1 00:00:01,620 --> 00:00:02,900 The Thieves Guild 2 00:00:04,380 --> 00:00:05,759 by Jake Kerr. 3 00:00:11,279 --> 00:00:12,679 Episode 71: 4 00:00:16,159 --> 00:00:17,280 A Slap. 5 00:00:24,340 --> 00:00:28,679 The lower quarter was a mess, but Karch wasn't concerned about that. 6 00:00:29,139 --> 00:00:31,379 He had to hand it to Pattis and Larsen. 7 00:00:31,819 --> 00:00:36,319 They had burned the will out of the Harvest Guild in the flats and the Lower 8 00:00:36,380 --> 00:00:41,180 Triangle the night before. Clearing out the Harvest Guild members was turning 9 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,899 out to be surprisingly easy as Pattis had noted. 10 00:00:45,419 --> 00:00:48,219 It was everywhere else that was a problem. 11 00:00:48,819 --> 00:00:52,400 Karch had done everything he could, but he was still nervous. 12 00:00:52,699 --> 00:00:55,040 He had just returned from Trader's Bridge. 13 00:00:55,599 --> 00:00:58,659 It was heavily defended by the guild's best troops, 14 00:00:59,379 --> 00:01:04,359 but he was dismayed that no one had taken his command to prepare to destroy the 15 00:01:04,439 --> 00:01:09,199 bridge seriously. It was stone, and destroying it would be difficult. 16 00:01:09,499 --> 00:01:14,439 So, he had hoped that they would have procured some craft guild masons to dismantle 17 00:01:14,499 --> 00:01:17,299 some keystones, but nothing was done. 18 00:01:17,819 --> 00:01:22,479 The North Fork was well-defended with Knight Guild ships, so that was good, 19 00:01:22,839 --> 00:01:27,479 but Sax had practically laughed at Karch when he recommended reinforcing the 20 00:01:27,519 --> 00:01:32,499 defenses of the Nightwatch. The Nightwatch was a fortified tower at the 21 00:01:32,559 --> 00:01:36,939 end of the Great Wall to the east, overlooking the outer and inner 22 00:01:36,999 --> 00:01:38,759 fields and Harvest House. 23 00:01:39,439 --> 00:01:44,099 Karch's fear was the Harvest Guild troops would overpower the White Guard 24 00:01:44,499 --> 00:01:49,279 and rush along the top of the Great Wall, and then descend into the lower quarter 25 00:01:49,359 --> 00:01:53,039 from the north with deadly archers stationed on the wall. 26 00:01:53,039 --> 00:01:55,979 "Your ludicrous idea is insulting, Karch. 27 00:01:56,379 --> 00:01:57,159 Insulting," 28 00:01:57,939 --> 00:02:00,639 Sax had declared from his stone throne. 29 00:02:00,999 --> 00:02:05,699 He and Polo were the only guild masters who sat on thrones and not behind 30 00:02:05,779 --> 00:02:10,579 desks, and Karch found it crass. "I am merely making a recommendation, Guild 31 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,719 Master. The Harvest Guild has the advantage of numbers. 32 00:02:13,999 --> 00:02:18,599 Their assault could continue until the Nightwatch runs out of arrows." "That is madness, 33 00:02:18,599 --> 00:02:19,019 Karch. 34 00:02:20,059 --> 00:02:22,859 Why would the guild be willing to lose so many to take the wall?" 35 00:02:24,399 --> 00:02:28,479 Sax waved a jewel-encrusted goblet, spilling some wine. 36 00:02:28,959 --> 00:02:33,719 Because they have lost so many in the lower quarter already, Karch thought. 37 00:02:34,099 --> 00:02:38,799 Sax was on the verge of drunkenness, a weakness of his that Karch 38 00:02:38,839 --> 00:02:43,619 found intolerable, as it made Sax even more unpredictable. 39 00:02:43,619 --> 00:02:48,419 "Be that as it may, sir, if they choose to assault the Watch, would it not be 40 00:02:48,479 --> 00:02:51,979 wise to be prepared?" "Are you telling me I'm not prepared?" 41 00:02:52,819 --> 00:02:57,739 Sax yelled out, tossing his goblet to the ground, which landed with a thud 42 00:02:58,059 --> 00:03:01,779 as it hit a thick carpet, adding yet another wine stain. 43 00:03:02,319 --> 00:03:06,259 As Sax's face turned red, Karch held up his hands. 44 00:03:06,259 --> 00:03:10,959 "Not at all, Guild Master. I am merely outlining that Polo may be desperate and irrational." 45 00:03:10,959 --> 00:03:14,299 "Polo is cowering like a rabbit in Harvest House, Karch." 46 00:03:15,039 --> 00:03:19,539 Sax shook his head, his demeanor changing to one lecturing a child. 47 00:03:19,539 --> 00:03:22,299 "I understand your fear, but it is unfounded. 48 00:03:23,899 --> 00:03:27,399 My knights are capable of withstanding an assault from a bunch of farmers." 49 00:03:28,399 --> 00:03:33,359 And with that, the meeting was over, and Karch's concerns over the Nightwatch 50 00:03:33,559 --> 00:03:38,099 increased. "The arrogance of Sax and Larsen will be their 51 00:03:38,259 --> 00:03:41,879 undoing," Karch thought as he returned to Merchant Tower. 52 00:03:42,459 --> 00:03:46,779 Trader's Bridge and the Nightwatch were well-defended, but they were not 53 00:03:46,859 --> 00:03:51,559 defended well enough to withstand a desperate enemy, and Karch was 54 00:03:51,659 --> 00:03:56,139 positive that Polo was both desperate and angry. 55 00:03:56,779 --> 00:04:01,379 As he walked through the giant gates of the tower, Kerris, the annoying nephew of 56 00:04:01,419 --> 00:04:06,399 Orion, rushed over. He was a runt of a boy with an ever-present 57 00:04:06,479 --> 00:04:08,499 sneer of privilege and arrogance. 58 00:04:09,179 --> 00:04:13,739 Karch could not believe that Larsen named the boy Apprentice Guild Master, 59 00:04:14,119 --> 00:04:17,779 even if the title meant nothing and it helped with Orion. 60 00:04:17,779 --> 00:04:21,339 "Karch, I've been looking for you all day." 61 00:04:22,199 --> 00:04:27,099 The boy stopped in front of Karch, his fists resting on his hips like he was 62 00:04:27,159 --> 00:04:31,819 going to throw a temper tantrum. "I was busy," Karch said coolly. 63 00:04:32,239 --> 00:04:35,359 He hated the boy more than Relan, if that were possible. 64 00:04:35,359 --> 00:04:39,819 "Well, you're not busy now, and I need you to pick up my new garments from the 65 00:04:39,919 --> 00:04:40,599 warehouse." 66 00:04:41,059 --> 00:04:44,019 Karch stared at Kerris. "I'm not your servant. 67 00:04:44,319 --> 00:04:46,599 Pick them up yourself or find someone else to do it." 68 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:52,239 He took a step to the side to continue past Kerris, when the boy moved in front of 69 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:52,519 him. 70 00:04:52,519 --> 00:04:55,679 "How would you like to end up in the dungeon, Karch?" 71 00:04:56,479 --> 00:05:00,379 Kerris nodded his head in the direction of the guild dungeon. 72 00:05:00,379 --> 00:05:04,659 "You may have forgotten, I'm the apprentice guild master. You report to me. 73 00:05:04,959 --> 00:05:09,179 So, are you going to get my garments, or am I going to call the guard to haul you away for 74 00:05:09,219 --> 00:05:12,939 impertinence?" "I report to Guild Master Larsen, Kerris. 75 00:05:13,339 --> 00:05:16,959 I recommend you talk less, and listen more if you know what's good for you." 76 00:05:17,579 --> 00:05:22,539 Karch used every bit of his self-control not to berate the boy like 77 00:05:22,579 --> 00:05:27,519 the child he was. He once again stepped to the right and started towards 78 00:05:27,579 --> 00:05:32,179 the steps up the tower. Kerris grabbed Karch's arm to stop him. 79 00:05:32,659 --> 00:05:37,319 Spinning around, Karch grabbed Kerris' arm with his left hand, twisting it. 80 00:05:37,639 --> 00:05:42,439 With his right hand, he slapped Kerris hard across the face, staggering him 81 00:05:42,739 --> 00:05:47,539 and leaving a red mark. "You do not touch me, boy." Karch let go of 82 00:05:47,599 --> 00:05:52,539 Kerris' arm and shoved him away. "Listen, I will only say this once. 83 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:56,779 You are here as a favor to your uncle. That favor will only go so far. 84 00:05:56,999 --> 00:06:01,659 So, play your games of power with others, but I don't have time for them." As 85 00:06:01,759 --> 00:06:04,819 Karch walked away, Kerris shouted toward him. 86 00:06:04,819 --> 00:06:07,899 "You'll be sorry for that, Karch. No one touches me. 87 00:06:07,899 --> 00:06:08,419 No one." 88 00:06:08,953 --> 00:06:12,973 Karch resisted the urge to go back and slap the boy again. 89 00:06:15,133 --> 00:06:19,833 A messenger had just left, delivering to Karch an update from the Lower Triangle. 90 00:06:20,073 --> 00:06:24,934 The Greenbelt was ash, and the Harvest Guild members were as demoralized there as 91 00:06:24,974 --> 00:06:26,313 they were in the flats. 92 00:06:26,913 --> 00:06:30,594 The clearing of the Harvest Guild continued to go well. 93 00:06:31,073 --> 00:06:35,874 An earlier messenger had provided even better news, but it was the nature of 94 00:06:35,913 --> 00:06:40,834 that good news that worried Karch. That message noted that there was no 95 00:06:40,933 --> 00:06:45,373 movement from the Harvest Guild near Trader's Bridge or the Night Watch. 96 00:06:45,933 --> 00:06:50,513 As far as anyone could tell, the Harvest Guild was doing nothing as their guild 97 00:06:50,533 --> 00:06:53,574 members were being swept into the Wretched Quarter. 98 00:06:54,493 --> 00:06:59,254 Karch knew that Polo was planning something, and the fact that Karch still 99 00:06:59,313 --> 00:07:02,413 had no idea what that was worried him. 100 00:07:02,833 --> 00:07:07,753 A third messenger arrived. "Larsen demands your presence," was 101 00:07:07,793 --> 00:07:09,433 the entirety of the message. 102 00:07:10,073 --> 00:07:14,973 I wonder if Larsen has received word on movement of the Harvest Guild outside 103 00:07:15,013 --> 00:07:19,713 the wall. It was the only option that Karch would not have any view into. 104 00:07:20,473 --> 00:07:25,313 If it was happening, then Polo would have chosen the riskiest option with the 105 00:07:25,353 --> 00:07:30,053 highest likelihood of failure. As he made his way to Larsen's office, 106 00:07:30,433 --> 00:07:33,393 Karch considered if Polo was that foolish. 107 00:07:34,013 --> 00:07:38,853 He entered to a view he was long accustomed to: Larsen at his desk, looking 108 00:07:38,993 --> 00:07:39,513 angry. 109 00:07:40,173 --> 00:07:44,913 As Karch approached slowly, he could tell that Larsen's temper had spilled 110 00:07:44,953 --> 00:07:49,873 over into irrationality as Larsen stood up the moment he saw Karch 111 00:07:49,893 --> 00:07:54,873 enter. He stood there with his hands on his desk, confrontational and 112 00:07:54,913 --> 00:07:59,613 ready to lash out. I wonder if the Harvest Guild has made their 113 00:07:59,713 --> 00:08:03,133 move. From behind his desk, Larsen growled. 114 00:08:03,133 --> 00:08:07,173 "Are you trying to ruin all my plans or are you just that incompetent, Karch?" 115 00:08:07,653 --> 00:08:12,633 He's going to blame me for the Harvest Guild marching outside the wall, Karch 116 00:08:12,693 --> 00:08:14,813 thought as he stopped in front of Larsen. 117 00:08:14,813 --> 00:08:17,553 "Sir, I have been your faithful assistant for years. 118 00:08:17,953 --> 00:08:22,553 I have made my mistakes, but I believe I have been a valuable asset." "Your plan with 119 00:08:22,573 --> 00:08:27,433 Raylan, a disaster. Your mission to the Outlanders, a failure that cost me some of my 120 00:08:27,433 --> 00:08:29,293 best men. And now this." 121 00:08:29,353 --> 00:08:33,233 Larsen waved his hand in some vague direction. 122 00:08:33,773 --> 00:08:38,733 Karch still didn't know what specific item Larsen was talking about, and he 123 00:08:38,753 --> 00:08:43,033 was smart enough not to remind Larsen that the Outlander mission was 124 00:08:43,173 --> 00:08:46,473 Larsen's idea, so he stood quietly. 125 00:08:47,213 --> 00:08:51,933 Not seeing a response, Larsen took a breath, and in a calm voice added... 126 00:08:51,933 --> 00:08:54,293 "Karch, who is my most important ally." 127 00:08:55,113 --> 00:08:59,853 Karch hated when Larsen asked questions, as the correct answer depended on 128 00:08:59,893 --> 00:09:04,493 Larsen's mood. The question he had just asked could have been answered as 129 00:09:04,573 --> 00:09:09,433 Sax, for his help in managing the clearing of the Harvest Guild, or it 130 00:09:09,453 --> 00:09:14,253 could have been Orion, for just staying out of the way when he could have caused great 131 00:09:14,273 --> 00:09:19,013 difficulty. Or, it could have been some random person who caught Larsen's 132 00:09:19,033 --> 00:09:21,673 eye by helping in some specific way, 133 00:09:22,293 --> 00:09:23,713 such as Pattis. 134 00:09:23,713 --> 00:09:28,533 "Sax, sir. Clearing the Harvest Guild would have been impossible without his cooperation," 135 00:09:29,073 --> 00:09:32,393 Karch finally replied, knowing he had to pick someone. 136 00:09:32,393 --> 00:09:36,833 "Sax?" Larsen practically spat. "He isn't an ally. 137 00:09:37,473 --> 00:09:39,033 He is an utterly predictable puppet. 138 00:09:39,033 --> 00:09:40,573 All he cares about is his comfort." 139 00:09:41,573 --> 00:09:42,913 Larsen shook his head. 140 00:09:42,913 --> 00:09:47,093 "No wonder you made such an idiotic mistake, threatening our most important ally." 141 00:09:47,513 --> 00:09:52,073 The pieces fell into place and Karch suddenly realized why Larsen was 142 00:09:52,133 --> 00:09:53,433 angry. "Orion?" 143 00:09:53,433 --> 00:09:57,853 "Yes, Orion!" Larsen roared, his temper 144 00:09:58,053 --> 00:10:02,193 boiling over. "The same guild master you offended by slapping his nephew." 145 00:10:02,693 --> 00:10:05,133 Larsen's voice rose even higher. 146 00:10:05,133 --> 00:10:07,353 "His vote and his support are critical. 147 00:10:07,733 --> 00:10:12,033 He doesn't care about anything but the security and success of Ness and his simple-minded sense of duty. 148 00:10:12,513 --> 00:10:15,193 And Karch, do you know a key element of that duty? 149 00:10:15,753 --> 00:10:16,533 His family." 150 00:10:17,633 --> 00:10:22,393 Larsen screamed the last word while slamming his fist onto his desk. 151 00:10:22,393 --> 00:10:24,993 "I understand, sir." "Do you, Karch? 152 00:10:26,093 --> 00:10:26,613 Do you? 153 00:10:27,533 --> 00:10:32,493 If you understood that Orion sees me as the future of Ness' security, and that his nephew was his way 154 00:10:32,513 --> 00:10:36,513 of connecting his own family to my success, then why would you strike him?" 155 00:10:37,413 --> 00:10:39,993 Larsen sat down while he shook his head. 156 00:10:39,993 --> 00:10:41,433 "Idiocy." 157 00:10:42,113 --> 00:10:44,913 Karch couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. 158 00:10:45,393 --> 00:10:49,933 To keep Orion happy, Larsen was going to let Orion's nephew run 159 00:10:50,013 --> 00:10:51,733 roughshod over the guild. 160 00:10:52,493 --> 00:10:57,413 Based on the arrogance of the brat, Karch could see Larsen losing the support of 161 00:10:57,453 --> 00:11:01,093 his guild in his effort in trying to appease Orion. 162 00:11:01,093 --> 00:11:06,053 "I understand the boy's importance, but is it wise to let him terrorize the guild members?" 163 00:11:06,393 --> 00:11:11,353 Karch knew better than to contradict Larsen when he was in one of his rages, but 164 00:11:11,453 --> 00:11:16,193 Karch's patience was running thin from Larsen's disaster of a plan 165 00:11:16,533 --> 00:11:21,393 to the reaction to Karch's own concerns from Sax, Pattis, and others. 166 00:11:21,833 --> 00:11:24,493 And now, to Kerris' impertinence. 167 00:11:24,493 --> 00:11:29,133 "Is that what you call it when someone requests you run an errand for them, being terrorized?" 168 00:11:29,993 --> 00:11:32,853 The sarcasm dripped from Larsen's voice. 169 00:11:32,853 --> 00:11:35,733 "Why, you must think I terrorize you all the time." 170 00:11:36,333 --> 00:11:38,513 Karch knew better than to respond. 171 00:11:38,513 --> 00:11:40,753 "I don't know what has happened to you, Karch. 172 00:11:41,293 --> 00:11:45,933 You were my most loyal and accomplished deputy, but you continue to make mistake after mistake. 173 00:11:46,593 --> 00:11:50,993 If I weren't so patient and understanding, I would probably have thrown you in the dungeon already for 174 00:11:51,033 --> 00:11:51,973 planning against me." 175 00:11:51,973 --> 00:11:52,933 "Sir-" 176 00:11:52,933 --> 00:11:56,313 "Shut up, Karch. I don't need to hear any more excuses. 177 00:11:56,953 --> 00:11:58,713 I have decided to give you one more chance. 178 00:11:59,373 --> 00:12:01,293 You will go directly to Kerris and apologize. 179 00:12:02,053 --> 00:12:05,053 Whatever punishment or demand he makes, you are to fulfill. 180 00:12:05,633 --> 00:12:07,893 You will make it clear that you are sincere in your sentiment. 181 00:12:08,253 --> 00:12:13,073 If I don't hear from Kerris that he is pleased with your behavior, I will toss you in the dungeon and leave you 182 00:12:13,133 --> 00:12:13,813 there forever." 183 00:12:14,775 --> 00:12:15,615 "I must object." 184 00:12:15,615 --> 00:12:17,776 "One more word and you go in the dungeon." 185 00:12:18,515 --> 00:12:23,136 Larsen held up a single finger. Karch knew he was serious and simply 186 00:12:23,195 --> 00:12:24,115 bowed his head. 187 00:12:24,115 --> 00:12:25,455 "You are dismissed." 188 00:12:26,435 --> 00:12:31,356 Karch turned and marched the length of the room, his anger barely contained. 189 00:12:31,995 --> 00:12:36,895 The arrogant, self-deluded Larsen was blaming Karch for Larsen's 190 00:12:36,955 --> 00:12:37,975 own mistakes. 191 00:12:38,575 --> 00:12:43,255 And now, with the worst mistake of all happening at that very moment, 192 00:12:43,715 --> 00:12:48,556 Larsen was demanding that Karch apologize to a brat who was yet 193 00:12:48,575 --> 00:12:52,915 another mistake, one that was undoubtedly alienating the guild 194 00:12:52,955 --> 00:12:57,756 leadership. The door to Larsen's office closed behind him, and Karch 195 00:12:57,795 --> 00:12:59,755 walked directly to his own office. 196 00:13:00,415 --> 00:13:02,775 He had to think over what he was going to do. 197 00:13:03,235 --> 00:13:08,135 His path, troubled as it was over the past few weeks, was now even 198 00:13:08,215 --> 00:13:09,035 less clear. 199 00:13:09,676 --> 00:13:14,255 Did he want to commit his loyalty to a guild master full of such delusion 200 00:13:14,595 --> 00:13:19,576 and leading Ness to civil war? And if he did, could he manage things 201 00:13:19,595 --> 00:13:24,555 in a way that he would be the one to swoop in and save things as Larsen was 202 00:13:24,615 --> 00:13:26,856 hanging from a rope in Founders Park? 203 00:13:27,595 --> 00:13:32,295 Whatever path he took, there was only one that avoided him apologizing to 204 00:13:32,356 --> 00:13:37,075 Kerris: abandoning the guild. Karch was prepared to do that, 205 00:13:37,275 --> 00:13:38,995 but was that the right path? 206 00:13:39,756 --> 00:13:44,656 Not entirely sure of anything, Karch entered his quarters and locked the door 207 00:13:44,716 --> 00:13:45,415 behind him.