Music.
Vesper listened intently to Mela's story as they made their way to Harvest House.
They decided to walk as their disguises, as displaced Harvest Guild members
from the inner fields, would draw attention if they did something so extravagant as ride horses.
She was modest and mentioned that she had only been Raylan's blade starting
at that mission, and didn't know what she was doing.
But Vesper saw the underlying power in her having operated in the shadows for so long.
She was able to use a broad range of knowledge and a variety of methods to achieve her goal.
Vesper, who fancied himself as modest, admitted he was much more of a blunt object.
Here's where the challenge lies, though. The tree seemingly allowed you to reach
Polo due to it knowing you were intending on helping him, not hurting him.
Yes, I'm not sure it would have taken me to his quarters if I had whispered,
please bring me to the gillmaster, I want to assassinate him.
They walked in silence some more, both thinking over what was a seemingly impossible
mission, reaching Polo to assassinate him for killing someone they both loved, Allard.
They had reached the other side of the river and turned right to head toward
Trader's Bridge when Mailer finally broke the silence.
We will just have to assess things when we get there.
Vesper did little more than nod his head.
Reaching Polo appeared to be a suicide mission, and he didn't mind that as long
as the mission was accomplished.
Their mission was badly delayed with the shocking discovery that Trader's Bridge had been destroyed.
Vesper was in a foul mood. We can't afford a boat.
Look, Vesper waved toward a chaotic array of boats filled with armed guards
and a handful of private boats that had to be earning a king's ransom,
escorting rich upper-quarter residents across.
And I doubt we could steal one. There wasn't a single boat without an armed guard standing nearby.
We could kill them, of course, but I fear there's too much activity.
We would be at risk of being caught the moment the alarm went up and we were on the river.
Vesper turned back the way they had come.
Regardless, I will not give up. We can exit the great gate and walk around the
wall and through the outer fields if that's what it takes.
Mela patiently listened to Vesper, but didn't say anything. She seemed to be
suppressing a smirk. What?
Which is the most powerful guild in Ness?
Vesper pondered the question. He had learned that Mela was the personification of maddening chaos.
When she asked a question, it could be the start of a philosophical discussion,
the first hint to a complicated solution she had discovered,
or the start of her unleashing, biting mockery. The Thieves' Guild?
No, it's the Harvest Guild.
Vesper started to get annoyed. Was this heading to mockery?
Before he could say anything else, Mailer pointed up River. But the Harvest
Guild has weaknesses that the Thieves' Guild do not.
This is true of every guild. So while the Thieves' Guild is not the most powerful,
we're the most resourceful.
Do you have a point? We have a long walk ahead of us. and if you keep this up, you may not survive it.
There is a sewer nexus in the warehouse district.
It is under a warehouse where goods are dyed.
Vesper's eyes went wide and he spun around and grabbed Mela by the arms.
Yes, how could I have forgotten?
Kalos mentioned there was a path under the North Fork to the upper quarter.
Mela looked shocked. You know Kalos? Alad took me to meet with him before sending me on my mission.
How could I forget the smell of the dye near the entrance? It made my eyes water.
It's time to meet with Kalos then.
Vesper nodded, already excited about continuing their mission.
As we walk, tell me about the mission Allard set you on. I doubt you failed him.
I failed him but not on this mission. I will spoil the ending by telling you
that it involved me beating Karch until he had trouble breathing and his one eye was swollen shut.
This is a story I must hear. Vesper smiled at Mailer's sudden glee.
Everyone hated Karch.
Kalos was distributing clothing to people in the flats and was not at the dyehouse.
Everyone recognized Mela, however, and they were quickly escorted down a small
hole with a rickety ladder to a natural cavern deep below the warehouse.
The other passageways are above us and cleaner. They have been chiseled and
maintained for many years.
They can flood, but are not waterways or sewers, simple caves like this one
that have been turned into a tunnel system.
I see. And how do you transport stolen goods to the upper quarter?
Why would we transport goods to the upper quarter? The obviousness of the question was its own answer.
The thieves took so they could give. They took from the upper quarter.
They didn't give to them.
Vesper and Mela decided to push on and rest at an inn Vesper knew of called
the Golden Apple, that this is where Vesper beat Karch only made the location more amusing.
Vesper was quite pleased that Mailer laughed heartily as he described Karch's
shock and cries as Vesper kicked him.
She has the heart of a blade, he thought.
They awoke the next day, had a quiet breakfast in the tavern fronting the inn,
and then made their way to Harvest House.
There was a lot of activity, and the mood appeared joyful.
Eavesdropping and asking questions led to an enormous amount of new information.
Quinto was the new Guildmaster Knight.
Karch was the Guildmaster Merchant. There were already plans to rebuild Trader's
Bridge with craftsmen who had abandoned the now reviled Orion.
There was nearly universal appreciation for Polo, who everyone acknowledged
was the only guildmaster in the city of any merit.
That thought made Vesper smile. He won't be in that role for long.
It was a rumor, however, that made both Vesper and Mailer take notice.
It was a conversation that took place amongst a group of Harvest Guild members
walking along the road in front of Harvest House.
I heard that he talks to Allard every day. At the name Allard,
Vesper looked at Mailer, who caught the comment as well.
They walked behind the two people having the conversation. Do you think he taunts him?
The man was dressed in fairly shabby clothes and appeared to be a laborer. I don't know.
Maybe he is getting information from him about the thieves.
His partner was dressed similarly, but had additional gear that made it clear
he worked in some kind of specialized harvest guild role. Allard is alive.
I had heard he died in the mines. Vesper looked at Mela, who had briskly walked up to the two men.
They welcomed her to the conversation without hesitation. Where did you hear that?
No, everyone knows what happened. He and some thief had almost escaped,
but the guards stopped him.
The other man interrupted. Perhaps you mean his wound.
I heard it was grievous and would have killed a normal man, but who knows?
It was perhaps a scratch. He is indeed mighty.
He was stabbed in the back nearly to the hilt. Vesper couldn't help himself.
His awe of Allard had just increased, if that was possible.
It was an injury that would have killed anyone else. How do you know this?
The question wasn't so much an accusation as a query as to whether Vesper was
just sharing a rumor or had direct knowledge.
Vesper backpedaled, knowing any other answer would raise suspicion.
It is but a rumour I heard.
The first man nodded. I guess it is possible.
I heard he was badly injured and confined to a chair, as he has lost the use
of his legs. Perhaps he lost the use of his bowels too.
Having him shit himself as he can't move would be justice for the traitor.
Mela knew Vesper well enough by then. As he stepped forward,
she subtly stepped in front of him,
stopping any violence, and Vesper intended violence, even if it was but a cuff
to the side of the man's head.
We certainly live in interesting times.
And with that, Mailer turned away, grabbed Vesper's arm, and practically dragged
him down the street in the opposite direction.
To her credit, she didn't mention his violent intent.
Allard is alive. I saw his wound. I would say it's impossible, but I cling to the hope.
As do I. I recommend we change our mission. We rescue Allard.
If he's in the lower rooms or a basement prison, such a mission would be a lot
easier than reaching Polo.
Easier doesn't mean easy. Indeed it does not, but I would like to note that
this does not change our mission. It adds to it.
Let's scout and find a way to free Allard, and then we kill Polo.
Mailer's wide smile was all the answer Vesper needed.
Music.
A Podcast Alchemy production.