The inn boy crouches behind the hotel counter with me, Rin, and Takashi. "Oh man, what do I do, what do I do, what do I do..."

There's a banging on the door. "Open up!" calls a voice outside the window. Takashi tried to get a look outside the window, the boy continues to psych himself out, and I'm over here trying to keep him from getting himself caught.

"Hey, calm down! Your noise is going to lead them right to you!" I whisper harshly. "What do they want with you anyway? Who are you?"

The kid's breathing slows a little. "My name's Jordan. I'm a blacksmith, but this is my night job. I used to be a Knight, and they've been after me since I quit!"

"They wouldn't be that wired up over someone just leaving," says Takashi. "You must've done something to make them hate you."

"Umm..." Jordan hesitates. "I kind of walked off with a bunch of their stuff..."

Rin's eyes widen. "Then why are we helping you?!"

"Good question," says Takashi. "Why shouldn't we just leave you here and unlock the door?"

"Because I can help you," Jordan says frantically. "You guys want to fight on the front, right? Well, the Bosses are tougher up here. This isn't any old playground. You might actually need more than three people to do the job. So what do you say? I help you guys clear the game, you get me out of this crap. Deal?"

Takashi and Rin look at me. "What do you think, Haruko?" Takashi asks.

"Why doesn't anyone else get to make decisions?"

"Well," says Rin, "I'm ten and Takashi's kind of a ding-dong. So I guess it's up to you."

As Takashi gives Rin a look, I start thinking. Jordan's right; we won't be able to fight any of these Bosses on our own. Plus, if we're caught by the Knights of the Blood Oath, we might have to contend with more of Heathcliff's badgering, and maybe he'll back me into it. He's more powerful than me, after all, and last time I kind of surprised him by walking out without resolving the argument. He won't let me off so easy next time.

"All right, we'll do it. What's the best way out of here?"

Jordan smirks. "Follow me."