Chapter 6: The High and the Mighty.

It was the morning afterwards and the events from the night before were known around the town, In fact it was the middle of Carlson's funeral and Roland and Imp were sat in the inn again. Amelia was behind the bar wiping down the mugs and getting the place clean for opening which had been delayed by an hour in a mark of respect for the fallen deputy.

Evan and Abel were apparently at the Sheriff's office, holding the fort as it were, till Luthor returned from the funeral.

The Imp was flicking a knife around his fingers and occasionally throwing it into the air and catching it to keep himself amused. Roland was having a smoke and was drinking a small glass of whiskey.

"Mind if I have some of your tobacco?" Imp asked after a few minutes of silence.

Roland nodded and took the paper, which he kept his tobacco and pushed it across the table to Imp.

Imp then began to roll himself a cigarette his hands working at a very fast speed.

"Imp, do you mind if I ask why are you called Imp?" Roland asked more to pass the time.

Imp laughed as he licked the edge of the cigarette.

"I've been in this town for a ten-month now and not a single person has asked me that, not even Evan or Abel. Well it's I suppose it's because of the fact that I'm young and fast, and use knifes a lot. It was a reputation I gained serving as a deputy. Also I lost the right to use my actual name the day I was sent out of Gilead." He explained.

Roland only nodded in response.

Imp finished making the cigarette then licked the edge then he lit it and began to smoke it.

"Any more drinks?" Amelia called from her place behind the bar.

"Just some water Amelia." Imp replied.

The two then went back to the silence the only noise was from Amelia pouring some water and the sound of the local church as Carlson's service was well underway.

Roland felt something brush against his leg and he glanced down to see a little black cat.

Meow

Roland hadn't heard it approach at all and was quite surprised to see the little creature. Roland bent down and gave the small creature a fuss and it began purring quite loudly.

"Oh don't mind him 'slinger that's just little Alfie. He's just probably after some food." Amelia said as she brought Imp his drink.

The little black cat meowed again and began brushing up against Amelia.

Imp accepted the glass of water and began to drink it.

"So how come you boys are here now any way." Amelia said taking a chair and sitting by them, Alfie decided to jump up onto her lap and take a nap.

"We've got a meeting with the Mayor 'bout last night" Imp told her.

"You boys sure did make a noise last night, what was it? I've heard mutterings around town but no one's been able to say exactly what it was."

"It was a Lytha…" Roland said from behind his haze of smoke.

Amelia frowned. Roland and Imp both having the training of Gunslingers had also had lessons on what creatures it was possible to come across in the world. A Lytha was basically the same as a werewolf but had the ability to change at will. Which basically meant that they still retained their normal human state of mind when they did decide to change. Which to Roland was a terrifying thought that whoever it was was content with mauling others to death. Another reason that scared him was why?

"What's that?" Amelia said whilst stroking the small cat.

"It's half man half wolf." Imp explained.

"Oh" Amelia gasped, she stopped stroking Alfie much to his annoyance.

Then suddenly the bar entrance was thrown open and in walked Harper, Abel, Evan and Luthor.

"Ah! Our resident gunslinger" The Mayor said throwing his hands into the air. "How are you Roland? I have just heard the details of last night and the heroism displayed by yourself and Evan."

The group moved over to the table where Imp and Roland were sitting. Amelia moved Alfie of her lap and she quickly moved out of the way and the pair headed towards the kitchen entrance.

Roland raised his eyebrows and glanced across at Imp, who merely took the statement as a glance on the shoulder.

Harper moved over to Roland and shook his hand rapidly again and then sat opposite him on the table. Luthor, Abel and Evan all took some seats as well. Abel's hood was down again and it was hard to tell what exactly he was looking at but he appeared to be staring at Roland.

Imp stubbed out his cigarette and put what was left of it behind his ear for later and went back to drinking his water.

"What is it that you wanted Mayor?" Roland said.

"I just wanted to know if you'd got another plan for tonight to try and catch the Lytha? Was it?" Harper asked.

Roland nodded, "I have a plan, I just need to think it over more this time, last time it cost us a life and a cost I'm not too keen to repeat." He said glancing at Luthor, who didn't look too distraught about the loss of his deputy.

"Good, good, I have another problem at the moment I'm afraid." Harper said, "As terrifying as this Lytha is, I have just heard distressing news from one of the town's rangers, Edward Heathcliff."

Roland recalled backwards and remembered his first day at arriving at the town. The man with the bumbler who had approached from the trees.

"He's reported seeing some of the Good Man's troops several miles away setting up camp." Harper explained, "Apparently it's only a small army but you can see why I am worried."

Roland noticed a glance from Evan towards Abel, Roland took a second to glance at Imp as well who was sat straight up now listening to every word that the Mayor said.

"The Good Man?" Roland asked for confirmation.

"Yes…" Harper was actually beginning to look worried for once and wasn't hiding it by talking rapidly.

"We ask of you again Gunslinger" Luthor took the reins of the conversation this time. "If you could stay a little while longer. We need to arrange some sort of defence against this army."

Roland was having trouble containing his temper. All the events of Jericho hill were coming flooding back and all the memories were painful ones that would have best been left buried. The loss of his old friends. Cuthbert, Alain, Jamie and he hadn't seen Sheemie fall in the battle but it was more than likely that the poor kid had gotten himself killed by the Good Man's troops or more likely if they had realised he was retarded they probably tortured him. He thought the Good Man's troops had been halted or had stopped their devastating conquest of all of Mid-World. Roland then decided he'd stay and help the town. He was going to find the Lytha although he had a pretty good idea who it was. He was also going to get these people an army to fight back and he was going to fight by their side.

Roland looked around the room at Imp's face, one that comprised mainly of anger, Luthor's face, that looked like one of desperation, Abel, who's face was as blank as ever, Evan, who's maniac smile remained across his face. Then Harper, the once very cheery man had changed to a man who had a tired look in his eye and he looked desperate.

"I'm with you Mayor" He nodded

The mayor's face light up with the sudden burst of hope.

Evan and Abel both exchanged a look, which only added to Roland's suspicions. He felt like he had enough to put a bullet through both of them.

Imp who was in the middle of having a sip of water spat it out and drenched the table he was over and then went into a coughing fit.

"You're going to stay here and help us?" The mayor asked as though he needed to confirm what Roland had just promised.

"Yes" for the first time in a long time a smile raised on the edge of his lips.

"We need to act quick now, if we have any hope of halting the Good man's forces, I need you to gather all the skilled rangers you can. I need them inside here within the hour. I want all the town's young men gathered outside to form a workforce." Roland ordered.

Harper and Luthor stood up.

"Within the hour" Harper agreed.

"We may still have hope" Luthor agreed.