The Ghosts of Dragon Pass

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER_01]: The Thieves Guild by Jake Kerr

[00:00:10] [SPEAKER_01]: Episode 104 The Ghosts of Dragon Pass

[00:00:23] [SPEAKER_00]: Maela looked at Dala, and Dala looked at Maela.

[00:00:28] [SPEAKER_00]: Both turned back and looked at the cabin.

[00:00:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Maela shrugged her shoulders and walked toward the front door of the cabin.

[00:00:36] [SPEAKER_02]: Are you okay? We're not going to hurt you. We're just strangers that need help.

[00:00:42] [SPEAKER_02]: Don't come any closer! I have a bow!

[00:00:45] [SPEAKER_00]: Dala walked up.

[00:00:47] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm not sure how she'll be able to shoot through a solid door.

[00:00:51] Shhh!

[00:00:51] [SPEAKER_00]: Maela replied, and then speaking to the closed door.

[00:00:56] [SPEAKER_02]: We won't enter. We just were hoping you could tell us if we are near the road through the mountain.

[00:01:01] [SPEAKER_00]: After a pause, the voice replied,

[00:01:03] [SPEAKER_03]: Not but ghosts come from Dragon Pass.

[00:01:06] [SPEAKER_03]: People go there to die, and the ghosts of the dead haunt our dreams. They're gone ghosts!

[00:01:12] [SPEAKER_03]: Is the road called Dragon Pass?

[00:01:14] [SPEAKER_00]: Another pause, and the woman replied,

[00:01:18] [SPEAKER_03]: You came from there. You should know, unless you are lying.

[00:01:22] [SPEAKER_02]: We are not ghosts, and we did come through the mountain. Can you please let us in?

[00:01:26] [SPEAKER_02]: We just want to talk. We can explain everything.

[00:01:30] [SPEAKER_00]: Maela was going to add to Dala's comments, but Dala continued,

[00:01:35] [SPEAKER_02]: Please, you mentioned being banished. Travel did banish us, but we escaped. If that scares you, I understand, but don't fear us for simply surviving a long trip through Dragon Pass.

[00:01:45] [SPEAKER_03]: You were banished?

[00:01:47] [SPEAKER_02]: Yes, we were.

[00:01:49] [SPEAKER_02]: But how did you get past the Guardian?

[00:01:52] [SPEAKER_02]: Dala killed it.

[00:01:54] [SPEAKER_00]: Maela answered while smiling at Dala.

[00:01:56] [SPEAKER_02]: It was invisible, but we covered it with flour and could see it.

[00:02:01] [SPEAKER_00]: The woman inside the cabin unlatched the deadbolt, opened the door, and waved them in.

[00:02:07] [SPEAKER_02]: Thank you.

[00:02:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Dala said quietly as she passed into the cabin.

[00:02:12] [SPEAKER_00]: After they both entered, the woman looked around outside, and then closed and latched the door.

[00:02:20] [SPEAKER_00]: The cabin was not unlike the cabin they left behind, and the woman waved them toward a table with four chairs.

[00:02:27] [SPEAKER_00]: As Maela and Dala sat down, the woman walked over to a counter and grabbed a pitcher.

[00:02:33] [SPEAKER_03]: Would you like some water?

[00:02:36] [SPEAKER_03]: Yes, please.

[00:02:38] [SPEAKER_03]: I'm Katrina,

[00:02:39] [SPEAKER_00]: the woman said as she poured water into wooden cups.

[00:02:44] [SPEAKER_00]: She wore simple linen clothes with not a single strand of red.

[00:02:48] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm Dala, and this is Maela.

[00:02:51] [SPEAKER_00]: As the woman placed the cups in front of them, Dala added,

[00:02:55] [SPEAKER_03]: Are you banished?

[00:02:56] [SPEAKER_03]: No. My husband is. He is further south along the mountain in a cabin by himself.

[00:03:03] [SPEAKER_03]: This is as close as I can get to him without alerting the Guardian.

[00:03:08] [SPEAKER_02]: Do you communicate?

[00:03:10] [SPEAKER_00]: Maela asked tentatively, not wanting to intrude into the woman's personal life.

[00:03:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Sliding into her own chair, Katrina replied,

[00:03:20] [SPEAKER_03]: No. I don't even know if he knows I'm here, but I won't leave. I can't leave.

[00:03:27] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm so sorry. What happened?

[00:03:30] [SPEAKER_00]: Maela was going to remain quiet out of respect and expected Dala to do the same.

[00:03:36] [SPEAKER_00]: But Dala's concern was so sincere that it felt like she was supporting a dear friend.

[00:03:43] [SPEAKER_00]: Maela watched in awe as Dala, who had started by joking about the cabin's defenses,

[00:03:49] [SPEAKER_00]: had turned into a thoroughly beguiling friend.

[00:03:53] [SPEAKER_03]: His magic is strong. He was a guard of the road to Drac.

[00:03:58] [SPEAKER_03]: I was very ill one day, so he stayed home to care for me.

[00:04:02] [SPEAKER_00]: Katrina shook her head.

[00:04:03] [SPEAKER_03]: He let his captain know, but his captain didn't care and threatened him if he didn't clear the manure.

[00:04:10] [SPEAKER_03]: He stayed with me, and the Red Guard came that night and dragged him away.

[00:04:15] [SPEAKER_03]: The wizards don't kill their own. Only torture them.

[00:04:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Dala reached across the table and grabbed Katrina's hand. Katrina gave Dala a sad smile.

[00:04:26] [SPEAKER_03]: Are you really from across the mountain?

[00:04:28] [SPEAKER_02]: We are. There is a road that is blocked on the other side, but is clear from that point onward.

[00:04:34] [SPEAKER_02]: We got lost and ended up going the wrong way.

[00:04:37] [SPEAKER_03]: That is Dragon Road. It leads from Drac to Callisto.

[00:04:43] [SPEAKER_00]: Katrina peered at Dala.

[00:04:45] [SPEAKER_02]: And you don't know its name?

[00:04:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Dala shook her head.

[00:04:49] [SPEAKER_02]: I don't even know what Drac is.

[00:04:51] [SPEAKER_02]: Do you know nothing?

[00:04:54] [SPEAKER_02]: Apparently so.

[00:04:55] [SPEAKER_03]: Drac is a city through the forest. It is a trading partner of ours and is ruled by a family.

[00:05:01] [SPEAKER_03]: They create liquid cloth and other fine goods that come from the eastern forest.

[00:05:07] [SPEAKER_03]: Dragon Road ends there.

[00:05:09] [SPEAKER_03]: You know Callisto?

[00:05:12] [SPEAKER_00]: Both Dala and Mela shook their heads.

[00:05:15] [SPEAKER_03]: It is on the other side of the dragon's teeth. I know little about it.

[00:05:19] [SPEAKER_03]: The legends and stories stop when we lost contact with them when Dragon Pass was closed.

[00:05:24] [SPEAKER_02]: What is it with all the dragons? They don't even exist.

[00:05:29] [SPEAKER_03]: I don't know. The mountains have always been called the dragon's teeth.

[00:05:33] [SPEAKER_03]: The road is Dragon Road and the pass through the mountain is Dragon Pass.

[00:05:38] [SPEAKER_03]: Maybe a dragon once lived there.

[00:05:41] [SPEAKER_00]: Katrina took a drink of water and continued to peer at Dala and Mela as she drank.

[00:05:47] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm sorry we know so little.

[00:05:48] [SPEAKER_02]: It appears that when the magic guild left Ness, our Ness, they didn't want to leave any record or history of it.

[00:05:57] [SPEAKER_00]: That's because you all tried to eradicate them, Katrina said in a matter-of-fact tone.

[00:06:02] [SPEAKER_03]: What do you mean?

[00:06:03] [SPEAKER_00]: Mela replied shocked.

[00:06:06] [SPEAKER_03]: Everyone knows the history. The guilds of your Ness were jealous of the power of the wizards

[00:06:11] [SPEAKER_03]: and attempted to kill or enslave all the magicians.

[00:06:14] [SPEAKER_03]: The circle of three, the three greatest magicians in the guild, led the survivors to the entrance to Dragon Pass and ushered them through.

[00:06:24] [SPEAKER_03]: Once they were safely on their way, the circle brought down the mountain on the road and, well, we're not sure what they did after that.

[00:06:33] [SPEAKER_03]: All we were taught is that they stayed behind.

[00:06:36] [SPEAKER_03]: There are stories of huge battles of the circle against hundreds, battles that left a wasteland behind.

[00:06:42] [SPEAKER_03]: This is one of the reasons there are legends of ghosts in Dragon Pass.

[00:06:46] [SPEAKER_03]: There are other stories that they erased the minds of the other guilds and destroyed evidence of the guild's existence.

[00:06:53] [SPEAKER_00]: Katrina nodded.

[00:06:54] [SPEAKER_03]: Yes, that would explain why you know so little.

[00:06:59] [SPEAKER_00]: Dala and Mela looked at each other.

[00:07:01] [SPEAKER_00]: Mela knew Dala was thinking what she was thinking, the Ashfields.

[00:07:06] [SPEAKER_00]: Katrina continued.

[00:07:08] [SPEAKER_02]: So, why were you banished?

[00:07:12] [SPEAKER_02]: Travel feared us returning to Ness and revealing the existence of the wizards.

[00:07:17] [SPEAKER_00]: Dala replied, looking at Mela who nodded.

[00:07:20] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm not sure why he didn't just kill us, to be honest.

[00:07:24] [SPEAKER_03]: The wizards had use of you.

[00:07:26] [SPEAKER_03]: It is the only explanation.

[00:07:28] [SPEAKER_03]: They would eventually return to you and ask you for information or invade your mind if you didn't give it freely.

[00:07:35] [SPEAKER_02]: They can do that.

[00:07:37] [SPEAKER_03]: There are rumours.

[00:07:38] [SPEAKER_00]: No one said anything and Katrina nursed her water, staring at the two of them over its brim as she sipped.

[00:07:46] [SPEAKER_00]: As the silence unfolded, Mela decided to speak up.

[00:07:51] [SPEAKER_02]: You have shared much with us. It is only fair that we share with you.

[00:07:55] [SPEAKER_00]: Mela proceeded to give an overview of Ness.

[00:07:58] [SPEAKER_00]: She discussed the guilds, the isolation of the city surrounded by mountains to the north, south and east

[00:08:06] [SPEAKER_00]: and the violent outlanders to the west.

[00:08:09] [SPEAKER_03]: Do you have history with the outlanders?

[00:08:12] [SPEAKER_00]: Katrina shook her head.

[00:08:13] [SPEAKER_03]: All we know of what is west of Ness is Kalisto.

[00:08:18] [SPEAKER_00]: Mela finished with her and Dala's story.

[00:08:21] [SPEAKER_00]: She avoided discussing her mission, or Dala being her prison guard.

[00:08:25] [SPEAKER_00]: She explained that they were simply investigating the mines and got lost.

[00:08:31] [SPEAKER_03]: I find the idea of guilds fascinating.

[00:08:35] [SPEAKER_00]: Katrina said, as Mela finished,

[00:08:38] [SPEAKER_03]: Here there is one guild and everyone else is a servant or slave.

[00:08:43] [SPEAKER_03]: It seems so much better where you come from.

[00:08:46] [SPEAKER_03]: Everyone has a role. Everyone has food and water.

[00:08:50] [SPEAKER_03]: It sounds like a wonderful place for everyone.

[00:08:54] [SPEAKER_00]: Dala and Mela remained silent.

[00:08:57] [SPEAKER_00]: Katrina stood up and walked over to the fireplace, which was large for the cabin and burning bright.

[00:09:03] [SPEAKER_00]: With her back to Mela and Dala as she stared into the flames, she spoke.

[00:09:10] [SPEAKER_03]: You intend to travel through the mountain back to your city?

[00:09:14] [SPEAKER_03]: Yes.

[00:09:15] [SPEAKER_00]: Answered Mela.

[00:09:16] [SPEAKER_03]: It is dangerous.

[00:09:18] [SPEAKER_02]: It is long.

[00:09:20] [SPEAKER_02]: You need food and water.

[00:09:23] [SPEAKER_02]: And torches.

[00:09:24] [SPEAKER_00]: Katrina turned. She was backlit by the fire, and her face was in shadow.

[00:09:30] [SPEAKER_03]: And what is your intent when you return?

[00:09:33] [SPEAKER_03]: Will you tell your guild masters about the sister city across the mountain?

[00:09:37] [SPEAKER_00]: Dala looked at Mela, who answered.

[00:09:41] [SPEAKER_02]: Yes.

[00:09:42] [SPEAKER_00]: After taking a step forward, Katrina's newly revealed face in the light looked intense and serious as she replied.

[00:09:51] [SPEAKER_03]: And there is a night guild that can lead conquering armies?

[00:09:55] [SPEAKER_00]: Mela was considering how to answer when Katrina added.

[00:09:58] [SPEAKER_03]: The wizards are evil. They enslave, they kill, and when they don't kill they torture with isolation, driving people mad with loneliness.

[00:10:09] [SPEAKER_00]: She took another step forward.

[00:10:11] [SPEAKER_03]: I will lead you through the mountain. There are many entrances to Dragon Road, and not all are guarded.

[00:10:18] [SPEAKER_03]: You will then take me to your guild master, and I will describe their evil, and you will return and tear down their tower, burn their buildings, and vanquish them.

[00:10:29] [SPEAKER_00]: Before Mela could reply, Dala spoke up.

[00:10:33] [SPEAKER_02]: Yes, we will take you to our guild master and you can share all you know.

[00:10:37] [SPEAKER_00]: Katrina smiled.

[00:10:39] [SPEAKER_03]: I have all that is necessary. Let me get you dinner and blankets for tonight. We will leave tomorrow.

[00:10:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Conversation over dinner was mostly Dala describing the mines, and Mela describing the various parts of Ness.

[00:10:55] [SPEAKER_00]: Katrina seemed delighted with even the smallest details.

[00:10:59] [SPEAKER_00]: As they settled down to sleep, Mela watched as Katrina stood still, staring out a small window.

[00:11:07] [SPEAKER_00]: She didn't know if Katrina was dreaming of a future, of vengeance, or her husband in the distance through the trees.

[00:11:15] [SPEAKER_00]: Possibly all three.

[00:11:17] [SPEAKER_00]: It was then that Katrina walked over to her pantry, rooted around, and hefted a large canvas bag over to the wooden table.

[00:11:27] [SPEAKER_00]: It landed with a thud, and white powder flew into the air, flickering in the firelight.