The Thieves Guild
by Jake Kerr.
Episode 104:
The Ghosts of Dragon Pass.
Mailer looked at Darla and Darla looked at Mailer.
Both turned back and looked at the cabin.
Mailer shrugged her shoulders and walked toward the front door of the cabin.
Are you okay? We're not going to hurt you. We're just strangers that need help.
Don't come any closer. I have a bow.
Darla walked up.
I'm not sure how she'll be able to shoot through a solid door.
Shh.
Mailer replied, and then speaking to the closed door.
We won't enter. We just were hoping you could tell us if we are near the road through the
mountain.
After a pause, the voice replied...
Naught but ghosts come from Dragon Pass.
People go there to die and the ghosts of the dead haunt our dreams. Begone ghosts.
Is the road called Dragon Pass?
Another pause and the woman replied...
You came from there, you should know, unless you are lying.
We are not ghosts and we did come through the mountain. Can you please let us in?
We just want to talk. We can explain everything.
Mailer was going to add to Darla's comments, but Darla
continued.
Please. You mentioned being banished. Travel did banish us, but we escaped.
If that scares you, I understand, but don't fear us for simply surviving a long trip through Dragon
Pass.
You were banished?
Yes, we were.
But how did you get past the guardian?
Darla killed it.
Mailer answered while smiling at Darla.
It was invisible, but we covered it with flour and could see it.
The woman inside the cabin unlatched the deadbolt, opened the door, and
waved them in.
Thank you.
Darla said quietly as she passed into the cabin.
After they both entered, the woman looked around outside, and then
closed and latched the door.
The cabin was not unlike the cabin they left behind, and the woman waved them
toward a table with four chairs. As Mailer and Darla sat down,
the woman walked over to a counter and grabbed a pitcher.
Would you like some water?
Yes, please.
I'm Catrina.
The woman said as she poured water into wooden cups.
She wore simple linen clothes with not a single strand of red.
I'm Darla, and this is Mailer.
As the woman placed the cups in front of them, Darla added...
Are you banished?
No.
My husband is. He is further south along the mountain in a cabin by himself.
This is as close as I can get to him without alerting the guardian.
Do you...
communicate?
Mailer asked tentatively, not wanting to intrude into the woman's
personal life. Sliding into her own chair, Catrina replied...
No.
I don't even know if he knows I'm here, but I won't leave. I can't leave.
I'm so sorry.
What happened?
Mailer was going to remain quiet out of respect and expected Darla to
do the same, but Darla's concern was so sincere that it felt like
she was supporting a dear friend. Mailer watched in awe as Darla,
who had started by joking about the cabin's defenses, had turned into a
thoroughly beguiling friend.
His magic is strong.
He was a guard of the road to Drak.
I was very ill one day, so he stayed home to care for me.
Catrina shook her head.
He let his captain know, but his captain didn't care and threatened him if he didn't
clear the manure.
He stayed with me, and the Red Guard came that night and dragged him away.
The wizards don't kill their own,
only torture them.
Darla reached across the table and grabbed Catrina's hand.
Catrina gave Darla a sad smile.
Are you really from across the mountain?
We are. There is a road that is blocked on the other side, but is clear from
that point onward. We got lost and ended up going the wrong way.
That is Dragon Road. It leads from Drak to Calysto.
Catrina peered at Darla.
And you don't know its name?
Darla shook her head.
I don't even know what Drak is.
Do you know nothing?
Apparently so.
Drak is a city through the forest. It is a trading partner of ours and is ruled by a
family.
They create liquid cloth and other fine goods that come from the eastern forest.
Dragon Road ends there.
You know Calysto?
Both Darla and Mailer shook their heads.
It is on the other side of the Dragon's Teeth. I know little about it.
The legends and stories stop when we lost contact with them when Dragon Pass was closed.
What is it with all the dragons? They don't even exist.
I don't know. The mountains have always been called the Dragon's Teeth.
The road is Dragon Road. And the pass through the mountain is Dragon Pass.
Maybe a dragon once lived there.
Catrina took a drink of water and continued to peer
at Darla and Mailer as she drank.
I'm sorry we know so little. It appears that when the Magic Guild left Ness,
our Ness, they didn't want to leave any record or history of it.
That's because you all tried to eradicate them.
Catrina said in a matter-of-fact tone.
What do you mean?
Mailer replied, shocked.
"Everyone knows the history. The guilds of your Ness were jealous of the power of the
wizards and attempted to kill or enslave all the magicians.
The Circle of Three, the three greatest magicians in the guild, led the
survivors to the entrance to Dragon Pass and ushered them through.
Once they were safely on their way, the Circle brought down the mountain on the road and...
well, we're not sure what they did after that.
All we were taught is that they stayed behind.
There are stories of huge battles of the Circle against hundreds, battles that left a
wasteland behind.
This is one of the reasons there are legends of ghosts in Dragon Pass.
There are other stories that they erased the minds of the other guilds and destroyed evidence of the
guilds' existence."
Katrina nodded.
"Yes, that would explain why you know so little."
Dala and Mayla looked at each other. Mayla knew Dala was thinking what
she was thinking: the ash fields. Katrina continued.
"So,
why were you banished?"
"Travel feared us returning to Ness and revealing the existence of the wizards,"
Dala replied, looking at Mayla, who nodded.
"I'm not sure why he didn't just kill us, to be honest."
"The wizards had use of you. It is the only explanation.
They would eventually return to you and ask you for information or invade your mind if you
didn't give it freely."
"They can do that?"
"There are rumors."
No one said anything and Katrina nursed her water, staring at the two
of them over its brim as she sipped. As the silence unfolded,
Mayla decided to speak up.
"You have shared much with us. It is only fair that we share with you."
Mayla proceeded to give an overview of Ness.
She discussed the guilds, the isolation of the city surrounded by mountains
to the north, south, and east, and the violent outlanders to the west.
"Do you have history with the outlanders?"
Katrina shook her head.
"All we know of what is west of Ness is Calysto."
Mayla finished with her and Dala's story.
She avoided discussing her mission or Dala being her prison guard.
She explained that they were simply investigating the mines and got lost.
"I find the idea of guilds fascinating,"
Katrina said as Mayla finished. "Here there is one guild and
everyone else is a servant or slave. It seems so much better where you come
from. Everyone has a role. Everyone has food and water.
It sounds like a wonderful place for everyone."
Dala and Mayla remained silent.
Katrina stood up and walked over to the fireplace, which was large for the cabin
and burning bright. With her back to Mayla and Dala as she
stared into the flames, she spoke.
"You intend to travel through the mountain back to your city?"
"Yes," answered Mayla.
"It is dangerous."
"It is long."
"You need food and water."
"And torches."
Katrina turned. She was backlit by the fire and her face was in
shadow.
"And what is your intent when you return?
Will you tell your guild masters about the sister city across the mountain?"
Dala looked at Mayla, who answered.
"Yes."
After taking a step forward, Katrina's newly revealed face in the light
looked intense and serious as she replied.
"And there is a knight guild that can lead conquering armies?"
Mayla was considering how to answer when Katrina added.
"The wizards are evil. They enslave, they kill, and when they don't
kill, they torture with isolation, driving people mad with loneliness."
She took another step forward.
"I will lead you through the mountain.
There are many entrances to Dragon Road and not all are guarded.
You will then take me to your guild master and I will describe their evil, and you will
return and tear down their tower, burn their buildings, and vanquish
them."
Before Mayla could reply, Dala spoke up.
"Yes, we will take you to our guild master and you can share all you know."
Katrina smiled.
"I have all that is necessary. Let me get you dinner and blankets for tonight.
We will leave tomorrow."
Conversation over dinner was mostly Dala describing the mines and
Mayla describing the various parts of Ness.
Katrina seemed delighted with even the smallest details.
As they settled down to sleep, Mayla watched as Katrina stood still,
staring out a small window. She didn't know if Katrina was dreaming of her
future, of vengeance, or her husband in the distance through the trees.
Possibly all three. It was then that Katrina walked
over to her pantry, rooted around, and hefted a large canvas
bag over to the wooden table. It landed with a thud and
white powder flew into the air, flickering in the firelight.
(instrumental music plays)