done bothering him for today, and resumed his trek back to the barracks. He knew Zack couldn’t follow him inside, thanks to the Gods, but he closed the door extra fast anyway. He hoped Seth didn’t think he’d dawdled intentionally.

Once inside the barracks, with Seth’s help, he once again donned his [God Armor] and [Fleet Boots], then put on his full-face helmet. He found a rack containing three [Guardian Mace]s by the armor, and then Seth brought his shield. Glenn strapped it on. Finally, he grabbed a set of [Lawgiver Cuffs] and clipped them to his belt. Unsized, they were no bigger than a coin pouch.

Glenn would need to learn how to work all the clasps, straps, and other adjustments on [God Armor] sooner rather than later. It was hard to get into or out of armor without help, yet he wasn’t going to be simply accepting help from the other Town Guards. He would learn to help them, too.

Seth clapped him on the armored shoulder. “You’re all dressed up. Now go let Linda get some sleep. She had the night shift last night, so she’s still coming off that.”

Glenn nodded. “I’ll hurry.”

He stepped out of the barracks and walked quickly to the gate, only to find that many of the people he knew from all over town were only now arriving at their shops from their homes ... at least, those who hadn’t combined the two. Everyone immediately stepped aside before he even glanced at them, and Glenn marveled at how different he felt this morning, in this armor.

He wasn’t Glenn Redwood any longer. He was a Town Guard, faceless and powerful, and people hastened out of his way no matter where he went. He felt bad about sending them scurrying for no good reason, but he knew he’d have to get over it. They were simply showing respect, right?

It wasn’t like they were afraid of him.

He reached the gate to find it devoid of all but two Town Guards. No one had reason to leave town this early, and any Adventurers who’d stayed the night at The Mead Beast—Wolfpine’s tavern and inn—would likely be eating breakfast or still be in their rooms, dozing.

Linda and Scott both wore their armor and full-face helmets, yet Glenn was surprised to find he recognized both of them. Linda and Joanne would be easy to recognize, of course—they were the only three women in the guard, and female [God Armor] armor shaped itself differently—yet he realized Linda was just a bit taller than Joanne. She also held her mace differently, almost dangling it at her side. He hadn’t actually met Chelsea yet, but he assumed he’d soon be able to recognize her as well.

Scott, of course, was among the tallest and most slender of the Town Guards, and because [God Armor] shaped itself to fit the wearer, his shape was incrementally thinner as well. How had Glenn never noticed these subtle yet obvious differences in the guards before? He supposed he’d simply never dared take a good detailed look at a Town Guard before he became one himself.

With no one around, they were free to speak without worry or ceremony. “I’m here.”

Linda nodded in her helmet. “Redwood.” Her voice was deeper than he remembered, more raspy. Did she have a cold? He felt even worse about making her wait.

“You can head home, Joanne,” Scott said, and waved. “The new guy has it from here.”

Glenn frowned inside his helmet. That was Joanne in that armor? No. He was certain it was Linda. Was he mistaken? Or was his new Party messing with him yet again?

“I’m off to go get drunk and sing bawdy tavern songs!” Linda said in her too deep voice. “Don’t work too hard, Glenn. Wouldn’t want you passing out from heatstroke on your first day.”

“I’ll be fine,” Glenn assured her, stepping aside as she walked past. “And get some sleep, Linda.”

She gasped and spun on him, then laughed. “How’d you know?”

Glenn could have pointed out that her armor, which shaped to her form, was a bit bigger in the chest area than Joanne’s. Yet he suspected that wouldn’t go down well with either woman. So instead, he simply said, “You’re slightly taller than she is. Also, she really doesn’t sound like that.”

“You haven’t heard her drunk,” Linda said mirthfully, then waved. “Good day, you two.”

“Drat,” Scott said, as Linda walked toward the barracks. “I’d hoped to tease you about your mistaken identification for at least an hour on your first shift. Score one for you, Redwood.”

Glenn walked to the spot on the opposite side of the gate from Scott. “You almost had me. I don’t think I could tell the difference between all of you yet, in armor.”

“Martin’s breasts are far less appealing,” Scott agreed.

Glenn guffawed inside his helmet, then shook his head. “Thank you for that mental image.”

“Any time, my friend, any time!”