Questions And Answers

1 00:00:00,099 --> 00:00:02,900 (dramatic music plays) The Thieves Guild 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:05,759 by Jake Kerr. 3 00:00:12,139 --> 00:00:14,100 Episode 118: 4 00:00:18,039 --> 00:00:20,200 Questions and Answers. 5 00:00:22,639 --> 00:00:26,579 You're a terrible thief, you know that? 6 00:00:27,180 --> 00:00:29,880 Reylan wasn't so much frightened as shocked. 7 00:00:30,420 --> 00:00:35,319 He quickly rolled over in bed, fully awake now, and reached for the letter opener 8 00:00:35,340 --> 00:00:39,760 on the nightstand that he intended on using as a semblance of a weapon while 9 00:00:39,799 --> 00:00:40,560 imprisoned. 10 00:00:41,180 --> 00:00:45,860 It wasn't there. He shuffled back in bed to a sitting position, and 11 00:00:45,879 --> 00:00:49,380 wiped his eyes as he looked out to the source of the voice. 12 00:00:49,899 --> 00:00:54,139 A woman sat in a chair that had been pulled up to the base of his bed. 13 00:00:54,619 --> 00:00:59,520 She was wearing an elegant red dress, and was spinning his letter opener in one of 14 00:00:59,539 --> 00:01:00,079 her hands. 15 00:01:00,979 --> 00:01:05,819 She had jet black hair, and a round, pretty face, the kind that Reylan 16 00:01:05,899 --> 00:01:09,739 always saw in the upper quarter, but never down in the flats. 17 00:01:10,179 --> 00:01:15,039 Her skin was very pale. A corner of her mouth was turned up in an amused 18 00:01:15,219 --> 00:01:20,079 smile. Who, who are you? Reylan pulled the blankets up 19 00:01:20,079 --> 00:01:21,839 over his thin night clothes. 20 00:01:21,839 --> 00:01:26,439 That's a good question, but I think there are others you should be asking first. 21 00:01:26,899 --> 00:01:27,839 Why don't you try again? 22 00:01:27,839 --> 00:01:32,659 Reylan was immediately reminded of Mela's sarcastic replies to 23 00:01:32,679 --> 00:01:36,779 his questions when Mela had surprised him in a similar way. 24 00:01:37,299 --> 00:01:41,819 He had no patience for that, so he decided not to play this woman's 25 00:01:41,879 --> 00:01:45,179 game. Guard, someone has snuck into my room. 26 00:01:45,639 --> 00:01:48,579 The woman pouted, but it was far from cute. 27 00:01:48,579 --> 00:01:53,539 My goodness. You have someone who snuck into your cell and is talking to you, and rather 28 00:01:53,539 --> 00:01:57,799 than think of this as a means to escape, your first thought is to 29 00:01:58,579 --> 00:02:00,319 call your jailer? 30 00:02:00,839 --> 00:02:04,959 Reylan didn't quite know how to reply, and the woman continued. 31 00:02:05,319 --> 00:02:07,979 And you call this your room and not a prison? 32 00:02:07,979 --> 00:02:09,959 The woman shook her head. 33 00:02:09,959 --> 00:02:12,399 You're an even worse thief than I thought. 34 00:02:12,399 --> 00:02:17,159 Reylan grit his teeth. Much like Mela, the woman was 35 00:02:17,319 --> 00:02:21,099 maddening, but she somehow made good points as she insulted him. 36 00:02:21,579 --> 00:02:26,359 He took a deep breath and decided it would make the most sense to talk to this woman. 37 00:02:26,819 --> 00:02:31,639 There was too much he didn't know, and before he could make a decision, he would have to know 38 00:02:31,739 --> 00:02:36,119 more. The first question he had was... Where is the guard? 39 00:02:36,439 --> 00:02:38,759 The woman smiled in apparent delight. 40 00:02:38,759 --> 00:02:42,139 That wouldn't have been my first question, but it's a good one. 41 00:02:42,439 --> 00:02:44,899 The guard is currently resting outside your door. 42 00:02:45,379 --> 00:02:47,939 He won't disturb us unless I call for him. 43 00:02:47,939 --> 00:02:52,279 The woman leaned forward and waved the letter opener at Reylan. 44 00:02:52,279 --> 00:02:53,799 Next question. 45 00:02:54,839 --> 00:02:55,799 Why are you here? 46 00:02:56,499 --> 00:03:01,419 Another good question, and directly related to the question, "What do you want from me?" So 47 00:03:01,479 --> 00:03:04,159 let's tackle both of those questions, shall we? 48 00:03:04,759 --> 00:03:09,659 I am here because you are the Guildmaster thief of Ness, and I've been waiting for your arrival 49 00:03:09,659 --> 00:03:10,719 for quite some time. 50 00:03:11,559 --> 00:03:12,579 What do I want from you? 51 00:03:13,239 --> 00:03:17,839 Well, that's a long and complex answer, but let me just say that I'm here to help you 52 00:03:17,839 --> 00:03:19,479 achieve Pietro's goals. 53 00:03:19,479 --> 00:03:24,159 So, an ally, Reylan thought. And clearly a 54 00:03:24,239 --> 00:03:26,559 skilled and even dangerous one. 55 00:03:27,419 --> 00:03:28,639 Why should I trust you? 56 00:03:29,439 --> 00:03:31,559 The woman seemed almost delighted. 57 00:03:31,559 --> 00:03:33,559 You are getting the hang of this. 58 00:03:34,199 --> 00:03:37,499 You can't trust me, of course. I must earn your trust. 59 00:03:37,499 --> 00:03:41,879 Reylan thought over what to ask next about his current situation, 60 00:03:42,399 --> 00:03:46,579 but all he could think of was the woman's comment about Pietro's goals. 61 00:03:47,099 --> 00:03:52,019 Vilhelm had said Pietro's goal was to open the trade routes, but Vilhelm 62 00:03:52,259 --> 00:03:54,139 had also tossed him in prison. 63 00:03:54,999 --> 00:03:57,779 You mentioned helping me achieve Pietro's goals. 64 00:03:58,339 --> 00:04:00,539 I don't know what Pietro's goals are. 65 00:04:00,899 --> 00:04:03,479 He left no guidance to Allard or in writing. 66 00:04:04,279 --> 00:04:05,339 The woman nodded. 67 00:04:05,799 --> 00:04:10,719 Yes, that is the key question. What are those goals, and 68 00:04:10,779 --> 00:04:14,779 how can you and I work to achieve them? But that is not a question I can answer. 69 00:04:15,059 --> 00:04:15,919 Try again. 70 00:04:15,919 --> 00:04:20,919 'She is hiding something,' Reylan thought, but he was fully 71 00:04:20,939 --> 00:04:25,879 awake now and he was getting a handle on his visitor, so he decided to 72 00:04:25,979 --> 00:04:30,559 circle back to the question later. To buy time, Reylan asked an 73 00:04:30,579 --> 00:04:35,539 obvious question that had been top of mind for him, as he came from a city where 74 00:04:35,699 --> 00:04:37,859 color defined your role in life. 75 00:04:38,599 --> 00:04:43,039 Why do you wear red? The woman looked unsettled for the barest of 76 00:04:43,099 --> 00:04:44,899 moments, but then answered. 77 00:04:44,899 --> 00:04:49,819 It is but a color. We don't tie colors to guilds or status in Gautland. 78 00:04:49,819 --> 00:04:54,399 'She is lying. The color red means something.' 79 00:04:54,979 --> 00:04:59,439 Reylan filed those thoughts away. You said I'm a terrible thief. 80 00:04:59,619 --> 00:05:02,399 Why would you say that? You came upon me asleep. 81 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,379 In the wardrobe, there are small metal rods for securing things to your clothes. 82 00:05:07,039 --> 00:05:11,899 They can be used as lockpicks. You're on a higher floor, but if you look out your 83 00:05:11,939 --> 00:05:14,119 window, you would see means of escape. 84 00:05:14,379 --> 00:05:19,159 You haven't even engaged with your guards about discovering any weakness they have. And finally... 85 00:05:19,619 --> 00:05:21,479 The woman rolled her eyes. 86 00:05:21,499 --> 00:05:24,419 There is a lockpick set in one of the drawers in the study. 87 00:05:24,419 --> 00:05:28,079 The comments hurt, but Reylan didn't want to show it. 88 00:05:28,559 --> 00:05:31,819 The Thieves Guild in Ness is more than just picking locks. 89 00:05:32,519 --> 00:05:34,879 Oh, I know all about the Thieves Guild in Ness. 90 00:05:35,299 --> 00:05:37,959 Be that as it may, you should know the tools of your guild. 91 00:05:38,659 --> 00:05:41,239 Pietro was the best lockpick in Ness. 92 00:05:42,079 --> 00:05:43,059 Did you know that? 93 00:05:43,059 --> 00:05:47,519 So the woman was not just aware of Pietro, she knew 94 00:05:47,639 --> 00:05:52,119 details about him. Reylan filed that away for a later question. 95 00:05:52,599 --> 00:05:57,279 His immediate interest was her expressing knowledge of the politics of the Thieves 96 00:05:57,339 --> 00:05:58,419 Guild in Ness. 97 00:05:59,019 --> 00:06:00,319 Do you work for Vilhelm? 98 00:06:01,261 --> 00:06:03,761 "I do not, but he is well aware of me." 99 00:06:03,761 --> 00:06:08,421 Not knowing what to ask, Raylan just tossed out, "Are you a 100 00:06:08,461 --> 00:06:13,021 thief?" Raylan considered it possible that in one of his visits, 101 00:06:13,162 --> 00:06:16,262 Pietro had built a network of thieves in Gautland. 102 00:06:16,701 --> 00:06:21,021 In fact, the moment he asked the question, he was certain it was true. 103 00:06:21,021 --> 00:06:24,362 "That is a simple question with a very complicated answer." 104 00:06:24,801 --> 00:06:27,422 She tapped her chin and then smiled. 105 00:06:27,422 --> 00:06:32,061 "It is my turn to ask you a question. Are you the heir of Pietro?" 106 00:06:32,441 --> 00:06:37,181 Raylan immediately assumed it was a trick question, but not seeing any 107 00:06:37,301 --> 00:06:42,002 possible way that his answer could create problems, he answered, "I 108 00:06:42,101 --> 00:06:42,502 am. 109 00:06:43,141 --> 00:06:47,481 I am the Guildmaster Thief, and I am the successor to Pietro." 110 00:06:47,481 --> 00:06:49,562 "Indeed, you are. 111 00:06:50,301 --> 00:06:52,801 I am also the heir of Pietro." 112 00:06:53,401 --> 00:06:58,381 Ah, so he did set up a presence here, perhaps its own Thieves' Guild, and this 113 00:06:58,441 --> 00:07:02,941 woman is the Guildmaster Thief. Raylan stole a glance at the woman's hand, 114 00:07:03,301 --> 00:07:08,062 and there it was, a simple ring with a blank stone, a guild seal 115 00:07:08,221 --> 00:07:10,821 identical to the one on his own finger. 116 00:07:11,601 --> 00:07:16,041 Sitting in bed, Raylan could do little more than nod his head in respect. 117 00:07:16,041 --> 00:07:19,561 "I was not expecting this, but I'm glad to hear it. 118 00:07:19,861 --> 00:07:24,801 I salute you, fellow Guildmaster Thief." The woman looked confused for a moment, 119 00:07:25,081 --> 00:07:26,921 and then burst out in laughter. 120 00:07:26,921 --> 00:07:27,641 " (laughs) 121 00:07:28,421 --> 00:07:33,221 I am so sorry. I can understand now why you would think that, but I assure 122 00:07:33,241 --> 00:07:35,901 you, I am not the Guildmaster Thief." 123 00:07:36,481 --> 00:07:41,342 Raylan's confusion must have been obvious, as the woman stopped laughing and 124 00:07:41,342 --> 00:07:43,022 held a hand over her heart. 125 00:07:43,022 --> 00:07:44,121 "I am 126 00:07:44,961 --> 00:07:46,701 Pietro's granddaughter." 127 00:07:50,022 --> 00:08:23,382 (dramatic music)