1
00:00:01,620 --> 00:00:02,900
The Thieves Guild

2
00:00:04,380 --> 00:00:05,860
by Jake Kerr

3
00:00:10,340 --> 00:00:12,239
(dramatic music plays) . Episode 97:

4
00:00:16,159 --> 00:00:17,860
A New Mission.

5
00:00:23,819 --> 00:00:28,659
Vespa had filled Allard in on everything he knew,
excluding a few

6
00:00:28,739 --> 00:00:29,739
select facts,

7
00:00:30,519 --> 00:00:34,280
such as his being assigned the job of
assassinating Allard.

8
00:00:34,759 --> 00:00:39,700
Thankfully, Allard appeared to trust Vespa and
revealed what was going

9
00:00:39,739 --> 00:00:41,259
on with the Thieves Guild.

10
00:00:41,259 --> 00:00:46,119
"We are secure. The Harvest Guild members are well
taken care of, and Captain Dirk

11
00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:50,599
is exceptional, so I am confident that the guild
is safe from any kind of immediate attack,

12
00:00:50,979 --> 00:00:52,259
especially from Sax."

13
00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,479
Allard's strides were so long that Vespa had to
almost jog to keep up.

14
00:00:57,479 --> 00:00:59,539
"Yet there are so many unknowns."

15
00:00:59,539 --> 00:01:04,519
"Indeed. I sense that Orion will kill Larsen, but
I don't know who would do that

16
00:01:04,579 --> 00:01:09,559
with me unavailable to do the deed. A botched
assassination of Larsen by Orion

17
00:01:09,559 --> 00:01:12,339
would be a bigger disaster for him than anything."

18
00:01:12,339 --> 00:01:14,499
"Too many unknowns,"

19
00:01:14,759 --> 00:01:19,559
Allard repeated, his deep voice soft and
thoughtful, yet

20
00:01:19,619 --> 00:01:21,759
still somehow sounding loud.

21
00:01:21,759 --> 00:01:26,159
"Well, we can't make decisions just waiting for
things to become clearer."

22
00:01:26,159 --> 00:01:28,519
"You aren't making any decisions,"

23
00:01:28,739 --> 00:01:30,019
Allard growled.

24
00:01:30,019 --> 00:01:34,819
"But your sentiment is correct. Our immediate plan
of escape is sound, but escape

25
00:01:34,999 --> 00:01:36,319
is not helpful at this point."

26
00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:41,139
They walked in silence. Vespa was going to
recommend any number of

27
00:01:41,219 --> 00:01:45,939
things, but all of them failed, because Allard was
an enemy of practically

28
00:01:46,099 --> 00:01:50,299
every guild in Ness. That led Vespa to a thought
of at least

29
00:01:50,559 --> 00:01:51,739
lightening the moment.

30
00:01:51,739 --> 00:01:54,579
"So, are there any guilds that don't hate you?"

31
00:01:55,199 --> 00:01:59,659
Allard glanced at Vespa, a frown visible under his
brown hood.

32
00:01:59,659 --> 00:02:00,619
"No."

33
00:02:00,619 --> 00:02:05,299
"How did you achieve that? It must take a special
talent to make everyone hate

34
00:02:05,339 --> 00:02:05,619
you."

35
00:02:06,379 --> 00:02:08,059
Vesper held up a finger.

36
00:02:08,059 --> 00:02:10,799
"And don't tell me it's because you were a thief.

37
00:02:11,279 --> 00:02:15,119
Everyone loved Pietro, and he was your guildmaster
for many years."

38
00:02:15,719 --> 00:02:16,719
Allard nodded.

39
00:02:16,719 --> 00:02:20,919
"It is true. I did not deserve Guildmaster
Pietro's kindness."

40
00:02:21,779 --> 00:02:26,679
There was another moment of silence, and then to
Vespa's shock, Allard

41
00:02:26,679 --> 00:02:27,439
answered him.

42
00:02:27,439 --> 00:02:32,299
"The knights and Rangers hate me because I saved
an outlander family from being massacred.

43
00:02:32,859 --> 00:02:37,399
Orion hates me because I am a thief, and he does
not consider me harmless like

44
00:02:37,499 --> 00:02:38,119
Pietro.

45
00:02:38,819 --> 00:02:43,759
Of course, he didn't realize that Pietro ended up
being much more formidable than I ever

46
00:02:43,799 --> 00:02:48,299
could be. Polo hates me for similar reasons as
Orion, although Polo knows of the

47
00:02:48,319 --> 00:02:50,919
outlander story and hates me for that as well.

48
00:02:51,439 --> 00:02:54,659
Larsen hates me because I protect and serve his
younger brother."

49
00:02:54,659 --> 00:02:58,119
"Well, that about sums it up."

50
00:02:58,699 --> 00:02:59,679
Allard nodded.

51
00:02:59,679 --> 00:03:02,179
"How many people know the outlander story?

52
00:03:02,579 --> 00:03:04,559
I had only heard that you betrayed the knights."

53
00:03:04,559 --> 00:03:08,639
"They twist the story to defend their integrity,
but I know the truth.

54
00:03:08,839 --> 00:03:13,759
There was a family of outlanders. They lived in
the plains and were starving, so they moved their
camp

55
00:03:13,819 --> 00:03:18,779
close to Ness. I'm sure they planned on raiding
the outer fields at some point, but at the time
they

56
00:03:18,779 --> 00:03:21,639
were just camping not far from Executioner's
Hollow."

57
00:03:22,399 --> 00:03:26,459
Allard rubbed his head through his hood, and then
continued.

58
00:03:26,459 --> 00:03:30,519
"I was a captain and sent to investigate a
sighting from one of the White Guard.

59
00:03:30,739 --> 00:03:35,359
I was with five other knights, and we found a
weakened man and his wife,

60
00:03:35,659 --> 00:03:40,539
along with three children. I told my men to spare
them, but the law of the

61
00:03:40,599 --> 00:03:45,019
knights is to kill all outlanders. I fought my men
and hurt two of them, although not seriously.

62
00:03:45,839 --> 00:03:50,639
Sax banished me from the guild and sentenced me to
die for betrayal, but Pietro stepped in and saved

63
00:03:50,679 --> 00:03:55,559
me. To this day, I do not know what he said to
Sax, but I was free and wearing the

64
00:03:55,559 --> 00:03:57,359
Black Minutes after Pietro's visit."

65
00:03:57,359 --> 00:04:00,539
"How many know this story?"

66
00:04:01,159 --> 00:04:05,499
Vesper asked, amazed to hear it directly from
Allard's own mouth.

67
00:04:06,119 --> 00:04:09,219
Allard shrugged. "Very few know the real story.

68
00:04:09,459 --> 00:04:13,679
Many know the story of my betraying the Knight
Guild for the benefit of outlander brigands."

69
00:04:13,679 --> 00:04:16,039
"So, why did you tell me the story?"

70
00:04:16,699 --> 00:04:21,559
Vesper felt like Allard had trusted him with
something extremely special.

71
00:04:22,159 --> 00:04:25,139
Allard peered at Vesper and then replied.

72
00:04:25,139 --> 00:04:29,699
"Because you wield information like you wield a
dagger, only when needed and with great

73
00:04:29,759 --> 00:04:34,679
precision. When you need to wield this
information, you will, but I know that when you

74
00:04:34,739 --> 00:04:38,099
do, it will be for a reason that I would approve."

75
00:04:39,539 --> 00:04:42,679
Without thinking, Vespa replied incredulously.

76
00:04:42,679 --> 00:04:44,399
"Why would you think that?"

77
00:04:44,399 --> 00:04:48,999
"Because I know how you think. You will align
yourself with the winning side."

78
00:04:49,219 --> 00:04:50,999
Smiling, Allard added.

79
00:04:50,999 --> 00:04:53,419
"Would you like to hear an additional secret?"

80
00:04:53,559 --> 00:04:58,099
Vesper leaned toward Allard, whose voice dropped
to a whisper with the previous

81
00:04:58,179 --> 00:04:58,719
question.

82
00:04:58,719 --> 00:05:00,959
"Yes, what is it?"

83
00:05:00,959 --> 00:05:04,699
"We will be the winning side."

84
00:05:05,079 --> 00:05:09,459
The two reached the warehouse district without any
problems, although they were

85
00:05:09,499 --> 00:05:11,979
accosted a few times by guild guards.

86
00:05:12,559 --> 00:05:17,539
Vespa's first big decision came when they turned
down the massive road that ran

87
00:05:17,559 --> 00:05:22,279
among the collection of huge warehouses that
hugged the eastern part of the Great

88
00:05:22,359 --> 00:05:22,819
Wall.

89
00:05:23,439 --> 00:05:28,099
Craft Tower was close enough that Vespa could see
Orion's office window on the

90
00:05:28,219 --> 00:05:29,039
top floor.

91
00:05:29,759 --> 00:05:34,519
The presence of armed craft guild guards was
heavy, and Vespa could easily have

92
00:05:34,519 --> 00:05:39,339
Allard captured. He was a mighty warrior and would
kill several guards,

93
00:05:39,679 --> 00:05:41,999
but they would eventually overwhelm him.

94
00:05:42,479 --> 00:05:47,239
With Orion close, Vespa could do even better than
assassinate Allard,

95
00:05:47,539 --> 00:05:51,199
he could have him captured. Yet he was still
uncertain.

96
00:05:51,639 --> 00:05:56,439
The organization and secretive nature of the
thieves made him think that they may

97
00:05:56,559 --> 00:05:57,219
prevail.

98
00:05:57,939 --> 00:06:00,779
Allard interrupted Vespers thoughts by saying-

99
00:06:01,457 --> 00:06:03,397
"There is a large sewage entrance near here.

100
00:06:03,618 --> 00:06:08,057
It is used by our guild to move stolen goods under
the lower quarter to safe houses,

101
00:06:08,537 --> 00:06:11,758
where they are distributed and eventually moved to
the old quarter."

102
00:06:11,758 --> 00:06:14,858
"So, we will use that passage to return to the
tower."

103
00:06:15,617 --> 00:06:20,597
At the thought of the tower, Vesper lost all
interest in turning Alard in.

104
00:06:21,098 --> 00:06:25,997
He didn't understand its power and draw over him,
but he recognized

105
00:06:26,018 --> 00:06:26,237
it.

106
00:06:26,877 --> 00:06:31,777
Perhaps it was that he finally had found a guild
that was the closest to his life,

107
00:06:32,477 --> 00:06:35,437
one of intrigue and secrecy.

108
00:06:36,098 --> 00:06:40,758
And the tower, in plain view yet hidden,
represented that

109
00:06:40,997 --> 00:06:41,517
to him.

110
00:06:41,517 --> 00:06:42,538
"No."

111
00:06:43,118 --> 00:06:47,918
Alard's voice was low and deep, and he was
continually scanning the

112
00:06:48,017 --> 00:06:49,037
people they passed,

113
00:06:49,657 --> 00:06:54,418
people in large wagons pulled by draft horses, and
men and women that

114
00:06:54,497 --> 00:06:58,097
smelled like leather soap, burnt wood, and iron.

115
00:06:58,097 --> 00:07:01,738
"We will pause there. We have guild members there
guarding the entrance.

116
00:07:01,897 --> 00:07:05,637
We will stop, gather information, and then decide
on our future steps."

117
00:07:06,097 --> 00:07:09,037
They turned past one of the largest warehouses.

118
00:07:09,678 --> 00:07:14,117
It contained rough-spun clothes used by the
majority of the

119
00:07:14,218 --> 00:07:19,097
citizens of Ness. The clothes were produced in a
work building on the other side of the

120
00:07:19,157 --> 00:07:23,438
large street, and then dyed guild colors in a
building next to the

121
00:07:23,457 --> 00:07:24,157
warehouse.

122
00:07:24,817 --> 00:07:29,558
The smell of the dye filled the street, just like
the smell of cured leather

123
00:07:29,657 --> 00:07:34,617
filled the street further up, and the smell of
fire and iron filled the part of

124
00:07:34,638 --> 00:07:36,617
the street they had just passed.

125
00:07:37,478 --> 00:07:42,417
They walked along a small road that had little use
beyond acting as a way to

126
00:07:42,437 --> 00:07:47,298
get from the front of the warehouse to the back,
or to access the wall from the

127
00:07:47,377 --> 00:07:48,857
major road in the front.

128
00:07:48,857 --> 00:07:50,498
"No guards."

129
00:07:50,498 --> 00:07:52,317
"They fear to patrol here."

130
00:07:52,597 --> 00:07:56,097
Alard didn't elaborate, so Vesper pushed the
point.

131
00:07:56,097 --> 00:07:57,157
"Why?"

132
00:07:57,157 --> 00:08:00,837
"There is a rumor that the fumes from the dye are
poisonous.

133
00:08:00,837 --> 00:08:05,777
No one walks near the dye house. If you were to
enter the warehouse, you would see that

134
00:08:05,877 --> 00:08:09,157
most of the goods are stacked on the wall farthest
from the dye.

135
00:08:09,777 --> 00:08:11,537
No one wants to smell it.

136
00:08:12,397 --> 00:08:16,957
It is considered one of the lowliest jobs in the
craft guild to work the dye,

137
00:08:17,497 --> 00:08:19,537
a death sentence, in fact."

138
00:08:20,657 --> 00:08:25,137
The smell of the dye was overwhelming as they
walked between the dye house and the

139
00:08:25,197 --> 00:08:29,997
warehouse. Vesper covered his mouth with his hand,
which elicited a smile

140
00:08:30,057 --> 00:08:30,797
from Alard.

141
00:08:30,797 --> 00:08:32,337
"Is it poisonous?"

142
00:08:32,337 --> 00:08:35,157
"No. The Thieves Guild runs the dye house.

143
00:08:35,377 --> 00:08:39,777
We move people in and out regularly, with messages
left that the former workers had died.

144
00:08:40,157 --> 00:08:42,677
Then we move them into our service in the old
quarter.

145
00:08:43,337 --> 00:08:47,957
This is our single most important location for
handling the things we steal."

146
00:08:47,957 --> 00:08:51,677
"I had not heard of deaths in the warehouses."

147
00:08:51,677 --> 00:08:56,537
"Of course not. The Harvest Captains know, but are
afraid Orion will move the dye house

148
00:08:56,557 --> 00:08:59,457
outside the wall if he finds out, causing many
problems.

149
00:08:59,617 --> 00:09:04,377
So, they keep it from him, and the guild members
who work there fear reprisal if they

150
00:09:04,397 --> 00:09:05,237
speak up."

151
00:09:05,237 --> 00:09:09,937
"But what of the guards? They

152
00:09:10,037 --> 00:09:10,457
know."

153
00:09:11,177 --> 00:09:12,317
Alard shrugged.

154
00:09:12,317 --> 00:09:14,537
"Everyone looks out for themselves."

155
00:09:14,537 --> 00:09:16,077
"Except the thieves."

156
00:09:16,077 --> 00:09:17,717
"We take so we can give."

157
00:09:17,957 --> 00:09:22,677
They reached the back of the dye house, and there
was a wooden shed that was surrounded by

158
00:09:22,757 --> 00:09:27,717
what looked like old and rancid dye. It was in
open containers

159
00:09:27,977 --> 00:09:32,297
and stunk so badly of sharp-smelling dye that
Vesper's eyes

160
00:09:32,637 --> 00:09:33,797
started to water.

161
00:09:33,797 --> 00:09:38,737
"With what you just told me, this may be the most
well-defended entrance to a

162
00:09:38,737 --> 00:09:40,257
secret passage in Ness."

163
00:09:40,697 --> 00:09:45,437
Vesper chuckled. They walked through a wooden door
that looked like it was going to

164
00:09:45,457 --> 00:09:50,357
fall off its hinges, yet moved as smoothly as a
door in one of the pubs

165
00:09:50,377 --> 00:09:51,597
in the upper quarter.

166
00:09:52,217 --> 00:09:56,657
Inside were barrels, although the smell of dye was
considerably less.

167
00:09:57,137 --> 00:10:01,897
Alard walked deliberately around them, as if he
had walked the path many

168
00:10:01,937 --> 00:10:06,897
times, and as Vesper followed, they came upon a
staircase leading down.

169
00:10:07,337 --> 00:10:11,437
It was wide and solid, enough for four men to walk

170
00:10:11,517 --> 00:10:16,037
side-by-side while descending. It was much longer
than Vesper had

171
00:10:16,077 --> 00:10:20,497
anticipated, and at the bottom there were double
iron doors.

172
00:10:21,077 --> 00:10:26,057
They opened as Alard approached. A man wearing
black and the common sign of

173
00:10:26,097 --> 00:10:30,777
a captain, a single accent strip around his right
sleeve, strode

174
00:10:30,857 --> 00:10:35,777
forward. He was massive. Not massive like Alard,
who was tall

175
00:10:35,817 --> 00:10:40,797
and strong, but massive in that he was broad and
thick at every part of his

176
00:10:40,877 --> 00:10:45,697
body. He wasn't necessarily tall, but he looked
like the kind of man that you

177
00:10:45,777 --> 00:10:50,297
knew would end up bloodied but still standing in a
bar fight.

178
00:10:50,297 --> 00:10:55,057
"Kalos, my friend," Alard said, uncharacteristic
warmth in

179
00:10:55,097 --> 00:10:58,317
his voice. "I had no idea you'd be managing the
thoroughfare.

180
00:10:58,597 --> 00:11:00,517
Is there an important shipment happening?"

181
00:11:01,337 --> 00:11:04,217
Alard peered toward the room behind the door.

182
00:11:04,217 --> 00:11:05,837
"Deputy Alard."

183
00:11:06,677 --> 00:11:11,537
The man named Kalos strode forward, and rather
than shake Alard's hands,

184
00:11:11,817 --> 00:11:14,457
threw his mighty arms around him in a hug.

185
00:11:15,077 --> 00:11:16,917
Parting, Kalos shook his head.

186
00:11:16,917 --> 00:11:21,617
"More like multiple shipments. That idiot, Orion,
has all his guards keeping an eye on the

187
00:11:21,717 --> 00:11:24,697
chaos in the lower quarter, so with the cats
away..."

188
00:11:26,237 --> 00:11:31,217
Kalos spread his arms and smiled as if he was
doing something naughty, but no one

189
00:11:31,337 --> 00:11:34,877
could blame him. Vesper finally caught Kalos' eye.

190
00:11:34,877 --> 00:11:35,977
"Who's this?"

191
00:11:35,977 --> 00:11:38,357
"Orion's blade."

192
00:11:38,797 --> 00:11:43,597
Kalos tensed, and his smile turned to a face that
was intimidating

193
00:11:43,977 --> 00:11:48,857
in its intensity of restrained violence, but that
quickly returned to a

194
00:11:48,877 --> 00:11:49,397
smile.

195
00:11:49,397 --> 00:11:52,217
"I had low expectations of that rascal, Raylan,

196
00:11:53,177 --> 00:11:54,697
but if he turned a blade to our guild,

197
00:11:55,457 --> 00:11:56,557
I have to hand it to him."

198
00:11:56,557 --> 00:11:59,177
"Guild master Raylan,"

199
00:11:59,497 --> 00:12:01,717
Alard said, his voice serious.

200
00:12:01,717 --> 00:12:04,377
"I apologize, deputy. Of course."

201
00:12:05,451 --> 00:12:09,571
Turning to Vesper, Kalos said, "So, Blade, what's
your name?"

202
00:12:09,571 --> 00:12:11,251
"Vesper."

203
00:12:11,931 --> 00:12:16,531
He rather liked this character Kalos, but there
was no need to let him know

204
00:12:16,591 --> 00:12:20,691
that, so he kept his answer short and his voice
sharp.

205
00:12:20,691 --> 00:12:22,291
"Anything I can help you with?"

206
00:12:23,611 --> 00:12:28,471
The question surprised Vesper. He had expected to
be ignored in the presence

207
00:12:28,491 --> 00:12:33,311
of the deputy guild master. The Thieves Guild
continued to appear very different

208
00:12:33,311 --> 00:12:34,551
than what he was used to.

209
00:12:35,172 --> 00:12:39,431
Nodding to Allard, Vesper replied, "I await
orders."

210
00:12:40,271 --> 00:12:41,312
Allard spoke up.

211
00:12:41,312 --> 00:12:44,612
"We have both been indisposed and need updated
news.

212
00:12:45,091 --> 00:12:48,871
My mission was to find out from Vesper what he
knew, and I have done that.

213
00:12:49,431 --> 00:12:54,352
I was planning on both of us returning to the
tower, but I will not make that decision until we
are

214
00:12:54,352 --> 00:12:56,012
current on what is happening."

215
00:12:56,012 --> 00:12:57,552
"So it shall be.

216
00:12:58,192 --> 00:12:59,512
There is a meeting room down the hall.

217
00:13:00,091 --> 00:13:00,571
Follow me."

218
00:13:02,192 --> 00:13:06,991
Kalos led the two of them through the door, which
opened onto a massive room,

219
00:13:07,351 --> 00:13:12,331
larger than the dye house above it. Stacked nearly
floor to ceiling in the room were

220
00:13:12,351 --> 00:13:16,971
clothes, weapons, household items, and a variety
of

221
00:13:17,011 --> 00:13:21,811
things that were necessary for living in Ness, and
yet unavailable to

222
00:13:21,811 --> 00:13:24,631
its poor and those in the old quarter.

223
00:13:25,351 --> 00:13:30,291
They entered a small spare room with a desk pushed
against a wall and a few

224
00:13:30,431 --> 00:13:35,051
chairs facing it. Allard walked in and leaned back
against the desk,

225
00:13:35,371 --> 00:13:39,291
while Kalos pulled up a chair and motioned Vesper
to sit.

226
00:13:39,831 --> 00:13:44,271
He proceeded to outline what Vesper considered the
worst possible

227
00:13:44,371 --> 00:13:48,851
outcome. Larson was dead, Karch was missing, and

228
00:13:48,891 --> 00:13:52,651
Orion's nephew, Carris, was now running the
merchant guild.

229
00:13:53,371 --> 00:13:57,371
If that weren't bad enough, Carris had spread the
news that he was

230
00:13:57,391 --> 00:14:02,031
apologizing for Larson's misdeeds and welcoming
back the

231
00:14:02,091 --> 00:14:06,871
Harvest Guild. He had offered to rebuild the
houses that had burned and

232
00:14:06,871 --> 00:14:09,011
provide for those who were displaced.

233
00:14:09,011 --> 00:14:13,791
"Orion looks to isolate the thieves," Vesper said,
which

234
00:14:13,791 --> 00:14:16,131
elicited a solemn nod from Allard.

235
00:14:16,131 --> 00:14:19,451
"Wait, Orion knows of the existence of our guild?"

236
00:14:20,351 --> 00:14:22,151
Kalos looked dumbfounded.

237
00:14:22,151 --> 00:14:25,111
"It is the information Vesper has provided us.

238
00:14:25,491 --> 00:14:30,211
It would have been impossible with so many
streaming into the old quarter, but Orion found
out

239
00:14:30,291 --> 00:14:31,351
sooner than we had hoped."

240
00:14:31,351 --> 00:14:35,931
"Of course, of course," Kalos replied, rubbing his

241
00:14:35,951 --> 00:14:39,991
chin. "Will the Harvest Guild members return to
their homes and embrace Carris?"

242
00:14:41,091 --> 00:14:44,271
Vesper looked at Allard, but he remained silent.

243
00:14:44,271 --> 00:14:45,751
"I don't know,"

244
00:14:46,471 --> 00:14:48,131
Vesper finally replied.

245
00:14:48,131 --> 00:14:50,971
"We need to know, and Guild Master Polo needs to
know.

246
00:14:51,211 --> 00:14:55,971
You have your new mission, Vesper," Allard
suddenly said, his deep voice

247
00:14:56,031 --> 00:15:00,811
filling the room like the pounding of a drum.
Kalos and Vesper looked at him.

248
00:15:00,811 --> 00:15:04,511
"I cannot approach Polo, he knows me. His guild
knows me.

249
00:15:04,631 --> 00:15:06,891
They will imprison me on sight. You,"

250
00:15:07,531 --> 00:15:10,911
Allard pointed at Vesper, "however, they do not
know."

251
00:15:10,911 --> 00:15:15,431
"It is a lost cause. I attempted to reach Polo to
assassinate him."

252
00:15:16,171 --> 00:15:20,611
Vesper said it casually, which he knew would shock
Kalos, and was a

253
00:15:20,671 --> 00:15:25,271
response that he liked to elicit, keeping others,
friend and enemy,

254
00:15:25,631 --> 00:15:30,451
off guard. "It is impossible. Harvest House is
small but insurmountable.

255
00:15:30,911 --> 00:15:35,471
The walls move under your feet. The vines work to
toss you off while you climb them.

256
00:15:35,931 --> 00:15:40,911
There is only one path to Polo, and it is guarded
by too many, with no secret

257
00:15:40,971 --> 00:15:43,311
passages or shadows to reach him."

258
00:15:43,311 --> 00:15:46,451
"I did not say you were to assassinate him.

259
00:15:46,631 --> 00:15:49,231
You are to reach him and inform him of what is
happening.

260
00:15:49,651 --> 00:15:52,511
We have tried with our own blade, and she is
currently missing.

261
00:15:52,751 --> 00:15:55,051
We don't know how well-informed Polo is.

262
00:15:56,031 --> 00:16:00,611
We can assume he knows much, but this information
is coming from the ground in the lower quarter.

263
00:16:01,231 --> 00:16:04,991
Polo may be missing the larger political
machinations of Orion."

264
00:16:04,991 --> 00:16:07,891
"I can get you to the Harvest district.

265
00:16:08,611 --> 00:16:13,251
We rarely go there, as there is no reason to, but
there is a path, not a pleasant

266
00:16:13,311 --> 00:16:16,351
path, but a path under the north fork."

267
00:16:18,431 --> 00:16:23,191
Vesper didn't like the mission, because he
considered it well outside his

268
00:16:23,231 --> 00:16:28,191
expertise. He could kill, he could spy, he could
even torture and

269
00:16:28,211 --> 00:16:33,131
destroy, but having a diplomatic conversation with
a guild master was

270
00:16:33,171 --> 00:16:35,371
not something he had ever done before.

271
00:16:36,111 --> 00:16:38,931
He once again considered the lay of the land.

272
00:16:39,411 --> 00:16:43,611
Orion had made a bold move, one that in one stroke
had

273
00:16:43,671 --> 00:16:45,951
significantly threatened the thieves.

274
00:16:46,311 --> 00:16:51,271
They were potentially isolated with all of the
guilds not only against

275
00:16:51,291 --> 00:16:55,911
them, but knowing of their existence and their
base of operations.

276
00:16:56,251 --> 00:17:00,951
The wild card was Polo. If Polo joined with Orion

277
00:17:01,191 --> 00:17:05,951
and his nephew and Saxe, there was no hope for the
thieves.

278
00:17:06,511 --> 00:17:09,991
But would Polo do that? Did he see the endgame?

279
00:17:10,491 --> 00:17:15,391
If he helped his guild members in the lower
quarter in the short run, would that destroy

280
00:17:15,471 --> 00:17:17,111
the guild in the long run?

281
00:17:17,971 --> 00:17:22,891
He knew precious little about the old Harvest
guild master, who mostly kept

282
00:17:22,931 --> 00:17:27,871
to himself and was only the target of Orion's
attention after Raylan

283
00:17:27,931 --> 00:17:30,431
ruined his and Larson's plans.

284
00:17:31,431 --> 00:17:36,371
In the end, Vesper realized he didn't have to make
an immediate decision.

285
00:17:36,891 --> 00:17:39,171
He could abandon the thieves at any time.

286
00:17:39,651 --> 00:17:44,311
If he did reach Polo, he could even make the
decision then, delivering

287
00:17:44,411 --> 00:17:47,631
Polo to Orion or Raylan at his will.

288
00:17:48,591 --> 00:17:52,751
That final thought was very appealing, and Vesper
finally replied.

289
00:17:52,751 --> 00:17:56,451
"I will contact Polo, but I need guidance on this
mission."

290
00:17:56,451 --> 00:17:58,471
"What kind of guidance do you need?"

291
00:17:58,471 --> 00:18:03,291
"The mission is unclear. Inform Polo of the wider
danger to his guild from

292
00:18:03,331 --> 00:18:06,411
Orion and Carris is not specific enough.

293
00:18:06,931 --> 00:18:08,511
What is the goal of the mission?"

294
00:18:09,271 --> 00:18:13,631
Allard stared at Vesper for a long time, until he
shook his head and

295
00:18:13,671 --> 00:18:14,271
replied.

296
00:18:14,271 --> 00:18:19,191
"You're a formidable man, Vesper. The goal is to
have Polo reject any offering from

297
00:18:19,271 --> 00:18:24,231
Orion or Carris. We need Polo to remain isolated
so that our guild can find a plan

298
00:18:24,311 --> 00:18:25,991
forward without facing eradication.

299
00:18:26,551 --> 00:18:30,851
I do not expect Polo to embrace the thieves.

300
00:18:32,211 --> 00:18:35,771
I do not expect you to convince him of the good of
our mission."

301
00:18:37,251 --> 00:18:41,991
Allard crossed his arms. "I expect you to fan the
flames of hatred that

302
00:18:42,011 --> 00:18:46,191
Polo has toward Orion. I don't care how you do
it." Vesper stood up.

303
00:18:46,191 --> 00:18:47,311
"That,

304
00:18:47,951 --> 00:18:48,631
I can do."

305
00:18:53,971 --> 00:19:19,051
(dramatic music)