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The Thieves Guild

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by Jake Kerr

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(dramatic music plays) . Episode 87:

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New Colors.

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One of Karch's favorite things to do was to make
those who wanted to see him wait.

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It was a clear illustration of who controlled the
power in any relationship,

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from a low-level guild member to a visiting
deputy.

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Making them wait told them that Karch was the most
powerful non-guild master in

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Ness.

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So he wasn't surprised when he walked into the
Knight Tower and was told

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to wait. His previous visit was recent, and he had
left with Sax

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in a rage over Karch's probing questions.

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As he entered the Knight Tower again, he had
requested an emergency meeting with

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Sax and, well, he fully expected Sax to do to
Karch

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what he had done to countless others.

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It had been two hours, however, and Karch was
finding his newfound humility

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drifting away.

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Only the lowliest of guild supplicants were made
to wait for a meeting longer than the same

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day, and here he was, watching dusk fall on the
city.

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At least the room was comfortable. Sax seemed to
have a taste for luxury,

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and that included his receiving room, which had
plush couches and side

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tables with meats and cheeses. Karch wasn't
hungry, but he was

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appreciative of the soft seating.

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A mid-level Knight protector walked into the room.

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Excuse me, Deputy.

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Sax hadn't even sent a captain. "Yes?" Karch stood

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up, trying to suppress his anger over the lack of
respect.

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Guild Master Sax regrets to inform you that he
will be unable to see you today.

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If you like, I can have a coach summoned to return
you to the Merchant Tower.

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"I will wait."

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"Excuse me, sir?"

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The knight looked confused and uncertain of how to
respond.

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"I will await Guild Master Sax's summons from this
spot." Karch sat

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back down on the couch. "I've waited longer in
less comfortable circumstances." The

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former wasn't true, but the latter was.

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Regardless, Karch had made his point.

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"Um,

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okay, sir.

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I will inform the guild master."

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Karch had to hand it to Sax. He didn't care at all
about annoying the

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deputy guild master of the most powerful guild in
Ness, as Karch had

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waited all night. Clearly, Sax felt his role was
so important

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that he was untouchable. Karch agreed with that
assessment, and

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that was why he had waited almost a full day to
meet with him.

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A different knight walked in. It was Captain
Gilmore, who Karch knew

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as the Captain of the Knight Tower. He had
replaced the previous captain,

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who was demoted when Raylan and Allard had
escaped.

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"Deputy, we appreciate your patience."

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He walked over with his hand outstretched.

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Karch stood up and held out his hand. "Some things
are worth waiting for."

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"Indeed. These are trying times."

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Gilmore's firm handshake and respectful demeanor
seemed to indicate

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that the power games were over.

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"Sax will see you momentarily. Is there anything
you require before?"

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Another attempt at a delay. "If I say anything,
this meeting

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will get pushed to tomorrow." "Thank you for your
concern, Captain, but I need

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nothing." It was presumably a final test, as
Gilmore nodded,

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turned, and said...

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"Follow me, sir."

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Karch was reminded of how much he loathed Sax's
drunkenness and excesses.

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His previous visit had ended with wine spilled on
a centuries-old rug of

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intricate design, and there was Sax once again
sitting on his

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throne, a goblet in his hand.

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"Karch,

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I just knew you would be here today."

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"I was here yesterday."

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Karch bowed, and then added, "Guild master."

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"Yes, you were, but what I meant was that the
circumstances demanded you visit me sooner or

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later."

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The comment was wiser than Karch had expected from
Sax.

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Did he truly understand that Larsen's plans would
require a desperate

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plea from Karch in one form or another?

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Perhaps he was like Orian, hiding his savvy
designs behind a

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facade, Sax's facade being irrational violence and
too

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much wine. That would certainly have explained
Karch's previous visit.

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A cold, calculating, and formidable Sax was
exactly what Karch

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was hoping for, so he spoke with at least some
optimism in his voice.

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"Yes. I fear that circumstances are changed and
desperate." Sax

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nodded, his eyes practically twinkling in
anticipation of Karch's next

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words, as if he knew them already. "What I'm about
to say may put my life in

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danger, but I fear I must."

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Karch lowered his head. "I wish to change my guild
loyalty to the Knights."

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Karch looked up, but Sax just sat on his throne,
smiling.

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His lack of response made Karch
uncharacteristically nervous, and he added...

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"I understand that this is frowned upon, that once
you remove the brown of the guildless,

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you have made a commitment to your guild.

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But I also know it has been done before."

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Karch's words departed his mouth faster and
jumbled together.

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"My skills are well-known, and the respect I have
in the Upper Triangle is great,

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where I believe I can be a real asset for you.

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And I would like to add that I make this request
with no expectation of a senior position.

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I just wish to help.""Slow down, Karch."

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Sax held up both hands, his wine sloshing out of
his cup.

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"This is not at all a surprise. No one in their
right mind would want to be a deputy to that sad

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excuse of a guild master."

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Sax's face turned serious. "Although I'm surprised
you didn't make a go at

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taking on the guild master position yourself."

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Karch was confused. He found it odd that Sax would
openly call Larsen a

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sad excuse for a guild master, and he was doubly
confused that Sax

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would expect Karch to take Larsen on in a power
struggle.

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Certainly he knew that was suicide. If nothing
else, Larsen's blade

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would kill him.

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"While I am confident of my abilities, I'm afraid
I don't have the resources

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to overthrow Larsen, as unpopular as he may be
today."

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Sax stared at Karch for a moment, and then burst
out in laughter.

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"I'd forgotten I had you cooped up for the past 24
hours.

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By the gods, Karch, you better approach and have a
drink." Sax reached

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over for a bottle, and Karch knew that some
invitations were not wise

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to decline, so he walked over and took the bottle
from Sax.

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"Drink it from the bottle.

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If you're going to be a knight, you may as well
drink like your brethren."

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Karch felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders.

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Sax had basically just given him admission into
the Knight Guild.

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He was free of Larsen and his insane plans.

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Karch took a long drink, and as he brought the
bottle down, Sax took a

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long drink from his cup.

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"Thank you for the welcome, Guild Master."

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"Oh, you poor fool.

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That wasn't a welcome.

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That was to prepare you for the news."

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Sax leaned forward as if he was deliciously
waiting to hand over a

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gift to a child and wanted the moment to linger.

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"Larsen is dead.

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Orion's idiot nephew is the new guild master.

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Presumably Larsen was looking out at the charred
remains of the flats and

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tossed himself through his office window."

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Sax shrugged, not looking particularly upset.

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"At least that was Cheris' story.

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Orion vouched for it right away, so there was fear
of contradicting the boy,

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and, well,

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he was assistant guild master,

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so now he's guild master."

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Karch was glad he didn't have wine in his mouth or
he would have spat it out in

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surprise.

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"But assistant guild master isn't even an official
guild position."

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"You could perhaps have made that argument
yesterday while you were in the tower, but it is
too late today.

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Besides, I'm guessing you'd be dead too if you
were there.

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That Orion seems to be a slippery one." Karch
nodded.

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"He is."

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Regaining his composure, Karch spoke directly to
Sax, who looked at

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him with a bemused smile.

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"So may I pledge fealty to the Knight Guild and
your leadership?"

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For a moment, Karch thought Sax would say no, but
his booming

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voice rang out with an... "Yes,

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we'll find something for you to do."

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Karch took another drink from the bottle, which
received an approving nod from

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Sax.

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"I don't know what this means, Guild Master.

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Orion effectively controls two guilds now.

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How does that change the plans in the lower
quarter?

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Will Polo see this as an opportunity, and how do
you see your alliance play out?"

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"You amuse me, Karch. Already with your thinking,
and, uh,

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who cares?"

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Sax waved a hand in some vague direction.

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"More chaos just means more fun. We are the
knights, Karch. Don't forget that.

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Nothing happens in Ness without my approval.
Remember that.

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So let's enjoy how the other guilds make a mess of
things.

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We are above all of it."

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Karch didn't quite agree with Sax, but he nodded
anyway.

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"Indeed, sir."

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"Let me tell you the important thing to do right
now."

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"What's that, sir?"

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"Drink."

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And Sax laughed as he drank from his goblet.

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Karch took another drink from the bottle,
wondering if there existed a guild master in

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Ness that was worth anything.

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(dramatic music)