There was a single knock. Larsen looked up and watched as Pattis strode in. Everyone thought that Pattis was a servant of some sort. He would normally enter carrying tea or a pressed shirt or something that indicated a personal matter with the guildmaster. That he was the deadly Blade of the Guildmaster was a secret known only to two people, and they were both in the room.

The wiry Blade walked in with his hands behind his back. Larsen tried to read his face. Was Pattis successful? Was the information he found going to provide a new path forward? As always, however, Pattis' face was unreadable.

Placing his hands on the desk, Larsen nodded as Pattis sat down. "I trust you didn't leave any stones unturned?"

"No."

Larsen smiled. He liked Pattis' demeanor—always to the point. "Good. So what did you find?"

"The Harvest Captain of the Flats can be bribed. He worked himself up from the silos and has an excellent reputation among the guild members. But when the Upper Triangle captaincy came open, he was overlooked. He wants to be appreciated by way of comfort and luxury."

"Good." Larsen considered his plan. It was daring. He wanted to drive the Harvest guild members out of the Flats and the Lower Triangle and into the Wretched Quarter. They would learn that there was only one guild that would provide them with the homes they lost... the Merchant Guild. And Larsen would welcome them back if they agreed to join his guild.

However, he would not be able to do it without the help of key members of the Harvest Guild stopping outright guild war. "What of the Lower Triangle?"

"The Captain there is very loyal to Polo and also very popular." Pattis shrugged. "I can take care of him like I did Pietro."

"Is he that old? I doubt people would believe he'd die of natural causes."

"Perhaps he will fall down some stairs. Perhaps a wild horse will run him down." Pattis shrugged. "Maybe a thief will kill him during a robbery."

Nodding his head, Larsen replied. "Yes. I Knew you were the right person to make my Blade. What of the families?" Larsen knew the Captains were easy. Dealing with Harvest Guild families who had been living in the Flats or the Lower Triangle for generations would be more trouble.

"Difficult. The Langer family owns an entire block. Their family is highly regarded among all the guilds in the Lower Triangle. They are but one example. There are many others who will not go quietly."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Larsen expected the news. "How many families are there in the Flats and Lower Triangle that would cause difficulty?"

Pattis shrugged. "I'm not sure. Possibly ten. There will be more trouble in the Flats than the Lower Triangle."

Gritting his teeth, Larsen tried to control his anger. "What part of 'unturned stones' did you not understand?" Larsen slammed his fist on his desk. "I asked you for information and you tell me you're not sure? There is no room for error here, Pattis." Larsen glared at his Blade, who withered in his chair. The reaction calmed Larsen. He knew that Pattis was cruel and brutally efficient. Larsen knew Pattis feared no one, but he clearly was intimidated by Larsen's anger. Good.

“I apologize, Guildmaster. My assessment was clearly incomplete."

Shaking his head, Larsen replied, "Get out. I can do nothing until I know all the variables are accounted for. I want to know every family that can cause problems, no matter how small. I want to know who we can bribe to our side and who will fight us aggressively. Do you understand?"

"I do."

"No. I don't think you do." Larsen stood up and waved his arm across the huge window behind his desk. "Our goal is to rule Ness, to make the Merchant Guild the ruling class over this city. We cannot do that without all the guilds bowing to us. Polo refuses to do so." He pointed out the left side of the window. "Out there is the Flats. We need to show the Harvest Guild members that their guildmaster has betrayed their best interests. They will lose their homes unless they join with the Knight, Merchant, and the Trade guilds." Larsen turned back to Pattis. "We are going to take their homes, and we need to do it with as little violence as possible."

"I understand, Guildmaster. I am to find the tinder that could ignite the flames of violence and remove it."

Larsen smiled. "Yes. Well put. That is exactly what I want you to do." Nodding toward the door, he added, "So go and find all those things that you consider 'tinder' and let me know what they are. We will then create a plan to remove them."

Pattis stood up without saying anything. After a quick bow of his head, he stated, "When next we meet, you will have all the details you need to create this plan."

With a slight nod, Larsen dismissed his Blade. As Pattis exited the room, Larsen considered the possibilities. Blood would be spilled. Of that, there was no doubt. But in the process, Larsen would make sure that the Harvest guild members blamed Polo and that they forced the guild unification that Polo resisted.

There were many more preparations to be made, but Larsen was pleased. He finally had a plan that was entirely under his control. Ralan was off hiding in the Wretched Quarter. Polo was hiding in Harvest House, and all of Ness was waiting for him to swoop in and take control.

Ah, Polo. Larsen hadn't forgotten about him. While he couldn't get at Polo in Harvest House with his own men, Larsen would spend whatever it took to get at the Guildmaster Harvest via his own guild members. If Larsen could find the right senior guard or trusted deputy, he was certain he could persuade them to assassinate the old guildmaster.

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