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 00:00:10,519 --> 00:00:12,119 Episode 45: 4 00:00:15,639 --> 00:00:17,700 Larson Receives a Report. 5 00:00:24,199 --> 00:00:29,179 Larson paced in his office, ignoring the glorious sunset that shone through 6 00:00:29,199 --> 00:00:34,159 the huge window behind his desk. The view of Founder's Park, the wall, and 7 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:39,099 the plains that spread to the horizon normally calmed him, but he was expecting a 8 00:00:39,119 --> 00:00:43,679 report from his blade on the Polo situation, and the blade was late. 9 00:00:44,459 --> 00:00:46,920 Things were starting to spin out of control. 10 00:00:47,619 --> 00:00:52,319 Somehow word had gotten out that someone wanted to assassinate Polo, and that 11 00:00:52,379 --> 00:00:55,159 created a whole new set of complications for him. 12 00:00:56,159 --> 00:01:01,139 Larson felt he could handle the murmuring in the streets if he actually was able to 13 00:01:01,179 --> 00:01:05,979 assassinate Polo, but the longer things went, the more unstable 14 00:01:06,079 --> 00:01:07,279 things would get. 15 00:01:07,999 --> 00:01:12,939 To make matters worse, Orion's nephew was walking around the Guild Tower causing all 16 00:01:13,059 --> 00:01:17,919 kinds of mischief, reminding everyone that he was the deputy guild master and that 17 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:22,779 they had to listen to him. It was, if possible, worse mischief than his 18 00:01:22,859 --> 00:01:25,719 brother had caused before he fled to the Wretched Quarter. 19 00:01:26,119 --> 00:01:30,799 Guild members took the boy seriously and were listening to him as if he had a 20 00:01:30,819 --> 00:01:35,299 legitimate title, absurd as it was. The boy, Keres, 21 00:01:35,619 --> 00:01:40,579 didn't actually do anything other than eat and boss others around, but it was how he 22 00:01:40,619 --> 00:01:45,299 was doing it that caused problems. He would often demand something 23 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:50,199 minor but annoying, such as desirable quarters in the tower or the choice of an 24 00:01:50,199 --> 00:01:55,059 especially fine merchant ship for transportation, and the individual would appeal to 25 00:01:55,119 --> 00:01:59,639 Larson to overturn the request. Not wanting to upset Orion, 26 00:01:59,859 --> 00:02:04,419 Larson would always take the boy's side and reinforce his authority as the 27 00:02:04,499 --> 00:02:05,919 deputy guild master. 28 00:02:06,819 --> 00:02:11,339 With the whispers in the streets about Polo and the whispers in his guild about Keres, 29 00:02:11,619 --> 00:02:15,799 Larson was prepared to do just about anything to solve either problem. 30 00:02:16,179 --> 00:02:20,979 As he considered his options, the sun finally set, filling the room with a 31 00:02:20,999 --> 00:02:25,599 shadow. Larson lit a lamp as a knock finally landed on his door. 32 00:02:25,599 --> 00:02:30,499 "Come in," Larson yelled out as he marched to the door to 33 00:02:30,559 --> 00:02:31,639 meet his blade. 34 00:02:32,559 --> 00:02:36,519 A young man dressed in the deep blue of the merchant guild strode in. 35 00:02:36,759 --> 00:02:40,479 He nodded as Larson strode over to him. "Where have you been, Pattis? 36 00:02:40,479 --> 00:02:43,999 You are late." Pattis, the merchant blade, bowed. 37 00:02:44,219 --> 00:02:49,179 I apologize, guild master. I was delayed due to a meeting with a spy within the Harvest 38 00:02:49,219 --> 00:02:50,839 Guild. He was not punctual. 39 00:02:51,259 --> 00:02:55,739 Larson waved a hand, turned, and walked to his desk. "It matters not. Come. 40 00:02:56,079 --> 00:02:59,099 You have been gone a long time. I expect good news." The 41 00:02:59,839 --> 00:03:04,539 blade followed Larson and sat down in one of the chairs facing Larson's desk. 42 00:03:04,539 --> 00:03:05,619 "Speak," 43 00:03:06,359 --> 00:03:10,579 Larson stated, squeezing the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger. 44 00:03:10,579 --> 00:03:15,439 I'm afraid it is not good news. As we expected, Polo 45 00:03:15,459 --> 00:03:19,139 has retreated into Harvest House. He is unreachable. 46 00:03:19,139 --> 00:03:21,179 "No one is unreachable." 47 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,419 Larson slammed his fist onto his desk. 48 00:03:24,419 --> 00:03:26,299 "You simply haven't tried hard enough." 49 00:03:27,159 --> 00:03:29,299 Pattis waited a moment and then replied. 50 00:03:29,299 --> 00:03:34,179 I have tried everything. There are no tunnels, pipes, or other methods of 51 00:03:34,179 --> 00:03:37,079 entering Harvest House. The walls are unscalable. 52 00:03:37,479 --> 00:03:40,639 Polo clearly knows this as the grounds are lightly guarded. 53 00:03:41,159 --> 00:03:42,999 I have tried at least a dozen times. 54 00:03:43,659 --> 00:03:48,259 I cannot explain how it is done, but the walls move and change under my hands. 55 00:03:48,859 --> 00:03:53,499 Vines, cracks, and ledges that support me disappear from under my hands and 56 00:03:53,579 --> 00:03:56,179 feet. I nearly died in my last attempt. 57 00:03:56,299 --> 00:04:00,939 I swear the house was toying with me, letting me climb high enough to endanger my 58 00:04:01,039 --> 00:04:02,779 life as it tossed me to the ground. 59 00:04:02,779 --> 00:04:07,299 "Nonsense. Buildings can't think. Perhaps we can find a better climber." 60 00:04:08,039 --> 00:04:08,759 Feel free. 61 00:04:09,819 --> 00:04:12,159 Larson hated moments like that. 62 00:04:12,799 --> 00:04:17,099 Part of what he liked about Pattis was that he was unafraid of Larson. 63 00:04:17,599 --> 00:04:21,499 It made him extremely valuable as it proved his fearlessness. 64 00:04:22,059 --> 00:04:26,839 Combined with his obvious skill, his lack of fear made Pattis a deadly and powerful 65 00:04:26,919 --> 00:04:31,859 blade. The trouble was that his objections were dangerously close to insubordination. 66 00:04:32,399 --> 00:04:36,459 Staring at Pattis, Larson wondered if he should discipline him. 67 00:04:36,939 --> 00:04:41,099 At the last moment, Pattis lowered his eyes and Larson breathed out. 68 00:04:41,099 --> 00:04:46,079 "No need," he stated. "I assume the interior is similarly 69 00:04:46,119 --> 00:04:46,679 difficult." 70 00:04:47,639 --> 00:04:50,899 Not unassailable by a force, but certainly by stealth. 71 00:04:51,219 --> 00:04:53,699 The paths to Polo's quarters are too well defended. 72 00:04:54,179 --> 00:04:55,079 Pattis shrugged. 73 00:04:55,699 --> 00:04:57,379 He is out of your reach, guild master. 74 00:04:58,099 --> 00:05:00,659 Larson nodded. "And he will not leave Harvest House?" 75 00:05:01,679 --> 00:05:05,539 He has not as of yet. I consider it unlikely. He isn't stupid. 76 00:05:06,119 --> 00:05:11,099 When your machinations became clear, he knew that the only other way for you to take control of 77 00:05:11,119 --> 00:05:16,039 Ness was for him or Raylan to die, and everyone knows Raylan is lost in the Wretched 78 00:05:16,099 --> 00:05:16,499 Quarter. 79 00:05:16,499 --> 00:05:19,759 "Should I send you to the Wretched Quarter to take care of Raylan? 80 00:05:20,259 --> 00:05:21,159 That might be easier." 81 00:05:21,779 --> 00:05:25,839 Larson spoke the words more to himself than Pattis, but his blade answered. 82 00:05:25,879 --> 00:05:30,459 It is a fool's mission. If someone is in the Wretched Quarter and doesn't want to be 83 00:05:30,539 --> 00:05:31,999 found, you won't find them. 84 00:05:31,999 --> 00:05:36,159 The response surprised Larson. "You've been over the bridge." 85 00:05:36,999 --> 00:05:41,299 Once. I wasn't even out of sight of the bridge when I was set upon by a gang. 86 00:05:41,619 --> 00:05:46,439 I killed one, but was lucky to get away with my own life. It is chaotic and lawless. 87 00:05:46,779 --> 00:05:49,719 You cannot enter safely without being already known to them. 88 00:05:49,719 --> 00:05:51,339 "You are sure of this? 89 00:05:51,979 --> 00:05:53,939 Why not just disguise yourself as one of them? 90 00:05:54,699 --> 00:05:56,919 Wear rags and cover yourself in dirt." 91 00:05:57,759 --> 00:06:02,579 That is what I did. I looked as wretched as the group I entered with, yet the others were 92 00:06:02,619 --> 00:06:04,199 ignored and I was attacked. 93 00:06:04,199 --> 00:06:07,039 "Certainly they can't know everyone who lives there. 94 00:06:07,459 --> 00:06:11,339 Perhaps one of those you were with tipped off a friendly gang." Pattis shrugged. 95 00:06:11,339 --> 00:06:16,199 "It is possible. Regardless, to scour the whole quarter is an absurd 96 00:06:16,219 --> 00:06:20,579 risk. As I noted, if Raylan is alive, he is out of our reach." 97 00:06:20,579 --> 00:06:22,659 "Then what are our options?" 98 00:06:23,339 --> 00:06:27,139 Even as he spoke the words, Larson felt his anger building. 99 00:06:27,139 --> 00:06:30,859 "The disaster at the Founder's Banquet has caused people to talk. 100 00:06:31,119 --> 00:06:32,799 We need to resolve things immediately." 101 00:06:33,479 --> 00:06:36,479 Pattis said nothing as Larson tapped his fingers on his desk. 102 00:06:36,479 --> 00:06:38,719 "Maybe I'm just not being daring enough." 103 00:06:39,099 --> 00:06:41,199 Pattis raised an eyebrow as Larson smiled. 104 00:06:41,199 --> 00:06:43,779 "Yes, I've been too limited in my thinking." 105 00:06:44,199 --> 00:06:48,399 Larson slapped his hand on his desk. "Pattis, how do you kill a snake?" 106 00:06:48,399 --> 00:06:50,059 "You remove the head." 107 00:06:50,059 --> 00:06:52,339 "And what happens to the head if you crush the body?" 108 00:06:52,339 --> 00:06:53,659 "It dies." 109 00:06:53,659 --> 00:06:54,819 "Exactly." 110 00:06:55,579 --> 00:06:57,939 Larson stood up. "You have a new mission, blade." 111 00:06:57,939 --> 00:06:59,519 "And that is?" 112 00:06:59,699 --> 00:07:01,839 Pattis replied as he scrambled to his feet. 113 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:03,119 "Research."