The Thieves Guild
by Jake Kerr
(dramatic music plays) . Episode 87:
New Colors.
One of Karch's favorite things to do was to make those who wanted to see him wait.
It was a clear illustration of who controlled the power in any relationship,
from a low-level guild member to a visiting deputy.
Making them wait told them that Karch was the most powerful non-guild master in
Ness.
So he wasn't surprised when he walked into the Knight Tower and was told
to wait. His previous visit was recent, and he had left with Sax
in a rage over Karch's probing questions.
As he entered the Knight Tower again, he had requested an emergency meeting with
Sax and, well, he fully expected Sax to do to Karch
what he had done to countless others.
It had been two hours, however, and Karch was finding his newfound humility
drifting away.
Only the lowliest of guild supplicants were made to wait for a meeting longer than the same
day, and here he was, watching dusk fall on the city.
At least the room was comfortable. Sax seemed to have a taste for luxury,
and that included his receiving room, which had plush couches and side
tables with meats and cheeses. Karch wasn't hungry, but he was
appreciative of the soft seating.
A mid-level Knight protector walked into the room.
Excuse me, Deputy.
Sax hadn't even sent a captain. "Yes?" Karch stood
up, trying to suppress his anger over the lack of respect.
Guild Master Sax regrets to inform you that he will be unable to see you today.
If you like, I can have a coach summoned to return you to the Merchant Tower.
"I will wait."
"Excuse me, sir?"
The knight looked confused and uncertain of how to respond.
"I will await Guild Master Sax's summons from this spot." Karch sat
back down on the couch. "I've waited longer in less comfortable circumstances." The
former wasn't true, but the latter was.
Regardless, Karch had made his point.
"Um,
okay, sir.
I will inform the guild master."
Karch had to hand it to Sax. He didn't care at all about annoying the
deputy guild master of the most powerful guild in Ness, as Karch had
waited all night. Clearly, Sax felt his role was so important
that he was untouchable. Karch agreed with that assessment, and
that was why he had waited almost a full day to meet with him.
A different knight walked in. It was Captain Gilmore, who Karch knew
as the Captain of the Knight Tower. He had replaced the previous captain,
who was demoted when Raylan and Allard had escaped.
"Deputy, we appreciate your patience."
He walked over with his hand outstretched.
Karch stood up and held out his hand. "Some things are worth waiting for."
"Indeed. These are trying times."
Gilmore's firm handshake and respectful demeanor seemed to indicate
that the power games were over.
"Sax will see you momentarily. Is there anything you require before?"
Another attempt at a delay. "If I say anything, this meeting
will get pushed to tomorrow." "Thank you for your concern, Captain, but I need
nothing." It was presumably a final test, as Gilmore nodded,
turned, and said...
"Follow me, sir."
Karch was reminded of how much he loathed Sax's drunkenness and excesses.
His previous visit had ended with wine spilled on a centuries-old rug of
intricate design, and there was Sax once again sitting on his
throne, a goblet in his hand.
"Karch,
I just knew you would be here today."
"I was here yesterday."
Karch bowed, and then added, "Guild master."
"Yes, you were, but what I meant was that the circumstances demanded you visit me sooner or
later."
The comment was wiser than Karch had expected from Sax.
Did he truly understand that Larsen's plans would require a desperate
plea from Karch in one form or another?
Perhaps he was like Orian, hiding his savvy designs behind a
facade, Sax's facade being irrational violence and too
much wine. That would certainly have explained Karch's previous visit.
A cold, calculating, and formidable Sax was exactly what Karch
was hoping for, so he spoke with at least some optimism in his voice.
"Yes. I fear that circumstances are changed and desperate." Sax
nodded, his eyes practically twinkling in anticipation of Karch's next
words, as if he knew them already. "What I'm about to say may put my life in
danger, but I fear I must."
Karch lowered his head. "I wish to change my guild loyalty to the Knights."
Karch looked up, but Sax just sat on his throne, smiling.
His lack of response made Karch uncharacteristically nervous, and he added...
"I understand that this is frowned upon, that once you remove the brown of the guildless,
you have made a commitment to your guild.
But I also know it has been done before."
Karch's words departed his mouth faster and jumbled together.
"My skills are well-known, and the respect I have in the Upper Triangle is great,
where I believe I can be a real asset for you.
And I would like to add that I make this request with no expectation of a senior position.
I just wish to help.""Slow down, Karch."
Sax held up both hands, his wine sloshing out of his cup.
"This is not at all a surprise. No one in their right mind would want to be a deputy to that sad
excuse of a guild master."
Sax's face turned serious. "Although I'm surprised you didn't make a go at
taking on the guild master position yourself."
Karch was confused. He found it odd that Sax would openly call Larsen a
sad excuse for a guild master, and he was doubly confused that Sax
would expect Karch to take Larsen on in a power struggle.
Certainly he knew that was suicide. If nothing else, Larsen's blade
would kill him.
"While I am confident of my abilities, I'm afraid I don't have the resources
to overthrow Larsen, as unpopular as he may be today."
Sax stared at Karch for a moment, and then burst out in laughter.
"I'd forgotten I had you cooped up for the past 24 hours.
By the gods, Karch, you better approach and have a drink." Sax reached
over for a bottle, and Karch knew that some invitations were not wise
to decline, so he walked over and took the bottle from Sax.
"Drink it from the bottle.
If you're going to be a knight, you may as well drink like your brethren."
Karch felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders.
Sax had basically just given him admission into the Knight Guild.
He was free of Larsen and his insane plans.
Karch took a long drink, and as he brought the bottle down, Sax took a
long drink from his cup.
"Thank you for the welcome, Guild Master."
"Oh, you poor fool.
That wasn't a welcome.
That was to prepare you for the news."
Sax leaned forward as if he was deliciously waiting to hand over a
gift to a child and wanted the moment to linger.
"Larsen is dead.
Orion's idiot nephew is the new guild master.
Presumably Larsen was looking out at the charred remains of the flats and
tossed himself through his office window."
Sax shrugged, not looking particularly upset.
"At least that was Cheris' story.
Orion vouched for it right away, so there was fear of contradicting the boy,
and, well,
he was assistant guild master,
so now he's guild master."
Karch was glad he didn't have wine in his mouth or he would have spat it out in
surprise.
"But assistant guild master isn't even an official guild position."
"You could perhaps have made that argument yesterday while you were in the tower, but it is too late today.
Besides, I'm guessing you'd be dead too if you were there.
That Orion seems to be a slippery one." Karch nodded.
"He is."
Regaining his composure, Karch spoke directly to Sax, who looked at
him with a bemused smile.
"So may I pledge fealty to the Knight Guild and your leadership?"
For a moment, Karch thought Sax would say no, but his booming
voice rang out with an... "Yes,
we'll find something for you to do."
Karch took another drink from the bottle, which received an approving nod from
Sax.
"I don't know what this means, Guild Master.
Orion effectively controls two guilds now.
How does that change the plans in the lower quarter?
Will Polo see this as an opportunity, and how do you see your alliance play out?"
"You amuse me, Karch. Already with your thinking, and, uh,
who cares?"
Sax waved a hand in some vague direction.
"More chaos just means more fun. We are the knights, Karch. Don't forget that.
Nothing happens in Ness without my approval. Remember that.
So let's enjoy how the other guilds make a mess of things.
We are above all of it."
Karch didn't quite agree with Sax, but he nodded anyway.
"Indeed, sir."
"Let me tell you the important thing to do right now."
"What's that, sir?"
"Drink."
And Sax laughed as he drank from his goblet.
Karch took another drink from the bottle, wondering if there existed a guild master in
Ness that was worth anything.
(dramatic music)