1
00:00:00,099 --> 00:00:02,900
(suspenseful music plays) The Thieves Guild

2
00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:05,759
by Jake Kerr.

3
00:00:10,159 --> 00:00:11,679
Episode thirty-one:

4
00:00:14,299 --> 00:00:14,839
Polo.

5
00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:26,779
Polo walked across the roof of Harvest House.

6
00:00:27,180 --> 00:00:30,139
It was the only location that was truly his own.

7
00:00:30,679 --> 00:00:35,619
His deputy, two trusted guards, and the gardener
were the only ones allowed

8
00:00:35,619 --> 00:00:40,560
to climb the private staircase from his sleeping
quarters to what was a lush garden of

9
00:00:40,639 --> 00:00:43,600
flowers, plants, beehives, and small trees.

10
00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,119
He stopped and sniffed a particularly fragrant
flower.

11
00:00:47,419 --> 00:00:52,159
It had been a gift from some outlander to his
predecessor, and was the only one of its

12
00:00:52,219 --> 00:00:53,860
kind in all of Ness.

13
00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:55,580
One of a kind.

14
00:00:56,459 --> 00:01:01,179
For some reason, the thought made Polo think of
Lassen's younger brother, Raillen,

15
00:01:01,539 --> 00:01:04,179
the boy that they had made guild master thief.

16
00:01:04,939 --> 00:01:09,879
Polo had no love for him, as he had been a source
of mischief to his guild for quite some

17
00:01:09,879 --> 00:01:14,639
time, and yet Polo hoped that he had found a safe
haven

18
00:01:14,999 --> 00:01:16,539
in the Wretched Quarter.

19
00:01:17,239 --> 00:01:22,179
The foolish boy had no idea how much he had put
his life in danger in

20
00:01:22,199 --> 00:01:26,399
what was clearly nothing more than yet another
attempt to

21
00:01:26,539 --> 00:01:28,519
ridicule his older brother.

22
00:01:29,559 --> 00:01:34,479
That Raillen had saved Ness from Lassen
effectively becoming emperor was a pleasant

23
00:01:34,499 --> 00:01:39,199
accident that took Polo from what was turning into
a deep depression to a

24
00:01:39,199 --> 00:01:41,059
renewed sense of fortitude.

25
00:01:41,679 --> 00:01:46,119
The trouble was that with Raillen now nothing more
than a boy hiding in the Wretched

26
00:01:46,179 --> 00:01:50,119
Quarter, the entire weight of the city was on
Polo's shoulders.

27
00:01:51,079 --> 00:01:56,059
Somehow Lassen had convinced Orion that making
Lassen emperor was a good idea,

28
00:01:56,679 --> 00:02:00,559
or maybe Orion was as stupid as Saxe. It didn't
matter.

29
00:02:00,979 --> 00:02:03,899
Polo had to somehow talk some sense into them.

30
00:02:04,239 --> 00:02:07,099
He simply couldn't count on another miracle from
Raillen.

31
00:02:07,859 --> 00:02:12,259
The boy was a miscreant, and probably already
doing no more than

32
00:02:12,319 --> 00:02:15,879
harassing the White Guard on the other side of the
river.

33
00:02:16,799 --> 00:02:21,319
The good news was that Lassen couldn't install a
guild master thief puppet

34
00:02:21,619 --> 00:02:23,959
until he proved Raillen was dead.

35
00:02:24,759 --> 00:02:28,839
The bad news was that Polo didn't expect that to
take long.

36
00:02:29,999 --> 00:02:34,079
In the meantime, Polo had to avoid assassination
himself.

37
00:02:34,979 --> 00:02:35,919
Harvest House.

38
00:02:36,799 --> 00:02:41,579
Things look good the next morning. Maela had
confirmed that Polo was in Harvest House.

39
00:02:41,979 --> 00:02:46,939
Of course, he was most likely in his residence on
the third floor, which was its own challenge,

40
00:02:47,259 --> 00:02:51,219
but she felt confident that she could get to the
second floor without trouble.

41
00:02:52,359 --> 00:02:56,799
Maela had a very simple goal: to notify Polo of
the

42
00:02:56,939 --> 00:03:01,559
outlander assassination theory, and the political
ramifications.

43
00:03:02,159 --> 00:03:05,099
It would take no more than a few sentences.

44
00:03:05,099 --> 00:03:09,939
"How could something so simple be so complicated?"
she

45
00:03:09,959 --> 00:03:12,519
thought as she approached the meeting place with
Tim.

46
00:03:13,159 --> 00:03:16,839
The thieves had tried every possible way to get a
message to Polo.

47
00:03:17,359 --> 00:03:20,679
Messages passed to trusted people who knew Polo.

48
00:03:21,279 --> 00:03:24,199
Messages stored in packages delivered to him.

49
00:03:24,519 --> 00:03:27,319
That was part of why this mission was so
difficult.

50
00:03:27,739 --> 00:03:32,139
It was possible that Polo had received the
messages, but with the threat of

51
00:03:32,159 --> 00:03:36,799
assassination clear enough that he had already
retreated into Harvest House.

52
00:03:37,159 --> 00:03:41,999
Would he understand the bigger context of what was
happening by using an outlander?

53
00:03:42,159 --> 00:03:46,979
Uh, that even an unsuccessful assassination
attempt could be a win for Lassen if it was

54
00:03:47,299 --> 00:03:52,179
publicized as being by an outlander, and he
rallied the people to his side in

55
00:03:52,199 --> 00:03:57,079
the name of the defense of Ness. The captains had
discussed the likelihood

56
00:03:57,079 --> 00:04:02,019
that Polo was savvy enough to understand the
consequences of everything, but in the

57
00:04:02,119 --> 00:04:06,819
end, it was decided that assuming anything was too
much of a risk at that point.

58
00:04:07,679 --> 00:04:12,599
Maela had to not just warn Polo, but explain to
him that he had to keep the role

59
00:04:12,619 --> 00:04:14,159
of the outlanders quiet.

60
00:04:14,159 --> 00:04:17,419
Tim, you look very handsome with your armor on.

61
00:04:18,199 --> 00:04:21,899
Maela walked up to the older guard. He smiled and
bowed.

62
00:04:22,559 --> 00:04:24,679
Thank you, Maela. I'm so glad you came.

63
00:04:25,179 --> 00:04:28,079
Visiting Harvest House for the first time will be
something special.

64
00:04:28,079 --> 00:04:30,339
I am looking forward to it.

65
00:04:31,019 --> 00:04:32,159
She grabbed his elbow.

66
00:04:32,719 --> 00:04:34,339
I am yours for the whole day.

67
00:04:34,939 --> 00:04:39,579
Tim could not have looked more pleased as he held
out his elbow, and walked toward Harvest

68
00:04:39,619 --> 00:04:39,999
House.

69
00:04:40,039 --> 00:04:44,819
I have a friend covering for me, but
unfortunately, it will only be

70
00:04:44,859 --> 00:04:47,019
through lunch, so we don't have all day.

71
00:04:47,919 --> 00:04:49,239
Maybe you can extend your stay?"

72
00:04:49,979 --> 00:04:52,799
Tim asked, expectation filling his voice.

73
00:04:52,879 --> 00:04:55,659
Well, we'll just have to see how things go, won't
we?

74
00:04:56,499 --> 00:05:00,119
Maela squeezed Tim's elbow and smiled at him.

75
00:05:00,119 --> 00:05:04,779
"This is going to be easier than I thought." Maela
smiled at her good

76
00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:05,379
fortune.

77
00:05:06,859 --> 00:05:10,559
Maela had to admit, Harvest House was truly
beautiful.

78
00:05:11,019 --> 00:05:15,919
She had been in all of the guild towers, and there
was a uniformity in their design that

79
00:05:15,959 --> 00:05:17,479
was somewhat sterile.

80
00:05:18,159 --> 00:05:22,839
They were beautiful in their own way, of course,
but ultimately, the marble and sculpture and

81
00:05:22,879 --> 00:05:27,839
engravings missed the vibrancy of the color and
life that she was witnessing in

82
00:05:27,979 --> 00:05:29,019
Harvest House.

83
00:05:29,919 --> 00:05:34,599
The entry was not through an imposing door and
cavernous entryway, but rather

84
00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:39,499
through an iron gate that opened to a garden of
green shrubs that were pruned into the

85
00:05:39,579 --> 00:05:40,839
shapes of animals.

86
00:05:41,559 --> 00:05:46,439
The courtyard was surrounded by an imposing wall,
but it wasn't even noticeable amongst

87
00:05:46,479 --> 00:05:47,639
the elaborate shrubs.

88
00:05:48,299 --> 00:05:52,499
Maela's trained eye not only noticed the wall, but
that the shrubbery hid

89
00:05:52,619 --> 00:05:56,419
alcoves with soldiers or doors to the stone wall
behind them.

90
00:05:56,919 --> 00:06:01,339
Beyond the welcoming courtyard, the entrance to
the house itself was behind an

91
00:06:01,339 --> 00:06:05,989
imposing door.... but it did not seem to be made
of iron or reinforced

92
00:06:06,049 --> 00:06:09,209
wood. It was just a rough bark-like material.

93
00:06:09,769 --> 00:06:14,669
Mailer was certain that despite it being wood, it
was most likely as solid as

94
00:06:14,709 --> 00:06:16,729
the doors to the other guild towers.

95
00:06:17,669 --> 00:06:20,969
Tim had a big smile as he walked them into Harvest
House proper.

96
00:06:21,269 --> 00:06:26,069
The floor appeared at first to be distressed
granite or marble, but as she

97
00:06:26,089 --> 00:06:29,849
walked around, Mailer realized it was a finely
packed dirt.

98
00:06:30,349 --> 00:06:33,569
The walls eschewed marble or granite for wood
paneling.

99
00:06:34,109 --> 00:06:38,049
The variety of the wood was combined in a way that
was mesmerizing.

100
00:06:38,449 --> 00:06:40,750
It wasn't just one wall of dark brown wood.

101
00:06:41,090 --> 00:06:45,970
It was a wall of designs of multiple kinds of wood
and colors, all of which

102
00:06:46,009 --> 00:06:49,330
looked natural and beautiful in a calming, natural
way.

103
00:06:49,969 --> 00:06:53,869
Flowers were everywhere, conveying a sense of joy
and color.

104
00:06:53,869 --> 00:06:58,309
"This is amazing," Mailer said, her voice an awed
whisper.

105
00:06:58,949 --> 00:07:01,250
Tim smiled and replied, "This is nothing.

106
00:07:02,409 --> 00:07:07,129
Let's go to the Guildhall." Mailer stopped,
continuing to play her part with an

107
00:07:07,170 --> 00:07:08,429
instinctive precision.

108
00:07:08,429 --> 00:07:12,109
"That's on the second floor. You won't get in
trouble, will you?"

109
00:07:12,109 --> 00:07:12,890
"No.

110
00:07:13,729 --> 00:07:14,890
Malcor knows you're my guest."

111
00:07:15,769 --> 00:07:19,010
They walked toward a large wooden staircase
leading up.

112
00:07:19,369 --> 00:07:23,849
There was a coiled rope across it with three men
in full armor standing guard.

113
00:07:24,289 --> 00:07:27,049
As they approached, one of the men raised his arm.

114
00:07:27,049 --> 00:07:29,529
"Tim, you were right. She is pretty."

115
00:07:30,250 --> 00:07:34,830
Mailer felt a little revulsion at being talked
about ahead of time as some kind of

116
00:07:34,909 --> 00:07:35,429
trophy,

117
00:07:36,169 --> 00:07:37,670
but she hid it by smiling.

118
00:07:38,509 --> 00:07:41,049
Tim didn't seem to think twice about the comment.

119
00:07:41,889 --> 00:07:46,869
They stopped in front of the guards. The one who
spoke looked casual, but the other two stood

120
00:07:46,889 --> 00:07:47,709
at attention.

121
00:07:47,709 --> 00:07:49,969
"Malcor, this is Mailer.

122
00:07:50,709 --> 00:07:52,770
She's from the mines and has never seen the
Guildhall."

123
00:07:52,770 --> 00:07:55,789
Malcor looked Mailer up and down.

124
00:07:55,789 --> 00:08:00,189
"Why, if there is anything that would make the
Guildhall look more beautiful, it would be your

125
00:08:00,309 --> 00:08:00,869
presence."

126
00:08:00,869 --> 00:08:02,769
He bowed slightly.

127
00:08:02,769 --> 00:08:04,469
"Why, thank you, sir,"

128
00:08:05,089 --> 00:08:06,069
Mailer replied.

129
00:08:06,589 --> 00:08:09,449
Turning back to the other guards, Malcor barked at
them.

130
00:08:09,449 --> 00:08:12,030
"Make room for Tim and his girlfriend."

131
00:08:12,589 --> 00:08:17,389
Girlfriend? Mailer hadn't spent much time in
social circumstances,

132
00:08:17,709 --> 00:08:22,229
but she was pretty sure that just agreeing to a
lunch and a tour of a

133
00:08:22,350 --> 00:08:25,609
Guildhall was not evidence of being a girlfriend.

134
00:08:26,270 --> 00:08:31,190
The more she faked dating someone, the more she
was sure she would never want to do it

135
00:08:31,209 --> 00:08:32,270
in real life.

136
00:08:33,169 --> 00:08:37,610
Still, Mailer was pleased with how well she was
playing her part as a spy.

137
00:08:37,849 --> 00:08:41,610
Tim was eating out of her hand, and that was the
important thing.

138
00:08:42,149 --> 00:08:44,169
She was on her way up to see Polo.

139
00:08:44,169 --> 00:08:49,069
"The Guildhall is just beyond the staircase
landing," Tim explained as they climbed

140
00:08:49,069 --> 00:08:52,229
the stairs. "To the left and right are hallways
with offices.

141
00:08:52,809 --> 00:08:55,110
There are a lot of entrances to the hall from
those passages."

142
00:08:55,110 --> 00:08:59,930
His voice was so full of pride, and the smile on
his face was so

143
00:08:59,950 --> 00:09:03,729
wide that Mailer thought that Tim looked almost
handsome.

144
00:09:03,729 --> 00:09:06,729
"You'll know why I mention it when we enter the
hall."

145
00:09:07,349 --> 00:09:11,189
Tim didn't say anything else as they reached the
second floor landing.

146
00:09:11,549 --> 00:09:14,729
To the left, the staircase climbed up to the third
floor.

147
00:09:15,269 --> 00:09:18,109
There were another three guards in front of the
steps.

148
00:09:19,029 --> 00:09:23,969
Directly in front of her were two large wooden
doors that looked like they were hewn

149
00:09:24,009 --> 00:09:28,709
from a single massive tree. There were tendrils of
vines or some other

150
00:09:28,809 --> 00:09:33,409
plant embedded in the doors. To the left and right
were smaller doors.

151
00:09:33,909 --> 00:09:37,469
Mailer assumed these led to the aforementioned
office hallways.

152
00:09:38,269 --> 00:09:40,249
As below, flowers were everywhere.

153
00:09:40,249 --> 00:09:44,909
"Polo is in his private quarters today, so you can
spend as much time as you want looking

154
00:09:44,949 --> 00:09:45,449
around.

155
00:09:46,189 --> 00:09:47,029
It will be worth it."

156
00:09:47,029 --> 00:09:51,909
"Damn it," Mailer thought. She had held out hope
that Polo would be

157
00:09:51,909 --> 00:09:54,929
in the Guildhall or in an office on the current
floor.

158
00:09:55,389 --> 00:10:00,029
Her job had just become much more difficult. She
had to get to the third floor somehow.

159
00:10:00,029 --> 00:10:04,909
Getting past the three knights wouldn't be too
hard, but she was sure that there

160
00:10:04,929 --> 00:10:09,729
would be many more like them waiting for her on
the third floor if she

161
00:10:09,749 --> 00:10:11,669
tried to fight her way through.

162
00:10:12,329 --> 00:10:16,789
She decided to see if there were other ways up as
they walked through the

163
00:10:16,869 --> 00:10:17,629
Guildhall.

164
00:10:17,629 --> 00:10:18,609
"Wait,

165
00:10:19,729 --> 00:10:21,069
are these doors alive?"

166
00:10:21,709 --> 00:10:23,249
Mailer couldn't believe it.

167
00:10:23,989 --> 00:10:28,929
What she thought were vines were actually branches
and twigs growing

168
00:10:29,009 --> 00:10:31,729
from the doors that had green leaves on them.

169
00:10:31,729 --> 00:10:33,549
"Yes. Amazing, isn't it?"

170
00:10:34,389 --> 00:10:39,189
Tim walked up and gently stroked one of the
smaller branches, rustling the leaves.

171
00:10:39,189 --> 00:10:44,169
"The doors are as old as the hall, and how they
were made has been lost

172
00:10:44,169 --> 00:10:44,829
to history.

173
00:10:45,949 --> 00:10:50,889
They don't have hinges so much as bendable
branches that allow them to open and close like
true

174
00:10:50,929 --> 00:10:51,469
doors."

175
00:10:51,469 --> 00:10:56,089
"May I?" Mailer asked as she walked toward where
the door

176
00:10:56,129 --> 00:10:59,049
hinges would be and held out her hand.

177
00:10:59,049 --> 00:11:00,829
"Sure. Just be careful."

178
00:11:01,389 --> 00:11:06,269
Running her hand along the hinges made it clear
the doors were actually large

179
00:11:06,389 --> 00:11:08,509
flat branches that interconnected.

180
00:11:08,869 --> 00:11:13,809
They were connected to the frame and conceivably
grew from some internal tree that was

181
00:11:13,829 --> 00:11:15,729
part of the foundation of the building.

182
00:11:16,549 --> 00:11:21,489
She had not only never seen anything like it, she
had never conceived that such a thing could be

183
00:11:21,569 --> 00:11:21,949
done.

184
00:11:21,949 --> 00:11:26,489
"The Harvest Guild is amazing," she said, shaking
her head.

185
00:11:26,489 --> 00:11:28,549
"Our guild is amazing, isn't it?"

186
00:11:28,549 --> 00:11:30,349
"Oh, yes, we are."

187
00:11:31,289 --> 00:11:34,649
Mailer smiled. She wondered if her comment was
suspicious.

188
00:11:35,129 --> 00:11:39,869
She unintentionally was sincere and meant it as an
outsider, but it could have been

189
00:11:39,929 --> 00:11:42,449
perceived as something a guild member would say.

190
00:11:42,449 --> 00:11:44,649
"I have to be more careful."

191
00:11:44,649 --> 00:11:49,449
"As a miner, it is just sometimes difficult to
connect to my brothers and sisters who

192
00:11:49,489 --> 00:11:50,229
grow things."

193
00:11:50,229 --> 00:11:54,869
"We are the most important guild in Ness, and we
are all one," Tim

194
00:11:54,909 --> 00:11:55,629
replied.

195
00:11:55,649 --> 00:12:00,389
It sounded like some kind of guild saying, and
while every

196
00:12:00,469 --> 00:12:05,189
guild in Ness claimed to be the most important
guild in the city, Mailer tended to

197
00:12:05,249 --> 00:12:07,789
think of the Harvest Guild as the most important.

198
00:12:08,069 --> 00:12:12,991
Without food at least, the city would die.Tim
pushed the doors open and

199
00:12:13,092 --> 00:12:17,791
Maela could not believe her eyes. The hall was
enormous, with short lush

200
00:12:17,851 --> 00:12:22,572
grass as flooring. At the far end was an enormous
tree with large

201
00:12:22,671 --> 00:12:25,331
limbs that extended up into the ceiling.

202
00:12:25,331 --> 00:12:26,491
"Wait,

203
00:12:27,211 --> 00:12:32,012
is that actually part of the ceiling?" Slowly
walking in, Maela

204
00:12:32,051 --> 00:12:36,892
looked around. The walls were wooden, had similar
tendrils growing from

205
00:12:36,911 --> 00:12:38,171
them as the doors did.

206
00:12:38,932 --> 00:12:43,391
Elaborately and beautifully carved benches were
spaced up the left and right.

207
00:12:43,792 --> 00:12:47,152
Flowers grew from the floor at the end of each row
of benches.

208
00:12:47,571 --> 00:12:51,272
Along the walls were tree trunks that grew from
floor to ceiling.

209
00:12:51,971 --> 00:12:56,011
In between the trees were flowering bushes and
plants.

210
00:12:56,772 --> 00:13:01,592
More than anything, the hall reminded Maela of a
forest clearing.

211
00:13:02,772 --> 00:13:07,692
As she continued into the hall, looking in awe at
the living things all around,

212
00:13:08,071 --> 00:13:12,591
the one thing she just couldn't stop being drawn
to was the tree at the

213
00:13:12,691 --> 00:13:17,391
end. It appeared to be on a dais, but the dais
seemed to be

214
00:13:17,411 --> 00:13:19,311
made from the roots of the tree.

215
00:13:20,591 --> 00:13:25,111
The trunk of the tree was enormous, and facing the
hall was what looked to be an

216
00:13:25,291 --> 00:13:29,851
alcove carved into the trunk. "That's a throne,"
Maela thought.

217
00:13:30,271 --> 00:13:34,891
And indeed, the massive tree trunk looked like it
had been carved into a large chair.

218
00:13:35,951 --> 00:13:40,211
To the left and right stood two guards, who were
the only other people in the room.

219
00:13:40,211 --> 00:13:41,851
See the trees along the walls?

220
00:13:42,371 --> 00:13:42,931
Tim asked.

221
00:13:43,631 --> 00:13:44,791
Maela looked at them again.

222
00:13:44,791 --> 00:13:45,771
Yes.

223
00:13:46,471 --> 00:13:49,771
Looking closer, she realized there was something
odd about them.

224
00:13:49,771 --> 00:13:51,331
Wait, are those doors?

225
00:13:51,331 --> 00:13:53,571
Yes. Well, no.

226
00:13:54,491 --> 00:13:58,591
They actually are trees, but the trees twist out
of the way if you press a certain spot on them.

227
00:13:59,331 --> 00:14:00,931
So they are doors as well.

228
00:14:00,931 --> 00:14:05,731
It wasn't until Maela was near the Guildmaster's
throne that a shocking thought filled her

229
00:14:05,731 --> 00:14:10,691
head. She looked up at the ceiling, at the doors,
at that tree that seemed to become part of the

230
00:14:10,771 --> 00:14:12,951
ceiling, even the grass on the floor.

231
00:14:13,991 --> 00:14:15,851
She spun around and faced Tim.

232
00:14:15,951 --> 00:14:17,951
Is this whole room alive?

233
00:14:18,411 --> 00:14:19,071
Tim nodded.

234
00:14:19,351 --> 00:14:21,251
Wait, is this entire building one large tree?

235
00:14:21,251 --> 00:14:23,431
It is not widely known,

236
00:14:24,351 --> 00:14:25,391
but it is not a secret.

237
00:14:26,331 --> 00:14:27,231
The answer is yes.

238
00:14:27,991 --> 00:14:32,891
I must say that it's nice to see that even those
who work deep below the ground can recognize the

239
00:14:32,891 --> 00:14:35,051
beauty and grace that is Harvest House.

240
00:14:36,211 --> 00:14:39,611
Maela looked up at the tree reaching into the
ceiling and tensed.

241
00:14:39,851 --> 00:14:43,131
She had been so amazed that she had forgotten her
mission.

242
00:14:43,131 --> 00:14:46,151
Does that tree reach up to the Guildmaster's
quarters?

243
00:14:46,151 --> 00:14:51,131
Maela, the entire building is a living tree. Of
course it does.

244
00:14:51,131 --> 00:14:55,631
There was a slight tinge of impatience in Tim's
voice, as if he

245
00:14:55,671 --> 00:15:00,251
enjoyed her innocent enthusiasm but was tiring of
her ignorance.

246
00:15:00,591 --> 00:15:02,071
She had to make a move soon.

247
00:15:02,071 --> 00:15:04,991
Is there another way up to the Guildmaster's
residence?

248
00:15:05,571 --> 00:15:07,071
Tim looked at her oddly.

249
00:15:07,391 --> 00:15:08,891
No. Why would you ask that?

250
00:15:09,651 --> 00:15:14,371
Maela touched Tim's arm and invented a wild
scenario to distract

251
00:15:14,391 --> 00:15:14,651
him.

252
00:15:15,171 --> 00:15:20,011
Oh, I know I sound silly, but I was just wondering
if the Guildmaster could use the tree to get to
his

253
00:15:20,051 --> 00:15:23,471
quarters so he didn't have to use the staircase at
the other end of the hall.

254
00:15:23,471 --> 00:15:28,331
Tim was quiet for so long that Maela looked up at
his face,

255
00:15:28,691 --> 00:15:33,611
giving him what she hoped was a look of adoration.
He was staring at the tree.

256
00:15:34,331 --> 00:15:36,111
Finally, he replied...

257
00:15:36,551 --> 00:15:36,811
No.

258
00:15:37,431 --> 00:15:40,731
That's an interesting idea, but the tree is just a
tree.

259
00:15:40,731 --> 00:15:45,391
The moment Tim said, "The tree is just a tree"

260
00:15:45,751 --> 00:15:50,351
after the long delay, Maela realized that she had
stumbled onto a stunning

261
00:15:50,551 --> 00:15:54,911
guild secret. The tree was a way for her to get to
Polo in his quarters.

262
00:15:55,731 --> 00:15:56,391
We need to go.

263
00:15:57,011 --> 00:16:01,791
Tim's voice was matter-of-fact and his smile over
the majesty of Harvest House was gone.

264
00:16:02,191 --> 00:16:03,311
He was suspicious.

265
00:16:03,951 --> 00:16:08,551
Maela realized she had two choices: retreat and
find a new way in, or

266
00:16:08,791 --> 00:16:13,331
double down and hope that her obvious disregard
for caution made her appear

267
00:16:13,331 --> 00:16:16,771
foolish rather than calculating. She went with the
latter.

268
00:16:17,131 --> 00:16:17,551
Wait,

269
00:16:18,291 --> 00:16:19,351
I want to see the tree.

270
00:16:20,111 --> 00:16:20,951
It's beautiful.

271
00:16:21,351 --> 00:16:24,931
Maela skipped forward with as much speed as she
felt she could get away with.

272
00:16:25,091 --> 00:16:28,011
Maela, you are not allowed there. Please stop.

273
00:16:28,431 --> 00:16:33,351
Tim followed after her. Maela continued, glad that
his voice was of annoyance and not

274
00:16:33,351 --> 00:16:37,591
alarm. The guards at the sides of the tree seemed
uncertain what to do.

275
00:16:37,991 --> 00:16:41,831
Tim didn't seem alarmed, so they appeared not to
be either.

276
00:16:42,731 --> 00:16:45,471
As Maela reached the tree, Tim's patience had
ended.

277
00:16:45,511 --> 00:16:47,411
Maela, stop now.

278
00:16:47,411 --> 00:16:51,171
When she continued around the trunk, Tim yelled
out-

279
00:16:51,211 --> 00:16:53,051
Guards, stop her.

280
00:16:53,051 --> 00:16:57,691
"I may get to Polo, but I'm definitely not

281
00:16:57,771 --> 00:17:01,051
getting out," Maela thought grimly as she rounded
the tree.

282
00:17:02,591 --> 00:17:07,271
She had expected there to be a stairwell cut into
the massive trunk, but as she

283
00:17:07,351 --> 00:17:11,191
reached the rear of the tree, all she found was
thick bark.

284
00:17:11,791 --> 00:17:16,631
With no visible way to reach Polo, Maela changed
her plans to talk

285
00:17:16,631 --> 00:17:20,991
her way out. She touched the tree, running her
hands over the bark.

286
00:17:21,631 --> 00:17:26,351
The guards reached her at the same time as Tim,
who held up his hand as he

287
00:17:26,371 --> 00:17:30,391
walked up to her. Turning to him, she continued to
touch the tree.

288
00:17:30,391 --> 00:17:34,031
I just wanted to feel the source of the life in
this room.

289
00:17:34,551 --> 00:17:36,891
Maela did her best to sound innocent.

290
00:17:36,951 --> 00:17:41,091
I don't see trees in the mines, let alone trees
this majestic.

291
00:17:41,751 --> 00:17:43,331
Tim grabbed her arm roughly.

292
00:17:43,331 --> 00:17:48,091
I'm sorry, fellow guardsmen. She is from the mines
and doesn't know the current

293
00:17:48,151 --> 00:17:49,651
risk the Guildmaster is under.

294
00:17:50,631 --> 00:17:55,531
Tim bowed to them and then pulled hard on Maela's
arm toward the rear of

295
00:17:55,571 --> 00:17:57,631
the hall and away from the tree.

296
00:17:58,251 --> 00:18:03,191
The entire time the guardsmen said nothing, but
rather had their hands on the pommels

297
00:18:03,211 --> 00:18:05,971
of their swords. "They're good," Maela thought.

298
00:18:05,971 --> 00:18:08,311
"They aren't here to talk, but for action."

299
00:18:08,751 --> 00:18:11,171
I'm sorry. Did I do something wrong?

300
00:18:11,831 --> 00:18:14,611
Maela asked as Tim's fingers dug into her arm.

301
00:18:14,611 --> 00:18:19,291
Yes, and I recommend you leave for the mines as
quickly as you can before I reconsider my

302
00:18:19,331 --> 00:18:19,991
kindness.

303
00:18:19,991 --> 00:18:22,591
His teeth were clenched as he spoke.

304
00:18:22,591 --> 00:18:25,411
What kindness? You're hurting me.

305
00:18:25,871 --> 00:18:28,631
Tim stopped before the door out, letting go of her
arm.

306
00:18:28,631 --> 00:18:31,151
You are an ignorant and foolish girl.

307
00:18:31,871 --> 00:18:34,311
Do you have any idea the danger that surrounds our
guild,

308
00:18:34,911 --> 00:18:36,111
that surrounds our Guildmaster?

309
00:18:36,851 --> 00:18:37,911
No, you clearly don't,

310
00:18:38,771 --> 00:18:43,451
so let this be a warning. You will die if you walk
into this house again and just march up to

311
00:18:43,471 --> 00:18:44,871
places you're not supposed to go.

312
00:18:45,971 --> 00:18:49,351
Tim walked forward and pushed the doors open.

313
00:18:50,011 --> 00:18:51,371
He motioned to Maela.

314
00:18:52,131 --> 00:18:56,711
As Maela walked through the doors, he shoved her
in the back, which nearly sent her sprawling to
the

315
00:18:56,791 --> 00:18:57,231
floor.

316
00:18:57,351 --> 00:18:59,291
Go back to the mines, Maela.

317
00:19:00,391 --> 00:19:04,931
The doors closed and Maela was alone with the
guards on the second-floor

318
00:19:04,991 --> 00:19:05,611
landing.

319
00:19:06,251 --> 00:19:10,751
The men guarding the staircase up to Polo's
quarters eyed her warily.

320
00:19:11,251 --> 00:19:15,931
She assessed her odds of getting to Polo as nearly
zero, and her

321
00:19:16,011 --> 00:19:18,491
odds of dying as significant.

322
00:19:19,311 --> 00:19:23,671
Taking a deep breath, Maela walked down the
staircase and out of Harvest

323
00:19:23,711 --> 00:19:24,951
House.

324
00:19:26,411 --> 00:19:30,951
She had to come up with a new plan.

325
00:19:31,111 --> 00:20:03,931
(Tense music)