The Thieves Guild Friday Binge: Chapters 19-24

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1:06It wasn't really loot so much as armour and belongings of the people the dragon had presumably killed. Some of the equipment was scorched and some was gouged with what was most likely the mighty dragons' claws, but most of it appeared to be as in as good a shape as it was when it was first worn. Here's another one. Dala held up a bracer, which was jet black and had the hints of gold that the steel they had gathered also was marked with. They quickly had tossed aside everything but the black armour and weapons. It was of the best either of them had ever seen. Dala slipped on the bracer and it fit perfectly. She held it up and twisted her arm. It's like a second skin. This is either magic or I've somehow stumbled upon the armour of someone who is exactly my size. Mala had been thinking the same thing. She had enough experience with knives to know that the perfect balance of a knife was unique to everyone. The strength of the wielder, the size of the person's hand and other things unique

2:09to each person affected how well the balance and craftsmanship of the knife could be utilised. The two knives Mala had found were perfect for her grip, disturbingly perfect. The armour was thick leather, but it wasn't. Is it the same height? Mala lowered her arm. No, it's the black steel, but it is so well shaped that it doesn't get in the way as I move and twist my arm. Dala was doing just that as she spoke. There were some spare swords and armour pieces of the black craftsman, but there was only two mostly complete suits which Mala and Dala now wore. I want to get a closer look in the light. Mala walked past the dragon's head and toward the ledge. Dala followed. She had a helm, armour that covered her chest and the top of her legs and a single bracer. In a she that her waist was a long sword. Mala had no helm, but a matching piece of torso armour and the leg coverings and of course her two knives.

3:09Sitting down and crossing her legs, Mala pulled out one of the knives. She stared at the engraving closely. Dala sat next to her. What do you see? It's black steel. I've never seen anything like it. Can the forders die iron or steel? I don't know. Dala slipped the bracer off her arm. This engraving seems to glow in the light, but I'm not sure if it's just undied golden steel or iron exposed by the engraving or if it is painted or dyed this golden colour after engraved. It's the same with the bracer. The line is engraved along the edge with the golden glow and look here. Dala pointed at the underside of the bracer, which was lined with some kind of soft leather. It has that same engraver's mark. Mala had already studied it closely, but she looked again. As before, it appeared to be a forge surrounded by water. Wait, I think this isn't just one mark. The lines are part of it. Mala held up the knife and looked at it from arm's length.

4:10I've seen that before. There was an old blacksmith whose mark was converging lines along the blade that met as his mark. No one knew what it meant, but he put it on everything. This seems like the same thing, so maybe it's the mark of a master. She hadn't tested the sharpness of the knife and gently pressed her finger against the edge. Out! She pulled her finger away quickly, which immediately weld with blood. I've never had razors this sharp, let alone a blade. She put the finger in her mouth. It wasn't a bad cut, but it was surprisingly deep. Be careful, silly. It's a knife. You should know they are sharp. Dala laughed, but she stopped as Mala pulled her finger from her mouth. That's bleeding a lot. It was true. It was bleeding much worse than a small cut should. Mala pulled up her tunic and pressed it against the finger. She held up the knife again. These look like the gentle waves of the North fork in the winter. Dala appeared at the braces mark.

5:13I think they look like hills. Yes, that's it. The hills are end at the water and the fort is in the water. Mala pulled her finger away, but it was still bleeding. She wrapped it again. Why would there be a forge in the water and where are their hills and water? I can only think of Ness. Just another thing for us to discover, I guess. Mala stood up and sheathed the knife. We should find a way out. Mala walked over to the ledge and looked down. We practically on top of the city. The city of Ness was to her right and spread out into the forest. Dragon rode split the city and forest like a gash. Below them into the right was the wizard's tower. Mala could see a balcony near the top, but it was empty. The face is sheer here, but there is what looks like a path over there. Dala pointed North and they walked along the massive opening to the northern edge. Indeed, there was a steep but navigable grade that began at the very northern end of the opening.

6:16If first not a path, it's certainly a way down. Mala pulled her hand away from her tunic to secure her armour better, but droppets of blood fell to the floor. Let me look at that. Dala rushed over and took Mala's hand. It's bleeding as bad as it was before or worse. She let go and pulled her tunic out. With a firm pull, she ripped a triangular piece off the bottom. Give me your hand again. Mala held it out and Dala wrapped her finger. You just touched the blade. Yes. I pressed it against my finger to test its edge. I've done a similar thing dozens of times. The worst that happened was a surface cut that barely bled. Dala tied the ends of the wrapped cloth together and folded them inside. It was awkward and it immediately blossomed red, but it seemed to be staunching the worst of the bleeding. This is not normal, my love. I'll kiss Mala's knuckles and let go. Are these armour and weapons imbued with magic?

7:18As recently as a year earlier, Mala would have laughed and mocked someone for seriously talking of magic, but here she stood in front of a dragon. It's possible, perhaps it is a blade which creates wounds that don't heal. Dala and Mala looked down at Mala's bandaged finger at the same time. The bandage was now wet with blood. How do you stop the bleeding of a wound that won't heal? Mala asked the question just as the sun passed over the mountain above them and cast them in shadow. Dala reached over and took Mala's healthy hand in hers. I have an idea. Chapter 20 A Blush of Red No, absolutely not. Mala pulled her arm from Dala's grip as Dala sat across from her. It's just the tip. Look. Dala pointed at the cloth on Mala's finger, now soaking wet with blood. It's still bleeding. That's not normal. Dala crossed her arms in a show of impatience at Mala's hesitancy,

8:21or maybe it was petulence. Dala had said two things and Mala recalled from both of them. The first was that Mala's blades were clearly imbued with some magic that made the wounds they made never stop bleeding. The second was that to resolve Mala's own wound, Dala would chop off the end of Mala's finger with her sword, creating a new wound that would get rid of the curcid one. Mala almost violently unwrapped her bandages and showed her finger to Dala. It's not even really bleeding. Those are droplets of blood. I'm not going to bleed to death from a small cut. My love. Look at it. It won't stop bleeding. Even at that slow rate, it can't be healthy. And what are you going to do? Carry around a bag of bandages to replace on your hand every hundred paces you walk. Mala didn't want to admit it, but it was that exact point that bothered her the most. The whole disgusting nature of having a bloody bandage on her finger

9:23at all times was nearly swaying her to Dala's brutal plan. She took a deep breath. She calmed herself and thought over the possibilities. Would losing the tip of her finger affect her ability to throw her knives or do whatever mission she had to do? Not really. It was her offhand, and about the only thing it might affect was her climbing or gripping things that required two hands. Droplets of blood fell on the stone between her and Dala, creating a small red pool. She lifted her finger and looked at it. Welling blood, a droplet forms. A drip. Again and again. I'm sorry, love. Dala looked nearly distraught. I guess the bendy part will be a good place to cut. Mala lowered her hand to the floor. It's called a joint. And yes, it will be easier to cut and heal at that point. You do realise that if I get angry with you, I won't be able to do that thing where I point my two fingers at you

10:23and make motions that it's all your fault. Dala laughed. You have never done that, and if you plan on doing it in the future, this won't change the impact. So, we'll prepare a bandage. You unsheath your sword. I look away and think of something that makes me angry. You remove the end of my finger. I shout out words that will make you blush. And then we wrap my finger and off we go. More or less, but I do want to correct two things. Dala unsheathed her sword and started to cut a bandage out of her cotton tunic. The first is that you could never make me blush. The second is that I think we should rest here tonight. Let's see how your finger is doing and then we can continue tomorrow. Mala placed her left hand on the stone floor, extending out her bleeding forefinger. Dala leaned her hand down on Mala's wrist, pressing it down firmly. Congratulations, I have a new mission in life to make you blush. Twisting her body, Mala turned away and looked into the shadows.

11:26Please don't warn me, don't count down or let me know it's coming, just do it. Don't even ask me if I'm ow. Mala tried to jerk her hand back in the midst of searing pain, but Dala had an iron grip on her wrist. Pither gods, that hurts worse than when I fell off a horse when I was little. Dala began wrapping Mala's finger and it burned like the flames of a fire. Ow, can you at least try to be gentle? Gods it burns. Shush, think about how you're going to make me blush while I bind this. The binding was perhaps worse than the chop that Mala was thoroughly unprepared for. That was at least a sharp flash. This was a throbbing and consistent pain that got worse with every wrap and twist of the bandage. Oh, I swear by everything I've done in my life that you are going to blush, the blushiest blush that ever blushed when I get done with you. The banter actually was making Mala feel better. It had to be hard on Dala hurting her.

12:28Now that's something I think we can both look forward to. Dala let go of Mala's wrist. All done. Mala held up her hand. Blood was blossoming within the bandage, but it was tight and would hold. I'll need to change that fairly often. We don't have anything to stitch your wound closed. It's going to hurt, because I'll need to make sure the skin covers your bone as I press the bandage down as I change it. It all sounded too clinical and somewhat frightening to Mala. Bone, was she going to have bare bone as the end of her finger? To get her mind off it, she went back to her sarcastic tried and true and in the way that she could only do with Dala. And you see this finger. Mala held up her hand with her wounded finger, extended upward. This is what I'm going to use to make you blush. They gathered what they could and made a small shelter behind the bones of the mighty dragon. There wasn't much cloth, but some of the lever could be used as a pillow. As Mala lay down, Dala stood up and removed the black armor.

13:32She then removed her entire cloth tunic. Mala wasn't sure what Dala was doing, as she immediately put the black leather armor back on without a tunic or undergarments. She snapped the front closed again, and Mala wasn't sure she had seen a more exciting thing in her life. Dala stood there in nothing but black armor above her waist. Is this your attempt to make me blush? Mala patted the stone next to her. Because it's working. Stop it, silly. We need the cloth for your bandages. And true to her words, Dala pulled out her sword and started to cut her tunic into thin strips. Mala watched and while it was undeniably provocative to see Dala in black armor with nothing underneath, it also looked uncomfortable. Are you going to just wear the armor? Is that comfortable? It's nearly as comfortable as just a tunic. I think all of the items with the mark of the forge above the water must be magic of some sort. This armor feels both light and strong.

14:32Mala didn't reply. She was enthralled in watching Dala sway as she cut and ripped the pieces of the tunic. Not even the throbbing in her finger distracted her. Chapter 21, the quartermaster. Vespa had given them instructions to meet with the guild quartermaster and a note marked with the guild seal. They were to receive a new wagon with enough paper to fill half of it, several bags of coppers and assorted goods of moderate value. It was to be hauled by a horse, a deady of foot and capable of a long journey at a moderate pace. And finally, they were to meet with Vespa's deputy, Odo, for an escort. As they walked through the foyer of the tower to the long and flat annex that extended north, Kray patted Raffes lower back. We won't need the escort, but I could use a hammer. A hammer? Raff wondered why Kray would need a hammer. They weren't crafting steel or working with nails and beams.

15:37A war hammer. I trust my voice in difficult circumstances, but it's always good to have a backup. Kray's low, grumbly laugh, invited questions about Kray's past use of a hammer that Raff would certainly ask over firelight someday. Vespa didn't list a warhammer. Raff pulled out the folded paper with the meticulous points written out outlining the requirements. You only read the highlighted items, didn't you? Kray once again laughed and patted Raffes back. It was true. Raff had looked at the list and pocketed the paper, but there at the bottom were instructions at the top and a closing paragraph that read, thank you, Captain Rodric, and provide them with anything else they need, anything. And there it was. The comment emphasised with repetition. Anything they needed. Captain Rodric was a short, pudgy man. The kind you expect to find in the kitchens, not in charge of resources and weapons.

16:37He had a big bushy moustache that Raff found horribly distracting, because the moustache and his hair were a bright orange red, which was so rare in nest that Raff had to work hard to not stare. After a short grunt of hello, Rodric looked over the note, folded it, and placed it on the table that stood in front of him, which was chest high for him and had no chair. It was entirely empty, just a table, and the man with the captain's badge standing behind it. I will lead a war hammer as well. Rodric stared at Cray for a moment, but then nodded his head. He barked some orders and looked Cray up and down. My father told me tales about you. The comment was mild enough, but Rodric's eyes were darkened with suspicion. I don't remember meeting him. Cray gave a hearty laugh, but I'm sure I would have considered him a delightful person. Rodric drummed his fingers on the table. I meant a dwarf.

17:38You are from the mountains, the craftsmen know of your kind. You make mighty weapons that exceed imagination, and the legend of that craftsmanship is used to push our journeyman to work harder. Rodric stopped drumming his fingers, but it was all a fantasy to inspire. He finally smiled, or was it? I assure you I'm not a fantasy. Cray laughed again, but quickly turned serious. But you are correct. Our own craftsmen create weapons of legendary quality from the black stained ore of the southern mountains. The legends have it that the ore was blackened by the fires of dragons, and thus made stronger and more durable. Cray paused as if to say more, but stopped there. Huh, dragons. I guess having a dwarf stand in front of me should make me consider that the existence of dragons are real. Now I would indeed consider that. But further conversation was interrupted by two men bringing piles of clothes, and a third coming up after with a hammer with two square and formidable heads of steel,

18:42and a wood handle wrapped in leather. The items were precisely placed on the table in three piles. This is the best I can do, friend of the guild. He pointed at the clothes. I took the liberty of having clothes brought for you. These are usually used for the rangers, with supple leather over soft cotton, so do not mind the brown colour. The yellow cloak will mark our guild. He turned to Cray. I took the liberty of providing you a yellow cloak as well. I hope that being identified with our guild is not an issue. It is an honor, captain. Cray bout his head. The fit will be perfect, I assure you. He looked at Cray. Although yours will be a little tight, not uncomfortable, but not loose either. Roderick lifted the hammer and held it out to Cray. The balance is good, and it is size for a young journeyman, but don't let that fool you. It is a serviceable weapon. Cray lifted the hammer and swung it. The balance is precise, the size is perfect.

19:44I assure you, captain. I have not fooled, and I know a master's weapon when I wield one. Roderick looked pleased as he pointed to a leather belt on one of the piles. There is a sheath built for the hammer there. If you prefer to have it strapped to your back or similar, let me know. I can accommodate you. A mighty hammer pressed against my hip is a welcome friend. You can dress in one of those rooms to the left. The wagon and horse are being prepared. You will have two weeks of food and our guildmaster was wise. The coppers will please the one handers and the goods will please the outland raiders. Your paper journey should be uneventful. Rafe doubted any journey beyond this would be uneventful. But they would at least be prepared. As Rafe shed the clothing he had pulled together at the thieves tower and put on the new clothing, he couldn't help but mark the difference. The quality was clearly better. The tunic was softer. The trousers felt more durable with leather protection seamlessly added to comfortable fabric.

20:45It made him wonder if this was a normal thing, or if Roderick had treated them with special gear due to the request coming from the guildmaster. But this was not custom-made. Was it possible that some guilds received better goods than others? Rafe put that thaw to side as he adjusted the sheathed dagger at his side. He indeed looked like a ranger with a craft-gilled yellow cloak. He exited the small preparation room to find cray-weighting. Rafe had to look twice. The kind old dwarf with the white beard he tucked into his belt looked absolutely fierce. He had left Dragon's watch for a journey, wearing what was essentially tough but comfortable clothing. Now he looked like a warrior and Rafe had to admit it was intimidating. The leather armor and the massive hammer combined with his furrowed eyes and white beard made him look like a mountain warrior from old tales. As Rafe was looking cray up and down, Roderick walked over.

21:45The wagon and horse are ready, but the amount of paper you need will require you to travel to the warehouse district to have it loaded. Here. Roderick handed Rafe a small piece of paper. It was a simple order to load half the wagon with paper and was signed with Roderick's name. It is a small warehouse nestled near the corner of the north fork and the wall itself. It isn't hard to find, but it is not well marked either. Look for the sign with the quill on it outside the main door. Rafe didn't immediately reply as he was picturing the warehouse in his mind. He had wandered through the warehouse district many times, but never to the far corner Roderick had described. Would you like a driver or a guide? Oh, sorry, no. I was just picturing how to get there. Roderick shook his head as if he was just about tired of dealing with these odd strangers. Head up to the main warehouses and then keep going. Well, I think even I can't mess that up. Rafe smiled and Roderick finally smiled back.

22:46The wagon is near the loading dock toward the rear of this building. Down the hall through the door and keep going. You can't miss it. Cray walked over and held out his hand, which Roderick took without hesitation. Thank you, Captain. We will make sure the guildmaster knows of your kindness, efficiency and attention to detail. And without much fanfare, Cray and Rafe began the short and seemingly simple trip to gather paper. A trip that Rafe couldn't help but compare to the needlessly long and dangerous trip that Raylon had taken for the same purpose. Chapter 22 The Rivers of Ness Rafe didn't realize how wise Vespa actually was until they began their trip from the warehouse district to the Great Gate. He had decided to take the longer route along the North Falk. Rafe held the reins and their trip was a leisurely clip clop along the cobblestones. The only interruptions were the regular stops by night-gilled members.

23:48One after another, a knight would hold up their hand. Rafe would stop the wagon and the knight would inspect their goods, and just as Vespa anticipated the one handers would grab a handful of coppers and send them on their way. It was the bags of coppers that illustrated Vespa's genius. There was quite a bit of money in the many bags in the back of the wagon, but it was still distributed among copper coins, and the hands full that were taken didn't amount to much. A handful of coppers outside merchant tower for safe passage. A handful of coppers on the through way for safe passage, and at the start of the lower triangle numerous stops with hands full of coppers for what was becoming routine, safe passage. Cray couldn't quite understand what was happening. More or less, it's called one-handing, and I believe it started with the former guildmaster sacks. He was violent and drunk all the time, and no one would confront him about it.

24:50Wait, Pietro did. There was a rumor that Pietro would stop it whenever he saw it. He was so beloved that the knights would put their hands away and pat him on the back. They reached the turn onto river road, the main thoroughfare that led to the great gate, and that ran along the raging great river, or as Cray would call it, the dragon's tear. Cray looked over his shoulder at the river. This must be a mile wide at this point. They had crossed it before, but the hustle and bustle of the great bridge must have distracted him from it. At this moment, it was all there in its violent frothing glory. Yes, I had stories that many years ago there was a competition to swim across it, but too many people died in the process, so they discontinued it. Cray enjoyed passing a long knowledge, so he decided to use this moment as a geography lesson. Remember the smaller river near the Thieves tower. Cray nodded. That's it right there.

25:50Rafe pointed to a smaller river nearly directly opposite the North fork, but far smaller. That is the Old fork. It and the North fork enter the great river here, which is why the river is so massive and violent at this point. Do you see how the waters kind of grey from the Old fork? Again, Cray nodded. That's because it runs along the Ash fields and the Ash slides into it and is carried this way. But that's not the Oli River. The great river begins at the massive waterfall coming out of the mountain, but there is another river smaller about the same size as the Old fork that joins the great river west of the Silo district. It runs parallel to the North fork and is called the South fork. It's what splits the inner field from the outer fields. Rafe blanced at Cray, who seems thoroughly enthralled with Rafe's geography lesson. It turns into the mountain, but originates in some kind of cave rather than via a waterfall. Many people think that the North fork is what gives the fields their rich soil and water,

26:52but it's actually the South fork, and most people also think it's the wall that splits the inner and outer fields, but the wall ends near Harvest House. The actual dividing line is the South fork. They were stocked two more times for hands of coppers to be stolen when Cray finally spoke. So this is a city of four rivers. That's right, but very few speak of the Old fork or the South fork. They're just too far from where people go. The South fork is primarily used for transporting goods from the fields to the Silo district. No one ever seems to go to the outer fields. They just bring things here. The nature of Ness now makes even more sense, young Rafe. The North fork extends far to the North and alongside it is a road. To travel the lands, it makes sense that you head to the dragon's tear and head east, west or south from there. And if you are coming from the south, it is the same. And the only thing that stops travel to the east is the mountain, and dragon roads solve that.

27:56Cray scratched his beard and then tucked it into his waistband. For a time, at least, Cray looked over at Rafe. Did you know the dragon's tear goes all the way to the sea? No, I just knew it led into the plains and Gatland is built on it like Ness's. Ah, now there is a story, but that's for another time. The great river, as you call it, flows past Gatland and then slowly wends its way south around the desert and down to the sea, effectively splitting the coast. Between the tear and Kalisto, the coast is sandy and full of rolling hills. It is beautiful. The coast in the other direction is rocky, and the sea is full of boulders and rocky islands. It is the coastal land of my people. It is also beautiful, but in a different way. It was Rafe's turn to be unthroald. Are there any other rivers across the lands? Ah, we now move from rivers that I have seen myself to rivers of legends, but the answer is yes.

28:59Far to the north, there is rumor of a river called the Dragon's Crown that circles the lands from the west to the east and borrows the northern end of the Dragon's teeth. Maybe that's where the city to the north lies. At the intersection of the Great North Road and the Dragon's Crown. It is as good a theory as any. I wonder what is beyond the Dragon's Crown. Rafe did not expect a response, but Cray scratched his chin again. That is what the Veritri expedition aimed to find. I've heard of that. It was mentioned in a book in Pietro's Library, but there were no details. Note this, Rafe. The city to the north was closed to a soul far before Pietro's time. Far before the time of history we know, they never signed the Baros Treaty, and that is about all we know. The Veritri expedition wasn't sent to engage with that city, but to find out if it still existed and then to continue north until they discovered all they could. Then they were to return with their information. And they were lost? Lost, killed.

30:05No one knows. All we know is they never returned. And with the clip club of hooves on cobblestones and the reaching hands of knights, Rafe and Cray reached the Great Gate, which they passed through without issue. Nothing remained between them and Pietro's lost history, but the great plains and the straight flagstones of Dragons' road. Chapter 23. Piette Estate The trip on the ferry was possibly the worst few hours of Piette's life. The gentle flow down the north fork wasn't bad, but the moment the boat turned upstream on the great river at the frothy joining of the north and old forks, the boat shifted and rolled in a way that had Piet gripping the wood in his carriage. The effort was enormous as eight men rode and other men unfurled sails that they had to move constantly to catch the wind correctly. By the time they reached the silo district and Piet's carriage was unloaded, he now realized why so much of the goods delivered

31:08from the fields was done over land. Behind him the men from the boat were soaked in sweat and milling about, gathering their breath. Piet hoped this was the extent of their day, but he knew that they would be getting back on the boat and heading downstream soon enough. The journey to his estate took much longer than Piet had expected. They crossed the bridge over the south fork, turned right and travelled along the road that stood between the mansions on the steep plateau of the upper quarter and the south fork river. When the road curved north toward the night's watch and harvest house, Bode and took a smaller road that went straight. Lining the road was smaller mansions, but he states that had more land than the ones in the upper triangle. Bode in turn right toward a large house made of stone and wood. It was a single story with one smaller second level at one end that appeared made of nothing but glass. The road to the house was dirt and the surrounding land was huge and bounded by a stone wall that looked older than anything around it. They stopped in

32:12front of the house and as peaked looked around he couldn't quite believe it. Was this his house? The house itself was on the upper edge of the plateau and the enormous dragon's teeth served as a majestic backdrop. He could hear water. Is that the south fork behind that hedge? On the mountain side of the property was a large hedge that Peter'd assumed had been placed for privacy, but now he realised was probably meant to dampen the sound of the fast moving water of the south fork flowing from the mountain. Indeed it is. Bode and had mentioned he had inspected the property a few days ago. He pointed to the stone wall. Your neighbours are an old harvest family, very important and influential. You should visit them soon. Their properties quite a bit bigger than yours and has a private apple orchard. Bode and pointed back along the private driveway to the house. Harvest house is that way, not too far by carriage. Bode and then pointed toward the hedge and the river beyond it. The inner fields are across the river, but you can't

33:16reach them from here. You need to either head to Sila Bridge or up along the road to the big bridge that links the outer inner fields. I've never seen it, but it is presumably wide and flat and covered in the manure and dirt from the fields. Bode and grabbed the few things Peter brought along and walked toward the house. Pete followed. The door opened with an absurdly large key. Wood covered eye and door. I'm not sure why it's like that, but it's heavy and moored into the stone. If you get attacked, you certainly don't have to worry about them coming in the front door. Bode and laughed and the door opened. Your quarters are that entire end of the house. Bode and pointed to the right. It's a marvel. There is an in-dollar train that flows with water down to the river. Imagine that. Your own privy. Bode and laughed again. He was enjoying being on the property and clearly liked the luxury of his new life. For his part, Pete was just taking it all in. Did you see the room with the glass? I did. You reach it via a circular staircase in your bedroom.

34:23It is some kind of room to relax and observe things in. I've never seen anything like it. You can see almost the entire city from up there and the inner and outer fields, and of course the mountains. It is a breathtaking view of essentially everything within the city walls. Bode and leaned forward. But that's not the most amazing part. What is that? It has a special tube attached to a solid base that spins. If you put your eye against one end and point the other in the distance, the glass and the tube makes it appear much closer. I beg your pardon, sir, but I tried it and did you know? Bode and appeared almost nervous as he hesitated before speaking again. There's a tower near the ash fields. A tower. Yes, sir. It's very difficult to see, and I missed it more often than I saw it, but it is near the mountains. It must be some remnant from Ness's past. Fascinating, is it not? It certainly is. What's over there? Pete pointed to the other wing of the house. There is a guest room, but it is mostly a dining area and larger

35:27room for entertaining guests. It opens out to the rear of the house, which I must say is beautiful with its garden and stone. I dare say this was a house designed for parties, sir. Then perhaps I should host some parties. You'll need more staff for that, but I can certainly do the cooking. You're a cook, too. I'm one of those can't keep my hands still, sir. I think it's why I was assigned to you. I have worked in a lot of places within the guild. I commend your clothes, too. Pete laughed. I'll be sure not to damage them so you can avoid that. As Pete looked around, he had more questions. And the family next door. Are they older, large, any details? That's I do not know, sir. Well, I will need to introduce myself and find out then. I do know of the family on the other side. It's a smaller estate, also craft guild members. They presumably were close to Orion. So you should perhaps be wary of them. Those that were close to Orion are not very keen on the new guildmaster, sir. I understand, but I shall call on them, too.

36:31I can say with honesty that I earned my role in the warehouse district under Orion's auspices. I, sir, but they will know that you earned this estate under guildmaster Vespas. Well, perhaps there is good reason that the guildmaster provided me with two guards. Boden didn't reply to that. Chapter 24, surveying the grounds. It was by far the most comfortable bed that Pete had ever slept in. Instead of one straw-filled mattress, there were layers and layers of feather-filled smaller layers. The pillows were also filled with some kind of soft feathers. As he woke, he opened one of the three doors near the rear of his room. He knew what the other two were. One was to the bathing area. Boden was wrong. It was far from a latrine. There was flowing water into a marble bath that was somehow always warm. And the latrine wasn't even a trough. It was a steel chair structure where he could relieve himself. That, however,

37:35was icy cold. The other door led to a small study at the very end of the house with no windows. A small room with empty bookshelves and a desk and a leather chair. The final door stood in front of him, and the only reason Pete was about to open it was that he hadn't found the wardrobe inside the room itself. He assumed it was a closet of some sort. It was not a closet. It was a room larger than his bedroom in his former apartment. And it was full of the wide range of clothes, all his size, trousers, shirts, tunics, robes, and on one side leather armor died gold. Pete quit his dress and dropped his night shirt and previous days clothes into a large wicker basket with handles, which he felt confident was made for that purpose. As he left his living quarters, the smell of food filled his nose. I hope you enjoy eggs the way we cook them in the flat, sir. Bowden stood in a room that was connected to a dining room via a short haul.

38:38It was large and had an iron oven, two stone ovens, and a myriad of cooking supplies. He stood over a cooktop fire with an iron skillet full of round white eggs. They are not scrambled with a fork, but rather left to cook in a circle with a yellow centre. Bowden spoke as if the style of eggs was a true raerty, and although they were not common in the lower quarter where Pete lived, they were often on the menu. Pete humored his servant. I am excited to try this delicacy from your homeland. Bowden pointed to the dining room down the hall. Your place is set, sir. You will find slices of apples, cold water, juice from an orange, and fresh bread. I'll have this to you shortly. The meal was delicious, and Pete had to once again remind himself that this was simply a role he was playing. He was acting the part of a rich upper triangle citizen. He actually wasn't a rich upper triangle citizen. His mission was to find out who Polo had sent to kill Vespa. How Vespa knew that Polo had even done this was a mystery,

39:42and the mission itself sounded like it was not one to delay. So Pete had decided on a brisk schedule. Rome his estate that day. Examine the wall and the border. The hedge and any gaps. The entire layout of his house. The glass observatory above the house and get a sense of Bowden's cottage house which Pete learned was directly between the edge of the house and the river, tucked away in the southeast corner. The next day he would call on his harvest house neighbours. His main goal was to simply create a good first impression and let them know he was a good neighbour. But part of him also hoped that he might find out more information about the harvest guild, which Pete realized too late, that about which he knew precious little. The next day he would visit his craft-gilled neighbour, and then he would go travel to the Inns and Tavans near harvest house to see if he could find more information. Somehow he had to infiltrate harvest house itself, or find someone with the information that would know the inner dealings there. Pete had no

40:47illusions that it would be simple. In fact, he considered it nearly impossible to do in a short time frame, which is why he was excited about attempting to do just that. He still had to hire two guards, but he left that to Bowden to do. So he started his walk around his estate with a clear mind and a full belly. The stone wall was as old as he perceived on the ride in. Loose rocks were placed with no mortar or any other method of securing it. Parts were covered with moss, and other parts showed newer rocks where it was repaired, but overall it was what it appeared to be, an old stone wall. The hedges at the rear of the property lining the river were thick and appeared to be evergreen, as winter was approaching and they retained their green. They were thick and it would take real work to walk under or through them, perhaps even impossible. The woosh of the river was clear this close. Pete got the distinct impression that his property was essentially on the bank of the South Fork. He decided to take a close look from the observatory

41:52later. He walked around Bowden's cottage, which had a stone chimney with a whisp of smoke rising from it. It looked to be large enough, but still a single room or two. Due to the odd location of Ness nestled between mountains to the south and the dragon's teeth to the east. The South Fork ran mostly from the southwest to the northeast, and his neighbors were to the east and west. His western neighbors were the fellow craft guild members, and their house was beyond the stone wall. It was smaller than Pete's house, but was two stories and made of stone. He stared at it, and couldn't get a real sense of the occupants. The house itself was dark and there was no carriage house like Pete had, but there was a small stable, but it contained no horses. I guess I'll visit you another day. In response, a drowl came from the left, and a massive dog, possibly even a wolf, launched itself in Pete's direction. Pete stumbled backward,

42:52only for the wolf dog to stop at the edge of the wall. He was not secured by a chain. He was not secured at all, but he at least stayed behind the wall. None of that went through Pete's mind until later, as he was rushing back to his house and the safety of his walls. Sir, are you okay? Bowden walked in, finding Pete shaking inside the back door. There's a massive wolf. Our neighbors have it protecting their property. Bowden squinted. I'll take care of it, sir. Thank you. That was all that Pete got out, as he headed to his room to calm down. The podcast Alchemy Production