Leo

The rain was cold. The roof was cold. Leo was cold, but he’d been more uncomfortable than this and for far longer than a few hours. From his position on the roof of Barry Dewcrest’s home, he had a perfect view of Beth Silverstone’s house across the way. No one could leave or enter without him knowing, and his thick cloak kept him dry, if not warm. He doubted the rain would stop any time soon.

Silverstone had yet to return—the man must truly be waiting for Leo in the tavern, which summoned a fresh hint of guilt—yet after tomorrow, Leo’s Quest would be done. Jenny would arrive to take Anna and Alan into custody, and, Leo hoped, mark his first Quest as a Junior Blazer complete. After that, perhaps he could find Silverstone and apologize for giving him grief before he left.

Assuming, of course, Town Guard Redwood hadn’t already arrested the man.

Yet even over the rain, Leo had no trouble hearing the creak of the window that let out onto this roof opening behind him. He glanced back just long enough to recognize Glenn Redwood, now wearing a thick rain cloak, as the man stepped out cautiously on the roof. If Redwood was here, he must have already concluded his conversation with Silverstone. Leo hoped it hadn’t ended poorly.

Redwood walked over to Leo’s post atop the roof and knelt beside him. “Any change?” Rain continued to fall, but the velocity had finally lessened. It was more of a drizzle now.

Leo shook his head, then remembered Redwood might not be able to see that if he was watching the house. “No one’s come or gone since I returned. Were you able to intercept Zack?” Using the first name of Redwood’s friend would hopefully remind the man that Leo was on their side.

“I did,” Redwood said. “He claims to know nothing of any of this business.”

“I find that exceedingly hard to believe. Did you arrest him, at least?”

“For what?” Redwood asked.

Now Leo felt a fresh hint of unease. “If you spoke to him about this, you’ve tipped him off. He’ll warn the fugitives, his friends. Or at least his girlfriend.” Redwood couldn’t be that dense, could he?

“Even if he did warn them, what good would that do?” Redwood asked calmly. “You’re watching the house. Joanne is watching the gates. There’s no way the fugitives can leave the Silverstone residence without you seeing them, and no way they can leave the town without Joanne arresting them. I told Zack to spend the night at The Mead Beast and even bought him a room. He promised he’d stay there.”

Leo considered. “And if he returns, we’ll see him enter the house. That’s acceptable.”

Redwood had obviously hesitated at arresting his best friend, even after all Leo had told him about the situation. Despite his worries about this development, Leo understood. Also, Redwood was correct that so long as Zack insisted he knew nothing of Anna and Alan’s status, they really had no cause to arrest him. Silverstone had admitted to no crime, and they had no proof to the contrary.

This wasn’t an ideal situation, but Leo couldn’t really fault Redwood for handling the situation the way he had. At least the man had come to join him in watching over the Silverstone house. He appreciated that gesture. Stakeouts were both lonely and boring, so company was welcome.

“Leo, can I ask you something?” Glenn asked. “About these fugitives?”

“Of course. I may not be a guard like you, but we’re on the same side here. If I can answer your question without breaking Blazer confidentiality, I’ll do so.”

“Do you truly think Anna Bronzelight is capable of stealing from an entire town? Because in the time I’ve known her, she’s been nothing but kind and generous. The facts don’t fit the claim.”

Leo stared resolutely at the house. “Whether the facts fit is not for us to say.”

“Isn’t it, though? You were given a Quest to arrest her, but with unverified information.”

“I was given a quest by a Rank Four Blazer,” Leo reminded Redwood. “A woman vastly more experienced than me in matters of law, justice, and investigation. She’s been my mentor since I came in off the streets two years ago, and she’s never steered me wrong. I trust her judgment.”

“You’re speaking of Jenny Ambersun.”

Leo smiled at the thought of his mentor. “Of course.”

“She did strike me as fair-minded when we met,” Redwood agreed. “But she doesn’t know this woman, does she? She only has the same information she gave you.”

“Do you have information you think she doesn’t?”

“I’m certain I know Anna better than Miss Ambersun,” Glenn said. “As do others in town. Let me ask you something else. When someone hires the Blazers, do they ever lie?”

Leo frowned at the distasteful possibility. “That would be a crime.”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” Redwood said evenly. “What evidence do you have that Anna Bronzelight did as her brother claims? Other than her brother’s word?”

“The world of a high-Level Frostford politician is more than enough,” Leo said, though he spoke more reflexively than from the heart. “If it came out that he’d lied to the Blazers, his career in politics would be over. No more Leveling. What could possibly make a man risk his entire career?”

Redwood went silent for a moment. “I don’t know,” he agreed. “Still ... don’t you wonder?”

Leo considered telling Redwood the truth—of course he wondered if Anna was truly guilty of this crime—but ultimately, he didn’t want to risk further reinforcing the Town Guard’s growing doubts. He needed the help of Redwood and his Wolfpine Town Guards to ensure Anna and Alan didn’t escape, and he was loathe to give them any reason not to cooperate in full.

“No,” Leo lied. “My duty is clear, as is my Quest. And once we have the fugitives in custody, you have my word the Blazers won’t allow them to come to harm. Jenny would never allow that.” Of that, at least, Leo was certain. Otherwise, he’d never have agreed to track Anna and Alan down.

Redwood nodded. “I appreciate your reassurances, and I do understand your situation. Since I’ve become a Town Guard, I’ve often found my duty to be the same as yours. I may not always agree with Mayor Coleman’s orders, but I’m bound by Kya to carry out his will. Even when I doubt.”

Leo felt a stronger kinship with this Town Guard than he’d expected. Glenn Redwood truly did seem to be a decent fellow, but that shouldn’t be a surprise. Jenny had intended to recruit him into the Blazers, after all, before the Gods intervened. Once again, Leo found himself glad to have a friend.

“Someone’s coming,” Glenn said quietly.

Leo leaned forward and immediately spotted the figure Glenn had seen. A slim woman all but wrapped in a thick rain cloak now walked up the puddle-strewn street with a leather-bound pack. Leo easily spotted a bit of blond hair protruding from beneath her pulled up hood.

Was it Anna Bronzelight? Was she returning home? Leo had been certain she was home.

“That’s Erika Willowbraid,” Redwood said, and glanced at Leo. “What’s she doing here?”

Leo tilted his head. “You know her?”

“She’s a friend,” Redwood agreed. “A tailor. I wonder what she’s doing out this late?”

“Get down and stay low,” Leo said quietly. “We don’t want her spotting us up here.”

Leo pressed himself to the roof as Glenn did the same. Erika—the woman Glenn had identified—walked right up to Beth Silverstone’s door and knocked firmly. A moment later, the door opened, and Leo recognized Beth Silverstone in the doorway. The rain was picking up again, and try as he might, Leo couldn’t hear what they were discussing.

After the two spoke for a moment, Beth stepped aside and Erika entered the house. It was a moment longer before the door closed. Only once it did so did Leo sit up again.

“What’s going on?” Leo asked Redwood. “Do Erika and Beth know each other?”

“Everyone in Wolfpine knows each other.” Redwood sounded rather amused by the question. “But I’m not sure why Erika would be here this late. Making a delivery?”

“A delivery of what?”

“Erika’s mother, Ziva, is the highest Level Tailor in Wolfpine, and Erika’s her apprentice,” Redwood explained calmly. “Beth is a Merchant, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Erika is simply making a late delivery from her mother. Perhaps Beth has a trade or sale or rare clothing lined up.”

Leo mulled that over. It seemed plausible. From his observations in the tavern, he knew Erika was fast friends with Zack Silverstone, yet as Redwood had said, everyone in Wolfpine knew everyone else. Given how small this town was, there was no reason to suspect Erika of anything nefarious.

Leo waited. Glenn waited. Some time later, the door opened and Erika emerged in her thick cloak, carrying her leather pack. Yet the pack was slack now, emptied, and that made Leo feel like Redwood’s supposition was likely correct. Head low, Erika set off back the way she’d come.

Leo watched her until she reached the end of the street and turned the corner. He felt a hint of unease as he did so, yet couldn’t put his finger on it. He had no cause to detain or question random Townsfolk. His unease was simply nerves. He was so close to finishing his Quest.

Erika vanished around the corner. Leo kept his gaze on the house. And as he watched, the window to Zack Silverstone’s room opened onto the rainstorm.

A male figure in a thick raincloak slipped out the window and dropped into the alley.

“Alan Starshine,” Leo cursed quietly. “Erika must have passed on a message from Zack that we were onto them.”

“You can’t know that,” Redwood said. “Still ... what can I do?”

Leo barely hesitated only a moment before making the call. “Watch the house. Make sure no one else leaves. I’ll go after Alan and detain him.”

“You’re certain you want to go alone?”

Leo was already at the edge of the roof. “Yes.”

“All right. Be careful!”

“You too.” Leo turned, dropped, caught himself on the roof edge with both hands, and dropped to the cobblestones with well-practiced grace. Such feats were no trouble for a Skirmisher.

He hurried off to catch Alan Starshine and quietly arrest him before he could escape.