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The Thief's Guild

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by Jake Kerr.

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Episode 16:

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Across the Flats.

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Raylan lost track of the rainbow of colors of
those that had helped him.

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Yellow, green, blue, and even white-shirted guild
members passed Maela and

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Raylan from safe house to safe house.

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With every step, Maela stayed so close that her
shoulders would often brush against

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him. He would glance at her every so often and
watch how her eyes darted

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around and her muscles tensed. She looked like an
animal

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constantly poised to strike.

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Their first stop was a comfortable house in the
lower triangle, where Raylan was given a

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scented bath and a yellow tunic of a lower-rank
craftsman.

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As he looked in the mirror, even he had trouble
identifying himself.

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"The guild colors are so identified with each of
us that changing them is such a shocking

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change," Raylan thought. He walked out and Maela
was wearing the same yellow.

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She handed him a droopy hat. "Really?" Raylan
said, looking

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at the hat.

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Maela ignored him and said-

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"You look different enough that we should be
somewhat safe.

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I mean, how many merchant guardsmen and knights
actually know what you look like?"

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Raylan, whose history of mischief was long, did
not reply.

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"Plus, you actually smell nice. No one would
recognize you like that."

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Raylan turned away, hoping she took it as a sign
of anger, but inside,

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he was smiling.

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After the past few days, her jibe was both amusing
and accurate.

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His appearance hidden, they made their way
straight through the Flats.

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Every few streets, they would make a hard right or
a hard left.

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Every few blocks, they would stop at a shop or a
house where Raylan would be left alone,

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and Maela would go to a different room and talk
with people he couldn't see.

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As they got closer to the wall, Raylan suddenly
realized that they had an

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escort, and that it had been changing as they
continued their walk.

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"Are they with us?" Raylan asked, pointing at a
group of young men who were

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laughing and casually walking ahead of them.

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The group appeared as they turned down one street,
replacing a similar group of young men

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and women. Maela slapped his hand.

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"Will you not point? And for the love of the gods,
do you know how to keep your voice

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down? It's like you want to get us captured."

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She walked in front of Raylan and stopped, forcing
him to stop as well.

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She crowded into him and whispered-

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"Do you see those brown cloaks over there?

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Those are Knight Protectors scanning the people on
the street. Do you see the tradesmen up ahead?

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They are merchant guards and are looking for you."

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Maela punctuated the you by poking Raylan in the
chest with her finger.

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"How do you know this?"

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"Gods, do you know nothing? Use your eyes.

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It's obvious."

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Raylan looked at the people, but couldn't see
anything suspicious about them, but he nodded,

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pretending that he did. Maela added-

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"This is the easy part, so at least don't screw
this up.

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Just shut up and go where I tell you to go."

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"What's the hard part?"

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"G, I don't know, maybe breaking into the Knight
Tower, going down to the

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catacombs and freeing Allard and your friend,
while doing so without making the guild council

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suspicious that you have organized help."

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"Got it. No problem."

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Maela squinted at Raylan. "You're either an idiot
or incredibly brave.

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Take a guess as to which I'm leaning toward."

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And with that, she grabbed Raylan's arm, turned,
and started again down

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the street.

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They reached the base of the wall and the edge of
the Flats.

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Between the north side of the Flats and the wall
was a wide road that circled the

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whole city. It had no official name, but was
popularly known for

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centuries as the Circle. Between the wall and the
Circle was a wide swath of

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grass that was popular for walks and picnics.

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Couples often walked along the grass, stealing
kisses under the shadow of the

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old and mighty wall.

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Raylan and Maela walked that same path, following
the wall toward the Knight

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Guild tower.

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Every so often, Raylan would glance up, looking at
the knights that manned its battlements.

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The wall was not very high, three stories at most,
but it was wide and solid,

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more than enough to withstand an attack from the
outlanders.

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There were many more knights manning the wall this
close to their guild than over near the

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warehouse district, where Rafe had tossed the
tomato that started this whole

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mess.

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Rafe. Raylan worried about his friend.

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He wondered if he had been beaten severely and how
he was holding up in the prison.

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He hoped his friend wasn't regretting joining
Raylan in his adventure as the

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Guildmaster thief, an adventure that now seemed
much bigger and far-reaching

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than he had remotely considered. He already
trusted and respected Allard,

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but it would be valuable having a trusted friend
with him.

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Maela paused at the base of the wall, looking
across the whole area.

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She quickly took Raylan's hand in hers, weaving
her fingers in his.

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As if this wasn't shocking enough, Maela then
leaned against Raylan and placed her

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cheek against his shoulder. Raylan glanced down at
her, stunned.

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She looked up at him, smiled, and started to walk
along the trail at the base of the wall,

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holding his hand. "We are being followed, aren't
we?" Raylan whispered.

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"Yes. Keep your head down. We are heading to the
Knight Guild kitchens.

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Just act normal. Hopefully they'll just leave."

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A moment later, Maela tugged on Raylan's hand, and
as he turned, she

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grabbed the front of his cloak, pulled him down
and kissed him on the

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lips.Before he could even think of what was
happening, Maela put her arms

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around him and kissed him long and passionately.

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Raelan, who had kissed maybe four girls in his
life,

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didn't know what was happening, but the softness
of Maela's lips and the

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passion behind them made him suddenly think that
there was something between the two of them.

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As he put his arms around Maela and leaned
forward, a hand tugged on his arm.

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"That's enough, you two."

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Maela pulled away and glanced at the knight
protector standing next to them.

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"The sun's not even down yet. You two need to
learn to control yourselves."

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The knight was frowning and waving a finger.

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A second knight was behind him and looked like he
could barely contain himself from

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laughing.

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"We were just heading to the tower kitchens and
stopped to admire the wall,"

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Maela replied, a mischievous smile on her face.

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"Well, best to do your admiring in private," the
second knight said.

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The first knight looked around. "Have you two seen
a young man?

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He may have fled to the flats. We noticed you came
from there and were wondering if you had seen him.

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He's about your height, thin, brown hair.

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We have reason to believe that he will be in
soiled clothing or smell bad."

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Raelan kept his face down, hoping the shade from
his hat helped hide any defining features

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of his face. "I'm afraid I've been distracted,"
Raelan replied,

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looking down at Maela, who smiled at him.

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"But if I see someone that fits that description,
I'll find the nearest protector."

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"Is he dangerous?" Maela interjected.

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"Yes, he is. Very."

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Maela wrapped her arms around Raelan's arm.

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"We should hurry to the kitchens, love.

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I don't want to be outside with a violent criminal
on the loose."

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"What is your business with the guild kitchens?"
asked the second knight.

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Maela was about to say something, but Raelan
interrupted her.

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"I'm a craftsman who specializes in ovens and
other kitchen equipment.

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I was requested for emergency repairs."

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The knight stared at him for a moment, and then
nodded.

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"Our stomachs thank you, Craftsman." He smiled,
but then peered at Maela.

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"But you shouldn't let your distractions keep you
from your work.

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That's irresponsible." "I understand, Knight
Protector.

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I apologize."

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The knight nodded, and then wandered off with his
partner.

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Maela and Raelan continued toward the knight
tower.

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After they put some distance between them and the
knights, Raelan took some deep

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breaths.

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Maela let go of Raelan's hand, but not before
squeezing it first.

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"That was well done, Guildmaster."

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"Thank you."

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Raelan looked at Maela. "You saw them approaching
us?"

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"Yes. They were following us from the flats, and
when we lost our escort, I

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knew I had to distract them."

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"So you kissed me."

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"I know. The things I do for the guild.

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Luckily, the trip through the sewers prepared me."

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Raelan gritted his teeth.

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Maela must have noticed that her comment hurt his
feelings because she lightly punched him in the

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arm.

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"I'm kidding."

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When Raelan didn't say anything, Maela stopped.

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He took a few steps before noticing she wasn't
there.

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He turned and walked back.

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"Look."

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Maela held up a finger and Raelan stopped.

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"It was nice, okay? You have soft lips, but don't
think that I'm all in love

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with you or anything. You're my guildmaster, and
I'm your loyal guild member.

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Got it?"

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"Understood," Raelan replied.

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She said it was nice.

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Raelan suppressed a smile as the two of them
approached the knight guild tower.

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(instrumental music plays)