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The Thief's Guild

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by Jake Kerr.

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Episode 93:

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Executioner's Hollow.

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Rodgers had been through a lot of sewers as a
thief captain.

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They were never used by other guild members beyond
the maintenance sub-guilds, and

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those were all thief members as well.

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The underground pathways linked many destinations
that were important to

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thieves.

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There was even a famous tunnel from years gone by
that had been called the

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Throughway, as it ran along the North Fork, was
wide and easily

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traveled, and was used by the thieves to transport
stolen goods from the

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Warehouse District to the Old Quarter.

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This was much like how the Throughway was used to
do the same thing for the

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merchants and craftsmen above ground.

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That tunnel, unfortunately, had collapsed many
years before, but it was

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indicative of the use that the thieves made of the
sewers.

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The Harvest Guild members knew none of this, and
thus the tunnel that led to

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Executioner's Hollow elicited complaints from the
injured on how

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uneven the path was and how difficult it was to
travel.

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For Rodgers, however, it was a delight, no shit or
piss, and a small

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trickle of fresh water. It was a natural tunnel
that seemed to be

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independent of the sewers. "No wonder we never
knew of this," Rodgers

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thought, as they made another turn and yet again
failed to pass a side

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tunnel or a man-made sewer access.

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It appeared to be a natural tunnel that had no
purpose beyond its

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accidental use as a road between the pit and
Executioner's Hollow.

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There was light ahead, and as it increased in
intensity, so did the

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noxious stench of rotting flesh. A young Harvest
Guild member

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asked,

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"You're from the outer fields and have never made
this journey?"

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Rodgers nodded, and the boy said...

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"Then you should gird your gourd. This is not a
pleasant

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experience."

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"Thank you," Rodgers replied, half-alarmed at

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what he would find and half-amused at the boy's
use of the phrase, "gird

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your gourd."

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It turned out to be much worse than Rodgers
expected.

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The cave opened at the narrow end of a small
canyon or crevice

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more than canyon.

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As it spread to more than shoulder length, the
bones started to appear,

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and after a few more steps, the light dimmed.

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Looking up, Rodgers could see why. Bleached white
leg bones and ribs

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had created a lattice above their heads.

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The bodies that were thrown into the cavern had
stuck in the narrowing of the walls above

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them, and as they decayed, the bones created a
kind of trap.

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As more bodies were thrown into the crevice, the
bones became interlocked with

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those beneath, and the entire thing created a
ceiling of bone.

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Beneath his feet, Rodgers could see the remnants
of crushed bone that those

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that had traveled before had ground into pieces.

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"It is worse ahead.

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There is no ceiling to clear the floor,

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so we've created a path among the dead.

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But fresh bodies slide down and often block the
path."

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And as the light once again shone down, Rodgers
could see what the boy

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meant.

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There was no natural ceiling of bone, no floor of
crushed yet powdery

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bone, no way to try to imagine a way the horror in
front of you.

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There were skeletons and bodies piled to the left,
and a small path to the

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right that hugged the wall. The smell was
overwhelming, and it took all of

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Rodgers' willpower not to vomit.

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From the pools that he worked to avoid, Rodgers
could tell that several of those who came

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through before him were not so strong-willed.

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There were skeletons piled so high on the left
that it was clear why the

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path was not discovered by the knights. It was
barely visible.

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Additionally, it was clear that this was the main
point where the knights

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tossed those executed from the Hollow, as there
was no clear path.

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He had to step over bloated bodies and freshly
dead, their faces

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recently alive but unrecognizable due to being
picked

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over by carrion.

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The path was nothing more than gaps between and
over skeletons and

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bodies, with the bodies shoved to the side when
they blocked the path.

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Eventually, they became skeletons and were more
easily cleared.

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Rodgers knew that he was surrounded by dozens of
his guild mates, killed

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by the knights after being caught stealing
something from the Silo or

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Warehouse District, or for some minor offense, in
another part of

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Ness. It didn't matter.

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Thieves were executed.

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It was the will of all the guild masters.

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It didn't hit him hard until he stepped over the
body of a fat man who must have

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been dumped within the past few days.

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Rodgers looked down as he tried to step around
him, or at least on him, with a

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modicum of respect.

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It was Dealey, one of Mailer's key thief
lieutenants in the Flats.

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He was deeply placed within the Harvest Guild, and
Rodgers immediately knew

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that Dealey had done his duty as a thief and was
helping Harvest Guild members,

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and in the process, paid the ultimate price....

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Deli war no guild colors, so Rogers was certain he
was

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executed as a thief and his colors ripped from his
body, but

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Rogers couldn't imagine why Deli would steal
things amid the attack on the

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Harvest Guild. What was worth the risk of stealing
in the lower quarter

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while so much other activity was going on?

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Rogers would never know, so he silently saluted
his guild mate and

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moved on.

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Thankfully, the trail started to lead up, and the
bodies were soon left

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behind.

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The trail at the top was narrow and treacherous
for all but the children.

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They emerged to the north of Executioner's Hollow
behind a hill that was one of

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the group of hills that surrounded the hollow that
contained the killing field of the

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knights. There was a cart stained dark with dried
and drying blood

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near the lip of the crevice. A large dark-skinned
man with a long

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beard stood waiting for them.

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They are waiting to the northwest.

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There is a valley that is nestled next to a small
hill that hides

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us from the wall.

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Rodgers nodded. "What about the Rangers?"

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They avoid Executioner's Hollow,

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but we will undoubtedly meet them as we approach
the outer fields.

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"Let us go, then."

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Rogers helped the stragglers as best he could, but
the injured had trouble moving,

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and the young were all too ready to run off and
investigate hilltops and random

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paths.

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His group finally reached the valley, and Rogers
took stock.

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There were a few dozen healthy men and women, a
large group of children, and a

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smaller group of badly injured. Two men
approached.

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Rogers, is it?

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It was a young man with flowing black hair.

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He looked grim, but excited. Rogers nodded.

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"I'm Roe."

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Rogers'

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face lit up. "The brave young man who made our
initial plan a success."

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"You have an odd definition of success."

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Rogers was somewhat taken aback. Had he not saved
them?

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"We should have fled immediately, but that fool
Graff wanted us to defend the

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neighborhood."

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"Respect Roe, Graff died defending our homes."

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It was the bald old man that he had seen back in
the pit.

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"Aye, Valmer."

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Roe turned to Rogers.

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"So, we are to flee around the wall to the north
and head to the outer fields?"

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The question reminded Rogers that despite their
perseverance, the families

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from the pit still needed leadership.

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"Yes, we will need to go very wide as to avoid the
White Guard."

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"It's a long journey on foot, especially with
injured."

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"There is no option. I don't believe separating us
is wise.

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Our numbers are still enough to make a small group
pause before harassing us.

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That will not be the case if we are fewer in
number."

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Both Valmer and Roe nodded.

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"Perhaps the Rangers will assist us."

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Rogers found the comment both interesting and
encouraging.

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It was well known that as the only two guilds that
operated outside the

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wall, the Rangers and Harvest Guilds were close,
but the Rangers were

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officially a sub-guild of the knights,

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and their loyalties were supposed to lie there.

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Of course, it was well known that Quinto loathed
Sacs, so perhaps those

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loyalties were considerably weakened.

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They made dreadful progress. Without wagons or
horses, the injured

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had to be assisted or carried, and that slowed
everyone done to

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practically a crawl.

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The good news was that they were out of sight of
the wall, and the knights didn't seem to

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know or care about what became of the residents of
the pit.

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Rogers was constantly tempted to head back.

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He was doing important work, but he was the
captain of the lower quarter, and

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he was no longer there helping in any way.

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He knew things were in good hands with Mas, but he
still felt the pull of his

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duties. There were armed men at the front and
rear, and Rogers himself

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wandered along the line of travelers. He wasn't
sure how long the trip would take.

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He had hoped a single day, but with the pace, it
could easily have gone

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more, which meant that they were going to be in
jeopardy of hunger and thirst.

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There was a shout from the front of the group, and
Rogers sprinted ahead.

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His fear that the knights had found them was
replaced by uncertainty when he

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saw the two men wearing brown. They both had bows
slung over their shoulders

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and wore a mixture of deep brown and flat green.
Rangers.

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The question as to whether the Rangers would help
or not was soon to be answered.

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He approached as one of the Rangers was finishing
talking.

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"The knights attacked you?"

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"No,"

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Rogers said emphatically as he stopped in front of
the two.

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They both turned and peered at him.

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"The merchant guards were aiming to clear the pit
and move everyone to the wretched quarter."

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"I don't know of this pit, but you say that the
mer- (laughs) Merchant

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Guild is attacking the Harvest Guild?"

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He turned to someone Rogers didn't know.

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"Then why did you say knights were attacking?"

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"Your brethren are in league with the merchants.

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While the merchants attacked first, we had word
that knights with cavalry were on the way to
finish the

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job."

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The two Rangers looked at each other.

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The one who had been speaking turned to Rogers.

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"And you are leading this group? Uh, what is your
name?"

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"I am leading purely by fate. I am Rogers, and I
am from the inner fields.

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I found myself nearby when the merchants attacked
and am doing my duty in assisting.

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If I am leading, it is only due to circumstance,
not right."

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The Ranger nodded and looked to the distance.

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"You are taking them to the outer fields?

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Uh-"

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"Yes, we will find shelter with our guild."

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And why did Guildmaster Polo not send help or join
the defense of

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his guild members?

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Rogers had often asked himself the same question
over the past two days.

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He shared his best guess.

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I know not. I believe it is due to the surprise
nature of the attack.

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His guards are near Harvest House, and those who
were caught in the lower quarter were ill-prepared
to

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defend against the attack.

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Additionally, many of the homes were burned to the
ground, so there was confusion as well.

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We don't care much for city concerns, but this is,
this is troubling.

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I will need you to come with me and report to
Guildmaster Quinto.

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He turned to his colleague.

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Gather food and water. From camp, send word to
Captain Uros, uh,

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and see if you can get some horses or carts to
help with

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the injured.

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Turning to Rogers, he added...

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Tell your guild mates to wait here. We will bring
assistance.

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Rogers went up and down along the group and told
everyone that the Rangers

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were going to be sending help.

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The response elicited cries of thanks and many
comments about the

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goodness of the Ranger Guild. When he returned to
the Ranger who had done the

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speaking, he was standing by himself, his
colleague presumably

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off getting help.

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So, what is your name?

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Uh, I apologize for not introducing myself. I am
Vilo.

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He held out his hand, and Rogers shook it.

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Thank you for your assistance, Vilo.

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The ranger shrugged.

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A burning city is not worth defending.

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He turned and added as he started a brisk march
out of the hills.

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Follow me, Rogers. It is a good distance to
Guildmaster Quinto, and we will be on

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foot, but it is an easy journey.

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Rogers shook his head as he increased his pace.

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He had never seen a ranger in his life, and now he
was heading off to meet with their

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guild master

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(dramatic music)

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.