The Golden Apple

[00:00:01] The Thieves Guild, by Jake Kerr, Episode 114. The Golden Apple.

[00:00:24] Karch lost his horse near Traders Bridge. A new Merchant Guild captain had instructed his

[00:00:30] guards in the lower quarter to conscript any horse or wagon for repatriation efforts, and

[00:00:37] a pair of guards approached Karch, demanding his horse.

[00:00:40] Don't be foolish. I'm the Assistant Guildmaster of the Knight Guild. I bear a message from

[00:00:45] Guildmaster Sax and Guildmaster Orion to Guildmaster Polo.

[00:00:50] Karch spurred his horse forward, but the two knights didn't move. The young guard's companion

[00:00:56] spoke up.

[00:00:57] You look familiar, but there is no such rank as Assistant Guildmaster.

[00:01:04] He lay his hand on the pommel of his sheathed sword.

[00:01:08] Certainly you know your own Guildmaster was previously an Assistant Guildmaster to Larsen.

[00:01:13] Karch tried not to have his impatience for the two idiots enter the tone of his voice.

[00:01:18] Of course we know that! The younger one exclaimed.

[00:01:22] Kerris himself had us join the Guild from our previous positions in the Craft Guild.

[00:01:27] And that was a special position that was only created by Larsen for Guildmaster Kerris due

[00:01:33] to Larsen's own deputy being incompetent. There are no other Assistant Guildmasters.

[00:01:39] Karch bit his tongue. He had a mission. His life and future depended on it. He considered their words.

[00:01:46] There being former Craft Guild members explained why they didn't know who Karch was and his former role.

[00:01:54] They were low-level Craft Guild members that Kerris is moving over to bolster his hold on the Merchant Guild, thought Karch.

[00:02:03] Smart. That changed things. He was dealing with the paranoia of Kerris and whatever tales he spun to his trusted flunkies,

[00:02:12] and not common sense. Be that as it may, I have a message from two Guildmasters that needs to be delivered.

[00:02:19] Karch stared at the two, who seemed uncertain as Karch's own clothing and bearing indicated at least some level of importance.

[00:02:28] Finally the younger one spoke up. Let us see this letter!

[00:02:33] The older one nodded as the younger one spoke.

[00:02:37] Karch considered his options. He did not trust the two guards before him not to grab the letter and take it to Kerris,

[00:02:45] nor did he trust them not to open it and read it right in front of him. In fact, he didn't trust them at all.

[00:02:53] Fine.

[00:02:54] He sighed.

[00:02:55] Take the horse.

[00:02:56] The two guards seemed surprised as Karch swung his leg over and dismounted.

[00:03:01] I'll have Sacks send someone to retrieve it later.

[00:03:04] Hopefully that would put a scare in them, Karch thought as he started the short walk to Traders Bridge.

[00:03:11] The trip into the upper quarter was without incident, and Karch pulled the letter out, examining it as he walked.

[00:03:19] What he did with it depended on what it said, so Karch decided to read it and then make up his mind.

[00:03:26] To that end, he made his way to an old tavern, the Golden Apple, which was an icon in the upper quarter.

[00:03:34] It had the added benefit of mostly catering to lower-level Harvest Guild members, most of whom wouldn't recognize Karch.

[00:03:43] Of course, the downside was that he was wearing night colours, but the tavern was open to all,

[00:03:49] and he hoped he wouldn't have too many uncomfortable conversations,

[00:03:54] as while the knights didn't help the Harvest Guild during the clearing of the lower quarter,

[00:03:59] they didn't assist Larsen either.

[00:04:02] Karch had only been in the Golden Apple once before,

[00:04:05] and it was quite the experience.

[00:04:08] This time was no different.

[00:04:10] It was full of bustling Harvest Guild members,

[00:04:13] with ale and conversation flowing to such a degree that he wasn't sure how anyone could even hear each other.

[00:04:20] As he made his way to the bar, the conversation quieted,

[00:04:25] as a man in Harvest Guild colours stood and talked.

[00:04:29] He was thin and had beady eyes.

[00:04:32] He wore standard working guild clothing.

[00:04:34] His expression, however, was animated, and Karch approached, listening.

[00:04:40] And he relieved himself on the mantle my own father carved from a tree in the foothills.

[00:04:45] There were gasps and cries of outrage.

[00:04:48] The entire tavern quieted as people pressed themselves forward to hear their guildmates' story.

[00:04:55] Indeed, my guildmates.

[00:04:56] I objected, and the money-counter laughed and said that even if my father returned,

[00:05:01] the house would need to be razed to the ground anyway.

[00:05:04] So why not save him a trip to the public house?

[00:05:07] There are newcomers!

[00:05:09] An old woman yelled out.

[00:05:11] Tell them about the painting!

[00:05:13] The man relayed a story of his family's cherished portrait,

[00:05:18] being all that was left of their charred house,

[00:05:21] and some other money-counters burning it in front of him for no reason other than to amuse themselves.

[00:05:28] Karch wasn't sure he believed the stories, but the entire tavern certainly did.

[00:05:33] He could feel the growing anger at the merchant guild the more the man spoke.

[00:05:39] Karch decided to have some fun and yelled out,

[00:05:42] Was this before or after he soiled the mantle?

[00:05:45] The man turned and looked at Karch.

[00:05:48] He gave him a look that was pure malevolence.

[00:05:51] The look of a man not to be trifled with.

[00:05:54] Just as quickly his eyes went wide, and he looked closer at Karch.

[00:05:58] For a moment Karch wondered if the man recognised him,

[00:06:02] but he turned to the crowd and replied,

[00:06:05] It was after.

[00:06:06] He presumably felt insulted that I would object to him using my family's home as a toilet.

[00:06:13] Karch couldn't get a handle on this guild member.

[00:06:16] There was something about him, something dangerous, and not to be trusted.

[00:06:21] He decided that it was time for him to leave the man to his stories,

[00:06:25] and Karch went to the bar and got the attention of the barkeep, who wandered over.

[00:06:31] I need a private room, a silver plate and a candle.

[00:06:34] The bartender shrugged.

[00:06:36] Nothing available, sir.

[00:06:38] The only room we have free is currently being used to store things for the kitchen.

[00:06:43] Reaching into his pocket with one hand, Karch held up a finger with his other.

[00:06:48] As the bartender watched, Karch pulled out two gold coins and slid them forward on the bar.

[00:06:55] One table, one candle, one silver plate.

[00:06:59] Thirty minutes.

[00:07:01] The bartender looked left and right and swallowed hard,

[00:07:05] but he reached forward and took the gold as he did so.

[00:07:09] Meet me at the rear door in a few minutes.

[00:07:12] He motioned his head toward the back rear wall of the bar,

[00:07:16] where a door near the bar led further into the tavern.

[00:07:20] As Karch walked back, he heard murmurings of taking up arms

[00:07:24] and not standing for the merchant guild outrage.

[00:07:27] If the man's goal was to stoke the flames of violence,

[00:07:31] he was doing a good job.

[00:07:33] Karch didn't wait long near the rear door.

[00:07:36] The bartender walked over and, pulling out a key, unlocked it.

[00:07:40] He handed a thin candle without a holder to Karch and nodded toward the door.

[00:07:46] First room on the right.

[00:07:48] Now don't be going anywhere else or you'll be limping back to Night Tower.

[00:07:52] Thirty minutes.

[00:07:53] And without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked back to the bar.

[00:08:00] The door opened to a short hallway.

[00:08:02] The sounds of the kitchen were to the left, while there were three doors on the right.

[00:08:08] Karch immediately entered the first one.

[00:08:10] The room was indeed full of random kitchen equipment,

[00:08:14] burnt and stained pots, dull knives, and assorted other things.

[00:08:19] It looked like the inn had recently upgraded its equipment

[00:08:23] and was storing the old things in the room until they could get rid of them.

[00:08:27] There was a table stacked with chipped plates, mugs, and other dining ware.

[00:08:33] Off to the side was a small pile of silver plates.

[00:08:37] Ah, no wonder he didn't give me a silver plate like I asked, Karch thought.

[00:08:43] Shoving some cups and saucers out of the way,

[00:08:46] Karch pulled out the envelope and sat down.

[00:08:49] He turned the letter in his hand.

[00:08:51] It was thin.

[00:08:53] Whatever Orion wrote was not in any great detail.

[00:08:57] Red wax sealed with the craft guild seal held the flap opening down to prevent prying eyes.

[00:09:05] Karch smiled.

[00:09:06] Guild tradition always took precedence over practicality.

[00:09:10] Or security.

[00:09:13] He pulled out his knife and placed it on the table.

[00:09:16] Next he grabbed a silver plate and placed the letter on it with the wax seal facing up.

[00:09:22] Then he pulled out a flint strike mechanism recently invented by some enterprising craft guild member.

[00:09:32] Using his thumb to pull a switch that struck the flint, a small fire sprung forth.

[00:09:38] He lit the candle.

[00:09:40] Putting down the flint device and picking up the plate, Karch held it over the lit candle.

[00:09:46] Luckily the plate was large enough that his fingers weren't going to get too burned as he heated the letter from below.

[00:09:53] Setting the plate down and grabbing his knife, Karch gently attempted to pull the flap of the envelope and the intact seal up to open the letter.

[00:10:03] It was painstaking and delicate work.

[00:10:07] Get it too hot and the wax would melt, indicating it had been tampered with.

[00:10:12] Not get it hot enough and the letter would not open.

[00:10:16] After five attempts the flap of the envelope opened, with the seal attached to the flap and intact, yet not sealing the envelope.

[00:10:26] Karch gently opened the flap and pulled out the letter.

[00:10:30] It read,

[00:10:32] Guildmaster Polo, my apologies for the circumstances that have led to this letter.

[00:10:38] It appears that my friendship with Larson had been poorly placed.

[00:10:42] While I considered him a friend, I did not truly know him.

[00:10:46] I'm a simple man, as you well know.

[00:10:49] My guild makes things for others, and the use of those things is its own reward.

[00:10:55] I foolishly expected him to be similar, yet he shocked me with his recent actions.

[00:11:02] I don't need to tell you that, overwhelmed with his own failings, Larson ended his own life by leaping from his tower.

[00:11:11] What you don't know is that this was most likely due to a conversation I had with him.

[00:11:16] I outlined to him his moral failings, and I expressed to him my deep disappointment.

[00:11:24] This must have affected him greater than I intended, but it is perhaps for the best.

[00:11:29] My own nephew now runs the Merchant Guild, and he has every intent on bringing Ness together once again.

[00:11:37] I have talked to Sax, and while he has his own failings, he is a zealous defender of Ness and its citizens.

[00:11:44] It is my understanding that you are gathering forces in the outer fields.

[00:11:49] It is also my understanding that your guild members are not returning to their homes in the lower quarter,

[00:11:55] preferring instead to stay in the wretched quarter.

[00:11:58] I do not understand either thing, and I would like to discuss this with you.

[00:12:05] As I said, I am a simple man, and perhaps you can explain it to me.

[00:12:10] We are friends, and I believe that we can bring Ness together again,

[00:12:15] if only we can discuss this and work together to do so.

[00:12:22] To that end, I invite you to my guild tower for a meeting.

[00:12:26] You will, of course, have access to my guest suite, if you so desire.

[00:12:31] Your colleague and friend, Orion.

[00:12:35] Fool, Karch thought.

[00:12:37] Playing the simple-minded, good-natured guildmaster still,

[00:12:41] didn't Orion realise that things had changed?

[00:12:44] It was a disastrous letter,

[00:12:46] one that Polo would see as an indication of deceit and malfeasance.

[00:12:52] Karch thought over what he had just read as he reversed the previous process,

[00:12:57] putting the letter back into the envelope and reheating the seal so that it would be secure.

[00:13:03] The pure arrogance of sending such a letter was breathtaking.

[00:13:07] Karch knew Orion had revealed himself as perhaps the most brilliant and ambitious man in Ness,

[00:13:13] but the letter struck of naive desperation.

[00:13:17] If what Orion wrote was true,

[00:13:19] and there were forces gathering in the outer fields,

[00:13:23] then there were few options for him.

[00:13:25] It was civil war or...

[00:13:26] What?

[00:13:28] Orion didn't seriously think Polo would be foolish enough to visit him, did he?

[00:13:34] Unfortunately, there were few options for Karch as well.

[00:13:37] He knew Orion would kill him on sight.

[00:13:40] Actually, he would be lucky if that was all that Orion did to him.

[00:13:45] If he didn't deliver the letter and returned to Saxe,

[00:13:48] he would be banished to the dungeons or, depending on how drunk Saxe was,

[00:13:53] perhaps sent to executioners' hollow.

[00:13:56] As Karch tapped the envelope against his palm,

[00:13:59] thinking over his lack of any good choices,

[00:14:02] a voice came from the doorway.

[00:14:05] Deputy Karch, what a truly spectacular surprise,

[00:14:09] especially as you now wear the white.

[00:14:11] Karch whirled and looked at the door to the room.

[00:14:14] It was the man from the tavern, standing inside the room,

[00:14:19] the closed door behind him.

[00:14:21] How did he enter and close the door without me hearing him?

[00:14:25] Karch thought.

[00:14:27] It was perhaps not a surprise that he was recognized,

[00:14:30] but sneaking in without his awareness.

[00:14:33] That indicated not just someone who recognized him,

[00:14:37] but someone with formidable and dangerous talent.

[00:14:41] I fear I am but an assistant guildmaster now.

[00:14:44] Guildmaster Saxe already has a deputy.

[00:14:46] Karch remained in his chair,

[00:14:49] feigning nonchalance as he measured up the invader.

[00:14:53] Ah, John, yes, I believe he was chosen,

[00:14:56] as he is the only one who can out-drink your dear guildmaster.

[00:15:00] He knows more than most, Karch considered.

[00:15:04] Is he a captain?

[00:15:06] Something else?

[00:15:08] Karch smiled and decided to simply ask,

[00:15:11] Who are you?

[00:15:13] My dear Karch,

[00:15:14] I am your worst nightmare and your greatest hope.

[00:15:17] I am your death and I am your salvation.

[00:15:20] The man walked over to a chair at the side of the room,

[00:15:24] dragging it closer to Karch.

[00:15:26] And it all depends on how our conversation goes.

[00:15:29] He sat down with the rear of the chair against his chest,

[00:15:33] and with a wide smile added,

[00:15:36] I am the blade of the guildmaster craft,

[00:15:39] but you can call me Vesper.