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(suspenseful music) The Thieves' Guild

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by Jake Kerr.

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Episode 55:

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Blood on the Bridge.

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As much as Raylan hated Karch, he didn't want to
see anyone die, so he

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pushed his horse to the edge of its speed and
endurance.

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He wasn't sure how he could stop Karch, but if he
could just warn him, it would be

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something.

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As he sped down the road, Raylan again marveled at
how smooth and well-maintained it

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was.

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It was paved with large, flat stones, and was wide
enough for two wagons to pass each other

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without having to enter the dirt. He couldn't
imagine the labor it took to

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create it, as it extended from Ness presumably all
the way to

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Gautland. The plains went from scrubby grass to
the greener grass that

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was typical near the river, and to his right and
left, Raylan could see small

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forests or copses of trees. Raylan continued to
squint into the

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distance to find evidence of Karch and his guards,
but there was no dust from the

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stone road,

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and as flat as the terrain was, he could see
nothing.

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After a few hours, what looked like a stone
outcropping in the distance

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slowly turned into a building, and the building
finally revealed itself

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as a huge castle.

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It stood in the midst of the plains, with a small
forest of trees to the north.

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The road led straight to it. Raylan despaired that
he'd be able to catch Karch

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before he faced the dangerous Outlanders.

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Patting his horse on its neck, Raylan soothed the
poor beast.

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"Just a little longer."

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He was perhaps 30 minutes away when movement
caught his eye.

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It was far, so he couldn't see details, but it had
to be Karch.

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"I've caught him," Raylan thought.

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The movement was between Raylan and the castle,
but Raylan was catching up fast.

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Remembering the words of the rangers, Raylan kept
glancing all around, looking for a

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force that might ambush Karch or Raylan himself.
The plains looked clear.

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His one concern was the forested area, which
provided enough cover that guards

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or knights could easily have been hiding there,
waiting for Karch to get closer.

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Raylan was minutes from intercepting Karch when
the deputy guildmaster reached a

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bridge that crossed a wide barrier of water around
the castle.

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Raylan watched as Karch waited at the end of the
bridge as he sent his men

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forward. They did not unsheathe their weapons, but
moved forward slowly.

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Raylan had hoped that the fact that they had not
taken an offensive position would save them,

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but to his horror, he watched as every single
guard slumped back in his saddle

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and then slid off his horse to the bridge.

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Karch did not move, and just as it looked like he
was going to turn and flee, his

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horse collapsed underneath him. "Arrows," Raylan
thought.

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Who needs an ambush when you have bowmen manning
the castle ramparts?

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Raylan spurred his horse forward, but could only
watch as heavily armored knights marched

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out of the castle. A few stopped and dragged the
bodies of Karch's escort toward

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the castle while another group grabbed the horses.

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Two guards unsheathed their swords and walked
toward Karch and his horse,

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which lay on the ground dead.

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It was at that point that Raylan was close enough
that he thought he might be able to save Karch.

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All he had to do was grab Karch, help him onto his
own horse, and the two of them could

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flee. Of course, the bowmen could easily cut him
and Karch down,

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but two things made him think that he could
succeed: he was wearing black,

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and the Outlanders clearly wanted Karch alive.

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Karch was scrambling to his feet and backing up
when Raylan reached him.

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The guards looked up at Raylan, and in his one
glance at their faces, Raylan

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could see utter shock, as if they had seen a
ghost.

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"Karch, take my hand!"

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The shock on the Outlander guards' faces was
repeated on Karch's face, but he was

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not a fool and grabbed Raylan's hand.

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He pulled himself onto Raylan's horse just as the
guards realized what was happening.

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They rushed forward and barely missed getting
ahold of Raylan as he spurred his horse

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back down the road. Into Raylan's ear, Karch said,
his voice firm and

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seemingly unfazed from his brush with death, "I
have no idea why you are here,

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Raylan, but I appreciate you sacrificing yourself
so that I could get away."

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Before Raylan could act, Karch grabbed him by his
cloak and yanked him to the

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left. Raylan reached for something to hold onto,
but it was too late.

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He fell sideways off the galloping horse.

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He landed hard on the stone road with the rolling
of his momentum, slamming his

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head against the stone again and again.

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Raylan stopped rolling with his body facing away
from the Outlander castle.

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In the distance, the blue cloak of Karch fluttered
behind him as he galloped away to

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safety. Rolling to his knees, Raylan felt a
headache storming in

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while the rest of his body ached. Thankfully, he
didn't seem to be badly

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injured. He looked back toward the castle to have
his view blocked by two women.

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The women grabbed him and spun him around.

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"I'm the guildmaster, thief," Raylan said, hoping
it would save him.

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"We know who you are," one of the guards said as
she tied Raylan's

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hands behind his back. With a shove, they marched
Raylan toward the

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castle. "Well, I'm following in Pietro's footsteps
in entering

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Gautland," he thought.With a grim smile, Raylan
couldn't help but

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add, "Although I don't think he ever entered as a
prisoner." The guards kept

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Raylan under close supervision as they escorted
him deeper into Gautland.

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They refused to say a single word as he asked
questions, so Raylan focused on examining

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his new surroundings. There was something
different and disturbing about it.

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As he passed buildings and the various people who
glanced at him, he couldn't quite put a

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finger on it. It turned out that Gautland wasn't a
castle at all.

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It was a city, a city that looked like a smaller
version of Ness.

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There was no river and everything seemed a bit
older and less vibrant than even in the

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flats. But the wall surrounded the whole city, and
within its embrace

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were buildings that would have been familiar to
anyone in Ness, taverns, clothing

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shops and cobblestone roads.

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It suddenly hit Raylan that Gautland looked a lot
like the Old Quarter.

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Even the people would have looked at home in Ness,
families, men, women, children,

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they all walked around with the same kind of
rhythm that you would find in the Lower

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Triangle.

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A young man around Raylan's age ran up to the
guards escorting him.

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The Crown would like to see the Guildmaster
immediately.

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I expected as much.

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The guard to Raylan's right said...

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Tell him we will be there shortly.

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The messenger nodded and ran off.

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Five minutes later, they approached a large stone
building that was three stories

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high. Unlike Ness, Gautland had no towers and the
building was

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bigger and taller than everything other than the
wall that surrounded the city, which was even

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higher than Ness' wall.

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Broad stone steps led up to double doors that were
open.

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The architecture was utilitarian and plain.

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The guards walked him up, receiving nothing but
nods as they passed sentries and

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guards. They were stopped on the second floor by a
middle-aged man in what would be

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considered formal wear in Ness, tightly woven
pants and shirt.

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He had pale skin and straight blond hair that
would have been considered unfashionably

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long in Ness. "Unbind his hands," the man said.

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He spoke with the authority of someone who was
used to having his commands

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followed. The guards quickly untied his hands.

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Raylan stretched his arms and rubbed his wrists.

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He had a slight headache from his fall off the
horse and he was sore all over, but he didn't feel

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bad considering the circumstances.

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The man in the formal clothing held out his hand.

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It has been over a year since we've been blessed
with the presence of the

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Guildmaster thief.

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Raylan took his hand and shook it.

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"My name is Raylan."

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Bowling his head, Raylan added...

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"And you are?"

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"Well met, Guildmaster. I apologize for not
introducing

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myself. I am Joseph, Lord Wilhelm's second."

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Turning to the guards, Joseph barked...

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"What are you two still doing here? You are
dismissed."

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The two turned and left as Joseph returned his
attention to Raylan.

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"Come, the Crown wishes to meet with you."

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Joseph placed his hand on Raylan's shoulder and
led him up the steps.

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As they walked, Joseph chattered non-stop.

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"So,

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old Pietro has died?"

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"Yes, about a week ago."

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"Only a week ago, and you visit us so soon.

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We are honored."

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Before Raylan could say more, Joseph asked about
the other guilds, taking care

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not to touch upon politics, but to ask only for
basic news.

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He appeared to know all the guildmasters of Ness
by name and had a grounding on how the city

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was run. The more he talked, the more shocked
Raylan was.

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How could the Outlanders know so much about what
was happening in Ness?

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Did they have a spy? And why didn't the
guildmasters in Ness know more about the

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Outlanders? Joseph moved on to describe the
building they were in, which he

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called the The Seat, and its importance as the
seat of the crown that ruled the

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plains. Presumably, the Outlanders ruled all of
the lands from Ness to the

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sea far to the west. Clearly assuming Raylan knew
all the details of the

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geography, Joseph would correct himself and say
things like...

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"Of course, we don't technically rule over the
desert, but that land has never

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been claimed and our stake has never been
questioned."

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Raylan just nodded and took note of one more
detail that he didn't understand.

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There was a desert and a sea. There was a large
tapestry along a long hallway and

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Raylan stopped to look at it.

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"That looks like Ness."

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He took a few steps closer.

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"Yes, that is the Great River and that is the
Thieves' Tower.

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But there is no wall and there are no buildings
north of the river."

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Nodding, Joseph replied...

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"Yes, that is Ness before the wall was built and
the city shut down trade.

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We were close friends then."

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Raylan was going to ask about what Joseph meant,
but the second added...

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"But you can enjoy our art later. We are expected
by the

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Crown."

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Raylan nodded and followed Joseph as he continued
down the hall.

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The hall opened not to a huge throne room or a
guildmaster-type office, but

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rather to a small receiving room with a throne on
a dais and chairs facing

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it. It looked like the place where the leaders of
the city would meet and discuss issues

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before the Crown. Sitting on the throne was an old
man.

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He wasn't as ancient as Pietro, but his white hair
and wrinkles made it clear he had quite

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a few years behind him. Like Joseph, he had pale
skin with piercing

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blue eyes and a thin mouth, which was open in an
attempt at a smile.

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He didn't appear cruel, so much as humorless.

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"Lord Wilhelm, I present you the new Guildmaster
thief."

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Joseph backed to the side as Wilhelm remained
seated. Raylan stood still.

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"So, young man,

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Pietro has finally left this world."... his smile
disappeared.

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"It is a sad day." Vilhelm didn't look sad.

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"Yes. I was named the guild master thief a few
days ago."

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Raylan felt nervous. He was not prepared to meet
with the leader of the Outlanders.

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What if he said something wrong? How much should
he reveal?

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It appeared that the Outlanders knew a great deal,
but what if that was only true on the

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surface? He decided to answer as succinctly as
possible.

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"Days."

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Vilhelm shook his head. "Mere days and you come
visit us here at Gutland.

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I am honored."

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Raylan had always been taught to fear and hate the
Outlanders, but facing Vilhelm

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presented him with a different kind of fear, the
fear of being the victim of cunning that was

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honed over decades of conflict.

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In the face of so much that he didn't know, Raylan
stuck to the truth.

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"I'm afraid I did not come here for a visit, Lord
Vilhelm.

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I was in pursuit of one of our citizens."

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Raylan considered explaining more, but decided to
provide the bare minimum of

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information. "Ah, the deputy guild master of the
merchants.

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I believe he got my message."

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Vilhelm laughed.

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"You didn't kill him?"

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"Of course not. I am not foolish."

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Vilhelm leaned forward, and for the first time,
Raylan got the sense that

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Vilhelm was going to speak from the heart. "Let me
give you some advice.

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The unknown is much more powerful than violence."

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Vilhelm sat up straight again. "Pietro was
masterful at that."

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"What can you tell me of my predecessor?

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I confess that I do not know his business with
your impressive city."

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Laughing, Vilhelm replied, "Calling our modest
outpost impressive?

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You speak like him, do you know that?"

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Vilhelm scratched his chin. "So our business,
well, here is the

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sum total of our business. He would occasionally
visit and tell me that for

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reasons he cared not to explain, he would like our
raids to cease for a time."

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"And you complied with his request?"

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"I did."

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"Do you mind telling me why?"

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Raylan was unsure of how far to push Vilhelm.

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Part of him was certain that Vilhelm was toying
with Raylan by treating him as an equal,

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although he didn't see him as such, and part of
him felt that Vilhelm was gauging Raylan

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as Pietro's replacement.

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As a result, Raylan was unsure how to handle his
own curiosity

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and Vilhelm's current pleasant demeanor.

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Vilhelm stared at Raylan with such intensity that
Raylan looked down at his feet.

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"You are young." Raylan looked up and nodded.

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"Then let me give you some help as you navigate
your innocence.

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It will lead to the answer of your question, so
ask me this question:

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Lord Vilhelm, why do you raid my fair city of
Ness? Go ahead.

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00:14:56,899 --> 00:14:57,479
Ask me."

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00:14:57,479 --> 00:15:00,979
"Lord Vilhelm, why do you raid my fair city of
Ness?"

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00:15:01,699 --> 00:15:06,179
Raylan felt embarrassed being led like a child,
but he didn't want to upset

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Vilhelm. "Because to the west is desert, and to
the north, east, and south, the plains

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are barren.

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The field near the river are fertile, yet as
unreliable as the rains.

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00:15:16,339 --> 00:15:20,339
In short, guild master, we raid Ness because if we
did not, we would starve."

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Raylan was stunned. He knew with absolute
certainty that

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Vilhelm was not twisting the truth. The rangers
had said something about the

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Outlanders raiding their stores and wanting Ness'
fields, but Raylan didn't

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realize that it was as fundamental as a matter of
life or death.

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Almost in a whisper, Raylan replied-

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"But why don't you trade with Ness? We have large
fields and a surplus.

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The silo district is huge and never empty."

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00:15:47,659 --> 00:15:52,099
"And now we have come full circle. Ness has not
traded with her neighbors in

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centuries. You asked me why I helped Pietro.

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It is because he said he would open the trade
routes again, and I believed him.

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So when he asked for my help, I granted it."

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Vilhelm stood up and walked down the steps of his
dais.

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He stopped directly in front of Raylan.

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"What is your name again, young guild master?"

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"Raylan." Raylan did his best to speak with
authority.

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"Guild master Raylan, it appears Pietro did not
pass along his plans for opening

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00:16:18,839 --> 00:16:19,719
trade with Gutland."

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Vilhelm leaned forward, his nose nearly touching
Raylan's.

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"Do you think he lied to me?"

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"Never!" Raylan could not read Vilhelm's face.

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He didn't know if Vilhelm actually believed Pietro
had lied, but the question was

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undoubtedly a challenge. Standing tall, Raylan
continued-

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"In fact, I will promise you on the seal of my
guild that I will continue Pietro's efforts to
open

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00:16:44,259 --> 00:16:45,279
trade with our neighbors."

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00:16:45,279 --> 00:16:50,099
Vilhelm stepped back. "I'm not sure you quite
understand the scope of your promise, but

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I believe your sincerity in making it."

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Vilhelm turned and spoke as he climbed his dais.

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"Return when you learn more of your challenge.

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I trusted Pietro, and I believe he has set the
pieces in place, even if you don't know

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00:17:04,019 --> 00:17:05,079
what those pieces are."

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Vilhelm sat down on his throne. "But you have not
earned my trust.

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So when you return next, I would like to hear
details of your plans."

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"That is a fair request," Raylan replied.

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00:17:16,839 --> 00:17:19,479
"You are young, but there is a wisdom about you.

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I will provide you with a horse and supplies.

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Keep the steed as a symbol of my goodwill."

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Vilhelm waved a hand. "You may go."

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Raylan stood still, which caused Vilhelm to raise
an eyebrow.

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"I have a request."

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00:17:33,819 --> 00:17:38,299
"You do? I offer you a horse and my goodwill, and
you have a request?

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00:17:38,959 --> 00:17:43,859
This I must hear." Vilhelm didn't sound offended,
but he definitely

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didn't sound happy either.

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"I request that you cease raiding Ness for as long
as you can."

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Vilhelm's brows furrowed and he clenched a fist.

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Before he could say anything, however, Raylan held
up his palm and continued.

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"I ask because it will provide me with the same
kind of authority that Pietro had.

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The rangers had a high degree of trust in him due
to the peace his visits inevitably brought.

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00:18:09,019 --> 00:18:13,979
I can only imagine that there are other benefits
within Ness among the knights, and perhaps the
Harvest

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00:18:14,039 --> 00:18:14,439
Guild."

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Raylan bowed his head. "It is but a request."
Nodding his head, Wilhelm

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replied, "You are a worthy heir to Pietro, young
Raylan.

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00:18:24,557 --> 00:18:25,857
I will grant your request.

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00:18:26,698 --> 00:18:31,478
Tell all of Ness that you brought peace, and when
you do, you will bring me trade."

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00:18:33,298 --> 00:18:36,557
Not wanting to push it any further, Raylan bowed
and left.

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00:18:37,137 --> 00:18:41,858
Joseph escorted him to the front gate, and it was
on the way there when it suddenly

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00:18:41,957 --> 00:18:45,298
hit Raylan why he found Gautlan so odd.

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00:18:45,657 --> 00:18:49,117
There were only pale faces with light brown or
blond hair.

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00:18:49,637 --> 00:18:54,398
Dark skin, light skin, red hair, blond hair, Ness
was a broad mix of every

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00:18:54,497 --> 00:18:59,437
possible look you could imagine. He took the
variety for granted, so it surprised him

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00:18:59,437 --> 00:19:02,937
as he looked from face-to-face and saw nothing but
a single look.

292
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"How strange," Raylan thought. "It is as if they
took a subset of Ness and

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created a city for them here on the planes." His
horse was waiting for him

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00:19:12,777 --> 00:19:17,637
and it was magnificent. Nearly 18 hands high and a
dappled brown

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00:19:17,657 --> 00:19:22,538
and white, it held its head and tail high, as if
it knew it was better than most

296
00:19:22,578 --> 00:19:26,038
horses. Raylan mounted and saluted Joseph.

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00:19:26,038 --> 00:19:30,957
"Until I return, travel safe, Guildmaster." With a
kick, the horse took

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off at a gallop through the gates and across the
bridge.

299
00:19:34,078 --> 00:19:37,398
Raylan could still see pools of blood on the
wooden planks.

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00:19:37,398 --> 00:20:09,218
(instrumental music plays)