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The Thieves Guild

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by Jake Kerr.

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(instrumental music plays) Episode 26:

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A Guild Welcome.

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Raylan hadn't slept in such a comfortable bed
since he lived in his parents' house

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in the Upper Triangle. Trendle took him to an inn
that overlooked the

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large square, which Raylan learned was called
Founder's Square

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and had once been a center of Old Ness before the
populace crossed the river to

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relocate to its current location.

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As the Guildmaster thief, Raylan was treated like
royalty.

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"Is this what Larsen feels like?" Raylan thought,
smiling

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at the ongoing irony.

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Larsen had intended to punish him in the most
humiliating way possible, and

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yet here he was, the de facto ruler over an entire
half of the walled city.

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There was a knock at the door, and Raylan quickly
pulled on his clothes, which were dusty and

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dirty but all he had. "Come in."

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It was Trendle who entered carrying a package of
some sort.

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Raylan stood up and asked, "What word on Allard
and Rafe?"

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He had been nervous for news since Trendle and a
few others had escorted him to the

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inn, but no one had said anything and Raylan had
given up asking about them

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the night before. "Good news, Guildmaster.

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They await you downstairs."

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Raylan leapt to his feet. "Downstairs?" Raylan
went to grab his

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shoes. "I knew that they would get away."

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Trendle held out the package in his arms. "No need
for those shoes, Guildmaster.

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I brought you new clothes."

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Pausing, Raylan reached out and took the package.
"Of course.

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I shall change and be right down."

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The garments were clean and the deep black of the
Thieves Guild.

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Raylan pulled them on and looked at himself in a
mirror.

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They were nice and respectable but hardly the
quality of the Guildmaster robes that

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Allard had brought him when he was first named
Guildmaster.

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Still, as he slid into the black, it felt natural
and right.

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The clothes fit, but more importantly they fit his
new life, his new

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friends, and his new position.

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He walked down the steps, and as he reached the
bottom step to see a room full of people,

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a blur of black ran up to him and gave him a big
hug.

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"You rescued me," Rafe said, slapping Raylan on
the back.

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Laughing, Raylan replied, "No, you saved me and
the whole city by creating the distraction that

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delayed the Guildmaster banquet."

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Raylan squeezed Rafe's shoulder. "I don't know
what you did, but it was amazing."

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The smile on Rafe's face lit up the room.

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"Who knew that your goading me into trouble would
pay off someday?"

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The smile never left Raylan's face as he looked
around the room.

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"Allard, you're a welcome sight."

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Raylan strode over and shook his deputy's hand.

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"An honor, sir." "Nonsense. And what is this'sir'
stuff?

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You can call me Raylan." Allard frowned and shook
his head slightly.

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Raylan understood the message and replied, "Make
that Guildmaster Raylan." Allard

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showed a hint of a smile. "Thank you for freeing
me, sir."

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Raylan looked around. The room was full of people,
all wearing black.

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He saw Trendle to the side, and there were a few
faces that he recognized from his

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escape over the Great Bridge, but they were pretty
much all strangers.

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They were also all his guild members. Raylan stood
up straight.

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"We never leave our own behind. Never." A murmur
of approval accompanied

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nodding heads.

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I don't know. You left us behind riding a horse
home while I was breaking out Allard and

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Rafe.

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There were some gasps and angry mumbles as Maela
walked over, a

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huge smile on her face.

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Raylan wasn't quite sure how to respond when Maela
added...

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"Good thing that was all part of the plan and you
didn't ruin it."

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Captain, respect.

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Allard's deep voice filled the room.

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"No, Allard, it's fine." Raylan looked at Maela
and couldn't help but

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smile. She was covered in dirt and looked
exhausted, but the rare smile on her

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face transcended everything. She looked beautiful.

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"It was a truly great plan, using the populace to
overwhelm the knights and guards.

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Genius. Thank you, Maela."

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"I had to make it so simple that even you couldn't
screw it up."

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Raylan rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a
smile, even as Allard

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growled. "That's enough, Maela."

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She held up her hands.

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"I'm glad you're safe, Guildmaster."

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She then caught Raylan's eyes and bowed her head
slightly.

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It was a small thing, but it was so sincere and
unexpected that Raylan didn't quite

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know how to respond.

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"We need rest and a change of clothes," Allard
said.

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"Guildmaster, let us meet in the back room in a
few hours to discuss next

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steps. We won a very small battle in getting you
to safety, but I fear that

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there are many more challenges that await us.

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But first, we all need a hot bath and rest."

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"Of course, Allard." Raylan slapped Rafe on the
back as he passed

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by and started up the staircase. After they passed
out of sight at the top of the

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stairs, Raylan turned back to the room full of
people. "Thank you all.

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You saved my life." There was an almost awkward
silence, and Raylan

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didn't know what else to say when an old man at
the front walked up, whispered,

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"Guildmaster," and patted Raylan on the shoulder.

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As he turned to leave, a woman came up and shook
his hand.

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She bowed her head slightly and said,
"Guildmaster."

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And to Raylan's shock, the crowd pressed forward.

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Men and women in black approached him, shook his
hand, or patted him on the back.

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They all smiled and said one word, "Guildmaster."

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The affection and respect was overwhelming.

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As the last person came up and shook his hand,
Raylan took a deep breath.

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"All these people are counting on me." The
enormity of it made him grab the back of a

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chair for balance. Sitting down, Raylan wondered
if he would be able to handle the

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responsibility and the challenges.

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He had never had anyone count on him, let alone
men, women, and children.

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Heck, his entire life was marked by him letting
others down, his parents, his

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brother, his friends. Even Rafe, his best friend,
was more likely to face a

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beating than be protected from one, thanks to
Raylan.

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Raylan closed his eyes and clenched his fists.

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"I am the Guildmaster thief. I am not the boy I
was.

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I'm the leader they need me to be."

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Raylan almost believed it.

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(instrumental music plays)