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00:00:00
(suspenseful music plays) The Thieves Guild
00:00:04
by Jake Kerr.
00:00:10
Episode 49:
00:00:15
A More Important Duty.
00:00:24
Rafe gave up any pretense of assisting with guild matters.
00:00:27
As soon as he woke up in the morning until he dragged his tired body to bed, he spent all his
00:00:32
time in the library. Allard's complaints over his dereliction of apprentice guild
00:00:37
master duties became louder and louder.
00:00:40
When Allard's frustration approached a breaking point, Rafe would do the bare minimum of
00:00:45
work. What Allard didn't understand was that Rafe painstakingly went over
00:00:50
every book, looking for the secrets that he knew existed.
00:00:54
There was a huge amount of information in the library but unfortunately, most of it was
00:00:59
of little interest to Rafe. He didn't want to know how to forge iron or the
00:01:04
proper weaving technique for a saddle pad.
00:01:07
He wanted to know the secrets of the world he lived in.
00:01:11
In a dark corner, he discovered several large books, and with the hope that they
00:01:16
were full of illustrations and maps, Rafe started to gently move them to
00:01:21
the large reading table.
00:01:23
As he set down the second book, Rafe heard Allard's heavy footsteps
00:01:28
approaching. Ignoring Allard, Rafe walked over to grab another of the books.
00:01:33
As he set the book on the table, Allard cleared his throat.
00:01:36
Rafe looked up, expecting to see anger on Allard's face.
00:01:40
To his shock, however, the deputy guild master seemed serene.
00:01:44
"You have ignored the stables."
00:01:47
Rafe didn't bother looking up. He slid into a chair and brushed some dust off the top of a book.
00:01:51
"I have decided that...
00:01:54
I do not have time for the stables."
00:01:56
Allard didn't reply, but instead walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down
00:02:01
opposite Rafe.
00:02:02
"Tell me about these books."
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Looking up, Rafe pondered Allard's look.
00:02:07
He seemed curious, but was it out of interest or simply out of a desire to have better
00:02:12
ammunition to dismiss Rafe's use of time?
00:02:15
"You wouldn't understand," Rafe replied, returning his attention to the book.
00:02:20
He opened the cover, hoping to see a map or an illustration of something
00:02:24
extraordinary.
00:02:26
The frontispiece said, "Guild Designs and Iconography."
00:02:31
An illustration of a single ring sat below the title.
00:02:34
Its stone was a deep red, and it appeared that the illustrations in the
00:02:39
book were all hand-painted. As much as it was most likely
00:02:43
beautiful, it wasn't what Rafe wanted. Sighing, he closed the book.
00:02:48
He wanted maps, he wanted secrets. Images of guild jewelry were not
00:02:53
what he had in mind. He looked up again at Allard, who seemed intent on Rafe's studies.
00:02:58
"Uh, this is not a good example," Rafe said self-consciously.
00:03:01
"I'm looking for maps and histories.
00:03:03
Ness is more than just the current conflict between Lassen and the other guilds."
00:03:07
"How so?"
00:03:09
Allard spread his hands on the table.
00:03:11
"Did you know that Ness has a sister city across the mountains and that the mountains are called the
00:03:16
Dragon's Teeth?"
00:03:18
Allard frowned.
00:03:19
"Rafe, I appreciate your interest in the wonderful stories in these books, but
00:03:23
fantastical stories are a waste of your time when there is so much work to do."
00:03:27
"These are not stories," Rafe exclaimed, kicking the chair back as
00:03:32
he scrambled over to grab the map he discovered.
00:03:35
It was on a shelf of books that he considered important.
00:03:39
Walking back, he unfolded the map in front of Allard. "See?
00:03:43
That is Ness. And what does that say on the other side of the mountain?"
00:03:47
Allard was silent, and then replied...
00:03:49
"I'm afraid I can't read."
00:03:51
Rafe's jaw dropped. Everyone could read. How could Allard not read?
00:03:56
As if anticipating Rafe's shock, Allard added...
00:03:59
"I've been a warrior all my life, Rafe. I was born outside the wall, practically with a sword in my hand.
00:04:04
I did not have time to learn to read."
00:04:05
Pointing to the word above Ness, Rafe said, "That is how Ness is
00:04:10
spelled."
00:04:11
He then pointed to the other city. "The letters are identical.
00:04:15
It also says Ness."
00:04:16
"This could be a work of imagination, Rafe,"
00:04:19
Allard said, although he looked closely at the map.
00:04:22
Rafe ignored Allard's doubts. "This is a city called Gautland.
00:04:26
I assume it is how we came up with the name Outlanders."
00:04:30
Allard pushed back into his chair, and as Rafe glanced at him, he saw the shock on Allard's
00:04:35
face.
00:04:35
"Very few in the city know that name, Rafe."
00:04:38
Rafe shrugged. "There are other cities here on the coast, and more over here through the forest.
00:04:43
And look here."
00:04:45
Rafe pointed to the road between the two cities labeled Ness.
00:04:50
"There appears to be a road that leads from our city to the other Ness across the mountain.
00:04:55
How could that be?"
00:04:57
Glancing up at Allard, Rafe was wondering if Allard could perhaps offer some insight
00:05:02
from his years with Pietro, but Allard was staring at the book of guild
00:05:07
designs.
00:05:08
"Let me see that book."
00:05:10
Rafe slid the book toward Allard, wondering what the warrior found interesting in a book of
00:05:15
jewelry.
00:05:15
(suspenseful music plays)