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00:00:01
The Thieves Guild
00:00:04
by Jake Kerr
00:00:09
(dramatic music plays) . Episode 106:
00:00:16
A Disastrous Mistake.
00:00:24
Raelan badly wanted the clip-clop of Callisto, his mighty
00:00:28
stallion, to be the pounding of a gallop but he knew that the Rangers would shoot him
00:00:33
out of his seat with a precise arrow shot.
00:00:37
They were not a guild that welcomed surprises.
00:00:40
So Raelan worked his way through the hills slowly but
00:00:44
steadily, waiting for a Ranger to approach him.
00:00:49
He worked his way toward the camp where he had met Captain Jesser but after an hour of
00:00:53
trotting, no one had confronted him.
00:00:56
It was possible they were watching him from a distance so Raelan just kept
00:01:01
going, using the time to think over what Rafe had said.
00:01:06
The entire concept of a magic guild seemed so ridiculous but Rafe
00:01:10
was adamant about what he read. These were not stories and they were not
00:01:15
lies. It was a secret history that Rafe had uncovered.
00:01:19
Raelan had asked him about what role the magic guild had played and whether they
00:01:24
were related to the Thieves Guild. At that, Rafe sighed and
00:01:29
complained about the many gaps in the records.
00:01:32
He was quite sure that the Thieves Guild originated as the magic guild,
00:01:37
and he referenced a line from a book he read implying it but he wasn't
00:01:42
positive.
00:01:43
The few facts he had were that the magic guild existed, the wizards fled
00:01:48
through the mountain and after they did, they brought the mountain down
00:01:53
closing the road. Somehow and someway, the magic guild had
00:01:57
disappeared from memory and been replaced by the Thieves Guild.
00:02:02
Raelan looked at his guild seal.
00:02:04
Could it really be the seal of the magic guild?
00:02:08
It all seemed so unbelievable. "Halt, Blackguard."
00:02:14
The voice came from Raelan's left. He immediately stopped his horse and
00:02:19
held up his hands. "I am no threat." "We'll be the judge of
00:02:23
that," another voice said. There was a shuffling noise and Raelan
00:02:28
glanced to his left. Two rangers approached, one of which held a
00:02:33
bow aimed at Raelan's chest. "State your business and why you
00:02:37
aren't manning the wall." "I have a message for Captain Jesser," Raelan
00:02:42
replied. At the mention of Jesser's name, the rangers looked at each other.
00:02:47
"How do you know Captain Jesser?"
00:02:50
The taller of the two who was holding a wicked-looking knife asked.
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"I traveled through here before on a mission and he assisted me."
00:02:58
"He assisted you?" "He did. He saw the value of my
00:03:03
mission."
00:03:05
The one with the bow added, "And what is your mission today?"
00:03:11
Raelan pondered how to reply and decided on honesty.
00:03:15
"I am to warn him of a threat from the outlanders." "What
00:03:20
is this threat?" The taller one demanded.
00:03:23
"It is not a message for your ears," Raelan replied
00:03:28
calmly, "but I am sure that Captain Jesser will tell you."
00:03:32
The two rangers grumbled but put away their weapons.
00:03:36
The one who was sliding his bow over his shoulder said, "You know the way?"
00:03:41
"I do." "We will follow behind then. Do not be
00:03:45
foolish and try to flee or engage with us."
00:03:50
Again Raelan wanted to gallop to Jesser but with the two rangers following him,
00:03:55
he had to keep a steady pace. When he finally arrived at Jesser's camp, it was
00:04:00
already late in the day. There were further delays when they took his horse and
00:04:05
searched him and his saddle bags.
00:04:08
Finally, they started walking toward Jesser's large tent.
00:04:13
The camp appeared much smaller than the last time he had visited.
00:04:17
In fact, it appeared nearly deserted.
00:04:20
Glancing left and right and not quite understanding what he was seeing, Raelan
00:04:25
asked, "Where is everyone?" "It is not information for
00:04:30
your ears,"
00:04:31
the tall ranger said. "But I am sure Captain Jesser will tell you,"
00:04:36
the other one added as the two of them laughed at their wit in using Raelan's own
00:04:41
words against him.
00:04:43
The walk was uneventful and when they arrived at Captain Jesser's tent,
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Raelan was in for another surprise. There were no guards and the
00:04:53
people who hovered around Jesser in his previous visit were nowhere to be found.
00:04:59
In fact, as Raelan was escorted in, Jesser was alone at his desk.
00:05:04
He didn't even look up as the guards announced that they had a Blackguard with a
00:05:09
message. The two fidgeted a bit until Jesser looked up.
00:05:13
He made no indication that he recognized Raelan but he immediately commanded,
00:05:18
"Leave us."
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Without saying a word, Raelan's two escorts turned and left.
00:05:25
After the tent opening flapped closed behind them, Jesser smiled.
00:05:30
"So was your mission successful?" Raelan nodded.
00:05:34
"You were right. He was attacked outside Gaultland.
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I saved him."
00:05:39
Jesser shrugged. "It was a foolish mission of his."
00:05:42
Leaning back and stretching, Jesser added, "So what brings you back to me?"
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Raelan put his hand on a wooden chair facing Jesser's desk.
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"May I sit?"
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Jesser nodded and Raelan sat down.
00:05:57
After taking a deep breath, Raelan said, "I lied to you."
00:06:01
At that, Jesser leaned forward. "That's unfortunate." "It was
00:06:06
necessary,"Jesser didn't say anything, and Raylan
00:06:11
continued.
00:06:12
It was a lie of omission.
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I am the Guildmaster thief.
00:06:17
As he said the words, Raylan held up his hand and showed Jesser the guild
00:06:22
seal. To his surprise, Jesser smiled.
00:06:26
You're Larsen's brother?
00:06:28
Raylan nodded.
00:06:29
I've heard of your actions.
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Jesser nodded approvingly.
00:06:34
We are distant from our brothers and sisters in the city, but we aren't isolated.
00:06:38
You have done well.
00:06:40
Thank you.
00:06:42
So, why are you here, Guildmaster?
00:06:44
You are not isolated, but you are distant.
00:06:48
Do you know what is happening within the walls?
00:06:50
We have heard.
00:06:52
So you know that Saxe has allied with the Craft Guild and the Merchant Guild to betray
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Ness?
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Jesser nodded.
00:07:01
We must help Polo, and to do so, we need Saxe's support to be lessened.
00:07:07
Raylan wasn't sure if he went too far, as Jesser peered at Raylan with an
00:07:11
odd look. The Rangers were essentially part of Saxe's guild,
00:07:16
even if they did hate each other. Was Jesser upset over Raylan's
00:07:21
positioning of Saxe's betrayal?
00:07:23
We are aware, Guildmaster, so I ask you again,
00:07:27
what brings you to my camp?
00:07:30
Jesser's mood definitely had chilled.
00:07:33
That made Raylan's message that much more difficult to relay.
00:07:38
Still, he had to make sure that everything was clear.
00:07:41
I lied by omission again.
00:07:43
It appears this has become a habit.
00:07:45
A necessity, not a habit.
00:07:48
So what is this lie?
00:07:49
I did save Karch, but after doing so, I met with the Crown of the
00:07:54
Outlanders.
00:07:56
Jesser looked completely shocked, but before he could object, Raylan continued.
00:08:01
Just as Pietro visited him, I did so. We discussed a few things, and one of
00:08:06
them was for him to reduce his raids after my visit.
00:08:10
Raylan leaned forward.
00:08:12
Did he?
00:08:14
Jesser was clearly rattled, but he replied.
00:08:17
Yes. I didn't make the connection, but after your visit, raiding significantly lessened.
00:08:22
In fact, that's one of the reasons you see fewer here.
00:08:24
We felt that we could use them in our forces moving to the Outer Fields.
00:08:29
It was Raylan's turn to be shocked. What forces? The Outer Fields?
00:08:34
Guildmaster Raylan, you will obviously be delighted to hear that the Rangers have amassed a mighty force,
00:08:39
marching to the Night's Watch and the Outer Fields.
00:08:43
We will overthrow Saxe and return honor to the Night Guild.
00:08:47
Raylan had to hold onto the side of the chair as he went weak.
00:08:51
Jesser's news could not have been worse.
00:08:54
A small force of Outlanders was about to attack Jesser's Rangers, and there were so
00:08:59
few left that the Outlanders were very likely to overrun them,
00:09:04
despite their goal of just drawing attention.
00:09:07
And the larger force of Outlanders sent to attack the Outer Fields to
00:09:12
draw out Saxe, they would be decimated by the army of Rangers who would be
00:09:17
gathered there without the Outlanders knowing what they were facing.
00:09:21
His plan delivered to Wilhelm would have been seen as a trap and a betrayal.
00:09:27
All trust would be lost, and bringing peace to the broader world outside of
00:09:31
Ness would be impossible. The decades of effort by Pietro and Allard
00:09:36
would collapse in dust, all due to Raylan's ineptitude.
00:09:42
Wait, he had time. Not a lot of time, but time.
00:09:47
The Gauntland hand would need to return with his message, Raylan thought.
00:09:52
Depending on how fast he traveled, he may not even have arrived in Gauntland yet.
00:09:58
Then the Outlander forces would need to be organized.
00:10:02
At the same time, they would have to be supplied.
00:10:05
That would take time as well. "I can fix this," Raylan
00:10:10
thought, "but I need to leave immediately."
00:10:13
You don't seem happy.
00:10:14
I'm sorry, Captain Jesser.
00:10:18
Raylan stood.
00:10:19
Your news is indeed wonderful. You are putting your honor and lives on
00:10:24
the line for the good of Ness. For that, I salute you.
00:10:29
Raylan bowed his head.
00:10:31
But your news complicates one of my own plans.
00:10:35
More lies of omission, Guildmaster?
00:10:38
Raylan paused, considering telling the truth, but in the end he knew
00:10:43
that of all guilds, the Rangers would not understand using the Outlanders as
00:10:47
allies. That is a fair observation, but it is not a fair criticism,
00:10:53
Raylan replied.
00:10:55
Let me ask you a question. Do you feel like I can be trusted to have the best
00:10:59
interests of Ness at heart?
00:11:02
Jesser took a bit too long to answer, but he finally did.
00:11:06
I
00:11:06
do.
00:11:07
Then I ask you to trust me, but to also have my horse ready immediately.
00:11:12
I will also need supplies for a multiple-day journey.
00:11:15
I need to travel swiftly across the plains.
00:11:18
It shall be done.
00:11:20
Captain Jesser stood up.
00:11:23
Are you traveling to the Outer Fields?
00:11:24
No.
00:11:26
I am traveling to Gauntland.