1
00:00:01,620 --> 00:00:02,900
The Thieves Guild

2
00:00:04,380 --> 00:00:05,759
by Jake Kerr.

3
00:00:09,679 --> 00:00:11,299
Episode 25:

4
00:00:14,439 --> 00:00:16,020
An Expensive Boat.

5
00:00:24,100 --> 00:00:26,659
Mailer felt the wagon lurch to a halt.

6
00:00:27,279 --> 00:00:31,899
She couldn't see anything, but as the noise from
the wagon wheels hitting the cobblestones

7
00:00:31,939 --> 00:00:36,620
ceased, she could hear the distant murmur of
voices and occasionally a

8
00:00:36,700 --> 00:00:37,279
shout.

9
00:00:38,419 --> 00:00:43,220
The plan was for them to make it to the docks near
the Golden Triangle, where they

10
00:00:43,239 --> 00:00:45,919
would find a boat to take them across the river.

11
00:00:46,939 --> 00:00:50,519
A landing on the Old Quarter side of the river was
against the law.

12
00:00:50,979 --> 00:00:55,859
As a result, the three of them had to somehow
convince the captain to make the trip.

13
00:00:56,539 --> 00:00:59,439
Mailer assumed that meant violence of some sort.

14
00:01:00,559 --> 00:01:05,339
The wagon started moving again. The jolts of the
cobblestones and the clattering of the

15
00:01:05,399 --> 00:01:10,319
wagon wheels were the only company as Mailer,
Allard, and Rafe crouched

16
00:01:10,339 --> 00:01:11,859
under bolts of material.

17
00:01:13,139 --> 00:01:18,079
The three of them were dressed in Harvest Guild
clothing, with Allard in a large robe with a

18
00:01:18,099 --> 00:01:21,579
hood that covered his distinctive bald head and
scarred face.

19
00:01:22,659 --> 00:01:25,059
With a bump, the wagon stopped again.

20
00:01:25,819 --> 00:01:30,480
A few moments later, Deale whipped back the canvas
and slid some of the material

21
00:01:30,599 --> 00:01:35,300
aside. The diffused glow of sunset filled their
hiding spot.

22
00:01:35,300 --> 00:01:39,499
"Quickly, we must not waste time," Allard said,
climbing out of the wagon.

23
00:01:40,119 --> 00:01:43,999
Deale grabbed Allard's forearm. "Is this the best
plan, deputy?

24
00:01:44,259 --> 00:01:47,079
As we passed, the bridge looked like it was in
disarray.

25
00:01:47,679 --> 00:01:49,779
Maybe the chaos would be protection enough."

26
00:01:50,659 --> 00:01:55,300
Allard shook his head. "No. We would need to have
hundreds to prevent our capture."

27
00:01:55,959 --> 00:02:00,839
He smiled. "But hearing of the chaos there makes
me feel like our guild master has made it across."

28
00:02:01,479 --> 00:02:04,499
And he turned to Mailer. "Your plan was
well-conceived."

29
00:02:05,139 --> 00:02:07,139
Mailer couldn't suppress her smile.

30
00:02:07,379 --> 00:02:12,119
She had practically laughed when she drew up the
plan to get Allard and Rafe out of the Knight

31
00:02:12,159 --> 00:02:17,119
Prison and across the bridge. It was so absurd,
she assumed they'd all end up

32
00:02:17,159 --> 00:02:18,099
in irons.

33
00:02:18,959 --> 00:02:20,799
Yet it turned out to be a success.

34
00:02:21,439 --> 00:02:26,399
Of course, it wasn't yet a total success, but
getting the guild master to safety was the

35
00:02:26,439 --> 00:02:30,419
most important thing, and she had presumably done
that.

36
00:02:30,419 --> 00:02:31,979
"Thank you again, Deale."

37
00:02:32,859 --> 00:02:37,599
Allard started down a path from the road to some
docks that stood across the North

38
00:02:37,699 --> 00:02:39,719
Fork from the Golden Triangle.

39
00:02:40,699 --> 00:02:44,299
Mailer stared across the small river that fed the
Great River.

40
00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:49,519
The lush colors and trees of the Golden Triangle
filled her vision.

41
00:02:49,899 --> 00:02:54,779
The Golden Triangle was a gorgeous park that stood
at the spot where the North Fork

42
00:02:54,799 --> 00:02:55,919
met the Great River.

43
00:02:56,799 --> 00:03:01,599
You had to cross Trader's Bridge and enter the
wealthy Upper Triangle to get to the

44
00:03:01,659 --> 00:03:06,579
beautiful park, and while every citizen of Ness
was presumably welcome to

45
00:03:06,599 --> 00:03:11,519
do so, the reality was that anyone that didn't
live in the Upper Triangle

46
00:03:11,899 --> 00:03:16,699
was shadowed and harassed by a special contingent
of Knight Protectors,

47
00:03:16,899 --> 00:03:18,459
who cleared out the riffraff.

48
00:03:19,579 --> 00:03:22,539
Mailer hated those that lived in the Upper
Triangle.

49
00:03:22,719 --> 00:03:27,039
Her goal was to loot all their money and give it
to those in the Old Quarter.

50
00:03:28,559 --> 00:03:31,819
Their short walk ended amidst mostly empty docks.

51
00:03:32,499 --> 00:03:37,319
There was one boat that was still moored there,
and its captain appeared to be working on

52
00:03:37,419 --> 00:03:40,919
cleaning a spare sail. "Hail, merchant."

53
00:03:41,739 --> 00:03:45,819
Allard strode forward. "The three of us need to
get to the Silo District.

54
00:03:45,939 --> 00:03:46,699
Are you for hire?"

55
00:03:47,319 --> 00:03:52,219
The man looked at Allard, who towered over him and
whose face was lost in the shadow of his

56
00:03:52,219 --> 00:03:56,959
hood. "Tough trip upstream with a weak wind."
"We'll make it worth your while."

57
00:03:57,899 --> 00:04:02,379
Allard nodded to Mailer, who pulled out a coin
purse that was clearly bulging with

58
00:04:02,419 --> 00:04:06,439
funds. "We truly could use your help, friend." The
merchant nodded.

59
00:04:06,439 --> 00:04:07,939
"Five gilders."

60
00:04:08,559 --> 00:04:12,879
Mailer almost gasped. It was the price of 20
normal trips.

61
00:04:13,779 --> 00:04:17,879
The captain was clearly trying to rob them based
on their dire need.

62
00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:23,699
Mailer wanted to throttle the man, but Allard
replied, "Done." "Paid

63
00:04:23,739 --> 00:04:28,199
up front." "Mailer, pay our kind friend," Allard
replied.

64
00:04:28,799 --> 00:04:33,619
Mailer resisted the temptation to pay with
violence and removed five gilders from the

65
00:04:33,699 --> 00:04:34,499
coin purse.

66
00:04:35,339 --> 00:04:39,599
She handed them to the man, whose grin was as wide
as the Great River.

67
00:04:39,599 --> 00:04:44,339
"You must really need to get to the silos," the
man said, waving the

68
00:04:44,419 --> 00:04:45,779
three of them onto the boat.

69
00:04:47,259 --> 00:04:52,239
As the boat set off and moved downstream the short
distance to the Great River,

70
00:04:52,819 --> 00:04:57,779
Mailer took in the view. It was a majestic spot to
be on the

71
00:04:57,859 --> 00:05:02,799
river. The Great River wasn't nearly as wide
immediately north of the spot they were

72
00:05:02,819 --> 00:05:07,739
at, but the North Fork and the Old Fork both
emptied into the river around the

73
00:05:07,819 --> 00:05:12,779
same location, and that widened the Great River to
its huge width for

74
00:05:12,799 --> 00:05:15,319
the rest of its course through Ness.

75
00:05:16,879 --> 00:05:21,739
They entered the Great River and were about a
third of the way across and turning to

76
00:05:21,779 --> 00:05:26,719
move upstream when Allard spoke up. "Captain, I'm
afraid

77
00:05:26,719 --> 00:05:28,419
there has been a change in plans."

78
00:05:29,299 --> 00:05:32,739
The captain looked back from working the sails and
frowned.

79
00:05:32,739 --> 00:05:37,079
"I'm not going to take you to the mines or the
outer fields, if that's what you have in mind.

80
00:05:37,899 --> 00:05:40,159
You should feel lucky I am taking you to the
silos.

81
00:05:40,719 --> 00:05:42,219
This is not a passenger ship."

82
00:05:43,639 --> 00:05:48,339
The disdain and lack of respect in the captain's
voice made Mailer clench her teeth.

83
00:05:48,339 --> 00:05:51,759
"Oh, my friend, the new plan is much easier.

84
00:05:52,419 --> 00:05:53,919
Simply drop us off over there."

85
00:05:54,739 --> 00:05:59,719
Allard pointed to the other side of the river,
which was a barren and rocky beach that led

86
00:05:59,739 --> 00:06:00,919
to the ash fields.

87
00:06:01,939 --> 00:06:06,899
The fields were so depressing and sad that they
were hidden from view behind a tall stone

88
00:06:06,979 --> 00:06:10,139
wall. "I'm not going to take you to the ash
fields.

89
00:06:10,459 --> 00:06:14,219
Certainly, you know it is against the law. In
fact, I'm taking you back right now.

90
00:06:14,719 --> 00:06:17,219
Your request means you are cretins and up to no
good."

91
00:06:17,959 --> 00:06:22,579
Allard laughed. "And you will, of course, keep our
five gilders to teach us a

92
00:06:22,619 --> 00:06:22,999
lesson."

93
00:06:23,659 --> 00:06:27,879
The captain didn't say anything. "Mailer, convince
the captain."

94
00:06:28,999 --> 00:06:31,879
Mailer smiled as she slid her dagger out of its
sheath.

95
00:06:32,759 --> 00:07:03,859
(instrumental music)