Everybody looked in awe as both the demon and the meteor disappeared, and everything returned to normal and the sun shone like nothing had ever happened.
Then quiet noises started coming out of the ranks, then louder, louder, louder until every guardsman was cheering and those who had hats threw them in the air.
The captain was about to call for volunteers as the ten riflemen ran from the woods and with yells about the death of the demon. Then the cheering became even louder.
Then the sign of "danger over" was given with the bugle, and the people in the town square started returning to their daily chores.
But then the captain assembled everybody in near the wall. After looking at the guardsmen for a while he dismissed the ones who had not deserted, including Morgenstern and Vornonov, and the rest he started giving a fiersome speech effect of which was powered by the five provost standing at the ready to give punishment.
Morgenstern walked straight to Abernathy and Jon.
"Are you two alright?" he asked.