Prisoners & Plans

[00:00:00] The Thieves Guild by Jake Kerr

[00:00:11] Episode 69

[00:00:16] Prisoners and Plans

[00:00:18] The Thieves Guild

[00:00:48] The Thieves Guild

[00:01:18] The Thieves Guild

[00:01:48] The Thieves Guild

[00:02:18] The Thieves Guild

[00:02:48] The Thieves Guild

[00:03:18] The Thieves Guild

[00:03:48] The Thieves Guild

[00:04:18] The Thieves Guild

[00:04:48] The Thieves Guild

[00:05:18] The Thieves Guild

[00:05:23] The Thieves Guild

[00:05:53] It depends on who is doing the telling.

[00:05:57] Cora leaned forward a bit.

[00:05:59] How do they describe it over there?

[00:06:02] Mala had no idea how to answer.

[00:06:05] She didn't think anyone in Ness had even known that there was a magic guild.

[00:06:11] They don't.

[00:06:12] Was her simple reply.

[00:06:14] Cora nodded.

[00:06:16] The successors did well then.

[00:06:19] Standing up straight, Cora brought her hands together.

[00:06:23] But enough questions, let's take you to your friend.

[00:06:26] Mala considered herself nimble,

[00:06:29] but she was a bumbling child next to Cora

[00:06:32] who appeared to float as they descended two flights of stairs.

[00:06:36] The staircase itself was simple stone with very few decorations.

[00:06:41] It was modest in comparison to the towers in Ness.

[00:06:45] Thinking of Ness, her Ness made her curious about this new Ness.

[00:06:51] How do things work if there aren't guilds?

[00:06:54] Who tills the land and crafts the closing?

[00:06:57] People do, they just don't need to be part of a guild.

[00:07:00] If someone wants to become a blacksmith,

[00:07:02] they train or apprentice with a master.

[00:07:04] It is a matter of opportunity and dedication.

[00:07:07] But that sounds like chaos.

[00:07:10] How is order maintained?

[00:07:12] There is order.

[00:07:14] She reached a landing but didn't stop and continued down the stairs.

[00:07:18] It's just not based on the archaic form of guilds.

[00:07:22] Cora didn't explain further,

[00:07:24] but Mala remembered both the awe in the voice of her Ness

[00:07:28] when discussing travel and his subsequent display of magic.

[00:07:33] No matter what Cora said,

[00:07:35] Mala knew the truth.

[00:07:37] The wizards ran the city and travel was their leader.

[00:07:41] He may not have been a guild master, but he was the leader.

[00:07:45] This is the kind of city that Larsen wants to create.

[00:07:49] Mala thought as Cora turned and entered a hallway.

[00:07:53] They were still high in the tower,

[00:07:55] but two levels below where Mala was kept.

[00:07:58] The hallway was longer than Mala had expected.

[00:08:01] How big is this tower?

[00:08:03] They stopped in front of a door halfway down the hallway.

[00:08:07] After pulling out a key from somewhere in her flowing dress,

[00:08:10] Cora unlocked the door.

[00:08:12] I'll leave you two alone.

[00:08:14] She pushed the door open and stood aside.

[00:08:17] Mala ran in.

[00:08:19] Dala was barely recognizable.

[00:08:21] The sad and hard warrior that Mala had met in her prison in the mines

[00:08:26] had turned into a beautiful woman with a simple and elegant white tunic.

[00:08:31] She was thin, but that added a vulnerability that made her seem more feminine.

[00:08:37] Mala was about to compliment her when Dala tugged on the tunic and said,

[00:08:41] Can you believe what they've put me in? I'm surprised you recognized me.

[00:08:45] And then with a big smile,

[00:08:47] Dala leapt to her feet and ran to Mala.

[00:08:51] The two hugged for a long time,

[00:08:53] and as they pulled apart,

[00:08:55] Dala leaned forward and kissed Mala on the lips.

[00:08:58] It was soft and warm, and Dala smelled nice.

[00:09:03] Mala pushed her lips forward,

[00:09:05] but then, feeling confused over the fact that she liked the feeling,

[00:09:09] she lowered her head and whispered,

[00:09:12] I was worried about you.

[00:09:15] Me?

[00:09:17] Look how thin you are.

[00:09:19] I knew you were giving me more and not splitting the food evenly.

[00:09:22] Taking Mala's hand,

[00:09:24] Dala tugged her toward the bed.

[00:09:26] Come sit down. We need to talk.

[00:09:29] The light joy in Dala's voice was replaced with a sudden seriousness.

[00:09:34] Her arms were thinner than Dala's,

[00:09:36] but Dala was larger than Mala.

[00:09:39] So it was difficult to assess if that was just from their nearly fatal trip through the mountain or not.

[00:09:46] Whatever the reason, Mala had to admit that Dala looked healthy.

[00:09:50] She had given her more food while they made their way along the underground road,

[00:09:55] but she didn't remember it being that much.

[00:09:58] The thought made her once again consider how long they had been underground.

[00:10:03] She had thought it days,

[00:10:05] but her body had wasted away considerably,

[00:10:08] and if she had given Dala a bit more food every day,

[00:10:12] it would have a much bigger impact over a longer time.

[00:10:16] How long were we on that road?

[00:10:18] It was so difficult to measure time.

[00:10:21] A few weeks.

[00:10:23] It seemed shorter, didn't it?

[00:10:25] Mala nodded.

[00:10:27] She had estimated the time was a week at most,

[00:10:30] with their weakness due mostly to lack of water.

[00:10:34] I was keeping track of our sleeping and eating cycles.

[00:10:37] It wasn't entirely accurate,

[00:10:39] but after living in the mines my whole life I have a good sense for it.

[00:10:43] Dala patted Mala on the leg.

[00:10:46] It's close though.

[00:10:48] I thought it was less than a week.

[00:10:50] Mala admitted her respect for Dala,

[00:10:53] which started as a sympathetic connection

[00:10:56] over the often brutal reality of being a woman in a man's guild position,

[00:11:01] had increased as she watched Dala handle her knife

[00:11:05] and keep them alive on the road through the mountain.

[00:11:08] Hearing and watching Dala speak filled Mala

[00:11:11] with even more admiration for her harvest-guild friend.

[00:11:15] She was as tough as the finest iron swords.

[00:11:19] Dala shrugged.

[00:11:21] What does it matter? We made it.

[00:11:23] Without waiting for a reply she added,

[00:11:27] Where are they keeping you? Do you know where our clothes are?

[00:11:30] I feel like a nursemaid in this.

[00:11:32] She once again tugged at her tunic.

[00:11:35] I think you look pretty.

[00:11:37] Really?

[00:11:38] For the first time since Mala arrived,

[00:11:41] Dala's look returned to the tentative guard

[00:11:44] Mala had first met in her prison cell.

[00:11:47] She caught Mala looking at her and lowered her head.

[00:11:51] Yes, but I like you better in armour.

[00:11:54] You seem more comfortable and natural in it.

[00:11:56] Thank you.

[00:11:58] Dala beamed looking up again.

[00:12:01] So where are they holding you?

[00:12:03] Oh yes, you asked me that. I'm two floors up.

[00:12:06] This is a very tall tower.

[00:12:08] Dala's face clouded and she stood.

[00:12:10] I had thought of that.

[00:12:12] She started to pace aiming whispered comments toward Mala.

[00:12:16] I'm not sure how we can escape.

[00:12:18] The walls have plenty of hand and footholds,

[00:12:20] but I'm not as agile as you are

[00:12:22] and I doubt we could fight our way out without weapons

[00:12:24] even with the wizards unarmed.

[00:12:26] So you know they are wizards?

[00:12:29] Well, the one named Travel explained that to me,

[00:12:31] but it is just a name.

[00:12:33] Maybe they are entertainers and this is a city of leisure.

[00:12:36] I have heard of such things in the Outlands.

[00:12:38] No, they are wizards.

[00:12:40] Dala stopped pacing and looked at Mala.

[00:12:43] As unable to do magic,

[00:12:45] you are still weak and can't think straight.

[00:12:48] Dala said it so matter-of-factly

[00:12:51] that it took a moment before Mala realized

[00:12:54] that Dala had said she was weak.

[00:12:56] I watched Travel create a rose out of the emptiness of air

[00:13:00] and then float it over to my bedside table.

[00:13:03] The magic is real.

[00:13:05] Mala spoke the last comment in the tone of a challenge.

[00:13:09] Dala calling her weak had hurt.

[00:13:12] Yes, you are an agile thief,

[00:13:14] so you would know if it was a sleight of hand of a street magician.

[00:13:17] It was a statement and not a question

[00:13:20] and Mala realized Dala had recognized

[00:13:23] she had hurt Mala's feelings with her earlier dismissiveness.

[00:13:27] Dala walked over, her voice once again a whisper.

[00:13:31] So what do we do? How can we fight magic?

[00:13:34] She waved her hand in the air.

[00:13:37] I don't even have my dagger.

[00:13:39] Perhaps we should just wait.

[00:13:41] I don't see a reason to fight them.

[00:13:43] They will let us go and then we can do what we want.

[00:13:46] Dala was shaking her head before Mala had even finished speaking.

[00:13:51] No, they will not let us go.

[00:13:54] You forget that I am a guard.

[00:13:56] I see how they manage our food and drink,

[00:13:58] how they handle the door.

[00:14:00] Have you noticed that they always scan the room before they enter?

[00:14:02] No. Well, that's how you treat a cell in a prisoner.

[00:14:05] Have you asked to leave?

[00:14:07] Mala shook her head.

[00:14:09] She hadn't thought of asking as Travel had explicitly said

[00:14:12] they were prisoners.

[00:14:14] Well, Travel told me we weren't free to leave,

[00:14:17] but that it was because we were strangers.

[00:14:19] It made sense to me.

[00:14:21] Even as she said the words, Mala wanted to kick herself.

[00:14:25] When did being told you were a prisoner

[00:14:28] ever seem reasonable for the prisoner?

[00:14:31] Ah, he didn't say that to me.

[00:14:33] He must have sensed I wouldn't react well to such words.

[00:14:36] Dala stood up again.

[00:14:38] She was a ball of nervous energy,

[00:14:40] barely able to maintain her whisper.

[00:14:43] So we are prisoners.

[00:14:45] That means we need to find a way to escape.

[00:14:47] Mala held up her hands.

[00:14:49] Isn't that moving a bit too fast?

[00:14:52] Escaping and assessing unknown situations

[00:14:55] was something she excelled at.

[00:14:57] We should see if we can find out more of their intentions,

[00:15:00] try to get more information about the city

[00:15:02] and see about any other ways to get back to Ness than the path we took.

[00:15:06] Dala nodded.

[00:15:08] That makes sense.

[00:15:10] I'm just nervous.

[00:15:12] She paced a bit more.

[00:15:14] You are better at this than I am.

[00:15:16] I just want to run.

[00:15:17] This whole place feels so alien and puts me on edge.

[00:15:20] Pausing and turning to Mala, she continued.

[00:15:24] Don't you feel it?

[00:15:26] The truth was that Mala didn't

[00:15:28] and that worried her a bit.

[00:15:30] She was aware of the risks

[00:15:32] and the unknown power of the wizards,

[00:15:34] but she assumed that if they wanted her and Dala dead,

[00:15:37] they would have been dead already.

[00:15:40] Beyond that, she felt more excitement

[00:15:42] at investigating this new world

[00:15:44] than getting back to Ness.

[00:15:47] The entire conversation made her feel guilty.

[00:15:50] She had a duty to the guild in Ness to return

[00:15:53] and she had a duty to stand by her friend.

[00:15:56] Running off to investigate a forest was a child's fantasy.

[00:16:01] I sensed distrust from the wizards, but not ill-will.

[00:16:05] Mala stood up and walked over to Dala,

[00:16:08] who reached out and clasped Mala's hand.

[00:16:11] I agree we need to escape,

[00:16:13] but there are too many unknowns to do it effectively or safely.

[00:16:16] We will be separated soon.

[00:16:18] Let's both ask questions in the guise of innocent curiosity

[00:16:21] and then when we are next together

[00:16:23] we'll be able to plan better.

[00:16:25] Yes, that is wise!

[00:16:27] Dala threw her arms around Mala.

[00:16:30] We'll make it out.

[00:16:31] The two of us survived the mountain.

[00:16:33] We can escape a city.

[00:16:35] Mala nodded, but her experience told her

[00:16:38] that a city was as dangerous a place as a mountain.

[00:16:41] We just need to be careful.

[00:16:43] If they want us to consider ourselves as guests

[00:16:46] we will need to act like guests.

[00:16:48] Letting go of their hug,

[00:16:50] Dala looked at Mala.

[00:16:52] Do you think they would move us into the same room?

[00:16:55] That would make everything easier.

[00:16:57] The thought stunned Mala.

[00:16:59] She'd not considered being with Dala.

[00:17:02] Although they had experienced so much together already

[00:17:06] there was nothing to bring two people closer together

[00:17:09] than complete and total trust and faith

[00:17:12] to help each other survive.

[00:17:14] They may.

[00:17:15] Mala stammered as she considered what else to say.

[00:17:19] Conflicting thoughts rattled around in her head.

[00:17:22] She had never favoured anyone

[00:17:24] in her pursuit of her personal goals.

[00:17:27] Relationships were for the weak

[00:17:29] so she considered them in the same way

[00:17:32] as she considered the flow of the Great River.

[00:17:35] Something that just happened to go in that direction

[00:17:38] even if she never entered the water.

[00:17:41] The very presence of the question of being together with Dala

[00:17:45] confused Mala

[00:17:47] as if she entered the Great River

[00:17:49] and realised that some of the currents below the surface

[00:17:52] flowed in the opposite direction.

[00:17:55] So she saw no reason not to be with Dala

[00:17:58] but the entire concept was so alien

[00:18:01] that she needed time to figure it out.

[00:18:04] I will ask.

[00:18:05] Mala finally added

[00:18:07] to which Dala replied she would as well.

[00:18:10] They had more time to themselves

[00:18:13] so the two decided to compare as many notes

[00:18:16] about their trip through the mountain as they could.

[00:18:19] If they could make sense of the very existence of the road

[00:18:22] perhaps they could find the secret to using it to return.

[00:18:27] But as the two talked

[00:18:29] Mala's thoughts drifted back to light kisses,

[00:18:32] tight embraces and the desperate trust she and Dala shared.

[00:18:36] What did it mean?

[00:18:38] And how would it affect the very dangerous path

[00:18:41] that was ahead of them?

[00:18:43] Mala wasn't sure but as Dala reached out

[00:18:46] and held her hand as they talked

[00:18:48] she realised Dala's presence made everything seem better.

[00:18:52] She didn't know what would happen