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(suspenseful music plays) The Thieves' Guild

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by Jake Kerr.

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Episode 50:

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The Blade's New Mission.

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There was a single knock. Larson looked up and
watched as Pattis strode

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in. Everyone thought that Pattis was a servant of
some sort.

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He would normally enter carrying tea or a pressed
shirt or something that indicated a personal

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matter with the guild master. That he was the
deadly blade of the guild master was a

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secret known only to two people, and they were
both in the room.

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The wiry blade walked in with his hands behind his
back.

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Larson tried to read his face. Was Pattis
successful?

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Was the information he found going to provide a
new path forward?

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As always, however, Pattis's face was unreadable.

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Placing his hands on the desk, Larson nodded as
Pattis sat down.

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"I trust you didn't leave any stones unturned."
"No." Larson

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smiled. He liked Pattis's demeanor, always to the
point. "Good.

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So what did you find?" "The Harvest Captain of the
Flats can be bribed.

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He worked himself up from the silos and has an
excellent reputation among the guild members,

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but when the Upper Triangle captaincy came open,
he was overlooked.

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He wants to be appreciated by way of comfort and
luxury." "Good."

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Larson considered his plan. It was daring.

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He wanted to drive the Harvest Guild members out
of the Flats and the Lower Triangle and into the

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Wretched Quarter.

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They would learn that there was only one guild
that would provide them with the homes they

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lost, the Merchant Guild, and Larson would welcome
them back if they

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agreed to join his guild.

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However, he would not be able to do it without the
help of key members of the

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Harvest Guild stopping outright guild war.

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"What of the Lower Triangle?" "The captain there
is very loyal to

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Polo, and also very popular." Pattis shrugged.

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"I can take care of him like I did Pietro." "Is he
that old?

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I doubt people would believe he'd die of natural
causes." "Perhaps he will fall down some

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stairs. Perhaps a wild horse will run him down."

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Pattis shrugged. "Maybe a thief will kill him
during a robbery."

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Nodding his head, Larson replied, "Yes, I knew you
were the right person to make my blade.

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What of the families?" Larson knew the captains
were easy.

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Dealing with Harvest Guild families who had been
living in the Flats or the Lower

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Triangle for generations would be more trouble.
"Difficult.

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The Langer family owns an entire block.

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Their family is highly regarded among all the
guilds in the Lower Triangle.

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They are but one example. There are many others
who will not go quietly."

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Larson expected the news. "How many families are
there in the Flats and Lower Triangle that

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would cause difficulty?"

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Pattis shrugged. "I'm not sure. Possibly 10.

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There will be more trouble in the Flats than the
Lower Triangle."

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Gritting his teeth, Larson tried to control his
anger.

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"What part of unturned stones did you not
understand?"

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Larson slammed his fist on his desk. "I asked you
for information, and you tell me you're not

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sure. There is no room for error here, Pattis."

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Larson glared at his blade, who withered in his
chair.

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The reaction calmed Larson. He knew that Pattis
was cruel and brutally efficient.

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Larson knew Pattis feared no one, but he clearly
was intimidated by Larson's

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anger. Good. "I apologize, Guild Master.

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My assessment was clearly incomplete."

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Shaking his head, Larson replied, "Get out.

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I can do nothing until I know all the variables
are accounted for.

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I want to know every family that can cause
problems, no matter how small.

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I want to know who we can bribe to our side and
who will fight us aggressively.

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Do you understand?" "I do." "No. I don't think you
do."

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Larson stood up and waved his arm across the huge
window behind his desk.

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"Our goal is to rule Ness, to make the Merchant
Guild the ruling class over this city.

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We cannot do that without all the guilds bowing to
us.

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Polo refuses to do so."

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He pointed out the left side of the window. "Out
there is the Flats.

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We need to show the Harvest Guild members that
their guild master has betrayed their best
interests.

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They will lose their homes unless they join with
the Night Merchant and the trade guilds."

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Larson turned back to Pattis. "We are going to
take their homes, and we need to do it with as

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little violence as possible." "I understand, Guild
Master.

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I am to find the tinder that could ignite the
flames of violence and remove it."

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Larson smiled. "Yes, well put. That is exactly
what I want you to do."

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Nodding toward the door, he added, "So go and find
all those things that you consider tinder,

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and let me know what they are. We will then create
a plan to remove them."

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Pattis stood up without saying anything.

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After a quick bow of his head, he stated, "When
next we meet, you will have all the

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details you need to create this plan."

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With a slight nod, Larson dismissed his blade.

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As Pattis exited the room, Larson considered the
possibilities.

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Blood would be spilled, of that there was no
doubt, but in the process, Larson

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would make sure that the Harvest Guild members
blamed Polo, and that they forced

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the guild unification that Polo resisted.

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There were many more preparations to be made, but
Larson was pleased.

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He finally had a plan that was entirely under his
control.

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Raylan was off hiding in the Wretched Quarter,
Polo was hiding in Harvest House,

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and all of Ness was waiting for him to swoop in
and take control.

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Ah, Polo. Larson hadn't forgotten about him.

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While he couldn't get at Polo in Harvest House
with his own men, Larson would spend whatever it

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took to get at the Guild Master of Harvest via his
own guild members.

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If Larson could find the right senior guard or
trusted deputy, he was

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certain he could persuade them to assassinate the
old guild master.

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(suspenseful music plays)