Yet as Glenn mulled over Leo’s claims, he couldn’t help but notice this story had a few holes. If Anna and Alan had truly intended to abscond with their town’s money and fade away, it would be far easier to lose oneself in Lakebrooke, a town of 2000, than Wolfpine, a town of 60. Why come her at all?

Given Anna and Alan’s low Levels, they couldn’t kill any Monsters in Evolan. Therefore, coming to Grassea and Wolfpine might have been their only option. Was there truly all there was to it? He felt there had to be something more.

“This Politician in Frostford,” Glenn said. “What’s his name? How did he contact you?”

“I wasn’t given that information,” Leo said.

“Is that normal? Why wouldn’t the Blazers tell you who he was?”

“I’m only a Junior Blazer,” Leo said, a bit defensively. “As I’m sure you’re aware, the Shadowers Guild opposes us in everything we do. We’re almost certain they are the people who smuggled these fugitives into Grassea in the first place, which is why we couldn’t risk someone from the Shadowers Guild tipping them off before we could find them. That’s why only Joanne actually knew who I was.”

Glenn could accept that. The Shadowers Guild was awfully good at ferreting out information they weren’t supposed to have, and the less people who knew Leo was hunting Anna and Alan, the harder that information would be to intercept. He still felt like he was missing something, but it was possible his concern about Leo’s story was really just his own hesitance to arrest his best friend.

Though given the absolutely quagmire in which Zack was now embroiled, Glenn arresting Zack might actually be Zack’s best option. If Glenn arrested Zack, and a trial here in Wolfpine determined Zack’s only crime was harboring fugitives, Zack would serve out his short sentence here in Wolfpine. If he assaulted a Blazer, by comparison, he’d certainly be imprisoned elsewhere.

Thankfully, justice in Landers was firm but just. Lawbreakers were imprisoned for a period of time appropriate to the crime they committed. They were treated well during that time, with comfortable lodgings, three meals a day, and access to both a library and physical activities. It was still prison, of course, but it was a relatively nice prison.

Also, after one served one’s sentence and paid one’s debt, one was treated no differently than any other person in Landers. That all would give a reformed lawbreaker a second chance was both expected and encouraged. If anything, Zack’s run in with the law might make him more attractive to the Shadowers Guild—assuming he wasn’t a member already. Which Glenn totally wouldn’t put past him.

Glenn didn’t know the sentence for harboring fugitives, but he suspected it was quite a bit less than assaulting a Blazer who was attempting to arrest one. Given those two options, and Zack’s impetuous and rebellious nature, it really did seem like Glenn’s best option was to talk his friend out of doing anything rash. He had to help Leo arrest these fugitives even if Zack hated him for it afterward.

Zack’s hatred would hurt. Yet even if Zack hated Glenn forever for this supposed betrayal, at least Zack would remain here in Wolfpine serving a short sentence for a minor crime. His mother could watch over him here, and could even support Zack after he was released.

Finally, if Glenn arrested Zack first, there was no chance Zack could get hurt in a conflict with Leo or any other Blazers. His worries about Zack getting hurt, more than anything else, told Glenn what he needed to do. There was no true conflict between his duty to the Gods and his duty to his friend.

Though Zack, he suspected, almost certainly wouldn’t see it that way.

“I’ll talk to him,” Glenn agreed. “I’ll tell him what his so-called friends are truly up to and talk him out of doing anything stupid, or arrest him before he can do so. If I arrest him before he interferes with you, I trust you’re willing to treat that as if Zack hasn’t interfered at all?”

“Of course,” Leo said. “And technically, he hasn’t interfered in anything yet, just bent the truth a little. Depending on how much Zack knows about the circumstances of the fugitives, he may still be tried for knowingly harboring them, but I see no reason that crime or any resulting punishment is Blazer business. That’s Wolfpine’s business, not ours.”

Which would also ensure Zack’s sentence was light and served here in Wolfpine. None of this was remotely ideal, but it was the best option out of several poor options. Glenn doubted he would get a better deal, and even though he wasn’t actually a Blazer, Jenny had chosen him as one.

If he could both help his childhood heroes and protect his best friend, why wouldn’t he?

“Do you have a plan?” Glenn asked.

Once again, Leo nodded. “And it’s going to be much easier now that you’ve agreed to help.”

*****

Less than an hour later, Glenn once again found himself relaxing in The Mead Beast at a table all his own. The tavern was crowded tonight, both with locals and Adventurers from out of town. One of Grassea’s legendary storms had blown in shortly after sunset—it was the season, after all—and even over the ruckus in The Mead Beast, Glenn still heard raindrops hammering the roof.

The storm outside made the dry, warm tavern even more attractive, which was likely the reason it was so crowded tonight. Yet despite the crowd Glenn, as a Town Guard, had a table all to himself. It wasn’t that he asked to sit alone. It was simply that no one seemed comfortable sitting with a Town Guard unless invited, and tonight, that suited Glenn’s purposes just fine.

According to Leo, Zack was supposed to arrive in The Mead Beast shortly to have drinks with the Adventurer who’d once threatened to duel him in this very tavern. Leo, of course, wouldn’t be here. He would instead be keeping careful watch on Zack’s home and the fugitives hiding within.

And Glenn, in Leo’s place, would talk Zack out of doing anything that might get him arrested by the Blazers ... or arrest Zack himself if he refused.

In addition, Joanne was on the gates again. She’d taken a shift from Chelsea that would last until the gates closed, and with the knowledge that Anna and Alan were fugitives and an official request from Leo, Joanne had full authority to arrest them if they attempted to leave Wolfpine tonight. The fugitives could not escape. Glenn hoped their eventual arrest went smoothly and no one got hurt.

Yet ultimately, this business of fugitives down from Aquarine and Blazers attempting to arrest them was beyond his duties. His duties were here in Wolfpine, protecting its people. And the best way to protect Zack would be to ensure his old friend didn’t get further caught up in any of this business.

So Glenn waited. Zack didn’t appear. Someone else, however, did, and at the sight of her, Glenn’s heart pounded faster at the same moment his worries grew.

Erika Willowbraid had just walked into the tavern and shrugged off her cloak, which glistened with wet. As he brushed back her hair, her blue eyes met his. She smiled warmly, and Glenn instinctively smiled back, but inside, he found himself panicking. This was the worst possible timing.

How was he to help Zack without embroiling Erika in this mess as well? He couldn’t exactly explain what was going on the middle of this crowded tavern, where anyone, Shadower or otherwise, might overhear. Yet how could he send her away without giving her the wrong impression? He really liked having her as a friend.

Erika was already walking his way, and she looked quite intent on joining him. On any other night her arrival at the tavern he would have welcomed her companionship, but having her caught up in this business tonight could get complicated. What if he had to arrest Zack in front of her and everyone?

Once Erika reached his table, she tilted her head and watched him instead of sitting down. Glenn immediately knew she’d picked up on his hesitance, and the hint of unease in her eyes pained him. He truly would have been happy to see her on any other night than this, but now...

“Am I interrupting?” Erika asked.

“No,” Glenn said quickly, holding back a wince at his complete lack of anything she might actually be interrupting. “It’s great to see you, really! I’m just ... waiting for someone.”

“Oh,” Erika said flatly. “I understand.”

“Not a woman!” Glenn said immediately, then blushed at his own idiocy. “It’s Zack. Zack’s coming by for drinks, and I promised to help him with a problem. His problem.”

All at once, Erika’s standoffishness vanished. His mischievous side returned, and the smile that crept across her face was a huge relief. “Zack’s actually having girl problems?”

Given the woman Zack was dating was actually a wanted fugitive from Aquarine who’d stolen a hundred moons from her town coffers, Zack was absolutely having girl problems. “Yes,” Glenn said, and smiled with relief. “He’s ... well, it’s complicated, and probably not really something I should share. Zack wouldn’t like it, I mean. He normally never asks me for advice, but this—”

“Sounds important,” Erika agreed knowingly. “And the questions he wishes to put to you might become a bit awkward if I’m listening in?”

“Yes,” Glenn said again, still smiling. “Gods, you’re great at this sort of thing.”

“At what sort of thing?”

“Just being understanding,” Glenn said. “You’re just, well ... I’d forgotten how considerate you can be. I’m glad we’ve been able to spend time together again.”

“As am I,” Erika agreed warmly. “I’ll leave you to it, then.”

“Thanks,” Glenn said, then blinked. “Oh, and I’m absolutely looking forward to tomorrow. To Strat-Go, I mean.”

Her warm smile grew. “Me too.” Then, she offered a wry shake of her head. “This absolutely figures. Zack’s finally gotten himself wrapped up with a good woman, and now he has no idea what to do about that. I imagine Anna will bend my ear about all of it soon enough.”

Surprised by her casual remark, Glenn leaned forward. “You know Anna?”

“Only over drinks,” Erika agreed. “And I helped her dye and cut her hair. And she’s purchased a few pieces of clothing I made, and I’ve helped her out with a few other matters since she doesn’t know many people in town. Zack’s exceedingly lucky to have her.”

So Erika had done all that? With Anna? The two of them were that close?

As Glenn considered his unease with the story Leo had spun about Anna’s supposed theft, and how starkly the idea of a woman who would rob a whole town conflicted with his own brief impression about her, he debated only a moment before deciding to go with his gut. His faith in his friends.

“On second thought,” Glenn said, “how would you feel about joining me?”

Erika slid into the seat beside him. “Shall I order us a round?”

“It’s on me,” Glenn assured her.

This felt like the right course. He’d known Erika since they were children, and he knew her as both honest and kind. He knew she had absolutely no ties with the Shadowers Guild, and more importantly, he knew she was Zack’s friend as well.

If Zack really was in trouble, Erika would do all she could to help him get Zack out of it. Most importantly, Erika had true insight into the nature of the woman calling herself Anna Ironstar. That, more than anything, was what Glenn needed right now.

Before he told Zack the woman he’d spent three months dating was a thief who’d stolen money from an entire town and lied to him, Glenn should make sure he, himself, wasn’t working off bad information. Or rather ... that Leo wasn’t working off it. Leo was, after all, just a Junior Blazer.

And Glenn really should be absolutely certain of his reasons before arresting his best friend.