The Thieves Guild
by Jake Kerr.
Episode 95:
Ten Families.
Relan considered how to present the news.
It was possibly the most important message he would ever speak in his life.
The 10 men and women in the room were a subset of the families of those
dislocated from the Lower Quarter, but they were all influential.
As they went, the Guild would go.
He needed to somehow let the Guild members know that Kerris was
apologizing for Larsson's folly and welcoming back the Harvest Guild
while making sure that they did not believe him, or return.
It was an unfortunate position to be in.
On the one hand, he was going to push for civil war when peace was at hand.
He never wanted nor expected to be the one to push for that route.
On the other hand, the Thieves Guild was exposed, and if the Harvest
Guild embraced peace, the entire city would unite to
eradicate the thieves. Despite their kindness to the Harvest Guild,
he was certain that Sax and Orion, as well as Kerris and possibly
even Polo, would push for their removal as a newly discovered threat.
The deciding factor for Relan was the obvious reality: Orion
was a real threat, and by establishing his nephew as the guild master
merchant, he was creating some kind of maneuver to remove Relan or Polo,
opening a vote that would usher in Orion as the undisputed leader of Ness.
He cleared his throat.
"My new friends, the newly established guild master merchant has offered
your homes back.
He apologizes for what his predecessor has done and promises to rebuild
the Lower Quarter."
Blunt, to the point. Start with the edifice and then remove its
foundation.
Murmurs that turned into smiles and happy discussions followed his
announcement. Relan waited, and then the moment came.
A new voice from a small and older woman spoke up.
"We can return home. Thank the gods for Orion
and his nephew."
Before the chorus of agreement could come, Relan broke in.
"Are we so certain?"
His voice was strong, and the question came out as a challenge more than
an inquiry.
"What do you mean?"
The woman replied, her voice already shrinking.
"Orion sat back when you were forcibly removed from your homes.
Is that the behavior of someone trustworthy?"
Relan changed the tone of his voice to thoughtful.
He had never considered himself a born leader.
He was the mischievous boy who was placed in a position of authority due to a
wayward punishment. But at that moment, all his words,
the tone of his voice, and the way he guided the conversation came naturally
and with the precision of a stiletto.
"Orion is simple-minded. Everyone
knows that."
"He is jolly.
The same was said of Pietro, a harmless old man, universally beloved by
everyone. Yet you sit in his stronghold surrounded by knights in black.
And just so, do you see any of those wearing the yellow sitting next to you?
If Orion stood out of the way due to his simple-mindedness, why did his guild members
not help you?
They were your neighbors. They stood idly by, and they were protected."
There were murmurs around the room.
"Indeed, it is clear that the command to not help their Harvest Guild
brothers and sisters came from Orion himself."
"Why would Orion do such a thing?"
Simpson said.
Relan looked at him, and he could see that Simpson was desperately latching onto
Orion as his salvation.
The idea of the thieves providing assistance was too much.
"Remember what occurred at the guild master banquet.
Two people voted to stop the merger of the Harvest and Craft Guilds, your guild
master (pauses)
and me."
More murmurs.
"Why would Guild master Orion and guild master Polo be on opposite
sides of something so momentous?"
Simpson, still looking suspicious, replied...
"But things may be different with this Kerris fellow."
"True."
Relan paused as the various family matriarchs and patriarchs looked at each
other, a few sharing whispered comments.
"Yet things may be the same. We cannot be certain."
Relan latched onto Simpson's uncertainty and brought his argument home.
"You may be safe, you may not be. Perhaps it would be best if you waited for
guidance from your guild master."
It was Relan's only hope. He was convinced that Polo would know
what was going on and would object to anything offered by Orion or his
nephew.
Yet it would be impossible to get a word from Polo while he hid in Harvest
House.
That wasn't a problem, however. Polo's hesitation to move in public
would further raise suspicions among the Harvest Guild members as to Orion's
and Kerris' intentions.
All Relan had to do was have the families agree to wait for word from Polo,
and he would have the time necessary to assess things with reports from Allard,
Vesper, Rogers, the other captains, and possibly even
Maylor.
I will travel to Harvest House and inquire with Guildmaster Polo myself.
Simpson, the man who had proven to be the most inclined to
doubt Relan, was now calling his bluff.
I fear that would be impossible. You would be unsafe with the chaos in the
streets and the merchants guarding the bridge and the lower quarter.
We have been invited back. I will go alone as a representative of our
guild members in the wretched quarter.
I will meet with Guildmaster Orion and Charis and tell them that we
will do nothing without Polo's guidance.
Three thoughts went through Relan's
head. The first was that he was positive that neither Orion nor
Charis had anticipated such a scenario.
The second was that there was no way they would allow one of the refugees to meet with
Polo. The third was that Simpson had just volunteered for his own
imprisonment or even death.
It is a wise decision if you believe that Orion and Charis are acting in good
faith,
but if you are wrong and they have no intention of goodwill for Guildmaster Polo,
they will see you as a threat and your life will be in jeopardy.
Why a threat?
There can only be one reason for letting you return to the lower quarter if
Orion and Charis have false intentions, to draw out Guildmaster
Polo.
If Guildmaster Polo believes them, they will imprison or kill him.
If he does not, they will use his disregard for your wellbeing as an excuse to replace
him.
We would never question Polo.
Someone shouted, and a chorus of agreement followed.
But does Guildmaster Orion or the new Guildmaster Merchant know that?
There was no reply.
It matters not. If I do not return, I am a message that
Guildmaster Orion is not to be trusted.
If I return, we will know it is safe.
Simpson laid his hands flat on the table.
Either way, the message will be delivered.
Relan admired Simpson's courage.
You are not to be dissuaded?
No.
Turning to the room, Relan spoke out.
Do you all agree that Simpson will be your guidepost, and until we hear word of his
completed mission, you shall remain our guests, safe with the thieves?
There was still a hesitation in admitting to being guests of the
thieves, but everyone either stated agreement or murmured it.
Very well. I will leave you to your own counsel.
If you need anything, you can send word to Captain Cude.
Relan stood up, followed quickly by Cude and Dirk.
They exited the room, leaving behind loud discussion.
As they walked down the steps of the building, Cude whispered to Relan.
That was a masterstroke, sir. They will remain calm and await a message that will
undoubtedly never be delivered.
Relan frowned.
I would have preferred not sacrificing one of our guests to achieve the goal.
Who do we have in the lower quarter?
Rogers and Moss, sir.
Rogers is still missing. Send word to Moss and have him shadow
Simpson.
If we have ways to watch him in the towers and, more importantly, rescue him,
I want it done.
Cude nodded.
I will send word to Moss.
Simpson's safety will be of paramount importance.
Relan was still too new to know the extent of the thieves' network and
how far into the merchant and craft tower that they had infiltrated, but
he hoped that Cude was right. He didn't want to see Simpson imprisoned,
hurt, or killed, but he also knew a very simple truth.
A rescued Simpson was the most important Simpson of all.
(dramatic music)