A Good Omen

[00:00:01] The Thieves Guild by Jake Care Episode 64.

[00:00:45] Her thief instincts taking over, Maylar tossed the bedding aside to land on her feet on the opposite side of the voice. But the bedding was too slippery, and she did little more than roll away in a single place.

[00:00:58] The thief instinct was to stand on her feet on the opposite side of the voice. But the bedding was too slippery, and she did little more than roll away in a single place.

[00:01:11] You do not have to fear me. You and your friend were weak from lack of water. I'm a healer, and my charge is to heal you.

[00:01:18] Maylar opened her eyes to see an older woman wearing a white robe sitting in a chair next to the bed. Her hands were folded in her lap, and she was smiling. My name is Lynn.

[00:01:35] Maylar looked around. She was in a single room with a wooden door opposite the bed, which was closed.

[00:01:42] A large window without glass or wooden shutters stood open behind her. It took up almost the entire wall and looked out on a piercing blue sky with a mountain in the distance. It looked a lot like the view from near the top of the thief tower.

[00:02:00] Where am I? Maylar turned back to the woman. You are in Ness. We found you in the mines. You collapsed after exiting the forbidden tunnel. Sitting up straight, Maylar tried to peer out the window, but could see nothing more than sky. Ness, what guilt tower is this?

[00:02:23] Helors were part of the protector guild of the knights, and the woman wore white. Perhaps this was some remote night outpost connected with the Rangers Guild.

[00:02:33] That made sense to her. She and Dalar had travelled far past the walls of Ness, and exited near a distant night outpost that she had never heard of. Guilds. There are no guilds here. This is Ness. We are the trading centre between Drak and Miran.

[00:02:52] Her eyes went wide. Wait, I remember the wizards once had a guild, but we haven't called it the magic guild for centuries. You just at my expense.

[00:03:03] Maila said, frowning. She looked for her dagger, but her clothes were nowhere to be found in the room. She had a soft white tunic and nothing else. I do not. The woman exclaimed, Why would you think it so?

[00:03:19] Perhaps you are so far from the city that you no longer even understand. Maila said, as she scratched her head. Turning to the woman she added, Ness is the city state where your guild is based, although you clearly have lost contact with it.

[00:03:33] It is further along the mountains, perhaps many miles away. It is run by guilds. The merchant, harvest, craft and night guilds. Frowning once again, Maila continued, But you didn't need to tease me by mentioning wizards. The woman nodded her head. I see. Standing up she added,

[00:03:54] You will need to speak with travel. We assumed you were lost in the forbidden tunnel, but now I see it is something we had never expected to happen. You came from the other side. She said the words, Other side, With an almost breathless awe.

[00:04:09] She walked to the door, Turning and forcing before she exited. There is water on the table. Drink much, you are still weak. She exited and a sharp click came from the lock. Maila stood up and had to steady herself. How long had she been in the room? Hours?

[00:04:28] Days? After a quick drink of water, Maila made her way to the door. As she expected it was locked. The window in her room was a window to a whole new world. A large city nearly as large as Ness surrounded the tower she was in.

[00:04:45] And what a tower it was. It looked to be as tall as the thief tower, Providing Maila with a view of the mountains in the distance and the whole city, Which appeared very like Ness in terms of building style. There were wood and stone buildings,

[00:05:03] Roads and towers of various sizes. The most amazing part, however, was the green in the distance. Maila had to lean far out the window to see, But there appeared to be a massive forest of trees that filled the entire horizon,

[00:05:20] Running from the mountain to the edge of her vision, Where the end of her window blocked her view. After an hour of marvelling over the city where she was captive,

[00:05:30] There was a click and a man in dark brown woven pants and a red shirt stood at the door. His dress appeared formal, but he entered with a calm assurance and a warm smile. Red? Maila didn't know if she should flee.

[00:05:46] It was common knowledge that red dye was poisonous, Even dry, and the touching it let alone wearing it was certain death. May I come in? Asking to enter? He's not acting like a captain. Yes? Maila stood the bed between her and the man.

[00:06:06] And you appear frightened, I'm not a threat, I assure you. The man stood near the door. It is the red dye, it is poison. The man looked down at his shirt, a confused look on his face.

[00:06:21] Your almost taken red dye is a safe as any other I assure you. Maila didn't move. Please have a seat. I will sit in that shirt. He pointed to a chair on the other side of her nightstand.

[00:06:36] She nodded, the man sat down and with a refined movement crossed his legs and placed his hands in his lap. I am travel. He stared at me, saying nothing else. I am Maila.

[00:06:50] She replied as she slowly walked around the bed to sit on the edge, facing travel, yet still far from him. He nodded and continued. You are from Ness. Maila wasn't quite sure what the man was getting at. Of course she was from Ness.

[00:07:08] Yes, I am from Ness, but certainly you know that. She glanced toward the door. Where is Dala? I'm not answering any more questions until I know she is safe. She is safe, but you will answer one more question before I can let you confirm that for yourself.

[00:07:24] Fine, but first you must answer a question for me. As you wish. Where are we? The healer said I was in Ness, but this isn't Ness. Am I in some foreign land? Is this an outlander city? And why do you wear red?

[00:07:38] I see that it is not poisoning you. Yet red is still an odd colour to wear. Is this a night tower in some city related to Ness that I don't know about? Tribal smile.

[00:07:48] That is more than one question and I dare say that by asking your questions you have answered mine. But I will ask it nonetheless. But first let me answer yours. Your final question is close to the truth.

[00:08:03] You are in Ness, but not the city of that name across the Dragon's teeth. We are its sister city, if you will. This is not a night tower. This is the tower of the wizards. And while we have long ago shared the name, Guild.

[00:08:19] You would know as better as the magic guild. But wizards and magic don't exist. Are you entertainers? There were entertainers in Ness, although not many of them. They were mostly storytellers, but there were some who would do fanciful tricks.

[00:08:36] Mailer assumed that this city had a guild of tricksters. It was the only thing that made sense. The wizards stared at Mailer for a long time, finally answering. Our shattered past has unfortunately buried our history it seems. Signing he continued. So my question, has Dragon passed been reopened?

[00:08:58] I don't know what Dragon Pass is. You came via a road, how did you come upon it? We climbed down a treacherous path through a natural opening. If that's what you're asking, we were lost and followed the road. Mailer had a sudden idea as to what happened.

[00:09:13] And it was so overwhelming she had to pause to take a deep breath. I see. Travel stood up. It appears young Mailer that you have stumbled upon a road long hidden and a history long buried.

[00:09:26] Quora will want to see you, and she will take you to your friend. There is too much to discuss, perhaps even danger for us if we let you leave right away. So you will unfortunately have to be without your freedom for a bit.

[00:09:41] It didn't surprise Mailer at all so she didn't even bother to object. Travel was about to close the door behind him when he paused and re-entered the room stopping just inside. You said there is no such thing as magic. Tracking his head, he continued.

[00:10:01] What a loss it has been for our friends who rejected us, and with a wave of his hand, a red rose appeared between his fingers. The flower of our city, there was one in your belongings, dried up and crumbling.

[00:10:15] I considered it a good home and that you carried it. He lowered his hand and the rose remained suspended in the air. With a nod of travel's head, the flower floated through the air and set itself down on the table next to Mailer's bed.

[00:10:31] A good home and indeed.