The Thieves Guild
by Jake Kerr.
Episode 9:
More Mischief.
Larsson surveyed the gathering of dozens of lesser guild masters from his vantage
point in front of the council table, which stood on a dais overlooking his
large banquet hall.
The results of months of politicking and bribing and blackmailing were
arrayed in front of him. Clearly, two-thirds of those in the hall were
adorned in the green of the Harvest Guild, the largest guild in Ness, and in mere
moments, that guild would no longer exist.
Wait, it would exist. Larsson corrected himself. He must not gloat.
But the guild would now be a sub-guild of his, its existence merely ceremonial.
The Merchant Guild would soon be the most important and powerful guild in all of
Ness. In fact, Larsson had no doubt that his power would be absolute for all
intents and purposes.
He looked at Sax, the guild master knight.
The arrogant fool took the money and agreed to Larsson's plan, thinking that his
soldiers guaranteed his power.
But Larsson would now control the food supply and the money.
Sax noticed his attention and gave him a conspiratorial grin.
Larsson smiled back, and looked back out at the green robes, soon to be replaced
by royal blue.
The banquet is prepared, sir.
It was Karch, who had returned after checking the kitchen.
Very good, Karch.
His deputy didn't smile, but remained at attention.
Larsson's mood was so light in the moment that he decided to thank his deputy,
something he never did, lest his ego get too big.
He turned to his deputy and put his arm on his shoulder.
Karch.
His face was impossible to read, but Larsson liked to think he saw concern.
He liked that.
I wanted to thank you for the idea on handling my brother.
Larsson allowed himself a chuckle.
Watching the garbage fall off him as he exited that wagon was worth it enough, but knowing that
his laziness and embarrassing behavior will now be tarnished with a useless guild like the
Thieves rather than my own
has taken a huge weight off my shoulders.
Karch bowed.
I was merely taking advantage of Pietro's demise.
It was as much luck as anything.
Larsson appreciated Karch's humility, false as it may have been.
Nonsense, it was a masterstroke. My impertinent brother can do whatever he likes, and the
council will now have to deal with him.
I don't care if they throw him in chains at this point.
My familial duty is over.
It was at this point that an apple flew past Larsson's ear
and landed on the council table. There was a commotion near the other end of the hall,
and Larsson's eye caught someone in a brown cloak running down the top of one of the
long banquet tables. He was kicking over carafes and bowls, and
picking up food to throw, which he aimed toward the council table.
Larsson dodged a roll, and then shouted.
Someone grab him.
A number of the lesser guild masters were attempting to do just that with little
success.
Sax, aren't your knights good for anything?
That guildless bastard is destroying the banquet hall.
Sax and his deputy had already rushed toward the man while his other
knights left their posts at the exit to assist.
As the miscreant got closer, Larsson noticed that he was more of a young man
or an older boy than an adult. In fact, he looked familiar.
As
Sax approached with his sword unsheathed, the older boy, yes, it was
definitely a boy, dropped some food and held out his hands.
I surrender to the guild master knight.
If my bit of Founder's Day fun has offended, I do apologize.
The moment the boy spoke, Larsson knew who it was, his
brother's friend, Rafe.
Sax lifted his sword, and Larsson realized the dolt intended to
dispatch the boy right then and there.
Sax, have you lost your mind?
Larsson shouted.
We have a banquet to attend to. Feel free to bruise the boy as you deliver him to your guild members,
but don't spill his blood.
Aye, Larsson.
Sax sounded disappointed.
We'll take care of him in the dungeons, far from the light of day.
He turned to Rafe.
You hear that, boy? That bit of bread you dropped may be the last food you'll ever touch.
Sax approached the boy, who didn't say anything.
Just as Sax was almost within arm's reach and the other knights had relaxed, the boy
ducked and leapt onto a different table, where he proceeded to kick the place
settings and carafes of wine. He was a third of the way toward the
entryway when one of the lesser guild masters grabbed his leg,
tripping him. Sax reached him before he could fight off the arms holding him.
Not bothering to ask him to come peacefully, Sax grabbed him by his cloak and
roughly pulled him down off the table.
The boy stumbled to the ground, landing hard on his hands and knees.
Sax then kicked him in the head, and the boy fell unconscious.
You men, clean up this mess.
Sax yelled to his knights, who grabbed Rafe and dragged him away.
Sax sheathed his sword and walked back to the dais. He had a large smile on his face.
Larsson looked out at the boy being dragged away and the chaos he left behind.
Why did he do such a stupid stunt? Was this connected to his brother?
Larsson couldn't see how. His brother didn't even know of the banquet until after the
parade.
It didn't matter. It would take a while to clean up the mess, but once it was done, things
would continue as planned.
Larsson smiled. It would take a lot more than a delay to ruin this
night.
(dramatic music)