"What is his motivation?" Stefan pondered that, surrounded by his crew, eating and drinking. He idly turned the hammer over in his hands, then up-ended a tankard of ale. "Are we now pawns of political powers?" No. Stefan, and now what is seemingly becoming a cult, would not fall under command of another ever again. If those people want freedom, they will have it, even if it put him at odds with Shifu. He didn't know what happened in Shifu's past, and the man was rather tight-lipped about it, but it had to be important to affect him in such a way. He tore a hunk of bread and chewed, his thoughts conflicted. On one hand, this was a chance to help Shifu recover from his past. On the other, we are being used. That should never stand. It won't, either. The Thousand Gods was a lawless land, but it was a free land. The people will have a choice, and if they choose freedom over the regency, Stefan's mind is settled. Even if it costs him.
