(suspenseful music plays) The Thieves Guild
by Jake Kerr.
Episode 49:
A More Important Duty.
Rafe gave up any pretense of assisting with guild matters.
As soon as he woke up in the morning until he dragged his tired body to bed, he spent all his
time in the library. Allard's complaints over his dereliction of apprentice guild
master duties became louder and louder.
When Allard's frustration approached a breaking point, Rafe would do the bare minimum of
work. What Allard didn't understand was that Rafe painstakingly went over
every book, looking for the secrets that he knew existed.
There was a huge amount of information in the library but unfortunately, most of it was
of little interest to Rafe. He didn't want to know how to forge iron or the
proper weaving technique for a saddle pad.
He wanted to know the secrets of the world he lived in.
In a dark corner, he discovered several large books, and with the hope that they
were full of illustrations and maps, Rafe started to gently move them to
the large reading table.
As he set down the second book, Rafe heard Allard's heavy footsteps
approaching. Ignoring Allard, Rafe walked over to grab another of the books.
As he set the book on the table, Allard cleared his throat.
Rafe looked up, expecting to see anger on Allard's face.
To his shock, however, the deputy guild master seemed serene.
"You have ignored the stables."
Rafe didn't bother looking up. He slid into a chair and brushed some dust off the top of a book.
"I have decided that...
I do not have time for the stables."
Allard didn't reply, but instead walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down
opposite Rafe.
"Tell me about these books."
Looking up, Rafe pondered Allard's look.
He seemed curious, but was it out of interest or simply out of a desire to have better
ammunition to dismiss Rafe's use of time?
"You wouldn't understand," Rafe replied, returning his attention to the book.
He opened the cover, hoping to see a map or an illustration of something
extraordinary.
The frontispiece said, "Guild Designs and Iconography."
An illustration of a single ring sat below the title.
Its stone was a deep red, and it appeared that the illustrations in the
book were all hand-painted. As much as it was most likely
beautiful, it wasn't what Rafe wanted. Sighing, he closed the book.
He wanted maps, he wanted secrets. Images of guild jewelry were not
what he had in mind. He looked up again at Allard, who seemed intent on Rafe's studies.
"Uh, this is not a good example," Rafe said self-consciously.
"I'm looking for maps and histories.
Ness is more than just the current conflict between Lassen and the other guilds."
"How so?"
Allard spread his hands on the table.
"Did you know that Ness has a sister city across the mountains and that the mountains are called the
Dragon's Teeth?"
Allard frowned.
"Rafe, I appreciate your interest in the wonderful stories in these books, but
fantastical stories are a waste of your time when there is so much work to do."
"These are not stories," Rafe exclaimed, kicking the chair back as
he scrambled over to grab the map he discovered.
It was on a shelf of books that he considered important.
Walking back, he unfolded the map in front of Allard. "See?
That is Ness. And what does that say on the other side of the mountain?"
Allard was silent, and then replied...
"I'm afraid I can't read."
Rafe's jaw dropped. Everyone could read. How could Allard not read?
As if anticipating Rafe's shock, Allard added...
"I've been a warrior all my life, Rafe. I was born outside the wall, practically with a sword in my hand.
I did not have time to learn to read."
Pointing to the word above Ness, Rafe said, "That is how Ness is
spelled."
He then pointed to the other city. "The letters are identical.
It also says Ness."
"This could be a work of imagination, Rafe,"
Allard said, although he looked closely at the map.
Rafe ignored Allard's doubts. "This is a city called Gautland.
I assume it is how we came up with the name Outlanders."
Allard pushed back into his chair, and as Rafe glanced at him, he saw the shock on Allard's
face.
"Very few in the city know that name, Rafe."
Rafe shrugged. "There are other cities here on the coast, and more over here through the forest.
And look here."
Rafe pointed to the road between the two cities labeled Ness.
"There appears to be a road that leads from our city to the other Ness across the mountain.
How could that be?"
Glancing up at Allard, Rafe was wondering if Allard could perhaps offer some insight
from his years with Pietro, but Allard was staring at the book of guild
designs.
"Let me see that book."
Rafe slid the book toward Allard, wondering what the warrior found interesting in a book of
jewelry.
(suspenseful music plays)