The Thieves Guild
by Jake Kerr.
Episode 99:
The Guildmaster Magic.
Philos objected constantly, but Relan had a very specific reason
for wandering through the streets and walking into the pubs and inns in the old
quarter. Philos and everyone else thought it was to be welcoming to the Harvest
Guild members, to explain to them one-on-one that the thieves were not
evil, but were actually the ones who helped the most in Ness.
But that was not the reason he was in the open, walking the streets and
being irresponsibly accessible, and it was irresponsible in
many ways. Philos had to intervene a few times when an angry
Harvest Guild member accosted Relan for causing all the problems due to
his interference at the Founder's Day Banquet.
But Relan had to do it, and as he wandered through the square in the old quarter,
feeling more and more like Pietro of old, and yet despairing that he would achieve
his aim, his efforts finally bore fruit.
As the pale man with blonde, almost white hair approached, Relan
smiled and said-
I had expected you before now.
Turning to Philos, Relan said-
Let him close.
Philos knew better than to object.
The outlander shrugged.
We have our own plans.
Of course. I hope that you have sent Lord Wilhelm my best.
It is your best that worries us. It does not appear to be good enough.
Relan was often considered arrogant, but he didn't feel that way.
He simply enjoyed standing up to authority.
This outlander, however, he WAS arrogant.
Indeed. What if I were to admit my weakness, to admit that I have lost
control of Ness? The future of the trade routes is not only in jeopardy,
but is an impossibility.
For the first time, the outlander looked unsure of himself.
They are required to be open. Our patience is at an end.
That is not a threat, nor is it a plan. That is a plea,
Relan said, turning up the intensity of the discussion.
It is not a plea!
The Hand of Wilhelm appeared upset for the first time.
Relan shrugged.
We will take action.
Relan waved his hand toward the wall.
Please, Quinto's forces continue to easily hold you back.
Relan knew that was a lie, as the outlanders were getting closer and
closer to the outer fields, but his lie served its purpose.
Are you mocking us? The heir of Pietro dares to mock Lord Wilhelm?
The Hand was visibly angry at that point.
Raising his hands, Relan said-
Hold, Hand. I simply point out that we should work together.
As you happily have pointed out, I have lost control of Ness.
In resolving this, I need Lord Wilhelm's help.
Yet Lord Wilhelm has had his own difficulties.
I propose that we work together.
The Hand of Lord Wilhelm peered at Relan.
What do you have in mind?
It will require restraint.
We are known for our restraint.
The Hand was transfixed with Relan's unspoken
plan.
I propose that Lord Wilhelm launch a small but significant attack on the
foothills. It will draw Quinto's forces south.
You would then launch a larger attack at the outer fields.
This will draw Saxe's knights from the city.
You should not aim for victory or raiding the stores of the outer fields.
You are to keep Saxe occupied for as long as you can.
And what if we decide that we want the outer fields?
I will tell Quinto of our plan, and he will reinforce Saxe if it
goes amiss.
Quinto would not support such a plan.
You would also not do that, as it would reveal you as a traitor.
Relan shrugged.
And then I would reveal your defenses, and the truth of Gautland's dangerously low
food stores, unleashing Saxe to attack you directly.
You would not do that,
the Hand replied, his voice slightly strained.
Relan shrugged yet again.
I
need a distraction, immediately. I need it for days, but weeks would be
better. Achieve that, and the future of Gautland will be assured.
Turning to Philos, Relan said-
We are done.
Philos grabbed the outlander and shoved him away from Relan,
nearly causing the man to stumble to the ground.
As he returned to the tower later in the day, Philos finally got up the courage to
confront Relan.
That is treason if it doesn't work.
Relan wasn't offended. He knew that Philos was simply reminding
Relan of the consequences.
It will work.
Philos was quiet for a few moments, and then added-
So what are the next steps?
I need to visit Captain Jesser of the rangers.
Before Philos could say anything, Relan added-
Alone.
As Relan made his way up to his quarters, he didn't know what
would happen.
He was at least happy that he had two successful scenarios.
One was Polo rejecting Orion and Kerris' outreach, and
creating a continuation of the percolating civil war that had not
quite arrived yet.The other was the outlanders attacking
Ness, splitting Saxe from Orion and giving the thieves some breathing room
to find a way to talk to Polo and plan a path forward.
Raelan didn't want to think of what would happen if neither happened.
As he climbed the stairs, Raelan decided to stop in the library.
Rafe had been acting oddly since he had returned with Pietro's books.
Raelan would wander in and say, "Have you discovered anything yet?" And
Rafe would wave Raelan off, not even replying.
Rafe was obsessing over something, and Raelan hoped it was something helpful
and not a history of Guildmaster jewelry.
He walked in, and as he expected, Rafe had his face buried in a
book. It was large with hundreds of pages.
Rafe looked to be halfway through it.
"Find out anything interesting?"
Rafe looked up, and for the first time Raelan truly grasped how
obsessive Rafe must have been. He was thin and his eyes were red
and bloodshot. His hair was greasy, and Raelan doubted that Rafe had even
bathed lately.
"By the gods, Rafe, you need to take a break. Look at yourself.
These books will kill you."
"What?"
Rafe looked down at his body and back up.
"Oh, I was going to stop when I was done, but I kept uncovering things."
Rafe's eyes lit up.
"You will not believe what I've discovered."
Raelan walked over and sat at the large table.
It was covered in books.
"Well, you've been mighty secretive lately." "I just didn't want to give
you pieces. Tell you a tantalizing bit, and then have you ask me questions I couldn't answer.
But I have a good grasp of our guild's history now." "That's wonderful.
So
tell me something I didn't know."
Rafe pointed to Raelan's ring with the seal of the Guildmaster thief.
Then he pointed to a drawing in a book to his side.
"Look familiar?"
Raelan looked at the drawing.
"Yes. That is my seal. But why is it red?"
Rafe smiled.
"Because it is the seal of the magic guild."
Raelan looked at his ring.
"But my seal is black." "That's because you haven't taken your rightful place
yet. That seal has been lying dormant for centuries." "What are you
talking about?"
Raelan asked, somewhat exasperated at Rafe talking in clues.
"It is the seal of the magic guild."
Rafe smiled.
"And it will blaze red when you speak the Oath of the Guildmaster Magic." "I don't know what that
means. I don't even know the Oath of the Guildmaster Magic."
Rafe grabbed an ornate book bound in red and slowly pulled it
over.
"I do."
(instrumental music plays)