An Unlikely Partnership

[00:00:01] The Thieves Guild, by Jake Kerr, Episode 120. An Unlikely Partnership.

[00:00:24] Karch was unsure that the man sitting across from him was actually the blade of the Craft Guild.

[00:00:30] After all, he had seen the man stir up hatred against the Merchant Guild, which was in complete opposition of what Orion had wanted, as indicated in the letter that lay on the table in front of Karch.

[00:00:44] Something was going on here. Karch decided to be silent, as he could see nothing to be gained by saying anything.

[00:00:52] The blade, Vesper, stared at Karch an uncomfortably long time, before leaning back and smiling. He held out his hand.

[00:01:00] Hand it over.

[00:01:01] Hand what over?

[00:01:03] The letter on the table in front of you. The one that bears my guild seal, and the one that you clearly read, as I was watching you reseal the letter as I came in.

[00:01:12] How do I know you're Orion's blade? You wear the green of the Harvest Guild, and in the room outside, you are stirring up hatred against the Merchant Guild, which, as we both know, is now ruled by Orion's nephew.

[00:01:25] Vesper smiled as he pulled his hand back.

[00:01:28] What an interesting place we find ourselves in, Karch. I am presumably betraying my guildmaster's interests, and you are spying on his letters.

[00:01:36] Vesper slid a knife out from a sheath on his thigh.

[00:01:40] I can easily prove I'm a blade, but that would leave you dead, and I don't necessarily want that to happen.

[00:01:46] So why don't you just hand over the letter, and then we can talk with more… clarity.

[00:01:52] Karch considered fleeing. Vesper was entangled in the chair, and the door was not far.

[00:01:58] But what would happen next?

[00:02:00] Vesper wore the Harvest Guild colours, and a shout from him would have Karch quickly apprehended within the tavern.

[00:02:07] He handed over the letter. Vesper carefully opened it along the wax seal with his knife, which appeared disturbingly sharp.

[00:02:16] He read the letter while glancing up at Karch every so often. When he finished, he tossed it back onto the table.

[00:02:24] What do you think of it?

[00:02:25] It was a key question. If he told the truth, and this blade was loyal to Orion, it could end up with Karch dead.

[00:02:34] But perhaps the truth was what this Vesper wanted to hear. After all, he had just flamed the fires of rage against the Merchant Guild minutes before.

[00:02:45] It's a foolish attempt by Orion to save himself from his doomed partnership with Larsson.

[00:02:50] I'm sure Orion felt that the risk of voting against the Harvest Guild at the Founders' Day banquet was worth it, but everything after that…

[00:02:58] Karch shook his head.

[00:03:00] …was pure insanity.

[00:03:01] As he spoke, Vesper nodded his head.

[00:03:05] Karch took it as a good sign, but you never could tell with blades.

[00:03:10] And you left for the Knights Guild because you recognised this… insanity?

[00:03:15] Clearly.

[00:03:16] And Orion gave you that letter?

[00:03:19] Saks gave it to me on Orion's behalf. He told me to deliver it personally to Polo. I told him that as Larsson's former deputy, I would most likely be imprisoned or killed, but Saks didn't seem to think that was a legitimate concern.

[00:03:32] He's stupid and arrogant.

[00:03:34] He's stupid and arrogant. It's a dangerous combination.

[00:03:36] Vesper stood up, and for a moment Karch thought that the conversation was going to end with Vesper killing him.

[00:03:43] But Vesper turned the chair around and sat back down, crossing his legs and leaning back casually. The knife, however, still stayed in his hand.

[00:03:53] I believe we both find ourselves torn, Karch. I was imprisoned by the Thieves Guild, but they spared my life and let me go if I acted as a spy for them with Orion.

[00:04:03] The Thieves Guild?

[00:04:04] The blade smiled again, which was starting to annoy Karch.

[00:04:09] You're not aware that the Guild is real? And powerful?

[00:04:13] Karch had started to consider just that, but there simply was never any proof.

[00:04:19] The robberies of the warehouses and shops often appeared a bit too organised, and the efficiency at which the goods simply disappeared also bothered him.

[00:04:29] Where did they go? But a full-fledged Thieves Guild? It still seemed unlikely.

[00:04:36] I expected as much, but you clearly know more than me.

[00:04:40] Karch left it at that, but it was all he needed to say.

[00:04:44] Vesper outlined his mission to assassinate Raylan, and what he found in the Old Quarter, and specifically the mighty Thieves Tower.

[00:04:52] Karch felt it odd that the blade seemed in such awe of something so mundane as a tower.

[00:04:59] This Thieves Tower? Is it a small structure across the Great Bridge? You speak of it in almost hushed tones, but I've never seen it.

[00:05:06] It is massive. Much larger and taller than the Merchant Tower. It dominates all of Ness from its position at the base of the mountains.

[00:05:14] That's absurd. Everyone would be able to see it.

[00:05:17] It is well camouflaged in front of the stone of the mountain, but you are correct. I have not shared this with anyone, but I feel there is some illusion or magic involved. It simply fades into the mountain the moment you step over the Great River.

[00:05:31] Karch could tell that Vesper was serious, but it seemed absurd. Magic? A tower so large and one for, of all guilds, the Thieves.

[00:05:42] Karch decided to file away the description as a blade's flight of fancy.

[00:05:47] And you took on this mission from... Raylan?

[00:05:50] Karch almost couldn't bring himself to say the vile boy's name.

[00:05:55] Yes. I met with Orion and then Allard. I had two options after that. Working on behalf of the Thieves and sowing discord among the Harvest Guild, or feigning to do so and work against the Thieves.

[00:06:07] It is clear where your loyalties lie.

[00:06:09] Oh, let me disabuse you of that sentiment. My loyalties lie with myself alone.

[00:06:15] Vesper again smiled his annoying smile.

[00:06:19] I simply have chosen the winning side.

[00:06:21] So you have chosen Raylan?

[00:06:23] Vesper took a deep breath, as if he was preparing to lecture a child.

[00:06:29] No, you fool. I have chosen Polo. He will come out on top no matter what happens with the Thieves. The Thieves have also chosen Polo's side. So it is convenient.

[00:06:39] I see. And how do I fit?

[00:06:42] That's what I am trying to figure out. The other guilds are a lost cause. You wear white, so ostensibly have chosen a losing side.

[00:06:50] Karch was about to object, but Vesper interrupted him.

[00:06:54] But you are a slippery one. You have power, and you have skills that are rare. You are also like me, delightfully transparent in your self-interest.

[00:07:04] Vesper picked up the knife and pointed it at Karch.

[00:07:08] So tell me, how do you fit?

[00:07:11] Karch knew his life hung in the balance. He was positive this was Orion's traitorous blade. He also knew that he was most likely telling the truth.

[00:07:21] He had chosen a side that made sense to anyone with even a cursory knowledge of Ness politics. The Harvest Guild.

[00:07:30] At that moment his future revealed itself. It was as if a light had exposed all that was dark before.

[00:07:38] He would work with Vesper. They would depose Sax, Orion, and his puppet nephew.

[00:07:45] There would be a leadership vacuum that Polo couldn't fill on his own. Who would fill it?

[00:07:51] Why Larson's deputy? Why Larson's deputy? The one who abandoned him due to his love of Ness. The one who no one would blame for Larson's and Orion's sins.

[00:08:02] Karch. He would lead the Merchant Guild into a new age.

[00:08:06] Karch smiled and leaned back in his chair.

[00:08:10] Here is how I fit, Blade Vesper.

[00:08:12] He held up Orion's letter.

[00:08:14] I will burn this letter in the tavern fireplace outside this room.

[00:08:18] I will return to Sax and tell him that Polo rejects Orion's plea for unity and that the Harvest Guild is planning on marching on the lower quarter, clearing out the Merchant Guild, the Craft Guild, and the Night Guild.

[00:08:30] They will use boats. They will cross bridges. They will swarm the Nightwatch.

[00:08:35] The Harvest Guild will let loose on the other guilds with a rage not felt since the ash fields burned.

[00:08:42] Very good, Karch.

[00:08:44] Vesper stood up.

[00:08:45] However, I fear Sax will not believe you.

[00:08:49] He held up a finger.

[00:08:51] But stay. Do not leave your chair.

[00:08:54] Vesper walked to the door and left the room.

[00:08:57] The Blade acted so oddly with his talk of magic and now his random departure.

[00:09:03] He's unstable, Karch thought.

[00:09:05] I must be wary of him.

[00:09:08] The door opened and Vesper walked in carrying a bottle of clear liquid and two glasses.

[00:09:13] He sat down, filled both glasses and pushed one toward Karch.

[00:09:18] Drink.

[00:09:19] Karch took a drink and coughed as the strong alcohol burned his throat.

[00:09:24] He put the glass down.

[00:09:26] This is vile stuff, Vesper.

[00:09:28] It is a bottle of the fire of the outer fields.

[00:09:31] Very expensive.

[00:09:33] Very strong.

[00:09:34] He nodded his head at Karch.

[00:09:36] Drink the whole glass and one more.

[00:09:39] Are you asking me or telling me?

[00:09:42] Vesper took a drink of his own and grimaced.

[00:09:45] The fire burns but it also cleanses.

[00:09:48] Let me just put it this way, Karch.

[00:09:50] It is in your own best interest to drink two glasses.

[00:09:53] The Blade was clearly insane, so Karch did what he was told.

[00:09:58] If he kept his wits about him, he may be able to leave the room not only with his life, but with the Blade as an ally.

[00:10:06] He finished the two glasses and his throat burned and his lips were numb.

[00:10:11] How do you feel?

[00:10:13] Numb.

[00:10:14] Very good.

[00:10:16] Vesper stood up again, sheathing his knife.

[00:10:18] That was a good sign, Karch thought.

[00:10:22] Your plan is good, but it has one flaw.

[00:10:25] Sax is stupid, but he's not that stupid.

[00:10:28] He knows Polo will still blame you at least in part for what Larson did.

[00:10:33] Vesper walked around the table and slapped his hand on Karch's back.

[00:10:37] The good news is that it's possible that Polo wouldn't have you imprisoned or killed, but it's also highly unlikely he would leave you unpunished.

[00:10:46] And without any warning, Vesper swung his fist and punched Karch in the face, sending him sprawling to the floor.

[00:10:54] Before Karch could defend himself or even think to call for help, Vesper battered him with kicks to the face, the arms and the body.

[00:11:03] Karch cried out and still Vesper kicked him.

[00:11:07] His lip was split and blood pooled around his head, and still Vesper kicked him.

[00:11:14] He felt a searing pain as Vesper's boot connected with the side of his chest.

[00:11:19] Hopefully the fire has numbed some of the pain.

[00:11:22] Vesper walked toward the door.

[00:11:25] You are welcome.

[00:11:27] He was in so much pain, Karch couldn't even roll over to watch Vesper leave.

[00:11:33] He heard the door open, and then Vesper's voice threw the fog.

[00:11:37] Now Sax will believe you.

[00:11:39] But I want to get a look at the head from his chest.

[00:11:39] The Fulfill, he was making his chest.

[00:11:39] The Fulfill has the skull.

[00:11:39] Gentlemen, the Pulse.

[00:11:39] He's coming up.

[00:11:39] The Fulfill.