Karch had never seen Larsen so angry, which was saying a lot, as Larsen's temper was famous. It wasn't so much that Ralan escaped—Larsen seemed almost glad that his brother had slunk off to the Wretched Quarter never to be seen again—but it was how he escaped.

It was one thing to laugh at Saxe and the incompetence of his guild at holding Ralan and his friends, but it was another thing entirely to have his own guards manning the Great Bridge have Ralan in their sights, and then just let him slip through their fingers.

"Karch, I will say this only once." Larsen's voice was like a rusty cell door screeching as it slowly closed. "You will take care of Polo. I don't care how. I don't even want to know how. But we can't risk another vote with both Ralan and Polo alive."

"We could always kill Ralan," Karch replied. He knew it was probably unwise pointing the blade at Larsen's brother, but he was curious how Larsen would respond.

"Could we, Karch?" Larsen shoved his chair back so hard as he stood up from his desk that the chair fell over. "By all means go into the Wretched Quarter and strike him down. Do you know where he is?" For the first time in his life, Karch was alarmed as Larsen approached with a dagger in his hand. Karch hadn't even noticed where Larsen had pulled it from.

"Sir—“

"Shut up, Karch. You're lucky you are still my deputy after this disaster with Ralan." Larsen waved the dagger in front of Karch's face. "So you think we should kill Ralan. Brilliant idea, Karch. Well, where is he? Can you find him? Do you even know what it's like across the river?" Larsen slammed the dagger into his desk. "We have power here. We have spies. We have those in other guilds who will help us. Who do we have over there?" Larsen pointed over Karch's shoulder. "Who, Karch, who?"

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"Perhaps it would be wise to assassinate Polo."

"That would solve our problem wouldn't it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. I don't care how you solve our problem. You will solve it, and you will solve it immediately." Before Karch could reply, Larsen said, "Dismissed, deputy." Karch left without saying another word.

As he walked to his quarters, Karch considered his options. He had to kill Polo. That much was clear. The problem was that Polo knew their intentions after the Guild banquet, and had barricaded himself in Harvest House. None of Karch's people could get remotely close to him.

Pietro was easy to poison. The old fool lived in the Merchant Tower. The fact that he was ancient made Karch's assassination seem completely natural. But Polo? He would need to be assassinated by force. Not only that, the assassination would need to not be connected to any of the other guilds.

If only the Thieves Guild were real, Karch though. I could frame them.

Karch had an idea, however, and while it would take longer than Larsen would like, the plan would be wondrous in effect—it would establish Larsen as the de facto ruler of Ness, while simultaneously rallying the populace to his side. Yes, this was a great plan.

Karch stopped at his apprentice's quarters. "Noor, get me horses and an escort ready, and have food and drink for a multiple day journey prepared."

"Yes, sir," the boy replied. "Where will you be going?"

“I’m going to visit the Outlanders."

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