The Thieves Guild
by Jake Kerr.
Episode 25:
An Expensive Boat.
Mailer felt the wagon lurch to a halt.
She couldn't see anything, but as the noise from the wagon wheels hitting the cobblestones
ceased, she could hear the distant murmur of voices and occasionally a
shout.
The plan was for them to make it to the docks near the Golden Triangle, where they
would find a boat to take them across the river.
A landing on the Old Quarter side of the river was against the law.
As a result, the three of them had to somehow convince the captain to make the trip.
Mailer assumed that meant violence of some sort.
The wagon started moving again. The jolts of the cobblestones and the clattering of the
wagon wheels were the only company as Mailer, Allard, and Rafe crouched
under bolts of material.
The three of them were dressed in Harvest Guild clothing, with Allard in a large robe with a
hood that covered his distinctive bald head and scarred face.
With a bump, the wagon stopped again.
A few moments later, Deale whipped back the canvas and slid some of the material
aside. The diffused glow of sunset filled their hiding spot.
"Quickly, we must not waste time," Allard said, climbing out of the wagon.
Deale grabbed Allard's forearm. "Is this the best plan, deputy?
As we passed, the bridge looked like it was in disarray.
Maybe the chaos would be protection enough."
Allard shook his head. "No. We would need to have hundreds to prevent our capture."
He smiled. "But hearing of the chaos there makes me feel like our guild master has made it across."
And he turned to Mailer. "Your plan was well-conceived."
Mailer couldn't suppress her smile.
She had practically laughed when she drew up the plan to get Allard and Rafe out of the Knight
Prison and across the bridge. It was so absurd, she assumed they'd all end up
in irons.
Yet it turned out to be a success.
Of course, it wasn't yet a total success, but getting the guild master to safety was the
most important thing, and she had presumably done that.
"Thank you again, Deale."
Allard started down a path from the road to some docks that stood across the North
Fork from the Golden Triangle.
Mailer stared across the small river that fed the Great River.
The lush colors and trees of the Golden Triangle filled her vision.
The Golden Triangle was a gorgeous park that stood at the spot where the North Fork
met the Great River.
You had to cross Trader's Bridge and enter the wealthy Upper Triangle to get to the
beautiful park, and while every citizen of Ness was presumably welcome to
do so, the reality was that anyone that didn't live in the Upper Triangle
was shadowed and harassed by a special contingent of Knight Protectors,
who cleared out the riffraff.
Mailer hated those that lived in the Upper Triangle.
Her goal was to loot all their money and give it to those in the Old Quarter.
Their short walk ended amidst mostly empty docks.
There was one boat that was still moored there, and its captain appeared to be working on
cleaning a spare sail. "Hail, merchant."
Allard strode forward. "The three of us need to get to the Silo District.
Are you for hire?"
The man looked at Allard, who towered over him and whose face was lost in the shadow of his
hood. "Tough trip upstream with a weak wind." "We'll make it worth your while."
Allard nodded to Mailer, who pulled out a coin purse that was clearly bulging with
funds. "We truly could use your help, friend." The merchant nodded.
"Five gilders."
Mailer almost gasped. It was the price of 20 normal trips.
The captain was clearly trying to rob them based on their dire need.
Mailer wanted to throttle the man, but Allard replied, "Done." "Paid
up front." "Mailer, pay our kind friend," Allard replied.
Mailer resisted the temptation to pay with violence and removed five gilders from the
coin purse.
She handed them to the man, whose grin was as wide as the Great River.
"You must really need to get to the silos," the man said, waving the
three of them onto the boat.
As the boat set off and moved downstream the short distance to the Great River,
Mailer took in the view. It was a majestic spot to be on the
river. The Great River wasn't nearly as wide immediately north of the spot they were
at, but the North Fork and the Old Fork both emptied into the river around the
same location, and that widened the Great River to its huge width for
the rest of its course through Ness.
They entered the Great River and were about a third of the way across and turning to
move upstream when Allard spoke up. "Captain, I'm afraid
there has been a change in plans."
The captain looked back from working the sails and frowned.
"I'm not going to take you to the mines or the outer fields, if that's what you have in mind.
You should feel lucky I am taking you to the silos.
This is not a passenger ship."
The disdain and lack of respect in the captain's voice made Mailer clench her teeth.
"Oh, my friend, the new plan is much easier.
Simply drop us off over there."
Allard pointed to the other side of the river, which was a barren and rocky beach that led
to the ash fields.
The fields were so depressing and sad that they were hidden from view behind a tall stone
wall. "I'm not going to take you to the ash fields.
Certainly, you know it is against the law. In fact, I'm taking you back right now.
Your request means you are cretins and up to no good."
Allard laughed. "And you will, of course, keep our five gilders to teach us a
lesson."
The captain didn't say anything. "Mailer, convince the captain."
Mailer smiled as she slid her dagger out of its sheath.
(instrumental music)