by T L Ford
The torchlight in the cave seemed especially bright. Angela stepped up to the mark on the floor and bowed.
"So you came back, did you?" The Guildmaster sounded bored. He was cleaning his fingernails with a long, thin knife.
She opened the box and held it up. Matty and Scott stood by, proud as if they'd invented her.
"Welcome to the Guild, Young Thief."
"Thank you, Guildmaster."
"You can start by learning the Guild laws and cleaning the chamber pots. I'll give you three copper a week for cleaning the night pots, and you pay one copper a week for the training, and I get one copper for the Guild tithe." He dismissed her with a flick of his hand and went back to picking at his fingernails.
Luckily, she had been coached on the correct response to this by Matty, who was unwilling to leave anything she said to chance this time. "Thank you, Guildmaster."
The next day, after she'd cleaned refuse pans down on the shoreline, using sand and an old cloth to scrub them as clean as possible, she was approached by a hunched, old man, with large knuckles and one white-haze-covered eye. "Me name's Squall. I'm here to teach you the Guild law. Follow me."
The 'Guild' referred to the collection of all the formal thieves' dens, each independently run by its own Guildmaster. Every seven years, the Guildmasters met at a Gathering to discuss Guild laws and generally show off their den's latest handiwork.
Angela was a quick learner. In addition to having memorized the full suite of Guild laws, she had gotten the old man to teach her some reading and writing. The Guild laws baffled her somewhat. Thieves and criminals ought to be less formalized, but apparently, unbridled chaos only applied to "independent, non-Guild thieves", who had to pay more to steal in a 'Guild-run town'.
Independent or not, all business required one-third of an amount paid for a good or service to be given to the Guild, in a Guild-town, like Merryweather. Guildmembers got additional benefits. They could expect reduced lodging and food costs within the den and reasonable prices at the Guild shop (which sold tools, weapons, and armors). The downside of being a guildmember, however, was that guildmembers belonged to their Guildmaster and could be tasked entirely at the Guildmaster's whim. She would be forced to get a tattoo that showed she belonged to the Guild after a year.
"So anyone who comes into the den has to do what the Guildmaster tells him?"
"Yes."
"So when an independent thief goes inside the lair, it's like he belongs to the Guild?"
"I suppose you could think of it that way. You'd have a very small bit of protection in another den, on account of belonging to Merryweather's. An independent doesn't." He coughed. "For that protection and those benefits, a guildmember is expected to produce a certain amount of revenue for his den each year."
"What's revenue?" she asked, and he explained it in detail. The sum due was a daunting thought.
* * * * *
Evan Dolman, a studious-looking man who claimed to serve the Mages' Guild in the town of Garthen, arrived one day to teach Angela the history of the land. He explained that over a hundred years ago, three kingdoms divided the lands.
The Kingdom of Demargo lay safe and separate from the other two kingdoms for it was not only across the Great Expanse of ocean, but also kept separate by mighty storms.
On the eastern side of the Great Expanse, the Rashesh Kingdom occupied the coastline, through the fertile farmland, and into the wilderness forest, and also claimed the lush Pilter Islands to the south. The last kingdom, that of the non-human Vrolt, controlled the mountains inland.
The northern Rashesh noblemen and ladies built great castles and served their King. The land-bound southern half was too uncivilized and too close in proximity to Vrolt to be properly defended. The Vrolt frequently invaded the southern half of Rashesh, especially in the mid-land farm regions, stealing humans for food or slaves, often both. The people who lived in that area grew strong, defending themselves, organized by both the Mages' and Thieves' Guilds, because the local Rashesh noblemen, appointed by the King, merely collected taxes and retreated at the first sign of trouble. The night-crawling thieves and aloof, arrogant mages were not particularly liked, but did defend the southern cities and outlying areas with a violent determination.
The city of Siedes was the largest southern city, home to the largest thieves' lair. A devastating storm passed through Siedes, washing away much of the crops before heading inland. The Vrolts, also suffering from the storm's damage, raided the farms for food. Then, the local Rashesh lord still tried to extract taxes from the people.
Evan filled a pipe and murmured something that sounded like gibberish. The pipe lit by itself and Angela gasped. The lecture briefly detoured as Angela asked him about magic and spells. He explained magic was an innate ability focused with words as spells. Everyone with magic belonged to the Mages' Guild where they learned how to cast the spells.
"Now, back to history, Little Lady," The mage grinned and continued his lecture, "The Guildmaster of Siedes saw his city collapsing and chose to organize the other guildhalls. He created a temporary agreement with the Mages' Guild. The noblemen of Rashesh were driven out and Siedes became the northern border of our kingdom, Verkam."
"Is it still a kingdom even though we have no king?" Angela inquired, leaning forward, eyebrows slightly furrowed as she tried to completely understand.
"I suppose so. It's just a name for a land-area. The Guilds don't seem to care much about a unified structure. The mages and thieves don't get along very well anyway. It's enough that if Rashesh tries to send in a new nobleman, whatever thieves and mages are nearby arrive and run them off. No one's been sent in at least fifty years now."
"Pilter Islands are still part of Rashesh, aren't they?"
He nodded.
"And they're far south?"
"Yes, off the coast of Santali."
"But Santali is part of Verkam?"
"It is. Lord Defonst of the Pilter Islands refused to separate from Rashesh. They import many things from the north. The Guilds are content to let it be, after all, we aren't invading Rashesh, we're just refusing to be owned by their King and send him our wealth."
"So Verkam is in the middle of Rashesh?"
"But not part of Rashesh. Now let me draw you a map." Over the next few hours, Evan showed the girl geography and she instantly memorized it, much to his amazement. Others he'd tried teaching had required a great deal of repetition and often forgot half, anyway. She even paid attention and learned what he knew of the imports and exports of various places and the names of the people who ruled.
* * * * *
Two years later, Angela was quite the pickpocket and able to deftly collect coins as she needed. She told her mother that the school teacher had given her a job cleaning and that it sometimes ran late. To avoid suspicion, she only brought home enough coins to supplement their income for food. The rest, which wasn't that much due to the Guild tithe, she used for books which she read and then gave to the beggar boys, who turned around and sold them again - and for food for herself so she didn't eat as much at home.
On the rare times she had to go to Court, she snuck out well after her mother had fallen asleep and returned as quickly as possible. She rarely went into the den at night and she suspected she was the only guildmember on a standard "day time" shift. Most of them slept during the day and crawled out late afternoon.
She continued to pay a weekly training fee and someone arranged a steady stream of people to come teach her. She was learning all sorts of things, from Guild skills (pickpocketing, lock-picking, knife throwing, weaponry, self-defense, climbing, acrobatics, tool use, the Thieves' Guild language) to scholastic skills (reading, writing, science, mathematics, and other languages). She absorbed it all and most of her teachers said she was the best student they'd ever taught although she felt they were just flattering her. Some of her instructors were Guild instructors and some weren't. None were from Merryweather, though, and they all said they were being paid and for
her not to worry over such matters. In the evenings at her home, she was learning the fine art of dress-making as well as proper morals and values at her mother's knee.
The exposure she was getting to her fellow guildmembers during the brief crossover time was also giving her an education her mother would certainly not approve of. The young guildmembers that ran through the market during the day knew to give her a wide berth when she was walking with her mother, and she avoided her mother's friends and usual shopping places when she wandered alone. She became friends with barmaids, prostitutes, and (of course!) thieves, and learned their language and jokes. She avoided sailors, although she often studied them from the shadows.
She paid tithes and the training fee to the Guild shop or to the Guildmaster's only apprentice, a man named Davies, at one of the local bars. The apprentice was a Master thief, magically geased to the Guildmaster, under his direct training, and working entirely at the Guildmaster's bidding. The apprentice always referred to his Guildmaster as 'Master' in the den, which identified his position to everyone who heard.
* * * * *
Kevin Bennett received reports on Angela's progress from each instructor, and sometimes even went and discreetly observed her for himself. She was as dexterous as she was bright, a rare combination, and he was both surprised and pleased at the rate she absorbed the lessons. Truthfully, he had a difficult time getting enough instructors for her, especially as these were being hired by his closest friend, Guildmaster de Behr, via correspondence, in absolute secrecy, and with as little information as possible. 'Send me someone who is extremely accomplished in wall climbing to do a small task for me for which I wish my own Guild should not be apprised,' he'd write, in obscure formal thieves' cant. These letters, he would send, unsigned, but with the proper crease-combination that De Behr would recognize, by a regular non-Guild courier.
He was extremely careful to select different couriers, to make sure the instructors did not mention their duties and avoided drawing any attention whatsoever to his project. He had several accomplished thieves in his Guild that would recognize her talent and would seek to destroy her before she became impossible to kill, as he'd destroyed his potential competition for Merryweather. They coveted his apprenticeship and they'd instantly recognize her for the threat she was. He kept her as far from being noticed as possible and was actually glad she operated day-hours, as odd as that was for a guildmember. In fact, he never spoke with her at all.
Soon, though, very soon, she'd be ready to defend herself and then he could work on the real training and start on his plan.
* * * * *
Angela ducked into the alleyway leading to the visitor's entrance to the den. She should have gone the extra distance and entered through the local entrance, but the night was already late and she needed to be back before her mother began tossing in her sleep which was usually around three o'clock in the morning. She'd just drop off the monthly tithe and go home. She avoided the token traps with practiced speed. Those were mainly for show and to catch non-members.
Once in the den, she didn't bother going up to the receiving line. She had nothing she needed to convey nor ask of the Guildmaster. Instead, she went over to the Guild's shop. "Tithe," she said, dropping several copper coins on the counter.
Davy Webb, the person usually responsible for the shop, made a show of counting it out and then made a note of it in his ledger. "Anything else?"
"No, thank you." His eyebrow raised at the 'thank you' as it always did when she actually came into the den and paid her tithe at the shop. After the very first time, he'd commented that guildmembers did not say 'thank you' to the Guild shopkeeper, she always did, just to tease him. She gave him a conspiratorial wink, then smiled impishly.
Angela turned around to leave and found Davies, the Guildmaster's only apprentice, standing not an arm's-length from her, looking unamused. "My Master wishes to speak to you," he relayed, arms crossed in front of him, glowering at her.
What had she done wrong to merit this attention? "I... I paid my tithe just now," she babbled. "It wasn't late."
He merely spun around and walked off, expecting her to follow, which, of course, she did. The Guildmaster was no longer on his throne or in the room. Davies took her back into the passages of the local lair.
She worried about what she had done or not done, her mind filled with all sorts of minor potential transgressions, and she worried how long it would take. She needed to get home soon. At least her impending sense of doom scared off any bit of fatigue.
He stopped in front of a door and knocked once loudly. Upon being acknowledged, he opened the door for Angela and stepped aside. She swallowed and entered. The room was larger than her whole house, complete with tables, a single chair, bookshelves, several cabinets, and a huge, unmade bed. He had no decorations, save a dusty pair of crossed swords hanging on the wall.
"Return to the den, Davies," Guildmaster de Merryweather commanded. Davies pulled the door closed and left.
The Guildmaster was sitting on a large polished wooden desk. "So how long have you been a member of my Guild, Angela Thomas?"
"Several years now, Guildmaster."
"During that time, have you ever stolen from me? Not paid all of your tithe?"
"No, Guildmaster." What had she done? Why was he questioning her? At least she knew he had a magical ring of truth and would know she wasn't lying.
"Have you ever plotted against me or the Guild?"
"No, Guildmaster," she said, panic obvious in her voice, "I wouldn't dare. I've done nothing at all except some occasional pick-pocketing and I always made sure you got your share."
"I never see you in my den," he noted with a hint of displeasure.
"I work during the day, Guildmaster."
"And you've had some training now, I presume?"
"Yes, Guildmaster. Someone arranged tutors for me; I always thought it was you. I've done everything they asked and tried to do well in my studies."
He reached behind him and took a shoe-sized box. He tossed it to her. "Show me. Open that."
Angela caught it and turned it over. It was trapped and had a fairly complex locking mechanism, much more difficult and dangerous than the box she'd been given so long ago. She wished she had her lockpicks with her. Instead, she made do with a sewing needle she'd accidentally forgotten she'd stashed inside her pocket until just now. Gently, she disarmed the trap. It took slightly longer to pick the lock than it would have if she'd had the proper tools. The box was empty.
"Reset it."
Carefully, she relocked it and reset the trap. He stood and came over to her, taking the box without looking at it, and tossed it on the bed. He handed her a dagger. He pointed. "Put that dagger into the center of that target across the room."
She checked its weight and balance and threw. The blade thunked nicely into the center of the wooden block.
"Yes, I see you have had some training, but you lack a certain finesse." He walked around her, looking her over.
To her merit, she didn't wince or fidget, but she knew her breathing was slightly faster on account of the nervous churning of her stomach.
"I want to show you something. Come along." He crossed to the back of the room, pulled a lever, and one of the bookcases swung back into the wall, revealing another passageway. He took a torch from the wall, lit it, and went into the passageway, arriving after several confusing turns at a locked door. The Guildmaster unlocked it with a glowing key. A magical lock, well beyond her picking ability.
He opened the door and went in, beckoning her to follow. She stood frozen in place, mesmerized. The room was filled with treasure. She saw huge piles of coins, chests of gems and jewelry, a shelf filled with scrolls that had to be magical, golden statues, and shining weapons and armors. He lodged the torch in a plain sconce near the door. "Come in and have a seat." He gestured at a mid-sized table with two benches. He had to repeat himself before she realized he'd spoken.
Angela went in and lowered herself
onto the bench. The table itself held several piles of coins and gems as well as a thick ledger, ink well, and quill.
The Guildmaster took a seat across from her and folded his hands into a relaxed triangle on the table. "Tell me what you know about Guild apprenticeship?"
Her mouth was dry. "It's when a Master finds someone he thinks is worthy of training and trains him to be a Master himself. It requires that the apprentice be magically geased to the Master for a specific duration, usually a number of years. In exchange for service, the Master promises to teach the apprentice everything he knows."
"Not quite everything, but most of it. And what do you know about geases?"
"They're magical spells that bind you to someone so that you have to obey all their commands, regardless of what they are, and it prevents you from harming the person you are geased to."
He nodded. "You left out an important fact when you defined apprenticeship."
She crinkled her nose, thinking desperately, not wanting to displease him. She already suspected from his earlier questions that he was unhappy with her for something.
"A Guildmaster selects his heir, his Dauphin, from his apprentices. When he dies, his treasure and command of the Guild go directly to his Dauphin."
Angela looked about her, wide-eyed at the glittering wealth.
Guildmaster de Merryweather proceeded to completely shock her by saying, "I have been thinking of taking on two more apprentices to lessen the burden on Davies. If you were to accept apprenticeship to me, I can't promise it would be easy or pleasant. I can promise you'll come out of it one of the most highly-skilled guildmembers in the land. I also promise that if you learn well and prove worthy, I'll consider you for the position of my Dauphin."
She took one last look at the treasure, closed her eyes for a moment working up courage, and replied, "I must decline. I cannot work nights. Even now, I need to go as the hour grows late."