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The Thieves Guild

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by Jake Kerr.

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Episode 109.

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Trust.

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To his shock, Captain Jesser not only didn't ask
further questions, he

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provided an escort so that Raylan wouldn't be
accosted by other

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rangers until he was past where they guarded.

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Raylan was a good rider and Calysto was an
exceptional horse,

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and the miles flew behind them.

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Raylan again marveled at the road, it was stone,
set the width of two

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wagons, and went all the way to Gautland.

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Rafe had told him that the road continued through
the mountain to cities on the other

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side. "Dragon Road," Raylan thought.

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"A Craft Guild marvel that once united cities."

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But was it the Craft Guild? It went through the
mountain, maybe the

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hard-to-believe Magic Guild created the road.

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The history of Ness seemed purposefully hidden for
some reason.

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Raylan hoped that Rafe was uncovering it. It
seemed important.

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After a short stop for rest during the night,
Raylan arrived at the gates of

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Gautland in the morning. He galloped directly to
the gate, his black

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cape billowing behind him, while Calysto breathed
heavily from the effort.

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He stopped at the gate but remained on his horse.
A guard approached.

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Guild master.

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The guard said simply.

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Greetings, I have important news for Lord Wilhelm.

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I fear I need to see him immediately.

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Of course.

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The guard waved his hand and another guard came
over.

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Take the guild master's horse and provide it with
food and water.

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Raylan bowed his head and dismounted.

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The second guard took Calysto, and Raylan followed
the original guard to the

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gate. He waited a few moments while the guard went
and brought someone to take

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him to Wilhelm.

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It was a young woman who looked very stern.

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She said very little other than, "Follow me."

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The portcullis was open and the city looked
similar to his last visit,

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smaller but full of life. Raylan wondered if he
could someday stop in a

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Gautland tavern to just sit back and watch and
listen.

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Maybe someday.

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They arrived at the seat and Raylan once again
climbed the steps.

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The young woman stopped at the top of the steps.

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We sent word. Lord Wilhelm is waiting for you.

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Before Raylan could reply, she turned and went
back down

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the steps, leaving him alone before the imposing
seat of the Crown of

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Gautland.

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Raylan entered.

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Guards peered at him but said nothing as the
echoes of his leather boots

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stepping across the marble filled the corridor.

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Not knowing what else to do, Raylan simply walked
straight to where he last

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met Lord Wilhelm. He opened the door and Wilhelm
sat

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alone on his throne.

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Two guards framing the door were the only others
there.

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He looked thoughtful as Raylan approached.

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Wilhelm was in formal clothes and looked regal.

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His great age giving him an air of gravitas.

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Once again, Raylan marveled at how the leader of
the Outlanders, the brigands

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who raided the noble city of Ness, appeared more
like a leader than any of the

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guild masters he knew,

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and that certainly included him. Raylan glanced at
his own clothing.

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His cloak was dusty. His face and hair were dirty.

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He didn't look at all like someone worthy of
meeting the old and wise crown in front of

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him.

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Lord Wilhelm, it is an honor to see you again. I
apologize for my appearance.

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I have ridden a long way at great speed.

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Raylan bowed.

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It isn't the outside that matters, young guild
master.

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It is what is in here.

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Wilhelm tapped his chest.

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You are, of course, welcome here.

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Please,

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sit down.

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Wilhelm motioned to the two simple chairs that
stood in front of his dais.

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Raylan sat, leaving his hands resting on his legs.

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He never knew how to behave when meeting
authority, and he hoped that his rather

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stiff pose was appropriate.

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"So, young Raylan, I must admit that I am curious
what

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brings you to me."

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Wilhelm scratched his chin.

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"And with such urgency."

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He leaned forward, his gaze intense and brooding.

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"I told you not to return until you had plans on
opening the trade routes."

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"My hand in Ness tells me of your plan to weaken
the

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Knights."

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Wilhelm's thin mouth formed a smile. "That is what
I had hoped to hear.

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Oh, you are strengthening your own hand."

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Wilhelm nodded his head. "Old Pietro would never
be so brazen.

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Uh, it was to his detriment, I believe."

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It was odd hearing the ancient Crown of Gautland
describe Pietro as old.

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It only reinforced for Raylan that whatever Pietro
had planned, he had spent decades putting the

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pieces in place. But what pieces could they
possibly be?

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Even Allard didn't seem to know.

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"Is there something else? Uh, something that
requires your presence here before me?"

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Wilhelm's question brought Raylan's mind back to
the

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present situation. Clearly, the hand had arrived
and delivered his

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message. Raylan hoped that it wasn't too late to
fix things.

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"Crowned Wilhelm, I appreciate your confidence in
my plan."

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Indeed, weakening the knights would provide me the
time and distraction to remove

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those who would both tear Ness apart and continue
to block our trade with

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Gautland.

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Wilhelm nodded approvingly.

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But there has been a new complication, and that is
what necessitated my

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rushing here as I did.

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And what is this complication?

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Without my knowledge, the Rangers have sided with
the Harvest Guild and

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march on the knights. They plan on removing the
current guild master from power and

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replacing him with someone more worthy.

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Wilhelm's eyes went wide, but he didn't say
anything.

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My plan to have you feint with forces to the south
and then do the same with a greater

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force near the outer fields to the north appeared
good.

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Saxe would have abandoned the politics of Ness
entirely for the battle outside the

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wall.

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It was indeed a good plan, young Raylan, and I was
prepared to help you.

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But tell me more of this complication.

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Your main force was to amass in the north, but
that is where the Rangers are launching their

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attack.

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I fear your forces will unwittingly rush into
certain death.

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The outer fields will not just be guarded, they
will be heavily fortified with nearly the

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entire Ranger Guild.

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Interesting. Wilhelm nodded his head as he
thought.

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And what of the foothills to the south and the
great gate?

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They are but lightly defended as your activity has
been much less

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since my last visit,

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for which I thank you.

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Wilhelm waved off Raylan's compliment.

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It appears that my kindness has borne fruit.

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To Raylan's surprise, Wilhelm stood up and started
pacing along his

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dais.

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I have started amassing my forces.

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They were to do as you requested: move to the
north, frighten the knights into action, and then

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retreat.

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Wilhelm stopped and looked at Raylan.

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I thank you for this information as I now have a
new plan.

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The tone of Wilhelm's voice was ominous, and his
thin smile was

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cruel.

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Raylan tried to sound strong as he replied.

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And what is this new plan, Crown Wilhelm?

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Wilhelm waved his hand and two guards started
walking toward the dais

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from the entry to the room.

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I will take the entirety of my forces and send
them to attack Ness via the main gate,

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approaching from the southern foothills.

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What?

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Yes, it is a wonderful plan.

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Thanks to your guild, there are no knights manning
the southern wall.

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We will easily overrun the Rangers as their forces
will be near the outer fields.

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We will ford the river and enter Ness via the
dragon trail.

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But why? You can see that things are already
moving in a direction I outlined.

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I am making progress.

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Raylan stood up.

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This is wrong.

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Do not deign to lecture me on right or wrong,
citizen of Ness.

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Wilhelm's voice was threatening.

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I cannot let this happen.

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Raylan turned to leave.

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Pray tell, how will you stop me?

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The guards stopped, one on each side of Raylan.
The fact is, you cannot.

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Wilhelm sighed. I do like you, young guild master.

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You are full of the same earnest enthusiasm that
made me like Pietro.

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Wilhelm nodded, and each guard grabbed one of
Raylan's arms, holding him

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with grips of iron.

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For that reason, I will not have you killed.

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Perhaps when we have control of Ness, I may even
offer you a place of leadership.

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But before that happens,

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I believe you will need to learn some bitterness.

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You can't do this, Wilhelm. We can achieve your
goals without bloodshed

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and with a supportive populace.

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There you go with your delightful naivete again.

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Wilhelm turned and said, his back to Raylan and
the guards, Take him to

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the dungeon.

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Raylan knew better than to fight, even if he
evaded their grip.

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Where could he go? He was trying to think of
something that would make Wilhelm

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reconsider when the old crown of Gautland suddenly
turned around.

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Looking directly at Raylan, he asked.

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Do you know the one mistake Pietro never made but
which you must learn?

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Raylan shook his head.

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He never trusted me.

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I doubt he trusted anyone.

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You would do well to ponder that as you sit in
darkness.

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And without further comment, Raylan was dragged
out of the throne room of the

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crown of Gautland, leaving a smiling Wilhelm
behind.

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(dramatic music)