The North Road

[00:00:00] The Thieves Guild by Jake Care, Episode 108, The North Road.

[00:00:24] Sometimes the simplest goals end up having the greatest complications.

[00:00:29] After talking to Vesper, Allied simple goal was to get back to the old quarter.

[00:00:34] A range of walking in Ness was rare, but certainly not unheard of,

[00:00:39] and a range of walking toward the Great Gate was to be expected.

[00:00:44] Allied was not foolish, however, especially in violent times and took nothing for granted.

[00:00:52] He stuck to whatever shadows he could as he walked along the North Road,

[00:00:56] the road that ran along the North fork, and ended very close to the Great Bridge and the old quarter.

[00:01:02] The trouble was that the lower quarter was still mostly abandoned, and that people patrolling the streets

[00:01:09] were suspicious of everyone. The few harvest guild members who were returning to their homes looked

[00:01:14] where-really at any one other than other harvest guild members.

[00:01:20] The merchant guards remained omnipresent and appeared focused on keeping things calm.

[00:01:26] There was no real night presence, it was the kind of environment where a massive range of walking alone

[00:01:32] was nearly an invitation for a confrontation, and Allied was confronted again and again.

[00:01:41] First there was a group of harvest guild members.

[00:01:45] That wasn't so much a confrontation as a joyful meeting of a colleague.

[00:01:50] They were heading home to a house that they weren't sure still existed,

[00:01:55] and yet were jovial when they met Allied.

[00:01:58] They apparently worked in the out of fields during the fall harvest,

[00:02:02] and were grateful the ranges were out protecting them from the Outlanders.

[00:02:06] Then there were a number of merchant guild guard interactions.

[00:02:10] They stopped Allied, asked his business,

[00:02:13] and after a cursory conversation let him go on his way.

[00:02:17] They appeared to be more interested in making sure the returning harvest guild members were calm

[00:02:25] than dealing with an odd ranger.

[00:02:28] Things got more difficult when he turned on to river road.

[00:02:32] He had walked along the North fork in the hopes of avoiding the attention near the flats,

[00:02:37] but that meant he was approaching the bridge to the Old Quarter

[00:02:40] from a direction near the upper quarter.

[00:02:44] And Allied immediately realized he made a mistake.

[00:02:49] River road was thick with armed men at that point,

[00:02:52] not just merchant guards, but knights as well.

[00:02:57] Hey you!

[00:02:58] Allied pulled his hood down and turned toward the voice.

[00:03:02] It was a merchant guard marching up to him.

[00:03:05] Allied stood tall but didn't say anything.

[00:03:09] The guard stopped in front of Allied and continued.

[00:03:12] State your business.

[00:03:15] Allied disliked the man's tone,

[00:03:17] but he realized that any exchange in these times could easily escalate,

[00:03:22] so he answered simply.

[00:03:24] I am a ranger returning to the plains after visiting my family.

[00:03:29] Who is your family?

[00:03:31] The guard sounded suspicious.

[00:03:33] The river family.

[00:03:35] We have worked the Outer Fields for many generations, protected by rangers.

[00:03:38] I joined the rangers guild as a small token of appreciation for the guild's protection of my family.

[00:03:45] Allied bowed his head.

[00:03:47] I've been assigned to the western plains.

[00:03:49] That's far from the Outer Fields.

[00:03:52] Indeed, but who am I to question my guild master?

[00:03:54] Allied hoped the man would move on, but he continued to ask questions.

[00:04:00] What is your name?

[00:04:01] Gwyn-Gwin River.

[00:04:03] Where is your family's house?

[00:04:05] The flat.

[00:04:05] Allied said,

[00:04:07] The answer being his default when people would pry

[00:04:10] as the flats was large and crowded,

[00:04:13] and nearly impossible to check on someone's answer about where they lived.

[00:04:18] Stepping forward the guard replied,

[00:04:20] then why are you walking along the North Road then?

[00:04:23] He glanced toward the flats.

[00:04:25] This is far out of your way.

[00:04:28] Allied cursed to himself.

[00:04:30] The guard was right.

[00:04:31] If he was heading from the flats to the plains,

[00:04:34] he would have gone down the through way or even along the circle.

[00:04:38] He most definitely would not have walked along the North Road.

[00:04:43] It was far out of the way.

[00:04:46] I do not get to the city very often.

[00:04:48] I'm afraid.

[00:04:50] It was the only explanation that made sense.

[00:04:53] He was sightseeing.

[00:04:54] Rather than walk along the circle,

[00:04:56] I wanted to see the North fork, the great river, the great bridge,

[00:04:59] and even the golden triangle.

[00:05:02] The guard stared at Allied,

[00:05:04] and just as he felt like the guard wouldn't believe him,

[00:05:07] he replied,

[00:05:08] These are not times to enjoy the city,

[00:05:11] head back to your duties,

[00:05:13] and return when things are karma.

[00:05:15] Allied lit out a breath as the guard added,

[00:05:19] Thank you for protecting your family and all of us.

[00:05:23] The guard tipped his hat and moved on.

[00:05:25] Just as Allied turned on to river road, a group of merchants approached.

[00:05:30] They weren't guards, which was perhaps worse,

[00:05:33] as they were curious about him in a way that he couldn't predict.

[00:05:38] There were three of them, two young men and a young woman.

[00:05:42] They were laughing as they stepped in front of Allied.

[00:05:45] A young man held up his hand,

[00:05:48] as if commanding Allied to stop.

[00:05:50] He had be dies and a thin smile that looked more like a sneer.

[00:05:54] Not wanting to generate attention, Allied stopped.

[00:05:59] We were going to mock you for being guildless,

[00:06:02] but now we see you are a ranger.

[00:06:05] Allied shrugged and went to move on when the woman blocked his way.

[00:06:10] What are you doing here?

[00:06:11] That is not your business.

[00:06:13] Allied growled, pondering whether to just push his way through.

[00:06:18] Unfortunately a group of merchant guards nearby looked over to keep an eye on things.

[00:06:23] Allied knew they were keeping an eye on the young mishfits,

[00:06:27] but that could easily turn into attention on him.

[00:06:31] Intimidation without violence seemed the best approach.

[00:06:35] Unfortunately, they didn't seem intimidated.

[00:06:38] Let me see your face, Ranger.

[00:06:40] The original speaker said.

[00:06:42] The comment was rude and would have been easily dismissed,

[00:06:46] but he said it loudly enough that a group of harvest guild members became interested

[00:06:51] and wandered over to make matters worse.

[00:06:54] The merchant guards also now seem to be more interested in the ranger with the hidden face than the mischievous gang.

[00:07:03] Allied knew that if he showed his face, at least someone would know who he was.

[00:07:09] With all of the chaos around Raylan and the violence in the lower quarter,

[00:07:13] he was certain that it would lead to him being arrested.

[00:07:17] So he crossed his arms and leaned forward.

[00:07:22] You are in no position to be so rude to a ranger if visiting his family.

[00:07:27] To reinforce his point, he pointed to the man's chest and added,

[00:07:31] I'm happy to walk around you, but don't make the mistake of making me go through you.

[00:07:36] To Allied's relief, the young man immediately fell back, coward.

[00:07:40] It is like that with Bully's allied thought, as he prepared to continue his journey.

[00:07:47] Unfortunately, the merchant guards were close enough to hear, and they marched over.

[00:07:54] Threatening guild members isn't very polite behavior from a visitor.

[00:07:58] The leader of the guard said, walking right up to Allied, Allied turned and looked at him.

[00:08:05] He was slight but had the arrogant look of someone with unearned power.

[00:08:09] He insulted me for being a ranger.

[00:08:12] I heard no such thing.

[00:08:15] The guard replied, putting his hand on his sheaths sword,

[00:08:20] Allied shrugged and leaned into his explanation.

[00:08:23] He had no other option.

[00:08:25] You didn't hear the beginning of the conversation,

[00:08:28] but I apologise for any threat I may have made.

[00:08:31] I will simply be on my way.

[00:08:33] I am due in the plains soon.

[00:08:36] Taking a step forward, Allied had to stop as the merchant guards stepped in front of him.

[00:08:41] Show your face.

[00:08:44] The other guards backed up the main guard and to make matters worse,

[00:08:48] the harvest guild members wandered over,

[00:08:51] knowing that if he showed his face, he would immediately be arrested.

[00:08:55] Allied decided to focus on the element of surprise and flee.

[00:08:59] The only trouble was that he was by now surrounded by people from three different guilds.

[00:09:05] As a few nights had wandered over to.

[00:09:09] Considering his options, he figured the harvest guild members would see him as a brother guild member and let him through.

[00:09:17] Shaving aside the merchant guard, Allied sprinted toward the harvest guild group,

[00:09:23] hoping that he could run around them or that they would part and let him pass.

[00:09:27] After that, Allied planned on running directly into the lower triangle,

[00:09:32] which was across the road and using a variety of alleys and hedges to escape.

[00:09:38] It was a risky plan, but all he had.

[00:09:42] It failed immediately.

[00:09:44] The harvest guild members grabbed him as he went to pass.

[00:09:47] Allied stumbled.

[00:09:49] And as he regained his balance, a harvest guild member yanked his hood back,

[00:09:54] exposing his face and head.

[00:09:56] The traitor.

[00:09:58] shouted one man.

[00:10:00] Pretending to be the guild he betrayed with the Outlanders, shame.

[00:10:04] Pride a woman.

[00:10:05] The moment his face was exposed, Allied realized he had only one option.

[00:10:11] Fight his way out.

[00:10:13] The merchant guard approached with his sword, looking to either kill Allied outright or seriously

[00:10:18] injuring him.

[00:10:20] Teaching above his head as he spun into a small clearing near the harvest guild members,

[00:10:25] Allied slid out his great broadsword.

[00:10:28] Unarmed guild members fled as the knights rushed forward.

[00:10:32] The merchant guard had no time to react, and before he realized who he was facing,

[00:10:38] his sword arm lay on the ground next to him, detached from his body after a vicious swing of

[00:10:44] Allied's blade.

[00:10:46] Looking around as armed men approached, Allied pointed his sword at two knights.

[00:10:52] I am departing in that direction.

[00:10:53] You have two options.

[00:10:55] Move or die.

[00:10:56] The men didn't move, and Allied rushed forward, his sword in front of him, as they lifted

[00:11:02] their swords and held their ground, Allied spun slightly and slashed the sword on the

[00:11:08] left side.

[00:11:09] As the man's body turned, Allied barrelled into him, his great size easily knocking

[00:11:16] the man to the ground.

[00:11:17] From behind, a sword struck his shoulder, which clanged against his armor.

[00:11:23] The blow knocked, Allied's sword armed down, however, and the other knights swung his sword,

[00:11:30] slashing Allied's thigh.

[00:11:32] Allied went down, his armor protecting him from serious damage, but still allowing the edge

[00:11:39] to bite home.

[00:11:40] As he hit the ground, the harvest guild members swarmed him, grabbing his sword and kicking

[00:11:46] him in the head and chest and legs.

[00:11:48] Another swordswing struck him in the arm, cutting through his leather armor.

[00:11:53] His arm wasn't broken, but it was sliced badly with blood now flowing freely.

[00:11:59] Allied tried to stand, but the blows continued.

[00:12:03] A kick to the side of his head filled his eyes with fog.

[00:12:07] Expecting that this would be his end, Allied's only hope was that Raylan would find enough

[00:12:12] help within the guild to finish Pietro's mission.

[00:12:16] They had been so close, even with Losson's machinations.

[00:12:21] The blow stopped, but Allied couldn't open his eyes as they were swollen shut.

[00:12:26] Now comes the killing blow he thought, but as the thought filled his head, an old

[00:12:33] voice yelled out from the mist, hold his eyes.

[00:12:39] There was a chorus of angry voices and then allowed clear voice spoke again.

[00:12:44] His eyes.

[00:12:46] Right before he finally lost consciousness, Allied wondered who was claiming him.

[00:12:53] And what it meant.