The Thieves Guild
by Jake Kerr.
Episode 21:
Picking Up the Pieces.
Larson sat at his desk and watched Sax pace back and forth.
Sax's deputy guild master, John, stood at attention near the door.
John was a giant of a man who towered over everyone and wielded a broadsword that struck fear in
anyone who was unfortunate to see it drawn on them.
He stared at Larson, but Larson ignored him.
Karch stood impassively beside Larson's desk.
"Sax, will you stop your infernal pacing and sit down?"
Larson ran his hand through his hair. He was surrounded by nervous incompetence.
Sax looked at Larson, anger filling his face, before he shook his head and
sat down. "It's that wretched brother of yours, Larson.
You told us you had him under control.
You said this was the perfect way to solve two of our problems when, in fact, it has
only amplified them both." Larson took a deep breath and clenched his fists
under his desk. "He is a child, Sax, and if I wasn't surrounded by idiots,
we wouldn't have these problems.
For example, am I hearing you correctly that my wretched brother broke into the night tower, set free
two prisoners in special confinement, and then escaped out the front door?" "He had
help, that much is clear,"
Sax replied, the confidence in his voice suddenly gone. "He had help?
Was his help a mysterious cadre of thieves in black?
Did he perchance have an assassin clear his way with well-placed lethal attacks?"
Larson had already been briefed and knew the answer.
His vile brother had actually freed his friend and the deputy guild master
with just a few of his miscreant friends.
As he watched Sax squirm, Larson was almost glad that Raylan had escaped.
The discomfort and pure hatred on Sax's face was priceless.
"He had the help of friends.
We believe a girl and perhaps a few others." "A girl?" Larson leaned
forward. "Let me get this straight, Sax.
My brother broke into your own guild prison, somehow snuck past all of your guards, freed a dangerous
former member of your guild, a violent criminal who murdered my guild members in my own tower,
and then escaped, all thanks to the help of his girlfriend?" "Enough."
Sax's face was red and spittle flew out of his mouth.
"Good, I have him outraged," thought Larson.
"Raylan and Allard will die."
Sax slammed his fist on Larson's desk (slamming sound) , shaking the
inkwell and papers. "He may have fled into the wretched quarter, but I will find him
if I have to have my knights go through every single hovel and hut."
Sax looked up and stared into Larson's face.
Larson presented the epitome of calm.
Sax seemed unnerved by it and changed the subject.
"I presume you have a plan in place while I'm hunting down your brother.
The disaster you allowed to happen at the Founder's Day banquet needs to be undone."
It was Larson's turn to clench his teeth.
"That was Karch's fault, not mine," Larson thought.
"Yes, Sax, I have a plan. It will extricate ourselves from this unfortunate circumstance.
In fact,
it is a plan that will allow you to ignore my brother and save the effort of your troops.
Let Raylan rot in the ash fields and among the poor.
That is a punishment I believe he deserves."
Peering at Larson, Sax said, "This isn't a soft-hearted attempt to save your
brother, is it, Larson?" Larson rolled his eyes.
"I'm doing you a favor, Sax. Your men are too frightened to patrol the wretched
quarter as it is, and you intend to make me believe you can send them in to find a single
boy?"
Sax replied through clenched teeth, "Just tell me you aren't too attached to your brother."
"Do you forget that it was me who sent my own guardsmen down to kill him?
He would be dead already if Allard had not been awaken in armor."
Sax relaxed. "Very well. I will leave the conniving plans to you if you remember
to leave the death to me.
I just hope your plan is good."
Larson leaned back in his office chair.
"It is a simple plan, and those are the most likely to succeed.
No more games cooked up by my deputy," Larson replied.
"This will be short, sharp, and successful." Sax stood up.
"I hope so, Larson."
(instrumental music plays)