The group of downhearted slaves from before had the glimmer of determination in their eyes all of a sudden. They were busy doing what I had—filling buckets with water and rushing out to fight the fires. But the reckless thing beating in my chest came to a complete standstill when I realized the Paladin from earlier down the street was the one directing them.

“Only fill the buckets to half,” he called out over the crackling roar of the beast behind me. “Some of you go find blankets, ...