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The Thieves Guild

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by Jake Kerr

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(dramatic music plays) . Episode 77:

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A Clear First Step.

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"Get out of my way, you

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oaf. Why aren't you guarding the south wall?"

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Orion practically marched down Merchant Avenue,
stabbing the stones with his

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feet, his personal guard rushing to keep up.

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Orion had just run into a group of knights who
were blocking Orion's way.

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The knight was going to respond, but as he saw who
it was, he looked

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confused.

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"Apologies, Guildmaster."

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He and his fellow knights got out of the way,
looking quizzically at the

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Guildmaster, whom everyone considered dumb, jovial
and harmless,

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but who had just called one of them an oaf.

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Orion liked to think he always kept control of his
emotions, but Vesper's

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report shook him. Orion had spent years
cultivating a reputation in

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Ness as harmless, and a relationship with Larsen
that provided

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Orion with influence while managing all the

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pieces that would eventually lead to him being the
unquestioned

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leader of the city.

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But the role he created for that long-range plan
was no longer relevant.

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Larsen and the thieves had taken care of that.

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Thus, Orion could no longer afford to be the kind,
harmless Guildmaster.

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He had to be the firm and decisive Guildmaster who
would save the city from the

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traitorous thieves and the traitorous merchant
Guildmaster.

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His initial plan was to leverage Larsen to at
least get things under

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control. He would have Larsen reverse the clearing
of the Lower Quarter.

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They would welcome back the Harvest Guild members,
release those in prison, and

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compensate the families who lost their homes.

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The second part of the plan was to invade the
Wretched Quarter and clear out the

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thieves. Orion had wanted to do that for years,
but he knew it

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was mostly wishful thinking. But now, it was not
only a wish, it

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was a necessity. They had to have the knights
establish control over the

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wall and the streets, and they would have to
destroy any leadership the

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thieves had. Having Larsen initially take part
would make that easier.

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They had no hope of attacking the thieves until
the Harvest Guild members were happy,

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or at least no longer threatening civil war, which
was why Orion was

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marching down Merchant Avenue toward the Merchant
Guild Tower for a meeting

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with Larsen.

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As he expected, the tower was under intense
security.

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The front doors were closed and merchant guards
were everywhere.

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Orion ignored them and went right up to the senior
guard near the doors.

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"I'm here to meet with your Guildmaster."

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The guard seemed unimpressed by Orion, and was
about to reply when Orion

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added, "I don't have time for any objections.

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If you are about to do so, I highly recommend you
rethink your answer."

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Orion stared at the guard, who appeared shocked at
the friendly and quiet

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Orion speaking in such a decisive voice.

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"Um, I will need to ask approval, sir."

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Orion put his hands behind his back. "Make it
quick."

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The guard disappeared behind a group of other
guards and presumably left via a

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smaller entrance that was more convenient and less
vulnerable to a direct

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attack.

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While he waited, Orion stood still, staring at the
door.

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His escort of three heavily-armed guards stood
arrayed behind him.

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Orion was well known, and his silent vigil drew
plenty of attention.

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Merchant Guild guards wandered to see why the
craft Guildmaster was standing at the base of

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Merchant Tower.

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The intense look on his face kept any from asking
questions, however.

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Minutes later, the guard returned. He was
respectful, but blunt as

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he stopped in front of Orion and said...

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"I apologize, Guildmaster. Guildmaster Larsen is
occupied with an important matter and

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requests if he can see you another time."

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"No."

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The guard did a double-take as Orion said nothing
else.

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Clearing his throat, the guard shifted on his
feet.

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"No?"

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"Was it a request?" Orion frowned.

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"Excuse me, Guildmaster?"

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"You said Larsen requested if I could see him
another time.

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That would seem to indicate that he would thus be
willing to see me, as he made his reply

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as a request. I replied, 'No.'

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So, take me to him."

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The guard looked around, but none of the other
guards were willing to back him up in the

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conversation.

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"Sir, we are under heightened security."

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Orion turned to the closest merchant guard to the
one who was speaking to him.

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"Did you hear his words?"

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"Sir?"

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"Is every merchant guard this stupid?

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I asked if you heard this young man state that
your Guildmaster requested another time,

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and I replied, 'Not.'"

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The guard looked at the senior guard, who gave a
slight shrug.

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"Yes, sir. I heard your conversation."

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"Then you will understand if I have my men kill
this guard for

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insubordination and not listening to the desires
of your Guildmaster, and you will

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then take me to Guildmaster Larsen, correct?"

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Before the new guard could say anything, the
senior guard held up his hands.

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"Guildmaster, there is no need for violence. You
are a friend of the guild.

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I perhaps didn't communicate your urgency well
enough to Guildmaster Larsen.

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I will escort you myself."

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Orion nodded. "Wise choice."

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And with occasional sideways glances, the captain
of the gate took

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Orion to see Larsen. Larsen answered the door to
his office himself.

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"Orion, what a pleasant surprise. Come in."

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Orion held up his hand to his guards and entered
Larsen's office alone.

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"This is not a friendly visit, Larsen,"

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Orion replied. He used his normal voice, a voice
he doubted that

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Larsen had ever heard.

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"Is there a problem, old friend?" Larsen placed a
palm on Orion's back

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and walked him over to his couch, their normal
meeting location.

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As Larsen sat down, Orion remained standing.

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"Your idiotic plan is over, Larsen." Orion's words
and commanding

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tone left Larsen in shock, who sat in his chair
with his jaw dropped

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open. "Do you realize how bad things are?

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Do you?"

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Orion started to pace, ignoring Larsen's replies,
if he had even made

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any. "The Harvest Guild will eventually attack and
overwhelm you."

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Larsen's face turned red, but he remained seated.

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With a measured but strained voice, he replied.

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"Orion, sit down. What has gotten into you?

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You have no idea what's going on, you've been too
busy wandering around Founders Park and sitting in
your

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tower."

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The idiot still believes my charade, Orion
thought.

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He didn't answer, but stood still, staring at
Larsen.

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Orion's behavior rattled Larsen, whose normal
response to being crossed was

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to fly into a rage.

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"There is no risk from the Harvest Guild.

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Their members from the Lower Quarter are being
relocated to the streets of the Wretched Quarter.

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Trader's Bridge is under close watch, and Sax has
the wall, the rivers, and the Night

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Watch secure.

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What do you think Polo is going to do, fly to us?"

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"Listen, Larsen, your overconfidence has finally
become your

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undoing. If Polo wanted to, he could simply swarm
over Trader's

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Bridge. Have you forgotten that his guild is the
largest by far?

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Do you have any idea how many people live around
the outer fields?

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How many are in the mines?"

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Orion leaned close to Larsen, and with a sneer
added, "They

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will overwhelm you. It is only a matter of time."

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Frowning, Larsen replied.

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"Your fear betrays you. What has happened, old
friend?

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Do you not realize how well things have gone?

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The Lower Quarter is practically cleared.

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We will be seen as saviors when we invite them
back with the explanation of Polo's

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'betrayal.'"

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Orion clenched his teeth. "I am not your old
friend, you fool.

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I've sat here watching your pathetic machinations
do nothing more than alienate the city,

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but now you've gone too far. Do you realize what
is across the river?"

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Larsen took time answering, the shock of the Orion
he thought he knew

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transforming into the cold and angry man in front
of him, seemingly too

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much for him to grasp. Waving a hand, he finally
muttered.

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"There is nothing across the river but the
Wretched Quarter and the Ash Fields.

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Why does this matter?"

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With Orion towering over him, Larsen finally stood
up.

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Good, his temper is rising. He finally understands
I'm not who he

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thinks I am. "Wrong. There is resistance in the
Wretched Quarter.

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They are armed and organized. Your assumptions of
the Harvest Guild are not

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only stupid, but they ignore the threat from
across the river.

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Can you imagine if these forces rally the Harvest
Guild

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members to attack across the great bridge?

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You will rush to defend yourself, and then Polo
will overwhelm you from the Harvest

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District."

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"What has gotten into you?"

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Larsen grabbed Orion's arm, but Orion shrugged it
off.

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"What force could possibly be arrayed in the
Wretched Quarter? It is dangerous and wild.

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Who has filled your mind with these thoughts?

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This is so unlike you."

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Crossing his arms, Orion replied with a steady but
commanding voice.

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"They are the thieves, Larsen. They have raided
our warehouses and silos for

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centuries. It is now clear that they have been
organized.

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The thieves will attack from the Wretched Quarter
with the help of the Harvest Guild members your

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idiot plan drove into their arms while

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Polo awaits to deal the death blow."

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Larsen went to speak, but Orion held out his hand.
"No.

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Listen to me, you fool.

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You will send your guards out to bring the Harvest
Guild members back.

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You will release the old families, promising them
reparations.

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Once you have resettled the Harvest Guild, we will
clear the Wretched Quarter."

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As Orion spoke, a smile formed on Larsen's face,
which

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irked Orion to no end.

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"Thieves? My friend, you have hated thieves your
whole life.

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I see now what has happened. Your mania for
destroying the thieves has clouded your mind.

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You were looking for some kind of excuse to clear
the Wretched Quarter.

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We even discussed this,

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this recently."

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Orion shook his head, but Larsen laughed.

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"It all makes sense now. Listen, Orion, leave it
all to me.

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We have broken the back of the Harvest Guild, let
us destroy Polo, and then I'll work with Sax to
send

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some forces into the Wretched Quarter."

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Orion closed his eyes and took a breath. Larsen
was a lost cause.

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He could never see the flaws in his own plans. His
ego was too big.

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It was time for a new plan, and the first part of
this new plan was to

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lull Larsen into complacency.

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Reversing course, Orion clasped Larsen's arm.

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"You have given me much to think about, Larsen."

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The smile that spread across Larsen's face filled
the room.

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"Of course, old friend. Think about us sharing the
rule of Ness with Polo out of the way."

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Patting Orion on the back, he added. "We will
clear the Wretched Quarter.

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I understand your concern, the time just isn't
right."

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Larsen gently pushed Orion on the back.

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He feels he has won, and is moving me to the door.

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Orion had to suppress a laugh. Having Larsen feel
he had won

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was what he wanted at that point.

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Orion started toward the door. "Thank you again,
Larsen.

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You were right, of course. I let my hatred of the
thieves get the best of me."

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"It is understandable. They are a blight on the
city.

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But for now, just secure yourself in your tower.

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I have things under control."

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With a handshake and a few more words, Orion left
Larsen's office.

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He had a new plan, one he thought over as he left
the merchant tower.

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The first step was clear, and had to be done as
soon as possible:

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kill Larsen.

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(instrumental music plays)