Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-thieves-guild--6141933/support.
Some secrets are worth dying for. Some are worth killing for.
Want to binge The Thieves Guild with fewer ads? Every Friday night we release a bonus episode of the week's previous five chapters, with fewer ads in between chapters and a seamless listening experience!
Perfect for a weekend binge!
---
If you would like to view a map of Ness, you can find it here.
---
Check out our other audiobook podcasts!
Artifacts of the Arcane
A historical urban fantasy set at the beginning of World War Two.
The world has abandoned magic, but magic hasn’t abandoned the world.
Thursday
A cyberpunk VR thriller.
No one can be trusted when nothing is real.
---
Find out more about writer/show runner Jake Kerr: https://www.jakekerr.com
Follow Jake on Bluesky @jakekerr.com
00:00:01
The Thieves Guild,
00:00:04
by Jake Kerr.
00:00:08
Episode 18.
00:00:13
Escape.
00:00:24
The moment Raylan told Maela to save Rafe and Allard, she grabbed at him, but he
00:00:29
was too fast. She considered jumping out and cutting down the two guards before they could
00:00:34
grab him, but to her shock, Raylan was quick, agile, and
00:00:38
incredibly resourceful. "Like a thief," Maela thought,
00:00:43
smiling.
00:00:44
Two things struck her when Raylan tripped a knight further down the hall, turning him into
00:00:49
a small yet tangible barrier to those pursuing him.
00:00:53
One, he had attracted everyone's attention, and two, he might actually escape.
00:00:59
With all eyes on Raylan, Maela sprinted down the hall and quickly picked the lock of the
00:01:03
iron door leading to the catacombs.
00:01:06
As she closed it behind her, she had to shake her head. Raylan had done it.
00:01:11
Now, she didn't have to rush as she navigated the catacombs and freed Allard and
00:01:16
Raylan's friend. Her only concern was how many guards awaited her downstairs.
00:01:21
Pulling a wicked-looking dagger from her waistband, Maela started down the steps.
00:01:27
To her surprise, there were no guards at the bottom.
00:01:29
In fact, as she stepped into the long hall of cells, there were no guards at
00:01:34
all.
00:01:35
It was very dark with the only light coming from weak and sparse torches.
00:01:40
There was a brighter light that came from the bottom of another set of steps leading down in the
00:01:44
distance. The very first cell on the left contained a shadow, and
00:01:49
Maela whispered, "Allard?" There was the sound of shuffling and then a young man
00:01:54
walked over.
00:01:56
He was bruised, but looked healthy. "Who are you?" "Shh." Maela held a
00:02:01
finger to her lips. "Are you Rafe?" "Yes.
00:02:04
Who are you?" Maela started to work on the lock with her picks.
00:02:08
"I'm a thief, and I'm here to free you." There was a click and Maela tugged
00:02:13
the prison door open. "Now, shut up and wait here.
00:02:16
When I come back, be prepared to run up the steps and out the exit.
00:02:21
On the circle, there is a wagon. Jump on one of the horses in front of it and just give it a kick.
00:02:26
Can you ride well?" "Well enough not to fall off." "That works.
00:02:31
The horses are trained to just gallop to the old quarter, so you'll be fine."
00:02:35
Maela started down the hall. "Wait," Rafe whispered, urgency in his
00:02:40
voice. "What?" Maela asked, walking back.
00:02:44
"We don't have time for chit-chat." "Is Raylan okay?" "He's fine.
00:02:48
He's probably already on his way to the old quarter." 'I hope,' Maela thought.
00:02:53
Rafe nodded and smiled. She left him and paused at the top of the stairs.
00:02:58
She couldn't see down into the lower hall, so she kept her head low to see what
00:03:02
faced her as she silently crept down the staircase.
00:03:06
As the hall opened up to her view, she could see a single guard sitting on
00:03:11
a stool. He was in the middle of the hall with his back to Maela,
00:03:16
facing a single thick iron door at the end.
00:03:20
There were no bars and no windows, just the door.
00:03:23
"Allard is alone and in darkness," Maela thought, clenching
00:03:28
her teeth.
00:03:29
She wondered how badly he had been hurt.
00:03:32
If he would be unable to walk on his own, she would have to abandon saving him.
00:03:36
She glanced at the guard. She could easily sneak up and kill him, either by slitting his throat or
00:03:41
a well-placed stab between his chainmail links.
00:03:45
He would never know what happened to him.
00:03:47
Her instincts were to do just that,
00:03:50
but thinking over Raylan's plan to have him blamed made her think twice.
00:03:55
A professional would slit his throat. A stupid friend would just try to knock him out.
00:04:00
Maela twirled the dagger in her hand.
00:04:03
It had a convenient hard steel pommel.
00:04:06
Of course, knocking people out was more art than science.
00:04:09
You have to use the right force on the right spot, right above the back of the neck.
00:04:13
Risky, but a good risk.
00:04:16
Maela snuck forward, twirled the dagger in her hand as she approached, and at the last
00:04:21
second, grasped it pommel-down and slammed it into the back of the guard's head.
00:04:26
He slumped to his left and slid off the wooden chair to the floor.
00:04:30
Maela kissed her dagger, spun it again, and then sheathed it in her waistband.
00:04:35
(dramatic music)