A Reunion In A Cell

The Thieves Guild written by Jake Kerr, Chapter twenty four, A Reunion in a Cell. The click of the lock was loud in the silence of the room. It was a shocking sound, a sudden and oddly welcome interruption to the frustration that had been ever present in Pietro's study. For what felt like weeks now, Rafe had been pacing. Cray sat on the bed, The bed piled with volumes from Pietro's library, one of which was open in his lap. His snow white beard was tucked into his belt and out of the way. Cray didn't complain about Rafe's pacing anymore, though Rafe suspected it grated on him. Raf turned at the sound of the lock. It wasn't time for their met yet. Instead, the door opened and Raylan walked in. Rafe froze. His mind went blank, a slate wiped clean by the sheer impossibility of it. Raelin here in Goutland, in Pietro's cell. It had been weeks, weeks since Rafe had left Ness in Chaos, since he'd watched the fires burn, since he'd chosen the mission over the guild. He had imagined this reunion a hundred times, awkward apologies, joyful embraces, bitter accusations. But those reunions all happened in the tower, with Rafe triumphantly exclaiming that he had found the answers, but this he had not imagined. This. Raylan looked like he'd been dragged through the plains by wild horses. His fine guildmaster's coat was torn and filthy, his face gaunt and smudged with dirt. Behind him stood Pelos, looking grim and not his normal bemused mighty self. And there was a woman and in a torn red dress who seemed to have found the bemused look that Pelos had lost. For a long moment, neither of them. Spoke, Raithe you're you're alive? I sure, hope. So Rafe and Raylan laughed. It was as if no time at all had elapsed, even with the impossible circumstances to meet again in Pietro's cell, locked in by the very people who had imprisoned Raylan months ago, Raylan took a step forward and then ran directly to Rafe and grabbed him in a big hug. There was no awkwardness, no bitterness, just joy that the two friends were reunited. They parted, and Raylan's eyes scanned the room, landing on Cray, who had not moved. He sat there, a quiet sense of peaceful observation on his face. Who Raylan, This is Cray, law master of the Order of the Dragon, master of arms, keeper of history. He gestured to the ancient dwarf with something close to war. Cray, this is Raylan, guildmaster of the Thieves, Guild of Ness. Well met. Guildmaster. Cray's eyes fixed on Raylan with an intensity that made the young guildmaster take an involuntary step back. Cray studied him in silence, his expression unreadable. Pietro's successor. He set the journal down with care and pushed himself to his feet, with a slowness that spoke of age and aching joints and a long journey. Are you following in his footsteps? Guildmaster Pietro was a great man. Inscrutable, perhaps foolish, that is yet to be discovered, but he was a great man. You knew Pietro, I met him. I didn't know him. Rebecca, who had been silent, stepped forward. You are studying the dns Aye, but to call. It studying is a disservice to the word. They are written in a code or another language. I have worked tirelessly to translate it, but it has evaded me so far. We know, Raylan said enthusiastically, which Rafe found odd to be excited about an impossible block to moving forward. But then he said the words that nearly brought Rafe to tears. But we bring the wand it is the key. We are sure it is what had been placed there originally. Raylan pointed to the empty box on the wall. Craye's expression shifted. The cold appraisal melted into something Rafe had only seen once before, when he first discovered the journals existed a youthful excitement of discovery. Ahead the wand he scrambled over with surprising energy. As he walked forward, the woman slid it out of her pack. She stood, holding it in her hand like a present. She was going to hand to some lucky boy. I'm Rebecca, by the way, Well met. Rebecca, cray replied, as he stood before her, his arms behind his back. You wield the most important item in the world at this moment. He pulled one hand from behind his back and held it out. May I see it for. The law master of Dragon's Watch. Indeed, you may. She handed the one to Cray, who nodded, took it in his hand, and immediately went to an open book on the bed. He leaned forward and touched it with the wand nothing. He grumbled and turned a page. He then ran the wand along the words nothing again. Perhaps the guild master needs to wield it. Cray looked up, and Raylan walked over. Cray handed the one to Raylan, but Raylan had no more luck than he did give it to me. Rafe said, out of impatience, nearly snatching it from Raylan's hand. I can do this. If there is a secret to unlocking knowledge, I will be the one to unlock it. However, his efforts were just as useless. Everyone was quiet. Rebecca, you said I needed to speak the oath. Could that be it? Yes, that is one of the keys, the oath. She looked at Raylan. The oath of the guild Master. Perhaps there is no oath of the thieves guild. Raylan took the wand back from Rafe. He looked it over. Wait. Everyone stared as Raylan closed his eyes. We take so we can give. Nothing seemed to happen. But Raylan dropped the wand. It's hot. You did it. Rave slapped Raylan on the back. As Raelan picked up the Wand and repeated the exercise of touching the book and running it over text. But nothing happened. Is it different, cray asked, as Raelan stood amidst them, looking crestfallen. No, it just doesn't work. The room was silent once more, before Raeln exclaimed. Wait, it feels different. He looked at the Wand and his eyes went wide. There are more runs. Rafe ran over and held out his hand. Raylan handed it to him, and Rafe gently took it in his hands and examined it closely. Rafe turned the Wand over, his eyes tracing the runes, and suddenly it was all clear to him. This was it. This was indeed the key. The runes carved into the grain itself. This is not a tool of magic. This is a codex a what. Rafe moved closer, his scholarly instincts overriding the shock of the reunion. A codex, a translation guide. It had only one set of words until you held it and said the guildoath. Then the matching runes appeared. Raylan ran into the study wand in hand, and everyone followed. He sat at the desk and pulled a journal. Close. I've been studying this intently, I felt I was so close here. Let me look. He rolled the wand in his fingers. As he looked from journal to wand to journal. Well, Raylan sounded both excited and impatient. Rafe looked up four faces staring intently at him, full of hope, full of complete attention. To Rafe, he smiled, and in a moment he would never forget for the rest of his life, said the words I can read it. The podcast Alchemy production