The North Road

The Thieves Guild by Jake Kerr. Episode 108: The North Road. Sometimes the simplest goals end up having the greatest complications. After talking to Vesper, Allard's simple goal was to get back to the Old Quarter. A Ranger walking in Ness was rare, but certainly not unheard of, and a Ranger walking toward the Great Gate was to be expected. Allard was not foolish, however, especially in violent times, and took nothing for granted.

He stuck to whatever shadows he could as he walked along the North Road, the road that ran along the North Fork and ended very close to the Great Bridge and the Old Quarter. The trouble was that the Lower Quarter was still mostly abandoned, and the people patrolling the streets were suspicious of everyone. The few Harvest Guild members who were returning to their homes looked warily at anyone other than other Harvest Guild members.

The merchant guards remained omnipresent, and appeared focused on keeping things calm. There was no real night presence. It was the kind of environment where a massive Ranger walking alone was nearly an invitation for a confrontation, and Allard was confronted again and again. First, there was a group of Harvest Guild members. That wasn't so much a confrontation as a joyful meeting of a

colleague. They were heading home to a house that they weren't sure still existed, and yet were jovial when they met Allard. They apparently worked in the Outer Fields during the fall harvest, and were grateful the Rangers were out protecting them from the outlanders. Then there were a number of merchant guild guard interactions. They stopped Allard, asked his business, and after a cursory

conversation, let him go on his way. They appeared to be more interested in making sure the returning Harvest Guild members were calm than dealing with an odd Ranger. Things got more difficult when he turned onto River Road. He had walked along the North Fork in the hopes of avoiding the attention near the Flats, but that meant he was approaching the bridge to the Old Quarter from a direction near the Upper Quarter, and Allard immediately realized he made a mistake.

River Road was thick with armed men at that point, not just merchant guards, but knights as well. "Hey, you." Allard pulled his hood down and turned toward the voice. It was a merchant guard marching up to him. Allard stood tall, but didn't say anything. The guard stopped in front of Allard and continued. "State your business."

Allard disliked the man's tone, but he realized that any exchange in these times could easily escalate, so he answered simply, "I am a Ranger returning to the Plains after visiting my family." "Who is your family?" The guard sounded suspicious. "The River family. We have worked the Outer Fields for many generations, protected by Rangers. I joined the Rangers Guild as a small token of appreciation for the guild's protection of my

family." Allard bowed his head. "I've been assigned to the western plains." "That's far from the Outer Fields." "Indeed, but who am I to question my guild master?" Allard hoped the man would move on, but he continued to ask questions. "What is your name?" "Gwyn, Gwyn River." "Where is your family's house?" "The Flats," Allard said, the answer being his default when people would pry, as the Flats was large and crowded and nearly impossible to check on someone's answer about where they lived.

Stepping forward, the guard replied, "Then why are you walking along the North Road, then?" He glanced toward the Flats. "This is far out of your way." Allard cursed to himself. The guard was right. If he was heading from the Flats to the Plains, he would have gone down the Thruway or even along the Circle. He most definitely would not have walked along the North Road. It was far out of the way. "I do not get to the city very often, I'm afraid." It was the only explanation that made sense.

He was sightseeing. "Rather than walk along the Circle, I wanted to see the North Fork, the Great River, the Great Bridge, and even the Golden Triangle." The guard stared at Allard, and just as he felt like the guard wouldn't believe him, he replied, "These are not times to enjoy the city. Head back to your duties and return when things are calmer." Allard let out a breath as the guard added, "Thank you for protecting your family and all of us." The guard tipped his hat and moved on.

Just as Allard turned onto River Road, a group of merchants approached. They weren't guards, which was perhaps worse, as they were curious about him in a way that he couldn't predict. There were three of them, two young men and a young woman. They were laughing as they stepped in front of Allard. A young man held up his hand as if commanding Allard to stop. He had beady eyes and a thin smile that looked more like a sneer. Not wanting to generate attention, Allard stopped.

"We were going to mock you for being guildless, but now we see you are a Ranger." Allard shrugged and went to move on when the woman blocked his way. What are you doing here? "That is not your business," Allard growled, pondering whether to just push his way through. Unfortunately, a group of merchant guards nearby looked over to keep an eye on things. Allard knew they were keeping an eye on the young misfits, but that could easily turn

into attention on him. Intimidation without violence seemed the best approach. Unfortunately, they didn't seem intimidated. "Let me see your face, Ranger," the original speaker said. The comment was rude and would have been easily dismissed, but he said it loudly enough that a group of Harvest Guild members became interested and wandered over. To make matters worse, the merchant guards also now seemed to be more interested in the ranger with the hidden face than the mischievous gang.

Allard knew that if he showed his face, at least someone would know who he was. With all of the chaos around Raylan and the violence in the lower quarter, he was certain that it would lead to him being arrested. So, he crossed his arms and leaned forward. "You are in no position to be so rude to a ranger here visiting his family." To reinforce his point, he pointed to the man's chest and added, "I'm happy to walk around you, but don't make the mistake of making me go through you."

To Allard's relief, the young man immediately fell back, cowered. "It is like that with bullies," Allard thought as he prepared to continue his journey. Unfortunately, the merchant guards were close enough to hear, and they marched over. "Threatening guild members isn't very polite behavior from a visitor," the leader of the guard said, walking right up to Allard. Allard turned and looked at him. He was slight, but had the arrogant look

of someone with unearned power. "He insulted me for being a ranger." "I heard no such thing," the guard replied, putting his hand on his sheathed sword. Allard shrugged and leaned into his explanation. He had no other option. "You didn't hear the beginning of the conversation, but I apologize for any threat I may have made. I will simply be on my way. I am due in the plains soon." Taking a step forward, Allard had to stop as the merchant guard stepped in front of him. "Show your face."

The other guards backed up the main guard, and to make matters worse, the Harvest Guild members wandered over. Knowing that if he showed his face, he would immediately be arrested, Allard decided to focus on the element of surprise and flee. The only trouble was that he was, by now, surrounded by people from three different guilds, as a few knights had wandered over too. Considering his options, he figured the Harvest Guild members would see him as a brother guild member and let him through.

Shoving aside the merchant guard, Allard sprinted toward the Harvest Guild group, hoping that he could run around them or that they would part and let him pass. After that, Allard planned on running directly into the Lower Triangle, which was across the road, and using a variety of alleys and hedges to escape. It was a risky plan, but all he had. It failed immediately. The Harvest Guild members grabbed him as he went to pass.

Allard stumbled, and as he regained his balance, a Harvest Guild member yanked his hood back, exposing his face and head. "The traitor," shouted one man. "Pretending to be the guild he betrayed, with the outlanders. Shame," cried a woman. The moment his face was exposed, Allard realized he had only one option: fight his way out. The merchant guard approached with his sword, looking to either kill Allard outright or seriously injure him.

Reaching above his head as he spun into a small clearing near the Harvest Guild members, Allard slid out his great broadsword. Unarmed guild members fled as the knights rushed forward. The merchant guard had no time to react, and before he realized who he was facing, his sword arm lay on the ground next to him, detached from his body after a vicious swing of Allard's blade. Looking around as armed men approached, Allard pointed his sword at two knights. "I am departing in that direction.