"I've called this meeting of the Copper Canyon Town Council because I've just received information that members of the Bolton Gang have been seen in the foothills out pass the mine," Petyr announced as the stood in the church a couple evenings later.
"If that's true then why is this the first we're hearing about it?" Grenn asked, his annoyance clear. "And why a whole meeting, why not just send the information on to us?" Jon shot him a look that told him he needed to let him do the talking.
"Seems people might just trust me a little more, you know on account of my long history in this town. Anyways I would think the more important question is if you're doing your patrols, how could you miss something like this?"
"Now hold on a minute. Who says your source is even telling the truth? Have you gone and looked yourself?" Grenn shot back.
"Isn't that your job?" Petyr asked snidely.
"Mister," Grenn began rising to his feet.
"Alright, alright," Jon said raising his hands and giving Grenn a look that told him to sit down. "You're right, it is our job. So if you have new information, give it to us so we can investigate."
"Aren't you leaving for the posse soon?" Petyr asked suddenly. Jon felt perplexed at his change of topic.
"How's that relevant?" Grenn asked.
"The official call hasn't come up yet," Jon answered him. "But since you brought it up, we should discuss how many men we can send."
"Well I don't see how we can spare any outside of you two. I mean, if you and the deputy are going to go, we need to leave people here to protect the town. Especially now, what with the Boltons being so close to us," the mayor interjected and looked to Petyr for approval.
"I would think that is all the more reason to send who we can. We need to bring them to justice and eliminate the threat," Jon said. "And nothing has happened in the last couple of weeks. So even if there are Bolton men in the foothills, they don't appear to be concerned with us at the moment."
"Why don't we wait to see the state of the town when the call actually comes before we make a decision," Petyr offered. Jon narrowed his eyes at him. There was something behind those words and he did not care for it one bit.
"Agreed," the mayor said before Jon could protest. He felt his anger growing, he hated these meetings more and more.
"Perfect, it's settled. Sheriff please let us know as soon as the call comes up."
"As you wish. Now let's get back to the first matter. Who told you they saw a Bolton camp?"
xxxxx
It had taken some cajoling, mostly so Petyr could feel important, but eventually Jon had been able to get Petyr to tell him who had reported the possible Bolton sighting to him. He and Grenn had agreed to go talk to him right after the meeting.
His name was Dontos Hollard, a former miner turned fur trapper. Grenn recalled him from the mine, telling Jon he recalled he often drank too much and could be easily agitated. Since he had some first-hand experience with him, Grenn insisted they go together. When they reached his small shanty at the edge of the foothills, full dark had fallen. Dontos was already well into his cups. They made him coffee and some food in order to sober him up. It took a few hours but by the time the man started to tell his story, Jon couldn't help but wonder if it was possible Dontos had hallucinated the whole thing while drinking. But when he questioned him, he swore up and down that what he was telling them was the truth. He said that just yesterday he had been up in the foothills checking his beaver traps beside one of the streams, when he had spotted a campsite.
"But why do you assume it belongs to someone from the Bolton Gang?" Jon asked.
"Cause of this," Dantos answered. He then produced a couple of small carved wooden figures from the pouch on his belt. The figure looked to be a man breaking his chains. He recognized the figure as one of the reported calling cards of "Small" Jon Umber. He rode with the Boltons. There was a well-known story had made the rounds that after he killed a man he would shove a small figure, much like this one, into the mouth of his victim. In fact, their local newspaper had just mentioned it in an article a couple weeks back.
"That could just be a child's toy," Grenn said looking at the roughly carved figure.
"Was there anything else there to indicate who might be camping there?" Jon asked.
"No sir. It looked like no one had been there for a couple days maybe. There was just some animal bones and a couple of those figures."
"Do you think you could take us to the location tomorrow morning?" Jon asked.
"I could try, it's not so far from one of my traps."
"Alright then. We'll be back around eight," Jon said.
"You could bunk here if you wanted," Dontos offered.
"Thanks, but we need to check in on the town if we are going to be gone most of the day tomorrow," Jon answered.
"Are you sure? It's some ways back and it's very dark," Dontos said. Jon noticed he was looking at the clock on the wall and was fidgeting a bit Jon.
"No, we need to be getting back," Jon answered, measuring his words.
"I think it would be better if you stayed. Actually, I think I might be remembering something else." Dantos was looking at the clock again. Grenn seemed to notice this time and caught Jon's eye.
"You can tell me in the morning," Jon said starting to feel a bit uneasy. "You should turn in. And don't drink anymore tonight." His tone offered no more room for argument.
"Alright," Dontos said reluctantly and then looked longingly at the jug of moonshine on his table.
"We'll bring this back in the morning," Grenn said picking up the jug as he made his way to the door.
Jon nodded his assent and then wished Dontos goodnight before following Grenn outside.
"Do you believe him?" Grenn asked as the mounted their horses to head back to town.
"I don't know. That figure gives me pause though. If they're that close, why has no one else seen them? Why has nothing else happened? It just doesn't make sense, no one in that gang is known for their restraint."
"Not rightly sure… So we really have to be back out here in just a few hours?" Grenn asked after he mounted his horse.
"Yeah, but hey, consider yourself lucky I didn't agree for us to spend the night here."
They rode back towards town. It was late, well pass last call at the saloons, he expected things to be dark and quiet, and yet as they neared, something felt off. They were still far enough back that he could see down the back side of the businesses on the east side of Main Street. Something caught his eye then, but it took his mind a moment to register that it was a fire.
"Go! Ring the fire alarm!" he ordered Grenn and then kicked Ghost to a gallop and circled down the back alley as Grenn made for Main Street.
As he drew near he realized it was the back side of High Garden that was burning. He jumped from Ghost and ran into the building through the entrance just in front of the kitchen. He raced into the main part of the building shouting and yelling for everyone to get up and out.
"What on earth?!" Margaery shouted coming to the edge of the balcony.
"Fire! The back of the building! You have to get out!" Jon shouted at her as more doors along the mezzanine flew open. He shouted fire again and everyone started to run down the stairs as the smell of smoke started to waft in. He and Loras ran back towards the kitchen, the back wall of which was now on fire, as Marge helped the girls evacuate out the front. They grabbed some buckets and ran out the side door.
The fire was spreading. Jon knew they only had a short window in which to either get this under control or risk the whole structure going up. They ran to the water barrels kept along the back of the businesses for just this sort of event. They filled their buckets and working as fast as possible, tried to keep the flames under control until reinforcements arrived. Thankfully Grenn had sounded the alarm quickly and others began to pour into the back alley and assist them with the buckets. A couple minutes later the fire cart, normally kept at the livery for just such a disaster, showed up.
With everyone working together they were able to get the fire under control and put out before it caused damage beyond the kitchen. Luckily it did not spread to any of the other nearby buildings either.
When they were sure the fire was out, Jon, Loras and the rest of the men joined all the other people standing in front of High Garden.
"How bad is it?" Marge asked her brother.
"Kitchen's a goner, but we stopped it before it spread too much further," Loras told her.
"Did it start in the kitchen?" she asked in response.
"No, I don't think so," Jon answered keeping his voice low and looking around at all the people gathered around. He was trying to see if anyone seemed disappointed the building was still standing.
"I guess we were lucky you were out so late," Marge said to Jon.
"Guess so," he agreed, a feeling of foreboding sinking deep into his gut. Was he supposed to be out this late? What if they had stayed with Dontos? It all just seemed too coincidental. He swept his eyes over the crowd again, and this time he saw Petyr standing on the other side of the street with some of his men. He met Jon's eye and raised a glass to him. Though his gesture was congratulatory, his expression was cold.
Pieces started to fall into place. Petyr was the one that had sent him to Dontos. And Dontos had been looking at the clock, trying to get them to stay. Jon felt his anger rising and he started to march across the street. But before he could reach Petyr, Sam appeared before him.
"You're a hero!" Sam cried.
"Not now Sam," Jon said trying to move around him.
"But you are. Gilly just told me all about how you charged in through the flames, woke them all up and ushered them to safety."
"I woke them up, Marge made sure they all got out. Now if you'll excuse me."
"But –"
Petyr was retreating back towards his place. Jon wondered if he had seen the murderous glint in his eye, fleeing before Jon could confront him. He started to follow him and then from the corner of his eye he realized one of Petyr's men was watching him, his pistol in his hand. He slowed as he heard Sansa's voice in his head. "You'll need to be smarter than my brother, smarter than my father, if you want to survive here." He stopped, glancing briefly at the man and then made the decision to reluctantly let Petyr go.