The mines are the livelihoods of the miners, and the lifeblood of the village itself. If the company closes and leaves the area, Magistrate Emery Ward is unsure what other merchant he can coax and cajole in to take its place. (He made a better soldier than public figure, in his opinion.)

His footsteps on the cobblestone and snow announce his presence so that he won't take the Captain unawares, and should Lance glance at him, he gets a brief nod for his trouble. "Who else are we expecting?" he asks. That's greeting enough, probably.