The Thieves Guild
by Jake Kerr
(dramatic music plays) . Episode 65:
Glorious Flames.
The only thing that bothered Larsen was that, from his office, he couldn't see the fire that
was destroying the Greenbelt. It was just out of his line of sight to the
left.
He could, however, see the flames billowing into the air throughout the flats
and they were glorious. Pattis had just left with an assessment and
things could not have gone better. The Grell and Ironside families were deep in
the Merchant Guild dungeons while the other minor families that lived near the river
were being shuttled across the Great Bridge and dumped in the Wretched Quarter.
He
had one more night to clear out a few more troublesome families and then
resistance would be minimal as he, Sacks, and Orion cleared
out the Harvest Guild from everywhere but the Harvest District.
He returned to his desk. He had not heard from Karch in days and that
worried him.
Pattis was the blade. He was not the one to organize the work that needed
to be done to clear the flats and Lower Triangle.
For that, he needed someone with a sense of authority, not just
ruthlessness. "That is Karch," Larsen thought as he
drummed his fingers. "People will listen to Karch." The trouble was
that Karch was late from his mission to the Outlands.
Larsen cursed himself. He had no more need of the Outlanders and Karch's
mission was irrelevant. What Larsen needed was Karch back in Ness.
With a slam of his fist, Larsen rose. He marched to the door to
his office, exiting with a comment to the guard.
"Wake me immediately when Karch arrives."
The guard saluted as Larsen turned and paced to his quarters.
He had one more night of burning and then Karch, or he himself,
would have to organize his captains.
They would listen to him, but Larsen didn't know their strengths as well as Karch did.
"He'll be here tomorrow," Larsen hoped.
As he set his head on his pillow, Larsen couldn't help but smile as the scent
of burning wood drifted in through the window.
A Council of Thieves.
Despite reassurances from Allard and Rafe, Raylan was nervous about his
first guild council meeting. He had spent time with each captain, but
each meeting was short and many were awkward, at least in Raylan's
mind. Khud, the captain of the Old Quarter, was almost rude
in how he peppered Raylan with questions about governance that Raylan was
ill-equipped to answer. As he stammered, Allard stepped in and said,
"If the guild master knew the answers to all those questions, what need would he have for
you?"
It shut Khud up, but Raylan still felt foolish.
Miyo seemed angry that Raylan traveled through the plains without difficulty
and even angrier over the fact that Raylan had successfully dealt with the
Outlanders. It was like his success, in the same way that Pietro
was successful, was somehow an insult.
Rafe had warned Raylan that Rogers appeared to be trouble but Rogers, for some
reason, had not yet arrived. "You look like a guild master," Allard
said as he entered Raylan's study.
His hood was down but his usual intimidating outfit of robe and armor
was on display. He always appeared ready for combat.
"I feel too young to be a guild master." "You look like a young guild
master," Allard replied, his broad smile making Raylan feel more at
ease. "I'm just afraid that they won't take me seriously.
They'll listen to you, but how can I elicit their respect if they are actually going
to be listening to you?" "You don't elicit respect, guild master," Allard
said, walking over and putting his large hand on Raylan's shoulder.
"You earn it." "But how do I earn it?" "Well, let's see, shall we?"
And without saying anything more, Allard led Raylan into the council
chambers. Raylan slid into his chair at the head of the table.
Eight of his captains were staring at him with two empty chairs, those
for Maylor and Rogers. He cleared his throat and started on his prepared
first words which he had chosen to lift their morale.
"Um,
so it appears you all have done a good job and things are going well."
Raylan paused, expecting nodding heads or even some smiles,
but everyone was quiet. Before he could attempt to get things on track,
Zall, the captain of the wealthy Upper Triangle broke in.
"Going well?
Our blade is missing, possibly imprisoned by the Harvest Guild.
We don't know if our threat to the guild master merchant will be effective at him not trying to assassinate
Guild Master Polo and, may I add, Karch just came through the great gate from the
Outlands. Who knows what he's arranged with the Outlanders?"
Murmurs from both sides of the table filled the room until a clear and
strong voice cut through the noise. "I do."
All eyes turned to Raylan.
He had only discussed his mission with Miyo, so he was not surprised at the concern.
"I know what happened with Karch as I was there.
At the bridge to Gautland, his guards were slain by a rain of arrows."
"... Karch was spared by the Crown of the Outlands and fled on my horse.
I passed him during my return on a mighty steed that was gifted to me by the
Crown."
Murmurs of a different sort filled the room as Relan paused.
Telling the story filled him with a confidence that didn't exist when he entered the
room. He had faced the Crown of the Outlands, and not only lived,
he procured a promise of a temporary peace.
"The Outlanders are not a concern, at least not now.
They desire the trade route from Ness to reopen, and I promise to do that."
More murmurs.
"In the meantime, he has promised a temporary peace, which will
reinforce my respect with the Ranger Guild."
Relan peered at Zarl.
"But I appreciate your other concerns.
I will address one, and you shall report to me on the other."
Relan was quiet as he looked at Zarl, who lowered his head and replied...
"Understood, Guildmaster."
"You have asked about the assassination risk toward Guildmaster Polo.
If this risk originated with my brother, I assure you it is no longer a
concern.
I know him better than anyone.
He is a coward, and the threat that was left in his room has shaken him."
Relan looked around the table.
"Who is the captain of the district that includes Merchant Tower?"
That would be me, sir.
A portly man with blonde hair slicked back and tied in the style of
Karch raised his hand.
Captain Tarse.
There is no true merchant district, as you know, but I oversee the area, Founders Park,
Merchant Avenue, and the banks of the North Fork.
"Very good."
Relan stood up. He was nervous and excited, and he was finally able
to do what he had wanted to do: get and share information.
He started to pace back and forth.
"Captain Tarse, explain to me what has changed in regards to Larsen and
Merchant Tower."
Larsen has not been seen in days. He generally will visit the leading merchant account handlers along
Merchant Avenue or visit Guildmaster Orion or Sax.
He is not active, but he is not inactive either.
But of late, he has not left Merchant Tower.
Relan nodded. "And the defenses around the tower?"
Escalated, sir. The doors are usually closed, whereas before they were usually open.
Lots of guards are monitoring the area.
Relan stopped pacing and turned toward his captains.
"It is as I predicted. Larsen is frightened.
He doesn't know where the threat came from, so he is reacting without focus, increasing
defenses everywhere."
Tapping his hand on his chair, Relan added...
"With the Outlanders not engaged, and Larsen frightened, I consider the
assassination risk of Polo no longer our concern.
He is safe in Harvest House."
Not a single voice in the room objected.
Relan was pleased. He was doing well.
However, before he could continue, Captain Tarse cleared his voice.
Excuse me, sir.
"Yes?"
I should probably add that the suspicious activity not just at the tower, but in the whole district has
increased.
"What do you mean by suspicious activity?"
For us thieves, suspicious activity is a higher concentration of guards and armed citizens.
The activity in the guild docks on the North Fork and up and down Merchant Avenue is disturbing.
There are merchant guards everywhere.
Nodding his head, Relan replied.
"Thank you, but I consider that just an extension of my brother's paranoia.
It would not surprise me for him to have armed guards patrolling all the way up to
Craft Tower with what we threatened him with."
Tarse nodded his head.
"Deputy Allard, do you have any thoughts on the matter?"
Allard stood behind Relan, and as Relan turned to him, he shook his head.
No, sir. I trust your interpretation of Captain Tarse's report.
"Captain Zarl, you did mention one thing that concerns me greatly,
and that is the fate of Mela.
Allard filled me in on her mission and her new role as my Blade.
Captain Callias, you gave me an update earlier.
Would you mind sharing it with all of us?"
An old man with white hair and a tanned and wrinkled face spoke up.
Sadly, the word from Harvest House is that there was an attempt on
Polo's life, and the assassin was a Guildmaster Blade.
The assassin was taken to their guild prison.
As voices raised, Callias held up his hand.
Yes, this is a lie.
I believe that Mela was captured in her attempt to warn Polo.
The Guildmaster is using her capture to illustrate his strength.
Not even a Guild Blade can reach him.
Relan had heard the report earlier, but his heart still fell.
He missed Mela's sharp tongue and her talent in the field, something he
had experienced firsthand. And he had to admit, he was also
attracted to her. She was a challenge, and that made her exciting to
him.
"Where is the guild prison?"
Relan asked, although again, he already knew the answer.
"It is in the mines.
It is the most secure prison in Ness, with cells carved out of rock.
There are no sewers or walls with passages leading to them."
Callias shook his head.
"It is the one prison in Ness, um, where we have no real access."
He looked around the room, but no other captain contradicted him.
"Who is the captain of the mines?" Relan asked.
No one said anything.
"We don't have a captain in the mines. Do we have a deputy?
Anyone?"
Guild Master Pietro did not consider the mines a priority.
Allard said from behind Raylan.
Okay, the mines are a priority now.
Callias, the mines are under the stewardship of the Harvest Guild.
Work with Allard and find a captain who will oversee them for the guild.
Yes, Guild Master.
And do what you can to find out about Maylor, if she's okay, where she's
held, what the defenses are like.
Yes, Guild Master.
The room was quiet, and Raylan felt like he had done a good job.
He had addressed the key issues, even if it had started in a way he had not
anticipated. He would talk to each of the captains individually again before
they left, and things did seem to be stable.
With that in mind, Raylan decided to cut the meeting short and end
on a positive note.
Raylan started to pace, only his walk was casual and
introspective, not tense or on-edge.
Okay, we have the unfortunate situation with Maylor, but we are addressing that.
Larson's plot seems to have been thwarted, and to reiterate what I said before,
things seem to be going well.
It appears our biggest challenge is simply to remain hidden.
We need to continue Pietro's mission, and we appear to have the luxury of
secrecy while achieving it.
Raylan stopped and looked around.
Does anyone disagree?
Everyone was quiet, and the only motion was the
shaking of a few heads.
Very well. I know I still have a lot to do to earn your respect and trust,
but I promise you, I take this position seriously.
I will honor all of you, and I will honor my predecessor.
He was greater than any of us realize. I truly believe that.
Leaning forward with his hands on the back of his chair, Raylan added.
Thank you. You are all dismissed. There is food in the reception room.
Let us relax there as friends.
Voices rose and chairs scraped across the stone floor.
Raylan heard the words, "Good show," and smiled.
He realized he had forgotten something, however, and raised his voice.
One more thing.
The silence was immediate, and Raylan was awed by his ability to command
the room of experienced thieves.
Why is Rogers not here? Has anyone heard anything?
I had heard there was a fire in the flats, and he was helping.
Kalos, the stout captain of the Warehouse District, said.
That is good. He is prioritizing helping others over a meeting.
I would not have it any other way.
Of course. We are talking of Rogers.
Mio exclaimed with a smile on his face.
When he says he is fighting fires, it probably means he is fighting a hangover.
(laughs)
The room rolled with laughter, and as the group headed down to the meats,
cheeses, and ale of the reception, they cracked jokes about Rogers,
who let the minor inconvenience of a fire keep him from the first council
under their new guild master.
(dramatic music)