The Thieves Guild
by Jake Kerr
(dramatic music plays) . Episode 76:
A Three-Pronged Challenge.
Orion was positively giddy when Vesper walked into his office.
He pushed his chair back, stood up, and walked around to meet Vesper,
something he rarely did. "Vesper. You don't look worse for wear,
especially having made it through the Wretched Quarter."
Vesper took Orion's outstretched hand and shook it.
He was nervous about Orion's mood. Orion was always well-liked and
friendly in his dim-witted, happy-go-lucky role in public, but his
private persona was cruel and mercenary.
If there wasn't an immediate goal achieved that helped his interests, Orion wasn't the
type to shake a hand.
"You are kind to overlook my bruises and weariness, Guildmaster."
"Nonsense. You have done your job, and such is the price you paid.
You are better for it."
Orion waved to the couch for Vesper to sit, an honor he rarely bestowed on
his Blade, even though he was Orion's most valuable Guild member.
"You did do your job,
didn't you?"
And there was the rub.
Orion must have assumed from Vesper's presence that he had succeeded in
assassinating Relon. Vesper sat, wondering if his news would be
perceived better or worse than having succeeded in his mission.
"Alas, sir, I did not succeed in killing Relon, but I have even more
valuable information."
Orion frowned, but didn't say anything.
"This is going to sound unbelievable, but I assure you that it is true.
I traveled along the banks of the Great River, and through the Ash Fields, to find this
information which I witnessed with my own eyes."
Orion nodded. "No need to exaggerate, Vesper.
Larsen is digging his own grave, so there is little that you can say regarding Relon that will be
worth more than my passing notice."
Leaning back, Orion waved a hand. "Go on."
"My first discovery is that the Wretched Quarter is inhabited by guild
members of all our guilds. People doing menial jobs, and who can't afford to live in the
flats, let alone the Lower Triangle."
"Yes, yes, yes.
I know this.
This is why it's the Wretched Quarter. Our wretched guild members live in the streets there.
It is sad,
but it is the way it is."
"But I discovered they are not living in the streets, and the Wretched Quarter is
simply a facade. Behind the areas near the Great Bridge are taverns,
townhomes, and people living normally."
Orion stared at Vesper as he continued.
"I dare say the lodgings are similar to the Lower Triangle."
Better than the flats, Vesper thought.
"But
it is lawless,"
Orion said, a tinge of uncertainty in his voice.
"It is overrun by thieves."
"It is not lawless, and it is not overrun by thieves.
It is run by thieves, the Thieves Guild."
With Orion's face frozen in shock, Vesper outlined nearly everything he
had seen. From the Black Knights manning the walls, to the clean streets and
taverns in the Old Quarter, to the organization of the guild members in all the
other guilds, including craftsmen.
At that, Orion exploded in anger. "These vile thieves have
infiltrated my guild."
"Sir, I'm afraid you don't grasp the gravity of the situation.
They have not infiltrated the guild, they are part of the guild.
They care for, feed, and shelter our guild members."
Orion sat silently, clenching his fists so tight
his knuckles had turned white. "You are telling me that Sachs' men do not
patrol the wall south of the Great Gate?"
"They do not."
"That idiot.
Has everyone lost their senses in this city?"
Orion looked at Vesper. "Sachs' incompetence is bad enough,
but do you realize what Larsen has done?"
"I'm afraid not, sir."
"He has just sent the entire Harvest Guild into the arms of those
thieves. They will assist them, feed them, give them homes.
This vile guild of those that steal from my warehouses will be seen as saviors."
Orion's voice rose, and his anger was such that spittle flew from his
mouth as he shouted. "This is Allard's doing." Orion took a
breath, and was suddenly the calm Guildmaster that people saw outside in
Founders Park. "Do you know where Allard hides himself?"
Vesper immediately thought of the majestic Tower of the Thieves.
"I do not, sir."
He also excluded Relon from the conversation.
If he was going to look out for himself, he would have to share information
selectively, and exposing Relon and Allard did not seem wise.
Orion scratched his head. Vesper had never seen him so thoughtful.
Orion was different things to different people, but Vesper had never seen him
anything but decisive and commanding in leadership.
He tended to make smart decisions, but he always seemed to make them by instinct.
That Orion was thinking took Vesper aback.
"This is now a three-pronged challenge for me.
I'll need to manage Polo and his rage at Larsen. I can't be lumped in with him.
Similarly, I need to stop this madness of Larsen's.
I thought I could let him tie his own noose,
but with the thieves welcoming hundreds of new recruits, he is risking all
of Ness."Peering at Vesper, Orion continued.
"The final challenge is to confront these thieves.
You have a new mission, Vesper. You are to return to the Wretched Quarter, find where Allard is
hiding, and then you are to assassinate him."
"Sir, that may take me weeks. I will have to find out the information and then achieve the
formidable task of killing Allard. Do you think this is wise or worth the effort?"
Closing his eyes, Orion took a deep breath.
"Do not disappoint me, Vesper. You can disguise yourself as a Harvest
Guild member. Larson's guild members will gladly escort you to the Wretched Quarter, and
from what you say, they will gladly take you in.
All you need to do is find out where Allard is and kill him."
"As you wish, Guildmaster. Your words are wise."
"Very good." Orion stood up. "I was wrong.
You look awful. Get some rest tonight and head out tomorrow.
I want Allard dead as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir."
Vesper made his way out of Orion's office.
Things were getting interesting, and he didn't want interesting.
He wanted clarity. Orion, who appeared to have things under control when he
first left for the Old Quarter, was now admitting that he had a problem with both
Harvest House and Larson thanks to the thieves' unpredictable
entrance into his plans. The thieves, on the other hand, were
bolstering their ranks, earning goodwill with the refugees and
probably earning thanks from Polo for helping his guild members.
"I need to head to the thieves' tower," Vesper thought.
"I'll provide information to Raylan and Allard and see what they
say. Depending on what I hear, I may have a new mission
or a bloody dagger."
(dramatic music)