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The Thieves Guild

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by Jake Kerr

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(dramatic music plays) . Episode 65:

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Glorious Flames.

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The only thing that bothered Larsen was that, from
his office, he couldn't see the fire that

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was destroying the Greenbelt. It was just out of
his line of sight to the

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left.

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He could, however, see the flames billowing into
the air throughout the flats

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and they were glorious. Pattis had just left with
an assessment and

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things could not have gone better. The Grell and
Ironside families were deep in

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the Merchant Guild dungeons while the other minor
families that lived near the river

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were being shuttled across the Great Bridge and
dumped in the Wretched Quarter.

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He

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had one more night to clear out a few more
troublesome families and then

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resistance would be minimal as he, Sacks, and
Orion cleared

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out the Harvest Guild from everywhere but the
Harvest District.

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He returned to his desk. He had not heard from
Karch in days and that

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worried him.

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Pattis was the blade. He was not the one to
organize the work that needed

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to be done to clear the flats and Lower Triangle.

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For that, he needed someone with a sense of
authority, not just

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ruthlessness. "That is Karch," Larsen thought as
he

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drummed his fingers. "People will listen to
Karch." The trouble was

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that Karch was late from his mission to the
Outlands.

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Larsen cursed himself. He had no more need of the
Outlanders and Karch's

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mission was irrelevant. What Larsen needed was
Karch back in Ness.

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With a slam of his fist, Larsen rose. He marched
to the door to

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his office, exiting with a comment to the guard.

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"Wake me immediately when Karch arrives."

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The guard saluted as Larsen turned and paced to
his quarters.

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He had one more night of burning and then Karch,
or he himself,

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would have to organize his captains.

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They would listen to him, but Larsen didn't know
their strengths as well as Karch did.

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"He'll be here tomorrow," Larsen hoped.

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As he set his head on his pillow, Larsen couldn't
help but smile as the scent

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of burning wood drifted in through the window.

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A Council of Thieves.

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Despite reassurances from Allard and Rafe, Raylan
was nervous about his

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first guild council meeting. He had spent time
with each captain, but

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each meeting was short and many were awkward, at
least in Raylan's

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mind. Khud, the captain of the Old Quarter, was
almost rude

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in how he peppered Raylan with questions about
governance that Raylan was

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ill-equipped to answer. As he stammered, Allard
stepped in and said,

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"If the guild master knew the answers to all those
questions, what need would he have for

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you?"

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It shut Khud up, but Raylan still felt foolish.

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Miyo seemed angry that Raylan traveled through the
plains without difficulty

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and even angrier over the fact that Raylan had
successfully dealt with the

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Outlanders. It was like his success, in the same
way that Pietro

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was successful, was somehow an insult.

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Rafe had warned Raylan that Rogers appeared to be
trouble but Rogers, for some

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reason, had not yet arrived. "You look like a
guild master," Allard

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said as he entered Raylan's study.

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His hood was down but his usual intimidating
outfit of robe and armor

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was on display. He always appeared ready for
combat.

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"I feel too young to be a guild master." "You look
like a young guild

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master," Allard replied, his broad smile making
Raylan feel more at

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ease. "I'm just afraid that they won't take me
seriously.

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They'll listen to you, but how can I elicit their
respect if they are actually going

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to be listening to you?" "You don't elicit
respect, guild master," Allard

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said, walking over and putting his large hand on
Raylan's shoulder.

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"You earn it." "But how do I earn it?" "Well,
let's see, shall we?"

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And without saying anything more, Allard led
Raylan into the council

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chambers. Raylan slid into his chair at the head
of the table.

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Eight of his captains were staring at him with two
empty chairs, those

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for Maylor and Rogers. He cleared his throat and
started on his prepared

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first words which he had chosen to lift their
morale.

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"Um,

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so it appears you all have done a good job and
things are going well."

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Raylan paused, expecting nodding heads or even
some smiles,

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but everyone was quiet. Before he could attempt to
get things on track,

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Zall, the captain of the wealthy Upper Triangle
broke in.

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"Going well?

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Our blade is missing, possibly imprisoned by the
Harvest Guild.

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We don't know if our threat to the guild master
merchant will be effective at him not trying to
assassinate

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Guild Master Polo and, may I add, Karch just came
through the great gate from the

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Outlands. Who knows what he's arranged with the
Outlanders?"

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Murmurs from both sides of the table filled the
room until a clear and

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strong voice cut through the noise. "I do."

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All eyes turned to Raylan.

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He had only discussed his mission with Miyo, so he
was not surprised at the concern.

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"I know what happened with Karch as I was there.

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At the bridge to Gautland, his guards were slain
by a rain of arrows."

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"... Karch was spared by the Crown of the Outlands
and fled on my horse.

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I passed him during my return on a mighty steed
that was gifted to me by the

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Crown."

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Murmurs of a different sort filled the room as
Relan paused.

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Telling the story filled him with a confidence
that didn't exist when he entered the

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room. He had faced the Crown of the Outlands, and
not only lived,

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he procured a promise of a temporary peace.

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"The Outlanders are not a concern, at least not
now.

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They desire the trade route from Ness to reopen,
and I promise to do that."

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More murmurs.

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"In the meantime, he has promised a temporary
peace, which will

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reinforce my respect with the Ranger Guild."

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Relan peered at Zarl.

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"But I appreciate your other concerns.

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I will address one, and you shall report to me on
the other."

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Relan was quiet as he looked at Zarl, who lowered
his head and replied...

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"Understood, Guildmaster."

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"You have asked about the assassination risk
toward Guildmaster Polo.

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If this risk originated with my brother, I assure
you it is no longer a

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concern.

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I know him better than anyone.

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He is a coward, and the threat that was left in
his room has shaken him."

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Relan looked around the table.

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"Who is the captain of the district that includes
Merchant Tower?"

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That would be me, sir.

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A portly man with blonde hair slicked back and
tied in the style of

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Karch raised his hand.

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Captain Tarse.

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There is no true merchant district, as you know,
but I oversee the area, Founders Park,

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Merchant Avenue, and the banks of the North Fork.

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"Very good."

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Relan stood up. He was nervous and excited, and he
was finally able

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to do what he had wanted to do: get and share
information.

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He started to pace back and forth.

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"Captain Tarse, explain to me what has changed in
regards to Larsen and

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Merchant Tower."

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Larsen has not been seen in days. He generally
will visit the leading merchant account handlers
along

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Merchant Avenue or visit Guildmaster Orion or Sax.

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He is not active, but he is not inactive either.

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But of late, he has not left Merchant Tower.

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Relan nodded. "And the defenses around the tower?"

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Escalated, sir. The doors are usually closed,
whereas before they were usually open.

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Lots of guards are monitoring the area.

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Relan stopped pacing and turned toward his
captains.

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"It is as I predicted. Larsen is frightened.

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He doesn't know where the threat came from, so he
is reacting without focus, increasing

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defenses everywhere."

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Tapping his hand on his chair, Relan added...

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"With the Outlanders not engaged, and Larsen
frightened, I consider the

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assassination risk of Polo no longer our concern.

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He is safe in Harvest House."

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Not a single voice in the room objected.

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Relan was pleased. He was doing well.

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However, before he could continue, Captain Tarse
cleared his voice.

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Excuse me, sir.

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"Yes?"

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I should probably add that the suspicious activity
not just at the tower, but in the whole district
has

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increased.

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"What do you mean by suspicious activity?"

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For us thieves, suspicious activity is a higher
concentration of guards and armed citizens.

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The activity in the guild docks on the North Fork
and up and down Merchant Avenue is disturbing.

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There are merchant guards everywhere.

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Nodding his head, Relan replied.

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"Thank you, but I consider that just an extension
of my brother's paranoia.

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It would not surprise me for him to have armed
guards patrolling all the way up to

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Craft Tower with what we threatened him with."

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Tarse nodded his head.

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"Deputy Allard, do you have any thoughts on the
matter?"

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Allard stood behind Relan, and as Relan turned to
him, he shook his head.

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No, sir. I trust your interpretation of Captain
Tarse's report.

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"Captain Zarl, you did mention one thing that
concerns me greatly,

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and that is the fate of Mela.

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Allard filled me in on her mission and her new
role as my Blade.

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Captain Callias, you gave me an update earlier.

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Would you mind sharing it with all of us?"

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An old man with white hair and a tanned and
wrinkled face spoke up.

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Sadly, the word from Harvest House is that there
was an attempt on

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Polo's life, and the assassin was a Guildmaster
Blade.

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The assassin was taken to their guild prison.

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As voices raised, Callias held up his hand.

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Yes, this is a lie.

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I believe that Mela was captured in her attempt to
warn Polo.

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The Guildmaster is using her capture to illustrate
his strength.

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Not even a Guild Blade can reach him.

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Relan had heard the report earlier, but his heart
still fell.

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He missed Mela's sharp tongue and her talent in
the field, something he

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had experienced firsthand. And he had to admit, he
was also

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attracted to her. She was a challenge, and that
made her exciting to

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him.

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"Where is the guild prison?"

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Relan asked, although again, he already knew the
answer.

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"It is in the mines.

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It is the most secure prison in Ness, with cells
carved out of rock.

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There are no sewers or walls with passages leading
to them."

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Callias shook his head.

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"It is the one prison in Ness, um, where we have
no real access."

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He looked around the room, but no other captain
contradicted him.

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"Who is the captain of the mines?" Relan asked.

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No one said anything.

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"We don't have a captain in the mines. Do we have
a deputy?

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Anyone?"

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Guild Master Pietro did not consider the mines a
priority.

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Allard said from behind Raylan.

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Okay, the mines are a priority now.

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Callias, the mines are under the stewardship of
the Harvest Guild.

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Work with Allard and find a captain who will
oversee them for the guild.

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Yes, Guild Master.

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And do what you can to find out about Maylor, if
she's okay, where she's

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held, what the defenses are like.

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Yes, Guild Master.

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The room was quiet, and Raylan felt like he had
done a good job.

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He had addressed the key issues, even if it had
started in a way he had not

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anticipated. He would talk to each of the captains
individually again before

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they left, and things did seem to be stable.

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With that in mind, Raylan decided to cut the
meeting short and end

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on a positive note.

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Raylan started to pace, only his walk was casual
and

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introspective, not tense or on-edge.

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Okay, we have the unfortunate situation with
Maylor, but we are addressing that.

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Larson's plot seems to have been thwarted, and to
reiterate what I said before,

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things seem to be going well.

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It appears our biggest challenge is simply to
remain hidden.

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We need to continue Pietro's mission, and we
appear to have the luxury of

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secrecy while achieving it.

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Raylan stopped and looked around.

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Does anyone disagree?

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Everyone was quiet, and the only motion was the

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shaking of a few heads.

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Very well. I know I still have a lot to do to earn
your respect and trust,

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but I promise you, I take this position seriously.

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I will honor all of you, and I will honor my
predecessor.

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He was greater than any of us realize. I truly
believe that.

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Leaning forward with his hands on the back of his
chair, Raylan added.

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Thank you. You are all dismissed. There is food in
the reception room.

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Let us relax there as friends.

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Voices rose and chairs scraped across the stone
floor.

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Raylan heard the words, "Good show," and smiled.

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He realized he had forgotten something, however,
and raised his voice.

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One more thing.

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The silence was immediate, and Raylan was awed by
his ability to command

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the room of experienced thieves.

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Why is Rogers not here? Has anyone heard anything?

226
00:14:45,327 --> 00:14:49,007
I had heard there was a fire in the flats, and he
was helping.

227
00:14:49,767 --> 00:14:53,267
Kalos, the stout captain of the Warehouse
District, said.

228
00:14:53,307 --> 00:14:57,887
That is good. He is prioritizing helping others
over a meeting.

229
00:14:58,247 --> 00:15:00,327
I would not have it any other way.

230
00:15:01,107 --> 00:15:03,027
Of course. We are talking of Rogers.

231
00:15:03,867 --> 00:15:06,547
Mio exclaimed with a smile on his face.

232
00:15:06,707 --> 00:15:10,207
When he says he is fighting fires, it probably
means he is fighting a hangover.

233
00:15:11,287 --> 00:15:11,347
(laughs)

234
00:15:11,347 --> 00:15:16,107
The room rolled with laughter, and as the group
headed down to the meats,

235
00:15:16,147 --> 00:15:20,847
cheeses, and ale of the reception, they cracked
jokes about Rogers,

236
00:15:21,187 --> 00:15:25,887
who let the minor inconvenience of a fire keep him
from the first council

237
00:15:25,987 --> 00:15:27,847
under their new guild master.

238
00:15:27,847 --> 00:15:59,027
(dramatic music)