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00:00:01
The Thieves Guild
00:00:04
by Jake Kerr.
00:00:10
Episode 99:
00:00:16
The Guildmaster Magic.
00:00:24
Philos objected constantly, but Relan had a very specific reason
00:00:29
for wandering through the streets and walking into the pubs and inns in the old
00:00:33
quarter. Philos and everyone else thought it was to be welcoming to the Harvest
00:00:38
Guild members, to explain to them one-on-one that the thieves were not
00:00:43
evil, but were actually the ones who helped the most in Ness.
00:00:48
But that was not the reason he was in the open, walking the streets and
00:00:53
being irresponsibly accessible, and it was irresponsible in
00:00:58
many ways. Philos had to intervene a few times when an angry
00:01:02
Harvest Guild member accosted Relan for causing all the problems due to
00:01:07
his interference at the Founder's Day Banquet.
00:01:11
But Relan had to do it, and as he wandered through the square in the old quarter,
00:01:16
feeling more and more like Pietro of old, and yet despairing that he would achieve
00:01:21
his aim, his efforts finally bore fruit.
00:01:25
As the pale man with blonde, almost white hair approached, Relan
00:01:29
smiled and said-
00:01:31
I had expected you before now.
00:01:34
Turning to Philos, Relan said-
00:01:37
Let him close.
00:01:39
Philos knew better than to object.
00:01:42
The outlander shrugged.
00:01:43
We have our own plans.
00:01:45
Of course. I hope that you have sent Lord Wilhelm my best.
00:01:50
It is your best that worries us. It does not appear to be good enough.
00:01:55
Relan was often considered arrogant, but he didn't feel that way.
00:02:00
He simply enjoyed standing up to authority.
00:02:04
This outlander, however, he WAS arrogant.
00:02:08
Indeed. What if I were to admit my weakness, to admit that I have lost
00:02:13
control of Ness? The future of the trade routes is not only in jeopardy,
00:02:18
but is an impossibility.
00:02:19
For the first time, the outlander looked unsure of himself.
00:02:25
They are required to be open. Our patience is at an end.
00:02:29
That is not a threat, nor is it a plan. That is a plea,
00:02:34
Relan said, turning up the intensity of the discussion.
00:02:38
It is not a plea!
00:02:41
The Hand of Wilhelm appeared upset for the first time.
00:02:45
Relan shrugged.
00:02:46
We will take action.
00:02:48
Relan waved his hand toward the wall.
00:02:51
Please, Quinto's forces continue to easily hold you back.
00:02:56
Relan knew that was a lie, as the outlanders were getting closer and
00:03:01
closer to the outer fields, but his lie served its purpose.
00:03:06
Are you mocking us? The heir of Pietro dares to mock Lord Wilhelm?
00:03:10
The Hand was visibly angry at that point.
00:03:14
Raising his hands, Relan said-
00:03:17
Hold, Hand. I simply point out that we should work together.
00:03:21
As you happily have pointed out, I have lost control of Ness.
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In resolving this, I need Lord Wilhelm's help.
00:03:29
Yet Lord Wilhelm has had his own difficulties.
00:03:32
I propose that we work together.
00:03:34
The Hand of Lord Wilhelm peered at Relan.
00:03:38
What do you have in mind?
00:03:39
It will require restraint.
00:03:43
We are known for our restraint.
00:03:44
The Hand was transfixed with Relan's unspoken
00:03:49
plan.
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I propose that Lord Wilhelm launch a small but significant attack on the
00:03:55
foothills. It will draw Quinto's forces south.
00:03:59
You would then launch a larger attack at the outer fields.
00:04:02
This will draw Saxe's knights from the city.
00:04:05
You should not aim for victory or raiding the stores of the outer fields.
00:04:09
You are to keep Saxe occupied for as long as you can.
00:04:13
And what if we decide that we want the outer fields?
00:04:17
I will tell Quinto of our plan, and he will reinforce Saxe if it
00:04:22
goes amiss.
00:04:23
Quinto would not support such a plan.
00:04:27
You would also not do that, as it would reveal you as a traitor.
00:04:32
Relan shrugged.
00:04:34
And then I would reveal your defenses, and the truth of Gautland's dangerously low
00:04:39
food stores, unleashing Saxe to attack you directly.
00:04:42
You would not do that,
00:04:45
the Hand replied, his voice slightly strained.
00:04:49
Relan shrugged yet again.
00:04:51
I
00:04:52
need a distraction, immediately. I need it for days, but weeks would be
00:04:57
better. Achieve that, and the future of Gautland will be assured.
00:05:02
Turning to Philos, Relan said-
00:05:05
We are done.
00:05:06
Philos grabbed the outlander and shoved him away from Relan,
00:05:11
nearly causing the man to stumble to the ground.
00:05:15
As he returned to the tower later in the day, Philos finally got up the courage to
00:05:20
confront Relan.
00:05:21
That is treason if it doesn't work.
00:05:24
Relan wasn't offended. He knew that Philos was simply reminding
00:05:28
Relan of the consequences.
00:05:30
It will work.
00:05:32
Philos was quiet for a few moments, and then added-
00:05:37
So what are the next steps?
00:05:38
I need to visit Captain Jesser of the rangers.
00:05:41
Before Philos could say anything, Relan added-
00:05:46
Alone.
00:05:47
As Relan made his way up to his quarters, he didn't know what
00:05:52
would happen.
00:05:53
He was at least happy that he had two successful scenarios.
00:05:57
One was Polo rejecting Orion and Kerris' outreach, and
00:06:02
creating a continuation of the percolating civil war that had not
00:06:07
quite arrived yet.The other was the outlanders attacking
00:06:11
Ness, splitting Saxe from Orion and giving the thieves some breathing room
00:06:16
to find a way to talk to Polo and plan a path forward.
00:06:21
Raelan didn't want to think of what would happen if neither happened.
00:06:25
As he climbed the stairs, Raelan decided to stop in the library.
00:06:30
Rafe had been acting oddly since he had returned with Pietro's books.
00:06:35
Raelan would wander in and say, "Have you discovered anything yet?" And
00:06:40
Rafe would wave Raelan off, not even replying.
00:06:44
Rafe was obsessing over something, and Raelan hoped it was something helpful
00:06:49
and not a history of Guildmaster jewelry.
00:06:53
He walked in, and as he expected, Rafe had his face buried in a
00:06:57
book. It was large with hundreds of pages.
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Rafe looked to be halfway through it.
00:07:04
"Find out anything interesting?"
00:07:07
Rafe looked up, and for the first time Raelan truly grasped how
00:07:12
obsessive Rafe must have been. He was thin and his eyes were red
00:07:17
and bloodshot. His hair was greasy, and Raelan doubted that Rafe had even
00:07:22
bathed lately.
00:07:23
"By the gods, Rafe, you need to take a break. Look at yourself.
00:07:27
These books will kill you."
00:07:28
"What?"
00:07:30
Rafe looked down at his body and back up.
00:07:33
"Oh, I was going to stop when I was done, but I kept uncovering things."
00:07:37
Rafe's eyes lit up.
00:07:39
"You will not believe what I've discovered."
00:07:43
Raelan walked over and sat at the large table.
00:07:46
It was covered in books.
00:07:48
"Well, you've been mighty secretive lately." "I just didn't want to give
00:07:53
you pieces. Tell you a tantalizing bit, and then have you ask me questions I couldn't answer.
00:07:58
But I have a good grasp of our guild's history now." "That's wonderful.
00:08:02
So
00:08:03
tell me something I didn't know."
00:08:06
Rafe pointed to Raelan's ring with the seal of the Guildmaster thief.
00:08:11
Then he pointed to a drawing in a book to his side.
00:08:14
"Look familiar?"
00:08:15
Raelan looked at the drawing.
00:08:17
"Yes. That is my seal. But why is it red?"
00:08:22
Rafe smiled.
00:08:23
"Because it is the seal of the magic guild."
00:08:26
Raelan looked at his ring.
00:08:28
"But my seal is black." "That's because you haven't taken your rightful place
00:08:33
yet. That seal has been lying dormant for centuries." "What are you
00:08:38
talking about?"
00:08:39
Raelan asked, somewhat exasperated at Rafe talking in clues.
00:08:44
"It is the seal of the magic guild."
00:08:47
Rafe smiled.
00:08:48
"And it will blaze red when you speak the Oath of the Guildmaster Magic." "I don't know what that
00:08:53
means. I don't even know the Oath of the Guildmaster Magic."
00:08:56
Rafe grabbed an ornate book bound in red and slowly pulled it
00:09:01
over.
00:09:02
"I do."
00:09:03
(instrumental music plays)