For Winters, it seemed like less than a second had passed before he was awakened by Xial.
"Bro!" Xial shook Winters anxiously, "Wake up, quick!"
Winters's head ached, and his breathing was labored, "What is it? How long did I sleep?"
"The beacon fires of Shovel Port have been lit!" Xial helped Winters up, "You've slept for less than two hours."
"Shovel Port?"
"Yes!"
"Beacon fires?"
"Yes! It's definitely beacon fires! I'm sure of it!"
"Don't worry about it," Winters lay back down on the bed, "Go to sleep."
Xial was stunned for a moment but Winters was already back asleep.
"Bro!" An anxious Xial tried to wake Winters a second time, now both worried and angry, "That mayor might not be a good guy, but Shovel Port is our ally no matter what! If Shovel Port falls, wouldn't that be like letting the Herders in? Please, wake up..."
Roused forcefully twice in succession, Winters sat up from the bed slowly, like a puppet.
Xial didn't dare to speak again.
